meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Way Out Is In

Self-Forgiveness (Episode #96)

The Way Out Is In

Plum Village

Education, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Self-improvement, Religion & Spirituality, Buddhism

4.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 12 December 2025

⏱️ 85 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino explore the lifelong journey of self-forgiveness and how to forgive ourselves. How do we find the capacity to let go of past hurts and come into the fullness of our lives?  The conversation also touches upon themes like self-love, self-compassion, community, spiritual growth, impermanence, the coexistence of suffering and happiness, and the importance of ongoing practice.  Brother Phap Huu discusses the Buddhist perspective of the Dharma threading through time, embracing past, present, and future; how loving oneself begins with recognizing and accepting one’s stories and scars; the importance of treating oneself with kindness and compassion; acknowledging unskillful actions; practicing with the inner child; and much more.  In addition, personal stories shared by the presenters illustrate how forgiveness and self-love evolve over time, and that forgiving oneself is vital for genuine compassion and service. The episode concludes with aspirations for the new year.  Co-produced by the Plum Village App:https://plumvillage.app/  And Global Optimism:https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Pilgrimage: ‘In the Footsteps of the Buddha’https://plumvillage.org/event/pilgrimage/in-the-footsteps-of-the-buddha-2 Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnouthttps://www.parallax.org/product/being-with-busyness/    Calm in the Storm: Zen Ways to Cultivate Stability in an Anxious Worldhttps://www.parallax.org/product/calm-in-the-storm/  Interbeinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing   The Way Out Is In: ‘Healing Our Inner Child: Pathways to Embrace Our Suffering (Episode #10)’https://plumvillage.org/podcast/healing-our-inner-child-pathways-to-embrace-our-suffering  The Way Out Is In: ‘The Three Jewels (Episode #89)’https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-three-jewels-episode-89  ‘Looking Deeply: Healing the Inner Child’https://plumvillage.org/articles/healing-the-inner-child The Inner Child (short guided meditation)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zauJYihF2fQ     Dharma Talks: ‘Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels’https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/taking-refuge-in-the-three-jewels-sr-chan-duc-spring-retreat-2018-05-20  John Bradshawhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bradshaw_(author)  Sutras: ‘Discourse on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone’https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-knowing-the-better-way-to-live-alone  The Order of Interbeinghttps://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing  Quotes “What we have learned in the art of mindful living and the art of love and understanding is that we are ever-changing. We’re constantly changing. The Buddha has said that we cannot bathe in the same river twice. When we bathe in that river, the river is not the same and we are not the same.” “The Buddha says that suffering is made of non-suffering elements – and that means you have happiness inside.”  “What I’ve learned from my journey is that healing is always a verb.” “There is no way to healing; healing is the way.” “Our practice of listening is very important. When we say we have to learn to listen, listen not to respond, but just to listen. Listen to acknowledge, accept, and witness.” “It’s important to be in the present moment, but it’s also important to have an aspiration to bring into the present moment 

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Dear listeners, before we start today's podcast, we just want to let you know that Fafu and I, along with four other monastics, will be going on a pilgrimage to India next January, and we'll be doing that in collaboration with Shantam Seth, who is a long-time plum village practitioner, but has also been leading these

0:22.6

pilgrimages for 30 years. We are going to be visiting all the key places that follow the

0:29.8

Buddha's life journey, listening to stories about the Buddha's life and also the plum village

0:36.1

teachings. If you would like to come and join, you can go to www.buddapath.com.

0:45.3

We will be not only visiting these sites, but doing a special series of the podcast

0:50.7

following the Buddha's Life, which we will then be publishing on our return.

0:55.9

So if you would like to join us, please go on the website and find the details, and we look

1:01.9

forward to joining you there.

1:03.7

And dear friends, if you have a deep love for the earth and wish to learn how to bring

1:08.1

the energy of mindfulness to your climate response. Zen and the art of

1:12.3

saving the planet is a seven-week online learning journey where we as a community will learn how to

1:18.8

cultivate insight, compassion, community, and mindful action in service for our beloved earth.

1:26.0

Inspired by the timeless wisdom of Zen Master Tignan, this course includes

1:31.1

Dalmatogs and practices, community sharing groups, and live interactive events with monastic teachers.

1:38.5

I'm looking forward to teaching at these live events together with my monastic siblings. We'll learn

1:43.8

together for seven weeks

1:45.1

from 1st of March, 26, into our closing event on 19th of April. Join us by heading to the website

1:53.5

today, plumvillage.org slash zass, that is zasp, and we look forward to walking on this path with you. Thank you very much.

2:05.8

Welcome, dear friends, to this latest episode of the podcast series The Way Out is In.

2:12.4

The Way Out is In. I am Jo Comfino, coach and spiritual mentor, working at the intersection of personal transformation and systems change.

2:34.3

And I'm Brother Fabhu, a Zen Buddhist monk in the tradition of Plum Village and student of Zen

2:40.0

Master Technikhan.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Plum Village, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Plum Village and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.