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Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Your Own Presence is Love – Five Gifts from Thich Nhat Hanh

From his talk at the French Retreat – March 2011

Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that one’s presence is one’s love.  At a retreat he offered five gifts you can verbalize to yourself, to a friend, to the moon, the earth, the sangha, or with whom and with whatever you are cultivating interrelationship.  They are especially helpful when you struggle with others or when a group is struggling.  Find a time to give these gifts:

1.  My dear, I am here for you

2. My dear, I know you are there

3.  My dear, I know you suffer and that’s why I’m here for you.  I offer you my presence.

4.( a.) My dear, I am suffering (can add the suffering here, anger, sadness, etc.) and I want you to know. (b.) My dear I am doing my best.  I’m a practitioner; (c.) Please help me because I have not been able to free myself of this alone.  [Note: the other person may ask, what did I say, what did I do? That is meditation says Thich Nhat Hanh–when one asks the questions.  If you come through suffering with someone or others, let them know.  We often do not tell them I am fine now.]

5. This is a happy moment. [Note:  having presence is a happy moment. Feel the joy.

Try this in your next group meeting, sangha meeting, or  with friends.  Dyads are good.

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