Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The concept of ripening emphasizes that personal growth and significant change unfold gradually, requiring patience and commitment over time.
- Central to the discussion are the Four Dharma Seals, which guide practitioners in cultivating mindfulness, interconnectedness, and community in their lives.
- The speakers highlight the importance of trusting the process of ripening and valuing small, mindful moments as essential for personal transformation.
Deep dives
Upcoming Live Recording
A live recording event is planned for April 5th at the Conway Hall in London, marking a new milestone for the community. The topic for this live session will focus on 'stepping into freedom,' along with an interactive question and answer segment. This event offers a unique opportunity for the audience to engage directly with the speakers, typically recorded in a more intimate setting. Listeners are encouraged to buy tickets and participate in this communal exploration.
Concept of Ripening
The discussion centers around the Buddhist concept of 'ripening,' which suggests that significant personal changes take time and should not be expected to happen instantaneously. This reflects a broader teaching within Buddhism that emphasizes patience and understanding that growth is a gradual process, much like a fruit takes time to develop. The speakers share their insights on how this notion can apply to everyday life, from personal development to relationships. They highlight the importance of commitment and love in nurturing what truly matters, underscoring that fulfillment unfolds over time.
Dharma Seals and their Application
The episode elaborates on the four Dharma seals of the Plum Village tradition, each serving as a pathway for practitioners. The first two seals focus on being present and the idea of interconnectedness; 'I have arrived, I am home' fosters mindfulness of the current moment, while 'go as a river' teaches the importance of community and collective effort. By exploring these teachings, practitioners can cultivate a sense of belonging and understanding of their role within a larger context. The presenters underline that these teachings can guide personal practice, opening pathways for deeper insights about existence.
Interconnectedness of Experiences
The speakers emphasize the relational aspect of their practice, illustrating how past experiences shape the present moment and, in turn, influence the future. Interconnectedness is central to the discussion, as the speakers reflect on their personal journeys and how their backgrounds have affected their current mindfulness practices. They discuss how one's actions in the present can have far-reaching impacts far beyond immediate surroundings, reminding listeners that every action sends ripples into the future. This perspective encourages individuals to remain mindful of their choices and the responsibilities they carry in fostering positive change.
Trusting the Process of Growth
The conversation concludes with a focus on the importance of trusting the process of ripening and the cultivation of mindfulness in everyday life. Participants are reminded of the value of small moments and how they contribute to larger transformations over time. The key takeaway is to embrace patience and recognize that personal evolution may not always produce visible results immediately, but is nonetheless essential. The speakers advocate for nurturing one's growth and being open to the idea that every moment of practice holds value, encouraging a shift away from the need for control towards embracing uncertainty.
Welcome to episode 64 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.
This episode is the first to be recorded live in front of an audience, in the Still Water Meditation Hall of Plum Village, France, during a retreat, rather than in Thay’s Sitting Still hut.
Together, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino explore the Buddhist concept of ripening, or the Fourth Dharma Seal of Plum Village: the understanding that the care, love, attention, and commitment we put into what’s important in life take time to ripen, and that we shouldn’t expect instant results.
Brother Phap Huu starts off by introducing the first Three Dharma Seals and why Thay created them, before digging deeper into the Fourth Dharma Seal, the main theme of this episode; the process of ripening; the life journey of the practice; and much more.
Jo brings examples of lifelong journeys of forgiveness, and explores trust versus control, dharma rain, and more.
And: how can we all apply this practice of ripening to our own lives?
The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu.
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
The Way Out Is In – Live recording information
https://wakeuplondon.org/thewayoutisin/
‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’
https://plumvillage.org/articles/the-four-dharma-seals-of-plum-village
Sutras: ‘Discourse on the Dharma Seal & the Three Doors of Liberation’
https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-the-dharma-seal-the-three-doors-of-liberation
Interbeing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing
The Way Out Is In: ‘The Three Doors of Liberation (Episode #18)’
https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-three-doors-of-liberation-episode-18
Dharma Talks: ‘Three Doors of Liberation’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/three-doors-of-liberation-br-phap-khi-italian-retreat-2018-05-01/
‘The Doors of Liberation’
https://www.lionsroar.com/the-doors-of-liberation-may-2014/
Mahayana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana
Dharma Talks: ‘Right View: Understanding the Roots of Our True Happiness’
https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/right-view-understanding-the-roots-of-our-true-happiness
Old Path White Clouds
https://plumvillage.org/books/old-path-white-clouds-2
Fragrant Palm Leaves
https://plumvillage.org/books/1998-neo-ve-cua-y-fragrant-palm-leaves
Sister Chan Khong
https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong
Sister Lang Nghiem
https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem
Sister True Dedication
https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem
Quotes
“When we practice meditation and mindfulness to come home to the here and now, we start to discover that the present moment is the only moment in which we can be alive. And the present moment embraces the past as well as creating the future.”
“If we don’t have darkness, the light won’t have a chance to appear.”
“It is impossible to physically go back to the past, but I can bring the past into the here and now, and heal it by being right here, right now. By this present moment, I am creating a new path.”
“The world is created by our mind.”
“The insight of ripening allows us to understand that the path of practice is a wonderful journey, and that it takes time and space for things to mature, for things to transform, for things to heal. When we hear about ripening, we may think of a tree – say, an orange tree. It takes time for the seed to be planted. For the roots to deepen. For the tree and its leaves and flowers to grow. Even when the fruit appears, it takes time to ripen. And so our practice can be viewed as a journey of ripening.”
“Each thing we say, each thing we think, each thing we do, ripples out. I love that image of a pond or a big lake where you throw in a stone and see the ripples spread in every direction. And even when you can’t really see them, they’re still there in a subtle way, stretching out further and further.”
“The learning journey is endless.”
“If you know how to suffer, you suffer less.”
“If we take away the need for the outcome and are instead just present for people, then life can show up fully.”
“The Buddha said that the dharma is like fine-tuning an instrument for our path. If we are too intense, too rigid, too extreme, we won’t go the distance. The string might snap because there’s too much effort, there’s too much intensity. But if we’re too lazy, and are just daydreaming about what can be, then the string is loose and doesn’t play the the sound that’s needed.”
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
