old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

you will not react with anger. Instead, you will quiet your mind in order to discover why that person is angry at you. By looking deeply, you
can uncover the causes that led to the person’s anger. If you see that you bear responsibility for angering the person, you will not become
angry, but you will accept that your own misconduct has contributed towards creating his anger. If you are without blame, you can try to
see why the person has misunderstood you. Then you can find a way to help him understand your true intentions. In this way, you will avoid
causing more suffering to both yourself and the other person.
“Your majesty and honored guests! All suffering can be overcome by looking deeply into things. On the Path of Awareness, we learn to
follow our breath to maintain mindfulness. We follow the precepts in order to build concentration and attain understanding. The precepts
are principles of living which foster peace and joy. Practicing the precepts, our ability to concentrate develops, and we are able to live with
greater awareness and mindfulness. Mindfulness nurtures the capacity to illuminate the true nature of our mind and our environment. With
that illumination comes understanding.
“Only with understanding can we love. All suffering is overcome when we attain understanding. The path of true liberation is the path of
understanding. Understanding is prajña. Such understanding can only come from looking deeply into the true nature of things. The path of
precepts, concentration, and understanding is the path which leads to liberation.”
The Buddha paused for a moment and then smiled before continuing to speak. “But suffering is only one face of life. Life has another
face, the face of wonder. If we can see that face of life, we will have happiness, peace, and joy. When our hearts are unfettered, we can
make direct contact with the wonders of life. When we have truly grasped the truths of impermanence, emptiness of self, and dependent
co-arising, we see how wondrous our own hearts and minds are. We see how wonderful our bodies, the branches of violet bamboo, the
golden chrysanthemums, the clear stream, and the radiant moon are.
“Because we imprison ourselves in our suffering, we lose the ability to experience the wonders of life. When we can break through
ignorance, we discover the vast realm of peace, joy, liberation, and nirvana. Nirvana is the uprooting of ignorance, greed, and anger. It is
the appearance of peace, joy, and freedom. Honored guests, take time to look at a clear stream or a ray of early morning sunshine. Can
you experience peace, joy, and freedom? If you are still locked in the prison of sorrow and anxiety, you will be unable to experience the
wonders of the universe which include your own breath, body, and mind. The path I have discovered leads to transcending sorrow and
anxiety by looking deeply into their true nature. I have shared this path with many others and they, too, have succeeded in discovering it for
themselves.”
Everyone was deeply touched by the Buddha’s Dharma talk. The king’s heart welled with happiness as did Queen Gotami’s and
Yasodhara’s. They all wanted to learn more about the methods of looking deeply into the nature of things in order to attain liberation and
enlightenment. After the Dharma talk, the king escorted the Buddha and the bhikkhus to the outer gates. The guests all congratulated the
king on his son’s great attainment.
Nigrodha Park was soon transformed into a monastery. The ancient fig trees that grew there provided cool shade. Many new bhikkhus
were ordained, and many laypersons, including a number of young people of the Sakya clan, took the five precepts.
Yasodhara made frequent visits to the Buddha at Nigrodha Park, accompanied by the queen and young Rahula. She listened to his
Dharma talks and in private asked him about the relation between practicing the Way and performing social service. The Buddha showed
her how to observe her breath and practice meditation in order to nourish peace and joy in her own heart. She understood that without
peace and joy, she could not truly help others. She learned that by developing deeper understanding, she could deepen her capacity to
love. She was happy to discover that she could practice the way of awareness in the very midst of her efforts to serve others. Peace and
joy were possible right in the very moments she was working. Means and ends were not two different things.
Queen Gotami was also making great progress in the practice.