Dharma talk Cultivating the body or the mind? in the 102nd Seven-day Retreat

In the morning of May 01st, 2024 at the Wheel Dharma Building's Main-Hall in the 102 nd Seven-day retreat, Nun Dr. Thich Nu Huong Nhu - Head of Central Nunnery Board - Standing Member of Central Dharma Propagation Board of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - Lecturer at Vietnam Buddhist University in Ho Chi Minh City - Abbot of Thien Quang Pagoda in Binh Duong province had a dharma talk on the title of “Cultivating the body or the mind” to the mass.

We will be happy if we have inner peace and balance in life. Connecting body and mind is a journey to achieving balance, but the connection between body and mind is not enough, there needs to be another important factor which is wisdom.

The mind is the master of all dharma, the body depends on the mind to give birth to all dharmas. Depending on the mind, the body can be peaceful, happy, and pure. If the body and mind are pure, the realm will be pure.

Realizing six years of asceticism in the jungle could not achieve enlightenment, the Buddha decided to choose the middle path and achieve Buddhahood. From there, we see that training the body and mind cannot focus on any one aspect alone.

In daily life, we should let our body and mind rest properly. A healthy body and mind in harmony will bring peaceful energy to life. Mind: having the right view, not being attached, practicing letting go of desires, attachments, suffering, right and wrong...; Body: have moderation, know how to love ourselves, have a reasonable way of living, and attend retreats.

Practitioners who practice in the Buddhist recitation need to practice on the basis of faith, practice and vows. We need to control our mind, clean up the trash in our mind and live mindfully.

Three-poison greed, anger, and ignorance cause suffering in every human being. Cultivating the body and cultivating the mind means we nurture good qualities from which the true mind of Buddha nature is revealed. Reciting the Buddha's name was established by Shakyamuni Buddha on stopping and contemplation leading to concentration and wisdom. No matter which sect one cultivates, practitioners should cultivate diligently to gain wisdom. To achieve success, we must constantly clean up the impurities in our minds of greed, anger, lethargy, restlessness, and doubt by diligently reciting Buddha's name, thinking of Tathagata, contemplating Tathagata's body, and merits of Tathagata, abide in mindfulness.

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