Suffering... would you like to share a moment of joy together?

From the Teachings of Zen Buddist Master Thich Nat Han.

I would like to share with you a teaching I received during my stay this summer at Plum Village, the Monastery founded by Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh, more than 40 years ago after his exile from Vietnam for his pacifist activism to stop the war in his country. In the hope of helping you too to better manage difficult situations when peace gives way to sadness, despair, anger and worry that often make us lose faith in life and lead us to collapse.

Master Thich Nhat Hanh invites us to observe our internal wars and to give our emotions the space they need. In fact, all these emotions should not be repressed or pushed away. They must be welcomed to give them the space they need. They must be taken by the hand like a child, making them feel that we are giving them the attention they so much seek. The danger, if we do not do it, is that they will grow stronger and drag us down that dark path from which it is then more difficult to escape. We already know that the more we let ourselves be carried away by these emotions, the more difficult it will be to recover.

So, let's roll up our sleeves and at the first sign, let's welcome our emotions, let's observe them. Let's take a break. Let's stop to observe ourselves and understand our emotions. Let's reassure them. "We are here for you. Would you like to share a moment of joy together?"

So, at the same time that we pay attention to our emotions, we also cultivate our seeds of joy. On our way, there are always occasions and conditions that can bring us back to good humor and joy. It all lies in giving them space too, in staying in these moments of joy for a few breaths, savoring them, being there. A little bird singing happily on a branch, a wonderful sunset, the smile or hug of our child, feeling firm on our two feet. Observing each beauty that surrounds us and simply staying in that feeling, breathing it consciously.

So during the day, I stop several times, I observe myself and I observe the beauty that surrounds me. The more I cultivate joy and its own sources of joy, the easier it will be to contain, embrace and sustain the moments of suffering when they come. Simply, yes, they are simple practices. We just have to do them. Dedicate ourselves to them as a study of oneself... The only risk?... to be better and more at peace within ourselves.