Zen master and poet Thich Nhat Hanh was forcibly exiled from his native country of Vietnam more than 40 years ago. We visited the Buddhist monk at a Christian conference center in a lakeside setting of rural Wisconsin. Here, Thich Nhat Hanh offers stark, gentle wisdom for living in a world of anger and violence. He discusses the concepts of "engaged Buddhism," "being peace," and "mindfulness."

See more at www.onbeing.org/program/thich-nhat-hanh-mindfulness-suffering-and-engaged-buddhism/74

[Unedited] Larry Ward with Krista Tippett

Part II begins with single arm movements and then incorporates simultaneous movements of the left and right hand. 

This style of qigong focuses on bringing the mind and body together in mindful movement.  Guide the Qi (Chi, Ki, Prana, Life Force, Energy) with your mind, to improve the cardiovascular system, as well as the physical movement.  Qigong works best, if the practices is considered Holistically (Body/Mind/Spirit).  Excellent for managing excess stress, so long as the breathing is "Slow and Deep."   With practice you will be able to coordinate the breath with the movement realizing lasting benefits to mental, physical and emotional health.

QiGong II Parting Clouds 1

An excerpt from the 2013-01-03 dharma talk at Plum Village. There ia a sutra on the contemplation of the body and the body is a big subject of meditation. There is much suffering and misery in this world and some people want to get out of this world. Is there a way to get out of the world of suffering and misery by looking into your body? We can see the four elements - water, air, earth, and heat - in our body. There are six sense organs that can produce the six consciousnesses. When you look into the body deeply, you can see it is a community. Can you see all our ancestors by looking into the body?  Is there a self? If we heal ourselves, we can heal our ancestors.  We don't just practice for ourselves, we practice for all our ancestors. Our body is a treasure and we should take care of our body. There is a Buddha in the body.

Our Body is a Treasure

Augusta Hopkins is the only MBSR teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area – maybe the world – ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and authorized to teach meditation by Spirit Rock. She has been leading mindfulness meditation sessions since 2006 and teaching MBSR since 2011. Let her help you gain access to calm.

QiGong II Parting Clouds 1

Augusta Hopkins | Meditation Teacher | M4SR.com

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