Talk + Guided Meditation
Session 048: Dec 2nd, 2020, by Sophia Ojha Ensslin and Cristof Ensslin

Banner Photo by Jon Flobrant - Thank you!

Handout

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Introduction

Thanksgiving is over, December has begun, the holiday season is picking up speed. Hohoho. With it, we may become occupied with what gifts we can give to our loved ones. What a wonderful practice it is to give!

Giving, Generosity Is The Base For Our Own Happiness

Have you ever noticed that when you give something to someone, it first and foremost makes you happy? That is the very reason why in Buddhism giving and generosity are the foundational practices that everything else builds on. Lo and behold, it’s got virtually nothing to do with material gifts, but instead with energetic ones.

Today, I found a chapter in Thich Nhat Hanh’s book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching that takes this concept on in such a beautiful manner that it made my heart warm and cozy and fuzzy. In it, Thich Nhat Hanh presents many ideas for gifts we can give no matter our finances, Covid-19 or other restraints of the times.

I would like to read you from it now. It’s chapter 25, pages 192-196. You will get lots of ideas for gift giving!

[Reading from book]

Giving Is Breathing And Smiling, Is Meditating

Did you notice how Thich Nhat Hanh ties in mindfulness of the present moment, anchored in our breath, with giving? Did you notice how he ties in smiling into the process? He is basically instructing us to meditate every waking moment.

We’ve heard this from our teacher Bhante Vimalaramsi: smile and relax, as smiling helps to be mindful. He also coined the term “Life is Meditation - Meditation is Life.” In fact, he even wrote a whole book with that exact title. It’s free as a PDF: https://library.dhammasukha.org/uploads/1/2/8/6/12865490/life_is_meditation-meditation_is_life_91616.pdf

In meditation we practice all of that and prepare for the encounters and challenges and opportunities of everyday life, including all the opportunities to truly love by giving. By meditating, we therefore practice being generous. ‘Tis the season, Hohoho.

Let’s practice meditation now.