Thay’s health and a request for spiritual support

Thay’s health and a request for spiritual support

Discussion date: Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at our weekly Thursday evening practice

Dear Still Water Friends,

On Wednesday evening an official announcement came from the senior monastics at Plum Village. Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) has been in the hospital since November 1st. Because of a severe brain hemorrhage, his recovery is uncertain.

This Thursday evening, in place of our scheduled program, we will gather together after our sitting and walking meditation,and send our collective energy to Thay and the monastics as we recite the Plum Village Ceremony for the Sick. Afterwards we will share from our hearts about how Thich Nhat Hanh has touched our lives and our gratitude for his life and teachings.

You are invited to join us in person or at home.

The Ceremony to Support the Sick is available on the Still Water MPC Web Site. The announcement from Plum Village is in the News section of the Plum Village Website and also below — please feel free to share it with others. I’ve also included below Thay’s Contemplation on No Coming, No Going.

With a bow to Thay and to the Plum Village Community,

Many blessings,

Mitchell

Official Announcement

Re: Thay’s present health condition and how to support Thay’s recovery

Plum Village, November 12, 2014

To all Plum Village Practice Centers,

To all Practice Centers and Sanghas World Wide,

To our Dear Beloved Friends,

With a deep mindful breath we announce to the world the news that yesterday, the 11th of November 2014, Thay, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh experienced a severe brain hemorrhage. Thay is receiving 24 hour intensive care from specialist doctors, nurses and from his monastic disciples.

At present, Thay is still very responsive and shows every indication of being aware of the presence of those around him. He is able to move his feet, hands and eyes. There are signs that a full recovery may be possible.

For the last two months, Thay’s health had already been fragile due to his advance age. He was hospitalized in Bordeaux on the 1st of November. He was gaining strength day by day until this sudden and unexpected change in his condition.

All the monasteries in the tradition of Plum Village are organizing practice sessions to generate the energy of mindfulness and to send Thay this healing and loving energy. We would like to ask the whole worldwide community of meditation practitioners to participate and support us in this critical moment. We know and trust that Thay will receive all your energy and that this will be a big support in his healing and recovery.

Our practice of stability and peace in this very moment is the best support we can offer to Thay. Let us all around the world take refuge in our practice, going together as a river to offer Thay our powerful collective energy. We are all cells of the great Sangha Body that Thay has manifested in his lifetime.

For future reports on Thay health and recovery, we will post them officially at www.plumvillage.org, langmai.org, villagedespruniers.net, and www.facebook.com/thichnhathanh.

On behalf of the Monastic Dharma Teacher Council of Plum Village,

Bhikkhu Thich Chan Phap Dang

Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong Nghiem


Contemplation on No-Coming, No-Going

by Thich Nhat Hanh

This body is not me.

I am not limited by this body.

I am life without boundaries.

I have never been born,

and I have never died.

Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars,

manifestations from my wondrous true mind.

Since before time, I have been free.

Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,

sacred thresholds on our journey.

Birth and death are a game of hide-and-seek.

So laugh with me,

hold my hand,

let us say good-bye,

say good-bye, to meet again soon.

We meet today.

We will meet again tomorrow.

We will meet at the source every moment.

We meet each other in all forms of life.

in: Dharma Topics
Discussion Date: Thu, Nov 13, 2014


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