The cafeteria was abuzzed with excitement. Some were looking at the works of the Venerable, some were waiting anxiously for their friends, some with tags are people attending the retreat. The air was tingling with anticipation.

Once in the hall, the serenity overcomes you. There was a venerable on stage playing the cello, another the violin. There were two venerables who came on stage to guide us through two songs. It has been a long time since I sang the song and it came back to me how calming the song is, opening out our heart to ourselves.

Breathing in breathing out

Breathing in, breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out.

Iam blooming as a flower. I am fresh as a dew.

I am solid as a mountain, I am firm as the earth.

I am free.

Breathing in, breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out.

I am water, reflecting, what is real, what is true.

And I feel, there is space, deep inside of me.

I am free, I am free, I am free.

Happiness is Here and Now

Happiness is here and now. I have dropped my worries.

Nowhere to go. Nothing to do.

No longer in a hurry.

Happiness is here and now. I have dropped my worries.

Somewhere to go. Something to do.

But I dont need to hurry.

Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh walked in with stately presence. Peacefully and mindful of every step. His disciples gathered around him on stage. There were no laughing and running, just gentle smiles and great calmness.

I had a few take aways from that night:-
1) Since tehre is no beginning and no end, and life is just a continuous evolvement, there is no fear for beginning or end, and what is more important is the present moment;
2) When are you alive in the present moment, you are living the buddha in yourself;
3) Just like there is no flower, but the sun, the water, the farmer, the florist, without which there is no existence of flower, there is no me, but my parents, my ancestors, my education, my food, my experience. Nothing exists on its own, but interdependence of each other.
4) So where is the inferiority complex, the superiority complex, when in actual fact, there is no self.

It was ten and the audience was getting fidgety. I was hungry for more of his wisdom, his reminders. Listening to him beat reading his books, and the essence will not be the same. I wish I had signed up for his retreat. but guess we had too much baggage with us, or are we still not clear of what we want.

The talk ended with a French song by sister Chan Khong. It was an enchanting son to end an enchanting night.

http://vimeo.com/14881907