Third day of Retreat "Establishing communication in the family - Solving knots, reconnecting deep love" of Plum Village.

On March 24th, 2023 entered the 3rd day of Retreat "Establishing communication in the family - Solving knots, reconnecting deep love".

First, there is a session of sitting meditation, practice Touching the Earth, and walking meditation in the morning.

After that, the mass has breakfast together in mindfulness, and working.

At 09:00, the Retreat continued with the program of Zen song and listening to the lecture "Communicating with others" from Brother Phap Sy.

To connect with others, we should learn to listen, practice loving language starting with loving relatives in the family, such as parents, spouses, children first. Electronic devices, social networking sites in modern life have manipulated and dominated people, causing us to waste a lot of time, becoming physically and mentally tired. We should establish a communication for love, practice mindfulness instead of spending time surfing the web, because negative news online makes the mind restless. Practice putting down the phone, every night we should practice relaxing to have a peaceful sleep, every morning wake up with good health, positive energy for a new day full of open love. When filled with peace, we will easily connect with others, smile easily, or when facing displeasure, it is peace of mind that will help us to soothe, give us the ability to be patient, and accept uncertainties in a calm mind.

Buddhists coming to the temple to cultivate and serve Three Jewels is a precious thing, but we should not forget the responsibility to take care of our family and loved ones, and don't lose communication with each other, leading to a breakup, which is not advisable; or when committing wrong even to a younger person, we have to know how to apologize. Each person should keep Five precepts, care for and forgive others' mistakes. Happiness is not far away, not looking outside, happiness right in our body – mind, as well as being quiet, appreciating everything we have, then learning to understand and love together.

In the afternoon, there is a program of activities and Dharma talks for each family.

The meditators continued to study, listening to the lecture "Reconcile and renew deep love" from Sister Boi Nghiem.

At the talk, the nun mentioned the reality of many families in modern life. Sometimes, because we are busy pursuing material needs, we forget to communicate in the family, gradually creating distance between parents - children, wife - husband. We still see websites posting many cases due to stalemate, loneliness, not having sympathy in the family, lack of parental attention causing many teenagers to find ways ending their lives in suffering. Therefore, the nun showed a number of methods for each practitioner to practice self-renewal, resolve knots, as well as establish communication with people around. This helps us to have a better life; family is more and more connected, understanding and loving.

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