What are the times when we need to be Thây? How often do we find ourselves in situations for which having Thây Nhat Hanh present with us would be very helpful – situations in which the only Thây present is the Thây within us?
Our SammaSankappa Sangha (California Medical Facility State Prison) was approaching its first Five Mindfulness Trainings Transmission (June, 2009). As facilitator, I wanted the sangha to appreciate the honor of having three Dharma Teachers join us for our Transmission. I spoke with the inmates about the designations within the Order of Interbeing. I described what it meant to receive The Five Mindfulness Trainings, receive The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings and receive Lamp Transmission. I explained that I had received both The Five Trainings and The Fourteen Trainings but that I was not a Dharma Teacher. (more…)