Questions and Answers – German Retreat

Summary

This transcript captures a question-and-answer session during a retreat on 15 June 2013, addressed to the Sangha by Thay. The discussion centers on core Buddhist teachings, especially no-self, impermanence, continuation, compassion, and practical ways of transforming suffering through mindfulness. The session begins with an explanation of the format: participants are invited to ask questions from the heart, often after hearing the bell and breathing together three times. Thay emphasizes that good questions are those connected to practice, suffering, and happiness, and that collective mindfulness can create a powerful healing energy. The audience is also welcomed in English and German, reflecting the multilingual setting. A major theme is the teaching of no-self. In response to a question about what remains if one is not the body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, or consciousness, Thay explains the distinction between conventional truth and ultimate truth. He uses the analogy of classical Newtonian physics and modern quantum physics to show how different levels of understanding can appear contradictory yet remain connected. He also discusses karma in terms of actor, action, and fruit of action, explaining that this framework belongs to conventional truth. On a deeper level, the actor and the receiver of results are not fixed, separate entities. Using the example of a childhood photograph, he argues that a person is neither exactly the same nor entirely different over time. This leads to the insight that the statement “I am” is vague and does not correspond neatly to reality, offering a first taste of no-self. Another important section addresses compassion and death. A participant shares the story of a son who was a triathlete and was paralyzed after a bicycle accident before the Ironman competition in Hawaii. The question is why it is not helpful to suffer exactly as the loved one suffers. Thay responds by teaching continuation: the son is not gone but has manifested in new forms, just as flower buds die in cold weather and later reappear when conditions are sufficient. He says that a cloud cannot die and that one should not be attached to a single form of manifestation. The son continues in other forms, and the listener is encouraged to recognize him in new manifestations rather than cling to the old form. The transcript also explores gender, identity, and the danger of rigid concepts. A participant describes being told by a counselor that neither spouse was a “real” man or woman and that they needed training to become one. Thay rejects this kind of labeling and urges people to be beautiful as they are. He uses the image of a lotus that does not need to become a rose to be beautiful. He also notes that being gay or lesbian is equally beautiful and that reality, or suchness, cannot be captured by concepts. He describes himself as sometimes appearing as a father, teacher, and mother simultaneously, reinforcing the point that identity is not fixed by words. The question of moral responsibility and choice follows. A participant asks how there can be a doer responsible for action if there is no self. Thay answers that if the self were permanent, change would be impossible and there would be no hope. Impermanence makes transformation possible, just as a grain of corn can become a plant and a child can grow into a young adult. In this way, no-self and impermanence are presented not as nihilistic ideas but as the basis for freedom, ethical choice, and the possibility of the Noble Eightfold Path. Guilt and shame are another major topic. A participant asks about the roots of guilt after causing suffering unintentionally. Thay explains that when one looks deeply, one sees a stream of continuation rather than a separate self. One’s parents, ancestors, strengths, and weaknesses all continue in one’s being. Since there is no separate self, guilt can be transformed into understanding and responsibility. Meditation helps one see this stream and learn how to nourish positive seeds while slowly transforming inherited negative patterns. This insight reduces fear, anger, and despair. Thay also reflects on his own past worries about teaching tours and retreats. He explains that he used to fear disappointing people, but later realized that outcomes depend on many conditions, not only on his own effort. Doing one’s best is essential, but results arise from multiple causes and conditions. This understanding helped him release worry and can help others do the same. The final section focuses on reconciliation and helping others. A participant asks how to call a dead father. Thay tells a story about writing letters to reconcile with a mother and then extending that reconciliation to deceased ancestors. He teaches that one can call on parents, grandparents, and ancestors because they are present in every cell of the body. Another question asks how to help someone who does not recognize anger, jealousy, or fear. Thay introduces the practice of shining light, where a group helps someone see both strengths and weaknesses with compassion. He then broadens the answer: the most effective help is to practice well oneself. Eating, walking, breathing, and smiling mindfully generate peace, joy, brotherhood, and sisterhood. This collective energy can transform a difficult situation even before any direct intervention. In the end, he concludes that another person’s healing depends greatly on one’s own transformation and the shared transformation of the community.