Thich Nhat Hanh Jewish Roots The Better Way to Live Alone in the ...

jewish ROOTSI have learned howto allow the loveand wisdom of theSangha to embraceme. But it didn’tembrace only me, itembraced my dad.A Gift of HealingAfter I was ordained, I started having dreams of my dad. Theyare such a reflection of how I was and how I have been transformed.The first happened five years after his death. I had been ordainedonly a few months. In this dream, I was in my bedroom—therewere no colors. My dad walked in with a melancholic look, hishead bent, his shoulders slumped. He gave no hint that he mightbe harboring a childlike hope to receive love by coming into hisdaughter’s room. I just sat there on my bed unmoved by his presence,nor did it dawn on me to show my love to him.The second dream occurred about a year later. My dad cameto visit me still very sad and depressed, oblivious to the worldaround him. This time I acknowledged his presence happily. Theatmosphere was still somewhat gloomy, but there was love present.I took him on a tour of the monastery grounds and brought himup to a room to rest. I carried with me a photo album to show mydad the special events that had taken place in the past years. Manysisters came along with us to make both of us feel supported andloved. Then we parted company as he lay down on the bed andpeacefully sank into it for a much needed rest.In the last dream, which took place a year later, I was togetherwith my dad, my sister, and my brother at some kind of celebration.There were lots of colored round balloons, red, yellow andblue ones, and many green trees under a clear sunny blue sky. Wesat around a white table with a floral centerpiece, laughing andgiggling as Dad told us stories. My dad was so happy. He lookedFather with daughterphoto by Paul Davisas if many of his burdens had been lifted from him and his heartwas much lighter. I could see his joy and freedom as my own,which made my heart rejoice in a peaceful way. Over the courseof my stay in Plum Village, I have learned how to take refuge inthe Sangha and break down a few of the walls around my heart toallow the love and wisdom of the Sangha to embrace me. But itdidn’t embrace only me, it embraced my dad.The Faith and Obedience of AbrahamMy dad was not a Buddhist nor would he have wanted meto be a Buddhist nun. But one thing is for sure, he always wantedme to be happy. I took to this path out of faith and in obedienceto what I heard in my heart, I think much like our Father Abrahamdid with God. Thanks to the practice of non-fear and learning toopen my eyes to the life around me, my dad and I have the chanceto live together for a long time. I have no regrets about our pastrelationship. Nor do I feel that he is alone, because he still liveswith me every day, just as our spiritual ancestors continue in usthrough our faith and obedience.Each time I hug a person or share my pain with someone, Iknow that he too is loved and he too is cared for, and we smiletogether in peace.Sister Hanh Nghiem lives at Deer Park Monastery.the Mindfulness Bell 13