It had always been in my impression that the Buddhist view of life was about suffering. So I was curious to find out how Thich Nhat Hanh would teach people to be happy.
Not peace, not nirvana. Yes, what the Zen master suggests we can achieve is happiness. Happiness is here and now, he says.
I stepped into the seminar hall ready to listen to a lecture. To my surprise, I was first delivered a concert. At the centre of the stage was a monk playing the guitar. A host led the audience to sing some songs of which lyrics were printed in the booklets distributed to the floor. “Breathing in, breathing out, I am blooming as a flower,” we sang. Then the host led the audience to do some simple meditation exercises, as we waited for the official start of the programme.
Everyone was solemnly silent when Thay entered the hall. After a few words of greetings, the Zen master gently rang the bell.
Frankly speaking, I had sometimes found temple music, mostly sung at religious ceremonies, quite spooky. But this unexpected stage performance at Thay’s lecture was an ear-opening experience.
Joining the monk-guitarist was a nun who played the violin. Another monk played the cello. A group of nuns standing on the stage began singing as sopranos. It later turned into a mixed choir performance when tenors – the group of monks standing beside, joined in singing.
Be there for your loved ones, Thay said. Be mindful whatever you are doing. Breathe mindfully, walk mindfully, drink tea mindfully.
Mud is suffering, Lotus is happiness. Without mud, there is no lotus, the Zen master said. It was perhaps his answer to my question of why he was teaching people to be happy.
Unfortunately there was no question and answer opportunities at the talk. I had an enjoyable evening but left with a new question in my mind: Why did Thich Nhat Hanh mention Jesus’s Kingdom of God every time when he mentioned Buddha’s pure land? Does he think Christians and Buddhists are actually worshipping the same god, as Christians and Muslims are?
