Nurtured Words

I am forever learning, forever changing

Hello my lovelies,

Today is more of an update post on my learning. This year is a year I hope to take charge and educate myself much more, not just professionally, but also around my faiths and my general interest.

Who is Thich Nhat Hanh?

I started this course with Deer Park Monastery back in October 2025, it involved fifteen weeks of study, videos, reading, writing, and practice around Thay’s life and legacy from childhood. There were four happiness gatherings, and an optional dharma sharing family. I learned a great deal about what makes a person, the kind of life we can live and how to embody Buddhist ethics. One of my favourite parts of instilling mindfulness was through cong phu. This means daily practice and I had to come up with 5-10 activities to practice daily and see how mindful I can be. I learned about the tireless work of Plum Village, its origins and the great impact it has had. I have ended up feeling much closer to the tradition.

Looking Deeply

Looking Deeply started as Who is Thich Nhat Hanh finished and included six sessions of meditation, talks, dharma sharing, and reflection with practice in between. It is a a follow-on to The Art of Zen course. I had hoped to deepen my learning. However, due to ill-health and stress I ended up missing three of them. I still completed the learning from handouts as it featured links to the dharma talks and the meditations to follow for the next week. I did feel guilty that I had missed so much but I realised through my reflections I did learn some things and it was worth still attempting the practices. Below are my insights:

Just a young girl when the tornado came
it twisted my sights of home
so lost in illbeing I had no roots
when illbeing dragged me further into caves, I drowned in despair.
Stranger = understatement.
As I grew, I took no sides in my war
When life was too much, I glimpsed the looking glass of still water starting to clear.
I recognised, this is my home, for now, so i showed myself true, unlimited love.
Maitri, what I never had. Karuna, the delight. Mudita, for every bit of hope I had. Upeksha, boundless home of balance.
During trials of distress, I lose my moment but the Four Unlimited bring me back. Now, I rest.

Every moment was a storm
every moment I was a leaf that never grew.
Peaceful Flower.
It all hurt, no wholesome.
Even joy – so sour.
Emotionally Unstable. Makes sense.
Such disarray of broken doors, open and shattered windows, furniture upturned.
I.had.no,home.
Feelings often carry me to new islands, but there are treasures to discover, sometimes.
As I breathe into my lower dan tian, my life source, my Buddha,
solid I remain, rooted am I.
My old compass guiding me to insight, the flow of words follow, ink on trees,
such bewildering interbeing, I see you.
My sun, my water, my earth.
I come back to still water and soft greenery. A clean home, secure.

So fickle are my formations, habits long established forced upon me as I grew.
Lifelong illbeing making more connections yet my diligence remains ever the same.
So quick is despair, so lovely is faith.
My mind is a reef, plethora of protections and sensitivities.
Too hot? I shrink. Too cold? I am laid bare.
Yet despite intricacy, I am full of fervour, creatures in glorious communion.
Go further down and you will see I am vast and span endlessly.
I am an interconnected mystery in simplicity.
Maitri, awareness of self. Karuna, embracing wholly. Mudita, savouring my time. Upeksha, all is because that is.

So lost I have been, that I did not cherish what once was
Never feeling the leaves turning, I never truly saw.
I was blinded by endings and left utterly bereft, unstable was I.
In a dream it clicked, a snapping of fingers and a clapping of hands, by beloved Tara.
I awoke renewed.
Does death truly exist? I freed myself from those tiresome shackles
I cannot escape the ending of this manifestation but I will continue
somewhere, somehow.
I will leave a legacy of love.
Maitri, I am present. Karuna, unending understanding. Mudita, I nourish my seeds. Upeksha, open to everything.

I am forgetful of the true roots. Those who came before me, who are now around me, who will one day come.
I am more than me. I am billions of creatures, trillions of flora and fauna.
My body will nourish a tree to become ancient. My mind will transform. I will become a part of the cosmic more me than ever.
It will be gentle and kind to me, such beauty.
I will become the essence of light.
Maitri, for all of us. Karuna, for all of us. Mudita, for all of us. Upeksha, for all of us.

Future learning

• Suicide first aid – as a MHFA, it seems only natural to complete SFA. It is a one day course and I can also complete an assignment for a recognised level 4 award. My motivation is because I understand how to help family and friends but not completely outside of those close relationships. It feels like a natural fit to learn more, it is my passion. It is booked in for the end of March.
• There will be a second attempt of Looking Deeply where I will attend all six sessions, so I can share better and make the most of the community.
• Living Mindfully – whether I can complete it this year is to be determined but it seems like the next logical progression. There is focus upon the five mindfulness training which are essential. I will hope to further improve my meditative practice.

Journal prompt: is there a subject I would like to learn, if so, how can it be achieved? What is my why?

Kindly, Leanne x