(Half bell)
(Bell)
I was depressed for years, since (I was) a young child.
And in the last couple of months,
the depression has lifted, which is really wonderful.
And I think it's lifted because of what I have learned here.
I am sure of that.
My problem is that I run out of steam.
there is so much I would like to do.
I have so many ideas and I wear myself out.
I worry a bit about that. I know I need to take good care of myself.
I do the best I can there,
I cook and eat good food, I garden, I take naps.
I treasure my friends and my beloveds.
But I have this tendency to over-function, to overdo.
And then my husband sometimes thinks I am going crazy
because I have so much energy, and so much that I want to do,
so many ideas, so many plans.
Thank you.
(Sr True Dedication) Dear Thay, dear Sangha,
our friend is one of our neighbors here in Southern Escondido.
She has been experiencing depression since she was a young child.
But remarkably, in the last 2 months, this has lifted.
And she finds herself with a lot of energy and ideas.
And her question is actually that she feels and finds that
perhaps she has too much energy and she is afraid that she will burn herself out
because she has so much steam
and she is nourishing herself with gardening, with cooking good food,
with taking rest and taking care of her relationships
but her husband is worried that might she be going crazy
with this positive energy that she has at this time
and she would like Thay's guidance on how to handle this new situation in her life.
Perhaps you know the meaning of my name, Nhat Hanh.
It means 'only one thing to do'.
(Crowd laughs)
Just do one thing that you like the best.
And you should enjoy doing that,
whether gardening, or taking a nap, or cooking a dish.
You have to put all your mind and body into it and enjoy it.
And that would help you to maintain health.
You don't have to worry about that.
But if you want to do many things at the same time, you cannot enjoy--
anything at the same time, just focus on one thing, one object.
When you walk, do not think, just enjoy walking.
That is what I do.
When you sit, just enjoy sitting.
When you wash the dishes, enjoy washing the dishes.
It's wonderful to be alive, to be standing there and washing the dishes.
The water that you use to wash dishes has come from faraway.
It's a miracle.
And every moment of your daily life can be a happy, wonderful moment.
In that way, the depression cannot come back.
If you know how to live in such a way, every minute is to enjoy.
And how can you enjoy many things at the same time, it's impossible.
Suppose you are eating and watching television at the same time,
you are not concentrated on either the food or the television,
so the pleasure cannot be real.
So mindfulness concentration brings a lot of pleasure and happiness.
Please remember.
(Half bell)
(Bell)