Thay Misses The SanghaThay Misses The Sangha
Friday, 21 August 2009 01:00 | 
Written by Thầy | 
Boston - August 2009
click here to read Thay's letter in pdf format...
"Dear Friends and Co-practitioners at the Retreat One Buddha is not enough, Estes Park, CO.
My dear friends,
I am writing to you from the Massachusettes General Hospital in Boston. I know the Sangha has manifested today in Estes Park. I miss the Reterat. I miss the beautiful setting of the REtreat. Especially I miss the Sangha, I miss you. I always enjoy sitting with the Sangha, walking with the Sangha, breathing with the Sangha. The joy of being together, sharing the Dharma and the practice together is always very nourishing and healing...
But I do not suffer, because I know I am taking care of myself. And taking care of myself is to take care of you. The doctors here decided that I should stay 14 days here for the treatment of a lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Please do not worry. It is only an infection. But it has to be treated right away. My kidneys, my liver, my heart, my digestive tract all function well. I am given two strong anti-biotics, from I.V. injections per day. And the clinicians here are monitoring closely the process of treatment. I am allowed to go out of the hospital to the park nearby one hour per day to do walking meditation.
There are almost 1000 of us now practicing together at the Estes Park Retreat. It must be joyful. I am confident that our many Dharma teachers, lay and monastics, are conduction the Retreat the best way we can.
Dear friends, if you look deeply enough, you will see me in the Retreat, walking with you, sitting with you, breathing with you. I feel clearly that I am in you and you are in me. In this Retreat, you will witness to the talent of the Sangha: You will see that Thay is already well continued by the Sangha, and the Presence of the Sangha carries Thay's presence. Please let me walk with your strong feet, breathe with your healthy lungs and smile with your beautiful smiles.
We had finished a wonderful and joyful retreat at Stonehill College in the Sate of Massachusettes before Thay went to the Hospital for a check-up. The doctors said that we should not delay the treatments. So Thay is doing his best here for you and you are doing your best up there for Tahy. In that way we can still enjoy our true togetherness. Please enjoy the retreat for me, and bring home a set of the Dharma talks given at the Stonehill Retreat, especially the last one.
I hope to write to you again in a few days, before the end of the Retreat,
Yours faithfully,"
Nhat Hanh
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My heart is always with you! I learned about you and your teachings from my therapist a little less than 2 years ago. Since than, I have read two of your books and watched various videos online. You are a beautiful person and I pray for you and your quick recovery.
Bless You,
Andrew
I send prayers for your full recovery. Such sorrow I felt when hearing of your hospitalization in Massachusetts. Nearly half our sangha have been at the Estes Park retreat, and I know there must have been a powerful love present there sending healing energy to you, our dear teacher. We have been studying your teachings for six years now. Thank you.
Deanna (Comforting Ears of the Heart)
Such sorrow I felt when I learned of your hospitalization from the newsletter of the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. Nearly half our sangha here in Albuquerque have been in Estes Park during the past week sharing in the love of each other and the monks and nuns. I was not there this year, yet I missed you. I send prayers for your full recovery. You have been the source of teachings in our sangha for six years now. We continue to learn and to grow. Thank you, Thay.
I breathe and send love and good health to you,
Deanna (Comforting Ears of the Heart)
I am praying for you ,and am remembering your teachings. Breath in , Breath out. Be well my dear teacher.
with love and peace, Mary
I trust that the doctors there are looking after you very well. And I trust that you are looking after yourself. So, the only thing left is to wish you a very quick recovery and a very prompt return to your sangha and your meetings with them.
Warmest regards
Julio
written by Eric Forrer , August 28, 2009
Please do not rush the recovery as I did. I asked to be released from the hospital as I started feeling much better, but ended up going back in the hospital a week later due to a secondary infection outside of my lungs and in my chest cavity. It really teaches the beauty of the breath doesn't it?
Well wishes,
Eric
I am just home from the retreat in Colorado. Your presence and continuation was SO STRONGLY felt by me and everyone practicing. The Sangha was a beautiful body to behold. I send you much love and healing energy! Be well, Joyful Awareness of the Heart
You are always with us and I am happy that you are taking the time to rest your dear lungs...my lungs send their love to your lungs with each breath!
No words to express gratitude in my heart (and in my lungs also)
Karen
I was at the retreat in Estes Park and received a certificate for the Five Mindful Trainings. This was my first retreat and I am excited for the next one! I came home last night and put on your chanting CD on suffering from Graceful Passages and I cried deeply. I became aware of how much I truly missed you during the retreat. I am grateful beyond words that I experienced the Sanga, the beautiful sisters and brothers, monks and nuns. We are a growing family. I am shining bright , love "True Presence of the Heart".
we are so happy to hear that you have now left the hospital.we have been with you all this time and sending you lots of healthy energy.
You are within us and we are within you
smiling always
From the Netherlands we are following closely what happens in the States and feel very much with you and the whole sangha. We pray for you to recover fully so that you will be able to continue with your activities. Take good care of yourself, this is all that the sangha asks.
Be well, be safe, be happy.
Francoise
Today I will practice mindful breathing with more than usual mindfulness, because I am breathing for Thay's lungs. Please enjoy the green air from my garden with its beautiful bodhi tree, birds singing, and children's laughter. My youngest son is learning about leadership at school and has chosen to do his project on you, which makes me very happy. He still treasures having walked hand in hand with Thay in Plum Village. We will walk hand in hand in our garden, together with Thay, smiling for Thay. Wherever the Sangha walks, there you walk.
Thank you and wishing your body healing,
love and lotuses from Bangkok
Joanna, Matt, Jerry
Today I will practice mindful breathing with even more mindfulness, since Sangha lungs are Thay's lungs. Please breathe in the deep green of the Bodhi tree in my garden, the songs of the birds, and the laughter of my children. Dear Thay, my youngest son is learning about leadership at school and has chosen to do his project on you, which I am very happy about. He still treasures having walked hand in hand with Thay in Plum Village. We will walk together in the garden, hand in hand, as you have taught us. We are glad that you are always walking with the Sangha.
with love and lotuses from Thailand
Joanna, Matt and Jerry
My thougts are with you
Con kinh loi tham Thay va cau mong Thay mau chong binh phuc.
Chau to Phuong, Thuy Dien (Sweden)
Listening to the sound of the bell,
her powerful vibration is felt
all around the world.
breathing in - fresh new zealand countryside air,
breathing out our lungs are your lungs
your lungs are our lungs
with great love and breath
from the gardens of Dharma Gaia
I am praying for you to get well soon!
Sincerely,
Damien
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Last Updated (Monday, 24 August 2009 02:50)
My heart is with you. I learned about you and your teachings from my therapist about a little less than 2 years ago. Since then, I have read two of your books and watched various videos online. I wish you nothing but the best and please remember that there are so many people that care of you and hope that you have a speedy recovery.
Bless You,
Andrew