We lost a modern-day bodhisattva this past week. Thich Nhat Hanh taught about the simplicity of mindfulness in everyday life, but also was an activist and global messenger for peace. In this episode, Diana speaks with Dr. Larry Ward, who was ordained as a lay minister and Dharma teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh and is the author of the book America’s Racial Karma. Dr. Ward shares his experience of racial trauma, how the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh healed his nervous system, and Dr. Ward’s understanding of racial trauma at the biological, psychological, and systemic levels.

About Dr. Larry Ward

Larry Ward (pronouns- he/him) is a senior teacher in Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition and the author of the book America’s Racial Karma. Dr. Ward brings 25 years of international experience in organizational change and local community renewal to his work as Director of The Lotus Institute and as an advisor to the Executive Mind Leadership Institute at the Drucker School of Management. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Buddhism and the neuroscience of meditation.

Key Takeaways

• Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings mirror modern-day neuroscience, behaviorism, and social activism
• We plant “seeds” with our daily actions, and it’s up to us to plant and water wholesome seeds
• America’s racial karma is embedded in a context of biology, society, and repeated patterns over time
• Healing trauma involves healing a nervous system and body-based practices including Noble Silence, time in nature, movement, and recognizing that you are not your trauma
• Some of the body-based practices Larry uses include: walking in nature, gratitude in daily activities, laziness throughout the day, and evening and morning rituals
• As conscious human beings, we must look into how our minds have been conditioned
• The only way to break the cycle of hate is to look at our own humanity
• There is a difference between anger and ethics. Anger is energy, ethics is what you do with that energy

Related Resources

• Download Your Daily Practice for this episode
• Find out what kind of Striver you are and get your free Skillful Striving Toolkit
• America’s Racial Karma: An Invitation to Heal by Larry Ward
• The Lotus Institute
• Find Larry on Facebook and Instagram
• Check out Diana’s mom’s painting of Plum Village 
• A Poem by Larry Ward: What can I Say About My Beloved Teacher?
• Learn from Larry Ward at Earthgate: Larry Ward’s Online Course
• Learn more about Plum Village, France
• Read Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh
• Diana’s interview with the Psychology of Radical Healing Collective

Diana’s Events

• Reserve your spot in Diana’s Reset and Restore Retreat in Costa Rica in 2023!
• Sign up for Diana’s From Striving to Thriving Summit!
• See Diana at an upcoming event

Connecting With Diana

Thank you for listening to Your Life in Process! Subscribe to the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts. If you have any questions or feedback you can contact Diana by email podcast@yourlifeinprocess.com or leave Diana an audio message at (805) 457-2776. Follow Diana at YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.

Thank you to the team Craig, Angela Stubbs, Ashley Hiatt, and Abby Diehl. Thank you to Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Remember when you become psychologically flexible, you become free.

Episode Segments

• [00:00] – Introduction
• [01:14] – About Dr. Larry Ward
• [02:35] – Teachings From Retreat At Plum Village
• [04:22] – What Is America’s Racial Karma?
• [08:19] – Larry Ward’s Experience With Racial Trauma
• [11:07] – Practices From Thich Nhat Hanh For Healing Trauma
• [12:41] – Mindful Movement Of The Body
• [15:04] – Cultivating Laziness
• [19:57] – Defining Racial Karma As A Pattern
• [23:06] – Diana’s Upcoming Events
• [23:43] – Working With Avoidance
• [28:27] – How To Work With Anger Energy
• [32:59] – Culture Cannot Be Separated From Individual Behavior
• [37:04] – Interbeing, Eco-spirituality, And Sacred Imagination
• [39:56] – Simple Summary
• [40:44] – Your Daily Practice
• [41:39] – Connect With The Show