How can we find a way out of our suffering by going in? What are some simple practices to address our grief, loneliness, insomnia, and anxiety? Diana Hill is honored to sit down with Zen monk Brother Pháp Hữu to explore how to find peace in your body and mind, even in the face of suffering. Brother Pháp Hữu also shares intimate stories from his 10 years with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Take a seat, take a walk, or take some notes. You won’t want to miss this very special episode.

About Brother Pháp Hữu

Brother Pháp Hữu is a senior Teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh’s international community and the Abbot of the monks’ community in Plum Village, the practice center founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in southwest France. Born in Vietnam, he emigrated to Canada as a child. He began training with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of thirteen when he first entered the monastery to become a monk. Thich Nhat Hanh gave him the name Chân Pháp Hữu meaning “True Dharma Friend.” For over ten years, he accompanied Thich Nhat Hanh on his international teaching tours as his attendant and assistant. Today, Brother Pháp Hữu is deeply committed to building community and continuing Thich Nhat Hanh’s legacy, bringing his teachings in particular to businesspeople, families, and young adults. Brother Phap Huu is passionate about basketball, music, and developing new approaches to teamwork, leadership, mentoring and coaching, and is a beloved co-host of the Plum Village podcast, The Way Out is In.

Key Takeaways

• The key processes of psychological flexibility (acceptance, defusion, being present, self-as-context, values, and committed action) are embedded in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings of Engaged Buddhism
• Suffering and happiness are interconnected
• Happiness can be every step of our journey and is not a destination in the future
• We can learn to take care of difficult feelings by calling them by their true names and embracing them with compassion
• With hugging meditation we remember that everything is impermanent, even our relationships
• The 5 remembrances remind us of the preciousness of being alive
• Our true legacy is our actions in speech, mind, and body
• Mindful breathing is a powerful anchor we can return to even in the most challenging moments
• Our peaceful presence in itself is healing to others
• Mindful walking can help us be in touch with life again when we are struggling or scattered
• Nondiscrimination is seeing we are not separate. We let go of ego and take care of each other.
• There are two wings of meditation: 1) Mindfulness 2) Insight
• The present moment holds the past and our future
• When we take care of our inner world we can handle our outer world with more peace and understanding
• The point of life is…(you will have to listen for this one!)

Related Resources

• Download Your Daily Practice for this episode
• Find out what kind of Striver you are and get your free Skillful Striving Toolkit
• Learn more about Plum Village Monastery
• Get the Plum Village Mobile App
• Listen to The Way Out Is In podcast
• Learn the Waking Up Gata that Brother Phap Huu repeats every morning
• Learn more about Hugging Meditation
• Learn more about the 5 Remembrances
• Read books by Thich Nhat Hanh
• Enjoy the Bonus Breathing In, Breathing Out Meditation Brother Phap Huu recorded for us.

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 at yourlifeinprocess dot 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, and Ashley Hiatt. 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
• [00:14] Welcome
• [01:00] About Brother Phap Huu
• [04:52] Diana’s Event: From Striving to Thriving 2.0 Summit
• [07:55] Brother Phap Huu’s Journey to Become a Monk
• [14:37] Our Spiritual Refuge
• [18:01] What Is True Happiness?
• [22:44] How To Respond To Our Feelings With Loving Kindness
• [26:29] Hugging Meditation
• [29:16] Practices For When You Cannot Sleep
• [32:00] The Five Remembrances
• [36:43] Mindful Breathing As Your Best Friend
• [37:41] Grief That Is Held By Love
• [39:20] Mindful Walking With The Mind
• [40:41] Present Moment, Wonderful Moment
• [41:41] Non-Discrimination And Letting Go Of Ego
• [43:15] How To Embrace Suffering
• [44:53] The Way Out Is In
• [47:22] The Two Wings Of Meditation
• [52:30] Working With Anger
• [54:30] What Is the Point Of Life?
• [56:28] Diana’s Summary
• [57:05] Your Daily Practice
• [01:00:00] Connect With The Podcast