Recognizing that my habit energies are deeply ingrained, I learn to be patient with myself.

We also learn not to identify ourselves with our illness; this illness is a part of us, but it is not everything about us. There is ill-being in certain parts of our body, but there is well-being in the rest of our body as well.

We may still cry, but we’re crying with our suffering, not because of it.

The capacity to stop the chattering mind so it can dwell fully in the present moment determines our capacity to let go of suffering and to touch joy and happiness.

We should be able to rejoice in the wellness of our being, physically and mentally. We definitely don’t have to play the role of a sick person for attention or pity.

Sometimes others are unskillful toward us. When this happens, remember to breathe, to smile, to do sitting meditation and walking meditation to release all of the toxins, so that you don’t bring those toxins into your body and mind.

It was so painful that I sat still on the toilet for a long while, breathing and relaxing my body. I thanked my body, “Thank you, my dear, for being able to endure this pain. Thank you.”

Besides visualizing ourselves as a tree, we can also practice “tree hugging meditation.” Stand in front of a tree, look at it, and breathe mindfully. When you close your eyes, you will see the image of the tree in your mind’s eye. You see yourself as the tree, and then you bow to the tree, hug it, and breathe with it. In moments of stillness, you w

Thay would ask, “What is this moment, my child?” and then a sister or a brother would smile and reply, “Dear Thay, this is a happy moment.” It’s a mantra, because when we pronounce it, we have mindfulness of our breathing and of our body.