Maple Village Dharma Study, April 21, 2026 session
Assigned Reading: Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Chapter 6
First, let me introduce you to a lovely little friend – a North American Cardinal. Last Saturday morning, while walking to the bus stop, I suddenly heard a call: “Friend… friend… I’m here, here, here, here… friend… friend… I’m here, here, here, here…”
Tracing the call, I found a bird high up on a branch. This was not the first time I had admired the bright red plumage of a cardinal, but it was the first time I had heard its song. I stopped, gazed at the little friend for several minutes, and listened to it sing in the morning sunlight. With its presence, its melodious singing, the cardinal made me smile. It brought me joy on a seemingly ordinary Saturday morning.
The following verses can be found in a sutra that our sangha at Maple Village always included in our rituals during the early years:
I vow to smile brightly
as I breathe out
To learn to view life
through the contemplative eye
To try to understand
the suffering of all creatures
To practice compassion,
generosity, and forgiveness
In the morning, to bring more joy to others
In the afternoon, to help alleviate their suffering.
In the morning, bring more joy to others; in the afternoon, alleviate their suffering… Bringing joy, alleviating suffering… We often think we have to do something, say something to the person we want to help. What can we do to bring joy? What can we say to alleviate suffering? In many situations, practicing these two principles is not as easy as we may think. I faced such a situation more than 30 years ago, when I visited Chan Sinh in his final days. Being with him in the hospital room, I was truly at a loss. I did not know what to do, what to say; everything felt clumsy. Fortunately, Chan Sinh and I understood each other well, having shared a long journey at Maple Village. To the brother about to leave forever. I earnestly asked: Chan Sinh, in a moment like this, what should one do, what should one say that is best and most beautiful for the person one loves? Chan Sinh’s answer has stayed with me ever since: “One need only be a flower.”
The same advice is echoed in these two lines of poetry:
Be like a flower standing still by the fence.
Be a smile, be a part of this miraculous existence.
I understood. You need only to be present, to exist… Be yourself, with a kind, fresh, and peaceful heart. Everyone enjoys a new baby’s presence, not just the doting grandparents.
How, then, do we care for the inner child within us? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings remind us to practice presence. Practicing presence will enable us to
recognize
listen
talk
write a letter
share
The cardinal of Saturday morning appeared on its own, like a little child. It sang a song welcoming spring, which I interpreted as “Friend… friend… I’m here, here, here, here…” It painted my spring morning pink. It was present, and I felt it and responded with my own practice of being present!
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