<p>This 59-minute talk was given on May 13, 2004 in New Hamlet, Plum Village, France. The talk was given between retreats to the monastic community and a small number of lay residents and guests.</p> <p>Thank you to Chân Phúc H?i for writing the summary and providing a <a href="https://tnhaudio.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/040513-TNH-Live-Happily-in-the-Present-Moment.pdf"><strong>time-stamped transcript</strong></a>. </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Thay begins this talk with a description of the concept of&#160;<em>Apranihita</em>&#160;or aimlessness.&#160;&#160;Our tendency is to be constantly running, constantly searching.&#160;&#160;We need to stop and reestablish ourselves in the here and now.</li> <li>Walking meditation is a wonderful way to learn how to stop. Can we walk with freedom and happiness?</li> <li>The Buddha said it was possible to live happily in the here and now.&#160;&#160;In the sutra given to the White Clad People (<em>Upasaka Sutra</em>) “live happily in the here and now” occurs five times.</li> <li>The first time our planet was seen from space we were made aware of what a beautiful and precious place the Earth is.&#160;&#160;The Earth is the bastion of life. It is a real paradise.&#160;&#160;The pure land is right here.&#160;</li> <li>What are you searching for? Are you looking for love, for freedom, for understanding?&#160;&#160;We need to get in touch with the wonders of life.&#160;&#160;Our practice is to get in touch. Mindfulness is a very concrete way to go home to the here and now.</li> <li>Having a sangha is of great benefit.&#160;&#160;In a sangha we remind each other that it is fortunate to be alive.&#160;&#160;If we know how to stop running, how to take care of ourselves, how to water seeds of happiness every day, we can transform our suffering.&#160;&#160;Doing this together is wonderful.</li> <li>Thay tells a story about visiting a prison.&#160;&#160;Even in prison a person can be free.&#160;&#160;And even outside of prison a person can be a prisoner of anger, despair, and hate.&#160;&#160;</li> <li>Freedom is freedom from fear, from anger, from forgetfulness.&#160;&#160;And our practice is the practice of freedom.&#160;&#160;Our practice is the practice of awakening.</li> <li>The twenty-four brand new hours given to us every morning are a precious gift.&#160;&#160;The day when we lay down to die we cannot bargain for another day.&#160;&#160;Today is available, and if we are lucky, tomorrow will also be available.</li> </ul>