Four Phrases to Keep the Heart Amidst the World's Bustle

**Summary:** A teaching on the contemplation of phenomena from the Foundations of Mindfulness, helping practitioners harmonize between non-attachment and loving engagement with the world, keeping the mind unattached amidst the stream of life.

In the late afternoon at a small temple on the city's edge, the bell for the daily practice had just ceased. A young monk sat on the temple's porch, looking out at the dirt path before the gate. In the distance, a few motorbikes passed, raising clouds of dust. The words of his elder teacher from that afternoon still echoed in his mind: "Monastics in this age must engage with conditions and circumstances so much. You must have four phrases to protect yourself."

He recalled that when he first ordained, he often sought out quiet, secluded places to focus on contemplating the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena. But modern life had led him into the city, meeting lay devotees, managing temple affairs, sometimes even needing to go all the way to Saigon to handle business. Amidst the bustling crowds, grand buildings, upscale cafes, and beautiful women passing by, he felt his mind waver. Many times, after returning to the temple, those images still lingered, leaving him restless and uneasy.

One day, he went to seek counsel from his elder teacher:

"Venerable Sir, I practice at the temple, yet my mind is constantly disturbed by external scenes. I fear becoming attached, yet I must engage with the world so much. What should I do?"

The elder monk looked at the young monk, smiled gently, and spoke slowly:

"You must study the contemplation of phenomena from the Foundations of Mindfulness Discourse. The Buddha taught: contemplate the body as impure, contemplate feelings as suffering, contemplate the mind as non-self, contemplate phenomena as impermanent. These four sentences are like four mantras to protect yourself. When you walk alone, you see this body is impure, this mind is non-self. When a beautiful figure appears in the distance, you contemplate the impermanence of phenomena and look away. Thus, you are not engulfed."

The young monk nodded, but still had doubts:

"Venerable Sir, if I always avoid the world, how can I help others? The Buddha taught compassion, to love all beings."

The elder monk pondered for a moment and then said:

"You ask well. This is the duality a practitioner must harmonize: being unattached to the world, yet engaging with it kindly. The Buddha's teachings are not one-sided. If you only focus on keeping yourself pure and remain indifferent to people, they will be indifferent to you too. That is the law of cause and effect. But if you plunge into the world without guarding your mind, you will become mired. You must both love the world and see it as impermanent, as illusory."

The young monk listened, and his heart seemed to open. He recalled the words of Herman Hesse, a writer who once said: "Despite suffering the utmost pain, I still love this mad earthly life." He understood he must be like a lotus in the mud, unstained by the mud, yet rising amidst the world to offer its fragrance.

From then on, whenever he stepped onto the street, he reminded himself: "All that is before my eyes is but a dream, illusory, impermanent." When he saw a beautiful person, he contemplated the body as impure, then looked away. When he encountered scenes of wealth and luxury, he saw them as fleeting and destined to fade. Thanks to this, his mind was no longer swept away. Yet he still warmly welcomed devotees and earnestly helped everyone. He felt he was both pure and closer to the world.

A year later, his temple became crowded with devotees coming to listen to the Dharma. People cherished him because he lived simply and with compassion, yet was very steadfast in the face of all temptations. He often taught his devotees:

"The four contemplations – the body is impure, feelings are suffering, the mind is non-self, phenomena are impermanent – are the four phrases to keep yourself amidst the world's bustle. Through them, we are not engulfed, yet can still love and help the world."

**Meaning of the Story**

The lesson that Venerable Thích Chân Quang wishes to convey is this: A practitioner in the modern age must confront many worldly scenes, and thus needs to keep the mind pure through four contemplations: the body is impure, feelings are suffering, the mind is non-self, phenomena are impermanent. Yet, this does not mean abandoning the world. On the contrary, one must harmonize between non-attachment and compassion – being unattached, yet loving and helping everyone. This is the Middle Way of Buddhism, enabling both progress on the path of practice and benefit for the world.

*Based on a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang*