Born in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, Cuong Lu emigrated to the Netherlands in 1980 where he later studied at Plum Village under and later became ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh.
He served as a prison chaplain for 6 years and later founded the Mind Only School in the Netherlands, where he teaches Buddhist philosophy and psychology.
He is the author of The Buddha in Jail: Restoring Lives, Finding Hope and Freedom, Wait: A Love Letter to Those in Despair, Happiness is Overrated: Simple Lessons on Finding Meaning in Each Moment, and the upcoming At Peace filled with Joy Buddhist Wisdom from the Dhammapada.
We discuss how Cuong Lu came to Plum Village and his journey as a monk, teacher, chaplain and author. Cuong Lu talks to us about suffering and finding your true self and true home, the concept of fear/non-fear and that each student and person is your teacher.
*Read the open letter written by Cuong Lu to party leader Tô Lâm, urging him to no longer place fear and repression above wisdom and compassion.
Podcast edited by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio, www.trainsoundstudio.com
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Photo: Shambhala Publications
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