In the summer of 2001 in Plum Village, a few dozen Israelis and Palestinians spent two weeks with us practicing walking meditation together, sharing meals, listening to teachings on mindfulness meditation, and learning deep listening and gentle, loving speech. At the end of their stay, the community gathered and our visitors stood up and gave a report. After only two weeks of practice, they had been transformed. They had become a community of brothers and sisters, Palestinians and Israelis. They said, "Dear community, dear Thay [teacher], when we first came to Plum Village we couldn't believe it. It did not look real to us because it is so peaceful. In Plum Village, we did not feel the anger, tension, and fear that we feel constantly in the Middle East. People look at each other with kind eyes; they speak to each other lovingly. There is peace, communication, brotherhood and sisterhood." One member wrote to me afterward, "Thay, this is the first time that I have believed that peace is possible in the Middle East."

What did we do to make the Third Noble Truth of Buddhism -- well-being and peace are possible -- real to them? Honestly, we did not do much. We just embraced these friends from the Middle East as brothers and sisters. Together we followed the basic practice: to do everything mindfully. We establish ourselves in the here and now to touch life deeply. We practice mindfulness while we breathe, walk and talk, brush our teeth, chop vegetables, and wash dishes.

We trained them to speak so that the other side could hear, understand, and accept. They spoke calmly, without condemnation or judgment. They told the other side of the suffering they, their children, and their societies had endured. They all had the chance to speak of their fear, anger, hatred, and despair. Many felt for the first time that they were listened to and understood, which relieved much of their suffering. We listened deeply, opening our hearts with the intention to help them express and heal themselves.

We were reminded that during the Vietnam War, we Vietnamese had suffered terribly. Yet our practice allowed us then and now to see that our world is beautiful, with all the wonders of life available every day. That is why we know that our friends from the Middle East, too, can practice peace in the middle of war.

Before going back to the Middle East, our friends promised to continue the practice. They told us they would organize local weekly meetings to continue to walk together, sit and breathe together, share a meal, and listen to each other. Every month they have done this. They practice true peace even in the midst of war.

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