Is renunciation about retreating into the forest to avoid people, or about standing in the middle of the crowd while the mind remains undisturbed? This is the fundamental question anyone stepping onto the path of practice must face. In Nepal on February 28, 2026, Master Minh Tue gave an answer that could not be clearer.
Buddhist disciple asks: I see that you have changed; previously you used to find an empty spot to eat and turn your face away, but recently you sit in an open space among the crowd for everyone to film and take photos freely? (February 28, 2026 – Nepal)
Master Minh Tue answers:
That is my renunciation.
If I see myself sitting here eating and people are filming, and I am not happy, I hate it, then it brings afflictions to myself.
Now, it’s fine if they film, and fine if they don’t. Being able to maintain peace anywhere is much better. This is a matter of learning and practicing for myself.
Many people are curious to know how I eat and sleep, whether I am truly a practitioner, so I sit there for them to see.
Even if they film or ask more questions, I still practice keeping my mind in check.
Training in contemplating emptiness: not me, not mine. If I still cling, I will definitely suffer.
I haven’t reached the perfect level yet, but I am practicing gradually every day to adapt.
* Master Minh Tue always gives brief and concise answers suitable for the listener in each circumstance. Below is a deeper explanation and analysis so that those who wish to learn can thoroughly grasp the Master’s teachings.
From “Avoidance” to “Acceptance”: The journey of expanding consciousness
Many people mistakenly think that practicing means abandoning the secular world, having to hide in deep forests and high mountains to find silence. Initially, when the mind is still weak, avoiding noises (finding empty places to eat, turning away when filmed) is a way to protect concentration. However, that is only an outer layer of protection.
When the Master decided to sit among the crowd, it was not a compromise with fame, but a transformation from formal renunciation to inner renunciation. If being filmed makes one feel “not happy, hateful” in the heart, then that Mind of Anger is exactly the root of affliction. Overcoming that discomfort, reaching the state of “fine if they film, fine if they don’t” is the true peak of inner freedom.
Practicing “Contemplating Emptiness” and the truth of Non-Self
The Master mentioned a core practice of Buddhism: “Training in contemplating emptiness: not me, not mine.” This is the realization of the truth of Non-Self (Anatta).
Why do we suffer when we are scrutinized, criticized, or bothered? Because we cling tightly to the “I” (Ego) and things belonging to “I” (Mine). We think: “MY privacy is being invaded,” “MY honor is damaged.”
The practice of Contemplating Emptiness helps the practitioner realize that this body, these feelings are not truly ours, they are just a borrowing of the five aggregates. When the “I” shrinks to zero, all praise and blame, all camera lenses pointed at us just pass through like shining into an endless void. If there is no “I” to be hurt, how can there be suffering?
A lesson on adaptation in life
The Master’s sincere confession: “I haven’t reached the perfect level yet, but I am practicing gradually every day to adapt” is a great source of inspiration. Enlightenment is not a magical transformation overnight, but a persistent daily practice.
For us laypeople as well, instead of constantly trying to change circumstances or running away from people we don’t like, let’s learn to keep our minds calm right amidst those storms. Circumstances do not make us suffer, it is our clinging that is the fire burning ourselves.
In your view, what is the hardest aspect of renunciation in modern daily life?
Leave a comment below to share your perspective and learn from one another.
