Nhat Hanh
Nhat Hanh
Thích Nhất Hạnh; born as Nguyen Xuan Bao on October 11, 1926) is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist. He lives in Plum Village in the Dordogne region in the south of France, travelling internationally to give retreats and talks. He coined the term "Engaged Buddhism" in his book Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire. A long-term exile, he was given permission to make his first return trip to Vietnam in 2005...
NationalityVietnamese
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth11 October 1926
CountryVietnam
Nhat Hanh quotes about
- peaceful
- cooperation
- illusion
- done
- world
- unconditional-love
- forbidden-love
- return
- meditation-practice
- anchors
- walking-meditation
- silence
- understanding
- just-listen
- kingdoms
- kingdom-of-god
- available
- buddhism
- acceptance
- deep-love
- community
- meditation
- awakening
- satanic
- personal-growth
- mindfulness
- moments
- peace-is-every-step
- needs
- safe
Compassion is a verb.
If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into the situation-our own situation, the situation of our beloved one, the situation of our family and of our community, and the situation of our nation and of the other nations?
I realize that many elements of the Buddhist teaching can be found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam. I think if Buddhism can help, it is the concrete methods of practice.
We have the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast. But in the name of freedom, people have done a lot of damage. I think we have to build a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast in order to counterbalance. Because liberty without responsibility is not true liberty. We are not free to destroy.
Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings.
Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice... No one can prevent you from being aware of each step you take or each breath in and breath out.
Nonviolent action, born of the awareness of suffering and nurtured by love, is the most effective way to confront adversity.
The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. (21)
The fact is that when you make the other suffer, he will try to find relief by making you suffer more. The result is an escalation of suffering on both sides.
To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work of reconciliation. And humans want to take sides. That is why the situation gets worse and worse. Are there people who are still available to both sides? They need not do much. They need do only one thing: Go to one side and tell all about the suffering endured by the other side, and go to the other side and tell all about the suffering endured by this side. This is our chance for peace. But how many of us are able to do that?
Total relaxation is the secret to enjoying sitting meditation. I sit with my spine upright, but not rigid; and I relax all the muscles in my body.
Mindfulness is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves.
I am determined to practice deep listening. I am determined to practice loving speech.
What we most need to do is to hear within us the sound of the Earth crying.