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Thich Nhat Hanh, The Path of Emancipation
Peace is always available. If there is a set of stairs in your house, sign an agreement with it. Commit yourself to going up and down those stairs in mindfulness, and train yourself to enjoy every step. If you take the bus to work, sign a treaty with the road leading from your house to the bus stop. Vow to walk to the bus stop with mindful steps. It doesn't have to be a long path; forty or fifty steps is enough. Walking meditation is a wonderful way to learn how to live each moment of our daily life deeply. Please try it.
Peace is always available
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
Right Action is closely linked with . . . the Five Mindfulness trainings. The First Training is about reverence for life: "Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life." We may be killing every day by the way we eat, drink, and use the land, air, and water. We think that we don't kill, but we do. Mindfulness of action helps us be aware so we can stop the killing and begin saving and helping.
Reverence for life
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Path of Emancipation
Talking takes away the precious time we share here. We are not depriving ourselves of the joy of talking or imposing silence on ourselves so that we can become a Buddha. We need the silence to enjoy our own presence and the presence of our Dharma brothers and sisters. This kind of silence is very alive, powerful, nourishing, and transforming. It is not oppressive or sad. Together we can create this kind of noble silence. Sometimes it is described as "thundering silence" because it is so powerful.
Together we can create this kind of noble silence.
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art of Power
I take my time. I want to be myself. I don't deny myself in the here and now. This is our practice — we call it aimlessness. We don't put a goal in front of ourselves and run after it constantly. If we do, we'll be running all our life and never be happy. Happiness is only possible when you stop running and cherish the present moment and who you are. Who you are is a wonder, you don't need to be someone else. You are a wonder of life.
You are a wonder of life
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
When we listen with our whole being, we can defuse a lot of bombs.
When we listen with our whole being
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Art of Power
Without compassion, you can't be happy, no matter how rich you are. You become isolated and trapped within your own world, unable to relate to people or understand them. Running after profit at the expense of compassion hurts you as much as it hurts other people.
Without compassion, you can't be happy
Thich Nhat Hanh, Stepping Into Freedom
Lighting a Candle
Lighting this candle,
Offering the light to countless Buddhas,
the peace and joy I feel
brighten the face of the Earth.
Lighting a Candle
Thich Nhat Hanh, Fragrant Palm Leaves
Merit is an important concept to Asian people. In Sanskrit, merit is called punya. In every pagoda in Vietnam, especially in the countryside, laypeople find time to help with whatever work needs to be done. They believe that work done for the pagoda will bear good fruits — material and spiritual — for themselves and their children. The pagoda belongs to all the people; thus anything that benefits the pagoda spiritually benefits the people.
Merit is an important concept
Thich Nhat Hanh, Fragrant Palm Leaves
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.
People have a hard time letting go of suffering
Thich Nhat Hanh, Fragrant Palm Leaves
What makes nature's voice so compelling?... In the symphony of the storm, I heard a call from the heart of the cosmos. I wanted to turn into an areca tree or become a branch bending in the wind. I wanted to be a bird testing the strength of its wings against the wind. I wanted to run outside in the rain and scream, dance, whirl around, laugh, and cry. But I didn't dare. I feared my mother's scolding. So instead I sang for all I was worth.
In the symphony of the storm