Tag Archives: Thich Nhat Hanh
Aimlessness
“The Heart Sutra says that there is ‘nothing to attain.’ We meditate not to attain enlightenment, because enlightenment is already in us. We don’t have to search anywhere. We don’t need a purpose or a goal. We don’t practice in order to obtain some high position. In aimlessness, we see that we do not lack …
Fake It ’til you Make It
“Why should I smile when there is no joy in me? The answer to that is: smiling is a practice. There are over three hundred muscles in your face. When you are angry or fearful, these muscles tense up. The tension in these muscles creates a feeling of hardness. If you know how to breathe …
Just Breathe
It does seem like we’re being led constantly from one outrage to another. Maybe the first step towards clearing the muddy water is to stop agitating it. Or, as Thich Nhat Hanh put it: We do so much, we run so quickly, the situation is difficult, and many people say, “Don’t just sit there, do …
Impermanence
“It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent, when they are not.” ~Thic Nhat Hanh
Stop
“Meditation is not meant to help us avoid problems or run away from difficulties. It is meant to allow positive healing to take place. To meditate is to learn how to stop– to stop being carried away by our regrets about the past, our anger or despair in the present, or our worries about the …
Resist
“When we are pushed and pulled in many different directions, we lose our sovereignty. We’re not free. Don’t allow yourself to be carried away anymore. Resist. Each mindful step is a step toward freedom.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
:-)
“When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension from our face as we smile. Others who run into us notice it, even strangers, and are likely to smile back. It is a wonderful chain reaction that we can initiate, …
Habits 2
“We drink a cup of tea, but we do not know we are drinking a cup of tea. We sit with the person we love, but we don’t know that she is there. We walk, but we are not really walking. We are someplace else, thinking about the past or the future. The horse of …
Garbage in…
“When we read a magazine, we consume. When we watch a television program, we consume. Whatever we consume affects our body and mind. If we consume toxic magazine articles, movies, or video games, they will feed our craving, our anger, and our fear.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Like a Storm
“When a feeling of sadness, despair, or anger arises, we should stop what we are doing in order to go home to ourselves and take care. We can sit or lie down and begin to practice mindful breathing. The daily practice of breathing can be very helpful. A strong emotion is like a storm, and …
Who?
“Ask yourself, ‘Who can I make smile this morning?’ This is the art of creating happiness.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
