I clearly remember waking up on a Sunday morning in 2022 wanting to use Thich Nhat Hanh’s work for the morning meditation. After powering up my PC I did a search on his name, and right on top of the search results was the news that Thich Nhat Hanh had just passed away.
The first memory of Thich Nhat Hanh that jumped into my mind, are some of the most beautiful words ever spoken by any human. It speaks of a way of being in this world…
His wisdom was a huge influence in my life, especially for the way that his words were always practical and spoke of very simple application. There is no theme to the quotes I’m sharing today, I’m simply sharing some of my favourite words by this great teacher:
“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“It’s very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Enlightenment, peace, and joy will not be granted by someone else. The well is within us, And if we dig deeply in the present moment, The water will spring forth.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Walk so that your footprints bear only the marks of peaceful joy and complete freedom. To do this you have to learn to let go. Let go of your sorrows, let go of your worries. That is the secret of walking meditation.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Guiding mantras from Thich Nhat Hanh:
- Smile and share joy. Your happiness brightens the world around you.
- Rest and recharge. Prioritize self-care to enhance clarity and productivity.
- Soften strong opinions. It will help you see more.
- Walk with mindful intention. Every step an expression of love.
If you’re interested in the story of his life, this is a great article to read: https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/biography/
I hope you’re having a great weekend!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Finding silence.