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Nhat Hanh

Nhat Hanh Quotes

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Famous Nhat Hanh Quotes

“Scientists tell us that we have enough technology to save our planet. . . . Yet we don't take advantage of this new technology. . . . The technological has to work hand-in-hand with the spiritual. Our spiritual life is the element that can bring about the energies of peace, calm, brotherhood, understanding, and compassion. Without that, our planet doesn't stand a chance.”

EnoughHandsSpiritualLife IsEnergyUnderstandingChanceCompassionTechnologyPlanetsElementsAdvantageScientistCalmContemplationBrotherhoodSpiritual LifeTechnologicalOur PlanetHand In HandNew TechnologySave Our PlanetUnderstanding And Compassion
Book:The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.”

IfsKnowsLoveNeedsTryingWellsLooksMayPersonsDoeReasonProblemCareGrowsUnderstandingWaterKnow HowSunEffectsPositive ThinkingArgumentBlamePlantTrue LoveTake CareMeaningfulReasoningFertilizerLettucePeace Is Every StepBlaming OthersDeep MeaningBuddhist Monk
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life. We cannot support any act of killing; no killing can be justified. But not to kill is not enough ... If in your thinking you allow the killing to go on, you also break this precept. We must be determined not to condone killing, even in our minds.”

IfsThinkingWorldWayMindEnoughBreakSupportGoes OnKillingDeterminedMy WayJustifiedDeath PenaltyI Am Determined
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Sometimes when I am alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else.”

IfsKnowsKindSometimesCareDarkRoomsPracticeLaughterTake CareBe KindLove Myself
Book:Be Free Where You Are: A Talk Given at the Maryland Correctional Institute: Easyread Super Large 20pt Edition
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“If love is in our hearts, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle. Because understanding is the very foundation of love, words and actions that emerge from our love are always helpful.”

IfsHeartActionUnderstandingLove IsMiracleFoundationDeedsHelpfulOur LoveWords And ActionsFoundation Of Love
Book:Wisdom from Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
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“In Buddhism, we speak of touching Nirvana with our own body, In Christianity, you can also touch the Kingdom of God with your body, right here and now. it is much safer than placing our hope in the future. If we cling to the idea of hope in the future, we might not notice the peace and joy that are available in the present moment. The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.”

IfsWayLifeIdeasMomentsBodyMightCareJoySpeakChristianityBuddhismAvailableTake CareYour BodyBest WayKingdomsPresent MomentTouchingKingdom Of GodHere And NowPeace And Joy
Book:Living Buddha, Living Christ 20th Anniversary Edition
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“We have to understand in order to be of help. We all have pain, but we tend to suppress it, because we don't want it to come up to our living room. the most important thing is that we need to be understood. We need someone to be able to listen to us and to understand us, then we will suffer less, but everyone is suffering, and no one wants to listen. We don't know how to express ourselves so that people can understand. because we suffer so much, the way we express our pain hurts other people, and they don't want to listen.”

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Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Listening is a very deep practice. You have to empty yourself. You have to leave space in order to listen especially to people we think are our enemies - the ones we believe are making our situation worse. When you have shown your capacity for listening and understanding, the other person will begin to listen to you, and you have a change to tell him or her of your pain, and it's your turn to be healed. This is the practice of peace.”

PeopleThinkingBelievePersonsPainOrderTurnsUnderstandingSpaceSituationEnemyPracticeListeningEmpathyCapacityEmptyHealedVery Deep
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Reconciliation is a deep practice that we can do with our listening and our mindful speech. To reconcile means to bring peace and happiness to nations, people, and members of our family.... In order to reconcile, you have to possess the art of deep listening.”

PeopleMeanArtOrderNationsCan DoPracticeListeningSpeechMembersEmpathyOur FamilyReconciliationReconcilePeace And HappinessDeep Listening
Book:For a Future to Be Possible: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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“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?”

PeopleIfsWantNeedsHumansStillsAbleSufferingSidesChanceAbilityPartySituationImpossibleOne ThingListeningAvailableBoth SidesReconciliationReconcile
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“The therapist does not treat patients by simply giving them another set of beliefs. He or she tries to help them see which kinds of ideas and beliefs have led to their suffering. Many patients want to get rid of their painful feelings, but they do not want to get rid of their beliefs, the viewpoints that are the very roots of their feelings.”

WantGivingTryingKindDoeIdeasHelpingFeelingsSufferingBeliefRootsTreatsPatientPainfulTherapistsViewpointsPainful Feelings
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“The Noble Eight-Fold Path is the path of living in awareness. Mindfulness is the foundation. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop concentration, which enables you to attain understanding. Thanks to right concentration, you realize right awareness, thoughts, speech, action, livelihood and effort. The understanding which develops can liberate you from every shackle of suffering and give birth to true peace and joy.”

GivingActionJoySufferingUnderstandingRealizingEffortPathAwarenessBirthMoralitySpeechMindfulnessEthicsFoundationEightNobleThanksConcentrationFoldsLivelihoodShacklesPeace And JoyTrue Peace
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Dealing with our overweight - or with any of our life's difficulties, for that matter - is not a battle to be fought. Instead, we must learn how to make friends with our hardships and challenges. They are there to help us; they are natural opportunities for deeper understanding and transformation, brining us more joy and peace as we learn to work with them.”

MatterHelpingMotivationalJoyOpportunityUnderstandingNaturalChallengesOur LivesBattleDifficultyTransformationDeeperHardshipOverweightDeeper Understanding
Book:Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life
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“Walk and touch peace every moment. Walk and touch happiness every moment. Each step brings a fresh breeze. Each step makes a flower bloom. Kiss the Earth with your feet. Bring the Earth your love and happiness. The Earth will be safe when we feel safe in ourselves.”

LoveFeelsMomentsEarthPeaceWalksStepsFeetFlowerSelf LoveSafeKissingBreezeHappiness And LoveBlooming Flower
Book:The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation
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“Understanding and Love are not two separate things, but just one. To develop understanding, you have to practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion. When you understand, you cannot help but love. And when you love, you naturally act in a way that can relieve the suffering of people.”

PeopleWayLoveTwoHelpingEyeSufferingUnderstandingCompassionPracticeLove YouAnd LoveBuddhistJust OneInspirational LoveUnderstanding And LoveUnderstanding You
Author:Nhat Hanh
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