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Nhat Hanh

Nhat Hanh Quotes

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Famous Nhat Hanh Quotes

“When you are a young person, you are like a young creek, and you meet many rocks, many obstacles and difficulties on your way. You hurry to get past these obstacles and get to the ocean. But as the creek moves down through the fields, it becomes larges and calmer and it can enjoy the reflection of the sky. It's wonderful. You will arrive at the sea anyway so enjoy the journey. Enjoy the sunshine, the sunset, the moon, the birds, the trees, and the many beauties along the way. Taste every moment of your daily life.”

WayPersonsMomentsPastMovingYoungEnjoyWonderfulTreeJourneySeaSkyRocksFieldsTasteMoonOceanBirdReflectionDifficultyObstaclesSunsetSunshineDaily LifeCreeksCalmerEnjoy The Journey
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“During the last 2,500 years in Buddhist monasteries, a system of seven practices of reconciliation has evolved. Although these techniques were formulated to settle disputes within the circle of monks, i think they might also be of use in our households and in our society.The first practice is Face-to-Face-Sitting.”

ThinkingYearsFirstsUseMightLastsFacesPracticeSittingSevenTechniqueCirclesBuddhistSettlingOur SocietyHouseholdDisputesMonkReconciliationFace To FaceMonasteries
Book:Being Peace
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“Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the beauty of the blue sky? Do we have to practice to be able to enjoy it? No, we just enjoy it. Each second, each minute of our lives can be like this. Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing. We don't need to go to China to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to travel into the future to enjoy our breathing. We can be in touch with these things right now.”

NeedsAbleEnjoyEffortPracticeOur LivesSkyMinutesSpecialRight NowCapacityBlueChinaBreathingSunshineSensationsBlue Sky
Book:Being Peace
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“Every day we touch what is wrong, and, as a result, we are becoming less and less healthy. That is why we have to learn to practice touching what is not wrong—inside us and around us. When we get in touch with our eyes, our heart, our liver, our breathing, and our non-toothache and really enjoy them, we see that the conditions for peace and happiness are already present.”

HeartEyeEnjoyResultsPracticeConditionsHealthBecomingHealthyBreathingTouchingLiverPeace And HappinessToothache
Book:Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living
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“Anger is like a storm rising up from the bottom of your consciousness. When you feel it coming, turn your focus to your breath. Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. Then look at, or think of, the person triggering this emotion: with mindfulness, you can see that they are unhappy and suffering. You can see their wrong perceptions. You'll feel motivated by a desire to say or do something to help the other person suffer less. This means compassionate energy has been born in your heart. And when compassion appears, anger is deleted.”

ThinkingFeelsMindLooksHeartMeanPersonsHas BeensHelpingHomeWisdomBodyDesireSufferingTurnsEnergyBornEmotionConsciousnessCompassionFocusPerceptionMindfulnessBreathsBottomStormBreatheYour BodyUnhappyRisingMotivatedCompassionateRising Up
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“If we face our unpleasant feelings with care, affection, and nonviolence, we can transform them into a kind of energy that is healthy and has the capacity to nourish us. By the work of mindful observation, our unpleasant feelings can illuminate so much for us, offering us insight and understanding into ourselves and society.”

IfsKindFeelingsCareFacesEnergyUnderstandingAwarenessHealthyCapacityAffectionInsightObservationOfferingNonviolence
Book:Wisdom from Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
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“A look filled with understanding, an accepting smile, a loving word, a meal shared in warmth and awareness are the things which create happiness in the present moment. By nourishing awareness in the present moment, you can avoid causing suffering to yourself and those around you. The way you look at others, your smile, and your small acts of caring can create happiness. True happiness does not depend on wealth or fame.”

WayLooksDoeMomentsSufferingUnderstandingWealthAcceptingAwarenessDependsFameFilledCaringMealsPresent MomentWarmthTrue HappinessYour SmileSmall ActsLoving Words
Book:Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha
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“We fear that this moment will end, that we won't get what we need, that we will lose what we love, or that we will not be safe. Often, our biggest fear is the knowledge that one day our bodies will cease functioning. So even when we are surrounded by all the conditions for happiness, our joy is not complete.”

LifeInspirationalNeedsEndsMomentsBodyJoyChangeLosesConditionsOne DaySafeCeaseLife ChangingBiggest Fear
Book:Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm
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“When we respect our blood ancestors and our spiritual ancestors, we feel rooted. If we find ways to cherish and develop our spiritual heritage, we will avoid the kind of alienation that is destroying society, and we will become whole again. ... Learning to touch deeply the jewels of our own tradition will allow us to understand and appreciate the values of other traditions, and this will benefit everyone.”

IfsWayFeelsKindWholeSpiritualValuesBloodBenefitsAppreciateTraditionCherishHeritageDestroyingAncestorRootedJewelsAlienation
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are.”

IfsGrowsTreePoetEssentialsPaperRainCloudsSheetsFloatingInterdependenceInterbeing
Book:The Other Shore: A New Translation of the Heart Sutra with Commentaries
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