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Nhat Hanh

Nhat Hanh Quotes

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Famous Nhat Hanh Quotes

“Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow because even today I still arrive. Look at me: I arrive in every second to be a bud on a spring branch, to be a tiny bird whose wings are still fragile, learning to sing in my new nest, to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower, to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.”

LooksHeartStillsTodayLearningFlowerTomorrowSpringBirdStonesWingsTinyBranchesHidingFragileLook At MeJewelsNestsBudEvery SecondCaterpillars
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“As children, Siddhartha and Jesus both realized that life is filled with suffering. The Buddha became aware at an early age that suffering is pervasive. Jesus must have had the same kind of insight, because they both made every effort to offer a way out. We, too, must learn to live in ways that reduce the world's suffering.”

WorldWayLifeKindChildrenMadeAgeLife IsSufferingJesusEffortLearningOffersFilledInsightSiddhartha
Book:Living Buddha, Living Christ 10th Anniversary Edition
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“There is a story in Zen circles about a man and a horse. The horse is galloping quickly, and it appears that the man on the horse is going somewhere important. Another man standing alongside the road, shouts, «Where are you going?» and the first man replies, «I don't know! Ask the horse!» This is also our story. We are riding a horse, and we don't know where we are going and we can't stop. The horse is our habit energy pulling us along, and we are powerless.”

KnowsMenFirstsImportantStoriesAsksEnergyHe ManHabitStandingHorseCirclesRidingPullingPowerlessAnother ManGalloping
Book:The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
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“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 future.”

HelpingProblemRunningPastHealingWorryLearningMeditationRegretFutureDespairDifficultyAngerRunning AwayCarried Away
Book:Walking Meditation
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“We humans think we are smart, but an orchid, for example, knows how to produce noble, symmetrical flowers, and a snail knows how to make a beautiful, well-proportioned shell. Compared with their knowledge, ours is not worth much at all. We should bow deeply before the orchid and the snail and join our palms reverently before the monarch butterfly and the magnolia tree. The feeling of respect for all species will help us recognize the noblest nature in ourselves.”

ThinkingKnowsShouldHumansWellsHelpingFeelingsBeautifulNatureKnowledgeKnow HowTreeExampleProduceFlowerSmartRespectSpeciesNobleButterflyBowsShellsPalmsMonarchsSnailOrchidsMagnoliasMonarch ButterflySymmetrical
Book:Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings
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“You only need to walk in mindfulness, making peaceful, happy steps on our planet. Breathe deeply, and enjoy your breathing. Be aware that the sky is blue and the birds' songs are beautiful. Enjoy being alive and you will help the living Christ and the living Buddha continue for a long, long time.”

NeedsLongHelpingBeautifulTimeSongEnjoyChristWalksStepsAliveSkyPlanetsWalkingMindfulnessLong TimeBirdBlueBreatheHappyPeacefulBreathingOur PlanetMaking PeaceBird Song
Book:Living Buddha, Living Christ 10th Anniversary Edition
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“No thought about the past or future can pull you away from your present peace and joy. The universe exists in this present moment. No desire can pull you away from this present peace, not even the desire to become a Buddha or the desire to save all beings. Know that to become a Buddha and to save all beings can only be realized on the foundation of the pure peace of the present moment.”

KnowsMomentsPastJoyDesireUniversePeaceFuturePureFoundationPresent MomentPeace And Joy
Book:Collected Wheel Publications Volume XVI: Numbers 231–247
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“The secret to happiness is happiness itself. Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, the wonder of our breathing. We don't have to travel anywhere else to do so. We can be in touch with these things right now.”

HappinessTimeEnjoySecretWonderRight NowTravelCapacityBreathingSunshineTime TravelSecret To Happiness
Book:Wisdom from Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
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“If we are at war with our parents, our family, our society, or our church, there is probably a war going on inside us also, so the most basic work for peace is to return to ourselves and create harmony among the elements within us - our feelings, our perceptions, and our mental states. That is why the practice of meditation, looking deeply, is so important.”

IfsImportantWarStatesFeelingsPeaceParentChurchWorkFamilyPracticeMeditationSocietyReturnElementsPerceptionHarmonyOur FamilyOur Society
Book:Living Buddha, Living Christ 10th Anniversary Edition
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