Quotessence
Home / Authors / Nhat Hanh
Nhat Hanh

Nhat Hanh Quotes

Monk

Filter quotes by topic

AllIfsSufferingMomentsPracticeWayMindfulnessCompassionPeoplePeace Is Every StepUnderstandingNeedsPresent MomentThinkingHelpingPersonsBuddhistKnowsWorldLooksMeditation

Famous Nhat Hanh Quotes

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“If you establish serenity and happiness inside yourself, you provide the world with a solid base of peace. If you do not give yourself peace, how can you share it with others? If you do not begin your peace work with yourself, where will you go to begin it?”

IfsWorldGivingHappinessShareInner PeaceSerenityPeace And HappinessInner Happiness
Book:Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries
Create image

“We can help many people suffer less and realize a lot of happiness without being rich or influential. If love and compassion are in out hearts, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle”

PeopleIfsHeartHelpingHappinessSufferingRealizingCompassionRichMiracleDeedsInfluentialLove And CompassionBeing Rich
Book:Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries
Create image

“Survival means the survival of human kind as a whole, not just a part of it. If the South cannot survive, then the North is going to crumble. If countries of Third World cannot pay their debts, you are going to suffer here in the North. If you do not take care of the Third World, your well-being is not going to last, and you will not be able to continue living in the way you have been much longer. It is leaping out at us already. You cannot leave the job to the governments or the political scientists alone. You have to do it yourself.”

IfsWorldWayHumansWellsKindMeanHas BeensCountryWholeGovernmentCareAbleJobsLastsPoliticalSufferingPayConflictSurvivalScientistThirdsSouthDebtTake CareWell BeingThird WorldDo It Yourself
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger. Like a fireman, we have to pour water on the blaze first and not waste time looking for the one who set the house on fire. "Breathing in, I know that I am angry. Breathing out, I know that I must put all my energy into caring for my anger." So we avoid thinking about the other person, and we refrain from doing or saying anything as long as our anger persists. If we put all our mind into observing our anger, we will avoid doing any damage that we may regret later.”

IfsThinkingKnowsMindFirstsLooksMayPersonsLongHouseEnergyCausesWaterFireRegretWasteAngryCaringBreathingDamageWasting TimePersistObservingRefrainFireman
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“The way we live our daily lives is what most effects the situation of the world. If we can change our daily lives, then we can change our governments and can change the world. Our president and governments are us. They reflect our lifestyle and our way of thinking. The way we hold a cup of tea, pick up the newspaper or even use toilet paper are directly related to peace.”

IfsThinkingWorldWayUseGovernmentLife IsPeacePresidentSituationEffectsPaperPicksLifestyleNewspapersCupsTeaRelatedChanging The WorldDaily LifeToiletsWay Of ThinkingCups Of TeaToilet Paper
Author:Nhat Hanh
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image

“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
Create image