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Nhat Hanh Quotes

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“As a population, if a large number of people make even small moves to eat less meat and more plant-based foods, the livestock industry will shrink. Over time, farmers will find other crops to support their livelihoods. Through such collective awakening we can make a difference in our world.”

PeopleIfsWorldMotivationalMovingDifferencesNumbersSupportIndustryPlantPopulationAwakeningMeatMaking A DifferenceCollectivesOur WorldFarmersShrinksCropsLarge NumbersLivelihoodLivestock
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace.”

IfsWorldImportantAbleHappinessJoyPeaceLaughterCapacitySmileNuclearBreathingGoing OutDemonstrationMissilesMaking PeaceUbuntuBeing At PeaceMake Peace Not WarAchieving PeaceBringing PeaceNuclear Missiles
Book:Being Peace: Easyread Super Large 20pt Edition
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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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“It is difficult to explain to children in the "overdeveloped" nations that not all children in the world have such beautiful and nourishing food. Awareness of this fact alone can help us overcome many of our own psychological pains. Eventually our contemplation can help us see how to assist those who need our help so much.”

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Author:Nhat Hanh
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“The problem that faces us is the problem of awakening. What we lack is not an ideology or doctrine that will save the world. What we lack is mindfulness of what we are, of what our situation really is. We need to wake up in order to rediscover our human sovereignty. We are riding a horse that is running out of control. The way of salvation is a new culture in which human beings are encouraged to rediscover their deepest nature.”

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Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits, images, sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.”

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“A real love letter is made of insight, understanding, and compassion. Otherwise it's not a love letter. A true love letter can produce a transformation in the other person, and therefore in the world. But before it produces a transformation in the other person, it has to produce a transformation within us. Some letters may take the whole of our lifetime to write.”

WorldWritingMayPersonsMadeRealWholeTruthPeaceUnderstandingCompassionProduceLettersTransformationLifetimeInsightReal LoveLove LetterUnderstanding And Compassion
Book:Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: 365 days of practical, powerful teaching s from the beloved Zen teacher
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“We talk about social service, service to the people, service to humanity, service to others who are far away, helping to bring peace to the world - but often we forget that it is the very people around us that we must live for first of all. If you cannot serve your wife or husband or child or parent - how are you going to serve society? If you cannot make your own child happy, how do you expect to be able to make anyone else happy? If all our friends in the peace movement or of service communities of any kind do not love and help each other, whom can we love and help?”

PeopleIfsWorldFirstsKindChildrenHelpingAbleHumanitySocialParentCommunityForgetWifeMovementHusbandFar AwayService To OthersHelping Each OtherService To HumanitySocial Service
Author:Nhat Hanh
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“Anxiety is the illness of our age. We worry about ourselves, our family, our friends, our work, and our state of the world. If we allow worry to fill our hearts, sooner or later we will get sick.”

IfsWorldHeartStatesAgePeaceWorryAnxietySickIllnessOur FamilySooner Or Later
Book:The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
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“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.”

PeopleThinkingWorldWaySufferingAnimalCompassionSupportProtectDestructionPlantKillingCommittedDeterminedBuddhistMy WayMineralsCultivatingI Am DeterminedBuddhist Life
Book:Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living
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“To meditate is to be aware of what is going on - in our bodies, our feelings our minds, and in the world. When we settle into the present moment, we can see the beauties and wonders before our eyes.”

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Book:Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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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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“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
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“When you produce peace and happiness in yourself, you begin to realize peace for the whole world. With the smile that you produce in yourself, with the conscious breathing you establish within yourself, you begin to work for peace in the world.”

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Book:Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries
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“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
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“Meditation is to be aware of what is going on - in our bodies, in our feelings, in our minds, and in the world. Each day...children die of hunger.... Yet the sunrise is beautiful, and the rose that bloomed this morning along the wall is a miracle. Life is both dreadful and wonderful. To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects. Please do not think we must be solemn in order to meditate. In fact, to meditate well, we have to smile a lot.”

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“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
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