Home / Quotes / Quote by Nhat Hanh

Quote by Nhat Hanh

“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.”

Quote by Nhat Hanh

Book:The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

Work

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

This book delves into the essential principles of Buddhism, offering insights on how to alleviate suffering and achieve a state of inner peace and freedom. more

Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese-French monk, writer, and peace activist. Born on October 11, 1926, he is a prominent figure in the Zen Buddhist tradition, known for his simple yet profound teachings and advocacy for peace. more

You May Also Like

“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.”

Helping Problem Running Past Healing Worry Learning Meditation Regret Future Despair Difficulty Anger Running Away Carried Away

Book:Walking Meditation

Source: Walking Meditation

“There are some people who eat an orange but don't really eat it. They eat their sorrow, fear, anger, past, and future.”

People Past Fear Sorrow Future Eating Anger Orange

Book:The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-day Mindfulness Retreat

Source: The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-day Mindfulness Retreat

“The desire to be a free person is very worthwhile. To be free means you are no longer the victim of fear, anger, craving, or suspicion.”

Mean Persons Desire Fear Anger Victim Worthwhile Suspicion Craving

Book:Calming the Fearful Mind: Easyread Large Bold Edition

Source: Calming the Fearful Mind: Easyread Large Bold Edition

“Breathe in and take one step, and focus all your attention on the sole of your foot. If you have not arrived fully, one hundred percent in the here and the now, don't take the next step.”

Ifs Next Attention Steps Focus Feet Percent Hundred Breathe Sole Next Steps

Book:Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Easyread Edition

Source: Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Easyread Edition

“To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace.”

Mean Doe Problem Fighting Peace Situation Sun Meditation Awareness Prove Shining Smile Gentle Prove It Your Smile

Book:The Sun My Heart

Source: The Sun My Heart

“The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of trying to escape from our fear, we can invite it up to our awareness and look at it clearly and deeply.”

Way Trying Looks Fear Awareness Source Happy Ease Acknowledge Invites Truly Happy

Book:Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

Source: Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

“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.”

Source: Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings

“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.”

Source: Living Buddha, Living Christ 10th Anniversary Edition

“When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we are not separate beings. Hugging with mindfulness and concentration can bring reconciliation, healing, understanding, and much happiness.”

Knows Heart Happiness Understanding Healing Mindfulness Concentration Hug Reconciliation

Book:Happiness (EasyRead Edition)

Source: Happiness (EasyRead Edition)

“Human beings are innately loving beings. When we fail to love, it is because an element of ignorance has intruded into our experience, submerging our natural impulse to love.”

Love Humans Natural Human Beings Failing Ignorance Elements Experience Impulse

Author:Nhat Hanh