Nhat Hanh-isms

The following come from Thich Nhat Hanh’s books, The Miracle of Mindfulness, The Heart of Understanding, Peace Is Every Step, Being Peace, and Interbeing.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind.  Breathing out, I smile.

The rose and the garbage inter-are.

As thin as this sheet of paper is, it contains everything in the universe in it.

Blaming never helps.

Do not think the knowledge that you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth.

Don’t just do something, sit there.

“Mommy, remember to water me. I am your lettuce.”

When he looks into his hand, he can see thousands of generations before him and thousands of generations after him.

A non-toothache is very pleasant.

People in the peace movement can write very good protest letters, but they are not so skilled at writing love letters. 

A pessimistic attitude can never create the calm and serene smile which blossoms on the lips of the Bodhisattvas and all others who obtain the way.

The roots of war are in the way we live our daily lives—the way we develop our industries, build up our society, and consume goods.

Happiness is not an individual thing.

We must learn to practice so that one gatha, one minute of sitting will influence the rest of the day, one step made in walking meditation will have an effect on the rest of the day.

The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death of all that are alive.

There are two ways to wash the dishes. The first is to wash the dishes in order to have clean dishes and the second is to wash the dishes in order to wash the dishes.

Reconciliation is to understand both sides, to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then to go to the other side and describe the suffering endured by the first side. 

All I had to say was, “You ought to eat the tangerine section you’ve already taken.”

I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. 

Learn to look at other beings with the eyes of compassion.

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