True story: I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and was a little restless. Normally, I would just go ahead and get fully awake and start the day. Today is my day off, and I really wanted to do that thing that is so unlike me: stay in bed past 5:00 in the morning!
So I grabbed my iPod off of the nightstand, and I opened up my thousands of yet-unlistened-to podcasts. I happened to choose a Zencast selection called "Thich Nhat Hanh in VietNam" and listened to the first 15 minutes of it before his calm voice lulled me back to sleep for another couple of hours. And now I have discovered that today is his birthday! So ...
Happy 84th Birthday, Thich Nhat Hanh!
Some inspiration from this Vietnam-born Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet, and peace activist:
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
“In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us.”
If you haven't already crossed paths with his teaching, he is worth getting to know. I recommend Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
and also Living Buddha, Living Christ.
and also Living Buddha, Living Christ. "People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle."Thank you, Thich Nhat Hahn, for making miracles with your life.
4 comments:
A couple of my all time favorite quotes come from him, so I really need to get to know him better! I will look up that book. Thanks so much.
He said something about letting go, giving up, that I wish I could remember right now...I'm off to google it!
I'm glad to know it's his birthday. What a good man.
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
How beautiful and wise, is that quote. Thank you for relaying it, to me.
I read this with my children - wonderful! Thank you.
You made a sweet comment about our wand project for the Practical Magic Party and we have just posted for the Fanciful Twist Halloween Party - we wanted to invite you as we think you'd enjoy it so please - do feel free to visit our graveyard and maybe if you choose post a memory in our Memory Shrine (the comment box - you'll see what we mean!) Blessings!
The Graveyard
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