Inner Peace: Quotes from Zen Buddhist Master Thích Nhất Hạnh
Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist.
He has touched the lives of many through his books, which all exude peace and love. I can recommend any of his books with all my heart, I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying his loving words.
Today, I gathered a few quotes from him. Thích Nhất Hạnh quotes always calm me down and make me joyful, so I thought that I would share a few with you.
Let his words guide you towards inner peace, love and compassion towards all beings:
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.”
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.”
“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.”
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.”
“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.”
“The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.”
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
“Many people think excitement is happiness... But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.”
“My actions are my only true belongings.”
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
“Suffering is not enough. Life is both dreadful and wonderful... How can I smile when I am filled with so much sorrow? It is natural - you need to smile to your sorrow because you are more than your sorrow.”
“I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.”
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
This article was originally posted on The Miracle Forest.
