Skip to main content

Wisdom from Thich Nhat Hanh


I came across this extremely powerful video as I was searching for understanding on patience, and how to be more patient in my life.  The video is 37 minutes long, but well worth the listen.  Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced: Tick Knot Han) provides so much wisdom, that I think I could listen to this every day for a year, and probably learn something new each day.

I used to think of meditation and mindfulness, as something that we should all do for our overall well-being, without really understanding the purpose behind it.  Isn't it amazing that sometimes you can hear the same thing you've heard a thousand times before, but in a different way, and it somehow makes more sense than it ever did?  What struck me initially is that Thich Nhat Hanh refers to meditation and living mindfully as a training.  Just like we train our bodies to be stronger when we go to the gym, or we have on the job training to be better at our jobs, by meditating and practicing mindfulness, we are training ourselves to be more at peace throughout our daily lives.  And, through this more present mindset, we are better able to deal with the stressors we encounter throughout our day.  Best of all, our peaceful energy can positively effect those around us!

The second thing that really struck me was that we need to treat our suffering (fear, despair, and anxiety), like a mother treats her baby.  We need to care for it so carefully and lovingly.  We need to reach down into ourselves and understand what the suffering is, why it's there, and embrace it.  Acknowledging and dealing with our suffering is the only way we can find relief, and be truly happy. 

Lastly, I have lost a good number of family members and friends in the last seven years, and it's been extremely painful.  But, Thich Nhat Hanh explained that like a cloud, people in our lives just change shape.  A cloud really never goes away, it changes into rain, or hail.  And, it brought a sense of peace.  Because, while it sounds cliche to say that those that we've lost are still with us, it's nice to think that they are.  We just have to recognize their new and different form of being.  :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Oh Lord

When I die, put my ashes in the trash bag I don't care where they go Don't waste your money on my gravestone I'm more concerned about my soul Everybody's gon' die Don't everybody live though Sometimes I look up to the sky And wonder do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord Listen, yeah everybody wants change Don't nobody wanna change though Don't nobody wanna pray Till they got something to pray for Now everybody's gon' die But don't everybody live though Sometimes I look up to the sky And wonder do you see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord, do You see us down here? Oh Lord, oh Lord It's easy to blame God but harder to fix things We look in the sky like, "Why ain
Post a Comment
Read more

See the Value in Each Day's Journey

Sometimes the road seems so long and endless, that the idea we'll ever get to where we want to be seems like a battle that will never be won.  That all our efforts don't matter, and are for nothing.  But, the truth is, we need to find joy in the journey.  Stop focusing so much on what we don't have and that place that we haven't reached yet, and start being present in the moment and learning how everything we do affects us, and others.  Ask yourself, what is the impression I made today?  How have I affected others?  How does that make me feel?  How can I do better? Too often, I believe that we miss part of the message we're supposed to get out of our experiences, because we're so focused on the the end point. "The Pleasure and value of every walk or journey we take may be doubled to us by carefully noting down the impressions it makes upon us." - John Burroughs
Post a Comment
Read more

Happy November!

It is officially November, so you know what that means.   Holiday preparations are now in full swing.   I’ve been told I’m so organized I’m boring, but making lists, forward thinking and planning helps with managing my stress levels.   There is just so much to do, think about, and keep track of!   I have about 5 lists going right now.   It’s crazy.   What’s most exciting is that since I’ve moved to a house, my family and I will have more room to spread out and relax at Thanksgiving.   I always get so nervous that everything won’t work out, or people won’t have a good time.   But, no matter how much I worry, it always works out in the end. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and relatively stress free holiday season!
Post a Comment
Read more