Thich Nhat Hanh and Mindfulness

Recently Stefnee sent me a truly wonderful little book, "The Miracle of Mindfulness", which is an introduction to the practice of (mindful) meditation written in 1975 by the Vietnamese buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh.

Carrie has posted a 51 minute show on Thich Nhat Hanh and his peace efforts over the past 60 years, "Peace is Every Step".

It is worth taking the time from your busy schedule, your hectic world, your life, and watch this. This is a fantastic 51 minutes, especially for those of you who, like me, are actively trying to grow spiritually, to understand peace on a deeper level than just "peace", and to truly transform yourself through your breath, through your mindfulness, and through your deeds in the world in which you step.

Here are the thoughts that I took notes of while watching this show:

It is not possible to just be alone; you need other humans, elephants, mosquitoes, and everything in order to BE. Therefore it is necessary to "INTERBE"...

To protect non-man elements is to protect man. To protect man is to protect non-man elements. That is the teaching of the Buddha.

Meditation is not to close your eyes and be unmoving; you can do it while moving.

There is a need to share the pain you hold inside with other people.

The practice of sitting and listening, is the practice of love.

Happiness should be understood in the concept of "interbeing". The best way to be happy is to make the other person happy.

When you hear the bell, stop. Calm and empty your mind, and BE.

If we don't touch our suffering, we can never know happiness. We can only know the idea of happiness, which is very different from true happiness.

You don't have to ask for forgiveness of God, or other people; you have a chance to begin anew.

First you take care of yourself...

Learn to sit like a mountain.

Learn to breathe like a flower.

Learn to sit, to breathe, to walk so you become your best...

"Peace is a vista; it turns the endless path to joy."

This was a wonderful 51 minutes of BEING, of INTERBEING, and of being present with my breath.

Right near the end, my village chimes rang out... and I stopped... just as they said about stopping in Plum Village... and I cleared my mind for those 30 seconds, and I breathed...

Peace is Every Step can be viewed here on Carrie's page. Let her know if you feel the peace, if you feel your breath, if you feel the mindfulness after you take the time to watch it from beginning to end.

And breathe...

I love you.