Thich Nhat Hahn: The Starting Point

The wisdom of Thich Nhat Hahn is not something I share for Buddhists or for any individual or group in particular. Rather, this offering is inclusive, a potentially empowering gift for anyone. It is my belief that we are all connected, permeated with the Sacred as our essence. My prayer, always, is for the highest good: May all beings be at peace. May all beings know the beauty of our true nature. May we be healed. May our hearts remain open. Blessed be. ♥ Molly

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The Starting Point

Mindfulness is the basis of a Buddhist ethic. What does being mindful mean? It means, first of all, that we stop and observe deeply what is happening in the present moment. If we do this, we can see the suffering that is inside us and around us. We can practice looking deeply with concentration in order to see the causes of this suffering. We need to understand suffering in order to know what kind of action we can take to relieve it. We can use the insight of our sanga - the mindfulness of our larger community of practitioners - to share our insight and understand what kind of action can lead to the transformation of that suffering. When we have collective insight, it will help us see the mutually beneficial path that will lead to the cessation of suffering, not only for one person but for all of us.

- Thich Nhat Hahn, 

from the January 2013 issue of Shambhala Sun 

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All beings tremble before violence. 

All fear death. All love life. 

See yourself in others. 

Then whom can you hurt? 

What harm can you do? 

~ The Buddha