Sometimes when I am alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else. Nhat Hanh More Quotes by Nhat Hanh More Quotes From Nhat Hanh Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like beautiful flowers that are colorful but have no fragrance. Nhat Hanh flower practice beautiful In modern society most of us don't want to be in touch with ourselves; we want to be in touch with other things like religion, sports, politics, a book - we want to forget ourselves. Anytime we have leisure, we want to invite something else to enter us, opening ourselves to the television and telling the television to come and colonize us. Nhat Hanh sports book television Being vegetarian here also means that we do not consume dairy and egg products, because they are products of the meat industry. If we stop consuming, they will stop producing. Only collective awakening can create enough determination for action. Nhat Hanh meat-industry determination mean When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we are not separate beings. Hugging with mindfulness and concentration can bring reconciliation, healing, understanding, and much happiness. Nhat Hanh healing heart happiness It is my conviction that there is no way to peace - peace is the way. Nhat Hanh yoga truth peace I am determined to practice deep listening. I am determined to practice loving speech. Nhat Hanh speech practice listening The Noble Eight-Fold Path is the path of living in awareness. Mindfulness is the foundation. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop concentration, which enables you to attain understanding. Thanks to right concentration, you realize right awareness, thoughts, speech, action, livelihood and effort. The understanding which develops can liberate you from every shackle of suffering and give birth to true peace and joy. Nhat Hanh eight effort giving Wrong perceptions cannot be removed by guns and bombs. They should be removed by deep listening, compassionate listening, and loving space. Nhat Hanh space gun perception True love always brings joy to ourself and the one we love. If our love does not bring joy to both of us, it is not true love. Nhat Hanh doe joy love If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work. Nhat Hanh success happiness life There are some people who eat an orange but don't really eat it. They eat their sorrow, fear, anger, past, and future. Nhat Hanh future anger fear The kingdom of God is available to you in the here and the now. But the question is whether you are available to the kingdom. Nhat Hanh kingdom-of-god available kingdoms It is said that God has created man in his own image. But it may be that humankind has created God in the image of humankind. Nhat Hanh said may men When you enter deeply into this moment, you see the nature of reality, and this insight liberates you from suffering and confusion. Peace is already there to some extent: the problem is whether we know how to touch it. Nhat Hanh nature peace reality Wherever we are we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other and the wonder of our breathing. Nhat Hanh sunshine breathing wonder The teachings on love given by the Buddha are clear, scientific, and applicable... Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity are the very nature of an enlightened person. They are the four aspects of true love within ourselves and within everyone and everything. Nhat Hanh compassion teaching joy If you do not know how to take care of yourself, and the violence in you, then you will not be able to take care of others. You must have love and patience before you can truly listen to your partner or child. If you are irritated you cannot listen. You have to know how to breath mindfully, embrace your irritation and transform it. Offer ONLY understand and compassion to your partner or child - This is the true practice of love. Nhat Hanh irritation compassion children If we take something to be the truth, we may cling to it so much that when the truth comes and knocks on our door, we won't want to let it in. Nhat Hanh want may doors When you have a stomach ache you don't tell your stomach to go away. Nhat Hanh stomach ache going-away If you get angry easily, it may be because the seed of anger in you has been watered frequently over many years, and unfortunately you have allowed it or even encouraged it to be watered. Nhat Hanh anger may years
