Posted by Lilian on June 20, 2011
Why does Thay say that smiling is the most basic kind of peace work? A smile not only helps to relax ourselves, releasing our own tension and anxiety so that we can touch more peace. The smile on our face will bring more pleasant feelings to others.
Thay sees smiling as integral to mindfulness practice:
Posted by Lilian on March 20, 2011
Seeing the devastation of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan reminds us how important it is to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and savor each moment, as Thich Nhat Hanh writes in this letter:
Dear friends in Japan,
As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.
Posted by Lilian on March 14, 2011
This is one of my favorites. Every time I watch and listen to this video, my heart opens and is filled with wonder over our universe. My spirit soars with inspiration and joy!
Posted by Lilian on February 28, 2011
We often jump to conclusions—at work, at home, with our family and friends, or even with people we walk by on the street or encounter at the supermarket. We all have our own sensitivities and shadows that we’ve accumulated over the years. And these sensitivities and shadows can lead our minds to leap to a conjecture that is just plain wrong. Some examples:
Posted by Editor on February 17, 2011
Q. How can I get over being so judgmental?
A. When we look at a human being, we look deeply enough to see that an individual is made of many elements: society, education, parents, ancestors, culture and so on. If we don’t see all these elements, we don’t fully see the person. If he has the tendency to behave in a negative manner, it doesn’t mean that he liked to behave that way, but that he may be a victim of transmission. The negative seeds in him may have been transmitted to him by his society, his parents, his ancestors, or his culture.
Posted by Lilian on February 14, 2011
