Quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh

According to Buddhism, we are dealing with samyojana, the lump of suffering within us that is translated as an "internal formation." When you say something that makes another person suffer, that person develops an "internal formation.

The teachings of the Buddha were not to escape from life, but to help us relate to ourselves and the world as thoroughly as possible. The Noble Eightfold Path includes Right Speech and Right Livelihood. These teachings are for people in the world who have to communicate with each other and earn a living.

If we want to be happy and joyful, then we must be determined to let go of attachment. Free from attachment, we are no longer caught in the circle of samsara—not burdened by anxiety nor restlessly searching for what is unwholesome. The absence of attachment leads to true peace and joy.

Living the holy life, transcending time and space, you are revered by both men and gods.

El deseo de dañar que alberga el terrorista se origina en su propio sufrimiento. Quien ignora el modo de tratar su propio sufrimiento puede tratar de aliviarlo castigando a los demás.

If I live without having Awareness of this life, that amounts to not having lived. I can then say, as did Albert Camus in his novel The Outsider , I live as one dead.

Stopping and Deep Looking Here is a practice poem you can learn by heart. It can also be sung: I have arrived, I am home, In the here and in the now. I am solid, I am free, In the ultimate I dwell.

Buddhism teaches us not to try to run away from suffering. You have to confront suffering. You have to look deeply into the nature of suffering in order to recognize its cause, the making of the suffering.

True love always brings joy to ourself and to the one we love. If our love does not bring joy to both of us, it is not true love.

Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch nonfear, you are free.

I am much more than one emotion. An emotion is something that comes, stays for some while, and will have to go away. I don't have to die just because of one emotion. I know I can handle an emotion with the practice of mindful deep breathing. I have survived emotions before.

There is no way to peace; peace is the way. There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way. If you are determined, you can do it with your breathing.

Meditation is to get insight, to get understanding and compassion, and when you have them, you are compelled to act.

Listening to and understanding our inner sufferings will resolve most of the problems we encounter.

When you have enough understanding and compassion in you, then that amount of understanding and compassion will try to express itself in action. And your practice should help you to cultivate more understanding and compassion.

We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality.

But if we have the energy of compassion and loving kindness in us, the people around us will be influenced by our way of being and living.

In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us

Meditation is not to escape from society, but to come back to ourselves and see what is going on. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. With mindfulness, we know what to do and what not to do to help

Water flows from high in the mountains Water runs deep in the Earth Miraculously, water comes to us, And sustains all life.

If you are motivated by loving kindness and compassion, there are many ways to bring happiness to others right now, starting with kind speech.

May our heart's garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers.

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.