Quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh

You are what you want to become. Why search anymore? You are a wonderful manifestation. The whole universe has come together to make your existence possible. There is nothing that is not you. The kingdom of God, the Pure Land, nirvana, happiness, and liberation are all you.

Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

There is the mud, and there is the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus.

I clean this teapot with the kind of attention I would have were I giving the baby Buddha or Jesus a bath.

Earth will be safe when we feel in us enough safety.

Be Yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just Be.

It is possible to live happily in the here and now. So many conditions of happiness are available—more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don't have to run into the future in order to get more.

Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now.

Birth is okay and death is okay, if we know that they are only concepts in our mind. Reality transcends both birth and death.

You have to learn how to help a wounded child while still practicing mindful breathing. You should not allow yourself to get lost in action. Action should be meditation at the same time.

Do not say that I'll depart tomorrow because even today I still arrive.

Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes

Happiness is available. Please help yourself to it.

Preventing war is much better than protesting against the war. Protesting the war is too late.

The raft is used to cross the river. It isn't to be carried around on your shoulders. The finger which points at the moon isn't the moon itself.

Letting go gives us freedom and freedom is the only condition for happiness

Life is a miracle, and being aware of simply this can already make us very happy.

Every one of us is trying to find our true home. Some of us are still searching. Our true home is inside, but it's also in our loved ones around us. When you're in a loving relationship, you and the other person can be a true home for each other.

If a child smiles, if an adult smiles, that is very important. If in our daily lives we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.

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.

Mindfulness must be engaged. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what's the use of seeing?

If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today

Nonviolent action, born of the awareness of suffering and nurtured by love, is the most effective way to confront adversity.

During the last 2,500 years in Buddhist monasteries, a system of seven practices of reconciliation has evolved. Although these techniques were formulated to settle disputes within the circle of monks, i think they might also be of use in our households and in our society. The first practice is Face-to-Face-Sitting.