Quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh

Understanding is like water flowing in a stream. Wisdom and knowledge are solid and can block our understanding

Once we recognize that all things are impermanent, we have no problem enjoying them. In fact, real peace and joy are only possible when we see clearly into the nature of impermanence.

Ask yourself, "Who can I make smile this morning?" This is the art of creating happiness.

So, while driving in the car with the person sitting right next to us, we think about other things. We aren't interested in him anymore. What arrogance! The person sitting there beside is really a mystery! We only have the impression that we know her, but we don't know anything yet.

Anger is like a howling baby, suffering and crying. The baby needs his mother to embrace him. You are the mother for your baby, your anger. The moment you begin to practice breathing mindfully in and out, you have the energy of a mother, to cradle and embrace the baby. Just embracing your anger, just breathing in and breathing out, that is good enough. The baby will feel relief right away. All

Aimlessness does not mean doing nothing. It means not putting something in front of you to chase after. When we remove the objects of our craving and desires, we discover that happiness and freedom are available to us right here in the present moment.

The miracle is walking on the earth, not walking on water or fire. The real miracle is walking on this earth.

If you can recognize and accept your pain without running away from it, you will discover that although pain is there, joy can also be there at the same time. Some

When you understand, you cannot help but love. You cannot get angry.

We absorb and reflect what is around us. If we live in a place where people are angry and violent, then eventually we'll become like them.

The most effective way to show compassion to another is to listen, rather than talk.

Breathing in, I am aware of my heart. Breathing out, I smile to my heart. I vow to eat, drink, and work in ways that preserve my health and well-being.

When we surround ourselves with people who are committed to understanding and loving, we're nourished by their presence and our own seeds of understanding and love are watered. When we surround ourselves with people who gossip, complain, and are constantly critical, we absorb these toxins.

Reconciliation can also be with your own self. If you don't reconcile with yourself, happiness with another person is impossible.

If we can model the ability to embody nonfear and nonattachment, it is more precious than any money or material wealth. Fear spoils our lives and makes us miserable. We cling to objects and people, like a drowning person clings to any object that floats by. By practicing nonattachment and sharing this wisdom with others, we give the gift of nonfear. Everything is impermanent. This moment passes. The object of our craving walks away, but we can know happiness is always possible. Intoxicants

Each of us is a product of our family, environment, friends, education, culture, and society. These conditions lead to a certain way of seeing things and a certain way of responding to things. When we see this, we have compassion for everyone, including ourselves. We see that if we want something to change, we also have to help change his or her family, environment, friends, education, culture, and society. We are responsible, directly or indirectly, for each person's consciousness attitudes.

In us, there is a river of feelings, in which every drop of water is a different feeling, and each feeling relies on all the others for its existence. To observe it, we just sit on the bank of the river and identify each feeling as it surfaces, flows by, and disappears.

TRUE LOVE MAKES US HAPPY. If love doesn't make us happy, it's not love; it's something else. Love is a wonderful thing. It gives us the ability to offer joy and happiness, relieve suffering, and transcend all kinds of separation and barriers.

The French have a song they like to sing, "Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour être heureux?" (What are you waiting for in order to be happy?) You can be happy right here and right

I come here empty-handed, and I go empty-handed. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

We all exist as part of a wonderful stream of life.

Why wander all over the world looking for something you already have? You are already the richest person on Earth.

Suffering has its beneficial aspects. It can be an excellent teacher.

When we observe or listen to other people, we often don't see them clearly or really hear what they're saying. We see and hear our projections and prejudices instead.