Quotes About Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh has the ability to bring forth the state of peace that we each inherently posses merely by his presence in a room-this is divine power.

I'm learning a lot by reading teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron. They teach me because I feel like I have a responsibility to the communities that I speak to.

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the greatest teachers of our time. He reaches from the heights of insight down to the deepest places of the absolutely ordinary.

He knew that even his own father's authority was fragile and restricted—a king did not possess true freedom but was imprisoned by his position.

The Zen master Linji (also known as Rinzai) said, "The miracle is walking on the earth, not walking on water or fire. The real miracle is walking on this earth.

Although different from Indian Buddhism from the standpoint of form and practice, in the end Zen seems to be more authentic than many other Buddhist schools. In particular, Zen emphasizes the necessity of practice aiming at enlightenment which is the very foundation of Buddhism.

Zen is none other than Buddhism.

Zen is a living tradition which can help to make sober, healthy, well-balanced, and stable people.

People often ask if it is difficult to be a celibate monk or nun, but to practice mindfulness as a monastic is in many ways easier than to practice as a layperson. To refrain from sexual activity altogether is much easier than to have a healthy sexual relationship.

Zen Master Lin Chi once said: If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet the Patriarch, kill the Patriarch. For the one who only has devotion, this declaration is terrible; it confuses him completely. But its effect depends on the mentality and capacity of the one who hears. If the man is strong, he truly will have the capacity to liberate himself from all authority, whatever it might be, and to accomplish in himself ultimate truth.

Anapana means breath and sati means mindfulness. Tang Hoi translated it as "Guarding the Mind." The Anapanasati Sutra, that is, is the sutra on using one's breath to maintain mindfulness.

The kung-an is the lamp-shade, while Zen is the lamp itself.

Happiness is available. Please help yourself to it. All of us have the capacity of transforming neutral feelings into pleasant feelings, very pleasant feelings that can last a long time.

Mara personifies the inner hindrances to the practice, the opposite of the Buddha nature in each person.

Buddhism is not a collection of views. It is a practice to help us eliminate wrong views.

The practice community is not a refuge for souls saddened by disappointment.

The word "body" here simply means a collection of energy—a body of energy. Modern science tells us that everything we perceive is energy.

When our mind experiences pleasure, the five desires arise. The real hero quickly puts an end to these desires.