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Every moment that I am centered in
the future I suffer a temporary loss of this life. --Hugh Prather |
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Every moment that I am centered in
the future I suffer a temporary loss of this life. --Hugh Prather |
| In my opinion, no one is more successful
at bringing Zen and the modern world together than Thich Nhat Hanh. I consider
him my teacher, and through his writing I have found true clarity. He has
intensified my desire to live in my present moment, and he has helped me
discover serenity during difficult times. There is a fuller awareness that
makes me more alive.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Martin Luther King, Jr. for his work to promote and sustain peace. His leadership in the 1963 resistance movement in Vietnam and his organization of the Buddhist Peace Delegation in 1969 for the Paris Peace Talks are two of many examples of his dedication to the ideal of peace. Nhat Hanh speaks of his ideas for mindful living through international lectures and retreats. He has lived in France since 1966. My favorite of his books is Peace Is Every Step (Bantam, 1991), but he has many other works, all of them thought-provoking in their simplicity, full of joy and energy. I recommend his books to everyone, but especially to those who are interested in learning more about gaining peace in daily life. Parallax Press has a full line of his work; visit the Parallax Press homepage for an in-depth look at his books and a way to order them - it's a great site. I thank Arnold Kotler and Parallax for promoting mindfulness and bringing Thich Nhat Hanh to American readers. You can see everything in the universe in one tangerine. Thich Nhat Hanh spoke at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC October 18, 1997. It was an amazing experience, and I urge you to go to his workshops or talks if you get the chance. I found his words on this thought very enlightening: Your obstacle to happiness is, in many cases, your idea of this happiness.
For a clear discussion of the principles of Zen, my favorite book is Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner Mind (Weatherhill, 1990). This book has three sections: Right Practice, Right Attitude, Right Understanding. It is an excellent place to start on your way to your own understanding. The purpose of studying Buddhism is not to study Buddhism, but to study ourselves. -Shunryu Suzuki
Here are some TNH links:
Green Mountain
Dharma Center TNH's response
to the tsunami, 12/30/2004 See the Shambhala
Sun article by TNH: Resting in the River
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updated 30 may 2006
