No Mud, No Lotus

Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.

I was surprised to read about the death of Thich Nhat Hanh. (pronounced Tik-Nat-Hahn – I just looked it up). I am embarrassed to admit that I believed that this Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist and sage writer, had passed on long ago. Why does it always feel like the wisest people have long past on, before our own lifetimes? I think that it’s hard to recognize true wisdom in living people because we are all flawed. We have the tendency to give our mistakes the glowing glare of a spotlight, and thus, they often overshadow our finest attributes. Once someone has passed on, we are more prone to focus only on the good that they brought into this world. Why do we struggle with doing this while people are still alive? I think if we were kinder in our valuations of our own selves, it would be easier to focus on the best in others.

Thich Nhat Hanh said this:

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. 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.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

When I read this quote, I couldn’t help but think about all of the hype about the new metaverse. I even read that someone was going to have their wedding in the metaverse. I’m all for progress, but are we skipping over experiencing our own incredible world for “greener” pastures? Have we really soaked up this experience enough before searching for new worlds? Do we appreciate the miracle of our every living moment, right where we are? Along these lines, Thich Nhat Hanh also said this: “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

I’ve read that if you smile for no reason, your body starts loading up on happy endorphins. I’ve also read that if you smile before picking up a phone call, the listener will hear your smile in your voice. There is nothing wrong with having “a stupid grin” on your face. In fact, “stupid grin” is a stupid oxymoron. Smile. Smile often.

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

You are beautiful. Know this. Treat yourself as such. If you love yourself, you will give your best love to others.

“I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

I hope that we are all able to savor every minute of today. Today is another miraculous gift, given freely to us to experience as deeply as we allow ourselves to experience it.

“Around us, life bursts with miracles–a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life’s daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

RIP, Thich Nhat Hanh