“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Musings: 10 Lessons On Being Present & Letting Go… Dharma Wheel – Our Duty is to honor each other.
♥If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.
♥People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.
♥If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive – that you can touch the miracle of being alive – then that is a kind of enlightenment.
♥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.
♥Every thought you produce, anything you say, any action you do, it bears your signature.
Recently, Oprah interviewed Thich Nhat Hanh, the brilliant 83 year old Buddhist monk, teacher, Zen Master, poet, writer, and peace activist from Vietnam. The interview was uplifting and deeply reflective that I decided to share some vignettes from the conversation he had with Oprah; particularly points he made that resonated with me. The first thing that struck me was how much he spoke about seeing the beauty of the present moment (Being Present) and how a spirit of mindfulness helps us develop not only compassion for each other but also helps us surrender our suffering… by letting go. He is a practitioner of Engaged Buddhism which as he explained is about being active even while meditative: “You have to learn how to help a wounded child while still practicing mindful breathing.” He spoke of suffering as in; the fear, the anger, the frustration, despair, and the anxiety that overcomes us when things are unclear. If we stop, breathe deeply, and shift our attention to the here and now, that subtle shift will help us adjust and release our fears.
“You who chase happiness so incessantly, give up the chase. Stop awhile, and let happiness chase after you.” Robert Holden
Musings: 10 Lessons On Being Present & Letting Go… Thich Nhat Hanh
♥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.
♥When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?
♥People suffer because they are caught in their views. As soon as we release those views, we are free and we don’t suffer anymore.
♥We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality.
♥Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.
To be present in each moment takes practice and meditation, and Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged the building of a sangha; which is a beloved community. Oprah compiled some of his beautiful quotes on letting go and being present by connecting with that place inside. I have shared them with you above. Each quote is a meditation on the power of the present and the grace that comes from surrendering our petty worries for peace of mind. Below I have shared his well known poem, Call Me by My True Names, and some more insights on the subject. Have a blessed moment, day, week. I also added links to the interview and other sources for your perusal. More below.
