Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn’t mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you are not disturbed inside. If you’re truly silent, then no matter what situation you find yourself in you can enjoy the silence. There are moments when you think you’re silent and all around is silent, but talking is going on all the time inside your head. That’s not silence. The practice is to find silence in all the activities you do. – Thich Nhat Hanh From his book: Your True Home: The everyday wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh
ABOUT THICH NHAT HANH Information from the Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centre website: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. His key teaching is that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment—the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world. Thich Nhat Hanh has published over 100 titles on meditation, mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism, as well as poems, children’s stories, and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts. He has sold over three million books in America alone, some of the best-known include Being Peace, Peace Is Every Step, The Miracle of Mindfulness, The Art of Power, True Love and Anger. Thich Nhat Hanh has been a pioneer in bringing Buddhism to the West, founding six monasteries and dozens of practice centers in America and Europe, as well as over 1,000 local mindfulness practice communities, known as ‘sanghas’. He has built a thriving community of over 600 monks and nuns worldwide, who, together with his tens of thousands of lay students, apply his teachings on mindfulness, peace-making and community-building in schools, workplaces, businesses – and even prisons – throughout the world. Thich Nhat Hanh, now in his 88th year, is a gentle, humble monk – the man Martin Luther King called “An Apostle of peace and nonviolence.” The media has called him “The Father of Mindfulness,” “The Other Dalai Lama” and “The Zen Master Who Fills Stadiums.”
In November of 2014, Thay, as he is affectionately called, suffered a major stroke. He has made great progress in regaining his strength, balance, and posture. In July of 2015 he flew from France to the US to begin an intensive rehabilitation program under the care of a team of distinguished neurologists specializing in stroke and cognitive rehabilitation at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. (Plum Village, 7/14/2015) He is now 89 years old. See the Plum Village site for more information about Thich Nhat Hanh.
REFERENCES Hanh, T.N. (2011). Your True Home: The everyday wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh – 365 days of practical, powerful teachings from the beloved Zen teacher. McLeod, M. (ed). Shambhala Publications. See: http://www.amazon.com/Your-True-Home-practical-teachings/dp/159030926X Harding, H. (2015). Thich Nhat Hanh has Made “Remarkable Progress” in Stroke Recovery”: Thich Nhat Hanh’s Determination and Strength of Will Has Been Both Amazing and Important As He Has Worked to Regain His Strength, Posture and Balance. See: http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/buddhism/thich-nhat-hanh-has-made-remarkable-progress-in-stroke-recovery Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centre. (2015). Thich Nhat Hanh. See: http://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/biography/ Plum Village Mindfulness Practice Centre. An Update on Thay’s Health: 14th July 2015. See: http://plumvillage.org/news/an-update-on-thays-health-14th-july-2015/ © Copyright 2015 Joan Rothchild Hardin. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site or blog is intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Comments submitted prior to 8/25/2021
What a beautiful tribute to Thay! Thank you so much for sharing this with your many readers.
Sonnische
In reply to Sonnische
Thank you, Sonnische. I wanted to share Thay’s words since constantly being up in the head has become such a pervasive way of being now & such a constant cause of misery.
Joan Hardin
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