How can one person make a difference through mindfulness?
Many wonder if taking time out for meditation is a selfish act. In fact the qualities we cultivate through mindfulness practice can have far reaching effects that benefit others. No one embodied qualities like patience, loving kindness, non-stiving, non-judging, and discernment, more than the renown monk Thich Nhat Hanh who passed on Jan. 22, 2022 at the age of 95. It seems every major media source has covered his passing.
The first mindfulness book I ever read was Thich Nhat Hanh/s book Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Daily Life, which I still recommend. This book was my point of entry into the value of bringing mindfulness into even the simplest of mundane activities. Even beyond walking or chopping carrots, there is something powerful about being able to choose a mindful response rather than being at the mercy of emotion-driven impulses. I have experienced this time and time again.
Far from being a passive experience, mindfulness at times can involve great courage. In my understanding, Thich Nhat Hanh was exiled from his homeland, Vietnam, because among other activities, he was arranging for cease fires between the Northern and Southern armies to allow safe transport of children from an orphanage on the outskirts of the battle. This made him unpopular to both North and South. Exemplifying the power of a mindful approach, he was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr.
While mindfulness may help us embody courage in daily life, the practicalities are even more numerous. The media is referring to him as the father of mindfulness, which is remarkable given that 40+ years ago the word was not in use as it is today. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a preface to both the first and second editions of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living. Below you’ll find an excerpt of the one in the second edition as well as links to his interview with Oprah and a guided meditation.
“….it’s become increasingly clear that not only our health and well-being as individuals, but our continuation as a civilization and a planet depend on [mindfulness]. This book’s invitation for each one of us to wake up and savor every moment we are given to live has never been more needed than it is today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Plum Village, France, 2013
Preface to the 2nd edition of Full Catastrophe Living
Link to a classic guided meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh on Youtube
One of my favorite of his many books: Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
A most simple and compelling meditation practice. Just note with each in and out breath:
In … out
Deep … slow
Calm … ease
Smile … release
Present moment… wonderful moment.
Wishing you many moments of mindfulness. I hope to see you soon in one of my groups, a daylong retreat, or perhaps an upcoming Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class.
