An evening with ... Thich Nhat Hahn

I have a good friend at work who has just introduced me to Thich Nhat Hanh -- his books, I mean, though I wouldn't mind meeting him in person. I have read only one so far: Living Buddha, Living Christ. I found it lucidly written and valuable for its comparison of Buddhism and Christianity. It has made me want to read more on Buddhism.

One especially thought-provoking excerpt is below:

"Some waves on the ocean are high and some are low. Waves appear to be born and to die. But if we look more deeply, we see that the waves, although coming and going, are also water, which is always there. Notions like high and low, birth and death can be applied to waves, but water is free of such distinctions. Enlightenment for a wave is the moment the wave realizes that it is water. At that moment, all fear of death disappears." (p. 138)

In a Christian context, if I were able to remember, every minute, that I am God's beloved child, that he is never separated from me, that I am never far from his watchful eyes, what troubles I could endure with a calm heart!

But it's remembering it that's the difficult part!

Comments

Fran said…
Thich Nhat Hahn is a favorite of mine and a deep influence on my contemplative development.

Glad that you found him, so much of his work is worth reading and then living.

Peace to you.

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