Quote:
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” Thich Nhat Hanh
I chose a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh on purpose for this particular week. The movement from January to February, from the “new” to thoughts of love. From the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday (January 15) to the anniversary of the passing of a great teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh (January 22).
Thich Nhat Hanh founded the order of “Inter-being” which teaches a more “engaged” Buddhism than had been seen before. It’s important to take note of this…as one of the critiques of Buddhism has been an extreme detachment that can often be seen as aloof and uncaring. According to Nhat Hanh, “Buddhism means to be awake — mindful of what is happening in one’s body, feelings, mind and in the world. If you are awake, you cannot do otherwise than act compassionately to help relieve suffering you see around you. So Buddhism must be engaged in the world. If it is not engaged, it is not Buddhism.”1
Our most precious gift is our attention, and our attention sometimes requires us to take a stand and be heard. Mindful awareness is NOT about removing yourself from the chaos of the world, but being willing to be in it and able to manage our emotional well-being at the same time.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s words remind us that we can focus are awareness on those around us to help cultivate love and growth, and to do so generously.
Intention:
“Today I will ENGAGE in the world around me with love and kindness.”
Meditation:
Join me in a Loving Kindness Meditation
Imagine a loved one, someone you are intimately aware of, and wish them these thoughts:
May you be safe and healthy.
May you be happy and at peace.
May you live with kindness and compassion
May you be free from suffering.
Imagine someone you don’t know very well, someone you might even have difficult thoughts and emotions for, and wish them these thoughts:
May you be safe and healthy.
May you be happy and at peace.
May you live with kindness and compassion
May you be free from suffering.
Imagine yourself, knowing you have conflicting thoughts about who YOU are and how YOU act in the world, and wish yourself these thoughts:
May I be safe and healthy.
May I be happy and at peace.
May I live with kindness and compassion
May I be free from suffering.
Finally, imagine someone that you don’t know at all, perhaps they are caught up in the Palestinian conflict, or suffering from illness or disease in your own hometown, and wish them these thoughts:
May they be safe and healthy.
May they be happy and at peace.
May they live with kindness and compassion
May they be free from suffering.
Cultivation:
How may you cultivate an ethic of engaged awareness in your neighborhood or town? Can you support and help those less fortunate? Perhaps you can donate money, food, or even better…time, for the advancement of a cause you believe in. Furthermore, how can you cultivate this within your family or friend group? It is a gentle balance of courage and kindness that creates an energy that feels motivating, but not domineering.
Sometimes we “raise the vibration” by raising others.
Appreciation:
Here’s a new idea.
Start a photo album on your phone that can be used to store pictures of the things you are grateful for, big and small! It’s a fun and easy way to create something that is easy to get to as a reminder for all the WONDERFUL things that you appreciate. Perhaps you can pair that with intermittent reminders for ~5 minute meditations. Take a picture and contemplate all the ways in which you are grateful for that person or moment.
https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-thich-nhat-hanh-oprah-winfrey-religion-78841c007addc0f910c8bbc73e9ca471