Thich Nhat Hahn

Have I already written about Thich Nhat Hahn?  He's worth revisiting.  I just finished The Art of Power, and the message in this book is pretty much the same as in all of Hahn's books, but it bears repeating.  He basically wants us to know that we're all linked and interconnected, that we're essentially all parts of the same whole.  Living with this belief in non-duality helps us to realize that if we hurt one another, we're hurting ourselves in the bargain.  He believes that if we continue to recognize this, we'll become more compassionate with one another and achieve true happiness.

I'm not a religious person, but I do crave spirituality, and this is as close as I have come to subscribing to any type of higher power.  Hahn's teachings are simple and make sense.   Essentially, he believes that if you want the world to be a better place, you should embody the changes that you'd like to see in the rest of the world.  Kindness and compassion are keys to happiness, as is the ability to stay present in every moment.  We waste our lives by worrying about the past and the future when what really matters is what is happening here and now.  There is no greater gift to give to your loved ones than your true presence and attention.  Try it and see what happens.  It's so easy to become distracted by all of the external stimuli in this increasingly chaotic world, but learning to focus on what's truly important, which is this very moment, helps us to keep centered and grounded.

I think it was John Lennon who said that life is what happens while you're busy making plans.  I'm trying to change my plan to make every moment count and live for this day only.  I can't stop thinking about all of the people in Japan and the tragedies they're experiencing.  It gives me such a heavy heart, but it also helps me put things into perspective.  My gripes are miniscule.  I have a lot to be grateful for, an obscene amount to be grateful for, really.  I need to continue to remember that.