Tag Archives: #thich nhat hanh

Let Go

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“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

There is nothing wrong with having preferences; however, when we allow those preferences crystallize into absolute requirements, we suffer. One way to determine your level of attachment around something is to observe the level of disappointment experienced when you don’t get what you want. Some people are terribly reactive to even the slightest imposition and have to endure constant self-induced turmoil.

Others see life as a playground. They strive and play with equal pleasure, sometimes winning, sometimes losing, but always finding the joy in the adventure. This detachment creates a peaceful foundation from which to experience life. This is not to say challenges do not arise, but they feel less intense and are released more quickly.

Choose to be at ease where you are. Take one more conscious step forward while honoring the process of your awakening. Make detachment one aspect of your daily practice and observe what happens. It’s likely that you will feel more empowered and peaceful in this moment… and that’s all that matters.

You Are Joy

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“You will arrive at the realization that you are just joy itself, and everything you do arises out of this joy, out of this spaciousness, light, and love.”
~ Mooji~

You are an aspect of the Divine experiencing the illusion of separation. Your loving awareness sparks awakening in those with whom you interact. When you are led by love, when you can step out of the maelstrom and into joy, you become a peaceful haven through turbulent times. Through contrast we discover the Oneness that connects us.

Give those you love space to work through their own lessons. Interact with kindness and integrity, knowing that everything works toward the highest good for all involved. Regardless of how it appears on the physical plane, love ultimately resides at the core of all things. As we each do our work to heal both personal and collective wounds, keep in mind that awareness is the first step of transformation.

Observe without commentary or judgment. Take ownership when necessary and then choose right action. Right action arises through expanded consciousness and mindful choices. Purposely utilize the lessons contained within every situation and you will awaken a version of yourself that is  peaceful, inspiring and empowered.

Mindful Choices

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“Open your mind, expand your character to embrace the world. Then you will find guidance along the path.”
~R. L. Wing~
Your life is a garden. Consciousness determines what you will plant there. Intention helps it to flourish. Every thought plants the seeds of what we will experience tomorrow. Discover the value of bringing mindfulness to the present moment. You intention creates an empowered movement of energy.

When we bring gratitude and happiness into our mindful choices, something new begins to move throughout our experience. With each conscious decision we reprogram the mind to recognize the little joys of life. Enough daily joys add up to an overall happy and fulfilling experience – the garden flourishes, becoming more lush and colorful, filled with scent, color and life.

You are far more powerful than you realize. The awareness you bring to your thoughts, words and actions will create space in which transformation can occur. You will know that you are tapped into the infinite energy of the Divine when you are calm and at peace. Commit to creating a life filled with joy and wonder.

Sanctuary

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“…for you know that soft is stronger than hard, water stronger than rock, love stronger than force.”
~Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha~

The only thing over which you have any control is how you choose to experience the present moment. It’s time to reignite life’s mystery and leap fully into the spiritual experience. The energy that we put out into the world matters. Your sense of connection matters. More than ever before, life needs peacekeepers, artisans, free thinkers, healers and creators.

Consciousness has expanded because of a willingness to journey through darkness. As we emerge from the shadows, we find ourselves transformed, and it is this strength and awareness that can now be brought out into the light. The role of the awakened soul is to demonstrate what empowerment looks like in the world of form. Gentleness, kindness, and compassion arise when we have cultivated them within.

Keep it simple. Focus only on this moment and how you can bring the best version of yourself to whatever unfolds. Even solitary, mundane tasks take on a sacred quality when you are thusly engaged. Imagine how life would feel if you consistently experienced the Now in this manner. Your peacefulness creates a true sanctuary.

The Pilgrimage

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“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~

The journey is more important than the destination. The path that you walk is a sacred place, filled with adventure, new discoveries and old friends. As you move from one place to the next, growth is assured. There is no need to struggle or plan too much (though if you choose to do so that’s ok too…). Consider embracing the new with an openness and acceptance that will allow you to learn whatever your soul is ready to learn.

This attitude of openness ensures that new opportunities, friendships and experiences will enter your life. The journey is ever-changing and life is about walking the pilgrimage with joy.

No matter where you reside on the Path of Transformation, search your life for the evidence of the hard-won truths you can claim as your own. There is great power in being courageous enough to take responsibility for who you are as you live aligned with your true nature.

People are often afraid of the own divinity. They find it easier to see their perceived flows and faults than to allow their limitless potential to be expressed.

Live in communion with life. Become one with the experiences that come your way and walk the path with humility. Look deeply into the eyes of another – a loved one, a child, a friend, or simply hug a tree and realize that the love is returned. The sacred works through all forms and calls you home again and again.

Living Within Paradox

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“Since ancient times, spiritual masters of all traditions have pointed to the Now as the key to the spiritual dimension. Despite this, it seems to have remained a secret.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

Don’t try to change, simply be aware… awareness heals. Spiritual practice is often a blend of paradox – confusion and clarity, separation and wholeness, detachment and presence. The word paradox itself comes from the Greek para dokien which means beyond thought. See yourself as a physical expression of the Divine who wishes to experience life in various forms. Allow yourself to look through the illusion yet act consciously within the present moment. Eventually the illusion will become easier to see through as we remember our true nature and mission.

So many suffer, lost within the “why’s” and entrapped by the mind. The same energy, knowledge and peace discovered by all the masters who have walked the Path of Transformation awaits you within the openness of your own heart. For all our searching, the answers lie within.

It can take great courage to learn to trust your inner wisdom. Teachers, circumstances and guides are all there to point to the inner awareness, but until one is willing to see, there it waits. Trust yourself, be gentle with yourself and open to the potential that joy brings. No matter what teachings you encounter, trust your own divine nature in order to align with your truth and integrity. Give yourself permission to live consciously within the paradox, without dissecting or analyzing it.

Presence

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“There is only one perpetrator of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness. With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves, and your true power emerges–the power of Presence. Instead of blaming the darkness, you bring in the light.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
Allow this moment to be the most transformative of your life.

The way to experience life fully is to bring your complete awareness to what is unfolding right now. This is the moment of transformation. Observe your thoughts and actions. Are they allowing you to be fully present with the experience or are they projected toward some future moment or desire?

When you focus your awareness on the Now, you’ll discover that you are right where you need to be. The lessons unfolding are perfect for the souls development and through complete acceptance, joy begins to expand throughout every aspect of your life. Embrace what is. You have chosen these experiences for the express purpose of accelerating your spiritual growth.

Take brief, frequent pauses often throughout the day to check your state of consciousness. 30 seconds of mindful breathing can help to align you with the present moment. Within the ebb and flow of life, you can choose to create a foundation of calmness, peace and empowerment,  the natural by-products of acceptance.

Simple Joy

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“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~
The mind will often tell us that life must fall into place before we can relax and enjoy it; however, the opposite is true. When we relax and enjoy, life falls into place. Rather than chasing a thousand solutions or achieving something of value to leave behind, we discover that the true point of power is in the present moment. Bringing conscious peace into the Now is transformative.
When you are mindful, any choices or actions taken have incredible vitality. It sounds simple because it is. Life is what it is. We can choose how to respond to whatever unfolds in our experience and utilize it as a gateway to higher consciousness. The old saying to be in the world but not of it points to this. We create our own reality, and in doing so, walk gently upon the earth.
Consider being consciously playful and accepting today. Approach each moment without expectation and immerse yourself within it. Operate from love. Observe the antics of the mind. You may discover that everything gets accomplished with greater ease and grace.

Breathe, Allow, Be

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“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~

Mindfulness will guide you through anything that arises. Our relationship to the world around us reflects our true relationship to ourselves; and through that, our connection to the Oneness of all life. When we allow the present moment to be as it is without expectation, we begin to experience the world in all it’s beauty.

Peacefulness is the present moment is needed to become aware of the beauty, the majesty and the sacredness of life. When we become engaged in the discovery of our true nature, the lessons present themselves everywhere we look. Our world is set up to provide constant reminders of the joy of life – so simple, a flower, a tree or a dog could do it.
Empowerment is simply taking full responsibility for your state of consciousness in the present moment. Breathe, allow, be.

As I watch the sun lighten the sky, I am greeted by love. As the birds awaken and sing in the stillness, I am serenaded by love. In the flow of my breath, I am connected to love.

Walk Gently

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“Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh~
To live in alignment with life, we must first remove anything that blocks us from living in a way that is empowered and accepting. The spiritual path calls upon us to dissolve the ego, rise above the mundane and cultivate trust. There are many layers to this work and countless roads to enlightenment. As you explore the various teachings that ignite your spirit, your willingness to learn will draw what is needed to you.
Walk gently upon the earth and listen to the prompting of your inner guidance. Celebrate your breakthroughs and learn from the challenges that arise. Everything works toward your highest good – always. With this in mind, fear departs as we take a greater role in what we choose to create and how we interpret the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
This never ending process of awakening is filled with opportunity, for as you change, the world around you is transformed. Seek to discover the language of your heart. See each moment only as an opportunity to shine. Messages from the Divine are everywhere and infinite gifts of love are waiting to be discovered.