Finding instructive Buddhist sayings is unimaginable without seeing countless amazing Thich Nhat Hanh quotes included among them.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a famous Buddhist Zen Master and peace activist. His teachings revolve around mindfulness and how this state can enable us to have a better grasp on reality, act more wisely, and inspire change, primarily in ourselves, and later, in others.
Some of the best quotes by this world-renowned Buddhist monk touch upon the subjects of compassion, peace, love, and living in the present moment. If you are looking for some insightful sayings to instill some wisdom into your life, look no further. I’ve compiled a list of the most profound quotes by Thich Nhat Hanh for your enjoyment!
Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes That Advocate Peace and Truthfulness
#1. “The secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.”
#2. “If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it.”
#3. “Peace can exist only in the present moment. It is ridiculous to say, ‘Wait until I finish this, then I will be free to live in peace.’ What is ‘this?’ A diploma, a job, a house, the payment of a debt? If you think that way, peace will never come… If you truly want to be at peace, you must be at peace right now.”
#4. “Our own life is the instrument with which we experiment with the truth.”
#5. “Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life.”
#6. “Many people think excitement is happiness… But when you are excited, you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.”
Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes That Inspire You to Live in the Present Moment
#7. “We are very good at preparing to live but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.”
#8. “The present moment is the substance with which the future is made. Therefore, the best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.”
#9. “Take my hand. We will walk. We will only walk. We will enjoy our walk without thinking of arriving anywhere.”
#10. “When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace, and love.”
#11. “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
#12. “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that, right now, we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”
#13. “I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given to me to live.”
#14. “I will practice coming back to the present moment; not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fears, or cravings pull me out…”
Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes That Emphasize the Meaning of True Love
#15. “Through my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos, the whole of humanity, and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone and all species… This is the real message of love.”
#16. “If you love someone but rarely make yourself available to him or her, that is not true love.”
#17. “Until we are able to love and take care of ourselves, we cannot be of much help to others.”
#18. “When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?”
#19. “If you are irritated, you cannot listen. You have to know how to breathe mindfully, embrace your irritation, and transform it. Offer only understanding and compassion to your partner or child — this is the true practice of love.”
Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes That Teach You to Embrace Joy and Happiness
#20. “Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”
#21. “We often ask, ‘What’s wrong?’ Doing so, we invite painful seeds of sorrow to come up and manifest. We feel suffering, anger, and depression, and produce more such seeds. We would be much happier if we tried to stay in touch with the healthy, joyful seeds inside of us and around us. We should learn to ask, ‘What’s not wrong?’ and be in touch with that.”
#22. “The foundation of happiness is mindfulness. The basic condition for being happy is our consciousness of being happy. If we are not aware that we are happy, we are not really happy.”
#23. “Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here. There is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle. Just be.”
#24. “We have a finite amount of energy to spend every day before becoming exhausted. Mindfulness helps you use your energy wisely, spending it on situations, people, and causes that bring you the most joy, meaning, and peace.”
#25. “The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don’t wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.”
Final Thoughts
As we rush through our modern lives, it is easy to forget to live in the now, to appreciate the people around us, and to be grateful for what we have in life. Often, we even forget how happy we are, and we needlessly stress about our future.
Inspiring words by accomplished spiritual leaders of our time can help restore us back to reality and point out the truly relevant things in life. Hopefully, my collection of memorable Thich Nhat Hanh quotes has helped you with that!
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