In April, we cannot see sunflowers in France, so we might say the sunflowers do not exist. But the local farmers have already planted thousands of seeds, and when they look at the bare hills, they may be able to see the sunflowers already. The sunflowers are there. They lack only the conditions of sun, heat, rain and July. Just because we cannot see them does not mean that they do not exist.
Nhat HanhYou would not cry if you knew that by looking deeply into the rain you would still see the cloud.
Nhat HanhIf we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.
Nhat HanhThe practice of Zen is to eat, breathe, cook, carry water, and scrub the toilet — to infuse every act of body, speech, and mind — with mindfulness, to illuminate every leaf and pebble, every heap of garbage, every path that leads to our mind's return home.
Nhat HanhWords can travel thousands of miles. May my words create mutual understanding and love. May they be as beautiful as gems, as lovely as flowers.
Nhat Hanh