Recently, one friend asked me, "How can I force myself to smile when I am filled with sorrow? It isn't natural." I told her she must be able to smile to her sorrow, because we are more than our sorrow. A human being is like a television set with millions of channels. If we turn the Buddha on, we are the Buddha. If we turn sorrow on then we are sorrow. If we turn a smile on, we really are the smile. We can not let just one channel dominate us. We have the seed of everything in us, and we have to seize the situation in our hand, to recover our own sovereignty.
Nhat HanhWhen you feel anger arising, remember to return to your breathing and follow it. The other person may see that you are practicing, and she may even apologize.
Nhat HanhIf I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on Earth... This is the real message of love
Nhat HanhContemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.
Nhat Hanh