Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realise your ideal of compassion.
Nhat HanhRead
Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of compassion and the commitment to protect all forms of life.
Thich Nhat Hanh expresses a profound commitment to cultivating compassion towards all living beings, including humans, animals, plants, and even minerals. He emphasizes a conscious effort to avoid any form of killing or destruction, highlighting the interconnectedness of life and the importance of protecting it through peaceful and mindful actions. This message underscores the moral responsibility individuals have in creating a more compassionate world.
Themes
CompassionNonviolenceLifeProtectionInterconnectedness
In practice
Example use cases
In a talk on environmental awareness, one might quote this to emphasize the need for compassion towards nature.
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I realize that many elements of the Buddhist teaching can be found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam. I think if Buddhism can help, it is the concrete methods of practice.
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The therapist does not treat patients by simply giving them another set of beliefs. He or she tries to help them see which kinds of ideas and beliefs have led to their suffering. Many patients want to get rid of their painful feelings, but they do not want to get rid of their beliefs, the viewpoints that are the very roots of their feelings.
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Scientists tell us that we have enough technology to save our planet. . . . Yet we don't take advantage of this new technology. . . . The technological has to work hand-in-hand with the spiritual. Our spiritual life is the element that can bring about the energies of peace, calm, brotherhood, understanding, and compassion. Without that, our planet doesn't stand a chance.
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In mindfulness one is not only restful and happy, but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.
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