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
We try many ways to be awake, but our society still keeps us forgetful. Meditation is to help us remember.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the need for mindfulness amidst societal distractions, suggesting that meditation helps us reconnect with our true selves.
In this quote, Thich Nhat Hanh points out the challenges of remaining mindful and aware in a fast-paced society that often encourages forgetfulness. He suggests that, through practices like meditation, individuals can restore their connection to their inner selves and the present moment, helping to counteract the distractions that lead to a state of forgetfulness. Meditation serves as a tool for self-awareness and remembering our deeper truths.
Themes
MeditationMindfulnessAwarenessSocietyRemembering
In practice
Example use cases
During a mindfulness workshop, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of meditation.
More from Nhat Hanh
All quotes βI have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it.
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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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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.
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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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