Habit

We're all creatures of habit. 

Repeat an action enough times and it becomes habitual — an unconscious behavior.

Here's a worthwhile habit to work on developing: 

Each day, "catch" at least one person doing something good…and praise them. 

Over time, you'll acquire a natural tendency to focus on the good stuff! ~Eric Harvey

在生命中，再无聊的时间，也是限量版

在生命中，再无聊的时间，也是限量版

It's the how, not what

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

Lena Horne (1917-2010); Singer, actress, civil rights activist

Next act

Think of the poorest person you have ever seen and ask if your next act
will be of any use to him.

   
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

Thich Nhat Hanh’s letter to friends in Japan

Thich Nhat Hanh's letter to friends in Japan 

Plum Village March 13th, 2011 

Dear friends in Japan, 

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died. 

The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body. 

An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what's most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they can feel they are continuing to live in us, more mindfully, more profoundly, more beautifully, tasting evey minute of live available to us, for them. 

Here in France and at our practice centers all over the world, our brothers and sisters will continue to chant for you, sending you the energy of peace, healing and protection. We are praying for you with our heart, our breathe and our daily actions with more compassion, more understanding and mutual interactions in beauty. Thich Nhat Hanh

Compassionate is not enough, you must act

"It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your mind, that is in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger and so forth. This is action born from compassion.  The other is more social, more public. When there is something that needs to be done in the world to rectify wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, it is not enough simply to be compassionate. There is no direct benefit in that. With compassion one must be engaged, involved."
--The Dalai Lama