A series of essays….
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LOVINGLY REFERRED TO AS ‘THAY’ (TEACHER), THICK NHAT HANH IS A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL LEADER, POET, AND PEACE ACTIVIST |
….as seen through my eyes!
Note: I wrote my initial story about Thich Nhat Hanh back on April 30, 2015, when I embraced Mindfulness for the first time. I, like millions of others, mourn his passing on January 22, 2022. His spirit will continue to touch all of us throughout time and space. JEH
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
I have waffled in-and-out between requiring a needy life and one filled with freedom and solitude ever since I can remember. Even as a small child, alone time with my toys surrendered to a feeling of complete contentment and joy. Today I embrace my downtime and gratefully add up all of the benefits it has afforded me.
Then my husband planned yet another business trip and I, admittedly, anticipated his week long absence. Yes, I don't believe I have ever embraced the old adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," simply because love should have no boundaries in time and space. Although, in truth, his gentleness was missed.....
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MORNING SOLITUDE |
Quite simply, I enjoy being alone! Funny how this conjures-up an image of Greta Garbo in the classic 1932 movie ‘Grand Hotel.’ The author of the book the movie was based upon, Vicki Baum, wrote that producer, E. Goulding, purposely changed the original line, “I wish to be alone” to “I want to be alone.” Interesting how Garbo made the word ‘alone’ sound like an entire line of dialogue!
Being a slave to office politics and corporate ladder climbs is a concept that defies all logic for me. The deep desire to be my own boss has been with me since the solitude and comfort of playing alone with my toys as a child. However, as an adult, this feeling of solitude and independence has gotten me into trouble within the corporate arena numerous times. Like I always say, another story, another time.
Let's be honest, the world we live in can be volatile most of the time, and it is up to us to adapt to our surroundings, make positive changes where we can or, sink with the ship. Between natural disasters and simple human frailty with the lack of 'common sense' in general, our Earth is getting very annoyed with all of us humans right now!
Life has become the Chiliean Calbuco Volcano covering us in ash; a family of five living out of their car and hoping to see a light at the end of the dark tunnel; the ground shaking devastation of the Kathmandu earthquake; a mother attempting to cope with a sick child and avoid missing work at the same time; political unrest and religious intolerance; and a young, Black male afraid to walk down his own street in the light of day or darkness of night. Shall I go on?
I know that each generation harbors doubts about the wisdom of their particular journey in life. Unless you happen to be blessed with a peaceful heart and are the healthiest person ever known to walk the planet, your transgressions in this life will always find a way of catching-up to you. Guilt is generally the most transparent emotion we allow to haunt us—even when questioning our own bravery by surviving conflict when fellow soldiers may not have. We will all experience the black hammer of guilt pounding rhythmically over our heads at one time or another within our lifetime.
The beloved Vietnamese monk, scholar and activist, Thich Nhat Hanh, has enlightened many of us with his pure, poignant thoughts about peace, love and compassion and how they are central to the teachings of both Buddha and Christ. He tells us how we must be aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life and vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. We must be determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in our thinking, and in our way of life.
After all, if we rightfully believe that we are all connected in body and spirit....killing others would truly be like killing a part of ourselves. Why would we do that?
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MINDFULLNESS |
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CULTIVATE COMPASSION |
Returning to my desire to experience solitude in my life, allow me to introduce, in case you haven't heard of this belief already, the effort of practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the energy to be here and to witness deeply everything that happens in the moment, and be aware of what is going on within and without, as per one of the Five Precepts of Buddhist Philosophy. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present.
Mindfulness is a basic and more simple root structure of meditation itself that urges us to find wholesome, spiritual nourishment for ourselves and everyone who touches our lives. It can be found by looking up at the blue sky, down at the colorful spring blossoms, or into the eyes of a child.... Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that "The most basic meditation practice of becoming aware of our bodies, minds and the world around us can lead us into a far richer and more fulfilling state than any drug ever could." This is one example of what we called, back in the day, achieving a natural high.
I believe that when I am alone, in a personal state of solitude and bliss, I am able to see the world in a softer, more beautiful light containing strong hints of hope and love. So, for me, being alone is truly never a problem. As the white noise in my mind dissipates to unmask the 'vibrations of potential' and my outlook on life reaches momentous levels, the prospect of creative thought flows strong and free like a babbling brook in the springtime. I think every one of us knows where to find our solitude and joy. Knowing how to and wanting to find it is certainly a large part of this journey we are all on.
May I conclude by saying that my husband enjoyed his time away, as well, and returned home safe and sound after a very productive work week.
Considering my deep connection with the power and healing prospects of Love, I leave you with another quote by Thich Nhat Hanh from his beautifully written work entitled "Living Buddha, Living Christ."
"Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing. Love instructs
us not to act in ways that will cause suffering now or
in the future. We can discern when something that
seems to be joyful has the capacity to destroy future
happiness, so we do not abuse alcohol, ingest
unhealthy foods or hurt others by our words. Real love
never ends. It will be reborn and reborn."
Copyright © 2022 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
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