30+ Inspiring Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes to Help Us Heal and Live Mindfully

Inspirational Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes on Awakening and Presence

Mindfulness is the practice of coming home to the present moment. Below are the best quotes on awakening compiled by Reading To Heal.

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

“Living in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the beautiful green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.”

“The breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness. When you are troubled, take a deep breath, breathe out, and let everything go.”

“Life is only available in the present moment. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step brings us to the here and the now.”

“To be established in the present moment is to return to your true home. Your true home is not limited by time, space, nationality, or race.”

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”

“I have arrived. I am home. My destination is in every step.”

5 Best Quotes by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh on Enlightenment and Peace

If you are seeking peace, know that it is already available within you. It's just that our minds are too noisy, obscuring our inherent calm.
 

“Enlightenment is always there. Small enlightenment will bring about big enlightenment. If you breathe and you realize that you are alive, that is a moment of awakening.”

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

“Many people think excitement is happiness. But when you are excited, you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.”

“Allow yourself to be like a pebble on the riverbed, doing nothing. When you walk, you are relaxed. When you sit, you are relaxed.”

“Silence is essential. We need silence just as we need air, just as a plant needs light.”

> Related Read: Silence by Thich Nhat Hanh: Most Beautiful Quotes for Mindfulness

Wisdom on Suffering and Happiness: The "No Mud, No Lotus" Philosophy

We often run from suffering, but Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us that they are two sides of the same coin.

“There is no lotus without mud. Similarly, suffering and happiness inter-are and manifest together. To run away from suffering to look for happiness is like trying to find a lotus where there is no mud.”

“The seeds of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until all the suffering is gone before allowing yourself to be happy.”

“We tend to run away from suffering and look for happiness. But in fact, if you have not suffered, you have no chance to experience real happiness.”

“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”

“The ability to let go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.”

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.”

Profound Quotes on Love and Compassion

True love requires presence and understanding. Here are the breakthroughs I found in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the heart.

“Understanding the suffering of the other person is the best gift you can give. Understanding is love’s other name. If you don’t understand, you can’t love.”

“To say 'I love you' means 'I can bring you peace and happiness.' To do this, you must first be the person who has those things.”

“True love is the kind of love that brings happiness to both of us and to those we love.”

“Your love has to make your beloved feel free.”

“If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.”

“Compassion is a verb.”

Quotes to Help You Overcome Difficulties and Be Yourself

How many dark nights have we spent trying to be someone else? These words helped me find my way back to myself.

“Happiness is being yourself. You don't have to be accepted by others. You just need to accept yourself.”

“Each of us should ask: What do I really want? To be the number one successful person? Or simply a happy person?”

“Because you are alive, everything is possible.”

“My actions are my only true possessions.”

“People suffer because of their preconceptions. When you look at things with an open mind, you become free.”

“When a person is angry, it is because they have not resolved their own suffering. They are the first victim of that suffering, and you are the second.”