The Mindfulness of Thich Nhat Hahn
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. ”
I have so many friends I’ve never met. They are the authors of the books I’ve read. Think about it. You spend many hours reading a book, and if the author has written several other books, it is more hours. How many face-to-face friends do you spend that many quality minutes with, even in a year? One of my most-cherished author friends is Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh is a 94-year-old Buddhist priest from Vietnam who has written over 130 books. He is a world-renowned activist in the peace and ecology movements. His books on living in the present and mindfulness have been a personal gift.
The most recent book I am reading is Peace is Every Breath, which reminds the reader to find mindfulness in the most mundane tasks. He teaches the reader to find mindfulness even while washing your face, with the Water running. This man, who was honored by Martin Luther King, Jr., focuses on the most specific activities with gratitude. He writes, “Water flows from high mountain sources. Water runs deep in the Earth. Miraculously, Water comes to us. I am filled with gratitude.” We can only be grateful when we recognize what is special around us.
Even in moments of suffering, there is still room for gratitude. During pain, little blessings may always be apparent if we are mindful enough to notice. Nhat Hanh calls us to witness the running Water. According to Google, “An estimated 790 million people (11% of the world’s population) without access to an improved water supply. An estimated 1.8 billion people (25% of the world’s population) without access to adequate sanitation.”
Just walking into the bathroom is a moment of gratitude when we are mindful enough to recognize how blessed we are to have running water when so many do not have that benefit. When we appreciate the blessings we do have all around us, we begin to understand our life with more passion and excitement. Thich Nhat Hanh survived the war in Vietnam and remained open to the suffering of others. Mindfulness isn’t ignoring the pain in our midst but focusing on all aspects of our lives with clarity. As Christians, we invite God to guide our mindfulness so we can appreciate our world and make the changes necessary to enhance the world for all God’s children.
