Thich Nhat Hanh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist. He spent most of his later life at the Plum Village Monastery in southwest France. He is credited with coining the term ‘Engaged Buddhism’, a series of teachings that seeks to bring practical Buddhist wisdom into daily life. He was a lifelong advocate of peace and was dedicated to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts.
Thich Nhat Hanh was born Nguyen Xuan Bao, in the city of Quang Ngai in Central Vietnam in 1926. At the age of 16, he entered into a Zen Buddhist monastery and took the name Thich Nhat Hanh. Over his lifetime, Thich Nhat Hanh became fluent in several languages and was well versed in different religious traditions. Over time, he has become a symbol of peace and harmony and has influenced many to follow the path of Buddhism. He passed away on 22 January 2022 at the age of 95.
1 Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful. -Thich Nhat Hanh
A smile on your face is the best thing you can wear. It makes you beautiful, presentable and kind. And the best thing about a smile is that it is contagious.
2 There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Happiness isn’t the destination. It’s, in fact, the only path. You need to make a conscious decision to be happy in life and do what is necessary towards that end.
3 Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Most of our fears are unreal and just a figment of our imagination. Once you acknowledge your fear, you’ll realize how stupid it really is and how, in reality, you are doing way better than you think you are.
4 Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity. -Thich Nhat Hanh
We have the potential to make every moment of our life magical and beautiful. We can fill it with peace and joy if we open up our hearts to it.
5 We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Running around endlessly will never get you anywhere. Stop and take some rest once in a while. The more you work without any rest, the less productive you become.
6 We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we don’t allow our minds and hearts to heal. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Most of the time, we worry for no particular reason. We let our fears take a hold of us and this, in turn, results in messing up our lives. Let go of all those senseless worries and you’ll see that your life will improve ten folds.
7 The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Violence, hate and prejudice are destructive, not just for those who we direct it at but also for us. It’s important that we give space for love and peace in our hearts and act along those lines
8 With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment. -Thich Nhat Hanh
There’s no point in worrying about the past or the future. Be mindful of the present and focus your attention here. There’re beautiful moments that we miss just because we’re focused on unnecessary things.
9 People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. -Thich Nhat Hanh
The fear of the unknown is the most treacherous there is. People would rather stick to something that doesn’t bring too many surprises even if it means that they have to suffer a lot because of it.
10 We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Most of the time, we set our eyes either on the past or the future and in the process, we miss all the beautiful moments that happen right before our eyes. Remember that it’s the present that you need to live in, not the past or the future.
11 Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. -Thich Nhat Hanh
So many of us spend our entire lives running after something without ever caring to stop for a moment. Stop for a while and rest. You’ll find that you’ll be more productive that way.
12 People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Most people end up sacrificing their present for a better future. What they don’t realize is that it’s the present that they need to enjoy. Even if one’s chasing their dreams, they shouldn’t forget to enjoy what little time they have in this world.
13 Peace in the world starts with peace in oneself. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Widespread peace can only be achieved if each and every person in the world makes a conscious decision to first find peace within themselves. Unless every individual finds inner peace, there won’t be complete peace in the world.
14 When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there? -Thich Nhat Hanh
If you’re truly in love with someone, you’ll always be there for them when they need you. You’ll always be able to find some time for them because that’s what love demands.
15 Love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish. -Thich Nhat Hanh
Love is when a person will do all he can to protect and take care of someone. He’ll be there for them when they need him. Most of all, he’ll help them grow and be a better person.
15 Best Thich Nhat Hanh Quotes About Life, Love And Peace
1. Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful. -Thich Nhat Hanh
2. There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. -Thich Nhat Hanh
3. Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. -Thich Nhat Hanh
4. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity. -Thich Nhat Hanh
5. We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. -Thich Nhat Hanh
6. We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we don’t allow our minds and hearts to heal. -Thich Nhat Hanh
7. The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions. -Thich Nhat Hanh
8. With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment. -Thich Nhat Hanh
9. People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. -Thich Nhat Hanh
10. We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize. -Thich Nhat Hanh
11. Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. -Thich Nhat Hanh
12. People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present. -Thich Nhat Hanh
13. Peace in the world starts with peace in oneself. -Thich Nhat Hanh
14. When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there? -Thich Nhat Hanh
15. Love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish. -Thich Nhat Hanh