The renowned Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, died earlier this week. He was known for bringing the practice of mindfulness to the West, after being exiled from Vietnam for his activism for social justice. His teachings and the teachings of Eckhart Tolle are quite similar. They each stress the importance of being rooted in the present moment. Both men exude an aura of peace and simply being in their presence has had a calming influence on others.
I was first introduced to the concepts of Buddhism when I was still in high school. The concept that has stayed with me throughout my life, is to follow the middle way. To follow the middle way is to not adhere to dogmas, but to find the common denominator between opposing ideas. It is maintaining balance. It is living a life of acceptance rather than complaining or wishing your life were different. There is no peace for those who insist on extremism. Following the middle way is choosing grey instead of black or white. It is taking a less traveled route as opposed to a well traveled one.
Driven by ego, most people live lives fraught with suffering. They seek to control and manipulate the people and events in their lives. They are constantly struggling and fighting their way upstream, against the current. They believe that life is difficult and in many respects they are right. Life is filled with challenges, but that is why we are here. It is only in acceptance of those challenges that peaceful solutions emerge. What Thich Nhat Hanh, Tolle, Chopra, and many other spiritual teachers have taught, is that the way out of suffering is to dive deep within ourselves – into that pool of stillness, that warm womb of peace that is lined with love. From there, we see clearly and breathe each breath fully as it comes forth. We concentrate on our breath because it is the constant reminder that we cannot hold on to it. We must release the breath in order to take in the next one.
I am grateful for these great teachers who have touched the lives of so many. Every person who becomes aware of these truths, brings our world closer to healing. When we create peace in our own lives, we are positively affecting our chances for world peace.
