Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to live. Select a vocation that helps realise your ideal of compassion.
Nhat HanhRead
This is a very important practice. Live your daily life in a way that you never lose yourself. _x000D_ _x000D_ When you are carried away with your worries, fears, cravings, anger, and desire, you run away from yourself and you lose yourself. _x000D_ _x000D_ The practice is always to go back to oneself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stay true to yourself amidst life's distractions.
This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's true self in the face of daily challenges and emotional turmoil. By acknowledging and managing worries, fears, and desires, one can prevent the loss of their authentic identity and cultivate a consistent practice of self-return and awareness.
Themes
SelfIdentityAwarenessEmotionsPractice
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one might say, 'Remember to live your daily life in a way that you never lose yourself.'
More from Nhat Hanh
All quotes →I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it.
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I realize that many elements of the Buddhist teaching can be found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam. I think if Buddhism can help, it is the concrete methods of practice.
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Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.
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The therapist does not treat patients by simply giving them another set of beliefs. He or she tries to help them see which kinds of ideas and beliefs have led to their suffering. Many patients want to get rid of their painful feelings, but they do not want to get rid of their beliefs, the viewpoints that are the very roots of their feelings.
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Scientists tell us that we have enough technology to save our planet. . . . Yet we don't take advantage of this new technology. . . . The technological has to work hand-in-hand with the spiritual. Our spiritual life is the element that can bring about the energies of peace, calm, brotherhood, understanding, and compassion. Without that, our planet doesn't stand a chance.
Nhat HanhRead
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