QuoteProject
The Noble Eight-Fold Path is the path of living in awareness. Mindfulness is the foundation. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop concentration, which enables you to attain understanding. Thanks to right concentration, you realize right awareness, thoughts, speech, action, livelihood and effort. The understanding which develops can liberate you from every shackle of suffering and give birth to true peace and joy.
Nhat Hanh
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of mindfulness as a foundation for enlightenment and liberation from suffering.

In this quote, Thich Nhat Hanh describes the Noble Eight-Fold Path as a holistic approach to living with awareness and mindfulness. He explains that mindfulness is crucial for developing concentration and understanding, which in turn allows individuals to cultivate right thoughts, speech, actions, and efforts. The ultimate goal of this practice is to liberate oneself from suffering and attain true peace and joy.

Themes

MindfulnessAwarenessConcentrationUnderstandingPeaceJoyPath

In practice

Example use cases

In a meditation retreat, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of mindfulness in our daily practices.

More from Nhat Hanh

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
I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it.
Nhat HanhRead
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.
Nhat HanhRead
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.
Nhat HanhRead
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.
Nhat HanhRead
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

Similar quotes

Oh thrice fools are we who like new-born princes weeping in the cradle know not that there is a kingdom before them then let our Lord's sweet hand square us and hammer us and strike off the knots of pride self-love and world-worship and infidelity that He may make us stones and pillars in His Father's house.
Samuel RutherfordRead
The science of constructing a commonwealth or renovating it, or reforming it, is...not to be taught a priori...That which in the first instance is prejudicial may be excellent in its remoter operation, and its excellence may rise even from the ill effects it produces in the beginning. The reverse also happens; and very plausible schemes, with very pleasing commencements, have often shameful and lamentable conclusions.
Edmund BurkeRead
It is a socialist idea that making profits is a vice; I consider the real vice is making losses.
Winston ChurchillRead
I know [Umbridge] by reputation and I'm sure she's no Death Eater-" "She's foul enough to be one..." "Yes, but the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters.
J. K. RowlingRead
The existence of the soldier, next to capital punishment, is the most grievous vestige of barbarism which survives among men.
Alfred De VignyRead
It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.
Robert E. LeeRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.