On Sunday, Oprah sat down with Thich Nhat Hanh. He’s been a Buddhist monk for more than 60 years, a vocal opponent of war which got him exiled from his native Vietnam for nearly 40 years. He talked with Oprah about the beauty of the present moment, being grateful for every breath, and the freedom and happiness to be found in a simple cup of tea.
As I watched the episode, I was definitely in awe of his ability to be so “present” in the present. He said he could take up to 45 minutes to enjoy a cup of tea and to me, that’s a real impressive skill. Unfortunately, it’s not one that I possess. I keep up my Sunday’s Deep Thought entries because not only am I trying to share knowledge with my readers but I’m also trying to broaden my own horizons. I’m a massively impatient person (which btw is working out great while I sit on my hands waiting to hear from literary agents). I think it must be one of those great cosmic jokes that I desperately want to be a published author and it’s one of the most stop-and-go industries out there. So, while I’m on this journey to live out my dream, I’m trying to take stock of my spiritual growth because I need every ounce of help to get through this process.
So in mindful living, Hanh explains that you can meditate while walking, eating, practically every activity. It’s just all a matter of taking the time to experience each moment fully. When you take in a breath, be grateful for that beautiful oxygen filling your lungs. He said that taking a breath all by itself enters you into the kingdom of heaven. What a wonderful sentiment that is and it’s one in which I agree. We are living in the same space as that of divine, we just have to take the time to realize it. Again, I’m preaching at or informing myself as much as you guys. This is something I’m nowhere near perfecting or even trying on a regular basis but I’ve blogged about it today because I really think it’s something worth attempting. I wish you all a wonderful week of mindful living, even if all you do is say thank you once this week for your breath because that simple act is truly a miracle.
