Thought of the Week - Thich Nhat Hanh

We lost a dear man this past Saturday. Thich Nhat Hanh, who many call Thay, was a beloved teacher of Zen Buddhism. I have been following his teachings for years. He had a wise and comforting approach to the end of life—he saw us all as one continuous being that never ends; like a cloud that continues to be rain or snow or ice. I like to think that way about our ending as not ending.

But the most important thing I learned was about suffering and how to suffer well—that suffering is not scary when you know how to handle it. I learned how not to suppress uncomfortable feelings but rather, to let them surface so I can clearly identify and acknowledge them. That brings relief! It is a practice like any other practice. The more we do it, the better we become at it.

Suffering will always be part of our lives. Can we learn how to suffer well?

Happy Tuesday,
Yael