A gentle leader and humble man, Thich Nhat Hanh, died this day, January 21, 2022.
Born in 1926, he became a Buddhist monk when he was only sixteen. Working tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam, his lifelong efforts to generate peace moved Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Living in exile in France where he founded a retreat centre, Hahn became a prolific writer, renowned scholar, world leader and spiritual guide, championing a movement that weaves traditional meditative practices with nonviolent civil disobedience. His teachings revolved around … respect for life … generosity … loving communication … and cultivation of a healthy lifestyle; his Mindfulness meditation technique helped people in their desire for wholeness and inner calm for generations.
Often quoted, one of Hanh’s phrases particularly spoke to me as I was writing the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality’ book. That phrase become one of the quotations in the book – a book which puts forth “Soul Questions” for readers to reflect upon and consider their purpose in life and reason for living. To learn more about the ‘Soulistry’ book and read some reviews, you are welcome to click: www.soulistry.com/books
In thanksgiving for the life of Thich Nhat Hanh and in thankfulness for his permission to use his quote in the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul’ book, I share Hanh’s words and the Soul-Questions based on his quote for your personal reflection … in your thoughts; in your journal; in discussion with a friend, spiritual guide, soul friend, religious leader,
THE WELL WITHIN Thich Nhat Hanh
(“Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul”, page 11)
““The well is within us. If we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.”
Soulistry Soul-Questions:
* What do you think the author means by “the well is within”?
* How have you dug “deeply in the present moment” in your life?
* What growth/learning/self-discoveries resulted from such reflection?
* How might you begin to “dig deeply in the present moment”?
* Are there things in your past or evident in this present time that are preventing you from looking at “the well within” you? If so, name/journal/talking them over with a counselor, spiritual director, soul friend, religious leader so that these things no longer have power over you, restricting your ongoing tapping of the well-within.
* What “water” do you hope “will spring forth” from such self-examination?
Thank you, Thich Nhat Hanh for your gentle leadership, for you faithfulness to the call you heard, and for your wisdom. May you rest in peace now for all eternity.
© June Maffin
www.soulistry.com
www.soulistry.com/blog
