A while back, I got really into exploring mind-body connection, which led me to explore Buddhist philosophy. That’s how I stumbled upon „The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching” by Thich Nhat Hanh. It’s not the easiest read—it dives deep into Buddhism’s core ideas, and I do not recommend it to beginners—but it’s filled with some real gems.

Below you can find 10 quotes from the book that made me stop and think. Hope they do the same for you!

1. Thich Nhat Hanh quote one: purpose

“The horse is galloping quickly, and it appears that the man on the horse is going somewhere important. Another man, standing alongside the road, shouts, “Where are you going?” and the first man replies “I don’t know, ask the horse”. This is also our story. We are riding a horse, we don’t know where we are going, and we can’t stop. The horse is our habit energy pulling us along, and we are powerless. We are always running, and it has become a habit.”

2. Thich Nhat Hanh quote two: resting

“Calming allows us to rest, and resting is a precondition of healing. When animals in the forest get wounded, they find a place to lie down, and rest completely for many days. They don’t think about the food or anything else. They just rest, and they get the healing they need. When we humans get sick, we just worry! We look for doctors and medicine, but we don’t stop. Even when we go to the beach, or the mountains for a vacation, we don’t rest, and we come back more tired than before. We have to learn to rest”

3. Thich Nhat Hanh quote three: toxins exposition

“We are exposed to so many forms, and ideas that are toxic and rob our body and consciousness of their well-being. When you feel despair, fear, or depression, it may be because you have ingested too many toxins through your sense impressions. Not only children need to be protected from violent and unwholesome films, TV programs, books, magazines, and games. We too can be destroyed by these media.”

4. Thich Nhat Hanh quote four: self-reflection

“Nirvana teaches that we already are what we want to become. We don’t have to run after anything anymore. We only need to return to ourselves and touch our true nature.”

5. Thich Nhat Hanh quote five: education

“Our children learn reading, writing, math, science, and other subjects in school that can help them earn a living. But very few school programs teach young people how to live – how to deal with anger, how to reconcile conflicts, how to breathe, smile, and transform internal formations. There needs to be a revolution in education. We must encourage schools to train our students in the art of living peace and harmony. “

6. Thich Nhat Hanh quote six: anxiety

“Worrying does not accomplish anything. Even if you worry twenty times more, it will not change the situation of the world. In fact, your anxiety will only make things worse.”

7. Thich Nhat Hanh quote seven: faith

“The Buddha respected people’s desire to practice their own faith, so that is why he encouraged the Brahman man in his own language. If you enjoy walking meditation, practice walking meditation. If you enjoy sitting meditation, practice sitting meditation. But preserve your Jewish, Christian, or Muslims roots. That is the best way to realize Buddha’s spirit. If you are cut off your roots, you cannot be happy.”

8. Thich Nhat Hanh quote eight: feelings

“Our feelings are formations, impermanent and without substance. We learn not to identify with ourselves with our feelings, not to consider them as a self, not to seek refuge in them, not to die because of them. This practice helps us to cultivate non-fear, and it frees us from the habit of clinging, even clinging to suffering. “

9. Thich Nhat Hanh quote nine: happiness

“Stop being like the man in the Lotus Sutra, who looked all over the word for the gem that was already in his pocket. Come back and receive your true inheritance. Don’t look outside for happiness. Let go of the idea that you don’t have it. It is available within you. 

10. Thich Nhat Hanh quote ten: suffering

“When you … see a fresh, beautiful rose, you want to pick it. But to do so, you have to touch some thorns.The rose is there, but the brambles are also there. You have to find a way to understand the thorns so you can pick the rose. Our practice is the same. Don’t say that because there are thorns you cannot be happy. Don’t say that because there is still anger or sadness in your heart, you cannot enjoy anything at all. You have to know how to deal with your anger or sadness so you don’t lose the flowers of joy”