being peace

Thich Nhat Hanh, in his book "Being Peace", says that the world is like a small boat lost at sea with several people in it. If everyone freaks out, fighting and losing their cool, the chances of everyone surviving are greatly decreased. But if even one person can remain calm and peaceful, he or she can have a positive influence on others, and help the group to survive. Hanh says that Buddhists are in a unique position to be like this one calm person. I saw the video below this morning, and it reminded me of the influence we have on others.

downing article

This was a cool (and short) article in last week's New York Times Magazine. It was written by a guy struggling with health problems and multiple major surgeries. I liked the emphasis it places on living in and appreciating the present moment.

"Maybe life is not a lesson, or maybe I am a bad student, but I knew nothing but how sweet it is to catch an unexpected breeze."

Lives: Sudden Death, or Breeze (Michael Downing)

Emptiness