Thich Nhat Hanh

[GayandProud]

I have mentioned the politics whilst you have done little but bitch.

Deluded and ignorant ! Could you get anymore attractive !!!! Youve mentioned the Vietnam war (did someone mention the war?) and took potshots at me.

Thats it.

The rest of your posts have so little merit, if any, that we're best off just leaving them as is, so you dont embarrass yourself further. You have nothing to contribute. You never did. You know nothing about this man. You'd never heard of him until today.

Good day to you

[myron myron]

Ive been reading about him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Nhat_Hanh

Martin Luther King nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize:

Dr. King nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize. In his nomination Rev. King said, "I do not personally know of anyone more worthy of [this prize] than this gentle monk from Vietnam. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity."

Tich Nhat Hanh said himself:

We must not be attached to a view or a doctrine, even a Buddhist one. . . . The Buddha said that if in a certain moment or place you adopt something as the absolute truth, and you attach to that, then you will no longer have any chance to reach the truth. Even when the truth comes and knocks on your door, and asks you to open the door, you won't recognize it. So you must not be too attached to dogma--to what you believe, and to what you perceive

I interperet this to mean we shouldnt be attached to religion...because that blocks us from reaching the truth...what do you think?

Funny you would mention that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was so attached to Christianity that he became an ordained Christian Reverend (and have you ever heard King's Mountaintop speech), nominated your boy, a Buddhist monk, for a Nobel Peace Prize given your interpretation that your boy believed "we shouldnt be attached to religion."

Do you see the incongruity in your position?

Martin Luther Kings support of Thich Nhat Hanh, and his nomination of him for a Nobel Peace Prize has nothing to do with my postion. Thich Nhat Hanh is not "my boy". I thought it was interesting that Martin Luther King should nominate him and included that quote for added interest. Thats all. If you want to attach importance to it then by all means go ahead. If you want to highlight Martin Luther Kings personal beliefs then do so. Im talking about a Buddhist teacher and wondering whether what he says is right. That Martin Luther King could see past his personal religious belief and become impressed by a man who professed no faith in God makes me admire Martin Luther King regardless of his personal faith. That these two men could work together and talk and reach understanding is far more interesting to me than any differences they might have had.

Christianity was not just MLK's personal faith; his Christianity was how MLK defined himself as a public person and it was the explicit motivating force for King's public actions. You really have no clue about MLK, do you?

Thich Nhat Hanh was most likely referring to Communism in your quote -- yes, atheistic Communism.

[GayandProud]

Your the expert on Christianity myron

[myron myron]

Your the expert on Christianity myron

Just listen to MLK's Mountaintop speech on YouTube or look up the text of that speech, and you'll get a quick primer on what motivated MLK.

[GayandProud]

ok I will

Thich Nhat Hanh was most likely referring to Communism in your quote -- yes, atheistic Communism

I just saw this - did you add it on !! That is an inflammatory statement if ever I read one I dont think he was referring to any particular specific ideology or polictical way of thinking.

[myron myron]

ok I will

Thich Nhat Hanh was most likely referring to Communism in your quote -- yes, atheistic Communism.

I just saw this - did you add it on !! That is an inflammatory statement if ever I read one I dont think he was referring to any particular specific ideology or polictical way of thinking.

Well, neither Christianity nor Buddhism was at issue in Vietnam; Communism was the only "dogma" at issue. And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

With respect to MLK, his Mountaintop speech is in my opinion the greatest piece of oratory in modern history, even greater than Churchill's "We Will Never Surrender" speech (and I love that speech). The emotion in MLK's speaking style, his cadences, intonations and pauses, are masterful. And it was MLK's last speech before his assassination, which he correctly predicted in the speech.

Here's how MLK ended that speech:

And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.

And I don't mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I'm happy, tonight.

I'm not worried about anything.

I'm not fearing any man!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!

Link: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm

[ILWL]

I have mentioned the politics whilst you have done little but bitch.

Deluded and ignorant ! Could you get anymore attractive !!!! Youve mentioned the Vietnam war (did someone mention the war?) and took potshots at me.

Thats it.

The rest of your posts have so little merit, if any, that we're best off just leaving them as is, so you dont embarrass yourself further. You have nothing to contribute. You never did. You know nothing about this man. You'd never heard of him until today.

Good day to you

You sir are a complete and utter knob!

I will not waste anymore of my time on attempting to engage with you because frankly you are a waste of my time (Even though I am doing very little). I have tried to be polite and engage you but you are just a little boy hiding behind a computer and his own self proclaimed intelligence. You have no interest in having a discussion at all and cannot provide anything enlightening, thought provoking or for that matter rational.

No doubt you will read this and be unable to leave it at that - because in your own shall we say fragile mind you are in the right! Tell yourself that ducky and leave it be, because there is no way I will back down and pushed around by someone like you!

If you want to play bring it on!

[GayandProud]

ok I will

Thich Nhat Hanh was most likely referring to Communism in your quote -- yes, atheistic Communism.

I just saw this - did you add it on !! That is an inflammatory statement if ever I read one I dont think he was referring to any particular specific ideology or polictical way of thinking.

[size=13]Well, neither Christianity nor Buddhism was at issue in Vietnam; Communism was the only "dogma" at issue. And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

Thats if you think he was making the statement with particular reference to Vietnam. The core of his teaching is this:

Thich Nhat Hanh's key teaching is that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live in the present moment instead of in the past and in the future. Dwelling in the present moment is, according to Nhat Hanh, the only way to truly develop peace, both in one's self and in the world

Its hard to do - Ive tried to do it and getting into the mindset of just "being" instead of thinking about last week or tomorrow or whatever but really living right NOW and living for now is more difficult than it sounds.
http://www.plumvillage.org/HTML/ourteacher.html
Anyway, back to that statement

If you take into account his teachings as a whole, in my opinion it points to a wider interpretation than just warning against Communism:

Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth

Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times

http://www.seaox.com/thich.html

[myron myron]

Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times

http://www.seaox.com/thich.html

How closely did you read the above?

Did you comprehend it?

Do you agree with it?

Do you live it?

[myron myron]

ok I will

Thich Nhat Hanh was most likely referring to Communism in your quote -- yes, atheistic Communism.

I just saw this - did you add it on !! That is an inflammatory statement if ever I read one I dont think he was referring to any particular specific ideology or polictical way of thinking.

Well, neither Christianity nor Buddhism was at issue in Vietnam; Communism was the only "dogma" at issue. And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

Thats if you think he was making the statement with particular reference to Vietnam.

At the time he made those statements, where else had he lived or even visited other than Vietnam?

[ILWL]

And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

Myron - could it also be aimed at the US? Wonder whether he knew the monk who set himself alight?

Gay & Proud - Glad you left it there. We got off on the wrong foot. Whilst I haven't gone into the guys work - I am aware from what you you have attached that there is a revolutionary significance in his belief.

[myron myron]

And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

Myron - could it also be aimed at the US? Wonder whether he knew the monk who set himself alight?

Hypothetically, it could have been aimed at the U.S., but that wouldn't make much sense given that the U.S. was not attempting to impose a dogma on Vietnam whereas the Communists were intent on imposing an atheistic, totalitarian dogma that resulted in mass murders of thousands of Buddhist monks.

[GayandProud]

Isnt that what his teachings all about though? Learning throughout life not to hold onto pre-conceived ideas or form absolute truths. And that includes not adhering to one set of views over another, eg one religion or ideiology or dogma but being free and open, not shackled by others perception of reality.

(that was to your first post)

The second post - I dont know exactly when he made that statement thats the problem - I cant source it precisely. I do know he was exiled from Vietnam, he was also a student at Princeton (this was in the 60's) and later a Professor at Columbia and he travelled the States extensively.

[GayandProud]

Gay & Proud - Glad you left it there. We got off on the wrong foot. Whilst I haven't gone into the guys work - I am aware from what you you have attached that there is a revolutionary significance in his belief.

no problem and no hard feelings

[ILWL]

And Thich Nhat Hanh's statement does appear aimed at Communism. It fits like a glove.

Myron - could it also be aimed at the US? Wonder whether he knew the monk who set himself alight?

Hypothetically, it could have been aimed at the U.S., but that wouldn't make much sense given that the U.S. was not attempting to impose a dogma on Vietnam whereas the Communists were intent on imposing an atheistic, totalitarian dogma that resulted in mass murders of thousands of Buddhist monks.

Whilst the US were perhaps not imposing a dogma - it could be said with conviction that they were maintaining the Status-Quo. Let's not suggest that the US did themselves not have an agenda for being there!

As for the massacre of Buddhist monks - I am not aware of this - when was it? At the moment all I can think of is in Cambodia.