Thich Nhat Hanh Part 1: Why Understanding Suffering Leads to Compassionate Behavior

Thich Nhat Hanh (Tay to his students) was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and one of the best-known and respected Zen masters. A peace activist, prolific author, poet, teacher, and founder of Plum Village, Tay is recognized as the main inspiration for “engaged Buddhism”, and is considered by many to be the father of mindfulness. 

Buddhist monks learned hundreds and hundreds of years ago, (and scientists are only now catching up to) that when we're compassionate, not only does it improve the lives of others, but it's a great benefit to us too. When individuals are compassionate, and this is backed up by science, it's when our physiology works best.

But, says Tay, people are afraid of being compassionate towards others in case they are overwhelmed by another’s suffering. Meaning we have to learn how to handle our own suffering first before we can help others with theirs. 

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Tay explains why we don’t need to spend thousands of hours meditating to be mindful, why we can practice mindfulness through simple daily tasks, and why when you become more compassionate to yourself, and learn to love yourself, you become capable of loving and taking care of other people. 

“If we understand our own suffering, then it will be much easier for us to understand the suffering of another person, and that is why the meditation on compassion, on suffering should begin with yourself.”

On today’s podcast:

• Change the brain through mind training
• If there is no suffering, there is no happiness
• How to be mindful in our daily life
• How to nourish yourself through happiness

Links:

• The Plum Village Tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
• CCARE - The Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education