Visiting
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh says that "Heaven is here and now. Don't
look into the distance. The kingdom of God is really available in the
here and now."
RONI GALGANO / Union-Tribune
Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world's most popular Buddhist
teachers, is spending the winter at Deer Park Monastery in North
County.
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San Diego, Calif. (USA) -- His head is
shaved, his small frame wrapped in the brown robe of his faith. It is
late morning, and Thich Nhat Hanh is bathed in a sunlit room talking
about heaven.
Heaven, he is saying, is here and now. Don't look
into the distance. "The kingdom of God is really available in the here
and now."
This is important, because he believes that if you
truly understand that you're living in the kingdom of God right now,
you'll behave better right now. "If you have the kingdom of God,
you'll not have to search for happiness in sex, wealth or fame
anymore."
Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced tick-naught-han) was
only 16 when he joined the monkhood in Vietnam. Now he is 77 and one
of the most popular Buddhist leaders in the world.
A best-selling, and prolific, author, his most
popular books include "Anger," "Creating True Peace" and "Living
Buddha, Living Christ," which draws parallels between Buddhism and
Christianity. He says his newest book will deal with the subject of
power.
He's also a poet, a teacher and a master in Zen
Buddhism, blending the Theravada and Mahayana traditions of an Eastern
religion that dates back 2,500 years and emphasizes human
transcendence over the traditional Western concept of God. He has
built a worldwide reputation for his devotion to the pursuit of peace
and his adherence to the spiritual practice of mindfulness.
Thich Nhat Hanh was exiled from his native Vietnam
decades ago for his anti-war efforts and now spends much of his time
at his main monastery, called Plum Village, in southern France. But
this winter, he and about 300 monks and nuns from his Unified Buddhist
Church have gathered for a long retreat at his Deer Park Monastery in
the hills above Escondido.
He arrived earlier this month and plans to leave in
April. Between now and the end of March, he will participate in
several programs and talks in Southern California – including a
special alms round procession Saturday at San Dieguito County Park.
Deer Park also is open to the public for days of mindfulness on
Wednesdays and Sundays (his Dharma – or teaching – talks are in the
mornings in the newly completed meditation hall).
This North County monastery opened almost four
years ago, complementing his centers in France and Vermont. He is no
stranger to this country. He studied at Princeton and taught at
Columbia University. In the 1960s, he worked with Martin Luther King
Jr. in protesting the Vietnam War (King nominated him for the Nobel
Peace Prize).
On this particular morning at Deer Park, Thay, or
teacher, as he is affectionately known by his devotees, is sitting in
a small house, talking about mindfulness and happiness, about
America's war on terrorism and war against Iraq, and trying to explain
just why it is that Buddhism is so popular.
On mindfulness: "Mindfulness is the capacity
to live deeply in the moments of your entire life." Whether it's
drinking a glass of juice or being with a child, mindfulness means
treasuring the present-tense – and not getting caught up in what's
going to happen next or in having to chase after other things.
Mindfulness sets people free, he says. "There is freedom from worries,
anger and forgetfulness. Forgetfulness is the opposite of
mindfulness."
On the popularity of Buddhism: "I think,
first of all, Buddha is not a God. Buddha is a human being. He has
suffered as a human being." The strength of Buddha, he says, is that
as a role model "he can offer wisdom, insight and practice." He
believes that followers of other religions can use the practices of
Buddhism to deepen their own faiths. He does not want to convert
people. ("We believe Christians should not be uprooted from their
culture," he says as an example. "It's like a tree without roots.") He
compares Buddhism to a river; each person can take as much as you
want. And there is no single truth, no single way. "Buddhism is
inclusive, not exclusive."
On teaching children spiritual practices: It
can begin in the womb of the mother. "You don't hear things that are
violent, you don't eat things that are violent and your husband should
treat you with gentleness," he says. Children have an almost natural
affinity for mindfulness. "They can be in the here and now very easy,
more than adults." During his talks at Plum Village, he says he'll
give a short lesson for the children and then let them go out and
play. "They practice in the form of play."
On Americans: Americans are not as accepting
as they used to be, he says. And he warns that when Americans reach
out to other countries, they need to do it out of compassion, not out
of control. He offers the Middle East as an example. Americans should
seek ways to foster hope and "help them see a future." Peace, he says,
would benefit everyone. "If they have peace, they have trust." And
where there is trust, he suggests, there is an absence of fear and
violence.
On the U.S.-led war in Iraq: It was a bad
idea, he says. "I think the war in Iraq has cost a lot." He favors
relying more on the United Nations and thinks America should get more
involved with that international body.
On the war on terrorism: In Buddhism, he
says, every person is looked upon as a potential Buddha. But the war
on terrorism turns that around to regard each person as a potential
terrorist. "When a culture goes like that, it goes wrong," he says.
This campaign has "created more hate and terrorists."
On post-9/ll: After the attacks on Sept. 11,
2001, he believes America would have been better off with dialogue.
The key question: Why would anyone hate us enough to do that? "If we
are able to listen, they will tell us," he says. If other countries
have the wrong impression of the United States, then we should try to
explain ourselves to them. "That kind of dialogue," he says, "is much
safer."
On happiness: "The art of happiness is to
learn how to be there, fully present, to attend to your needs and to
attend to the needs of your beloved ones." It's about finding peace
and harmony in your own self, and then helping those you love to do
likewise. "And if you don't do the first step, it's very difficult to
do the second," he says. Happiness is possible. His advice? "Stop
running and begin to make steps."
