We are All Connected
THICH NHAT HANH
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Buddhism considers the individual an illusion: is there still room in this vision for the distinction between good and evil?
In the 20th century , individualism became important and this has created a lot of suffering and difficulties. We create a separation between ourselves and others, between father and son, between man and nature, between one nation and another.We are not aware of the interconnection between ourselves and everything around us.This interconnection is what in Buddhism we call `interbeing'. The ethical path that is offered by Buddhism is based on a deep understanding of inter-being. What happens to the individual influences what happens in society and the planet. In this way, the practice of mindfulness helps us to make a distinction between what is good and evil, right and wrong.
When we're mindful, we can see the destruction that has been caused to the animals and the planet in order to produce meat for our consumption. With this awareness, eating vegetarian food becomes an act of love towards ourselves, towards our ecosystem and the planet.
Many of us are running after fame, power, money or sensual pleasures. We think that these things can bring happiness, but they can lead us to destroy our body and our mind. Young people often confuse sex with true love, but an empty sexuality can destroy love, and bring even more desire, loneliness and despair. Mindfulness helps us to develop our understanding about the other person. True love cannot exist without understanding.
In the 20th century , individualism became important and this has created a lot of suffering and difficulties. We create a separation between ourselves and others, between father and son, between man and nature, between one nation and another.We are not aware of the interconnection between ourselves and everything around us.This interconnection is what in Buddhism we call `interbeing'. The ethical path that is offered by Buddhism is based on a deep understanding of inter-being. What happens to the individual influences what happens in society and the planet. In this way, the practice of mindfulness helps us to make a distinction between what is good and evil, right and wrong.
When we're mindful, we can see the destruction that has been caused to the animals and the planet in order to produce meat for our consumption. With this awareness, eating vegetarian food becomes an act of love towards ourselves, towards our ecosystem and the planet.
Many of us are running after fame, power, money or sensual pleasures. We think that these things can bring happiness, but they can lead us to destroy our body and our mind. Young people often confuse sex with true love, but an empty sexuality can destroy love, and bring even more desire, loneliness and despair. Mindfulness helps us to develop our understanding about the other person. True love cannot exist without understanding.
