The Art of Communicating: Mastering Life's Most Important Skill Through Mindfulness, Personal Growth, and Effective Interpersonal Relations with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

by Thich Nhat Hanh

You believe that having your phone helps you to communicate. But if the content of your speech is not authentic, talking or texting on a device doesn’t mean you’re communicating with another person.

Home is inside us. Going home requires only sitting down and being with yourself, accepting the situation as it is. Yes, it might be a mess in there, but we accept it because we know we have left home for a long time. So now we’re home. With our in-breath and our out-breath, our mindful breathing, we begin to tidy up our homes.

It takes only a few seconds to breathe in and set yourself free.

If we’re overloaded with fear, anger, regret, or anxiety, we’re not free, no matter what position we hold in society or how much money we have. Real freedom only comes when we’re able to release our suffering and come home.

Freedom is the most precious thing there is. It is the foundation of happiness, and it is available to us with each conscious breath.

We should make time to sit, even if it’s for only a few minutes a day, because sitting is a pleasure.

I am listening to this person with only one purpose: to give this person a chance to suffer less.

If you are capable of being with yourself, you are capable of being with the person you love.