On Being Peace: Just Smile.
I first read Thich Nhat Hanh's Being Peace as a requirement for a class in college.
At the time, it felt scandalous to own, much less read. It was the first piece of non-Christian, religious material that I had ever read.
At the time it resonated with me. I recognized the wisdom in it, and one piece of it stuck with me. But, I hadn't thought much of it in the 10+ years since I first read it.
Since then, however, my faith has opened up quite a bit. Now and again this book has come to mind and I've been meaning for a bit to give it another go.
So here we are.
Interestingly, I didn't get much more out of it than the little piece that stuck with me from the first time around: Just smile more.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great book. I highly recommend it. As someone who hasn't read many Buddhist texts, it feels like the only one you need to read. It feels like Thich Nhat Hanh gives you the core of Buddhism. I'm sure that it's a book with new insights found in ever reread. But, for me, all I need is the first chapter. The message of the first chapter is so simple, practical, and powerful that I'm left reading the rest in a daze of delight without the ability to properly digest them.
Alright. Before I get lost in the sauce, I should first give you the general overview of this book.
It's called Being Peace. The main idea is becoming peaceful within yourself in order to bring peace to the world. It's about how Buddhist teachings can be a (much needed) path towards peace in the West.
The first chapter begins by simply recommending that we smile more.
And, well, it's pretty great.
Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace.
I know. It sounds ridiculous. But I believe that it's true. I've felt that it's true.
Just stop, take a moment. Take a breath. Now smile.
It will probably be hard. It will definitely feel silly, but do it. Just smile.
Doesn't it feel good?
Maybe I'm crazy. That's fine with me. But when I smile, forced or not, I instantly feel better. My brain gets some happy juice and my whole body relaxes. It's wonderful. It's magical.
After that first chapter, I'm lost in the magic of smiling for the rest of the book.
I mean, I guess that isn't too much of a bad thing. If what it takes to bring peace is 'smiling, breathing, and being peace,' than it doesn't hurt to get lost in the magic of just smiling. I think once you get smiling down, I think the rest will fall into place.
When we smile we can relax and begin to breath properly. When we smile and breath properly we can begin to embody peace. When we embody peace, we can make peace.
Reading Being Peace is absolutely worth your time. More importantly though, just smile.
You are love.
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