breathe with Thich Nhat Hanh · 11mins 10sec of mindful breathing

🪷 Thầy once asked us not to look for him in a stupa.

“if I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.”

🌿 so, for a little while, let’s breathe with him: his words, the sound of the bell, and eighteen slow breaths together.

🕊️ this video is 11 minutes 10 seconds long, for 11 October, Thầy’s continuation day (his birthday).

chapters

00:00 🪷 arriving: where to find him
03:38 🌱 what is heavy: no mud, no lotus
05:49 🏡 he continues: I have arrived, I am home
08:16 🤎 words to carry with you
10:50 🙏 thank you, Thầy

a small practice

when the bell sounds, stop and breathe in and out three times, the way Thầy taught. the circle opens as you breathe in and closes as you breathe out.

about Thầy

Thích Nhất Hạnh (born 11 October 1926 in Huế, Vietnam) was a Zen teacher, poet, and peace activist who brought mindfulness into everyday life for millions of people around the world.

learn more about his life and practice at Plum Village.

his words in this video

• “if I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.” (his wishes for after his passing, Plum Village)
• “waking up this morning, I smile.” (Peace Is Every Step)
• “breathing in, I calm my body. breathing out, I smile.” (Being Peace / Peace Is Every Step)
• “no mud, no lotus.” (No Mud, No Lotus)
• “I am a continuation, like the rain is a continuation of the cloud.” (plumvillage.org)
• “I have arrived, I am home.” (Plum Village practice verse)
• “the present moment is filled with joy and happiness. if you are attentive, you will see it.” (Peace Is Every Step)
• “because you are alive, everything is possible.” (Living Buddha, Living Christ)
• “peace is every step.” (Peace Is Every Step)
• “walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” (Peace Is Every Step)

quotes by Thích Nhất Hạnh, shared with gratitude.

p/s: if Thầy’s words speak to you, I wrote we will continue, Thầy, about what his teaching gave me and how we can keep practising with him today.

and if you’d like a few of his words to return to, here are 12 quotes from Thầy Thích Nhất Hạnh, to save on your phone or keep on your desk.

music and sound

“Piano melody and bird songs” by Valerie-Vivegnis, CC BY 4.0, via Freesound
“Tranquility” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0
photos from Pexels (water lily, white lotus, cloud). the brush circle is drawn for this video, in the spirit of Thầy’s calligraphy.