More Inner Peace

Buddhist meditation aims, first of all, at restoring communication with ourselves. We are seldom there for ourselves. We run away from ourselves, because we are afraid to go home and face the fear and suffering in our wounded child who has been ignored for such a long time. But it is wonderful to return home and say, "Little boy or little girl, I am here for you. Don't worry. I will take care of you." This is the first step. You are the deeply wonded child waiting for you to come home. And you are the one who has run away from home, who has neglected your child.

Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. The wounded child in you needs you. Your suffering, your blocks of pain need you. Your deepest desire needs you to acknowledge it. Go home and be there for all these things. Practice mindful walking and mindful breathing. Do everything in mindfulness so you can be really there, so you can love.

excerpt (p. 72) from TEACHINGS ON LOVE by Thich Nhat Hanh; Parallax Press, Berkeley, CA; 1998.



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The Pursuit of Happiness