Thich Nhat Hanh: An Analysis
Thich Nhat Hanh discusses how to happily live with someone else; however, the example he typically refers to involves a family or a romantic couple. For many people, especially college students, there are numerous years that are spent living with others that are not romantically involved with and are not related to. Mindful living is not just for families and couples, but for anyone who shares space with another. This raises the question: how does one practice mindful living with a roommate? First of all, living mindfully is not a one-way street; all roommates need to be willing to make their mutual living space a place of happiness and peace. Happiness is not an individual matter; when one person in unhappy, it can affect the rest. As
problems arise between roommates, they need to be dealt with immediately, so there is no chance of them festering and bursting later on. With understanding and loving speech, the conflict can be resolved. Living with others means accepting others and all of their quirks into your shared space. In many circumstances, one may not know their roommates very well before they move in together, so becoming angry or annoyed by traits that arise is easy. Thus, mindfulness is key to realizing that no one person is perfect, so to live peacefully, their “garbage” must be accepted as well. To describe blame, Thich Nhat Hanh uses the example of gardening. When a lettuce refuses to grow, the problem is the light or the soil not the lettuce. Conversely, when there is a conflict, another person is seen as the problem (p. 48). Blaming never helps, but understanding does. With understanding of another’s suffering and origins, there is no anger; instead, there is a lot of compassion and love. Understanding and accepting one’s roommates for who and what they are is the foundation for living together in happiness and peace. With understanding and acceptance comes love and compassion. Conflicts can be resolved without fear of anger, so that happiness can exist in the space. All roommates are interbeing with one another. Their interactions shape who they are, so having mindful interactions shape the individuals and their atmospheres.
problems arise between roommates, they need to be dealt with immediately, so there is no chance of them festering and bursting later on. With understanding and loving speech, the conflict can be resolved. Living with others means accepting others and all of their quirks into your shared space. In many circumstances, one may not know their roommates very well before they move in together, so becoming angry or annoyed by traits that arise is easy. Thus, mindfulness is key to realizing that no one person is perfect, so to live peacefully, their “garbage” must be accepted as well. To describe blame, Thich Nhat Hanh uses the example of gardening. When a lettuce refuses to grow, the problem is the light or the soil not the lettuce. Conversely, when there is a conflict, another person is seen as the problem (p. 48). Blaming never helps, but understanding does. With understanding of another’s suffering and origins, there is no anger; instead, there is a lot of compassion and love. Understanding and accepting one’s roommates for who and what they are is the foundation for living together in happiness and peace. With understanding and acceptance comes love and compassion. Conflicts can be resolved without fear of anger, so that happiness can exist in the space. All roommates are interbeing with one another. Their interactions shape who they are, so having mindful interactions shape the individuals and their atmospheres.