Nonviolence and compassion are the foundations of a peace movement. If you don't have enough peace and understanding and loving-kindness within yourself, your actions will not truly be for peace. Everyone knows that peace has to begin with oneself, but not many people know how to do it.
Engaged Buddhism is just Buddhism. When
bombs begin to fall on people, you cannot stay in the meditation hall all of
the time. Meditation is about the awareness of what is going on - not only in
your body and in your feelings, but all around you.
When I was a novice in Vietnam, we young
monks witnessed the suffering caused by the war. So we were very eager to
practice Buddhism in such a way that we could bring it into society. That was
not easy because the tradition does not directly offer Engaged Buddhism. So we
had to do it by ourselves. That was the birth of Engaged Buddhism.
Buddhism has to do with your daily life,
with your suffering and with the suffering of the people around you. You have
to learn how to help a wounded child while still practicing mindful breathing.
You should not allow yourself to get lost in action. Action should be
meditation at the same time."
Thich Nhat Hanh
