Loving Speech and Deep Listening
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Wow. funny how that is just what we were talking heatedly on the phone about just now. I’m totally quoting this stuff for my blog entry that is in my head that i intend to write about this whole experience with mom. I’m glad we were able to calm down and reconciliate our phone conversation tonight so I can read your new blog and be inspired by it, rather than hang up on you angry like I did 2 or 3 years ago when I felt discouraged by you after I told you about my excitement about web design and the path I’d found that I felt and still feel positive direction on. Though you’re not making dough directly with it now. I can see by checking this site out, that you still feel excited about web modes of expression and I’m glad. Its inspiring, if not lucrative financially. Thanks for doing it for the pure love of it. Maybe your portfolio is full of nonprofit sites, but they are useful sites, very useful contributions to your community, and I’m so proud of my dad for doing it.