The Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh described Buddhism as being a clever way to enjoy life.
Today I was walking up and down in my room trying to steady myself when it suddenly struck me that Thich Nhat Hanh’s encouragement to practice Buddhism was meant for people like me. I have the following qualities which prevent me from truly living:
- I am terrified of living alone and dying alone which is what may happen in the future as I have never had a wife and family.
- I am prone to thinking morbid thoughts. I had – many years ago – tried a contemplation on death exercise. As a result of this practice, I developed the habit of thinking morbid thoughts. I think such a habit is not uncommon to philosophers and I like to think of myself as a philosopher.
- I have a lot of time on my hands as I am not doing anything to earn. And an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. I often find myself in the grip of unpleasant thoughts and feelings.
- I do not have confidence that I can attain Nirvana in this lifetime. I am not even aiming for it. That being the case the prospect of Moksha does not motivate me
Given these facts I need some other carrot to motivate me to practice. If I am not seeking Nirvana then what inducement can there be?
Answer: Thich Nhat Hanh’s advice to enjoy life through practicing Buddhism. Specifically the Mindfulness practices which he teaches.
I need a purpose in life. I do not want to feel depressed through thinking morbid thoughts. Mindfulness offers a cure. I do not want to suffer as I go through the day. Mindfulness offers a possibility of my experiencing peace and bliss.
Buddhist mindfulness practices can give me a reason to wake up in the morning looking forward to the day. I do not have any worldly goals or ambitions at my age. If I do not have Nirvana as the motive or purpose to live then what is the way forward?
Mindfulness, of course, on a moment to moment basis as I go through the day.
I can give another illustration; this time from my attempts to quit smoking. I am today 53 days into my having quit smoking. I know fully well that if I have even one cigarette I may fall down into the slippery slope of being a regular smoker again. But if I do become a smoker will that mean that all my efforts will be wasted?
No because I will have still succeeded in abstaining for as long as I have. Every day, every hour and every minute that I abstain is a small victory for me. Life is to be lived in the Here and Now. It does not matter if it takes an eternity to attain Nirvana. I can be happy and enjoy life in the present moment.
What Thich Nhat Hanh is advising is not an all or nothing sort of project. Every moment lived well is the return that is gained.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s encouragement to enjoy life through Buddhism gives me a purpose on a moment to moment basis as I go through the day. Given my circumstances listed above I think that it is a tailor made remedy.
There is a famous Zen poem that summarizes my point:
The body is the Bodhi tree;
The Mind like a bright mirror standing.
Take care to wipe it all the time,
And allow no dust to cling.
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