Is Peace Achievable?
There is a lot of talk these days (or every day since time immortal) about all the chaos we are observing. Some would go as far as saying this is the worst it has ever been. I strongly disagree. I am sitting with Thich Nhat Hahn’s 1991 book, “Peace is Every Step” this week and contemplating and meditating about peace. This would be one of the first books I read from him when I was in college, and it has been on my bookshelf ever since. This book is probably second in the books that helped me form the contemplative posture I maintain to this day. The other book would be the Rule of Saint Benedict, which I reflect on daily.
In this discussion, my thoughts on peace are not the end of global and national violence, rather, it is cultivating a quieter, inner peace. Every moment of our days are moments ready for peace, if we can slow ourselves down, get out of our own ways and just be. Now, this is a tall ask. I have been a therapist or pastor my entire adult life. I have seen all the wars people wage within their heads. Here, I would like to offer a reflection on this timeless book and how we can cultivate “peace in every step”.
Reflections on “Peace is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hahn ( pdf can be found here )
For the sake of brevity, I am only going to comment on my reflections from the first part of Hahn’s book. In his book, Hahn teaches us “how to make positive use of the very situations in our daily life that usually pressure and antagonize us. The most profound satisfactions, the deepest feelings of joy and completeness lie as close at hand as our next conscious breath and the smile we can form right now. For him a ringing telephone can be a signal to call us back to our true selves. Dirty dishes, red lights, and traffic jams are spiritual friends on the path to “mindfulness”—the process of keeping our consciousness alive to our present experience and reality” (Plum Village).
Notable Quotes:
“We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living.”
“Thinking is important, but quite a lot of our thinking is useless.”
“Our appointment with life is in the present moment.”
“As soon as we understand the causes and nature of our feelings, they begin to transform themselves.”
“Anger…is like a blazing flame that burns up our self-control and causes us to say and do things that we regret later.”
“The well is within us, and if we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.”
“No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.”
“Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what is the use of seeing?”
“The truth is that everything contains everything else. We cannot just be, we can only inter-be. We are responsible for everything that happens around us.”
“To comprehend something means to pick it up and be one with it. There is no other way to understand something.”
Thoughtful Observations
Hahn talks about the importance of smiling. Neurobiologically, smiling is a unique reaction. According to Eric Jaffe writing for the Association of Psychological Science, he offers this around what happens when we smile (Jaffe, 2011):
The zygomatic major, which resides in the cheek, tugs the lips upward, and the orbicularis oculi, which encircles the eye socket, squeezes the outside corners into the shape of a crow’s foot. The entire event is short — typically lasting from two-thirds of a second to four seconds — and those who witness it often respond by mirroring the action, and smiling back.
Other muscles can simulate a smile, but only the peculiar tango of the zygomatic major and the orbicularis oculi produces a genuine expression of positive emotion. Psychologists call this the “Duchenne smile,” and most consider it the sole indicator of true enjoyment.
One cannot fake a smile; it comes across as fake or the physical properties of the smile do not often match the energy of the one who is exhibiting it. The micro expressions of the face relay to the other person receiving the smile the genuineness of the emotion.
Hahn offers what we call “anchor points” to help remind us to smile, a flower, a picture of a loved one, I have a goofy picture of my wife when we were in college on my desk.
We are encouraged to practice sitting anywhere. In a practice we would consider mindful presence Hahn challenges us to be fully present in each moment. This then allows us to respond to situations with calmness and clarity.
Driving can be an infuriating experience.
There is a route that I must take often to get to bike and run races that is more like a game of chess and chance than it is a scenic drive across the state. You must anticipate the size and type of the semi-truck and how they are going to navigate the hills while anticipating the actions of the smaller cars. Many of the drivers on this stretch of the road are very aggressive and drive well over the 5 mph often graced on our roads out here. One must juggle driving legally with barely driving legally.
Hahn offers his thoughts when he talks about driving meditation. Here, he is asking us to consider a non-judgmental awareness. This awareness challenges us to let go of prejudices and seeing the inherent goodness in all beings fosters a sense of unity and peace. We must put aside our perceptions of seperateness. By acknowledging the inherent perfection, the crystal song singing within each one, we may bring forth the best in our family, nation, and planet.” Needless to say, I struggle greatly with this.
Compassionate Actions
One last point I would like to comment from Hahn’s book has to do with compassionate actions. These can be small acts of kindness, whether it’s a smile, a helping hand, or a word of encouragement, can create ripples of peace in the lives of others. I remember years ago when I first began to offer a “peace be with you” and shorted to “peace” after saying goodbye to people I interacted with. Whether it was the cashier at the grocery store or my daily clients, the word “peace” is a reminder to me that the person I am with is worthy of such an experience and hopefully feels a sense of peace in my offering it.
A Summary
Living a peaceful life does not necessarily mean being nonviolent. Living a peaceful life also means cultivating peace in the little things. In doing so, these little things will add up to great amounts of peace and tranquility in our lives. In my therapy practice, I am always talking about cultivating a healthy “I don’t care” attitude. It is understood we suffer because we cling. By integrating these practices into our daily lives, we transform both ourselves and the world around us. Taking active steps daily towards a peaceful life will eventually help us to find peace in every step. Peace in our lives is an achievable goal, but one that needs to be practiced daily.
Reference:
Jaffe, E. (2011, February 2). The Psychological Study of Smiling. Association For Psychological Science. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the-psychological-study-of-smiling
Plum Village (n.d.). Peace Is Every Step The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from https://plumvillage.org/books/peace-is-every-step
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