The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 3

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 5

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 7

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

  • 9

    INTERVIEWKorean food undergoes renaissance in US

  • 11

    Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms

  • 13

    Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers

  • 15

    7 Vietnamese nabbed for suspected drug use at club

  • 17

    Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN

  • 19

    Toyota launches Crown CUV in Korea to boost sales

  • 2

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 4

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 6

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 8

    ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps

  • 10

    Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%

  • 12

    Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally

  • 14

    Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War

  • 16

    Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays

  • 18

    'The Second Husband' co-stars to tie knot, expecting child in real life

  • 20

    HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Wed, June 7, 2023 | 07:57
Religions
Nhat Hanh shares secrets to peaceful mind
Posted : 2013-05-14 16:54
Updated : 2013-05-14 16:54
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, right, talks with Ven. Hyemin, a Korean Buddhist monk and bestselling author, during a televised show at the BTN studio in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, right, talks with Ven. Hyemin, a Korean Buddhist monk and bestselling author, during a televised show at the BTN studio in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Yun Suh-young


Most of the sufferings people experience in relationships are not really caused by others but themselves, says Vietnam's celebrated Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. His visit garnered rapt attention in a country where "healing" has become a buzzword as people look for ways to make their overstressed lives healthier.

"Listening to and understanding our inner sufferings will resolve most of the problems we encounter," said Nhat Hanh during a three-hour talk held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, Monday evening, under the theme "Stop and Heal."

Nhat Hanh, who arrived in Seoul on May 1 as part of a global trip to celebrate Buddha's birthday which falls on May 17, will be finishing off his official schedule in Korea today.

"In order to heal others, we first need to heal ourselves. And to heal ourselves, we need to know how to deal with ourselves," said Nhat Hanh, who is also an influential poet and human rights activist.

"If we know how to go back to ourselves, listen and heal, we can change. But most of us don't know how to listen to ourselves and understand the sufferings."

In fast-paced contemporary society, people tend to be reluctant to confront the roots of their sufferings and try to conceal their distress with material consumption, Nhat Hanh observed.

"Our thoughts, speech and action are what cause anger, fear, and suspicion of the other side. So we can't blame others. We should use language that can help the other side understand better. We should not condemn, accuse or blame while listening to them," he said.

Addressing the strained relations between the two Koreas, Nhat Hanh claimed Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons was not the root cause of diplomatic difficulty, but fear, anger and suspicion between the two countries.

"Nuclear weapons are an obstacle for a good relationship between the South and the North. It reflects the fear, anger, and suspicion in us. If we don't have anger or fear, we wouldn't be building nuclear weapons," he said.

"For peace, the basic thing to do is not to remove nuclear weapons but to remove the fear, anger and suspicion in us. If we reduce them, reconciliation is easy."

He recalled the three-week reconciliation program he ran for Israelis and Palestinians at the Plum Village, a monastery he runs, in southern France.

"When they arrived, they wouldn't talk to each other, let alone look at each other. It took three weeks to transform and heal themselves," he said.

The key to reconciliation is "compassionate listening" according to Nhat Hanh.

"Compassionate listening is to help the other side suffer less. If we realize that other people are the same people as we are, we are no longer angry at them."

He advised politicians, especially, to learn the Buddhist way.

"If you're a politician, you might want to learn the Buddhist way of negotiation. Restoring communication and bringing back reconciliation is clear and concrete in Buddhism."

Emailysy@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays
2Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan
3International Yoga Day to celebrate well-being of body, mind International Yoga Day to celebrate well-being of body, mind
4Presidential office's plan to revamp TV viewing fees causes stir Presidential office's plan to revamp TV viewing fees causes stir
5Incheon announces plans to become hub for overseas Koreans Incheon announces plans to become hub for overseas Koreans
6ROK-US alliance is now nuclear-based: President Yoon ROK-US alliance is now nuclear-based: President Yoon
7Hyundai Motor, IKEA join hands to promote sustainable outdoor activities Hyundai Motor, IKEA join hands to promote sustainable outdoor activities
8Ex-top trade negotiator to serve as US think tank standing senior fellow Ex-top trade negotiator to serve as US think tank standing senior fellow
9Samsung family takes out stock loans to pay inheritance tax Samsung family takes out stock loans to pay inheritance tax
10Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
2Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
3Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group