I knew it. I just knew that somebody somewhere would have been able to put it into words more eloquently than I will ever be capable of. This is, I think, what I was in my own muddled little way, trying to say when I wrote Hear No Evil, Say No Evil…
They don’t publish
the good news.
The good news is published
by us.
We have a special edition every moment,
and we need you to read it.
The good news is that you are alive,
and the linden tree is still there,
standing firm in the harsh winter.
The good news is that you have wonderful eyes
to touch the blue sky.
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available:
hugging is possible.
They only print what is wrong.
Look at each of our special editions.
We always offer the things that are not wrong.
We want you to benefit from them
and help protect them.
The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,
smiling it’s wondrous smile,
singing the song of eternity.
Listen! You have ears that can hear it.
Bow your head.
Listen to it.
Leave behind the world of sorrow
and preoccupation
and get free.
The latest good news is that you can do it.
By Thich Nhat Hanh.
A wonderful reminder!
I have since been thinking about my comment on your post that day and wondered if it seemed that I prefer being a bubble-head. I don't, of course. And I do read the headlines each day online. Like you, I meant that I'm careful about what I let effect my children and I'm careful to not linger on bad news, giving myself a stomach ache. AND twice since that post I have NOT been thoughtful of my words before they were flung out of my mouth, never to be retreived. UGH! Blessings… Polly
I like this poem. My sister-in-law's first name is Hanh which might mean that this person is Vietnamese.
The Bible mentions being in the world but not of this world. We don't have to play the world's games. I listen to enough of the news to empower my prayers.
I enjoy reading your thoughts…
KJ
You might appreciate a book called Pronoia, by Rob Breszny. It's life affirming and right up your alley on this one.
You know, this post at this time means more to some of us than you know…
Thank you for this poem.
Terri
So very true, thank you very much for sharing !!!
This is quite profound. Thich Nhat Hanh is an expatriate Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk who now lives and writes from Plum Village Monastery in the south of France. His writing is extraordinarily insightful and inspiring. This particular piece that you've provided, Alison, is a good reminder to practice mindfulness and that will bring you to see the good rather than the evil.
May I also suggest The Dalai Lama's Book of Wisdom. This slim, pocket sized volume is wonderful reading! I have it bundled with the little flip top notebook I picked up for portable inspiration.
I love this poem – especially the bit about the dandelions – they were here long before I came into this world and they will be here long after I leave it – I will try to sing the song of eternity with them.
In the biblical words, Paul writes,
"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody." (2Cor 3:2)
and Jesus said,
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Mt 6:28,29)
How much better to pay attention to the wonderments of one another and of nature rather than the configured news of the day, which will make itself known if it's important.
My thoughts exactly about the negative influence the TV has in our lives. I no longer watch the news because the channels concentrate on all that is wrong with the world. We are given the impression that we are rapidly destroying ourselves. There are countless wonderful examples of the great things individual people achieve. Why don't we hear about them? Why aren't we allowed to be proud of the human race?
I refuse to allow these people to destroy my world. If I can't find positive influences on my TV, I will close it and seek them elsewhere. I refuse to be programmed by people I do not know and have no desire to know.
One of the worst aspects of this problem, and curiously, something I was discussing with my husband a couple of days ago, is the fact that children are using the TV as a substitute grandmother. Remember when grandmothers took care of the children when mothers needed to work. Remember how grandmothers – and grandfathers – were in a position to pass on their priceless experience. Remember when children were read stories that allowed them to use their own imagination to fill in the gaps and how these stories usually had a moral hidden in them.
Effie