"Love in Action," Thich Nhat Hanh and "The Monk in the lab," Tenzin Gyatso urge "The Human Family" (pg.548 Hanh) to realize the destructive way's of our society and to change the way we think about our world/nature. Both

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

Zach

Zachary Nichols

English 1A

Instructor Erin Sullivan

February 9, 2006 Rough Draft 1 ( words)

New Way of Thinking

“Love in Action,” Thich Nhat Hanh and “The Monk in the lab,” Tenzin Gyatso urge “The Human Family” (pg.548 Hanh) to realize the destructive way’s of our society and to change the way we think about our world/nature. Both authors argue that before we can make any changes on the big scale, we need to change the way we think individually. The writings powerfully put across the way we should individually think and act to preserve our lives, and all of nature in which we all co-exist interdependently.

Hanh argues and repeats his main concepts to make sure readers fully grasp his theories. He states how the world is more and more economically driven and all the people who are separating from nature by economics are the ones that are insane and sick. “People who accumulate a house, a car, a position, and so forth, identify themselves with what they own, and they think that if they lose their house, their car, or their position, they would not be themselves,” says Hahn (pg.546 Hahn). In actuality this seems to be relevant to modern times and labeling this insanity seems logical. Hahn adds to this stating argument that by “accumulating and saving, people have a false self, and in the process they have forgotten their truest and deepest self,” (pg.546 Hahn). He wants us to get away from this destructive economical way of thinking. Instead of dominating and oppressing nature, he persuades to harmonize and equalize it. He values the sun as a second heart and the forest as our second lungs. His main concept is with realizing our unity and diversity throughout nature, as well as inner peace and strength; we can restore mental health and save individuals, society, and environment. But if we harm one, then we have harmed all three. He really highlights the importance of co-existence and interdependence.

Hahn uses humanness to express what he feels is harmony and balance of life without being emerged in present economic systems. He’s also using it as a way to say that we need to go primitive for awhile to heal ones mental health state. We need to provide strength in mind by getting in touch with all aspects of humanity (to protect humanness) first to change environment. He really wants to get across that we need to disengage from modern ways and reestablish harmony and balance to protect humanness.

Gyatso is right there with Hahn and the philosophy seems to ...

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Gyatso is right there with Hahn and the philosophy seems to carry over to one another. The writing starts strong by judging the thought of some “nothing will cure our impulses to hate or oppress one another,” (pg.1 Gyatso) as weakness to negativity. He sells that with Buddhist teachings (which he points out in his writing are backed by some experiments) we can teach our minds to deal with destructive emotions. He states “we have a way to create a kind of buffer between the brains violent impulses and our actions,” (pg.2 Gyatso). Research was some with people in high stress jobs, in which were taught “mindfulness, a state of alertness in which the mind does not get caught up in thoughts or sensations but lets them come and go, much like watching a river flow by,” (pg.2 Gyatso). This type of thinking and practice is what Gyatso thinks this world’s leaders and citizens need to deal with the enemy no matter how difficult. He throws out there that this method is cost free and very effective. He also vouches that everybody has the potential for a peaceful, meaningful life. He has applied these teachings to his own life and when a situation arises he puts it into context which allows him to cope with it. Internal conflicts not external are what Gyatso believes to be the arising of disturbing emotions. Material is short-term happiness but the inner development practice gives a deeper level of happiness. Simply put he argues that violent acts (9/11) are symptoms of an afflicted mental state and we need to be guided by healthy mind, avoidance of hatred and anger, and respond skillfully as well.

Humanity used by Gyatso is simply used as a present and future tense context. If happiness and inner balance don’t come to be then future generations he says will suffer (our children and their children etc).

Healing thy state of mind as well as all internal issues is necessary for the betterment of the whole environment. Hahn and Gyatso feel that if you heal your mind and separate yourself from the modern economical world/negative emotions, than you will began to change as well as help change the environment around you.

Works Cited

Hahn, Nhat Thich. “Love in Action”, Dreams and Inward Journeys; 5th edition Pages 545-556. Pearson Education, Inc. 2004. New York, Boston.

Gyatso, Tenzin. “The Monk in the Lab”, The New York Times (nytimes.com) April 26, 2003. New York.