**spoiler alert** A must-read for all, especially in our current context of national/international conflict and escalation.
I was first introduced to **spoiler alert** A must-read for all, especially in our current context of national/international conflict and escalation.
I was first introduced to Thay’s teachings a few years ago during a time of loss and grief. A sympathetic professor sent me a link to a YouTube video of one of Thay’s teachings, in which he discusses the practice of non-attachment. With the circumstances of my loss, this was both appropriate and helpful. Thay’s teaching gave me long-term relief and tools for coping, and I’ve since sought out Thay’s works for more.
In Creating True Peace, Thay gently urges the reader to consider our individual role and responsibility to reduce suffering in the world and practice the discipline of peacemaking. His discussion of these strategies is easy to read.
To say Thay walks his own talk is no joke. Throughout his writing, he recounts personal stories of dealing with highly volatile international conflict in his day-to-day life as a monk in mid-1900s Vietnam. Thay vulnerably discusses the difficulty that the monks faced in resisting the temptation to defend themselves and, thus, contribute to the conflict. Thay honors others in his stories by crediting the talents and contributions of fellow monks who were around him at the time.
I believe this could be safe resource for those who have experienced religious harm. Thay’s spiritual praxis is all about empowerment, growth mindset, and simple cause and effect. I have never experienced Thay’s voice to be condescending or holier-than-thou, despite the fact that he continues to be a world-renowned spiritual influence even after his passing. Thay refers to the Buddha, Buddhist concepts, and Buddhist teachings, but his teaching is intended to support someone of any faith or spiritual walk. I believe he accomplishes this goal.
My one critique is that this book would benefit from further expansion in the area of inclusion. While many of Thay’s practices are accessible to all, further adaptation for people of all abilities would be most supportive, e.g., if meditative walking is not feasible. Additionally, monasteries have a history of misogyny. I would say Thay is cognizant of this history and that his teachings work to mitigate that history, but there’s one part of the text where I take issue. When discussing a specific relief program for children, he explains how he imagined a little girl that he was helping to be his mother. I think what he’s trying to explain how he showed empathy and caring for a stranger, i.e., like you would with your own loved ones, but it felt a little odd and assuming.
That being said, I’m overall very appreciative to Thay for the way his teaching supports the respect of children and children’s rights. This reading has helpful points of consideration for people who grew up in high-conflict and/or abusive environments.
Furthermore, Thay’s broader perspective on American politics at the time of his writing is both valuable and interesting. Given the context of this 2024 U.S. election year and the current landscape of international politics, his urgency for peacemaking remains true and real, possibly now more than ever....more
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