Spring - The Recorded Sayings of Linji
The details of this talk focus on becoming a person of non-action by being proactive rather than passive. Thich Nhat Hanh explains that freedom from desires allows people to act according to their own will. He emphasizes that feeling like a victim makes people passive and lose their will, while proactively asking “In this situation, what should I do?” helps solve problems. He mentions that everyone experiences the feeling of being tormented by society and themselves, but developing the Bodhi mind helps transform suffering and become proactive. He says that changing perception reduces suffering by 80-90% and that compassion helps reduce suffering without additional action. A person of non-action is always proactive and peaceful because they are liberated from material needs, acting out of love and wisdom. He warns that actions driven by fame, profit, or desires do not bring true merit. He advises living truthfully, with little but enough, and finding joy within rather than seeking it outside. He suggests compiling the teachings on the six divine lights into a book to help people understand their true nature.