We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Today’s Day: Transforming Warnings into Bells of Mindfulness
The practice of mindfulness surrounds every aspect of our lives—from eating, drinking and smoking to watching television—and acts like a “bell of mindfulness” that reminds us to come back to the present moment. Thay points to warning labels on cigarette packs, alcohol bottles and TV sets as simple exercises in mindfulness, inviting us to read and heed the message: “Be careful…this may be dangerous to your health.”
Across cultures we already observe collective days of mindfulness, each focused on treasuring and protecting life:
- Mother’s Day – mindfulness of mother
- Father’s Day – mindfulness of father
- Earth Day – mindfulness of our Mother Earth
-
Buddha’s Day (Vesak) and Christmas Day – mindfulness of the Buddha and Jesus Christ, respectively
- On Vesak: vegetarian meals, generosity offerings, releasing animals
- On Christmas: compassionate deeds, visits to the sick and lonely
Yet Thay proposes an even deeper practice: Today’s Day. Instead of sacrificing the present for tomorrow’s fears, we learn to live fully in the here and now—enjoying our breakfast, the landscape, and the company of loved ones with full awareness. Today’s Day is a solemn decree to focus on ourselves, on the wonders around us, and on those we hold dear—right here, right now.