My joy is like spring, so warm,
It makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.
My pain is like a river of tears,
So vast it fills the four oceans.
Please call me by my true names
So I can hear all my cries and laughter at once,
So I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names
So that I can wake up,
And the door of my heart can be left open.
(The door of compassion)
Please Call Me by My True Names (poem)
We invite you to listen to Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) read one of his most famous poems. It reflects a deep insight into how we cannot separate ourselves from the world around us, even those who do harm.
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