Oprah Meets Thich Nhat Hanh
It doesn't matter if we know the dharma really well and we can even teach. But are we humble and kind to everyone.
Even to people that annoy us or are irresponsible. Being kind does not mean you don't recognize qualities that need to change. It just means you have to be patient and dwell on the other qualities that are… ok. They might change and they might not, but out compassion for others, be an inspiration for them to change by you yourself changing first. We can choose: Be happy or unhappy.
Tsem Tulku
I like this photo of Oprah with the Great Master from Vietnam Thich Nhat Hanh. Oprah was blessed to meet him. I am happy for her.
Thank you Rinpoche.
Yes it is really important to be kind to everybody, even if we judge them as “good” or “bad”. All people are sensible and have qualities even if we do not see it by our eyes…
Even the worst person always have good inside him/her.
How wonderful that a humble Buddhist master like Thich Nhat Hanh was invited to speak on the Oprah Winfrey show. Who would have thought that a lifetime of meditation, contemplation and quiet sharing with others would culminate in this?
I’ve always liked Oprah Winfrey, she’s one of the celebrities who uses her fame to make a difference in the lives of others.
and I can’t wait for the day when Tsem Rinpoche will speak to the global audience too … let’s go TED!
Here is the full interview between Oprah Winfrey and Thich Nhat Hanh: http://www.kechara.com/support/resources/inspiration-corner/oprah-talks-to-thich-nhat-hanh/
By the way, if Oprah or any of her team are reading this, you gotta check out If Not Now, When? for the Oprah Book Club!
http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/mind-body-spirit/if-not-now-when-the-peace-edition/
I’ve read and listened to a lot of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings. Such a gentle, softly-spoken, compassionate monk who, through his own examples, provides us with powerful insights on the benefits of compassion towards others: not only do we help others tremendously, but we also help ourselves greatly through the cultivation of strong and positive qualities.
Anyone who hears the words of great teachers such as H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and Thich Nhat Hanh is very fortunate indeed.
Kindest regards.
I agree with Beng, she does use her fame to make a difference in the lives of others. What I love about her is that like Thich Nhat Hanh, she’s another person who stands up for what she believes in. Obstacles to her are a sign that something is worth doing. And I think that essentially, neither of them make a distinction in who they help – if someone is suffering and needs help, they help. Human is human. I don’t think Oprah would’ve made it to her position by discriminating, stepping on people’s toes, and hurting them. In her way, Oprah practises Dharma.
I really like Oprah, she is like this mix between a very agressive business-minded woman and a very compassionate heart.
No surprise she engages in a conversation with a buddhidst master such as Thich Nhat Hanh, a master of compassion himself.
Compassion is a key to happiness, and it is inspiring to read the comments that Rinpoche left with this post, reminding us that compassion shouldn’t be limited to friends and family but to those who are annoying us, those that we actually resist being compassionate with. These people are our perfect objects for us to train in compassion, make it stronger and wider.
Thinking of it, compassion should logically not know any boundary.
If we know the Dharma we should teach but we still have to be humble to anyone we meet. We also have to be kind to everyone regardless of who they are, even if they are people that treats us very super badly! They might never change at all, but first, make an example, you change first!
I personally am a fan of Oprah. I think it was quite cool that Oprah actually spoke to a great master. She is planning to stop the Oprah series next year and go in to a new franchise called Oprah’s Next Chapter. There she will go around the world interviewing people. Maybe she might visit the Dalai Lama, I can’t wait for Oprah to have an episode where she meets a real enlightened being. Wouldn’t that be extraordinary!
I will take a chance here and any karmic affinity I may have with Oprah to make this request:
Dear Oprah, if you happen to read this,please check out these two amazing books -’ If Not Now , When’ and ‘ Gurus for Hire’ by H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. You are always making people happy and bringing knowledge to all of us to make the world a better place to live in.These two books do exactly the same thing and more ,to bring spirituality to people in a very practical and relational manner.
I wonder what Oprah did in her previous lives to have such a powerful voice now, and be able to meet so many people who wield such an influence in the world. Although there are some things that she does which I don’t agree with (Dr Phil on TV, anyone?), you can’t deny that this lady has the ability to move mountains just by opening her mouth.
Instead of magnifying people’s short comings, we should change our focus to look at their good qualities. Once we focus on the good qualities, everything seems to change for better. We can be happier by changing our perspective, it is definitely easier to change ourselves than to change others. Dharma practice is all about changing ourselves to influence others, to bring peace. Do not wait for others to change and complain about our unhappiness.