The Gospel According to Thích Nhãt Hahn #2

Yesterday we began walking through thoughts and ideas of the recently deceased Buddhist Monk, Thích Nhãt Hahn which have affected me. Core to the Buddhist understanding of life, meaning, and purpose is non-attachment. This, I think, can become problematic in a number of areas (at least in my understanding of it, which, I know, is limited). I believe in the power of attachment. There are ideas, virtues, and people worth holding tightly. Nevertheless, Buddhist understand humanity’s tendency to form and worship idols, because of our attachments. We fail to know what to hold onto and how loosely or closely to hold them. Like Michael Jordan, everything becomes something we “take personally.”

This kind of attachment is toxic. There is much about the spiritual life that is rooted in non-attachment.

All great spirituality, turns out, ends with sacrifice, allowing, and letting go. This we see in the ministry of Jesus, particularly in his prayer that God’s will be done.