The Four Elements of True Love

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Tay to his students) was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who spent his life promoting compassion, kindness to others, and being a tireless advocate for human rights, nonviolence, and peace. 

In Part Two of Tay’s episode on Into The Magic Shop, he continues the conversation around suffering and compassion, because says Tay, where there is no suffering, there is no happiness either. 

“We don't want to send our children to a place where there is no suffering. Because in such a place, you have no chance to learn to be understanding and compassionate. It is by touching suffering, understanding suffering, that you can generate love and compassion.”

And to truly understand compassion, says Tay, you have to truly understand love in terms of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. 

“We cannot do the healing of the world unless we have enough of that energy, understanding, and compassion. Because really, our society needs that kind of energy.”

To learn more about transforming suffering into compassion, download and listen to this episode. 

On today’s podcast:

• What you learn on a Plum Village retreat 
• Understanding mindfulness of compassion
• The four elements of true love
• How to cultivate the energy of compassion

Links:

• The Plum Village Tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh