So central is Creation in Thich Nhat Hanh’s view, that if we fail to penetrate it we will fail to find the ground of being behind it. If you are not able to touch the phenomenal world deeply enough, it will be very difficult or impossible to touch the noumenal world—the ground of being.
It is telling that Thich Nhat Hanh uses the term “ground of being” which is his favorite name for God. He got the term from theologian Paul Tillich but Tillich got it from Meister Eckhart who lived seven centuries before him. Thus there lies an exciting link between Thich Nhat Hanh and Meister Eckhart. Thich Nhat Hanh is reminding us that behind and within the depth of the phenomenal world there lurks the divine presence.
Existence itself is a kind of miracle and we ought to wake up to it. Our true home is in the present moment. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment. The more we learn about our capacity to walk, and what a gift that is, and about the green earth, and what a gift that has been and how long in the making, the more literally we can take Thich Nhat Hanh’s advice. The technique is to be in the present moment, to be aware that we are here and now, that the only moment to be alive is the present moment.
How like Jesus’ teaching this is, who told us that the reign of God is among you and whose many parables were to underscore the simplicity and the diversity of the reign of God, which at times was like a mustard seed, at times like leaven, at times like a net, at times like a gathering of sheep and goats. An everyday thing, this kingdom/queendom of God! And yet so rare because we have eyes and do not see, ears and do not hear.
Like the Buddha, Jesus taught that humanity has to wake up to see differently, to realize how close to heaven we already are. Our relationship to Creation is a kind of test of that wakefulness.
Meister Eckhart discourses on Jesus’ teachings on the nearness of God’s kingdom/queendom this way: God is equally near to all creatures. The wise man says in Ecclesiasticus: God has his net, his hunter’s ploy, spread out over all creatures (cf. Ho. 7:12; Ezk. 12:13). Thus all people can find him in everything, so long as they can penetrate this net filled with creatures and keep God in mind and recognize God in everything….The person who knows God most truly is the one who can find him equally in all things.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths, pp. 43f.
For Eckhart quote, see Matthew Fox, Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, p. 138.
Banner Image: Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh leading walking meditation with children. Photo by Jean-Pierre, uploaded by Duc to Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
What does “Ground of Being” mean to you as an understanding of the Divine?
Dwell on Thich Naht Hanh’s teaching about what a miracle is—to live in the present moment on the holy earth. Let this meditation cover over you and embrace you.
Are you one of those of whom Eckhart speaks who “can find God equally in all things”?
Recommended Reading
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
3 thoughts on “Thich Nhat Hanh and the Sacredness of Creation Part II”
Today I am full of gratitude for these daily meditations. They are so sweet and help set the tone for the whole day. Thank you!
I have worked at living in the present moment ever since I had a dream years ago and these words came loud and clear: “God lives in the EVER PRESENT MOMENT, SO MUST YOU!” My response was: ” OK! but how do I DO that?”
Since then, I have found many ways of helping me be in the moment: repeating the word “NOW!” over and over again; or “Life is never anything else but THIS MOMENT;” or “STAY PRESENT!” or “LET IT GO, IT’S IN THE PAST!” And now I’m reading your words: “To live in the Present Moment on this holy earth” and ALLOW THESE WORDS TO COVER ME AND EMBRACE ME.”
I deeply know that this practice works, and have enjoyed the awesome wonder and beauty of BEING PRESENT many, many times, but also quickly forget the exercise when I think I’ve got it at last . . . and then, There I Go Again!”
Does the time ever come when it becomes easy and habitual to SIMPLY STAY PRESENT? Or is the answer simply to continue to Come Back to the Present Moment as soon as I become aware that I’m somewhere else? I imagine doggedly starting over again and again is the Only Thing to do, right? I think so . . . Can’t be helped, can it? Thanks, and Love.
Dear VIvian,
Thank you for brining up the very real struggle to live in the eternal now while living in this remember-the-past, look-to-the-future culture. It is difficult to stay with that attitude without company, to experience it as a context rather than trying to hold it alone. So be sure to keep in touch so that you can continue to pursue your quest for oneness within this community that is holding the intention to be fully present with you.
Gail Sofia Ransom
For the Daily Meditation Team