Wisdom, Skill, and Judgement IV

Thích Nhất Hạnh

Daily Reflection

I come here empty-handed, and I go empty-handed. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Anger, Buddhist Wisdom for Cooling the Flames

In our final daily reflection for this week, we pause to consider the teaching of a favorite here at TPP, Thích Nhất Hạnh.

You can read more about him and his background here in an earlier TPP newsletter.

Suffice to say, Thích Nhất Hạnh is arguably one of the greatest wisdom teachers of our time, teaching from the Zen Buddhist tradition.

Today, he draws on elements of the other teachers we considered this week—from Stoicism, to Ancient Jewish Wisdom Literature, and even modern practical philosophy.

As we cultivate judgement through experience and gain wisdom, the only aspect we can control is our own actions.

As Rabbi Finely reminded us yesterday, we cannot control the response of others, and trying to do so can often lead to mu…