Follow the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh

Huh Woo-sung
The author is a professor emeritus of philosophy at Kyung Hee University.

I received a precious gift — “Interbeing,” written by a Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022) a long time ago. I want to share it with my family first. Then, I want to share it with the 131 first-term lawmakers from all parties who joined the 22nd National Assembly on Thursday. This book contains the principle of coexistence, “Only when you exist, I exist.” Even an “enemy” is a human being and interbeing, and therefore, we must coexist.

The core of this book is 14 mindfulness exercises. The exercises concern the mindset, ethical virtue, and life guidance. They include opening the mind, a non-obsession with views, the freedom of thought, awareness of pain, anger management, true communication with the community, truthful and lovely speech and respect for life. If you are mindful and follow the guidelines, you can change your home and country into a space of peace and happiness.

If first-term lawmakers make good use of the energy from following the guidelines, they can keep the oath in Article 24 of the National Assembly Act: “I do solemnly swear before the people that I shall observe the Constitution, endeavor to promote the freedom and welfare of the people and the peaceful unification of the fatherland, give priority to the national interests, and perform faithfully the duties of a member of the National Assembly in accordance with good conscience.” How many lawmakers have followed their own conscience to abide by the Constitution and promote the people’s freedom and welfare?

Thich Nhat Hanh’s exercises go beyond family and Buddhism and include secular politics because of his life. He experienced the Vietnam War in his 30s and 40s. The exercise is like a lotus flower blooming amid the war and devastation, created in a time when hatred and violence tore his country apart.

Among the 14 exercises, “opening the mind” requires the tolerance to confront fanaticism, intolerance and dichotomous mindsets in any community. We must face the fact that we “interare.” A “non-obsession with views” is the realization that many of our pains come from our own views and false perceptions, and we should listen to others. Only then can we achieve collective wisdom. The “freedom of thought” is a respect for people’s right to disagree.

The “awareness of pain” refers to treating one another with understanding and mercy by noticing our own pains and those of others. “Anger management” is also important. Politicians are easily angered by public criticism. When you are angry, embrace it and refrain from reckless speech and behavior. “True communication with the community” is attentive listening and lovely speech. To follow the guideline for “truthful and lovely speech,” you should be determined not to say things that cause division and hatred. “Respect for life” calls for efforts to prevent war and conflict and develop an insight into coexistence in everyday life.

Thich Nhat Hanh stressed that a “non-obsession with views” brings collective wisdom. Dialogue and cooperation benefit the country. The Constitution of the Republic of Korea is the greatest product of collective wisdom. Even the president is required to protect the Constitution. In the end, the inclusion of liberal democracy and the separation of powers comes not only from the collective wisdom of Koreans since 1948 but also the collective wisdom from human history. The Constitution must be robustly protected.

It would be nice if the new lawmakers would write two or three most essential guidelines on a small note and put it in their wallets. As the guidelines are interwoven, abiding by one is enough. I wish they would be the standard to protect the Constitution and conscience. The lawmakers may wake up early and take 15 minutes for meditation, or use commuting time.

On the spring, I miss sunshine after three days of rain. Korean politics have been full of division for the past seven years, and discord and hatred made lives gloomy. Adherence to the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh is a ray of sunshine through the dark clouds of politics. If they follow the guidelines of coexistence, they will give positive energy to the entire nation as well as themselves. I look forward to seeing them take the lead in implementing the teachings of coexistence.

Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.