Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened SocietyA Zen monk and peace activist shares his vision for creating a peaceful, globalized world through nonviolent communication and a shared moral code In Good Citizens, Thich Nhat Hanh lays out the foundation for an international solidarity movement based on a shared sense of compassion, mindful consumption, and right action. Following these principles, he believes, is the path to world peace. While based on the basic Buddhist teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path, Thich Nhat Hanh boldly leaves Buddhist terms behind as he offers his contribution to the creation of a truly global and nondenominational blueprint to overcoming deep-seated divisions and a vision of a world in harmony and the preservation of the planet. Key topics include: • the true root causes of discrimination • the exploration of the various forms of violence (economic, social, and sexual) • how to practice nonviolence in all daily interactions and resolve conflicts through generosity, deep listening, and loving speech • using the Five Mindfulness Trainings (traditionally called “precepts”) as practical guidelines of ethical conduct Good Citizens reaches across all political backgrounds and faith traditions. It shows that dualistic thinking—Republican/Democrat, Christian/Muslim—creates tension and a false sense of separateness. When we realize that we share a common ethic and moral code, we can create a community that can change the world. |
Contents
THE ROLE OF SUFFERING | |
THE IGNOBLE PATH | |
HAPPINESS IS POSSIBLE | |
AN ETHICAL WAY OF LIFE | |
THE FIVE MINDFULNESS TRAININGS | |
BUILDING OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY | |
The Manifesto 2000 | |
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anger aware become believe benecial birth and death bodhisattva bomb brings well-being Buddha can’t caught cause cloud consciousness consume cornstalk craving despair difculties doesn’t drink dukkha energy Engaged Buddhism fear feel fetter Five Mindfulness Trainings Four Noble Truths global ethic happiness and suffering heal the world impermanent in-breath inside insight of interbeing kill kind listening look deeply lotus loving speech manifest mental formation mindful breathing mindfully ness Noble Eightfold Path nonbeing nondiscrimination nonduality notion nourish nutriment ourselves pain peace person Plum Village practice mindful practice of mindful practice Right present produce a thought Right Action Right Concentration Right Diligence Right Mindfulness Right Speech Right Thinking Right View Sangha Second Noble Truth set of criteria sexual sitting someone stop store consciousness subject and object tension there’s Thich Nhat Hanh things Third Noble Truth Vietnam War violence we’re wrong view