Clarence
Valley Environment Centre
Winter 2000 Newsletter
The present moment
"What you are looking for, like happiness, peace, joy, they are all in the present moment. The Pure Land of the Buddhists must be found in the Present Moment. The Kingdom of Heaven of the Catholics, of the Protestants, should also be found in the Present Moment.
Look at the tree. It is a wonderful thing a tree. A tree is very beautiful. A tree to me is as beautiful as the Cathedral, even more beautiful. And there are times when I stand before a tree with deepest respect.
I looked into the tree and I saw the sunshine in the tree. Can you see the sunshine in the tree?Without a cloud, there can be no rain, no tree. I see the Earth in the tree. I see everything in the tree. So the tree is where everything in the cosmos comes into and the cosmos reveals itself to me in a tree. Therefore a tree to me is a Cathefdral and I can take refuge in the tree and I can get nourished by the tree. The tree belongs to the Kingdom of God. The tree belongs to the Pure Land and I can get in touch with the tree only if I go back to the Present Moment because the tree can only be found in the Present Moment. -"
Thich Nhat Hanh
- Buddhist monk, Zen teacher, poet and peace activist.
His books and tapes are available in the Healing Room of the Environment
Centre.
Clarence Environment Centre
17 Skinner Street
South Grafton NSW 2460 Australia
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Clarence Environment Centre
Ph/Fax: (02) 6643 1863
Email: cesjc@nor.com.au