This Moment is Full of Wonders

Today I want to share a short post featuring calming artwork and gentle wisdom from Thich Nhat Hanh’s lovely book of Zen calligraphy, This Moment is Full of Wonders. I only recently discovered how much Thich Nhat Hanh loved calligraphy, and that throughout his life he created over 10,000 images. It was one of his favorite forms of meditation.

The book’s introduction is all about mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh explained that poetry, art and meditation always go together in the Zen tradition. He wrote, “The moment when I take a sheet of paper and begin to draw is not exactly the moment of the calligraphy’s creation. Whenever I am practicing mindful walking, breathing, even while cutting carrots, art is being created. A work of art is conceived in the depths of your consciousness when you are not thinking about it. The moment when you begin to draw is only the moment you deliver the baby you have been carrying.”

Thich Nhat Hanh creating calligraphies in his hut in Plum Village, France (circa 2009)

Thich Nhat Hanh always drank tea before doing his calligraphy, and he always mixed some of his tea into his Chinese ink. He said that if we look very deeply into his calligraphy, we will be able see his tea, and also his mindful breathing.

Thich Nhat Hanh wrote that his hand that draws does not act alone—it’s connected to his entire mind and body, each and every cell. “I like to invite all my cells to join me in making a circle. These cells don’t exist by themselves either. I invite all my ancestors to draw the circle with me, as well as all the people whose lives have touched mine.”

With Thich Nhat Hanh’s recent passing, I loved reading his words about death and transformation: “There is no dying; there is only transforming and changing. A cloud can become rain, the snow, or the ice, but a cloud can never become nothing. The same is true with everything else, including us human beings. We can never become nothing, we just transform.”

I will leave you with the little gatha Thich Nhat Hanh opened the book with—a short verse that calls us into the present moment, meant to be recited internally in rhythm with our breath. I’ve been embracing it this week, and finding that repeating it a few times leaves me feeling calm, present and joyful. I hope you find it valuable and delightful as well.❤️

Breathing in, I calm my body

Breathing out, I smile

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is a wonderful moment