Releasing both victory and defeat, the tranquil minds dwell in happiness. Victory produces hostility

Releasing both victory and defeat, the tranquil minds dwell in happiness. Victory produces hostility

Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist, often speaks about the importance of cultivating a tranquil mind in order to find true happiness and inner peace. In his teachings, he emphasizes the idea of releasing both victory and defeat in order to free oneself from the cycle of suffering and attachment.

The quote "Releasing both victory and defeat, the tranquil minds dwell in happiness. Victory produces hostility" encapsulates a profound truth about the nature of human experience. When we become attached to the idea of winning or losing, we create a sense of separation and division within ourselves and with others. This attachment to victory can lead to feelings of pride, arrogance, and hostility towards those who we perceive as our competitors or enemies.

On the other hand, when we are able to release our attachment to victory and defeat, we can cultivate a sense of equanimity and peace within ourselves. By letting go of our need to constantly prove ourselves or be better than others, we can find a deeper sense of contentment and joy that is not dependent on external circumstances.

Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that true happiness comes from within, and that it is not dependent on external factors such as success or failure. By cultivating a tranquil mind through practices such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing, we can learn to let go of our attachment to victory and defeat and find a sense of inner peace that is unshakeable.