10/19/2026
"The essence of loving kindness is being able to offer happiness. You can be the sunshine for another person. You can’t offer happiness until you have it for yourself.
So build a home inside by accepting yourself and learning to love and heal yourself.
First, we have to learn to look at ourselves with the eyes of understanding and love. Many of us cannot accept ourselves. Practicing looking deeply and seeing the nature of the joy and pain within us, gradually we are able to accept, love, and take care of ourselves.
If we look deeply, we discover the conditions that have formed us, both our suffering and our happiness. So first of all, we accept ourselves as we are. Then we can accept the other person as she or he is.
To touch the seeds of joy, peace, and love within you is a very important practice. You can ask your friends to do the same for you.
If you love someone, you acknowledge their positive seeds, and practice touching them every day. Touching and watering the seeds in one person is a very concrete practice of love. If you love me please refrain from watering only the seeds of anger, despair, and hatred in me.
If you love me, recognize the seeds of joy, gladness, peace, and solidity in me also and touch them, several times a day. That will help me grow in the direction of health, joy, and happiness."
~Thích Nhất Hạnh
