Our True Home

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us that our true home exists in the here and in the now. There is only the present moment, and if we are present, we are home. We sing a song that goes like this:

I have arrived, I am home.
In the here and in the now.
I am solid, I am free
In the ultimate I dwell.

Residence of Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village Photo © 2000, Jerome Freedman

You may be surprised that Goethe wrote

“Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through those eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.”

-Goethe

And I just received an email from Elena Brower, a well-known Yoga teacher and founder of Virayoga wrote

The frequency of home is what we feel when we are deeply at home within ourselves. When we find ourselves in good alignment and we feel our consciousness right in the center of ourselves, that’s home. I find that when I’m getting bodywork, or Reiki, or just sitting quietly (especially on an airplane), I arrive in that place within where all is serene, and my mind is clear. Home…

-Elena Brower

So the question might arise, “How do we get to our true home?”

We begin by becoming aware of the breath in our body. We breathe deeply several times. We withdraw ourselves in to ourselves and be present in our body. Then we can know what it feels like to be in present time – to be in the moment.

A daily meditation practice embodying these practices can help us develop the skills we need to come home to ourselves whenever we want. We may want to add to these simple practices of watching our breath and being present in our bodies some loving kindness blessings for ourselves, our loved ones, and the people we know who are suffering the most. We may want to add some expression of gratitude and forgiveness as well. We may want to add the experience of sensations in our body.

Having a daily meditation practice makes it possible for us to come back to our true home whenever we want. It becomes a good habit and we can learn to do it with practice.

These are not the only practices that bring us back to our true home. How do you get back to your true home? What do you do to come back home? How well does it work for you?

Books by Thich Nhat Hanh

Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: 365 days of practical, powerful teachings from the beloved Zen teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh Bringing the energy of true presence into our lives really does change things for the better—and all it takes is a little training. This treasury of 365 gems of daily wisdom from one of the most beloved Buddhist teachers of our age is a help and support for anyone who wants to train to meet every … [Read More…]