Bigs Quote by Sylvia Boorstein
“The voice of Thich Nhat Hanh-friendly, patient, steadfast, confident, contemporary, and often witty-seems, to me, an intermediary big brother talking directly to me on every page saying, 'Look! It's right there in you,' the very wisdom that leads to compassion.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh, 1998
The text presents Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings as a personal, relatable guide that reveals inner wisdom and compassion within each reader.
In simple terms: His words act as a friendly guide to inner compassion.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture compassion inside you.
Themes
mindfulness
compassion
self‑guidance
wisdom
Mood
calm
encouraging
reflective
Type
inspirational
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- daily meditation
- stressful workday
- conflict resolution
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Buddhist mindfulness
inner wisdom
spiritual guidance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply this inner wisdom in a tense situation?
- What does “big brother” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The approach may feel overly gentle for those seeking direct, actionable strategies.
![“[Thich Nhat Hanh] the one that revolutionized Buddhism. Instead of being monks just engaged in meditation, it was active Buddhism. You went out and felt the ills of the community around you. Instead of retreating to a monastery, you were out in the streets working. And he's been a great help to…” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/470/sandra-cisneros-862_active_thich-nhat-hanh-the-one-that-revolutioni_675085.jpg)
![“... every single act we do has the potential of causing pain, and every single thing we do has consequences that echo way beyond what we can imagine. It doesn't mean we shouldn't act. It means we should act carefully. Everything matters [p. 41].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ab/sylvia-boorstein-7241_causing-pain_every-single-act-we-do-has-the-potential_75621.jpg)
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![“I love the phrase 'I am not afraid!' Maybe it's the best phrase we can say, other than 'I have everything I need.' Maybe they are the same. [p. 14]” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f28/sylvia-boorstein-7241_fear_i-love-the-phrase-i-am-not-afraid-maybe_356864.jpg)
![“... life is difficult and painful, just by its very nature, not because we're doing it wrong [pp. 17-18].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2a/sylvia-boorstein-7241_difficult_life-is-difficult-and-painful-just-by-it_369102.jpg)
![“The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before going in with [Larry] Holmes. That would have made all the difference.” quote by Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d63/gerry-cooney-20863_bigs_the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-m_1534.jpg)
