from a personal poetical exploration of
thich nhat hanh's 14 precepts
third precept: freedom of thought
Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propoganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.
so I asked the christians how they encourage their quiet of mind in others when they know the righteous path and someone ain't on it again it came back to god passive though - prayer sight a suffering soul, pray for them. I guess that acknowledges third party agency - I hope jeezus will fix that. I take refuge in the third precept that I will work against fanatacism and force on my part engage compassionate dialogue like patience "loving speech is born from understanding and patience" on page 36 judgement far follows "openness and nonattachment from views" I feel compelled to act, to reduce suffering in sight thich nhat hanh toughtfully prescribed nonviolence action ahimsa, on page 25 "Ahimsa begins with the energy of tolerance and loving kindness, which will be expressed in gentle, compassionate, intelligent speech that can move peoples' hearts." it is to this i aspire. when friends fall out or never stood in place knowing all parties, beautiful I want to make amends in spite of my aspirations caught up in missionary zeal I think the answers are mine, I have seen the whole I can move us toward unity I send wise quotes from thich nhat hanh and showing one her place in the sixth precept I brandished my righteousness first and foremost reeducation ignorant of each of "those who are suffering" I felt only for one party she in turn felt wholly slighted first by the intolerable man and then by a conversion crusader who had forgotten the trembling in her eyes the vehemence in her voice when she described her adversion to the strangeling she had not forgotten the way, she was decidedly chosen a different path ignorant of her pain I shouted at her from another continent lacking "energy of tolerance and loving kindness" and "gentle, compassionate, intelligent speech" I made a mess with my "fanaticism and narrowness" trying to force her to adopt my views.
second | interbeing | fourth