Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

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If someone were to have asked me at the beginning of the semester what is spirituality, I would not have answered correctly. Without a doubt, I am sure I would have answered the question as a synonym to religion, or part of a religion at least. In any case, that is not the right answer, and I now know that. After looking farther into the topic and reading works written by well-known spiritual leaders and authors, I am now confident I know what spirituality is as well as how to execute or practice it.
Peace is Every Step, a book written by a Vietnamese man named Thich Nhat Hanh was just one of the readings that helped me to better understand what spirituality is. Hanh calls himself a Zen master, as well as being known world wide for poetry and advocating for peace. Additionally, an article titled “What is Spirituality?” that comes from the book The Holy Longing, written by Ronald Rolheiser, was another piece I gained spiritual knowledge through. Lastly, an excerpt from the book Awakening the Buddha Within, titled “We Are All Buddhas” was also a key part of my knowledge on spirituality. “We Are All Buddhas,” written by Lama Surya Das, a Lama who practices in Kathmandu, gave me a great deal of understanding about why one should practice spirituality. Unquestionably, my understanding about spirituality as a whole has improved from these men.
Based on a mixture of ideas coming from the stated authors, I comprehend spirituality as believing in something and living for a purpose in life. Regardless of a religion, people can still be spiritual. Spirituality is the influence behind a person’s actions; whatever a person desires to do, will lead to actions and in turn, spirituality (Rolheiser 7). According to Rolheiser, “Spirituality is mo...

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...egardless if they are religious. Absolutely, I find it important to emphasize that spirituality is not religion; I believe when people see them as the same that it can scare others away from being spiritual. Sadly, these people are missing out because spirituality is good and healthy. Luckily, there are ways to engage in spiritual practices to strengthen a person’s spirituality such as the walking meditation I accomplished. To conclude, spirituality is about finding purpose and meaning to life; it can take a tragic event, several questions, and much time, but it is worth the journey to discover.

Works Cited

Lama Surya Das, “We Are All Buddhas,” Awakening the Buddha Within (NY: Doubleday, 1998). Print.
Ronald Rolheiser, “What is Spirituality?” The Holy Longing (NY: Doubleday, 1999). Print.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step (NY: Bantam Books, 1991), Print.

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