Care & Understanding

By Thich Nhat Hahn

When you plant lettuce,

if it does not grow well,

you don’t blame the lettuce.

You look into the

reasons it is not doing well.

It may need fertilizer,

or more water,

or less sun.

You never blame the lettuce.

Yet if we have problems

with our friends

or our family,

we blame the other person.

But if we know

how to take care of them,

they will grow well,

like lettuce.

Blaming has

no positive effect at all,

nor does trying to persuade

using reason and arguments.

That is my experience.

No blame,

no reasoning,

no argument,

just understanding.

If you understand,

and you show

that you understand,

you can love,

and the situation will change.