Long before the appearance of the term "Positive Psychology" in the academic world, ways of living a meaningful and fulfilling life have been existed across the world by different individuals.
Thích Nhất Hạnh, one of the best known and
most respected Zen masters in the world today, has been
walking the talk of positive psychology in a Zen way.
Thích Nhất Hạnh is a Zen master who is also a poet, and peace and human rights activist (
http://www.plumvillage.org/thich-nhat-hanh.html). He was nominated by nobel laureate Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 to recognize his contribution to peace movement.
Thích Nhất Hạnh helped to found the "engaged Buddhism" movment and created the Order of Inter-Being in 1966. He heads this monastic and lay group, teaching Five Mindfulness Trainings and Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings. Later he established the first
Plum Village Buddhist Center in South of France to share "
the art of mindful living". Plum Village is regarded as a mindfulness community, and that you can now find several other plum villages in different places (e.g. Vietnam, Hong Kong). For more information of the Plum Village, visit here:
http://www.plumvillage.org/
According to Thích Nhất Hạnh's teachings, there is an important mindfulness practice called "
Hugging Meditation". When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we are not separate beings.
Hugging with mindfulness and concentration can bring reconciliation, healing,
understanding, and
much happiness. The practice of mindful hugging has helped so
many to reconcile with each other- fathers and sons, mothers and daughters,
friends and friends, and so many others.
Thích Nhất Hạnh visited Hong Kong earlier in May 2013 to share more about the art of mindful living and "
Happiness is the Way". Here is a video of his talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUFlhkcUdgg , from where you will see how Positive Psychology can be represented and practiced in a Zen way.
So now, you know where my blog icon came from!
