At the local library used-book sale not long ago a tiny book surfaced from 2004 by Thich Nhat Hanh, monk and mindfulness teacher. Its title was True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart; it discussed what Hanh called "The Four Mantras". He offered the same list in an interview on an Oprah Winfrey TV show in 2012, and in a 1995 talk shared at "The Mindfulness Bell". Worth remembering:

• I am here for you.

"... You become real, the other person becomes real, and life is real in that moment. You bring happiness to yourself and to the other person. ..."

* I know you are there, and I am very happy.

"... Whenever you are really there, you are able to recognize and appreciate the presence of the other — the full moon, the North Star, the magnolia flowers, or the person you love the most. ..."

* I know you suffer. That is why I am here for you.

"... Your presence alone will relieve a lot of [another person's] suffering. ..."

* I suffer. Please help.

"... [I]f you really love [another person], when you suffer like that you have to ask for help. You must overcome your pride. ..."

(cf. EatTheOrange (2004-11-28), Laundromat Surprises (2009-03-02), Breath as Vehicle (2009-06-17), Bind the Monkey (2009-11-21), Blooming of a Lotus (2013-11-17), ...) - ^z - 2014-06-26