Many years ago Thich Nhat Hanh invented this new word interbeing. He wanted to express the profound interdependence that binds everything and everyone together. In his book At Home in the World he tells the story of meeting The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1966, a perfect example of interbeing.

Could the contrast be any stronger? A Buddhist monk from Vietnam meets an African American Christian minister. The suffering of Thich Nhat Hanh’s people came about in large part by the warring actions of the United States government. And yet, Nhat Hanh was inspired by the nonviolent action King was organizing in the American south. He writes:

“From the first moment I knew I was in the presence of holy person. Not just his good work but his very being was a source of great inspiration for me. . . . That was the day we combined our efforts to work for peace in Vietnam and to fight for civil rights in the U.S. We agreed that the true enemy of man is not man. Our true enemy is not outside of us. Our true enemy is the anger, hatred, and discrimination that is found in the hearts and minds of man.”

They continued to correspond and support each other’s work. A year later they met again. Nhat Hanh told him, “’Martin, do you know something? In Vietnam they say you are a bodhisattva, an enlightened being trying to awaken other living beings and help them move toward more compassion and understanding.’ . . .

Just a few months later King was assassinated. “I was in New York when I heard the news of his assassination; I was devastated. I could not eat; I could not sleep. I made a deep vow to continue building what he called ‘the beloved community,’ not only for myself but for him also.”

Interbeing helps us recognize that the way of love, peace, justice and understanding is best walked by all of us, not just a chosen few. It enables us to see the good and supportive work that is being carried out all over the world, even in areas that don’t seem to affect us directly. In reality, what others do shore us up even as what we offer sends ripples of support back to them.

How and where do you experience interbeing?

In honor of Thich Nhat Hanh’s birthday month I am sharing aspects of his teachings that will make you think and may just change the way you live. Today I am thinking about present moment awareness, or what the Buddhists call “mindfulness.” Here are Thay’s own words about an action we all take in the Fall—raking the leaves.

“In autumn I like to rake the leaves at my hermitage at Plum Village [France]. I do it every three days or so, using a rake. . . . Raking the leaves is not simply to have a clean path to jog or walk along: raking the leaves is just to enjoy raking the leaves. So I hold the rake in such a way that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and solid during the whole time of raking. I want to ensure every movement is an act of enlightenment, an act of joy, and an act of peace. So I am not in a hurry because I see that the very act of raking is at least as wonderful as having a clean path. I would not be satisfied with anything less than that. . . . If you make one stroke in such a way that you are fully invested in the act of raking leaves, then you will be rewarded right away.” -Thich Nhat Hanh, At Home in the World

I get the idea from reading this that Thay was struggling with something that we all encounter—making meaning out of those tasks that we must do in order to get to the activities we want to do. When we carry out a task with this mindset—that we must it get done quickly so we can do something else we value more—then both actions, the thing we have to do and the thing we want to do, are diminished somehow. Certainly the first task is diminished because we don’t like it or appreciate it. But the second activity is also diminished because it is not long before we are looking forward to what is coming next. Will it be even better than what we have now?

Here is the secret to living so that “every movement is an act of enlightenment, an act of joy, and an act of peace”:

Assume the attitude that every action is important and bring complete awareness to each one

What are those tasks that are difficult for you? Mine are the household routines of doing laundry, cleaning the cat boxes and loading the dishwasher. Today I will “hold the rake in such a way that makes me feel happy, peaceful, and solid during the whole time of raking.” Will you join me?

Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh turns 95 years old today! He lives peacefully at his root monastery where he was ordained a monk as a teenager. He uses the phrase “continuation day” instead of “birthday” for a very special reason: He want us all to realize that nothing is ever born and nothing ever dies except in our own perception of it. Every flower becomes compost so more flowers can bloom. Every person brings her/his energy into the world in order to transform it before moving on. Everything is part of the grand cycle of life.

Here are two ways you can celebrate Continuation Day this week:

Spend time in nature, and no, walking between the house and the car does not count. Walk in a park or traverse the neighborhood where you live. Smell, see, touch and hear all that nature is offering you. Consider the truth of impermanence—everything you encounter will seem to pass away, but just because you cannot see it doesn’t mean it is gone. It will come back in some other form. Continuation is just another way of affirming impermanence.

Practice being in the present moment. Too much of our time and energy is spent pining away for of feeling regretful about the past. Even more is spent working toward and worrying about the future. The only moment we ever truly have is the present moment, the precious gift that sits before us right now. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches many ways to connect with the present moment through mindfulness, such as doing our ordinary activities with awareness and insight. Think of all the things you are engaged in throughout the day. What could unfold if you drank your coffee or tea without distraction truly appreciating what you were drinking or emptying the dishwasher or dryer with deep gratitude for these time-saving devices?

Enjoy your explorations this week and you just might decide to make every day “continuation day.”

Ayurveda has a lot to say about food, which is probably why I enjoy studying it so much! This is a critical time for eating well because it will determine how well you feel as fall and early winter arrive. You see, Ayurveda has this interesting perspective: How we eat in one season will determine our health in the next season.

Here are the five foods to favor as we make our transition from summer to fall:

1) Beets: Ayurveda considers fall the second best time to detoxify, and there is no better detox food than beets. (Other red and purple fruits and veggies score high here too.) Try to eat beets every day this month. They need to be fresh beets, not canned or vacuum sealed. Ayurveda always favors fresh foods over canned, powdered, frozen or processed.

2) Leafy greens: These are versatile detoxifiers. This time of year we often go back and forth between hot and cool days, so eat your greens accordingly. On hot days, eat raw salads, best eaten for lunch when the digestive fire is hottest. On cool days, eat cooked greens, such as kale or collard greens sautéed with garlic.

3) Turmeric: If you want to stay well in fall and winter, you can’t beat the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial effects of turmeric. You can buy the root (it’s part of the ginger family) at the grocery store and put it in stir-fries. You can also use the powdered form. We put it in everything we eat at our house!

4) Ginger: This warming spice is another powerful anti-inflammatory. Chop up the fresh ginger to cook with veggies. Also put several pieces in your daily tea. Drink black and/or green tea with ginger every day to keep the diseases away.

5) Apples: Just when we need them most, Mother Nature gives us plenty of types to choose from. Throughout the summer, heat builds in our bodies and apples have the amazing effect of releasing this pent-up heat. Eat at least one apple every day to create the best inner environment for strong immunity.

Bonus recipe: Beet and apple salad
Use your food processor or hand grate one organic beet and one organic apple (with the skin on). Mix together with 1-2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice for a delicious daily salad that detoxifies and cools.