mind? what mind?

A thought to live by:

Someone who is about to admonish another must realize within himself five qualities before doing so [that he may be able to say], thus: "In due season will I speak, not out of season. In truth I will speak, not in falsehood. Gently will I speak, not harshly. To his profit will I speak, not to his loss. With kindly intent will I speak, not in anger."

- "Vinaya Pitaka," translated by F.S. Woodward

A poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, written during the Vietnam war, shortly after a village in Vietnam was bombed, killing many civilians.  An officer involved with the bombing of the village is reported to have said something like “we had to destroy the village in order to save it”.

For Warmth
by Thich Nhat Hanh

I hold my face between my hands
        no    I am not crying
I hold my face between my hands
     to keep my loneliness warm
        two hands protecting
        two hands nourishing
        two hands to prevent
my soul from leaving me
              in anger