Feb 14, 2025

'Kernel Of Corn' by Thich Nhat Hanh

There was a patient in the mental hospital [in Vietnam] who seemed to be normal. He ate and talked like other people. But he believed that he was a kernel of corn, and every time he saw a chicken, he ran for his life. He did not know his suchness.

When the nurse reported this to the doctor, the doctor told him, “Sir, you are not a kernel of corn, you are a human being. You have hair, eyes, a nose, and arms.” He gave a kind of sermon like that, and finally he asked, “Now, sir, can you tell me what you are?” The man replied, “Doctor, I am a human being. I am not a kernel of corn.” The doctor was happy. He felt he had helped this patient a lot. But to be certain, he asked the man to repeat the sentence, “I am a human being, I ... [Read more]

Seed questions for reflection: How do you relate to the difference between intellectual knowing and deep understanding? Can you share a personal story of a time you saw this difference play out in your life? What helps you move beyond an intellectual knowing and toward a deep understanding?