Peace Is Every Breath: A Practice for Our Busy Lives
4.5/5
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About this ebook
“Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man…. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.” —Martin Luther King, Jr., nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.
In this much-anticipated follow-up to his bestselling classic, Peace Is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh—one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today—offers an insightful guide to living a fuller life. In this deeply insightful meditation, the world-renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master, poet, scholar, and peace activist illuminates how each of us can incorporate the practice of mindfulness into our every waking moment. In the tradition of The Art of Happiness and Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh’s Peace Is Every Breath opens a pathway to greater spiritual fulfillment through its patient examination of how we live our lives.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, author, scholar, and activist for social change, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the author of many bestselling books, including the classics Peace Is Every Step and The Art of Living. Through his books and retreats at the monasteries he has founded in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, he became a pre-eminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all. Sister Chan Khong is Thich Nhat Hanh’s most senior monastic disciple and lifelong collaborator. A leading force in his engaged Buddhism programs and humanitarian projects, her books include Learning True Love and Beginning Anew. Sister True Dedication is a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh.
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Reviews for Peace Is Every Breath
55 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mindfulness all day long
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a nice short book with a focus on making sure that we enjoy every moment. Each short chapter at its basic level asks the reader to stop worrying about the past or future, and take full enjoyment in everything we do. I think I needed to read this book at this time in my life, and while not easy, I will surely make efforts to incorporate its message into my life.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5As always a wonderful piece of work by Thich Nhat Hanh. Help with meditation and mindfulness and practicing how to breathe, how to meditate, how to be more mindful, how to live, and just reach your inner self; where we live at a time when that is becoming harder and harder to do. The gathas at the end are sure to be very helpful for many people. As well as the insight provided throughout the book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It was down to earth and easy to understand. It certainly helped me to live in the present moment.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book so many lessons learned. Thanks and love to all.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Easy to read and profoundly touching. A must-read in our pursuit to live a meaningful life!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a powerful book which set me straight on what meditation is. essentially, the author says, meditation only means being aware of what is going on in our bodies, our feelings, and our minds. What he talks about is so simple like admiring nature that I'm very keen on following the simple steps. I borrowed this book from the library but since it is a keeper I'm buying it.
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Book preview
Peace Is Every Breath - Thich Nhat Hanh
a practice for our busy lives
peace is
every
breath
THICH NHAT HANH
calligraphy by thich nhat hanh
Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully each moment
and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Epigraph
introduction
waking up each morning
running water, washing your face
brushing your teeth
showering and getting dressed
sitting and breathing
preparing breakfast
eating breakfast
handling negative habits
breaking out of the prison of the past
walking meditation
taking refuge
blooming as a flower, fresh as the dew
solid as a mountain
water reflecting
riding out the storm
having space
understanding and loving
my father in me, my mother in me
awareness of the store consciousness
inappropriate attention
that old, familiar, mucky pond
appropriate attention
mindful consumption
shopping for happiness
dwelling happily in the present
the kingdom of god is now—or never
concentrating the mind
contemplating impermanence
contemplating no-self and emptiness
contemplating signlessness, no-birth and no-death
contemplating aimlessness
contemplating wishlessness
boundless love
deep, compassionate listening
loving speech
taking care of anger
your every breath
gathas for daily practice
the path of the buddha
1. reverence for life
2. true happiness
3. true love
4. loving speech and deep listening
5. nourishment and healing
author’s note
also by thich nhat hanh
Copyright
About the Publisher
introduction
All of us need to have a spiritual dimension in our lives. We need spiritual practice. If that practice is regular and solid, we will be able to transform the fear, anger, and despair in us and overcome the difficulties we all encounter in daily life.
The really good news is that spiritual practice can be done at any time of the day; it isn’t necessary to set aside a certain period exclusively for Spiritual Practice
with a capital S and capital P. Our spiritual practice can be there at any moment, as we cultivate the energy of mindfulness and concentration.
No matter what you’re doing, you can choose to do it with your full presence, with mindfulness and concentration; and your action becomes a spiritual practice. With mindfulness, you breathe in, and there you are, well established in the here and the now. Breathing in, touching your full aliveness, is a spiritual practice. Every one of us is capable of breathing in mindfully. I breathe in, and I know I am breathing in—that’s the practice of mindful breathing.
The practice of mindful breathing may be very simple, but the effect can be great. Focusing on our in-breath, we release the past, we release the future, we release our projects. We ride on that breath with all our being. Our mind comes back to our body, and we are truly there, alive, in the present moment. We are home. Just one breath, in and out, can make us fully present and fully alive again, and then the energy of mindfulness is there in us. Mindfulness is the energy that makes us fully present, fully alive in the here and the now.
If we go home to ourselves, and if we notice that our body is carrying some tension or pain, it is mindfulness that lets us know about it. Mindfulness is what brings us back in touch with what’s happening in the present moment in our body, in our feelings, in our thinking, and also in our environment. It enables us to be fully present in the here and the now, mind and body together, aware of what’s going on inside us and around us. And when we are very mindful of something, we are concentrated on it.
Mindfulness and concentration are the core energies of spiritual practice. We can drink our tea in mindfulness, make our breakfast in mindfulness, and take a shower in mindfulness, and all of that becomes our spiritual practice, and gives us the strength to handle the many difficulties that can arise in our daily life and in our society.
Wherever you are, simply becoming aware of your body and whatever state of relaxation, tension, or pain (or even all of them at once, in different areas) is there, you already are realizing some understanding, some awakening, some awareness—some enlightenment. And when you know there’s some tension or pain in your body, you may like to do something to help relieve it. We can say to ourselves as we breathe in and out: Breathing in, I am aware of some tension or pain in my body; breathing out, I allow the tension and pain in my body to release.
This is the practice of mindfulness of the body.
So spiritual practice is possible for all of us. You cannot say, I’m just too busy, I have no time for meditation.
No. Walking from one building to another, walking from the parking lot to your office, you can always enjoy walking mindfully, and enjoy every one of your steps. Each step you take in mindfulness can help you release the tension in your body, release the tension in your feelings, and bring about healing, joy, and transformation.
You have lots of work to do, and you like doing it. It’s interesting, and you enjoy being productive. But working too much, taking care of so many things, tires you out. You want to practice meditation, so you can be more relaxed and have more peace, happiness, and joy in your life. But you don’t have the time for daily meditation practice. It’s a dilemma—what can you do? This book is your answer.
waking up each morning
The moment you wake up, right away, you can smile. That’s a smile of enlightenment. You are aware that a new day is beginning, that life is offering you twenty-four brand-new hours to