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ajakubison's review
5.0
This book is an incredible reminder to slow down and live simply, in mindfulness with practical advice and a few examples of guided meditations to use daily (while breathing, walking or focused on looking inward).
heathen's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
A wonderful book for insight into how to embrace suffering and mindful living to benefit ourselves, those around us, and the world. His teachings have helped me deal with stressors, both internal and external. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
codenameellie's review
3.0
Read this for a reading challenge. Nothing really new here, but it is good information.
mo_whales's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
This book is literary Xanax. I mean that in the calming way, not the knock you out boring way. Though, I do imagine I will keep it around for restless nights.
Who better than a Zen Buddhist monk to introduce seven meditations to help you reflect on your life and increase your capacity for happiness and inner peace?
I loved this book. I am going to need a physical copy with the quickness.
Who better than a Zen Buddhist monk to introduce seven meditations to help you reflect on your life and increase your capacity for happiness and inner peace?
I loved this book. I am going to need a physical copy with the quickness.
captain_bob's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes the universe sends you exactly the book you most needed to read. What a clear-eyed and compelling manifesto of living your best life right now. ★★★★★
sapphirestars's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think there will ever be a Thich Nhat Hanh writing/book that I don't enjoy or annotate wildly. Amazing to read this knowing he will be approaching his 95th birthday in a few weeks this October. Loved the reflections on mindfulness and on death and humanity.
Too many to quote even half of what I enjoyed, but here are some of my favorites:
Humanity has given rise to many talented artists, musicians, and architects, but how many of us have mastered the art of creating a happy moment—for ourselves and those around us?
In this very moment all of us are dying. Some of us are dying more slowly and some of us more quickly. If we can be alive now, it is because we’re dying at every moment. We might think that someone else is dying and we’re not. But we shouldn’t be fooled by appearances.
We cannot assert that after death there is nothing. Something can never become nothing. The cloud that was in the sky earlier may seem to have disappeared. But if we look deeply, we see that the same elements that made up the cloud have now become rain, mist, or even snow. The true nature of the cloud, H²O, is still there, existing in new forms. It is impossible for H²O to pass from something into nothing, from being into nonbeing.
No one else can create happiness for us; we have to create it ourselves. With mindfulness and gratitude we can be happy right away. Our idea of happiness may be the very obstacle standing in the way of our happiness.
How long do you have left to live? What is so important that you let it get in the way of your chance to live deeply and happily? When you get your priorities straight, you can let go of the restlessness, frustration, anxiety, and resentment you’ve been carrying.
We should not be afraid of suffering. We should be afraid of only one thing, and that is not knowing how to deal with our suffering. Handling our suffering is an art. If we know how to suffer, we suffer much less, and we’re no longer afraid of being overwhelmed by the suffering inside.
We have to remove the pressures that society puts on us. We have to resist. Simply our way of walking from the parking lot to our office is a way of reacting: “I refuse to run. I resist. I will not lose a single moment or a single step. I reclaim my freedom, peace, and joy with every step. This is my life, and I want to live it deeply.”
Too many to quote even half of what I enjoyed, but here are some of my favorites:
Humanity has given rise to many talented artists, musicians, and architects, but how many of us have mastered the art of creating a happy moment—for ourselves and those around us?
In this very moment all of us are dying. Some of us are dying more slowly and some of us more quickly. If we can be alive now, it is because we’re dying at every moment. We might think that someone else is dying and we’re not. But we shouldn’t be fooled by appearances.
We cannot assert that after death there is nothing. Something can never become nothing. The cloud that was in the sky earlier may seem to have disappeared. But if we look deeply, we see that the same elements that made up the cloud have now become rain, mist, or even snow. The true nature of the cloud, H²O, is still there, existing in new forms. It is impossible for H²O to pass from something into nothing, from being into nonbeing.
No one else can create happiness for us; we have to create it ourselves. With mindfulness and gratitude we can be happy right away. Our idea of happiness may be the very obstacle standing in the way of our happiness.
How long do you have left to live? What is so important that you let it get in the way of your chance to live deeply and happily? When you get your priorities straight, you can let go of the restlessness, frustration, anxiety, and resentment you’ve been carrying.
We should not be afraid of suffering. We should be afraid of only one thing, and that is not knowing how to deal with our suffering. Handling our suffering is an art. If we know how to suffer, we suffer much less, and we’re no longer afraid of being overwhelmed by the suffering inside.
We have to remove the pressures that society puts on us. We have to resist. Simply our way of walking from the parking lot to our office is a way of reacting: “I refuse to run. I resist. I will not lose a single moment or a single step. I reclaim my freedom, peace, and joy with every step. This is my life, and I want to live it deeply.”
jennyjjs's review against another edition
5.0
I've been reading his books these last several months and so far I think this one was my favorite. And if you're going to listen to them like I do you will love Edoardo Ballerini's voice!