Peace is Every Breath is a short book written by Vietnamese Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh as a follow up to his popular best-seller, Peace is Every Step.
Who is Thich Nhat Hanh?
If you haven’t heard of Thich Nhat Hanh, he is a hugely influential contemporary spiritual leader.
“Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.” —New York Times
“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.
The Book
Peace is Every Breath is a short book, roughly 100 pages, that offers daily meditation practices for our busy lives. Thich Nhat Hanh offers short meditation practices for doing the dishes or waking up with mindfulness incorporated into each activity, My favorite part of the book was the Gathas, or short spiritual poems that serve as mantras, to help draw you back into the present moment with grace and gratitude.
I also found that he touched on core principles of Buddhism in ways that were brief but profound. This book would serve any reader well who is curious about Buddhism as a whole, and how to incorporate it’s mindfulness-based practices in to the sphere of daily life.
Favorite Quotes
“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.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Breath
“The trunk of a tree is more stable and solid; it has many roots reaching deep into the Earth. The treetops are like your own head, your thinking mind. When a storm comes up in you, get out of the treetop and go down to the trunk for safety. Your roots start down at your abdomen, slightly below the navel, at the energy point known as the tan tien in Chinese medicine. Put all your attention on that part of your belly, and breathe deeply. Don’t think about anything, and you’ll be safe while the storm of emotions is blowing.”
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Breath
“Buddhism teaches that joy and happiness arise from letting go. Please sit down and take an inventory of your life. There are things you’ve been hanging on to that really are not useful and deprive you of your freedom. Find the courage to let them go. An overloaded boat is easily capsized by wind and waves. Lighten your load, and your boat will travel more quickly and safely. You can offer the precious gift of freedom and space to your loved ones, but only if it is truly there in your own heart.”
Gatha for When Feeling Anger
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Breath
Gatha for When Feeling Anger Arise
Feeling the heat of anger right now,
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Breath
I close my eyes and look into the future.
Three hundred years from now,
where will you, where will I, be?
Gatha for Meeting Someone New
A lotus for you,
Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Breath
a Buddha to be.
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