Product Description
It isn't likely that this collection of journal entries will pass the censors. If it can't be published, I hope my friends will circulate it among themselves. I'll leave Vietnam tomorrow...' Thus Thich Nhat Hanh begins his 11 May 1966 journal entry. Since that time, he has been unable to return to his homeland but, now based in France, he has become one of the world's most respected spiritual leaders. Fragrant Palm Leaves reveals a vulnerable and questioning young man reflecting on the many difficulties he and his fellow monks faced in Vietnam trying to make Buddhism relevant to the people's needs. We follow him, in 1964, as he helps establish the movement known as 'engaged Buddhism': starting self-help villages, a new university, a Buddhist order and many other efforts for peace. Fragrant Palm Leaves is regarded by many Vietnamese as Thich Nhat Hanh's most endearing and stimulating book. It offers readers a glimpse into the mind of a great thinker and activist and shows how to live fully, with awareness, during a time of challenge and upheaval. ... Read more

Product Description
In this raw and moving memoir, Claude Thomas tells the dramatic story of his service in Vietnam, his subsequent emotional collapse, and how he was ultimately able to find healing and peace.Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he served as a crew chief on assault helicopters.By the end of his tour, he had been awarded numerous medals, including the Purple Heart.He had also killed many people, witnessed horrifying cruelty, and narrowly escaped death on a number of occasions.

When Thomas returned home he found that he continued to live in a state of war.He was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and despair, all of which were intensified by the rejection he experienced as a Vietnam veteran.For years, Thomas struggled with post-traumatic stress, drug and alcohol addiction, isolation, and even homelessness.

A turning point came when he attended a meditation retreat for Vietnam veterans led by the renowned Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh.Here he encountered the Buddhist teachings on meditation and mindfulness, which helped him to stop running from his past and instead confront the pain of his war experiences directly and compassionately.Thomas was eventually ordained as a Zen monk and teacher, and he began making pilgrimages to promote peace and nonviolence in war-scarred places around the world including Bosnia, Auschwitz, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and the Middle East.

At Hell's Gate is Thomas's dramatic coming-of-age story and a spiritual travelogue from the horrors of combat to discovering a spiritual approach to healing violence and ending war from the inside out.In simple and direct language, Thomas shares timeless teachings on healing emotional suffering and offers us practical guidance in using mindfulness and compassion to transform our lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Coping with your actions and experiences in combat
I have not been in combat, but I have PTSD from childhood disciplinary brutality. "Enjoyed" seems like the wrong adjective to describe my appreciation for this book and author.I was enriched, I was moved, I was enlightened.Claude Anshin Thomas is an old warrior, and old samurai who is focusing on forgiving himself, helping others forgive themselves, and removing violence from the list of solutions to contemporary problems.If you've been in combat, it's a must read, if you suffer from PTSD for any other reason, put it on your reading list.

At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey *****Stars
If you are a Vietnam Veteran, know one, live with one, then this book should be read. After signing up for a retreat for Vietnam Veterans with issues of anger and rage and being accepted. I decided to read this book by the Author and Host of the Retreat to get a better feel for what he might be like. I realized I'm not alone in this battle to be happy and at peace.Claude AnShin Thomas is a very wise man/monk. I have had an open dialogue with him and look forward to the upcoming retreat. Buy this book, I don't think you will disappointed.At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace

A flawed butimportant book
It took me two attempts to finish this book and I am glad I did.

The book is somewhat disorganized and muddled. I gave up on it the first time because it was a little too preachy and the initial description of the author's suffering and frequent crying was a little surpising since he just told us Vietnam finally gave his life a purpose.

But then I gave it a second try. After learning later in the book more of his experience in vietnam, I had a better understanding of his pain. I realized what I'd been reading was a vivid account of his post traumatic stress disorder. This book is important and powerful because it shows a way the author found after 20 years of pure misery to alleviate his pain and suffering . Anyone who's troubled or depressed or plain just stressed out can benefit from his messages.

A Compelling Account of Personal Transformation
Claude Thomas' inspiring account of his hellish journey and his eventual path to personal growth is one of the most profound stories I've read. From a life that many would just as soon end, he found a tiny crease of light led him to take all that had transpired in his life and draw upon it as a basis for learning and growth. Truly admirable, with insights and practices well worth emulating.

A peddle in the ocean
I bought 13 copies of this book from Amazon and gave the same gift to everyone this last christmas, and intend to do the same next year and from here on out. They sent me 4 of the 13 as autographed copies which was a nice surprise.

I am going to deliver the last one tonight to a friend who is having a difficult time right now.

This book has brought me a clearer understanding of myself, not by the cleverness of the author but through his simple bare humanity which he shares freely here. Sending this book out into this world can only make it a better place, creating small ripples that could affect and change a great many things over time. ... Read more

Product Description
An important and beautiful book about how we can bring peace and joy into our lives. Reading this rare book on the refinement of meditation practice is meditation itself.

--JOAN HALIFAX, author of The Fruitful Darkness: Reconnecting with the Body of the Earth

Any one of these meditations, if practiced with sincerity and wholeheartedness, can make the richness of the present moment apparent and bring you closer to yourself.

--JON KABAT-ZINN, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

Here the deepest, subtlest teachings of the Dharma are made as immediate as the miracle of our own breathing.

--JOANNA MACY, author of World As Lover, World As Self

Thich Nhat Hanh is a great teacher. More than anyone I know, he has made mindfulness practice accessible to the modern world. His clear, precise exercises really work. I know because I use them. I think Thich Nhat Hanh is a living master.

--NATALIE GOLDBERG, author of Writing Down the Bones

One of the best available introductions to the wisdom and beauty of meditation practice. Written in anecdotal style, this deceptively simple book shows you how to transform the texture of your daily life--whether your're eating a tangerine or doing the dishes.

--NEW AGE JOURNAL ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Guided meditations that last and last.
I bought this book in 1993 and consider it a keeper for life. It has 34 breath-by-breath guided meditations including ones on calming the body, contact with wholesome things, impermanence, accepting parents, anger, death, and the false perception of separateness.

Thich Nhat Hanh offers brief explanations of the importance of each exercise. When I first got it I would take one exercise per day to work with.

It's all quite beautiful. If you are interested in meditation, or want to deepen your practice, seriously consider this book.

guided meditation
Aside from deep meditation, I find myself practicing these meditations whenever I have a few quiet minutes (and even sometimes when I don't). With practice, the key words take root. Thich Nhat Hanh's knowledge and guidance are invaluable.

Excellent but not so much a book as a collection of guided meditations
I just wanted people to know that this is not really a book, like most of Hanh's other books, but rather a collection of guided meditations with some commentary on them.

As such, it is excellent and I highly recommend it. I have read many of Hanh's books and most are excellent, all are worth reading.

My favorite is "Anger", perhaps because I have issues with anger and use Buddhist techniques - meditation, philosophy, loving kindness - to help me control it and - hopefully - eventually put out the fire.

But this book has meditations on about everything, and I like to do 15-40 minutes of regular meditation on the breath (vipissana) and then close with 5-10 minutes of these meditations.

In my opinion, Thay as his students call Thich Nhat Hanh, is a living Buddha or Bodhisatva. He seems to embody what the Buddha taught and yet he is so down to earth he can bring that enlightenment to the common man and woman who know little of Buddhism. His techniques and explanations are so clear and simple, anyone can grasp them, use them, and benefit from them.

Thanks to Thich Nhat Hanh for writing these books!

Personal transformation in a book
This is the gist of the practice.You can sit down and use these guided meditations to get started, or to maintain your practice, or to get centered agian, right now in this moment.Some are steeped in Buddhist terminology and structure, which Thich Nhat Hahn explains.But most are non-dogmatic, easily accessible, and potentially life-changing.I've read much by Thich Nhat Hahn, and all of it seems to-the-point and profoundly wise.But this is the book I go back to again and again.

Breathe.
I have enjoyed Thich Nhat Hanh's other books because (the translation of) his writing makes Buddhist thoughts and practices clear and accessible; not too simplistic and not too academic. The guided meditations in this book are no exception. Ranging from very simple to rather complex, each meditation is written in poem like phrases, or stages, with the key words of each in the border off to the side. I have been memorizing the key words and saying them to myself while I run--it makes me much more aware of myself and my surroundings than listening to earphones and makes me concentrate on my breathing, all of which makes the experience more enjoyable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good book
Sent this to my daughter who is away out of state for college. She liked it.

Fundamental
This book is very important for those who wish to explore the practicals of meditation. This will serve as a good introduction as well as a trustworthy guide throughout one's journey. It is well worth the price and the effort. Practice practice practice!

Simple yet , Profound...Appropriate for the Novice or the Pro!
Whether you've been meditating for a week or 25 years, this book provides profound methods for a progressive meditation practice in a very small package.At just over 100 pages, Breathe, You Are Alive, walks the reader through a sixteen part progression of awareness from the physical plane, through the mental and spiritual planes in a clear and concise manner that is easy to implement. Be warned that enlightenment is not just a hundred page book away, but if you want to make real progress on the path, this book is a good investment.

Lots of great content
The book is very well written.It's clear, structured, and comes with practical examples.

The author recommends using the content in every day life, and guides you to that goal.If practiced, clearly, this book provides a wealth of positive effects.

Calm down
I myself am not really a Buddhist.I do find myself leaning in that direction, more and more, in a lot of ways -- but Buddhist beliefs are not a prerequisite for benefitting from this book.Whether you are a Buddhist or not, there's a lot to be gained from working through the exercises included herein.The value of this book to me, is the way it combines mindfulness with breathing.

Awareness guiding the body to calm, can lead the body to reciprocally calm the mind, in an ongoing cycle.If you wish to make this cycle part of your daily existence, this book can really help.

If you come to value this book, and are looking for similar techniques, ideas, etc., I would like to recommend "The Quiet Mind" by White Eagle, or "The Relaxation Response" by Dr. Herbert Benson. ... Read more

Product Description
Written as a sequel to "Miracle of Mindfulness", this book offers Western readers thoughts on Buddhist teaching. The author draws from Buddhist psychology, epistemology, contemporary physics, and uses many anecdotes to accompany the reader on this journey from mindfulness to insight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

More intellectual than many of his other books - I didn't enjoy it so much.
I was somewhat disappointed in this book, since I was expecting something along the lines of previous little books by this author on mindfulness. This book proved different, though of course the subjects of mindfulness, breathing exercises and so on do come up. I suppose one could say that the topic of this book is the same as that of the others, this book just goes deeper (infinitely deeper).

This book shows a highly intellectual, philosophical side of the author. He teaches us that mind and object are one, that "one is all, all is one". He thus discusses the interdependence of all phenomena, leading us to understand, for instance, that the fate of the underdeveloped countries cannot be separated from that of the wealthy countries. Each war involves all countries.

He refers to the Avatamsaka Sutra, which states that a speck of dust contains in itself infinite space and endless time. Time and space contain each other and are interdependent. This is backed by Einstein's theory of relativity, which he also analyzes.

He discusses form and emptiness and concludes that "reality is beyond these two concepts". He also introduces a concept called "the miraculousness of existence", to be aware that the universe is contained in each thing and could not exist otherwise. We thus cannot say that something exists, or does not exist, thus the term "miraculous existence".

He refers back and forth to various Sutras and modern science, demonstrating that the authors of the Sutras and scientists, such as Oppemheimer and Einstein, are saying the same thing. Thus, Oppenheimer indicated that electrons were beyond the concepts of being and non-being.

The final chapter reverts to the discussion of meditation, mindfulness and happiness, as discoursed upon in his other books, and proved to be more easily comprehensible. Hanh refers to the "Four Immeasurables" . lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and non-attachment. In so far as you are developing these virtues in yourself, you are proceeding in the right direction.

He provides us with a valuable topic of meditation - "If you want peace, peace is with you immediately". He tells us that our strength is in the peace within us. This peace empowers us to go out into the world and do what we want to do to help the downtrodden.

This ia a valuable book, but a bit too intellectully challenging to my taste. Read it if you want to delve deeply into the nature of reality, both intellectually and via meditation.

The Sun My Heart
I had to buy this book for class.All-in-all, the book's not terrible, but it's not something I would have bought simply for fun.

Simply but Profound
Read it 2 or 3 pages at a time.Wisdom and truth delivered with humility and innocence.

Simply Fabulous!
I cannot ever say enough good things about the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and this is no exception. Extraordinary, wonderful, beautiful! One who is looking for the spiritual side of life will never need more than what is found in his writings. What a treasure. It does not matter if you are Buddhist or not, his teachings are applicable to all faiths. Dont hesitate, you won't be disapointed.

Best of the 4 I've read
This is far and away the best of his 4 books I've read (Thundering Silence, Creating True Peace, and Anger).As a student of Dzogchen, I see tons of parallels with the author's Zen approach.Even better, as a scientist, I greatly enjoyed his use of modern scientific views as parallels to Buddhist thought and theory.Of course, both Mindfulness and Insight Meditation are used in virtually all types of Buddhism including Theravada (Southeast Asian or Southern Buddhism) and Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism--a type of Northern or "Mahayana").There are many currently available Tibetan books on these two which have far more details and more pithy descriptions IMHO.Even Dzogchen and Mahamudra books describe them and promote their continued usage.Still, this is a good book with some different information (less duplication than some of TNH's other works).It has quite a good deal of useful information in its few pages.I gave a copy as a gift to a friend.This one is worth the read. ... Read more

Product Description
From one of the most influential Buddhist leaders of ourtime, journal entries from America and Vietnam in the '60s-a portraitof the Zen master as a young man.

Best known for his Buddhistteachings, Thich Nhat Hanh has lived in exile from his native Vietnamsince 1966. These remarkable early journals reveal not only anexquisite portrait of the Zen master as a young man, but the emergenceof a great poet and literary voice of Vietnam. From his years as astudent and teaching assistant at Princeton and Columbia, to hisefforts to negotiate peace and a better life for the Vietnamese,Fragrant Palm Leaves offers an elegant and profound glimpseinto the heart and mind of one of the world's most beloved spiritualteachers.

This edition includes a new introduction

"Oneof the sweetest and most personally revealing of Thich Nhat Hanh'sbooks, it shows the planting of his seeds of remarkable wisdom."-JackKornfield, author of A Path withHeart

"Enlightening."-Maxine Hong Kingston

"One ofthe greatest teachers of our time....In Fragrant Palm Leaves,the venerable poet emerges poignantly, disclosing the essence ofenlightenment, and also life itself."-Robert Thurman, author ofInner Revolution

"Informative andinspiring."-Publishers Weekly Amazon.com Review
To many of his readers, Thich Nhat Hanh is a great inspiration, a model of both spiritual maturity and social responsibility. But his personal life has been a closed book--until now. Fragrant Palm Leaves is the first publication of Thich Nhat Hanh's journals, in this case, those centering around the most decisive period in his life. A young monk in a Zen Buddhist lineage, Nhat Hanh had aspirations of developing a Buddhism that was meaningful in the lives of everyday Vietnamese. The chaos of the Vietnam War ironically offered him the chance to move beyond the strictures of the conservative Buddhist establishment and initiate experimental villages as well as a university, but the same war also forced him from his homeland. In entries written in both Vietnam and America, we see an already seasoned Nhat Hanh thinking through the politics of his tradition, his close friendships and alliances, the future of Buddhism, and the way to bring peace to a war-ravaged time. We also witness his glimmerings of enlightenment and are treated to lyrical passages on the interbeing of all things. Fragrant Palm Leaves is a rare glimpse at a great human being in the making. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Surprisingly Upbeat
No matter what the author experiences, he remains hopeful, active and surprisingly positive about each situation and person he encounters.Even in his early years, he was a leader heading in the right direction - quite an example for us mere mortals.

Thich as a young Monk
Very interesting to read Thich Nhat Hanh's writings while studying in the US in the 1960'....you can see the seeds of wisdom, compassion and devotion to peace.
A great read for anyone interested in his early works.

Perhaps His Most Profound Book
It would be easy to assume that Fragrant Palm Leaves is what it says it is---Thich Nhat Hanh's journal between the years 1962-1966.A period chronicling the time he spent at Columbia University, and, in Vietnam where the reality of an escalating war was taking place.However,this book is so much more.If you are someone familar with Nhat Hanh's writings,you will recognize here the essence of his teachings on mindfullness as well as appreciating the beauty and wonder in what seems to be in everything that most people take for granted.Great and insightful writing for sure.
But,there are two things that make this book really special.First, is the bluntness with which Nhat Hanh writes regarding the nature of certain people and governments in general.It's a candor not seen in his later writings, which to me,seem a little too much like self-help Buddhism for the masses.Don't get me wrong,these recent publications are still great but pale in comparison to what's in Fragrant Palm Leaves.The second, is his writing on what him and his associates did on a grass roots level to improve the lives of people and villagers in Vietnam during the war years.Courage,resourcefulness,dedication,love,ingenuity and a persistence in the face of what would seem to most to be impossible odds is the lesson readers will gain from this book.Yes,we can as individuals make a change.
Ever read a book and think as you are reading it,I've got to get this book into the hands of as many of my friends as I can? This is that book.

In a time of hatred and war, a stark reminder of another way
Reading Thich Nhat Hanh's 'Essential Writings' is like having Michael Jordan teach you how to play basketball. The focus is not on the dazzling tricks. It's about the fundamentals. And they are few --- compassion, mindfulness, tolerance, breathing.

Hearing Thich Nhat Hanh lecture is to experience holiness on a very high order. We once drove hours to hear him talk about death. You would expect him to focus on theology. But what I took away was completely practical: Hold the dying person's feet, as he/she may not feel connected to the earth.

But it is when he is most personal that Thich Nhat Hanh is at his best. And 1962 to 1966 were key years for him. With some other "committed" Buddhist monks, he had tried to broker peace in his native Vietnam. No one --- not even the Buddhist hierarchy --- wanted any. In 1966, he was exiled. (He didn't return to Vietnam for 40 years.)

'Fragrant Palm Leaves' begins in a cabin in the New Jersey woods. It's 1962. Thich Nhat Hanh is 36. American troops have not yet been dispatched to Vietnam, but there has already been death aplenty. Thich Nhat Hanh, sick of heart, has come to teach and study at Columbia University.

The journals begin with scenes of a peace that Thich Nhat Hanh can find anywhere, even in this unfamiliar country: "Some mornings I stay in the woods all day, strolling leisurely beneath the trees and lying down on the carpet of soft moss, my arms folded, my eyes looking up to the sky. In those moments, I'm a different person; it would probably be accurate to say that I am 'my true' self." He is childlike: "Today I went with two eight-year-old boys to pick some [berries], and we stuffed our mouths until they turned blue!"

Surrounded by nature, he can't help recalling Phuong Boi, the monastery he and some friends built in Vietnam. In 1957, its 60 acres cost $140. "Here, for the first time," he recalls, "we were sheltered from the harshness of worldly affairs." On full moon nights, in deep silence, he watches, in awe, as the moon and forest merge. By day, he works the land, meditates and prays. Walking can't express his joy at being here --- so he runs.

You may feel a great peace as you read his account of daily life at the monastery. At the same time, you'll feel a deep dread --- you know this peace can't last. And, soon enough, the arrests begin: "You could be accused of being a Viet Cong by anyone who opposed you."

For Thich Nhat Hanh, the war is both external and internal. "Finding truth is not the same as finding happiness," he cautions. "You aspire to see the truth, but once you have seen it, you cannot avoid suffering." And does he ever suffer! "I feel the unbearable pain of a woman who is about to give birth to a child she already knows will be sentenced to death." But he always finds a balance. Suffering is a wonder. It helps us learn "how to ride the waves of impermanence, smiling as one who knows he has never been born and will never die."

In 1964, he returns to Vietnam, and the ideas he explored in America are put to the test. He's ten miles from Saigon now; he can hear gunfire. Phuong Boi has been abandoned. And the United States is pushing an unworkable strategy: "How can you win a war with bullets when you do not even know where the front line is?"

Now it is 1965. The house at Phuong Boi "is a pile of ashes where wild mushrooms grow." And yet, for Thich Nhat Hanh, the house still exists --- it was a place of love, and love endures. Indeed, if he too is burned to ashes, "those ashes will be love and will nestle in the heart of the earth to nourish the flowers."

His conclusion couldn't be more gorgeous: "We will return to the circle of life as flowers, grasses, birds or clouds to bring people the message of eternal love. Like the village children who, even in this time of war, sing: 'We will love others forever and ever, hand holding hand. We love others forever.'"

What a thing to learn from war! And he learned it the hard way: "not from intellectual investigation but from my actual experience of suffering." To have compassion for those who have made you suffer --- I have such trouble with that. And yet, as Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, there is no other answer.

From the New Jersey woods to Vietnam, and then beyond --- in just 212 pages, Thich Nhat Hanh takes you very far. Like all the way to peace.

An unexpected delight
An extraordinary journal - after reading several of Thich Nhat Hanh's key works, I think this may be the best introduction to his ideas.

In FRAGRANT PALM LEAVES, we have writing and ideas expressed with great clarity, and a calm thoughtfulness that contrasts with the turbulence of the era in which they were first written:during these years, Thich Nhat Hanh was moving between New York and New Jersey and the beloved Vietnam he would soon be permanently kicked out of.Through it all, there is a great sense of purpose, and a deep and sophisticated joy in life, but not an ounce of bitterness.

There's a lesson in this - whatever one seeks in Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, you'll find it here, though not perhaps in the expected way - there are few if any 'teachings' here, but instead slice-of-life examples of a mindful life in the face of tremendous adversities.

An unexpected delight.

-David Alston ... Read more

Product Description
8 Volumes. ... Read more

Product Description

Having lived in the West during more than thirty years, exiled from his native Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh has become known as a healer of the heart, looking for our cultural wounds and trying to find a way to repair them. Going Home deals with the wound he sees most often, our alienation from our own spiritual traditions.

This audiobook continues the dialogue with Christianity that began in Living Buddha, Living Christ. In that audiobook, the door was opened to the idea that Buddha and Jesus speak to each other. In Going Home, they sit down and talk about each other's prayers and rituals. They ask how they can help renew each other's traditions. They look at the convergence of concepts such as mindfulness practice and resurrection. They see where the Buddhist understanding of the nature of reality and the concept of God come together. Their conversation shows the deep connection between Jesus and Buddha. It shows the brotherhood they share. And most important, it shows a way to return to our spirituality as our only true home.Amazon.com Review
Did you know that Jesus meditated? In Living Buddha, LivingChrist, Thich Nhat Hanh delivered a powerhouse bestsellerabout the affinities of Buddhist and Christian ideals. In GoingHome, he focuses on fundamental concepts that still drive a wedgebetween the two religions--such as rebirth vs. eternal life, Godvs. nirvana, and so on. After praising the differences betweenChristianity and Buddhism, Nhat Hanh proceeds to dissolve them invirtuosic style. Not only did Jesus meditate, he says, but God isequivalent to nirvana. This effort to free us from limiting conceptsis Nhat Hanh's way of paving a road back to Christianity forChristians who have been attracted to Buddhism but alienated fromtheir original faith. In effect, Nhat Hanh is dressing up Christianityin the garb of philosophical Buddhism, which isn't too far off fromwhat certain progressive Christian thinkers have themselves done indifferent terms. Mindfulness engenders concentration, concentrationleads to understanding, understanding strengthens faith, and faithprovides the energy to practice mindfulness. More conventionalChristians may balk at this blending of traditions, but for many lostsouls, it will be a beacon back to a warm hearth. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Great commentary on both Buddhism and Christianity
too touchy-feely for me, and he gets a little repetitious with what I think can be interpreted as an over-emphasis on mindfulness at the apparent expense of the other seven parts of the eightfold path. Also, I'm not particularly interested in Christianity.

That said, this is a great book! By focusing on similarities and relationships between the dharma and Christian practice, to which most westerners will relate, he makes Buddhist concepts like emptiness much more "graspable" to the western mind.I imagine there are Christians who will object to some of his interpretations of Christian doctrine, but overall, it's a good study.

I facilitate a Buddhist meditation practice group in Florida, and know there are many Christians who are interested in Buddhism, meditation, etc., but don't want to give up their Christian beliefs. This book provides a good framework for integrating the two practices. I highly recommend it, and also the companion work, "Living Buddha, Living Christ."

Reviewing: GOING HOME- Jesus and Buddha as Brothers
I bought this book for my mother because she did not have the respect I think everyone should have for all major religions. She blindly believed that all other religions are wrong. Well after giving her this book for christmas she has read just a couple dozen pages into the book, and she seems to be much more tolerant of spiritualistic religions. So I am very happy with my purchase, and I hope she enjoys it further.

A must read for the Christian interested in Buddhsim
Another great one from TNH.Everything he writes is beautiful.He makes Buddhism relatable to a Christian audience.This was one of the early books I read when I began my study of Buddhism which has ultimately deepened my understanding of Christianity in a way that I find much more amenable to the modern age of science and reason.Read in conjunction with Living Buddha, Living Christ.

Re-membering to be
I'm a member of a buddhist church and at the same time, a follower of Jesus Christ.Thich Nhat Hanh lays out prose which is accessible to my understanding and I find that he writes clearly and simply.He seems to use the Catholic Church as the spokesmodel for most Christian thought, but given that the Roman Catholic Church has the largest congregation, this can be understood.His description of true faith as something analogous to true love is a universal truth that any human being can contemplate.I recommend this book for self-proclaimed Christians who fear a Buddha awakening or for buddhists who are unfamiliar with Jesus Christ.

Going Home - Excellent Book Regarding Buddhism and Christianity
This is an exceptionally well written text regarding the relationship between Buddhism and Christianity by Thich Nhat Hahn. This book is truly stimulating to the mind. It relaxes the soul and sends a feeling of tranquility and mindfulness. Reading this book, will give a person an understanding of the practices and principles of the relationship regarding Buddhism and Christianity.

Reading and understanding this book should bring a smile to the face of the reader. It is comprehensive, educational, and the words flow quite well. This is not a difficult book to read and understand.The text is easy to follow. It was not written as rocket science. The theme throughout the book is clear, and the teachings of Buddhism easily understood.

The book touches on understanding, mindfulness in meditation and all things, the birth of love, cultivating our home, finding refuge,seeking the body of truth, Jesus and Buddha as brothers, and many other informative and enlightening subjects.

Anyone seeking an understanding of Buddhism should read this enlightening book.The book is practical, straightforward and does not hide the truth. It gives an excellent understanding of "The Four Noble Truths," and the teaching relates to one's life on the path to enlightenment.

The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn, who is the founder of Plum Village in France, has dedicated his life to Buddhism.He has written over one hundred books on a variety of subjects, and has founded many instructions of higher learning.

One must read this book with an open mind of learning and must be ready to acquire the knowledge being presented or sought. Hahn touches on a variety of positive thoughts and principles one should find wholesome and progressive for enlightenment. This is truly an interesting book to read and to learn from. It is truly a beacon on the path to enlightenment.

"Epulaeryu Master."

Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the co-author of two poetry books, A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul, and Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the World Haiku Association; Milwaukee Area Technical College, Phoenix Magazine; and Taj Mahal Review. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas, USA, and is an adjunct faculty at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He has completed over twenty years of service with the U.S. Army.

[...]


... Read more

Product Description
Since its publication in 1987, Being Peace has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. We learn to transform the very situations that pressure and antagonize us into opportunities for practicing mindfulness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

The Essence of Peace
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk from Vietnam who now resides in France. His message of non-violence has deeper meaning because of his background in a war ridden country. He shares stories and encourages compassionate communications that end up making the reader feel that he can be a part of his peaceful movement.

Gudjon Bergmann, author of Living in the Spirit of Yoga (2010) and The Seven Human Needs (2006)

A new beginning
These basic practices can change your life if you are serious about being happy and knowing the truth. This is not some entreaty to believe in anything or join a religion, it simply asks you to look at what is happening and suggests ways to do it.
It is a practical way to learn about yourself and others; how to love and live in peace and happiness while being the strongest person you could ever imagine.
I keep buying this book as I keep giving or loaning it out to friends.

A disappointed admirer
Firstly, I am an admirer of Thich Nhat Hanh his The Miracle of Mindfulness particularly.I found this work long on words and short on teachings.Master Hanh has much to offer the world and I would suggest his other writings, perhaps beginning with The Miracle of Mindfulness or Anger. His call for peacemakers in this book is no less urgent than it was nearly a quarter century ago when he wrote. Being peace is his achievement.

A great read from a great teacher
Being peace is to align with the unconditioned awareness that is mindfulness, and there is no greater teacher on the subject. I also recommend 'The Path of Mindfulness Meditation', available through Amazon.

Being Peace

Ghandi once said - you must become what you want the world to be.This is another great book by Thich Nhat Hahn. ... Read more