Born in 1926, Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk and peace activist. He has had a remarkable life, and I would encourage anyone to read about his journey. Dr. Martin Luther King even nominated Thich for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize and had the following to say of him:
I do not personally know of anyone more worthy of [this prize] than this gentle monk from Vietnam. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity” – Martin Luther King.
I first came across Thich Nhat Hanh in 2005, when I picked up a book written by him. Since that time, I have read many of his books. They are always enlightening, and I adore his commonsense approach to all things.
The following are my reviews of Thich Nhat Hanh books that I have read and recommend:
Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices
This was the first book I ever read by Thich Nhat Hanh. I have three copies of it in different formats. It is a collection of all his mindfulness practices that he developed over the years. You may catch a glimpse of some of his methods in my mindfulness challenges because I’ve read this book so many times. He discusses how being mindful in our daily lives can make us happy. I encourage anyone interested in learning about meditation and mindfulness to read this book.
Every storm has to pass, there is no storm that will stay there forever” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Living Buddha, Living Christ
This book merges Christianity and Buddhism or “the two flowers of the world,” as Thich describes. It is about the legacy of two spiritual leaders, Jesus, and the Buddha. This book was very personal to me. I am around Christians who have no understanding of Buddhism but speak against it. They say things that are not true in hopes to scare me into believing only their way. That is what I love about this book; it is a unity of religions. This book reaffirmed to me to use my common sense to choose what is best for me and not to let the unawareness of others influence me.
Until there is peace among religions, there can be no peace in the world” – Hans Kung
Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
This quick read is a reminder of mindfulness and how you can use the simplest things in everyday life to bring you back to being mindful. The very first chapter reminds us that we have twenty-four hours every day and how grateful we should be of that. I loved driving meditation, as well. It’s a tremendous little joy of a book.
We cause our unhappiness by needless suffering. This book teaches us to notice what causes us to suffer. It shows us that some of our sufferings are transmitted to us through our ancestors and how we must be responsible for ending it. We are the only ones capable of healing ourselves, and these practices will show us how to do that. It includes an entire chapter focusing on practicing happiness.
Fear, Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm
When we live in fear of what is to come, we forget to be happy in the present moment. When my children were little and would suffer, I would always tell them that no storm stays forever. That same wisdom applies in this book and teaches us how to embrace those fears instead of suffering from them.
Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh
Whenever I need a quick dose of Thich to set my mind straight, I only need to pick up this book. Each page is a dedication to his wisdom. Short paragraphs that are easy to read but will put your mind at rest.
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment
Have you ever known someone who lives as though they are already dead? Many people don’t live in this short life they are given. You will hear them say there are things they want to do before they die, but you never see them do it. This book teaches us that the only moment we have is now. Tomorrow is not promised; we must live today.
The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
This book will convey to you the core values of the Buddha’s teachings. It covers the Noble Eightfold Patch, The Doors of Liberation, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and the Three Dharma Seals. As with all Thich’s book, it is beautifully written with a commonsense approach. If you are interested in learning about Buddhism, this is a great book to read.
The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
I lost my father unexpectedly, and it was a loss that has devastated me. This book helped me understand and to know that he is still here with me every day. Our parents live inside us because without them, there would be no us. If you’ve ever lost a loved one, this book will help you look at your loss from an entirely different perspective. Thich reveals his seven transformative meditations that will help you see everything in your life from the viewpoint of love and understanding. Continually directing us to live more mindfully.
Thich has 92 lovely years of wisdom to share and has written over fifty books. It doesn’t matter which book you choose first to start reading. Once you pick up a book by Thich Nhat Hahn, you will be drawn in and want to learn more. I will continue adding reviews to them as I complete each one, so check back often.
If you are interested in reading any of the above books, please do me a favor a click on the book title. It will direct to Amazon for your purchase, which helps me pay for my blog. I thank you in advance, and I wish you much happiness.
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