contents

PleaseCallMebyMyTrueNames

ThePracticeofMindfulness

IdeasforMeditationPractice

52MindfulMeditations

ThichNhatHanh:Monk,ZenMaster,Poet,andPeaceActivist

PleaseCallMebyMyTrueNames

Don’tsaythatIwilldeparttomorrow—eventodayIamstillarriving.

Lookdeeply:everysecondIamarrivingtobeabudonaspringbranch,tobeatinybird,withstill-fragilewings,learningtosinginmynewnest,tobeacaterpillarintheheartofaflower,tobeajewelhidingitselfinastone.

Istillarrive,inordertolaughandtocry,tofearandtohope.Therhythmofmyheartisthebirthanddeathofallthatisalive.

Iamamayflymetamorphosingonthesurfaceoftheriver.

AndIamthebirdthatswoopsdowntoswallowthemayfly.

Iamafrogswimminghappilyintheclearwaterofapond.AndIamthegrass-snakethatsilentlyfeedsitselfonthefrog.

IamthechildinUganda,allskinandbones,mylegsasthinasbamboosticks.AndIamthearmsmerchant,sellingdeadlyweaponstoUganda.

Iamthetwelve-year-oldgirl,refugeeonasmallboat,whothrowsherselfintotheoceanafterbeingrapedbyaseapirate.AndIamthepirate,

myheartnotyetcapableofseeingandloving.

Iamamemberofthepolitburo,withplentyofpowerinmyhands.AndIamthemanwhohastopayhis“debtofblood”tomypeopledyingslowlyinaforced-laborcamp.

Myjoyislikespring,sowarmitmakesflowersbloomallovertheEarth.Mypainislikeariveroftears,sovastitfillsthefouroceans.

Pleasecallmebymytruenames,soIcanhearallmycriesandlaughteratonce,soIcanseethatmyjoyandpainareone.

Pleasecallmebymytruenames,soIcanwakeupandthedoorofmyheartcouldbeleftopen,thedoorofcompassion.

THICHNHATHANH,1978

ThePracticeofMindfulness

“Mindfulnessshowsuswhatishappeninginourbodies,ouremotions,ourminds,andintheworld.Throughmindfulness,weavoidharmingourselvesandothers.”—ThichNhatHanh

TheemphasisinThichNhatHanh’steachingsisonthepracticeofmindfulness.To practicemindfulness is to be conscious in eachmoment of our lives. Theopposite of mindfulness is forgetfulness and Nhat Hanh emphasizes bringingmindfulnesstowhatwetendtoconsider“automatic”activities,suchaswalkingand breathing. Right Mindfulness is the continuous awareness of our bodies,emotions,andthoughts.

In theSutraon theFourEstablishmentsofMindfulness, theBuddhaoffersfourlayersofmindfulnesspractice:mindfulnessofthebody,oftheemotions,ofthemind,andoftheobjectsofmind.Practicingmindfulnessateachlayercanbethe foundation of well-being and happiness. When we don’t practicemindfulness, we suffer in our bodies, our minds, and in our relationships.Practicingmindfulness,webecomeapeaceful refuge forourselvesandothers.Clarityflowsfrommindfulness.Withtheenergyofmindfulness,wecanalwaysreturntoourtruehome,thepresentmoment.

TheChinesecharacterformindfulnessrevealsitsmeaning.Theupperpartofthe character means now, and the lower part stands for mind or heart. TheVietnamesewordformindfulness,channiem,means tobe truly in thepresentmoment.Mindfulnesshelpsustocomebacktothehereandnow,tobeawareofwhatisgoingoninthepresentmoment,andtobeintouchwiththewondersoflife.

TheSevenMiraclesofMindfulnessThich Nhat Hanh describes seven “miracles” of mindfulness that we canexperienceeverysingleday.

The First Miracle is to be present and to touch deeply our surroundings,includingthebluesky,abladeofgrass,oralovedone’ssmile.

TheSecondMiracleistobeabletobeawareofoursurroundings,sowecanseethesky,thegrass,andourlovedonesmoredeeply.

TheThirdMiracle is tonourish theobject of your attentionwithyour fullawareness.

TheFourthMiracleistorelieveothers’suffering.TheFifthMiracleislookingdeeplyintothetruenatureofselfandothers.TheSixthMiracleisunderstanding.Ifwe’remindfulofthepresentmoment,

we can see deeply and things become clear.With understanding, the desire torelievesufferingandgivelovewillawakenwithinus.

The Seventh Miracle is transformation. With mindfulness, we touch thehealingandrefreshingaspectsoflifeinusandaroundusandbegintotransformthesufferinginourselvesandintheworld.

MindfulnessasEnergyThich Nhat Hanh writes: “We have the ability to work wonders. If we livemindfullyineverydaylife,walkmindfully,andarefullofloveandcaring,thenwe create a miracle and transform the world into a wonderful place.” Hecompares mindfulness to a seed, which, when watered, grows intoenlightenment, understanding, compassion, and transformation. The more wepracticemindfulness,thestrongerthisseedwillgrow.

LivinginthePresentMomentThichNhatHanhwrites:“Ourtruehomeisthepresentmoment.Ifwereallylivein themoment,ourworries andhardshipswilldisappear andwewill discoverlifewithallitsmiracles.”

Reallifecanonlybefoundandtouchedinthehereandnow.Thisisbecausethepresentmomentis theonlymomentwecanactuallylive, theonlymomentwecan actually influence.Thepast is over and the futurehasnotyet arrived.Sincethepresentmomentistheonlyrealmomentforus,wecanalwaysreturnheretogetintouchwiththewondersoflife.

Living in themoment is thekey requirement forone’sown freedom.NhatHanhsays,“Aslongasweareconsumedwithoureverydayproblems—distress,regrets about thepastor constantworries about the future—wecannotbe freepeople;wearenotabletoliveinthehereandnow.”

EatingandDrinkingMindfullyThich Nhat Hanh writes: “A very important exercise is to eat in silence andcalmness,evenifonlyforafewminutes.Itkeepsusawayfromdistractionsthatgetinthewayofhavingrealcontactwithourfood.”

Thepracticeofmindfulnessencompassesallspheresandactivities,includingordinaryactions.Wecanbeawarethatwearedrinkingaglassofwater,withoutthinkingofanythingelse.Inthisway,wearedrinkingwithbodyandmind.

Thesameapplies toeating.Whileeating,wecanbeawareofhowwefeeland of how we consume. Eating is a deeply spiritual exercise. Nhat Hanhsuggestsgivingamealourfullattention,andbeingappreciativeofallthatgoesintoitscreation.

ThichNhatHanhwrites:“Wesee themealas the representativeofheavenandEarth.WhenIlookatabean,Iseeacloudfloatinginit.IcanseerainandsunshineandIrecognizethatthisbeanisapartofheavenandEarth.WhenIbiteintothebean,Iamawarethatthisisabean,whichIhavejustputinmymouth.Thereisnothingelseinmymouth,noworriesoranxiety.WhenIchewthebean,I justchew thebean,notmyfutureplansormyanger. Ichewwithawarenessandconcentration.WhileIinvolvemyselfinthisprocessonehundredpercent,IfeelaconnectionwithheavenandEarth,withthefarmerwhogrewthesebeans,aswellaswiththepeoplewhocookedthem.Eatingthisway,Ifeelthatstrength,freedom,andpleasureareattainable.Thismealdoesnotonlynourishmybodybutalsomysoul,myconsciousness,andmymind.”

Eatingmindfully,we have the opportunity to sit with peoplewe love andenjoypreciousfood,somethingthatisoftenscarceformanypeopleintheworld.Eating mindfully, we don’t have to go to a temple or a church to practicecompassionandawareness.Wecanpracticerightatthedinnertable.

BreathingMindfullyThich Nhat Hanh writes: “No one can be successful in the art of meditationwithouthavingpassedthegateofbreathing.”

We often assume breathing is just a natural skill; everyone knows how toinhaleandexhale.Butbreathingisamiracle.IntheSutraontheFullAwarenessofBreathing,theBuddhataughthisfollowerssixteenexercisesformindfulnessofbreathing.Beingawareofourbreathnotonlyhelpsusmanagethedifficultiesineverydaylife,italsohelpsdevelopourwisdomandcompassion.Basedonthesixteen exercises, Thich Nhat Hanh made the following short phrases, calledgathas,whichhesuggestsweuseinourpracticeofmindfulbreathing.

Breathingin,IknowI’mbreathingin.Breathingout,IknowI’mbreathingout.

Breathingin,mybreathgrowsdeep.Breathingout,mybreathgoesslowly.

Breathingin,Ifeelcalm.Breathingout,Ifeelease.

Breathingin,Ismile.Breathingout,Irelease.

Breathingin,Idwellinthepresentmoment.Breathingout,Iknowitisawonderfulmoment.

Torememberthisbreathingexercisemoreeasily,thegathascanbeshortenedtojustthekeywords:

“In,out;deep,slow;calm,ease;smile,release;presentmoment,wonderfulmoment.”

The reasonweuse gathas is that they’re a simple poetic tool to help us to beaware of and enjoy our breathing. Above all, mindful breathing should bepleasurable!

WalkingMindfullyThichNhatHanhwrites:“Life isnotaboutgetting toacertainplace.Life isapath. Walking meditation is a way to practice walking without a goal orintention.”

Mindfulwalkingsimplymeanswalkingwhilebeingawareofeachstepandof our breath. As with mindful breathing, mindful walking is a form ofmeditation, which brings us happiness right away. Since no preparation isnecessary,itcanbepracticedanywhere,whetheryouarealoneinnatureorwithothersinacrowdedcity.Youcanevenpracticemindfulbreathingandwalkingmeditationinbetweenbusinessappointmentsor in theparkinglotasyouwalkfromyourcartothegrocerystore.

Walkingonourplanetisajoy.Mindfulwalkingallowsustobeawareofthepleasureofwalking.Wecankeepourstepsslow,relaxed,andcalm.There’snorush,noplacetogetto,nohurry.Mindfulwalkingcanreleaseoursorrowsandourworriesandhelpbringpeaceintoourbodiesandminds.

We can practicewalkingmeditation alone, with another person, or with agroup.Placingour footstepsoneafter theother,slowly,and insilence,wecancreatejoywitheachstep.

ThichNhatHanhwrites:“Ifwetakestepswithoutanxiety,inpeaceandjoy,thenwewillcauseaflowertobloomontheEarthwitheverystep.”

HowtoSmileatYourselfThichNhatHanhwrites:“Whenwepracticesmilingpeacefullyandcalmly,ourpeace can permeate the entire universe. The source of a true smile is anawakenedmind.”

Aswithmindfulwalking, smiling can be a conscious practice.NhatHanhcallsthisexercise“MouthYoga.”Justasaspontaneoussmilegoesalongwithafeeling of happiness, there are times when a conscious smile can createrelaxationandpleasure.

The human face containsmore than 300muscles,which tense as soonwefeelangerorfear.Ifwelinkmindfulbreathingwithaconscioussmile,wecanreleasemuch of this tension immediately. Instead ofwaiting for amoment ofpleasuretocauseasmile,wecanletthesmilecomefirsttocreatethispositivefeeling.

DevelopingUnderstandingandCompassionThichNhatHanhwrites:“Lookat flowers,butterflies, trees,andchildrenwiththe eyes of compassion. Compassion will change your life and make itwonderful.”

Compassion requires understanding.When we are able to understand thatsomeoneelseisalsosuffering,thatthispersonhastroubles,fears,andworries,thenwewanttorelievehersuffering.Whenwearemindfulaswegoaboutourdaily activities and in our interactions with others, we develop the space andawarenesstonourishcompassionandunderstanding.

Compassionistheheartofourpractice.It isonlywithcompassionthatwecan embrace and transform violence. Only when we treat ourselves withcompassion, can we begin to be free in the present moment. This is true inrelationshipsbetweenindividualsaswellasbetweennations.

ThichNhatHanh’steachingsaresimple,buttheycancreatesomuchjoyinour lives.By livingmindfully,we’re filledwith compassion for ourselves andthosearoundus,andwecanbegintobethepeacewewanttoseeintheworld.

IdeasforMeditationPractice

Eachof the fifty-twomeditations on the followingpages carries a unique andbeautiful message of mindfulness. These meditations can provide valuableinspirationforanydayoranysituation.

Youcankeepthisbookinyourbagorbackpocketandturntoanypage,anytime.Themeditationsarethereforyou.

AYearofMindfulnessThebookisdesignedsoyoucanfocusononemeditationasyourpracticefortheweek.Youcancarrythismeditationwithyouthroughoutthewholeweek.Youcaneithermemorizethemeditation,carrythebook,orwritethemeditationonascrapofpaperandkeepitwithyou.Thesayingcanhelpyoutoremainmoremindful,aware,andhappyevenunderdifficultcircumstances.Youcanreadthismeditationeachmorningrightafterwakingupandagainbeforeyougotosleep.Therearefifty-twomeditations,soyoucanbeginatanypointintheyearandcontinuewithadifferentmeditationeachweekforafullyear.

ProblemSolvingYoucanalsousethemeditationsforproblemsolving.Whenyouaretroubledorfeelingaparticularlystrongemotion,youcanposeaquestiontoyourself,eithersilentlyoroutloud,andthenopenthebooktoameditationandusethatwisdomtogainunderstandingofyourparticularquestion.

Someexamplesofquestionsyoumightaskinclude:• Whatistherootcauseofmyproblem?WhatcanIdotosolveit?

• InwhichaspectofmylifeshouldIpaymoreattention?• WhichcharacteristicsshouldIdevelopmoreinordertobecomemoremindful,relaxed,andsatisfied?

• HowcanImakemyworkorhomelifemoresatisfying?

PersonalMeditationPracticeThesemeditationscanalsobeafocusand

inspirationforyourownsittingorwalkingmeditation.Readthemeditationyouhavechosen.Youmaywanttoreaditmorethanonce.Closeyoureyesandfollowyourbreathing.Noticetheemotions,pictures,andthoughtsarisinginyourconsciousnesswithoutevaluatingorclassifyingthem.Letyourthoughtsandattachmentsrollpastyou,liketwigsinariver.Letyourselfmeditateforatleastfiveminutes.Ifyouhavemoretime,pickanamountoftimeinadvanceandcommittobeingtherewithyourselfforthattime.Whenyouopenyoureyes,lookaroundyou.Youmaywanttoreadthemeditationagain.Afteryourownquietcontemplation,itsinsightmightbeavailabletoyouinanewway.

GroupInspirationsThesemeditationsmayalsobeusedinagroupsetting.Peoplecansitquietlytogetherandtaketurnsreadingameditationaloud,onepersonatatime.Aftereachmeditationisread,thegroupcansitquietlyforaminuteormoreandthen,iftheydesire,goaroundinacircle,eachpersontakingaminuteorsotosaywhatinsight,questions,orthoughtsthemeditationinspired.

These are just four suggestions. These meditations are here for you tointegrateintoyourownlifeinthewaythatworksbestforyou.

52MindfulMeditations

ONE

Themindcangoinathousanddirections,butonthisbeautifulpath,Iwalkinpeace.Witheachstep,agentlewindblows.Witheachstep,aflowerblooms.

TWO

Learntheartofmakingonepersonhappy,andyou’lllearntoexpressyourloveforthewholeofhumanityandallbeings.

THREE

Thereisnodistinctionbetweentheonewhogives,theonewhoreceives,andthegiftitself.

FOUR

Therearethousandsofchannelsinourconsciousness;it’suptoustochoosethechannel.

FIVE

Ifyouareapoet,youwillseeclearlythatthereisacloudfloatinginthissheetofpaper.

SIX

Ifwearepeaceful,ifwearehappy,wecansmileandblossomlikeaflower,andeveryoneinourfamily,ourentiresociety,willbenefitfromourpeace.

SEVEN

Ifwealignourselveswithonesideortheother,wewillloseourchancetoworkforpeace.Reconciliationrequiresunderstandingbothsidesinordertobringaboutpeace.

EIGHT

Everythingwearelookingforisrighthereinthepresentmoment.

NINE

Wedon’thavetogoanywheretoobtainthetruth.Weonlyneedtobestillandthingswillrevealthemselvesintheclearwaterofourheart.

TEN

Everydayweareengagedinamiraclewedon’tevenrecognize.

ELEVEN

Enlightenmentisnotseparatefromwashingthedishesorgrowinglettuce.

TWELVE

EachbiteoffoodcontainsthelifeoftheSunandtheEarth.Thewholeuniverseisinapieceofbread.

THIRTEEN

Don’tchaseafteryourthoughtsasashadowfollowsitsobject.Findjoyandpeaceinthisverymoment.

FOURTEEN

Compassionisabeautifulflowerbornofunderstanding.

FIFTEEN

Allthewonderfulthingsthatyouarelookingfor—happiness,peace,andjoy—canbefoundinsideofyou.Youdonotneedtolookanywhereelse.

SIXTEEN

Atinybudofasmileonyourlipsnourishesawarenessandcalmsyou.Itreturnsyoutothepeaceyouhadlost.Asmileisthemostbasickindofpeacework.

SEVENTEEN

Aflowerdoesnothavetodoanythingtobeofservice,itonlyhastobeaflower.Thatisenough.Ahumanbeing,atruehumanbeing,isenoughtomakethewholeworldrejoice.

EIGHTEEN

Itisnotnecessarytothrowawayyourtraditionoryourfamily.Keepeverythingandintroducemindfulness,peace,andjoyintoit.Yourfriendswillseethevalueofmindfulnessthroughyou—notthroughwhatyousay,butthroughyourbeing.

NINETEEN

TheEarthwillbesafewhenwefeelsafeinourselves.

TWENTY

Patienceisthemarkoftruelove.Ifyoutrulylovesomeone,youwillbemorepatientwiththatperson.

TWENTY-ONE

Ourbreathisthebridgethatunitesbodyandmind.

TWENTY-TWO

Lifeisfilledwithsuffering,butitisalsofilledwithmanywonders,likethebluesky,thesunshine,andtheeyesofababy.Tosufferisnotenough.Wemustalsobeintouchwiththewondersoflife.

Theyarewithinusandallaroundus,everywhere,anytime.

TWENTY-THREE

Youalreadyarewhatyouwanttobecome.

TWENTY-FOUR

Yesterdayisalreadygone.Tomorrowisnotyethere.Todayistheonlydayavailabletous;itisthemostimportantdayofourlives.

TWENTY-FIVE

Whileyouarewalking,smileandbeinthehereandnow,andyouwilltransformthatplaceintoparadise.

TWENTY-SIX

Wehaveinheritedgreatwealth,butwebehaveasifwearepoor.Wehaveatreasureofenlightenment,ofunderstanding,oflove,andofjoyinsideus.Itistimetogobacktoreceiveourinheritance.Beingmindfulwillhelpusclaimit.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Wecanliveourdailylivesinsuchawaythateveryactbecomesanactoflove.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Wearerelatedtoeachother.Bytakingcareofyou,Itakecareofmyself.Bytakingcareofmyself,Itakecareofyou.Happinessandsafetyarenotindividualmatters.

TWENTY-NINE

Walkingmeditationislikeeating.Witheachstep,wenourishourbodiesandourspirit.Whenwewalkwithanxietyandsorrow,itislikeweareeatingjunkfood.Thefoodofwalkingmeditationshouldbeofahigherquality.

THIRTY

Walkslowly.Don’trush.Eachstepbringsyoutothebestmomentofyourlife,thepresentmoment.

THIRTY-ONE

Understandingisthefoundationoflove.

THIRTY-TWO

Truelovetakesalotofcouragebecauseitisacommitmenttohelpremovesufferingandofferwell-being.

THIRTY-THREE

Throughmindfulness,youwillfindthatyouhaveevenmorereasonstobehappythanyouthought.

THIRTY-FOUR

Ifinourdailyliveswecansmile,ifwecanbepeacefulandhappy,everyonewillprofitfromit.

THIRTY-FIVE

Asmilemakesyoumasterofyourself.

THIRTY-SIX

Everyonehasthecapacitytowakeup,tounderstand,andtolove.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Understandingandlovearen’ttwothings.Whenyouunderstandyoucan’thelpbutlove.Andwhenyoulove,youactinawaythatcanrelievethesufferingofpeople.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Whenyoumeditate,youdoitforthewholeofsociety.Youseeksolutionstoyourproblemsnotonlyforyourselfbutforallofus.

THIRTY-NINE

Peaceisallaroundusandwithinus.Oncewelearntotouchthispeace,wewillbehealedandtransformed.Itisnotamatteroffaith;itisamatterofpractice.

FORTY

Weshouldbeabletobeourtrueselves.Thismeansweshouldbeabletobetheriver,theforest.Wemustdothistounderstand,andtohavehopeforthefuture.

FORTY-ONE

Everythingwethink,feel,anddohasaneffectonourancestorsandallfuturegenerationsandreverberatesthroughouttheuniverse.

FORTY-TWO

Yourbodyisnotyoursalone.Itbelongstoyourancestors,yourparents,futuregenerations,

andtosocietyandallotherlivingbeings.Allofthemhavecometogethertobringaboutthepresenceofthisbody.

Keepingyourbodyhealthyisanexpressionofgratitudetothewholecosmos.

Ifyouarehealthyphysicallyandmentally,allofuswillbenefit.

FORTY-THREE

Peoplesaythatwalkingonwaterisamiracle,buttome,walkingpeacefullyontheEarthistherealmiracle.TheEarthisamiracle.Eachstepisamiracle.Takingstepsonourbeautifulplanetcanbringrealhappiness.

FORTY-FOUR

Weshouldliveourdailylivesseeingeverythinginthelightofinterbeing.Thenwewillnotbecaughtinoursmallselves.Wewillseeourjoyandoursufferingeverywhere.

FORTY-FIVE

Thegroundforactionistobe.Walk,sit,andeatinsuchawaythatpeaceispossibleinthehereandthenow.

FORTY-SIX

Everythingcanbeabellofmindfulness,includingsuffering.

FORTY-SEVEN

Plantingaseed,washingadish,andcuttingthegrassareaseternal,asbeautiful,aswritingapoem.Idonotunderstandhowapoemcanbebetterthanapeppermintplant.

FORTY-EIGHT

WhetherwecanwakeupornotdependsonwhetherwecanwalkmindfullyonourMotherEarth.Thefutureofalllife,includingourown,dependsonourmindfulsteps.

FORTY-NINE

Meditationisnotanescape.Itisthecouragetolookatrealitywithmindfulnessandconcentration.Meditationisessentialforoursurvival.

FIFTY

Thereisnophenomenonintheuniversethatdoesnotintimatelyconcernus,fromapebblerestingatthebottomoftheoceantothemovementofagalaxymillionsoflightyearsaway.Allphenomenaareinterdependent.

FIFTY-ONE

Ourmessageisfirstandforemostanonverbalone;ourmessageisourownaction.

FIFTY-TWO

WearechildrenoftheEarthandnotseparatefromthesoil,theforests,therivers,andthesky.Wesharethesamedestiny.

ThichNhatHanhMonk,ZenMaster,Poet,andPeaceActivist

“ThichNhatHanhwriteswithBuddha’svoice.”—SogyalRinpoche

Born inVietnam in 1926,monk,Zenmaster, and poetThichNhatHanh nowlives in southwest France. Along with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he isconsidered one of the most significant teachers of Western Buddhism and aleading spokesperson for the Buddhist peace movement. His unrelentingadvocacyforpeace,humanrights,andsocial justice,aswellashisspecialgiftfortransmittingtheteachingsofBuddhisminasimpleandengagingmanner,areacknowledgedworldwide.

Inallhisteachings,ThichNhatHanhplacesahighvalueonrelatingancientwisdomtoproblemsofeverydaymodernlife.Hefocusesonhowtostopandbeconscious in every moment. “There is no enlightenment outside of everydaylife,”ThichNhatHanhsays.Beingpresentinthemoment,hesays,iswhatwillbring us happiness. By bringing one’s body andmind together in the presentmoment,wecanexperiencepeaceandaunitywithhumanityandwithalloflife.

Martin Luther King, Jr., who nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the NobelPeacePrizein1967,wrote:“ThichNhatHanh,inhismodestyanddevoutness,isasaintlyman.Butheisalsoasavantwithsignificantintellectualskills.”StephenBatcheloriscertainthatThichNhatHanhwillforeverbeconsideredoneoftheleading teachers and interpreters of Western Buddhism. Richard Baker-roshisays:“Ifsomeonecanbecalleda‘livingBuddha,’it isThichNhatHanh.”HisHolinesstheDalaiLamasaidofThichNhatHanh:“Heshowsustheconnectionbetweenaperson’sinnerpeaceandpeaceonEarth.”

Thich Nhat Hanh is not only an exceptionally gifted speaker, but also aprolificwriter.His descriptive and sensitive, poetic style enables the reader toeasilyfollowandcomprehendhisspiritualideas.ThichNhatHanh’spoeticandphilosophicalworkisdirectedtoeveryonewhoisinterestedinpeace,love,andlearningtheartofhappiness.

HisLifeandItsInfluenceThichNhatHanhwasbornNguyenXuanBaoin1926inVietnam.Attheageofsixteen, he joined a Zenmonastery, TuHieu, in Hue, in central Vietnam andbeganhiseducationasamonk.Thismonasterybelongs to theLinjiSchoolofZen Buddhism. He might have become the abbot of a monastery, but herespondedtoanothercalling.

DuringthebloodywarthatwasdominatingVietnam,heworkedwithotherstorenewBuddhismandmakeitmoreresponsivetotheneedsofsociety.Healsofelt that if all theBuddhist groups could unify, they could offer an alternativevision of society, one based on the Buddhist principles of compassion andinclusiveness.In1949,soonafterhisfullordination,heleftHuetogotoSaigon.TherehehelpedfoundtheSouthVietnamSchoolofBuddhistStudies.In1955,hebecame theeditorofVietnameseBuddhism, a journal thatwas inspirationalforyoungpeaceactivists.

In 1954, Vietnam had been divided and the repressive Diem regime wasestablishedinthesouth.DieminstitutedharshpoliciesagainstBuddhism.Therewerenonviolent protests andmanymonks, nuns, and laypeoplewere arrested,especiallyintheearly1960s.In1963,NhatHanh’scommitmenttononviolenceandhiseffortstorenewBuddhismbroughthimtheofferofafellowshiptostudyat Princeton University. A year later he was invited to teach Buddhism atColumbiaUniversityinNewYork.

In1964,he returned tohishomecountry, toSaigonwherehe founded theSchoolofYouthforSocialService(SYSS),whichtrainedyoungmonks,nuns,and laypeopleas socialworkers,helping rebuildvillagesand relocate refugeesand inotherwaysaddressing the socialdamageof the intensifyingwar.ManySYSS students were attacked and even killed. Thich Nhat Hanh also barelyescaped an attack. In 1966, he founded the Tiep Hien Order, the Order ofInterbeing.TheOrderdedicatesitselftothesupportofBuddhism,mindfulness,socialresponsibility,andnonviolence.SoonafterfoundingtheOrder,NhatHanhtraveledtotheUnitedStatestoinformpeopleoftheeffectsofthewarandtocallfor peace. He met with officials in the U.S. government and went on anextensive speaking tour of North American cities. When word of his effortsreachedVietnam,hewasrefusedpermissiontoreturnhome.

In1969,ThichNhatHanhsetuptheBuddhistPeaceDelegationattheParisPeaceTalks.After thewar,hecontinued to travelextensively inEurope,Asia,andAmerica,sharinghisteachings.Hehopedtoreturnhomeafterthesigningofthe1975peaceagreementthatendedtheVietnamWar.Butthegovernmentsof

bothNorthandSouthVietnamconsideredhimanenemybecausehewouldnottakesides,andhewasforcedtoremaininexile.

Thich Nhat Hanh and his associates from the Vietnamese Buddhist PeaceDelegationoffered to raisemoney forhungrychildren inVietnam through theembassy inParis, but theVietnamesegovernment refused.However, theworkwentforward.ThichNhatHanhandfriendsraisedmoneyandsentittoVietnam,whereitwasdistributedbySYSSsocialworkerswhocontinuedtoworkinsomeofthepoorestareasofthecountry.

While in Singapore for a conference, he heard of the plight of theVietnamese boatpeople. Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries rejectedVietnamese refugees, who were often pushed back out to sea in ramshackleboats.NhatHanhheadedanefforttorescueboatpeopleintheGulfofSiamandtriedtopublicizetheirplightsothatcountriesaroundtheworldwouldraisetheirrefugeequotas.

In 1982,ThichNhatHanh foundedPlumVillage, ameditation and retreatcenter near Bordeaux, France. Monks and nuns from many countries livetogetheryear-roundasaSangha,oraspiritualfamily.Livingtogether,monasticsfocus onbeing the peace theywould like to see in theworld.The center alsowelcomeslaypractitionersandfamilies,bringingtogetherpeoplefromallovertheworld.

ThichNhatHanh’s teachingshavegrown inpopularityandhisbookshavebeen published in many languages including Spanish, French, Korean, andVietnamese.BeingPeace,TheMiracleofMindfulness,BeFreeWhereYouAre,andAngeraresomeofhismostpopularbooks.Forafewweekseachsummer,Thich Nhat Hanh holds a large retreat in Plum Village for families andindividuals.Histeachingsreachpeopleofallagesandfromallwalksoflife.InJanuary 2005, for the first time in almost forty years, Thich Nhat Hanh wasallowedtoreturnforathree-monthvisittoVietnam.

JENIFER KENT makes drawings inspired by systems and patterns ofmovementandgrowth.ShereceivedherBFAfromRutgersUniversityandherMFAfromMillsCollege.She lives inPetaluma,Californiaand teachesatSanFranciscoUniversityHighSchool.HerworkhasbeenexhibitednationallyandisrepresentedbyDolbyChadwickGalleryinSanFrancisco.SeemoreofJenifer'sartworkatwww.jeniferkent.com.

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CallMebyMyTrueNamesThichNhatHanh

TheLongRoadTurnstoJoyThichNhatHanh

MindfulnessintheGardenZachiahMurray

MakingSpaceThichNhatHanh

PresentMomentWonderfulMomentThichNhatHanh

TenBreathstoHappinessGlenSchneider

What?KoUn

MonasticsandlaypeoplepracticetheartofmindfullivinginthetraditionofThichNhatHanhatretreatcommunitiesworldwide.Toreachanyofthesecommunities,orforinformationaboutindividualsandfamiliesjoiningfora

practiceperiod,pleasecontact:PlumVillage

13Martineau

33580Dieulivol,Francewww.plumvillage.org

BlueCliffMonastery

3MindfulnessRoad

PineBush,NY12566www.bluecliffmonastery.org

MagnoliaGroveMonastery123TowlesRd.Batesville,MS38606www.magnoliagrovemonastery.org

DeerParkMonastery

2499MelruLane

Escondido,CA92026www.deerparkmonastery.org

TheMindfulnessBell,ajournaloftheartofmindfullivinginthetraditionofThichNhatHanh,ispublishedthreetimesayearbyPlumVillage.TosubscribeortoseetheworldwidedirectoryofSanghas,visitwww.mindfulnessbell.org

ParallaxPress,anonprofitorganization,publishesbooksonengagedBuddhismandthepracticeofmindfulnessbyThichNhatHanhandotherauthors.Fora

copyofthecatalog,pleasecontact:

ParallaxPressP.O.Box7355

Berkeley,CA94707Tel:(510)525-0101www.parallax.org