The Totality of Now:30 techniques to achieve inner peace and live in the now

Maybe i am not that peaceful. Jun 16, Larry Bassett rated it liked it Shelves: I am not much of one for mindfulness and meditation. But this audible book contains some beautiful language and suggestions about how to live life. It is something to be aware of your breathing in and breathing out. It is something to be aware that everything is part of everything else. The book is not complicated and the chapters are short but the thinking is deep. There is a challenge here about some different ways to view the world and your role in it. Jan 10, Gauri rated it it was amazing Shelves: Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who led the effort towards peace during the Vietnam war, and has worked for many years in other countries to help refugees and to spread his philosophy of peace.

In this book, he speaks about the individual's journey towards inner peace. He maintains that to achieve peace around the world, individuals themselves must achieve inner peace, because peace is not something you can will to exist or force on others, but is rather, a collective understanding of one ano Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who led the effort towards peace during the Vietnam war, and has worked for many years in other countries to help refugees and to spread his philosophy of peace.

He maintains that to achieve peace around the world, individuals themselves must achieve inner peace, because peace is not something you can will to exist or force on others, but is rather, a collective understanding of one another in societies and between societies. This philosophy reminds me of Rumi's quote, "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world; today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

The first part of this book discusses the the basics of meditation and what mindfulness is. Meditation is not actually just the act of sitting down and concentrating on one's breath, but can also be being aware of oneself throughout the day and being aware of the details around oneself.

Breathing is a method to be aware of oneself, and by practicing conscious breathing during parts of the day, you can know that you are truly in the present and the world is truly here. Appreciation starts in the present. The second part of the book discusses how this practice can be used during intensely emotional or violent situations, either within yourself of between others. The version of me from a year ago would've been resentful towards Hanh's writing, insisting that no one can demand this sort of behavior from me if the rest of the world is so terrible.

But now, I understand. No one is demanding this out of me. I behave peacefully and become peaceful to take care of my own mind and self and to not torture myself with ill feelings.

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As for the rest of the world, how I deal with conflict and how I impact others can be improved through my peaceful behavior. The third part of the book discusses the interconnected-ness of a human being to other human beings and other aspects of the world. To read this book, I depended on a publishing house to develop this ink on this paper. To get this paper, I depended on a logger to cut a tree. To have that tree, I depended on the soil, the clouds, and the Sun. In addition, the crime of others are not entirely their fault; though they must accept the responsibility of their actions, we must also realize that society had a role in cultivating such violence.

The wealth of others does mean the poverty of the rest. Ultimately, I am very, very glad that someone recommended this book to me. This has given me so much to work with everyday. As a young person, I seek to shape my mind to understand the complexities and nuances of the world and understand myself and my actions. I now would like to learn more about mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhism. View all 4 comments. Aug 25, Max rated it liked it. In the beginning of my studying of Buddhism, I quickly came to appreciate Hanh as a wise Buddhist Monk. I've watched many of his video interviews and lectures.

This was the first book of his that I read. I was excited at first to begin reading and learning, but quickly I realized that this wasn't the book for me. It's too simplistic, and not in a good way. Although some might say that over complicating peace and mindfulness is exactly what Hanh would advise against, I would argue that some conte In the beginning of my studying of Buddhism, I quickly came to appreciate Hanh as a wise Buddhist Monk. Although some might say that over complicating peace and mindfulness is exactly what Hanh would advise against, I would argue that some content needs to be expanded upon, rather than narrated as though this is a children's book.

His silly metaphors and examples of speaking to inanimate objects just didn't appeal to me. If you have any prior knowledge of Buddha's teachings, you will likely not learn much from this book. It's difficult to give this book a numerical rating, since it probably means different things to different people. Perhaps if you are experiencing a particularly difficult time in your life, or you're being challenged with stressful situations, this book could help guide you towards inner peace.

In which case this book is 4 stars.

How to Achieve Inner Peace with Five Timeless Thoughts

If you're like me and you're seeking to learn more about Buddhism or Hanh's teachings beyond the most basic theories of mindfulness, this book may be not be for you. In which case this book is 1 star. Jun 20, Lorraine rated it it was amazing. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A life changing book. He shares thoughts on how we can live in peace and harmony despite the uncomfortable emotions we experience on a daily basis.

I love this book so much that I plan on buying several copies for all of my family members to read.

Get ready to be transformed! May 08, Carol rated it it was amazing. I loved this gem of a book. Each tiny chapter give you something to reflect upon for weeks. It is about finding peace and happiness in your life and sharing that with the world. He talks about the importance of mindfulness so you can be aware of your inter-relatedness in the entire universe. This book was a Mother's Day gift one year ago and it added greater peace and understanding to my life.

Apr 26, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: A beautiful little book, this is. Few people would argue if you told them life feels like chaos sometimes. Or maybe all the time. Particularly in our lovely little over-caffeinated, double-booked, mindless-drone American society, slowing down is practically Original Sin because everyone knows that lunch breaks and adequate sleep predicated the fall of mankind, duh.

But why do this to ourselves? And, ultimately, to each o A beautiful little book, this is. And, ultimately, to each other? And to the planet that we call home? A little focus on my breath to calm that cyclone is well worth the price of a few minutes. Shocking that all this is shocking, by the way. Doing and being good in this world takes presence of mind and a steadfast sense of interconnectedness inter-being, as it were.

Thich Nhat Hanh tells us that this is all possible if we take a minute to slow our roll, inhale some air, and reacquaint ourselves with beautiful, terrifying, oh-so-vast Reality. Aug 17, Eme Morato rated it it was amazing. A book that I think would make a difference in our modern day civilization if only more people would read it. It is a book of reminders, but not just any reminders, fundamental and essential reminders. We are reminded to breathe deeply and learn to be at peace and experience joy with the present moment.

We are reminded of how many of our lives are overflowing with blessings that could easily make us weep in appreciation and gratefulness. We have food, we still have some Nature around us we shou A book that I think would make a difference in our modern day civilization if only more people would read it. We have food, we still have some Nature around us we should definitely work to take a much deeper care of her , some of us have family close to us, and many other treasures that we usually forget to value as such in our daily lives.

By remembering to stop and having a look at all of these amazing blessings, our lives improve dramatically, no pay raise involved, no new sports car needed, or no fancy jewelry required. The key to happiness, and therefore to collective peace, then, is simply creating a daily habit of breathing and noticing how fortunate we are. From this we will also garner the strength needed to face our daily challenges. This is the gift that this book gave me. Feb 07, Rivera Sun rated it it was amazing. Thich Nhat Hanh is an inspirational soul.

This book is so simply profound. Interspersed with lovely requests, plain English meditations for ordinary people, and tremendously powerful short anecdotes about his life experiences, this book grabs the roots of peace, and plants them in your soul. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Originally I heard about this book from another author that I was really, still am, enjoying her book "writing begins with the breath" by Laraine Herring. I was pleased to know that in reading this book I will get some skills in towards enhancing my writing, some skills in mindfulness and some skills so that I may grow as a Christian and human being in my development journey.

He told his students, "J Originally I heard about this book from another author that I was really, still am, enjoying her book "writing begins with the breath" by Laraine Herring. He told his students, "Just the way he opens the door and enters a room demonstrates his understanding. He is a true monk. What can these Buddhists teach me about peace? Peace and happiness are available if I can only quiet my distracted thinking long enough to come back to the present moment and notice the blue sky, the child's smile, the beautiful sunrise.

The book is simply teaching me how to just live, and live in the present moment. I only need to be awake, alive in the present moment. There are no amount of things I can pile up in order to acquire peace and happiness as they are both mine to claim now. What better way to start the day than with a smile?

My smile here affirms my determination and awareness to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.

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A smile will relax all the muscles in my face; it will banish all worries and fatigue. There is no better gift to give to our family as well as people overall than the gift our awareness, our smile. Then he teaches me a number of breathing techniques. Breathing in is my in-breath and breathing out is my out-breath. I don't have to repeat the whole sentence; I can just use two words, "In" and "Out".

Sometimes my mind is thinking of one thing and my body is doing another, and this would mean that mind and body are not unified. My goal is to bring them together, and become whole again. Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. My appointment with life is in the present moment, hence, peace is every step of the way.

Oct 06, Arizona Mildman rated it it was amazing. Thich Nhat Hanh writes this as if we were completely without any knowledge of Buddhism. He could have called it Simple Meditation Made Easy. I have studied meditation and it is normally taught by people who complicate the process so they can teach you the "proper" way to do it. Hanh teaches that simple breathing is the key. He teaches mindfulness in walking, driving, housework, any occasion and makes it so simple anyone, including me can follow and successfully be enjoying deep meditation by the Thich Nhat Hanh writes this as if we were completely without any knowledge of Buddhism.

He teaches mindfulness in walking, driving, housework, any occasion and makes it so simple anyone, including me can follow and successfully be enjoying deep meditation by the end of the book in as long as it takes you to read and practice about 40 minutes a day. It slows down your breathing and thinking and allows you to successfully stop mindless thought that are the seeds of good and bad and helps us decide how to unlock the use of the right way.

One who has studied Buddhism for years gets as much out of this book because without the complicated mythology and confusing behavior taught by some dharma teachers, one gets to hear the dharma in a way that ultimately made more sense to me in a few hours than I had learned in years of study with some teachers. Basing all of his works on the four noble truths and the eightfold path, one can't really go wrong in absorbing all of Thich Nhat Hanh's writings.

Apr 02, Rebecca rated it really liked it Recommended to Rebecca by: I have always been a proponent for breathing. I have had bouts with allergies and asthma and have felt the terror of gasping for a breath Conscious breathing can be powerful. Breathing in and out is very important, and it is enjoyable. Our breathing is the link between our body and our mind Just breathing and smiling can make us ve I have always been a proponent for breathing. Just breathing and smiling can make us very happy, because when we breath consciously we recover ourselves completely and encounter life in the present moment p.

By so doing, he teaches, we can find our own inner peace, provide ourselves with the understanding to bring peace to our family and community and, ultimately, find the compassion needed to heal the world. His is a message similar to Ghandi's: When we are angry, we are not usually inclined to return to ourselves. We want to think about the person who is making us angry, to think about his hateful aspects - his rudeness, dishonesty, cruelty, maliciousness, and so on.

The more we think about him, listen to him, or look at him, the more our anger flares. His dishonesty and hatefulness may be real, imaginary, or exaggerated, but, in fact, the root of the problem is the anger itself, and we have to come back and look first of all inside ourselves p. If we genuinely try to understand the suffering of another person, we are more likely to act in a way that will help him overcome his suffering and confusion, and that will help all of us p.

Most of us want to take sides in each encounter or conflict. We distinguish right from wrong based on partial evidence or hearsay. We need indignation in order to act, but even righteous, legitimate indignation is not enough. Our world does not lack people willing to throw themselves into action. What we need are people who are capable of loving, of not taking sides so that they can embrace the whole of reality p. When you first learn of something like that [rape of a young girl by a pirate] , you get angry at the pirate. You naturally take the side of the girl. As you look more deeply you will see it differently.

If you take the side of the little girl, then it is easy. You only have to take a gun and shoot the pirate. But we cannot do that. In my meditation I saw that if I had been born in the village of the pirate and raised in the same conditions as he was, there is a great likelihood that I would become a pirate. I saw that many babies are born along the Gulf of Siam, hundreds every day, and if we educators, social workers, politicians, and others do not do something about the situation, in twenty-five years a number of them will become sea pirates.

If you or I were born today in those fishing villages, we may become sea pirates in twenty-five years.

If you take a gun and shoot the pirate, you shoot all of us, because all of us are to some extent responsible for this state of affairs p. It may come across as an optimistic oversimplification of the overwhelming nature of the issues. But his message is a tangible and achievable start: Solve world hunger, nuclear war and depletion of the rain forests!

Dec 27, Tanya Tosheva rated it really liked it Shelves: This is not a book I'd usually pick up. My curiosity often shifts from one topic to another and the last time it was engaged with Eastern philosophy and Buddhism about a year and a half ago, I think I was left with a deep certainty that it is not a philosophy I can ever truly accept.

Life without craving or desire is not a life worth living, so why would anyone want it? I'm never going to be a person without desires and hopes and dreams that is content and happy just to sit on the grass and st This is not a book I'd usually pick up. I'm never going to be a person without desires and hopes and dreams that is content and happy just to sit on the grass and stare at a flower, thank you very much. Well, that hasn't changed. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a book I was more in need of reading than this one. The mindful living described in this book does not mean living with no desires.

It means being able to detach yourself from the pain of the past, the worries about the future, the many knots of anger, disappointment, suspicion, hurt tied up inside you and just be. Enjoy the simple beauty of breathing, of seeing a painting that you like, of hearing a poem that you enjoy or eating a well-prepared meal. It's about learning to untie the knots and calm your fears. And accept that there can be no flowers without dirt and garbage. It's a book about attaining the peace of mind every single one of us needs from time to time. There's a lot to learn from this book, even if you don't decide to throw away all your worldly possessions and go live in a hermitage.

Jul 01, Azadeh Seif Amirhosseini rated it it was amazing. The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. At this time I was in a place in my life where many dreams and goals were becoming uncertain and life was beginning to become a little negative but all changed after reading this book. As I began to read through the first chapter, I was captivated by Thich Nhat Hanh's wisdom, writing style and language.

Because of this wonderful book, I am learning everyday in life that we as humans take so much for granted but should try and be grateful for all our blessings. When tears were rolling down reading each line of the first chapter, 5 years ago, I began to feel enlightened by Thich Nhat Hanh's buddhist mindfulness and philosophy.

Realizing just how limited my perception of life can be, I was taught to take pleasure and peace from the most simple of everyday events such as washing the dishes or tidying the home, for even in the most simple chores, understanding, appreciation and mindfulness can arise, as Thich Nhat Hanh and the Buddha's teachings beautifully convey.

Life is filled with many possibilities brimming to make the most of it, is a vital lesson I have gladly taken away with me in this book. Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh, for your writings and guidance gives me strength and inspiration, you are a life changing gentleman and author. May 03, Kathleen rated it it was amazing. Aside from prayer and music, Thich Nhat Hanh is my go-to guy for finding that peaceful, still place in the center of the storm.

This book is thin, easy to read, and practical. After explaining why it is important to live in the moment, and how breathing and meditation can assist with this, TNH provides several recipes -- for lack of a better word -- to try out, especially while taking a walk. Written for newbies, not experts, this book is handy and accessible. I have read several of his books, i Aside from prayer and music, Thich Nhat Hanh is my go-to guy for finding that peaceful, still place in the center of the storm. I have read several of his books, including an interesting comparison between the teachings of the Christ and the teachings of the Buddha, Living Buddha, Living Christ , and a wonderful picture book for helping children overcome anger and fear, A Pebble for Your Pocket.

Oct 26, Bernadet rated it it was amazing.

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Thich Nhat Hanh's Peace is Every Step is by far my favorite of all the books written by gurus and thinkers. This book has changed my perspective on my perspective. He has, through his compassionate and down-to-earth dialogue, allowed me to understand and be compassionate toward my own Catholic faith, myself, and everyone around me. This isn't a book filled with buzzwords nor is it a book that preaches. Thich Nhat Hanh does not offer techniques or ideologies, he simply presents the world as it re Thich Nhat Hanh's Peace is Every Step is by far my favorite of all the books written by gurus and thinkers.

Thich Nhat Hanh does not offer techniques or ideologies, he simply presents the world as it really is. Thich Nhat Hanh speaks brilliantly without mystifying the reader in spiritual jargon. Pay attention to the silence, the emptiness. You will be amazed to experience the changes experienced by just twenty minutes of meditation. If you are unable to meditate on your own for any reason, seek for professional assistance or join a group of people to carry on with this routine on a daily basis without any break.

Care about others or in other words perform good deeds to achieve inner peace. It is not possible to find peace if you only worry for your own wants and needs or if you are always self-consumed. Inner peace solidifies when goodness comes out and you genuinely start caring about the people around you. In a nutshell, it is the act of goodwill and kindness that eases your direction towards peace. Do not lose hope. In fact, if you want to achieve inner peace, you cannot afford to give up your hopes. By keeping hopes high, you can always find peace. However, when life becomes overwhelming and extremely stressful, we usually tend to lose hope.

You will achieve immense peace if you realize that in the end, everything will be alright. You must be logged in to post a comment Login.

How to Achieve Inner Peace with Five Timeless Thoughts - Operation Meditation

In turn, you tap into a host of amazing benefits: Build 10 Key Brain Regions. Deep meditation upgrades 10 key brain regions. Change your brain, change your life. With monumental health implications, meditation has been proven to naturally boost many of your body's chemicals: The benefits are staggering. Here, we show you the vast benefits waiting under the surface, and how meditation is the best way to dive in, explore, and harness your deep mind. When it comes to what the human body "can" and "can't" do, a revolution is well underway. From extending life, to conquering "unconquerable" diseases, to rewriting genetic code, meditation's latest scientific findings are incredible.

Why is meditation such a powerful anxiety reliever? From building neurotransmitters, to quieting mind chatter, to cooling the amygdala, this highly in-depth article discusses why anxiety is no match against meditation. From transforming psychology, to fully rewiring thought, to massively upgrading physiology, here we discuss why meditation dominates depression. Even if you get the recommended eight hours each night, you may not be sleeping deeply enough to fully recharge your battery.

Here, we discuss why so many of us have insomnia, and why meditation is the best solution to sleeping like a log.

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From urge surfing, to masterfully dealing with stress, to uprooting deep seated emotions, to giving us a natural high, to unplugging naturally, here we discuss why meditation eradicates addiction. Understand the degree to which meditation dramatically upgrades your body's stress response, effectively making you immune to anxiety, depression, addiction, and more. What is the secret to reaching deep, highly beneficial meditation? Through a process called "Neurogenesis," doctors have discovered that our brain's "neuron count" is not set for life.

Here, we discuss why scientists keep studying the marvelous meditating brain, and how you too can tap these awesome benefits. How can meditation transform your life? With links to detailed articles, here we have compiled more than benefits of meditation. No stone left unturned. Learn more about EquiSync's brainwave powered meditation system through our users most frequently asked questions FAQ.