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Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World
Creating True Peace is both a profound work of spiritual guidance and a practical blueprint for peaceful inner change and global change. It is Thich Nhat Hanh's answer to our deep-rooted crisis of violence and our feelings of helplessness, victimization, and fear.
As a world-renowned writer, scholar, spiritual leader, and Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the most visible, revered activists for peace and Engaged Buddhism—the practice he created that combines mindful living and social action. Having lived through two wars in his native Vietnam, he works to prevent conflict of all kinds� from the internal violence of individual thoughts to interpersonal and international aggression.
Now, in perhaps his most important work, Thich Nhat Hanh uses a beautiful blend of visionary insight, inspiring stories of peacemaking, and a combination of meditation practices and instruction to show us how to take Right Action. A book for people of all faiths, it is a magnum opus—a compendium of peace practices that can help anyone practice nonviolent thought and behavior, even in the midst of world upheaval.
More than any of his previous books, Creating True Peace tells stories of Thich Nhat Hanh and his students practicing peace during wartime. These demonstrate that violence is an outmoded response we can no longer afford. The simple, but powerful daily actions and everyday interactions that Thich Nhat Hanh recommends can root out violence where it lives in our hearts and minds and help us discover the power to create peace at every level of life—personal, family, neighborhood, community, state, nation, and world.
Whether dealing with extreme emotions and challenging situations or managing interpersonal and international conflicts, Thich Nhat Hanh relied on the 2,600-year-old traditional wisdom and scholarship of the Buddha, as well as other great scriptures. He teaches us to look more deeply into our thoughts and lives so that we can know what to do and what not to do to transform them into something better. With a combination of courage, sweetness, and candor, he tells us that we can make a difference; we are not helpless; we can create peace here and now. Creating True Peace shows us how.
As a world-renowned writer, scholar, spiritual leader, and Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the most visible, revered activists for peace and Engaged Buddhism—the practice he created that combines mindful living and social action. Having lived through two wars in his native Vietnam, he works to prevent conflict of all kinds� from the internal violence of individual thoughts to interpersonal and international aggression.
Now, in perhaps his most important work, Thich Nhat Hanh uses a beautiful blend of visionary insight, inspiring stories of peacemaking, and a combination of meditation practices and instruction to show us how to take Right Action. A book for people of all faiths, it is a magnum opus—a compendium of peace practices that can help anyone practice nonviolent thought and behavior, even in the midst of world upheaval.
More than any of his previous books, Creating True Peace tells stories of Thich Nhat Hanh and his students practicing peace during wartime. These demonstrate that violence is an outmoded response we can no longer afford. The simple, but powerful daily actions and everyday interactions that Thich Nhat Hanh recommends can root out violence where it lives in our hearts and minds and help us discover the power to create peace at every level of life—personal, family, neighborhood, community, state, nation, and world.
Whether dealing with extreme emotions and challenging situations or managing interpersonal and international conflicts, Thich Nhat Hanh relied on the 2,600-year-old traditional wisdom and scholarship of the Buddha, as well as other great scriptures. He teaches us to look more deeply into our thoughts and lives so that we can know what to do and what not to do to transform them into something better. With a combination of courage, sweetness, and candor, he tells us that we can make a difference; we are not helpless; we can create peace here and now. Creating True Peace shows us how.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2004
106 people are currently reading
1,261 people want to read
About the author
Thich Nhat Hanh
973books12.3kfollowersThích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm T� (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 13, 2011
The same feature of this book that caused annoyance was the same that caused understanding: repetition; it works. Like a CBT exercise, this book gets into your subconscious, hammering away at what makes you think the way you do. Lo and behold, the book is complete and you're acting mindfully about closing the covers, craving an orange, and basking in the optimism you're generating from within.
I'll admit that even I wanted to pack up and move to a place where I could meditate unstopped. I truly believed inner peace was a viable thing for me. I think the gift of Hanh's books - reinforcement and encouragement - is what propels one to pursue a simultaneously lightened and enlightened life. I loved that feeling and I'll read more Hanh to get it back. In the meantime, I will continue meditating. There must be something to it�
Hanh has some brilliant and insightfully clear observations and anecdotes but criticized too harshly my passion: novels. I don't think "reading to fill empty time" is a bad thing (unless it's Twilight); that irritated me. I have no problem with being mindful about slowly and thoughtfully drinking a cup of tea, but if I want to enjoy that tea with a book in my hand, it's not the end of the world and it doesn't mean I'm succumbing to violence. I also had a bit of a problem with alcohol being a "violent" thing; we cannot judge things by their potential. The stored-up potential of a bag of rice could feed x number of children or x-10 number of adults. We can't apply utilitarian principles to everything lest humanity become numbers and no longer individuals.
His thoughts on consumption of violence were things I'd never before thought about and it caused me to be particularly observant of violence in my everyday life. You'd be surprised, horribly surprised. Count the incidents and observable acts.
One huge idea this book did succeed in conveying to me (and changing my mind) was the notion that we are all interconnected. I embrace the idea of individual success and individual freedom but it seems it's a façade, after all. I am, indeed, the product of my ancestors; I, in turn, will be the ancestor of others. There is no way to escape the invisible, spider web-thin relationships we all have with each other. The world became an existential soup for me for a while and it made my mind hurt. I concede, Hanh; you are correct on this point.
For an inspirational (and spiritual) read, look no further. This is good stuff.
I'll admit that even I wanted to pack up and move to a place where I could meditate unstopped. I truly believed inner peace was a viable thing for me. I think the gift of Hanh's books - reinforcement and encouragement - is what propels one to pursue a simultaneously lightened and enlightened life. I loved that feeling and I'll read more Hanh to get it back. In the meantime, I will continue meditating. There must be something to it�
Hanh has some brilliant and insightfully clear observations and anecdotes but criticized too harshly my passion: novels. I don't think "reading to fill empty time" is a bad thing (unless it's Twilight); that irritated me. I have no problem with being mindful about slowly and thoughtfully drinking a cup of tea, but if I want to enjoy that tea with a book in my hand, it's not the end of the world and it doesn't mean I'm succumbing to violence. I also had a bit of a problem with alcohol being a "violent" thing; we cannot judge things by their potential. The stored-up potential of a bag of rice could feed x number of children or x-10 number of adults. We can't apply utilitarian principles to everything lest humanity become numbers and no longer individuals.
His thoughts on consumption of violence were things I'd never before thought about and it caused me to be particularly observant of violence in my everyday life. You'd be surprised, horribly surprised. Count the incidents and observable acts.
One huge idea this book did succeed in conveying to me (and changing my mind) was the notion that we are all interconnected. I embrace the idea of individual success and individual freedom but it seems it's a façade, after all. I am, indeed, the product of my ancestors; I, in turn, will be the ancestor of others. There is no way to escape the invisible, spider web-thin relationships we all have with each other. The world became an existential soup for me for a while and it made my mind hurt. I concede, Hanh; you are correct on this point.
For an inspirational (and spiritual) read, look no further. This is good stuff.
May 7, 2016
As usual, I am a bit behind the times. For lent, our church chose to read Creating True Peace: Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World by Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh. Well that was during March and April, and while I did read *most* of the book back then, I am finally finishing the last chapter now.
Believe me, it was an interesting process reading and discussing a book by a Zen Buddhist with a group of very Maine Congregationalists. When we first picked up this book, I have to admit I groaned a little. Great. This is going to be another of those books that tells you about how you have to fix yourself before you can fix anything else in the world. Which it was. But I found it helpful in a number of ways. Two in particular:
1. Cultivating Seeds
This is an analogy my mother used all the time when we were young. "What kind of seeds are you planting? Hitting seeds or sharing seeds?" Thich Nhat Hanh opens his book with a discussion of how we can choose which "seeds" we water in ourselves. (Once again proving that my mother's homespun wisdom is often right up there with the top philosophers and thinkers of our time.)
...our mind is like a garden that contains all kinds of seeds: seeds of understanding, seeds of forgiveness, seeds of mindfulness, and also seeds of ignorance, fear, and hatred. We realize that, at any given moment, we can behave with either violence or compassion, depending on the strength of these seeds within us.
Thich Nhat Hanh spends the rest of the book discussing how to cultivate the seeds of compassion. The more we practice compassion, the more it will become a habit, a natural state. Likewise, the more we practice anger, our anger will become stronger and more frequent. It's simple, but very useful and worth being reminded of from time to time.
2. Community
One of the last things Thich Nhat Hanh talks about in Creating True Peace is sangha, or community.
If we are a drop of water and we try to get to the ocean as only an individual drop, we will surely evaporate along the way. To arrive at the ocean, you must go as a river...We have to train ourselves to see the happiness of our community as our own happiness and to see the difficulties of our community as our own difficulties.
Again, simple, but very wise and true. And I believe the author when he says we can "train" ourselves to think this way. Again, like anything, the more we do it, the more it will become a habit.
Believe me, it was an interesting process reading and discussing a book by a Zen Buddhist with a group of very Maine Congregationalists. When we first picked up this book, I have to admit I groaned a little. Great. This is going to be another of those books that tells you about how you have to fix yourself before you can fix anything else in the world. Which it was. But I found it helpful in a number of ways. Two in particular:
1. Cultivating Seeds
This is an analogy my mother used all the time when we were young. "What kind of seeds are you planting? Hitting seeds or sharing seeds?" Thich Nhat Hanh opens his book with a discussion of how we can choose which "seeds" we water in ourselves. (Once again proving that my mother's homespun wisdom is often right up there with the top philosophers and thinkers of our time.)
...our mind is like a garden that contains all kinds of seeds: seeds of understanding, seeds of forgiveness, seeds of mindfulness, and also seeds of ignorance, fear, and hatred. We realize that, at any given moment, we can behave with either violence or compassion, depending on the strength of these seeds within us.
Thich Nhat Hanh spends the rest of the book discussing how to cultivate the seeds of compassion. The more we practice compassion, the more it will become a habit, a natural state. Likewise, the more we practice anger, our anger will become stronger and more frequent. It's simple, but very useful and worth being reminded of from time to time.
2. Community
One of the last things Thich Nhat Hanh talks about in Creating True Peace is sangha, or community.
If we are a drop of water and we try to get to the ocean as only an individual drop, we will surely evaporate along the way. To arrive at the ocean, you must go as a river...We have to train ourselves to see the happiness of our community as our own happiness and to see the difficulties of our community as our own difficulties.
Again, simple, but very wise and true. And I believe the author when he says we can "train" ourselves to think this way. Again, like anything, the more we do it, the more it will become a habit.
July 16, 2024
I don't think of myself as having any violence within, but I learned something so important when I saw him speak in Berkeley; that by watching violent shows or movies, I am allowing that energy into my energy and condoning its existence in the universal energy. I am not going to get a gun and shoot someone, but allowing violence to be entertainment only continues the cycle of violence. And I struggle with this; I like some violent movies, but I can make a different choice more often than not. It also can translate to how a parent acts at their children's sporting events or with each other. "Everyone Loves Raymond" is another example of a show I try to avoid; they are so mean to each other and I think it is sad that we think that is funny. They did an episode where one of the kids school counselors wanted to talk about the terrible psychological effects of being around that meanness constantly, and then they turned it into a joke. The reality shows are all about humans being mean to each other which is why I avoid those too. Personal choices, but at least this book makes you think differently!
January 21, 2013
I am really glad that this was the first book I read this year. It was beautifully written and had some great reminders that are often forgotten in our hectic lives. I will definately try to incorporate some of his teachings into my daily routines and life.
March 22, 2018
I can honestly say that this book has transformed my life in a very positive way. My partner and I both read it, and we were able to draw very practical and simple ways to live, love, and parent more skillfully from Thay's lovely prose.
February 25, 2022
3.5
I love the philosophy of Buddhism and how it can be applied in every day life to make the world a little better but something about this book just made me take too long to read it which didn’t allow me to enjoy it much
I love the philosophy of Buddhism and how it can be applied in every day life to make the world a little better but something about this book just made me take too long to read it which didn’t allow me to enjoy it much
August 13, 2021
Lots to think about. Good ideas for families. More than just a philosophical book because it has a lot of practical and understandable applications.
March 25, 2024
A must-read for all, especially in our current context of national/international conflict and escalation.
I was first introduced to Thay’s teachings a few years ago during a time of loss and grief. A sympathetic professor sent me a link to a YouTube video of one of Thay’s teachings, in which he discusses the practice of non-attachment. With the circumstances of my loss, this was both appropriate and helpful. Thay’s teaching gave me long-term relief and tools for coping, and I’ve since sought out Thay’s works for more.
In Creating True Peace, Thay gently urges the reader to consider our individual role and responsibility to reduce suffering in the world and practice the discipline of peacemaking. His discussion of these strategies is easy to read.
To say Thay walks his own talk is no joke. Throughout his writing, he recounts personal stories of dealing with highly volatile international conflict in his day-to-day life as a monk in mid-1900s Vietnam. Thay vulnerably discusses the difficulty that the monks faced in resisting the temptation to defend themselves and, thus, contribute to the conflict. Thay honors others in his stories by crediting the talents and contributions of fellow monks who were around him at the time.
I believe this could be safe resource for those who have experienced religious harm. Thay’s spiritual praxis is all about empowerment, growth mindset, and simple cause and effect. I have never experienced Thay’s voice to be condescending or holier-than-thou, despite the fact that he continues to be a world-renowned spiritual influence even after his passing. Thay refers to the Buddha, Buddhist concepts, and Buddhist teachings, but his teaching is intended to support someone of any faith or spiritual walk. I believe he accomplishes this goal.
My one critique is that this book would benefit from further expansion in the area of inclusion. While many of Thay’s practices are accessible to all, further adaptation for people of all abilities would be most supportive, e.g., if meditative walking is not feasible. Additionally, monasteries have a history of misogyny. I would say Thay is cognizant of this history and that his teachings work to mitigate that history, but there’s one part of the text where I take issue. When discussing a specific relief program for children, he explains how he imagined a little girl that he was helping to be his mother. I think what he’s trying to explain how he showed empathy and caring for a stranger, i.e., like you would with your own loved ones, but it felt a little odd and assuming.
That being said, I’m overall very appreciative to Thay for the way his teaching supports the respect of children and children’s rights. This reading has helpful points of consideration for people who grew up in high-conflict and/or abusive environments.
Furthermore, Thay’s broader perspective on American politics at the time of his writing is both valuable and interesting. Given the context of this 2024 U.S. election year and the current landscape of international politics, his urgency for peacemaking remains true and real, possibly now more than ever.
I was first introduced to Thay’s teachings a few years ago during a time of loss and grief. A sympathetic professor sent me a link to a YouTube video of one of Thay’s teachings, in which he discusses the practice of non-attachment. With the circumstances of my loss, this was both appropriate and helpful. Thay’s teaching gave me long-term relief and tools for coping, and I’ve since sought out Thay’s works for more.
In Creating True Peace, Thay gently urges the reader to consider our individual role and responsibility to reduce suffering in the world and practice the discipline of peacemaking. His discussion of these strategies is easy to read.
To say Thay walks his own talk is no joke. Throughout his writing, he recounts personal stories of dealing with highly volatile international conflict in his day-to-day life as a monk in mid-1900s Vietnam. Thay vulnerably discusses the difficulty that the monks faced in resisting the temptation to defend themselves and, thus, contribute to the conflict. Thay honors others in his stories by crediting the talents and contributions of fellow monks who were around him at the time.
I believe this could be safe resource for those who have experienced religious harm. Thay’s spiritual praxis is all about empowerment, growth mindset, and simple cause and effect. I have never experienced Thay’s voice to be condescending or holier-than-thou, despite the fact that he continues to be a world-renowned spiritual influence even after his passing. Thay refers to the Buddha, Buddhist concepts, and Buddhist teachings, but his teaching is intended to support someone of any faith or spiritual walk. I believe he accomplishes this goal.
My one critique is that this book would benefit from further expansion in the area of inclusion. While many of Thay’s practices are accessible to all, further adaptation for people of all abilities would be most supportive, e.g., if meditative walking is not feasible. Additionally, monasteries have a history of misogyny. I would say Thay is cognizant of this history and that his teachings work to mitigate that history, but there’s one part of the text where I take issue. When discussing a specific relief program for children, he explains how he imagined a little girl that he was helping to be his mother. I think what he’s trying to explain how he showed empathy and caring for a stranger, i.e., like you would with your own loved ones, but it felt a little odd and assuming.
That being said, I’m overall very appreciative to Thay for the way his teaching supports the respect of children and children’s rights. This reading has helpful points of consideration for people who grew up in high-conflict and/or abusive environments.
Furthermore, Thay’s broader perspective on American politics at the time of his writing is both valuable and interesting. Given the context of this 2024 U.S. election year and the current landscape of international politics, his urgency for peacemaking remains true and real, possibly now more than ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2025
Kaunis ja käytännönläheinen teos, joka sai miettimään omiakin käytösmallejani konfliktitilanteissa ja elämässä ylipäätään. Paljon hyviä käytännön neuvoja rauhan rakentamiseksi ihmissuhteissa, perheessä, työelämässä ja itsessä.
July 6, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It is about how to create peace for yourself when you are upset and how to help others find peace as well. One thing I really liked about this book is that he talks about the first step to creating peace between you and someone else is deep listening. When we listen deeply and let the other person talk, it gives us a chance to hear their side and their perspective and then we can feel compassion for them instead of anger. I also noticed things here and there in the book that reminded me of "If God is Love" and "The Power of Now."
My favorite thing in this book is that it talked about teaching these ideas to children. Many books I have read about spiritual matters do not address working with children. I really like that this one did and it has some great ideas in it. It also helped me realize that Nakyla is probably using some of these methods on her own, I just wasn't recognizing them.
My favorite thing in this book is that it talked about teaching these ideas to children. Many books I have read about spiritual matters do not address working with children. I really like that this one did and it has some great ideas in it. It also helped me realize that Nakyla is probably using some of these methods on her own, I just wasn't recognizing them.
March 21, 2015
This book is truly life changing. It really illuminates the grasping, violent aspects of our Western culture -- and shows that it is possible to look at the world in a completely different way. It also explains the purpose of meditation and some techniques for meditation in a practical, totally understandable way. I checked this out from the library but have now bought a copy to keep on my shelf as a reference forever. My admiration for the author is boundless.
September 6, 2009
This is my second or third read from Hanh and although the title is different, he writes about the same stuff so I didn't feel as though I got any new insights.
March 22, 2011
the right book for me at the right time.
November 23, 2024
It is easy to dismiss ideas such as those in this book as simplistic and unrealistic. And they are. Very simplistic and totally unrealistic.
But simplicity is often the gateway to understanding (Occam’s Razor, anyone?). And realism is only a function of time and place. There was a time when airplanes, and spaceflight, and GPS satellites were unrealistic. A polio vaccine was unrealistic. Carrying a pocket computer with us everywhere we go. Indoor plumbing.
There are places in the world now where it is unrealistic to live in safety; to have enough food to eat; to have basic medical care.
Dismissing something as simplistic or unrealistic represents a failure of imagination.
In this book, peace activist and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh provides a window into an alternate reality, and a guidebook to an alternate path. All that’s required to see them, and inhabit them, is imagination, will, and courage.
He reminds us that peace begins with us: with the way we choose to live our lives; with how we choose to interact with others; with each decision we make, each word we speak, each step we take. Peace is not something we wait for others to achieve. Peace is a mindset we each adopt, expressed in specific, concrete actions we take.
While Hanh is a Buddhist monk, he is respectful of other belief systems, and is diligent in showing how his perspective and practices can easily transcend religious and cultural traditions. He speaks to a mindset that is grounded in being mindful, present, and intentional in our daily lives. This mindset is accessible to anyone, regardless of their faith traditions, or whether they have a faith tradition at all.
The most powerful part of this book is its insistence that the seeds of violence lie within us, and it is only by recognizing their presence, and by doing the internal work to transform our personal pain and suffering, that we can hope to achieve peace, and extend it to others. We do this by recognizing that the seeds of compassion (towards self and others) also lie within us, and can be nurtured and strengthened within us and others. Every day, we have the choice of which seeds to water: those of compassion, or those of violence.
“We are not helpless. We have to do our best, we have to stop the war inside ourselves. This is the practice of peace, and it can be done every moment. If we do not practice peace in our lives, war will continue to break out within us and around us.�
Simplistic? Yes. Unrealistic? Only if we choose to allow it to be.
But simplicity is often the gateway to understanding (Occam’s Razor, anyone?). And realism is only a function of time and place. There was a time when airplanes, and spaceflight, and GPS satellites were unrealistic. A polio vaccine was unrealistic. Carrying a pocket computer with us everywhere we go. Indoor plumbing.
There are places in the world now where it is unrealistic to live in safety; to have enough food to eat; to have basic medical care.
Dismissing something as simplistic or unrealistic represents a failure of imagination.
In this book, peace activist and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh provides a window into an alternate reality, and a guidebook to an alternate path. All that’s required to see them, and inhabit them, is imagination, will, and courage.
He reminds us that peace begins with us: with the way we choose to live our lives; with how we choose to interact with others; with each decision we make, each word we speak, each step we take. Peace is not something we wait for others to achieve. Peace is a mindset we each adopt, expressed in specific, concrete actions we take.
While Hanh is a Buddhist monk, he is respectful of other belief systems, and is diligent in showing how his perspective and practices can easily transcend religious and cultural traditions. He speaks to a mindset that is grounded in being mindful, present, and intentional in our daily lives. This mindset is accessible to anyone, regardless of their faith traditions, or whether they have a faith tradition at all.
The most powerful part of this book is its insistence that the seeds of violence lie within us, and it is only by recognizing their presence, and by doing the internal work to transform our personal pain and suffering, that we can hope to achieve peace, and extend it to others. We do this by recognizing that the seeds of compassion (towards self and others) also lie within us, and can be nurtured and strengthened within us and others. Every day, we have the choice of which seeds to water: those of compassion, or those of violence.
“We are not helpless. We have to do our best, we have to stop the war inside ourselves. This is the practice of peace, and it can be done every moment. If we do not practice peace in our lives, war will continue to break out within us and around us.�
Simplistic? Yes. Unrealistic? Only if we choose to allow it to be.
July 25, 2024
True peace is a gift and one we can all foster in our daily lives - breathe in, breathe out..
Highlights from the book:
True peace is always possible. Yet it requires strength and practice
To practice peace, to make peace alive in us, is to actively cultivate understanding, love, and compassion, even in the face of misperception and conflict.
in the depths of our consciousness, we have both the seeds of compassion and the seeds of violence.
Peace is there for us in every moment. It is our choice.
The Breathing Room Every family should have a peaceful space or breathing room, where any member can take refuge.
You can make the breathing room a part of your daily life, not just a place of refuge during an emotional storm.
With this practice, the day always begins well.
Aim to be an orange tree that does its best to offer blossoms and beautiful fruit. This is an act of love.
THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS This food is the gift of the whole universe: the Earth, the sky, and much loving work.
May we live and eat in mindfulness so that we are worthy to receive this food.
Every moment is joyful.
Walking meditation is another important way to cultivate nonviolence within your family.
Appreciating Nature - Walking together outdoors increases our happiness, peace, and harmony.
The sangha, the spiritual community, is our new direction, and sangha building is the noblest task we have before us.
The Sangha River If we are a drop of water and we try to get to the ocean as only an individual drop, we will surely evaporate along the way. To arrive at the ocean, you must go as a river.
The sangha is your river.
sangha has the power to protect and carry us, especially in difficult times.
The Sangha River is a community of friends who practice the way of harmony, awareness, and compassion.
Allow your community to hold you, to transport you.
For us, the whole world is contained in this peaceful place.
“My dear friends, the Buddha said everything is impermanent, including war.�
You have to generate the nectar of compassion in your heart.
Safety is a deep, basic wish of all people, no matter what race or nationality.
Safety is not an individual matter; it is a matter that concerns all of us. Happiness is like this, too.
Live in such a way that you embody true peace, that you can be peace in every moment of your daily life.
Highlights from the book:
True peace is always possible. Yet it requires strength and practice
To practice peace, to make peace alive in us, is to actively cultivate understanding, love, and compassion, even in the face of misperception and conflict.
in the depths of our consciousness, we have both the seeds of compassion and the seeds of violence.
Peace is there for us in every moment. It is our choice.
The Breathing Room Every family should have a peaceful space or breathing room, where any member can take refuge.
You can make the breathing room a part of your daily life, not just a place of refuge during an emotional storm.
With this practice, the day always begins well.
Aim to be an orange tree that does its best to offer blossoms and beautiful fruit. This is an act of love.
THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS This food is the gift of the whole universe: the Earth, the sky, and much loving work.
May we live and eat in mindfulness so that we are worthy to receive this food.
Every moment is joyful.
Walking meditation is another important way to cultivate nonviolence within your family.
Appreciating Nature - Walking together outdoors increases our happiness, peace, and harmony.
The sangha, the spiritual community, is our new direction, and sangha building is the noblest task we have before us.
The Sangha River If we are a drop of water and we try to get to the ocean as only an individual drop, we will surely evaporate along the way. To arrive at the ocean, you must go as a river.
The sangha is your river.
sangha has the power to protect and carry us, especially in difficult times.
The Sangha River is a community of friends who practice the way of harmony, awareness, and compassion.
Allow your community to hold you, to transport you.
For us, the whole world is contained in this peaceful place.
“My dear friends, the Buddha said everything is impermanent, including war.�
You have to generate the nectar of compassion in your heart.
Safety is a deep, basic wish of all people, no matter what race or nationality.
Safety is not an individual matter; it is a matter that concerns all of us. Happiness is like this, too.
Live in such a way that you embody true peace, that you can be peace in every moment of your daily life.
February 24, 2020
My morning routine really benefits from reading mindfulness books. You all know I am a huge fan of Thich Nhat Hanh; I will probably love anything he writes. There's something so peaceful about how he uses his words that it just seeps right in. The methods in this book are very helpful but not necessarily easy. I've come to discover that practicing mindfulness is challenging, especially in a world filled with technology (which isn't always bad) and distractions. It's easy to want to distract yourself instead of experiencing difficult emotions.
I haven't tried Hanh's approach to ending violence in my family yet but I look forward to building up my practice so that I can possibly broach that topic in the future. I think laying down the groundwork is important and Hanh realizes that it can take days, months, even years to do so. But it's important work before diving into a situation that you can't handle or haven't worked up to yet.
The examples he provides on ending violence are helpful and the way that mindfulness is used to save entire populations in times of war is astounding.
I haven't tried Hanh's approach to ending violence in my family yet but I look forward to building up my practice so that I can possibly broach that topic in the future. I think laying down the groundwork is important and Hanh realizes that it can take days, months, even years to do so. But it's important work before diving into a situation that you can't handle or haven't worked up to yet.
The examples he provides on ending violence are helpful and the way that mindfulness is used to save entire populations in times of war is astounding.
July 14, 2023
This book talks a little about Thay's life in Vietnam and about the wars. It appeared that he used these life events as references. In a slightly repetitive manner, he will recommend that we stop watering the seeds of negativity and stop to breathe in the face of adversity. It's quite repetitive to the point where it made me wonder what's the rest of the message. However the more I read this repetitive message, the more I understood that this was the message. We can change our habits through repetition, so why not read about it in a repetitive way.
Overall I felt a sense of calm after reading the book. My mind wanted more substance and more stories and action, obviously. Yet I think this book delivers the message perfectly.
I was introduced to Thay's temple in France (Plum Village), he also brought me into his native country and gave me glimpses of what he went through.
Overall I felt a sense of calm after reading the book. My mind wanted more substance and more stories and action, obviously. Yet I think this book delivers the message perfectly.
I was introduced to Thay's temple in France (Plum Village), he also brought me into his native country and gave me glimpses of what he went through.
October 22, 2022
A good meditation companion. I read a few pages per day before meditating. The messages are standard for a Thich Nhat Hanh book: inner peace, self-compassion, compassion towards others, joy in simplicity and calm. The language used by Thich Nhat Hanh is, as always, clear and easy. This book is very easy to read, although at some points I felt the messages were repetitive, even though I never read more than five or ten pages per day. However, as a primer for meditation, it was very functional, and calming.
March 18, 2024
I have not read much by Thich Nhat Hanh, so this was educational and enlightening. It was interesting to get a glimpse of his life in Vietnam during the awful years of the war and the ways he and other monks and nuns managed to accomplish some pretty amazing things.
There are also many good meditation practices to bring into the here and now of everyday life. That's one of the many things I like about Buddhism, no matter the branch, it's about what we as individuals can do now in our daily lives to become better humans and, by extension, help other humans.
There are also many good meditation practices to bring into the here and now of everyday life. That's one of the many things I like about Buddhism, no matter the branch, it's about what we as individuals can do now in our daily lives to become better humans and, by extension, help other humans.
June 3, 2020
Bellissimo libro. Con esempi pratici e meditazioni guidate Thich Nhat Hanh ci spiega che praticare la pace è possibile in ogni ambito, “a ogni passo che facciamo, a ogni respiro�.
Dalla coppia alla famiglia fino alla società nel suo complesso possiamo portare gentilezza, pace e speranza nella nostra vita quotidiana per una comunità guidata dai principi della nonviolenza, della comprensione e della compassione.
Dalla coppia alla famiglia fino alla società nel suo complesso possiamo portare gentilezza, pace e speranza nella nostra vita quotidiana per una comunità guidata dai principi della nonviolenza, della comprensione e della compassione.
December 15, 2023
Always thought-provoking and challenging in his approach to be a peacemaker, this has some prescient examples of the seeds of war and violence. It's not his strongest work - I would've liked more practicality on the small things we could all do (though I was pleased he emphasized moving away from animal products) - but I did find it useful and always find myself more mindful of sowing dissension unnecessarily after reading a section, which is truly its own reward.
December 22, 2017
The last half of the book I would rate 4-5. It has some very interesting hypothetical conversations concerning changing personal/local/world habits using personal commitment. Certainly helps if you are a monk.
The first half of the book concentrates on creating and meditation/calming techniques. Nothing new there
The first half of the book concentrates on creating and meditation/calming techniques. Nothing new there
August 29, 2018
"If you cannot deal with the problem of violence and pollution within you, how can you deal with the problem of pollution and violence outside of you, in nature?"
This book found me at a timely point in my life. To be read and practiced again, and again, and again.
This book found me at a timely point in my life. To be read and practiced again, and again, and again.
November 30, 2019
I always love Thich Nhat Hanh's writings/teachings. He puts difficult things into such simplicity. This book is more about how to create peace in governments & policy makers. But still some good info for myself & everyone looking for some peace in every day life.
December 25, 2019
A wise book from a wise man. His philosophy is much-needed in our troubled times when we are no longer able to talk with each other about important issues. His emphasis on compassionate listening is so important now. I plan to read more books by Thich Nhat Hanh. He has a lot to offer.
February 29, 2024
Many great suggestions about practices to use to center yourself and step away from the distractions of everyday life. Good examples of different ways to interact with family, friends and co-workers.
October 30, 2019
Another book by Thich Nhat Hanh that brings Buddhist precepts to an accessible space.
July 17, 2020
Very well written book that gives us an insight into violence in all facets of life and ways to eliminate it to achieve true peace.
September 24, 2020
reading multiple times
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