The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by Thich Nhat Hanh
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Book Reviews of The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Book Review: Transforming our Suffering
Summary: 5 Stars
Of all the books I have read and enjoyed by Thich Nhat Hanh, this is the one of the most comprehensive, inspiring and practical. His introduction to the Four Noble Truths is simply written, easy to understand, and yet lacks not one bit in depth. Like all his books, this one helps us to integrate Buddhist ideas into our everyday life without becoming too encumbered with terminology. Although Thich Nhat Hanh does tend to repeat himself in subtle ways, within this book and across his other books, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching seems to integrate many of his ideas into one very coherent and practical treatise on the nature suffering as one of the most basic human conditions we spend our lives trying to accept, or possibly escape.He makes the Buddhist concepts of attachment to objects and people very clear in relationship to human suffering and then highlights the path of well-being, peace and liberation from it.
If I was stuck on an island and could bring a few books, this would be one at the top of the list. It's a reminder that much our our suffering is self created and an illusion. In the same way we imprison ourselves mentally, is the way we begin to liberate ourselves. Freedom and liberation come from within and are possible even under the most extreme, excruciating and trying conditions.
I highly recommend this book, and especially to those who are having difficulty dealing with the loss of a loved one (or loss in general) and those who are imprisoned mentally (with fear), or even physically incarcerated.
Book Review: Who can hear the Buddha sing if...?
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never met Thich Nhat Hanh, but everything on my radar screen tells me, "We got a real saint in the flesh." And a poem of his that appeared in an anthology, along with some of my own work, is one of the most sophisticated -- stunning, wonderfully shocking -- poems I have ever seen. Thus to me, if this saint wants to speak (at times) in a way that comforts the little-old-ladies in each of us...
And dear one, Thich Naht Hahn, you are most welcome to quote any time a line of Hafiz about the Buddha (which will probably satisfy any needing some R-rated talk of Truth), a line that addresses a realm which I feel many never even get close to the strength/courage to muzzle; that line which goes:
"Who can hear the Buddha sing if that dog
between your legs is barking?"
I am talking about that "canine/kennel" of the student's. I am not -- at all -- addressing this Hafiz quote to any real teacher. Though I'd bet half-baked gurus might near the finish line if they did not break any hearts via dog antics. We might have to call in the vet, neuter a few rabid gurus...
Daniel Ladinsky
Best-selling Penguin author of various divine tamperings
quote from, The Gift: Poems by Hafiz, page 298
Book Review: A gentle, humanist and revisionist introduction.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful introduction to some of the complicated and not-so-complicated tenets of Buddhism. But in some ways I agree with "Watch your step!", one of the reviewers below. Hanh's is a very personal interpretation, and one with which not all Buddhists will agree. Specifically, he takes a somewhat revisionist view of the nature of suffering and its relation to the Buddha's teaching. He writes, for example, after putting his own views across in a gentle and persuasive way, "I hope scholars and practioners will begin to accept the teaching the all things are marked by impermanence, non-self and nirvana." His substitution of "nirvana" for "suffering" there may strike some as overly revisionist. He is arguing against a long-standing interpretation, and I am persuaded by his view. Some of those thinking of buying this book, however, may not want such an individual perspective, and instead may be looking for a less critical summation of standard Buddhist teachings.
That being said, this should be the standard reference on the basics of Buddhism in English.
"What are you doing?"
Book Review: Intelligent layman's introduction
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is the cure to all those [] self-help type introductions to Buddhism you see these days. This is far from a scholalry book, only suited for dry academics, but at the same time, it doesn't pidgeon hole all of the Buddha's teachings into a few maxims for the Busy American to absorb on the way to the gym or work. I can't gaurantee that you'll become a Buddhist after reading this, or even have much desire to (I know I didn't), but I simply do not see how you can walk away from it without some insight into how you live your life. At the very least, this book will cause you to locate your own self-deprecating actions and stop them (without being new age-y, or full of [] pop psychology). At best, this will cause you to start your life along the middle path. More likely than not, though, you'll end up some where in the middle, like I did. I read this at a very hard point in my life, and I can tell you that it was one of the main reasons I was pulled out of that funk. It helped me to understand why we suffer, and how to escape the cycle of pain and humiliation. Highly Recommended.Book Review: Very Complete
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people like Thich Nhat Hanh's works for his uncandid simplicity. This book I feel is for both the initiated practitioners and uninitiated practitioners alike. Thay covers so very much in this book, it is a bit baffling to figure where the review should begin. When I originally purchased this book, I was looking for someone to expound a bit on all the "dogma" I believed I saw in Buddhism. I had read a few of Thich Nhat Hanh's earlier works and had always been impressed by his "unscholarly" approach to the Buddha Dharma.Nhat Hanh truly delivered to me what I came looking for, the book is so very thorough. He literally covers just about everything one needs to know about the "ritualistic or discipline oriented" side of practice here. Thich Nhat Hanh's Zen is a bit playful often, and although we see glimpses of that here, I have to say it almost IS a bit scholarly. It's truly a very exceptional book, sure to bring you more growth to personal practice.
Please enjoy the book:)