Customer Reviews

The Art of Mindful Living: How to Bring Love, Compassion, and Inner Peace into Your Daily Life

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I have worn out my cassette set of this performance, and am ordering another. Thich Nhat Hanh has remained the most accessible of the Buddhist teachers for many, many years now. For those who have only read his books, I would recommend purchase of these tapes. His voice on tape completes the efforts of his writing. It is a set to be returned to many times (that's how I've worn mine out!). I've found this set particularly enjoyable listening while driving. As usual, Hanh's parables help to make the complex, simple.

Another virtue of this series is the illustration of Hanh's sense of humor!

Though revered around the world, Hanh's humility and pleasure in interacting with people shines through on this series. It is obvious that he is the diametrical opposite to those religious teachers/leaders who set themselves above their followers.

This tape series can serve as an excellent introduction to Thich Nhat Hanh's work, and hopefully would lead to exploring his large anthology of written work.

I have listened to many Dharma Talks (DT) from Thich Nhat Hanh and this one is one of my favourite. This DT is really fun to listen to. I have learned so much from Hanh's teachings and I am trying to practice and change myself for the benefit of my family.

What you will learn from this DT:

* Samatha (Calm Meditation) and Vipassana (Insight Meditation)
* Alayavijñana (Store Consciousness) and Manovijñana (Mind Consciousness)
* 5 simple meditating exercises (In Out, Flower Fresh, Mountain Solid, Water Reflecting, Space Free)
* Mindfulness in the context of the family
* Communication between fathers and sons
* How to deal with anger and hurt feelings
* The 5 remembrances (Aging, Ill Health, Death, Separation, True Belonging)
* True love vs. possessive love
* Meditation for children
* Inter-being, Impermanence, and much more

Thich Nhat Hanh uses a lot of examples in this DT to help the listeners understand better Buddhism. I highly recommend this product to anyone regardless of their religion.

I listened to this set of two tapes over, and over again while in my car. How can we practice being happy? How can we recognize joy in the mundane? What can we do every day to be more aware? Thich Nhat Hanh gives us a start. He offers us daily exercises and practices. Spiced with his personal stories and stories from the traditions of Buddhism he is engaging and entertaining. He offers the listener a more mindful, peaceful, and enriching way of living.

I first became aware of Thich Nhat Hanh by virtue of his being nominated for a Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Vietnam War years. I had heard little of him since that time until a friend mentioned him as being particularly relevant in her practice of Buddhism, particularly meditation. After listening to this CD, I have to agree with her that his gentle, sometimes humorous delivery provides a wonderful relief from the preachiness that is found in many speakers on religion. In fact, he cuts right through the dogmatic b.s. of most religion and goes directly to the nurturing of one's spirituality. Anyone who is struggling to deal with the violence and chaos of the world would do well to listen to Thich Nhat Hanh.

I have been listening to this tape for years, not as a guided meditation, but more as a reminder of strong, important, simple ideas that are easy to forget.


Thich Nhat Hanh has published many books and tapes. This audio CD stands out because in its several hours it covers all the major bases of Zen thinking and practice. When you have listened to it you will have all you need to begin a meditation practice, to understand some basics of Zen or EuroAmerican Buddhism, or advance your existing meditation practice.

The CD includes comments on the importance of being fully present in the moment. ("Present moment, wonderful moment") It goes on to teach a basic but very useful guided meditation, with explanations of each step, so that it is easy to learn and understand. For example, one part has you saying to yourself silently on your in-breath, "breathing in I am aware of a tree," and on the out-breath, "breathing out, I smile to the tree." The words alone don't sound like much, but after hearing the comments, it becomes powerful. The author explains that the tree can be a symbol for all the resouces that are outside my body, that are readily available for me. If there is a tree, he says, there have to be sun, rain, and earth, for example, or else there would be no tree. This thought can be calming as we encounter daily anxieties and sometimes feel that we are not getting enough of what we need: we can look on a tree and remember that the earth has all we need that is important. Enough food, enough air, etc. Breathing in I am aware of a tree, breathing out I smile to the tree.

He also uses this idea to advance the ideas of interbeing and impermanence, but I'll let you find out about those when hearing the CD!

Please don't hesitate to e-mail me with any questions.

Thich Nhat Hanh has such a sweet voice that one is instantly calmed by listening to him. This CD offers gentle guidance for anyone seeking to bring more peace and love into being, or appreciating what already exists.

I put this in my CD player on the night stand and go to sleep to it. I also listen to it in my car. It's great relief in a traffic jam. It changed my way of thinking.

The first book I bought from Tich Nhat Hanh had the following statement by Sogyal Rinpoche "He writes with the voice of the Buddha". I found it to be true up to the last word. I would now dare to say that Tie also speaks with the voice of the Buddha. If you are on the path of mindfulness, these CDs are to be listened over and over, always fresh and new touches of mindfulness.

I received this as a gift and have listened to it 3 times, and each time I find more gems of wisdom and compassion. Hanh is a very gentls soul who gives many tips and insights for the ups and downs of life's journey. Highly recommended.

After reading Thich Nhat Hahn's book "Peace is Every Step" (outstanding), I bought this tape. You'll see several reviewers on this page saying that they have nearly worn out their copy from listening to it again and again. I've done the same. The tape is a series of talks given by Thich Nhat Hahn in one of his visits to the United States. Beginning simply, with exercises in mindful breathing, he speaks about a wide range of topics and teachings that will undoubtedly touch many areas of your own life.

Many other works by Thay (teacher) Nhat Hahn deserve consideration. The tapes "Being Peace" and "The Present Moment" are both excellent follow-ups to The Art of Mindful Living.