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The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat

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In May 1998, Thich Nhat Hanh led a three-week mindfulness retreat in Burlington, Vermont, at which he delivered dharma teachings on the "Sixteen Ways of Breathing" from THE DISCOURSE ON THE AWARENESS OF BREATHING. This 279-page book is the transcribed record of that retreat, including three question-and-answer sessions. Thay offers lessons here on cultivating "the seeds of mindfulness, enlightenment, understanding, joy and loving kindness" (p. 97).

It is no surprise that Buddhist scholar, Robert Thurman, calls Thich Nhat Hanh "one of the greatest teachers of our time." This book provides easy-to-read instructions on "how to light the lamp of mindfulness and shine it on each moment, each act of the day. You do everything in the light of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the presence of God, is the energy of the Buddha within us, the element of holiness within us" (p. 41). Anyone can practice mindfulness. "You don't need to be a Buddhist," Thay says; "you don't need to be a Dharma teacher" (p. 43). Mindfulness is "deep looking" and "living deeply" (p. 66). Like the sun, when it touches something, it brings about transformation (p. 109). For instance, it allows us to discover everything in the cosmos in a flower: "the sunshine, a cloud, the earth, time, space, everything . . . except . . . a separate existence, a separate self" (p. 172).

Through mindfulness, we walk "the path of emancipation:" "We are free from birth and death. Our true nature is no-birth and no-death. We realize the ground of our being by looking deeply and touching reality deeply. This is the only way to dissipate our fears. If we have this deep insight, we will be liberated from our anguish and fear of being and nonbeing. The Buddha said that all fears and cravings are born from ignorance. Through knowledge and insight, we gain emancipation. We cannot have insight if we don't practice looking deeply. Looking deeply is the practice of meditation" (pp. 208-9). I have read more than a half dozen of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, and I will be adding this one to my list of favorites: BEING PEACE (1988), LIVING BUDDHA, LIVING CHRIST (1995), THE MIRACLE OF MINDFULNESS (1996), and GOING HOME: JESUS AND BUDDHA AS BROTHERS (1999).

G. Merritt

I do believe, as others have said, that Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the greatest teachers of all time. While I have read and enjoyed many of his books on mindful living, I believe The Path of Emancipation ranks among his best including Peace is Every Step and Teachings on Love. Thich Nhat Hahn has the remarkable ability to make the teachings of Buddha and the practice of mindfulness fully accessable,and of benefit, to all people regardless of religious background or training. Surely Thich Nhat Hanh must be one of the most prfound and influential buddhas among us today.

What sets The Path of Emancipation apart from other similar books is the clear and simple prescription for happiness that Thich Nhat Hahn provides. Don't be daunted by the book jacket notes that proclaim an "in-depth" set of instructions. While the discourses are indeed comprehensive, they are in no way complex or intimidating. Instead, the discourses offer a very intuitive and easy-to-follow set of trainings; teachings that anyone can apply to his her daily life. As a result of reading and embracing this book, I believe it is possible for each and every one of us to learn to experience the peace of mindfulness and the joy of a truly awakened life.

In May, 1998, more than four hundred Buddhists from around the world joined Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poetry and peace advocate Thich Nhat Hanh's first 21-day retreat in Vermont for the purpose of experiencing "mindfulness". Comprising an in-depth instruction in the "Sixteen Ways of Breathing", The Path Of Emancipation is a transcription of Hanh's discourse and responses to questioners. This is a most remarkable and welcome addition to the growing library of Buddhist instructional literature available for western readers.

My favorite dharma story is included in this book, on pages 205-206:

From "The Path of Emancipation":
"My right hand, which has written hundreds of poems, can also write calligraphy and ring the bell. Yet it is not proud of itself. It never tells the left hand, "You are good for nothing. You don't write poems or practice calligraphy." ... It knows that it is also my left hand, and it acts according to that wisdom. One day, I held a nail in place with my left hand, my right hand, holding the hammer, missed the nail and pounded my [left] finger instead. The moment my right hand made the mistake and caused me pain, it put down the hammer and started taking care of my left hand. It did not say, "I'm sorry." This way of behaving is perfect. My right hand considered itself one with my left hand and made no distinction such as, "I am the right hand. I am taking care of you, the left hand. You should remember that." My right hand practiced the emptiness of loving perfectly. Our body and consiousness have the wisdom of nondiscrimination."

This book takes the reader through the dharma talks of a mindfulness retreat. Thich Nhat Hanh is at the top of his game and gives the reader a rare opportunity to receive a thorough and well thought out foray into mindfulness practices and into practices which are guaranteed to be successful if only we are bold enough (and open minded enough) to embrace the feast that is presented in this gem of a book.