Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living [Paperback]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), Mayumi Oda (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2006

Developed during a summer retreat at Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's meditation center, these charming short verses were collected to help children and adults practice mindfulness throughout the day. The verses, or gathas, are designed to make everyday activities — such as washing the dishes, driving the car, or turning on the television — opportunities to return to a state of mindfulness. As exercises in both meditation and poetry, gathas are very much in keeping with the Zen tradition: the gatha helps readers become attuned to each action, and at its conclusion, even the most mundane activity is imbued with heightened awareness. Reciting these poetic yet practical verses helps readers slow down and savor every moment. Nhat Hanh’s warm, thoughtful commentary provides insight and inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Vietnamese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese poet, bestselling author and peace activist, has been a Buddhist monk for over 40 years. He was chairman of the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace delegation during the Vietnam War and was nominated by Dr Martin Luther King for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1966 he visited the US and Europe on a peace mission and was unable to return to his native land. Today he heads Plum Village, a meditation community in south-western France, where he teaches, writes, gardens and aids refugees worldwide. Websites include: www.interbeing.org.uk and www.plumvillage.org --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Parallax Press; 2nd edition (December 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888375612
• ISBN-13: 978-1888375619
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, a renowned Zen master, a poet, and a peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967, and is the author of many books, including the best-selling The Miracle of Mindfulness.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical link between thoughts and actions..., January 24, 2001

By 

Darren Bush "wisconsinpaddler" (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living (Paperback)

Ever sit down in a chair, grab a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie? Ever notice too late that you're full, but you didn't realize it and now your stomach hurts? Such are the consequences of mindless eating. It's hard on the furniture, isn't it? You feel rotten for being a glutton. You feel sick from the popcorn. It sucks.

Sure, we've all done it. What this wonderful book strives to teach us is that mindful activities are meaningful activities, that eating without thinking is harmful to the body *and* the spirit. Indeed, any activity can become a meditation - walking, bathing, washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom (!). And it all starts with breathing, and thinking about breathing. If you drive in traffic, get this book and road rage will be a thing of the past.

The art in this book is fitting - simple sketches and paintings of simple things. That is fitting and fits the message - nothing is mundane if done thoughtfully.

Please, don't be afraid of this book. This is not weird New Age stuff that promises happiness in twelve chapters. Waking up is non-sectarian. It is also very, very difficult. And you will wax and wane and have good days and rotten days, but overall, you'll be more mindful of what you do, when you do it, and its effect on the rest of the world.

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment is a practical manual, a small but powerful guide to mindful living. It is one of my ten favorite books, and I have high standards.

P.S. If you like this, you'd probably like Being Peace, another great book.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Present Book Wonderful Book!, May 23, 2001

By 

Missing in Action (Idaho Falls, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living (Paperback)

Thich Nhat Hanh is simply one of the easiest, most gentle authors on the practical application of eastern thought available today. Present Moment, Wonderful Moment is a delight to read. It is a collection of useful verses to keep us mindful throughout the day, recognizing how easy it is to lose sight of the present moment when the crash of life clamors about us constantly. Thich Nhat Hanh uses the technique of memorizing "gathas" for the purpose of focusing the mind on the thing you are doing now rather than on whatever other chatter is going on in the mind. Further, with each verse there is anywhere from a paragraph to a few pages of commentary that give the reader not only insight into the application of the verse, but also insight into the mind and soul of Thich Nhat Hanh. The result is inspirational, soothing, and useful. Of particular importance is the fact that the author, while a monk, is not in the least unaware of the realities of modern life, and included in his verses are ones for talking on the phone, turning on the television, and turning on an electric light. Those not familiar with mindfulness practice might wonder at the insignificance of those daily, mundane experiences, but Thich Nhat Hanh helps us to recognize that there is life "spent" in each of those (and countless other) little activities, and without recognizing that life mindfully, it is life wasted. This man has a simple message...live life fully, abundantly, happily and peacefully, with full awareness of that life as you experience it in the moment. This is a book you will refer to often as you practice mindfulness.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great if you are already practicing, August 21, 2001

By 

Moten Swing (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Mindfulness Verses for Daily Living (Paperback)

These gathas/short poems are interesting and helpful for those who already practice meditation, but may seem skimpy and repetitive to those not already trying to pursue mindfulness.

Don't get this book if you are looking for an introduction to Buddhist thought--get it if you are looking for daily techniques to improve your appreciation of the miracle of daily life.