Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) [Paperback]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), Robert Ellsberg (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Series: Modern Spiritual Masters | Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Zen master, poet, monk and peace advocate, Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who has lived in exile in France for 30 years. Through his writings and retreats he has helped countless people of all religious backgrounds to live mindfully in the present moment, to uproot sources of anger and distrust, and to achieve relationships of love and understanding.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Considering the huge number of books that beloved Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh has put out, we really need a "best of" collection. Here we have it, in Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings, which brings together snippets from Nhat Hanh's poetry, his Christian-Buddhist dialogues, his introductions to Buddhist sutras, and of course, his own well-spoken takes on core Buddhist ideas. If there is one word that sums up Nhat Hahn's Buddhism, it is "interbeing," the name he gave to his own monastic order. Being fully present in the moment is mindfulness, and interdependence tells how all things are intimately connected, the understanding of which encourages us to engage the world at every moment. Sister Annabel Laity, a master in her own right who has received transmission from Nhat Hanh, provides a brief but illuminating biography of Nhat Hanh for this collection, along with insightful introductions to each of the chapters. Themes that order the chapters are those that run through all of Nhat Hahn's teachings: mindfulness, compassion, delicate attention to detail, patience, and forgiveness. For those interested in this Zen monk's life and works, Essential Writings is essential reading. --Brian Bruya

From Publishers Weekly

"Life exists only in the present moment. To lose the present is to lose life." This is the simple, potent message of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, an immeasurably gifted mindfulness teacher. Exiled from his homeland for his work for peace during the Vietnam War, Thay (teacher), as he is known to his friends, has spread his practice of "present moment, wonderful moment" and "socially engaged Buddhism" around the world via his books that have been translated into 22 languages. A gentle introduction here fills in some of the biographical details of his life shaped by his homeland, a country long full of strife. This slender anthology that draws from 22 sources is a natural addition to Orbis's Modern Spiritual Masters series featuring Bonhoeffer, Weil, Chardin and Merton. Hanh belongs in this company because he is perhaps unsurpassed in quietly and easily teaching life's deeper lasting realities: available peace and inner truth. To read him is never again to eat a tangerine, nor view roses and garbage, in the same old way. The essence of his vital message, so accessible for non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike, is in virtually every paragraph of this skillfully edited collection. It is the consummate newcomer's primer, as well as a satisfying capstone for those familiar with Hanh's voice. (Apr.)Forecast: As Thich Nhat Hanh gains popularity in the United States, bookstore shelves are increasingly filled with titles by and about the exiled Vietnamese Buddhist monk. Still, there is room for this title, which is a brief, accessible distillation of his teachings. Orbis will sell the book through Buddhist retreat centers and nontraditional outlets as well as bookstores.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 163 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570753709
• ISBN-13: 978-1570753701
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any devoted fan of Nhat Hanh!, December 26, 2001

By 

Alan T. Peto (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

When I ordered this book, I really expected a disorganized mix of Thich Nhat Hanh's writings and quotes...was I wrong.

The book has quickly become one of my favorites...it has helped me understand many buddhist concepts I had a hard time understanding in only a few short pages.

You'll read about situations, concepts, the Buddha and more all in this great book...words really cannot do it justice. This is a collection of some of the best of Nhat Hanh's writings in his many books (he has a ton!)

Bottom line: If you're an avid reader of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, you'll love this one to remind you of the many things he has written. if you're new to Thich Nhat Hanh or want to learn about Buddhism, you'll really enjoy this book!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars everyone should read this book, May 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

This dude really has it. really. I have a pile of books on philosophy, zen, taoism, happiness, etc. and this is the one that I carry with me, that I read before I go to bed, that I recommend to people, because this is beautiful. As important to me as "the prophet" by Kahlil Gibran, which is important to me.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This volume has it all, February 9, 2007

By 

B. Rothermel (WI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thich Nhat Hanh: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

If you want to own one concise volume of Thich Nhat Hanh, this is it. It pulls together lessons from many of his earlier writings, and like the title says, his most essential writings are within these pages.