You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment [Hardcover]

Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), Sherab Chodzin Kohn (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2009

In this book Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, author, and meditation master, distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. “Mindfulness is not an evasion or an escape,” he explains. “It means being here, present, and totally alive. It is true freedom—and without this freedom, there is no happiness.”

Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, this book offers a range of simple, effective practices for cultivating mindfulness, including awareness of  breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. You Are Here also offers guidance on healing emotional pain and manifesting real love and compassion in our relationships with others.

Simple, warm, direct, and startlingly potent, this book reveals the heart of the Buddhist path and helps us to reconnect with the joy and wonder of being alive, regardless of life’s changing circumstances.

Praise for Thich Nhat Hanh

“Among Buddhist leaders influential in the West, Thich Nhat Hanh ranks second only to the Dalai Lama.”—New York Times

“Thich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha.”—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal inner peace and peace on earth.”—His Holiness the Dalai Lama 


“This book, slender as a breviary, elegantly describes the very act of breathing as an art."— Los Angeles Times  

“Recommended as a thought-provoking contribution to the literature of modern Buddhism.”—LibraryJournal.com


“Thich Nhat Hanh’s writing is marked by a combination of accessibility, depth, and immediacy.”—Rain Taxi Review of Books

About the Author

A Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh is an internationally known author, poet, scholar, and peace activist, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. He is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling Living Buddha, Living Christ; Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames; Peace Is Every Step; and The Miracle of Mindfulness. He has founded monastic communities in France, Vermont, and California and teaches actively around the world.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590306759
• ISBN-13: 978-1590306758
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,236 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 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you get one book on Buddhism, get this, September 26, 2009

By 

Michael P. Maslanka (dallas, texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment (Hardcover)

As always, the writing is fluid, spare and moving.If you have never read on the subject, this is a wonderful introduction. If you have, an excellent summary. His descriptions, especially of karma and nirvana, bring simplicity and understanding to difficult concepts. (Einstein was right:when you really understand something, you can make it simple.) He also shares numerous breathing meditations useful for us all.A book to be read again and again.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here is the BEST of all dimensions, September 24, 2009

By 

LovesAgoodRead (Annapolis, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment (Hardcover)

Another beautiful, profound message from "Thay!" The power of the present moment is artfully and lovingly explored. Beyond armchair theory, this gentle monk suggests practical applications in handling, embracing life challenges from a center of consciousness accessible to anyone. There is no requirement to adapt a belief system or theology. Upon finishing this book the first time, I gained a more compassionate regard for some challenging individuals. And here I am.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sweet, simple, and clear, March 13, 2010

By 

mack paul (Norman, OK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment (Hardcover)

Thich Nhat Hanh was the first meditation teacher I ever read. I went on to explore the literature widely. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I'd sort of dismissed him as too simplistic- kind of a Mr. Rogers for adults. In his writing there are no abstractions, none of the ambitious theorizing about "enlightenment." He sticks with very simple basics teachings of moment to moment awareness of the breath as a key to human happiness. In our very uncertain times he advises that we take our anger and fear and treat them with great care and tenderness so that we can relate to others with kindness and compassion. He is indeed a Mr. Rogers for adults, exactly the guy we unhappy adults need.