Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet

August 23, 2021
Nhat Hanh (How to Relax), a prominent Buddhist monk and peace activist, who has written extensively on topics such as mindfulness, love, and creating peaceful communities, collects many of those teachings focused on finding calm and an optimistic way forward amidst the anxieties of climate change. With Sister True Dedication, a longtime acolyte, editing the essays and adding personal commentary, the book alternates between Buddhist parables, personal insights, and examples of the monk’s teachings applied in difficult situations, such as a police officer showing compassion in a tense situation. Though many of the essays don’t apply directly to climate change, the book encourages simple, non-consumptive lifestyles; respect for nature; and compassionate community-building—both as techniques for building a life of devotion and for combating environmental destruction. For instance, Nhat Hanh rails against the over-borrowing of modern societies as a large-scale form of change: “That is the miracle of mindfulness, concentration, and insight: realizing we can be happy with the conditions that are already available, that we don’t need to strive to get more, exploiting the planet as we do so.” Nhat Hanh’s empowering voice and example will be valuable to those seeking wisdom in a frenetic, threatened world.

October 1, 2021

Vietnamese poet, scholar, peace activist, and Zen master Nhat Hanh (Peace Is Every Breath) has been a Buddhist monk for nearly eight decades and has developed keen insight into approaches for living a better life. In his latest book, Nhat Hanh proposes ways to think about the myriad challenges facing the planet and to strengthen one's own "clarity, compassion, and the courage to act." The central concept is that making positive change in the world requires individuals to first change their own habitual negative ways of thinking. The bulk of the material is derived from Nhat Hanh's Zen teachings, with sources in his writings, speeches, interviews, and Q&A sessions (edited here by his students, with notable commentary from Sister True Dedication). The book presents Nhat Hanh's Five Mindfulness Trainings in a non-sectarian manner, so they can be applied universally. VERDICT General readers will benefit from Nhat Hanh's focus on mindfulness and positive at the individual level. Recommended for anyone wanting a better world for future generations.--Gary Medina, El Camino Coll., Torrance, CA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 24, 2021
It can be tough to keep a positive attitude and feel hopeful. In this book, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet, and peace activist Th�ch Nhất Hạnh applies Buddhist wisdom to everyday life to help readers make peace with their place in the world and give them the tools to accept circumstances beyond their control. We often walk through life asleep, and only when we wake up do we see the beauty of Earth and the marvel of our bodies, he says. He also talks about the Diamond Sutra, a way of meditating that calls for one to release the notion of self, man, living being, and life span, because only then can we become part of the greater whole and work to mitigate suffering. Removing preconceived notions removes discrimination, which is the root of much strife. He stresses that failure is okay, because every breath and every step are a success. The author uses parables to reinforce concepts, making the teachings more accessible to those unfamiliar with Zen and Buddhism.

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