Book Name: Answers From The Heart
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Aleph
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4.8/5
Book Blurb: ‘[Thick Nhat Hanh] shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on Earth.’ — his Holiness the Dalai Lama what is the right way to live? How do I balance My work and My Family? Why do I worry, even when everything is okay? How can I repair My relationship with My parents? In answers from the heart, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers his personal, heartfelt, and often surprising answers to fifty of the most pressing and common questions he has ever been asked. Each answer is a concise summary of Thich Nhat hanh’s own insight based on his lifetime of practice. The book is divided into sections: daily life, living and dying, engaged Buddhism, mindfulness practice, family and relationships, and children’s questions. Together, the questions and answers provide a useful guide for dealing with concrete problems, an accessible way in to Buddhist teachings, and a lively glimpse into the connection between students and their teacher.
Review: This book collects questions and answers primarily on daily life from the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. The book has a forward by Shantum Seth, brother of famed writer Vikram Seth who has embraced Buddhism and helps other seekers.
“…in my search for a spiritual teacher who could guide me on how to ‘be peace’ rather than ‘fight for peace’.”
The questions and answers are divided into many section such as daily life, relationships, spiritual practice, health and death, children’s questions and engaged Buddhism. This is a basic level book for those who are interested in the teachings of Zen Buddhism and want to enrich their lives.
The book is compiled in a concise form to serve as a handy guide for beginners in Buddhism. The last section of the book deals with The Five Mindfulness Trainings and has useful techniques such as pebble meditation that anybody can implement easily.
“When your body disintegrates, that’s not your end. This body is only a very small part of you. We human beings produce speech, thinking, and bodily action.”
The techniques explained here draw upon the age old practices of Dharma and practitioners have described them as a life changing experience.