The majority of us are always afraid of failing, of our history, of becoming sick and getting old, of losing the things we value most, and of never finding our true selves. However, Buddhist monk and well-known Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh asserts that things don’t have to be this way.
Hanh demonstrates how to utilise the practice of living in the present to accept and welcome our worries, identify their causes, and make them helpless by drawing on her life’s experience practicing mindfulness.
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About the Author
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nominated Thich Nhat Hanh, a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, novelist, philosopher, and social change crusader, for the Nobel Peace Prize. Among his numerous best-selling works are the timeless masterpieces The Art of Living and Peace Is Every Step.
Through his writings and retreats in the monasteries he established in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, he rose to prominence in modern Buddhism by providing teachings that are both universally applicable and steeped in ancient knowledge.
Sister Chan Khong is a lifetime partner and the most senior monastic student of Thich Nhat Hanh. Her writings include Learning True Love and Beginning Anew, and she is a driving influence in his humanitarian endeavours and active Buddhism activities.
Thich Nhat Hanh ordained Sister True Dedication, a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher.
Review
Thich Nhat Hanh has a talent for communicating his ideas on difficult subjects in a clear, concise, and understandable way. Don’t wait to get this book. I was coping with the fallout from my first panic attack a few months ago when I picked up this book. Although I have never considered myself to be worried, the experience left me feeling uncomfortable and thinking about dread.
Over the last year and a half, I have been on a personal growth trip, but the last few months have been the most difficult. Despite having a wonderful support system of friends and family, I had to rely on myself and develop resilience on my own.
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It was one of those situations where I knew deep down that I would have to go through this journey alone, no matter what I did in the future. I had never depended on myself so much, so it was frightening. It was first filled with a great deal of worry, anxiety, and self-doubt.
The idea of ‘death’ terrified me from a very young age. It’s not a topic that is discussed around the dinner table, and to be honest, I didn’t understand it. I therefore never really had the opportunity to investigate this idea. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but throughout my panic attack, I felt like I was going to die.
The idea of death was the reason I had to go through so many layers before I could reach the root of all my worries and anxieties. It would not last long, but I wanted to live a powerful, courageous, loving, and grateful life.
Ironically, making friends and accepting death are also necessary for a fulfilling life. This book tackles this subject in a creative way. That specific chapter included a statement that gave me more power than all the other books I have ever read put together.
After reading ‘Fear’ the next day, I had a sense of calm and satisfaction that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Of course, I still occasionally experience anxiety or panic, but I am more capable of managing those circumstances now, and like anything else in life, improvement requires practice. I will always be appreciative of Thich Nhat Hanh sharing his knowledge.
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Summary
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen Buddhist master from Vietnam who is almost a living saint. Nhat Hanh shares his fundamental knowledge in this wonderful small book on how to develop fearlessness and nonfear so that we may face life’s challenges with greater composure and grace.
Breathing in the present, thinking about interbeingness (= enormous), and strengthening our energy of attention and focus are all examples of big ideas.