Thich Nhat Hanh acknowledges that we try to conceal or avoid sorrow by eating since it may feel so awful. We find a place to eat or turn on the television. Happiness will continue to elude us, though, until we are able to face our grief. Only then will we be able to be available to life and present.
By adopting practices like deep concentration, aware breathing, and pausing, Nhat Hanh teaches how we might nurture the energy of mindfulness in our daily lives. We experience instant freedom and mental clarity when we are able to accept and alleviate suffering thanks to that energy.
There are ways to connect with pain without letting it control you, according to No Mud, No Lotus. Nhat Hanh claims that “we suffer much, much less when we know how to suffer.” Through his typical clarity and excitement, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us the art of happiness and helps us find the wonders around us and within ourselves that we frequently take for granted.
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About the Author
A Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, and peace campaigner, Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) is regarded as one of the world’s most renowned and significant spiritual leaders. He became a Zen Buddhist monk at the age of sixteen after being born in 1926.
He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because of his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation during the Vietnam War. Van Hanh Buddhist University and the School of Youth for Social Service, a corps of Buddhist peace activists, were established in Vietnam by Thich Nhat Hanh.
He continued to rescue boatpersons and assist in the resettlement of refugees while in exile for his efforts to promote peace. Plum Village France, the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the centre of the global Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, was founded by him in 1982.
He authored a hundred books over his seven decades as a teacher, and they have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into over forty languages.
Review
“Oh my happiness, oh my happiness.” Badhiya
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I would also suggest “The Miracle of Mindfulness,” which I read years ago as my first TNH book. Even when performing such a menial task as washing dishes, Jesus stressed focus and single-mindedness in that book.
The lesson goes deeper and demonstrates how this straightforward and considerate act of paying attention when doing the dishes relates to every aspect of our life. You learn to savor every moment of life and enjoy it to the fullest. taking a breath and moving in the proper direction.
We learn how to endure suffering in “Lotus in the Mud”—it’s unavoidable. We can’t just be happy all the time, and when we think we’re not doing well at being happy. Without understanding that happiness and pain are two sides of the same coin, it is impossible to have spiritual money.
According to the poet William Blake, “Friendship is true opposition.” He was saying that in order to advance, life needs contrasts. I think of mythologist Joseph Campbell’s direct, straightforward, and wise counsel: “As you go through life, on your own course, birds will poo on you. Do not waste your time dismissing it. Even though you will face many challenges throughout life, the Lotus will always be there”. Release your cows,” your arrows, your anxieties. Release.
It is possible to become mired in the mud of life, as TNH demonstrates. It’s simple enough to see that you’re covered in mud all the time, and you extrapolate that to everything else, making your suffering seem worse. The Lotus needs the muck of life to bloom, but you have to keep in mind that it is only temporary.
Discover how to welcome the bell (described in the book). We stop when we ring the bell. We pay attention to our heart’s voice. We go back to our core.
The book’s subtitle reads, “The Art of Transforming Suffering.” Like any art, it will need effort, but you will discover how to turn your pain into joy. The exercises, mantras, and daily routines in this book aid in finding serenity. I wish you serenity despite any adversity you are facing.
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Summary
Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep book No Mud, No Lotus delves into the idea of attaining ultimate pleasure and overcoming pain. It provides enlightening lessons and useful mindfulness practices to assist in overcoming obstacles in life.