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jlpearce06's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.5
I liked Being Peace more but I've already incorporated some ideas from this one. Thích Nhất Hạnh is such a wonderful teacher!
librosconcafe's review
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.75
A helpful book full of wisdom. The chapters are short though, so it may be better to read a little each day.
rebcamuse's review
4.0
As this is a very practice-based book, I'm not sure it is the best choice as an audiobook if one wants to have the information as a reference (and doesn't want to take notes). That said, there are some really choice and good practices...some of them particular to group settings (and adapted from those at Plum Village) and others that are generally good philosophies to carry. I find the ecumenical ties encouraging: the "Today's Day" practice, for example, is very much akin to the "Haec dies" of Christianity (This is the day that the Lord has made), and a lot of other traditions that ask us to live fully in the present day and be glad for it.
I appreciated the acknowledgement that not everyone can "walk" (when discussing the walking meditation), but would have preferred some more robust alternatives rather than suggesting those who cannot walk "support" those who can. This has been one of my concerns about physical practice of meditation over all---it can be ableist. I appreciate the more flexible approaches advocated by Ten Percent Happier and others in terms of having a choice of "anchors"--not just the breath. That said, I appreciate that a lot of what comes from Thich Nhat Hanh is echoed with a slightly more secular undertone at TPH.
I did find myself wondering how parents find some of his recommendations for parenting, as he does not have children, of course. I'm not a parent, but some of the recommendations struck me as very idealistic and probably better suited for something like Plum Village rather than a household, but I am speculating. I also wondered if some of the peacemaking approaches might enable people to stay in an abusive relationship, because everyone "suffers". He does address this at times, but I can imagine that someone who has had their sense of self so altered by abuse might interpret this as a responsibility merely to communicate their suffering, rather than escape from it.
Edoardo Ballerini's narration is calming in and of itself, and now I feel that I cannot remove his voice from my reading and understanding of Thich Nhat Hanh--this is not a bad thing. He makes listening to this work a rather meditative experience with peaceful intentionality.
This is a good overview of meditative practices that can be incorporated into every day life: eating, walking, resting, communicating....so "Happiness" is an apt title. As with most of Thich Nhat Hanh's works, the Buddhist foundations are there as a point of reference, not dogma, so there is much here for those that are looking to embrace a mindfulness practice without a religious connection.
I appreciated the acknowledgement that not everyone can "walk" (when discussing the walking meditation), but would have preferred some more robust alternatives rather than suggesting those who cannot walk "support" those who can. This has been one of my concerns about physical practice of meditation over all---it can be ableist. I appreciate the more flexible approaches advocated by Ten Percent Happier and others in terms of having a choice of "anchors"--not just the breath. That said, I appreciate that a lot of what comes from Thich Nhat Hanh is echoed with a slightly more secular undertone at TPH.
I did find myself wondering how parents find some of his recommendations for parenting, as he does not have children, of course. I'm not a parent, but some of the recommendations struck me as very idealistic and probably better suited for something like Plum Village rather than a household, but I am speculating. I also wondered if some of the peacemaking approaches might enable people to stay in an abusive relationship, because everyone "suffers". He does address this at times, but I can imagine that someone who has had their sense of self so altered by abuse might interpret this as a responsibility merely to communicate their suffering, rather than escape from it.
Edoardo Ballerini's narration is calming in and of itself, and now I feel that I cannot remove his voice from my reading and understanding of Thich Nhat Hanh--this is not a bad thing. He makes listening to this work a rather meditative experience with peaceful intentionality.
This is a good overview of meditative practices that can be incorporated into every day life: eating, walking, resting, communicating....so "Happiness" is an apt title. As with most of Thich Nhat Hanh's works, the Buddhist foundations are there as a point of reference, not dogma, so there is much here for those that are looking to embrace a mindfulness practice without a religious connection.
mnyberg's review
5.0
The purpose of reading this book is to read the book. Simple, powerful and not easy.
daniellersalaz's review
4.0
Although I’ve completed Happiness, this is really not a book to read from cover to cover and put away. The practices presented here should be revisited and rediscovered throughout one’s life. Mindfulness is not generally celebrated or incentivized in our present culture. Programmers develop apps that will lull us into complacency and keep us from focusing on life outside our screens. 24 hour news cycles constantly present “breaking news” so we won’t turn off the TV. We have music and podcasts to keep us company throughout the day, allowing us to never face our own thoughts and fears.
We must build in practices that break these cycles and intentionally allow us the space and peace to truly appreciate our surroundings and loved ones and our own strengths and weaknesses. Any single chapter in this book could form the foundation for a month of practice; collected together they can be overwhelming but also allow us to find what we need most at the current moment. I plan to revisit this work frequently.
In particular, I enjoyed the last section, “Practicing with Children.” As a mother to two teen/tween boys, I see how these practices can disarm family conflict and create spaces for generosity and kindness, leading to more harmony in the household. Very helpful reminders when circumstances become challenging!
We must build in practices that break these cycles and intentionally allow us the space and peace to truly appreciate our surroundings and loved ones and our own strengths and weaknesses. Any single chapter in this book could form the foundation for a month of practice; collected together they can be overwhelming but also allow us to find what we need most at the current moment. I plan to revisit this work frequently.
In particular, I enjoyed the last section, “Practicing with Children.” As a mother to two teen/tween boys, I see how these practices can disarm family conflict and create spaces for generosity and kindness, leading to more harmony in the household. Very helpful reminders when circumstances become challenging!
breannew's review
slow-paced
5.0
Useful for re-reads. I especially liked listening to it at 1.75; it felt calming