21min
If we want to live mindfully, we need to focus on the present and prevent our minds from wandering. In The Miracle of Mindfulness, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh offers a series of exercises inspired by classical Buddhist texts, to learn the art of awareness through meditation and breathing techniques. By appreciating the simple things, we become more conscious of the miracle of life.
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Analysis and key concepts
01.
In order to be truly aware of every moment, we must always focus on the task at hand
02.
Breathing with awareness allows us to maintain mindfulness and improve concentration
03.
Mindfulness should ideally be practised every day, but we can also reserve just one full day of the week to mastering our time
04.
If we can't find inner peace and happiness through meditation, we won't find it anywhere
05.
True mindfulness is the understanding of interdependence between objects, through concentration and meditation
06.
Meditation is not evasion, but a serene encounter with reality
07.
When it comes to meditation, there are many simple exercises and techniques we can use to embark on the path to mindfulness
08.
Quotes
09.
Take-home message
Most people strive to find happiness and inner peace by pursuing professional success, going on holidays, or seeking validation from others, but none of these really help us connect with the present moment. Focussing too much on the future or the past also makes it difficult to achieve peace, which we can all experience if we live in the moment. Today's society places too high a value on reaching an objective, which is why we forget how to appreciate the simple things of real life.
The author applied the Buddhist practice of mindfulness to his own life by focusing on the present moment, and developed easy-to-follow meditation exercises we can all follow. Thanks to specific concentration techniques, we too can learn to become aware, and savour even the smallest and most mundane details.
Even commonplace and everyday activities, like washing the dishes, can become meaningful moments. All we need to do is make sure we are focused and mentally aware of the task at hand, without getting distracted by other thoughts. When we wash the dishes, we should only be washing the dishes, trying to remain mindful of what we are doing. It is unhelpful to think of the task as unavoidable and tedious, as is letting our minds wander to the steaming cup of tea waiting for us when we have finished – this is not what being alive is about. While standing at the sink, we should try to remember that life is a miracle, and not let our minds wander into the future. It is important to be aware of our bodies, movements, and thoughts while we are washing the dishes. When the time finally comes to drink our cup of tea, we shouldn't let our minds wander to other things, but focus on the taste of the tea in our mouths.
The Buddhist manual "Sutra of Mindfulness" teaches us to be constantly and perfectly mindful of our actions. Our minds must always be fully conscious, regardless of the task we are performing, or the position our bodies are in.
Mindfulness is the key to taking notice of life's wonders and miracles. People usually consider walking on water or on thin air as a miracle, when the real miracle is to walk on earth. Every day, we are part of the wonder of life and nature that surrounds us.
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The author
Thich Nhat Hanh was born in 1926 and died in 2022. He was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, and peace and human rights activist. He was ordained a monk at the age of 16, and became a teacher and social activist in Vietnam before he was exiled in 1969. Martin Luther King nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. In 1982, he founded Plum Village in France, a Buddhist community that helps refugees, political prisoners, and poor families in Vietnam and around the world. He was an advocate of inner transformation through meditation, and published over 100 books, including the bestsellers The Miracle of Mindfulness and Peace is Every Step.
Edition
Publishing house:
Beacon Press
Year:
1999
Pages:
140
ISBN:
978-0807012390