Being Peace

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Summary: Our state of mind can make the world a peaceful place.
Review: "One of the most important books ever written." -Pilgrim's Way Catalog

Being Peace has become a classic of contemporary religious literature. In his simple and very readable style, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how our state of mind and body can make the world a peaceful place. In the rush of modern life, we often lose touch with the peace that is already available. We learn to use the very situations that pressure and antagonize us-traffic jams, a ringing telephone, dirty dishes-and transform them into opportunities for the practice of mindfulness. The deepest satisfactions lie as close as our next aware breath.

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Summary: A force of calm envelops
Review: A collection of essays, based in some part (perhaps completely) on speeches made in the United States, Thich Nhat Hahn's *Being Peace* serves as a guide to meditation; a glimpse into how Buddhism can help attain world peace; a collection of poems and allegories on Buddhism that are easily understood by Westerners, yet not overly-simplified; and a portrait of a man whose sense of calm is so powerful it has the inevitable effect of bringing peace to the reader. *Being Peace* is neither a practical guide to meditation - with precise explainations on how to sit, koans to recite during sitting, etc. - nor a theoretical justification of Buddhism, a la Alan Watts; instead, it is a book that gives real-life, meaningful reasons to meditate: both to bring peace to yourself, and to the world (which are, in fact, one and the same).

The concepts are not new - in fact they are thousands of years old. What is new is the sense of attainability that *Being Peace* brings to the art of meditation, particularly for those of us who live in not-so-meditative environments.

The volume is slim and easily read in one sitting, but it might serve you better to take time with each concept.

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Summary: present moment...... wonderful moment
Review: A must read for all people. Who shouldn't read a book which facilitates a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you?

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Summary: One of the best ever
Review: Being Peace is a beautiful book that will open your eyes and your heart. Nhat Hanh was an important leader for the Peace movement, and through this collection of essays it is easy to see why. He takes the reader through basic concepts of mindfulness practice, and then relates practice to the way one lives in the world. His concept of InterBeing helped me to see the connectedness in the the world, in a way that applies to my own life and way of living. The book also shares very concrete suggestions for using meditation and awareness to improve life in the modern world. Mindfulness is portrayed as not just a way to relieve stress or feel better, but also to affect change in the crazy world we now live in. If we could all read this book and try to live its lessons, what an amazing world this could be!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best ever
Review: Being Peace is a beautiful book that will open your eyes and your heart. Nhat Hanh was an important leader for the Peace movement, and through this collection of essays it is easy to see why. He takes the reader through basic concepts of mindfulness practice, and then relates practice to the way one lives in the world. His concept of InterBeing helped me to see the connectedness in the the world, in a way that applies to my own life and way of living. The book also shares very concrete suggestions for using meditation and awareness to improve life in the modern world. Mindfulness is portrayed as not just a way to relieve stress or feel better, but also to affect change in the crazy world we now live in. If we could all read this book and try to live its lessons, what an amazing world this could be!

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Summary: Calmness, Smiles & Stories
Review: Being Peace was the first book of engaged Zen to come into my hands, and I found it essential to read from it each day. Hanh's simple stories, and delivery of our need to find and be Peace within before there will be Peace in our world, transformed my thoughts on meditation and prayer. It is an excellent starting place for a new journey in self-understanding/spiritual adventure. "Breathing in, I calm my body; breathing out, I smile...."

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Summary: An excellent primer for manifesting peace
Review: Hanh not only explains Buddhist thought relating to peace and how one can effect peace by "being" peace ... he gives very practical and largely non-sectarian exercises so that one can move beyond simply thinking it to doing it.

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Summary: Amazing, challanges everything that society says is normal
Review: I found this book to be a splash in thr face with the water of reality. Everything I thought was foundatation was washed away within a few sentences, this spurred my intrerst onto reading other Thich Nhat Hanh books, in short GREAT!

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Summary: Great reading for beginners in Buddhism
Review: I was looking for Buddhist writings that were down to earth and relevant to modern Western lifestyle. Being Peace and Touching Peace are just that. They are simple, approachable, and meaningful. I was instantly able to apply what I learned and my practice is better for it.

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Summary: Buddhism for Beginners
Review: I was raised a Buddhist, but discovered from this book that I know more about Buddhism than I thought I did. I love the simplicity of the teachings in this book. I brought this book to Moab, Utah and found it the perfect book to read and reflect upon in that setting. This book made me think more about being a better person, a better Buddhist, and more peaceful. I've since given this book as gifts to two other people since the lectures don't just apply to Buddhists, but are universal to humans attempting to live in peace.