Books › The art of living
The art of living
224 pages
A clarifying, peaceful meditation on finding profound joy and interconnectedness in the present moment.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting with a wise, gentle teacher in the midst of a chaotic world. The pace is intentionally leisurely, inviting the reader to slow down and absorb its transformative meditations on mindfulness and interconnectedness. Its tone is deeply intimate and clarifying, cutting through the urgency of troubled times with poignant, timeless prose. The atmosphere is profoundly peaceful and grounding, shifting the emotional weight of existential questions—including fears around aging and dying—into a space of curiosity, joy, and acceptance. It is a deeply comforting experience, perfect for anyone seeking spiritual nourishment, a deeper understanding of themselves, and the practical wisdom to live fully and lovingly in the present moment.
- Mood
- peaceful
- contemplative
- grounding
- comforting
- Tone
- intimate
- clarifying
- poignant
- earnest
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- mindfulness and presence · interconnectedness · facing mortality · finding inner peace · spiritual awakening
- The writing
- Poignant, timeless, and clarifying, offering profound spiritual truths with intimate simplicity.
- The arc
- Moves from a place of urgent existential questioning toward a grounded, joyful acceptance of the present moment.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking spiritual grounding, mindfulness practices, and a peaceful approach to life's deepest anxieties.
Content notes
- aging
- death and dying
About the book
In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh --- one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today --- reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire. Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our interconnectedness with the world around us. Based on the last full talks before his sudden hospitalization, and drawing on intimate examples from his own life, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how these seven meditations can free us to live a happy, peaceful and active life, and face aging and dying with curiosity and joy and without fear. Containing the essence of the Buddha's teachings and Thich Nhat Hanh's poignant, timeless, and clarifying prose, The Art of Living provides a spiritual dimension to our lives. This is not an effort to escape life or to dwell in a place of bliss outside of this world. Instead, this path will allow us to discover where we come from and where we are going. And most of all, it will generate happiness, understanding, and love, so we can live deeply in each moment of our life, right where we are.
Description from Open Library.
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