The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
by Thich Nhat Hanh
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Book Reviews of The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Book Review: First Half of Book is Better than the Second
Summary: 4 Stars
The first two parts of the book alone cause me to give the whole book 4 stars. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I liked Hanh's poetic, and even flowery, style of writing.. it's tender, flexible, like a person should be when considering Buddhism.
The first two parts introduce many topics, but I believe that Hanh explained each topic to just the degree needed for a beginner to understand (I'm not a beginner), and yet, also enough exposition to inspire one's further erudition into the study of Buddhism.
The rest of the book seems not to be as organized. Again, many new topics are introduced, but also, some of these new topics have a connection to what one has previously read in the book.. it is almost as if one is simply learning new terms for ideas previously discussed, and yet, the connections between all of the ideas are not completely expressed enough to my satisfaction.
Also, in the second half of the book, I'm a bit baffled by the lists upon lists of abstract qualities, for instance, "3 doors of liberation", "3 bodies of Buddha", "5 aggregates", "6 paramitas".. it goes on and on. There are really only so many ideas under the sun, and much of the information listed in the aforesaid way overlaps itself and runs together, and I am forced to wonder how and why it is that I am to keep such "mental formations" separate.
Overall though, this will be a tome that I keep in my collection for many years to come, due to the immense wealth of assistance its words in the first half have provided to me. Maybe, in time, I will come to understand the second half of the book better.
Book Review: Excellent overview of how to apply Buddhist philosophy.
Summary: 5 Stars
Thich Nhat Hanh has written a book on Buddhist thought and practice that will appeal to those who want to gain practical insights from this great religion -- not necessarily a scholarly dissection. And that's the beauty of his work; he does not pick Buddhism apart as an intellectual ego-boosting exercise. Rather, he explains its essence, with clarity and some humor, and offers many sound suggestions for putting Buddhism to daily practice. Isn't this what Buddhism should really be? Moreover, he has such a knack for finding the appropriate metaphors to underscore key points. Example: When explaining the Buddhist principle of acceptance of the inevitability and necessity of suffering for realizing compassion, he likens this to visualizing the flowers that will some day emerge from the center of the compost pile. Hanh is humble in his approach. Never preachy, he doesn't want the reader to convert to any viewpoint -- only to find in Buddhism some tools for personal spiritual growth. I admire Hanh, a humble Buddhist monk in the Zen tradition. He took great personal risks in preaching peace and reconciliation at a time when his home nation of Vietnam and the United States were embroiled in bitter military conflict. He is not asking us to follow him, but to walk alongside him, and make our own discoveries. What a welcome change of pace from all those "sprirituality" books that push political agendas or become the basis of a commercialized enterprise. This one is genuine. Highly recommended for those of any faith. His other books are very worthwhile, too.
Book Review: A Guide To Beginner's Mind: Changed & Still Changes My Life
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who'd been interested in Bhuddism for years, I picked this book out of a selection of book club discontinued sale items. After owning it for several years, I find it amazing that I found it as a cast off. This is the best primer for Bhuddism I've read.However, this book is not just for beginners. It's for anyone who wants to remain on their path and make a life of improving the world they create on that path. Suffering has an origion, but it also can have an end.
Thich Nhat Hahn introduces us to the Noble Eightfold Path & the concept of "mindfulness" which he considers an important cornerstone to the practice of making your life right. It's not easy, but it is highly rewarding & your life will improve through diligence with these teachings.
The book also contains an explanation of many other Bhuddist concepts which become more & more useful as the understanding sinks in. You'll find yourself returning to them in order to make the benefits of practice manifest themselves in your life.
Lastly, this book dispels many of the myths & misunderstandings of Bhuddism in the West such as our often mistaken take on Bhuddism's view of suffering; though it is often inevitable, suffering CAN be changed. Hahn explains how many errors came to be out of teachings about suffering & sets the right views before us.
If you've ever been interested in Bhuddism but can find no answers, or are a practicing Bhuddist who needs clarification without a teacher, this book is the one to have. I love it.
Book Review: Transforming our Suffering
Summary: 5 Stars
Of all the books I have read and enjoyed by Thich Nhat Hanh, this is the one of the most comprehensive, inspiring and practical. His introduction to the Four Noble Truths is simply written, easy to understand, and yet lacks not one bit in depth. Like all his books, this one helps us to integrate Buddhist ideas into our everyday life without becoming too encumbered with terminology. Although Thich Nhat Hanh does tend to repeat himself in subtle ways, within this book and across his other books, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching seems to integrate many of his ideas into one very coherent and practical treatise on the nature suffering as one of the most basic human conditions we spend our lives trying to accept, or possibly escape.He makes the Buddhist concepts of attachment to objects and people very clear in relationship to human suffering and then highlights the path of well-being, peace and liberation from it.
If I was stuck on an island and could bring a few books, this would be one at the top of the list. It's a reminder that much our our suffering is self created and an illusion. In the same way we imprison ourselves mentally, is the way we begin to liberate ourselves. Freedom and liberation come from within and are possible even under the most extreme, excruciating and trying conditions.
I highly recommend this book, and especially to those who are having difficulty dealing with the loss of a loved one (or loss in general) and those who are imprisoned mentally (with fear), or even physically incarcerated.
Book Review: Read the Dalai Lama books instead
Summary: 3 Stars
Prior to reading this book, most of my Buddhist teachings had come from reading Dalai Lama teachings.
I decided to read this book for the following reasons:
1) While shopping for Buddhism books to read, I saw that Thich Nhat Hanh wrote many books which occupied a lot of shelf space at the local Barnes and Nobles, and Borders Book stores. I assumed that the amount of shelf space might correlate to popularity, and that popularity might correlate to people's opinions of the worthiness of the teachings.
2) Also, I saw that this book was a required textbook for a course about Buddhism at a prestigious university near where I live.
I rationalized if 1) the author was so popular, and 2) a PHD (expert?) choose this book from all the others that were available, as a required textbook to learn about Buddhism, I can't go wrong, so I decided to find out what I was missing.
After reading this book, I determined that I don't think I was missing anything. In fact, I believe time would have been better spent, and I would have gotten more out of re-reading the Dalai Lama teachings.
Personally, I think the Dalai Lama teachings are the best teachings I've come across to date. I would like to challenge anyone that gave this book a 4 or 5 star rating to compare this book to almost any of the Dalai Lama teachings. In particular, I highly recommend reading the Dalai Lama's "A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night - A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life".