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: Very Complete
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people like Thich Nhat Hanh's works for his uncandid simplicity. This book I feel is for both the initiated practitioners and uninitiated practitioners alike. Thay covers so very much in this book, it is a bit baffling to figure where the review should begin. When I originally purchased this book, I was looking for someone to expound a bit on all the "dogma" I believed I saw in Buddhism. I had read a few of Thich Nhat Hanh's earlier works and had always been impressed by his "unscholarly" approach to the Buddha Dharma.Nhat Hanh truly delivered to me what I came looking for, the book is so very thorough. He literally covers just about everything one needs to know about the "ritualistic or discipline oriented" side of practice here. Thich Nhat Hanh's Zen is a bit playful often, and although we see glimpses of that here, I have to say it almost IS a bit scholarly. It's truly a very exceptional book, sure to bring you more growth to personal practice.
Please enjoy the book:)
Book Review: A Great Intro to Buddhism
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" is one of the best books I've read. It's a great introduction to the basic principals and ideas of Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hanh really explained things in such a way that I feel I'm walking away with ideas and resources to help deal with everyday problems.
I'm tempted to call this a self-help book with how every chapter seemed to address things that I as a person am confronted with and am trying to understand. How Hanh applies Buddha's teaching to suffering, anger and how to achieve peace and zen is something I believe everyone needs and will benefit from reading. I've read other books that felt as if they were speaking of things beyond my grasp and ability to make sense of; this was not that book. Everything flowed nicely, the concepts were presented in terms that weren't too complicated, the examples given were ones that did not distract from the ideas and points.
Definitely a must read and worth your time and attention.
Book Review: One of those life-changing tomes
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't really adequately describe the effect this book has had on me. Yes, it's changed my life. Written in very simple English, so that even the most inexperienced student of Buddhism (that would be me!) is able to understand, this book describes eloquently, and with a sweet and simple passion, the key concepts of Buddha's teaching.Included are beautiful examples of what can happen when we incorporate such concepts as Right Thinking, Right Action, Right Mindfulness, amongst others. I do want to add - so the reader isn't in the slightest bit misled - that in the Buddhist context, the use of "Right" refers NOT to a moral definition of right and wrong, but rather the difference between beneficial, and nonbeneficial trains of thought and action. It appears that people of virtually any religious path may benefit from the wisdom within this marvellous text.
It's the first book I've read by the author - but it certainly won't be the last.
Book Review: I took my time reading this book, because I enjoyed it so much.
Summary: 5 Stars
Thich Nhat Hanh's voice of peace and patient compassion comes through every word he writes. I have a library of his books, and this one gives an overview of Buddhism that emphasizes an important point that other Buddhist dissertations sometimes miss, that we live in a world where we can experience suffering and joy. He recounts having to learn all 51 seeds (formations) within us that can be experienced.
I have been practicing Buddhism for many years, and still learned much from The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching. The writing is rich with knowledge and Thay's perspective always helps me to understand even the deepest esoteric thought.
As soon as I finished reading it, I started at page one to read it again.
I encourage you to buy this or any of Thich Nhat Hanh's books. And if you are fortunate, you might enjoy practicing with him, as he teaches many retreats.
Book Review: Read With Caution
Summary: 4 Stars
THBT is divided into four parts: the first, an introduction to the 4Noble Truths; the second, the Eightfold Path; the third, to some of the major Buddhist and Mahayana-Buddhist concepts such as, the Three Dharma Seals, The Twelve Links of Dependent Co-Arising, and the Three Bodies of the Buddha, etc; the fourth part, includes some discourses such as the "Turning of the Wheel" and "Right View." As is usual with TNH the writing is clear, and very accessible, but without outside information it is hard for a beginner to know that the views expressed are not of a "generic" Buddhism but of a particular sub-group of Mahayanist teaching. The book can, however provide a solid basis for understanding Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy and most importantly a particular expression of the gentle and non-coercive nature of the Buddha's message.