April is Poetry Month

Feather at Midday

 

If I had not stopped to watch a feather flying by,

I would not have seen its landing–

a tiny pure white feather.

 

Gently, I blew a soft breath

to send it back to the spring.

 

If I had not looked up to watch

the feather gliding over the roof,

I would not have seen

the crescent moon

hanging at midday.

(Spring 2001)

–Sr. Dang Nghiem, author of Healing: A Woman’s Journey from Doctor to Nun

Our Appointment With Life

 

Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone

Thich Nhat Hanh

ISBN: 9781935209797,  Revised Edition.

“A splendid and reader-friendly translation and commentary.” –Midwest Book Review

In this contemporary interpretation of this ancient teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh explains that “living alone does not mean isolating ourselves from society. To live alone is to live in mindfulness, free from worries about the past and the future. We enjoy life as we live it right now. If we know how to live alone, we can live in harmony with others and create true community. In his signature gentle and clear style, Nhat Hanh reminds us that our appointment with life is in this very moment.

A Moment for the Mind

“Poonam’s book is about how life centered present moment awareness brings us close to the sacred mystery of our existence.

I hope you read it and get in touch with your true self.”

–Deepak Chopra

“These are poems of Mindfulness.
They are clear as crystals.
They show us what is happening now.
That is already insight…
…This is good practice.”

–Thich Nhat Hanh

“Sometimes my mind is driven into stillness, when a quiet moment tiptoes and captures my attention, with a giant thought that just pulls the brake, stumping me. And in the stillness of that moment there is no going further, as the mind unravels mysteries of the manifesting moment.”
–From the Introduction

Poonam Srivastava lives in Delhi, India. Srivastava writes on personal and community wellness for English language Indian newspapers. This is her first book.

The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion

Commentaries on the Prajñaparamita Sutra, Rev. ed.
Thich Nhat Hanh
ISBN: 978-1-935209-44-7, Paperback,154 pages.

“Wherever this sutra is kept is a sacred site enshrining the presence of the Buddha or one of the Buddha’s great disciples.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

The Diamond Sutra offers the Buddha’s insights on dualism and illusion. He speaks of how to develop the insight, the “diamond,” that can cut through any obstacle on the road to enlightenment.

The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion presents a dialogue between the Buddha and his disciple Subhuti that illuminates how our minds construct limited categories of thought. Thich Nhat Hanh’s commentary on the text shows how we must move beyond personal enlightenment to become fully enlightened beings who work to alleviate the suffering of others. Nhat Hanh writes about the daily applications of the sutra and how we can use its wisdom to encounter a deeper reality and act in the world skillfully and effectively.

This revised edition includes Thich Nhat Hanh’s translation of the sutra from the Chinese and new insight on the enviromental implications of the Diamond Sutra. A beautiful edition of one of Buddhism’s central texts.

REVIEWS

“Thich Nhat Hanh has translated the Buddhist Diamond Sutra in elegant and simple English.” NAPRA

Healing

A Woman’s Journey from Doctor to Nun
Sister Dang Nghiem
ISBN: 978-1-888375-96-1

“Sister Dang Nghiem’s life story gives us the courage and inspiration to do what she strives to do everyday: to be the peace we long to see in our own lives and in the world.” —Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open

Sister Dang Nghiem’s story offers inspiration and guidance to anyone who has dealt with suffering and loss. As a girl, who was born in the midst of war to a Vietnamese mother and a U.S. Soldier, she was determined to became a doctor and dedicate her life to healing others. After the sudden tragedy of her partner drowning she made a life-changing decision to become a Buddhist nun. Ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who gave her the name “Dang Nghiem” she gradually experienced her own healing.

Healing takes the reader from Vietnam, to the California coast, to a monastery in southwest France, where the author gained a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings and mindfulness forged in the fire of her own life experiences.

Reconciliation

Healing the Inner Child
Thich Nhat Hanh
ISBN: 978-1-935209-64-5

“A simple but penetrating perspective on transforming our childhood pain and confusion into strength and clarity.” — Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, offers unique insights on how mindfulness practice can encourage wellness and balanced mental health, and help heal childhood suffering and trauma. With personal stories, techniques for dealing with old and new situations, and advice for building strong and long-lasting relationships, Reconciliation is full of concrete practices for healing the inner child. Nhat Hanh shows how mindfulness can transform anger, sadness, and fear and allow joy and tranquility to flourish.

REVIEWS

“One of our most compassionate visionaries illuminates the path toward healing our inner wounds and creating a reconnection with other and ourselves. Soak in Thich Nhat Hanh’s words of wisdom.” — Daniel Siegel, MD, author of Mindsight

“Thich Nhat Hanh offers readers effective ways to come to peace with painful life experiences. His loving approach is grounded in a deep wisdom about life’s unavoidable challenges, and the true happiness that is posssible for each of us.” — Rick Hanson, PHD, author of Buddha’s Brain

“…applies Buddhist principles and practices to the important work of healing childhood wounds. A lovely book of profound compassion.” — Jasmin Lee Cori, LPC, author of Healing from Trauma

Child’s Mind

Christopher Willard
ISBN: 978-1-935209-62-1

“An important contribution toward making the practice of meditation an integral part of the school curriculum and, more generally, toward raising healthier, happier children.” Tal Ben-Shahar, author of Happier

Anyone looking for practical advice for teaching mindfulness to children will find it here! Christopher Willard provides an overview of mindfulness and meditation techniques, with clear and detailed exercises designed for lesson plans, individuals and groups. The personal stories included demonstrate the ability of mindfulness to empower children and adolescents. Child’s Mind is an invaluable resource for teaching our children that confidence and power comes from the ability to be aware of and comfortable with ourselves and our surroundings.

Christopher Willard’s research and teaching experience includes practicing mindfulness with young children, teenagers, recently-paroled prisoners, and therapists. A psychotherapist at Tufts University, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.