Book Reviews

Life lessons with Siddhartha, written by Hermann Hesse

Life lessons with Siddhartha, written by Hermann Hesse

Learning from Siddhartha as he depicts the journey behind his own personal transfiguration from status quo to status celestial

Siddhartha: Review and Insights

A quick, easy and entertaining (and quite enlightening) read, Siddhartha immediately caught my eye as I saw the cover at a local bookstore in old town Chiang Mai a few years back.  After reading over the description that was provided on the back cover, I knew that this was the book that I would buy on that particular visit.  Herman Hesse, the author of Siddhartha, writes in such a unique way as he describes the tale of Siddhartha growing from young adult to wise old man.  It amazes me how many of my personal friends and other people that I randomly meet who have read this book (and love it, too).  Perhaps the best thing to note about this masterpiece of a book is that it can be read and re-read and re-read and then re-read some more as the messaging behind the words becomes more insightful and relevant with each re-read. Another book to buy and add to your reading bookshelf.

The How To "Mindfulness Essentials Series" of Life

The Mindfulness Essentials Series written by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

A collection of How To guides and tutorials as Thich Nhat Hanh proclaims for the good life of health and well being

How to Sit (Mindfulness Essentials, #1)

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The first book in the Mindfulness Essentials Series by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, How to Sit offers clear, simple directions and inspiration for anyone wanting to explore mindfulness meditation. In short, single-paragraph chapters, Nhat Hanh shares detailed instructions, guided breathing exercises and visualizations, as well as his own personal stories and insights. This pocket-sized book is perfect for those brand new to sitting meditation as well as for those looking to deepen their spiritual practice.

With sumi ink drawings by Jason DeAntonis.

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How to Eat (Mindfulness Essentials, #2)

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How to Eat is part of the Mindfulness Essentials Series by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, illuminating the basics of mindfulness practice. These short meditations cover everything from eating with others and enjoying our food to connecting with the Earth. Nhat Hanh inspires a joyful and sustainable relationship with all aspects of eating, including gardening, food shopping, preparing, serving, and even clearning up after a meal. How to Eat is a welcome reminder that the benefits of mindful eating are both personal and global. 
With sumi ink drawings by Jason DeAntonis.

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HOW TO LOVE (MINDFULNESS ESSENTIALS, #3)

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How to Love is the third title in Parallax’s Mindfulness Essentials Series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. This time Nhat Hanh brings his signature clarity, compassion, and humor to the thorny question of how to love. He distills one of our strongest emotions down to four essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing our love.

Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Love shows that when we feel closer to our loved ones, we are also more connected to the world as a whole. With sections on Love vs. Need, Being in Love, Reverence, Intimacy, Children and Family, Reconciling with Parents, and more, How to Love includes meditations you can do alone or with your partner to go deep inside and expand your own capacity to love.

Scientific studies indicate that meditation contributes tremendously to well-being, general health, and longevity. How to Love is a unique gift for those who want a comprehensive yet simple guide to understanding the many different kinds of love, along with meditative practices that can expand the understanding of and capacity for love, appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition, whether seasoned practitioners or new to meditation.

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How to Walk (Mindfulness Essentials, #4)

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How to Walk is the fourth title in Parallax’s popular Mindfulness Essentials Series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Slow, concentrated walking while focusing on in- and out-breaths allows for a unique opportunity to be in the present. There is no need to arrive somewhere—each step is the arrival to concentration, joy, insight, and the momentary enlightenment of aliveness. When your foot touches the Earth with awareness, you make yourself alive and the Earth real, and you forget for one minute the searching, rushing, and longing that rob our daily lives of awareness and cause us to "sleepwalk" through life.

Thich Nhat Hanh shares amusing stories of the impact mindful walking has on both the walker and those who notice him, and shows how mindful walking can be a technique for diminishing depression, recapturing wonder, and expressing gratitude. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Walk k is a unique gift for all ages, sharing a simple practice that can have a profound effect on practitioners.

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HOW TO Relax (MINDFULNESS ESSENTIALS, #5)

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How to Relax is part of The Mindfulness Essentials series of how-to titles by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, introducing beginners and reminding seasoned practitioners of the essentials of mindfulness practice. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Relax shows how critical it is to regularly interrupt the hub-bub and routine of our lives to stop, relax mindfully, and recharge.
Thich Nhat Hanh says that when we relax, we "become calm water, and we will reflect reality as it is. If we’re not calm, the image we reflect will be distorted. When the image is distorted by our minds, it’s not the reality, and it causes lots of suffering." Relaxation is essential for accessing the tranquility and joy that lead to increased personal well-being. With sections on healing, relief from nonstop thinking, transforming unpleasant sounds, solitude, being peace, and more, How to Relax includes meditations you can do to help you achieve the benefits of relaxation no matter where you are.
Scientific studies indicate that meditation contributes tremendously to well-being, general health, and longevity. How to Relax is a unique gift for those who want a simple guide to achieving deep relaxation, controlling stress, and renewing mental freshness and clarity, appropriate for those practicing in any spiritual tradition, whether seasoned practitioners or new to meditations.
With fifteen two color drawings by celebrated artist Jason DeAntonis.
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