Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Thich Nhat Hanh

This beautifully designed book begins with detailed instruction in conscious breathing and awareness of the small acts of our daily lives, and goes on to show how practicing mindfulness helps us transform and heal difficult psychological states. It concludes with an exploration of the connection between inner peace and peace in the world. From Bantam Books.

"This book not only teaches mindfulness, it also exemplifies and induces it. Subtle and extremely effective." — San Francisco Chronicle

Contents

Editor's Introduction 3

Part One � Breathe! You Are Alive 9
Twenty-four Brand New Hours 10
The Dandelion Has My Smile 11
Conscious Breathing 12
Present Moment, Wonderful Moment 13
Thinking Less 14
Nourishing Awareness in Each Moment 15
Sitting Anywhere 17
Sitting Meditation 18
Bells of Mindfulness 20
Cookie of Childhood 21
Tangerine Meditation 22
The Eucharist 23
Eating Mindfully 23
Washing Dishes 26
Walking Meditation 27
Telephone Meditation 28
Driving Meditation 30
Decompartmentalization 32
Breathing and Scything 33
Aimlessness 34
Our Life Is a Work of Art 36
Hope As An Obstacle 37
Flower Insights 38
Breathing Room 40
Continuing the Journey 43

Part Two � Transformation and Healing 44
The River of Feelings 45
Non-Surgery 46
Transforming Feelings 46
Mindfulness of Anger 49
Pillow-Pounding 51
Walking Meditation When Angry 52
Cooking Our Potatoes 53
The Roots of Anger 54
Internal Formations 55
Living Together 57
Suchness 58
Look into Your Hand 59
Parents 59
Nourishing Healthy Seeds 62
What's Not Wrong? 64
Blaming Never Helps 66
Understanding 66
Real Love 67
Meditation on Compassion 68
Meditation on Love 70
Hugging Meditation 71
Investing in Friends 72
It Is a Great Joy to Hold Your Grandchild 73
Community of Mindful Living 74
Mindfulness Must Be Engaged 75

Part Three � Peace Is Every Step 77
Interbeing 78
Flowers and Garbage 79
Love in Action 81
Not Two 82
Healing the Wounds of War 83
The Sun My Heart 85
Looking Deeply 86
The Art of Mindful Living 87
Nourishing Awareness 89
A Love Letter to Your Congressman 90
Citizenship 91
Ecology of Mind 92
The Roots of War 93
Like a Leaf, We Have Many Stems 94
We Are All Linked to Each Other 96
Reconciliation 97
Call Me By My True Names 98
Suffering Nourishes Compassion 101
The River 103
Entering the Twenty-First Century 105

Sample Chapter

Washing Dishes

To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you aren't doing them. Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves rolled up and your hands in the warm water, it is really quite pleasant. I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, eachsecond of life is a miracle. The dishes themselves and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!

If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will be equally incapable of enjoying my dessert. With the fork in my hand, I will be thinking about what to do next, and the texture and flavor of the dessert, together with the pleasure of eating it, will be lost. I will always be dragged into the future, never able to live in the present moment.

Each thought, each action in the sunlight of awareness becomes sacred. In this light, no boundary exists between the sacred and the profane. I must confess it takes me a bit longer to do the dishes, but I live fully in every moment, and I am happy. Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end--that is, not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them.

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