108 Mindful Meditations
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Shambhala Publications, 2019
Cards, 58 pages
Reviewed by Juliet Hwang
This collection of 108 cards is designed to support us on our path of practice, and bring peace and happiness to every moment of our daily lives. Each card invites us to stop doing and come back to our breath and our true home.
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108 Mindful Meditations
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Shambhala Publications, 2019
Cards, 58 pages
Reviewed by Juliet Hwang
This collection of 108 cards is designed to support us on our path of practice, and bring peace and happiness to every moment of our daily lives. Each card invites us to stop doing and come back to our breath and our true home. Each one touches a different aspect of the practice, including deepening relationships, handling difficult emotions, and returning to the present moment. The cards remind us to ground our practice in mindful breathing, walking, and eating. The directions enclosed with the pack of cards encourage us to pick one card at random each day. We are invited to take three breaths before reading the card, and then keep it throughout the day to use as a focus of practice. Because a new card is selected each day, there is an element of surprise and wonder that helps keep the practice fresh and different.
In the Buddhist, Hindu, and Yoga traditions, 108 is a sacred number. The cards remind us that every moment is a sacred opportunity to cultivate our mindfulness, concentration, and insight, and allow happiness to bloom. The cards help us see the sacred in the everyday, starting with the sacredness of our breath and the fact that we are alive.
The directions also suggest that we stick to the first card we select and not continue picking cards until we find “the right one.” There are times, however, when a card may not resonate. For example, cards that refer to “man,” or “woman,” “big sister,” or “big brother” may trigger friends who are gender non-conforming. In those instances, we can take a deep breath, recognize what comes up, and select another card.
The cards watered many positive seeds inside of me, reminding me of Thay’s profound teachings. Because the cards are small and the text is short, they invite us to pause in the midst of our hectic lives, breathe, and remember that we have all the conditions surrounding us to make us happy. Present moment, wonderful moment. With these cards, we can give ourselves a gift at every moment.
