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Liebesbrief an die Erde
Das Lebensglück der Menschen hängt untrennbar mit dem Wohlergehen der Erde zusammen: Nur auf einem gesunden Planeten können wir gesund leben. Thich Nhat Hanh zeigt, wie eng Denken und Handeln der Menschen mit dem Zustand der Erde verbunden sind. Er entwickelt einen Leitfaden der Achtsamkeit, nach dem wir sinnhaft leben und zugleich die Natur wertschätzen und schützen können. Die Vorstellung, dass Mensch und Umwelt getrennt sind, wird aufgegeben und ein Gefühl der Liebe und Verbundenheit mit dem großen Ganzen gefördert.
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
163 people are currently reading
2376 people want to read
About the author
Thich Nhat Hanh
973 books12.8k followersThích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm Tế (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 30, 2014
Disclaimer: I am not a Buddhist and no expert on Buddhist writings, though I have read several including a few by Thich Nhat Hanh.
That said, this book strikes me as being nearly perfect. Historically, some elements & truths of Buddhism have escaped me. Since I last read Nhat Hanh I have read much on animals and nature. So, returning to him through Love Letter To The Earth everything clicks. The concept of interbeing makes total sense to me now, starting with our relationship with Mother Earth. Thich Nhat Hanh does a wonderful job of expressing our connection with our planet and a wonderful job encouraging us to embrace our relationship and celebrate it. I kind of feel like this book should be required reading for all earthlings! Needless to say, I recommend it highly.
That said, this book strikes me as being nearly perfect. Historically, some elements & truths of Buddhism have escaped me. Since I last read Nhat Hanh I have read much on animals and nature. So, returning to him through Love Letter To The Earth everything clicks. The concept of interbeing makes total sense to me now, starting with our relationship with Mother Earth. Thich Nhat Hanh does a wonderful job of expressing our connection with our planet and a wonderful job encouraging us to embrace our relationship and celebrate it. I kind of feel like this book should be required reading for all earthlings! Needless to say, I recommend it highly.
May 20, 2022
“Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, my body is at peace.
Breathing in, I take refuge in Mother Earth.
Breathing out, I release all my suffering to the Earth.”
This book can be read in one sitting, and yet, I can feel myself slowly and consciously going over and over the wisdom of thầy Thích Nhất Hạnh.
Deep down, I have full faith that I shall come back to the book from time to time. And when I do, the amazing thing is, its impacts on me will remain the same, for I am able to seek refuge in each and every wise word from thầy.
A highly recommended read indeed, especially for those who have such great compassion for mother Earth.
Breathing out, my body is at peace.
Breathing in, I take refuge in Mother Earth.
Breathing out, I release all my suffering to the Earth.”
This book can be read in one sitting, and yet, I can feel myself slowly and consciously going over and over the wisdom of thầy Thích Nhất Hạnh.
Deep down, I have full faith that I shall come back to the book from time to time. And when I do, the amazing thing is, its impacts on me will remain the same, for I am able to seek refuge in each and every wise word from thầy.
A highly recommended read indeed, especially for those who have such great compassion for mother Earth.
December 28, 2021
Thich Nhat Hahn requires no introduction to those who read Zen literature. I have to confess that I don’t know as much about Buddhism as I should—even those of us who’ve studied religion have our specializations. Love Letter to the Earth is a Zen approach to the environment. In it Nhat Hahn uses science and religion to write a meditation on how we should be aware of just how much of the earth we are. It is part of us and we are part of it. Anyone with clear thinking and the will to improve the world can do so.
I’m not qualified to say much on how this works as a meditative practice, but his exhortation to be in the moment is very much in line with the meditation and therapeutic advice I’ve been given over the years. Instead of setting up a conflict between science and religion, Nhat Hahn uses what he understands of science to enhance his religious practice. He calls for all religions to cooperate on this. If only they would.
I mention on my blog post about the book (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) that it does include actual love letters to the earth. Although sincere and heartfelt, they didn’t really work so well for me. They were a bit too personal. Still, this book is meant as an aid to meditation and it is an important topic. Anything that keeps such discussion going is important and worth reading.
I’m not qualified to say much on how this works as a meditative practice, but his exhortation to be in the moment is very much in line with the meditation and therapeutic advice I’ve been given over the years. Instead of setting up a conflict between science and religion, Nhat Hahn uses what he understands of science to enhance his religious practice. He calls for all religions to cooperate on this. If only they would.
I mention on my blog post about the book (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) that it does include actual love letters to the earth. Although sincere and heartfelt, they didn’t really work so well for me. They were a bit too personal. Still, this book is meant as an aid to meditation and it is an important topic. Anything that keeps such discussion going is important and worth reading.
August 26, 2013
"If we care about the health and well-being of the planet, we do so for our own sake. We want the air to be clean enough for us to breathe. We want the water to be clean enough so that we have something to drink. But we need to do more than use recycled products or donate money to environmental groups. We have to change our whole relationship with the Earth."
March 12, 2023
Una dintre cele mai frumoase carti citite pana acum, carte ce va ramane cu mine mult timp. Scrisorile scrise Mamei Pamant sunt atat de profunde si de usurel scrise incat iti picura direct in suflet. Recomand sa fie citite cu voce tare! ❤
February 18, 2018
Beautiful
February 3, 2019
QUOTES:
○ "The Earth has all the virtues we seek, including strength, stability, patience, and compassion. She embraces everyone. We don't need blind faith to see this. We don't need to address our prayers or express our gratitude to a remote or abstract deity with whom it may be difficult or impossible to be in touch. We can address our prayers and express our gratitude directly to the Earth. The Earth is right here. She supports us in a very concrete and tangible ways. No one can deny that the water that sustains us, the air that we breathe, and the food that nourishes us are gifts of the Earth." (p.20)
○ "Mindfulness is a nonjudgemental awareness of all that is happening inside us and around us. It takes us back to the foundation of happiness, which is being present in the here and now. Mindfulness is always mindfulness of something. We can be mindful of our breath, our footsteps, our thoughts, and our actions. Mindfulness requires that we bring all our attention to whatever we're doing, whether walking or breathing, brushing our teeth, or eating a snack. When we concentrate on our breath and the steps we're making, we can see the beauty of the Earth around us more clearly. We can take each breath and each step with awareness and gratitude." (p.34)
○ "When we walk, we know we're not stepping on something inanimate. The ground we're walking on is not inert matter. In every speck of dust or grain of sand there are countless bodhisattvas. When we walk mindfully, we can be in contact through our feet with the Great Bodhisattva Mother Earth.
Understanding the Earth in this way, we can walk on the planet with as much respect and reverence as we would walk when in a house of worship or in any sacred space." (p.49)
○ "When you walk, don't think about anything else. Most of us have a radio constantly playing in our head tuned to the station Radio NST, Radio Nonstop Thinking. Most of this thinking is unproductive thinking. The more we think, the less available we are to what is around us. Therefore we have to learn to turn off the radio and stop our thinking in order to fully enjoy the present moment." (p.51)
○ "The physicist Albert Einstein, looking deeply into the natural world, was moved by the great harmony, elegance, and beauty of the cosmos. It produced in him a feeling of great admiration and love, which he described as a cosmic religious feeling. Einstein didn't believe in religion or a God as such, yet looking into the nature of the cosmos he expressed a religious sentiment which transcended the need for a personal God, and avoided dogma and theology." (p.60)
○ "Many people think that heaven is somewhere else and they want to go there when they die. Yet they have no proof that such a place really exists. We shouldn't let ourselves be lured by the idea of a faraway paradise. The Earth is real. The Earth is here. She is a wonderful phenomenon, present right here and now. In fact, the Earth is the most beautiful place in the heavens. We have to come back to take refuge in Mother Earth. The Kingdom of God is on Earth. Each step taken in mindfulness can put us in touch with the Kingdom of God. When we come back to the present moment, we are in touch with ourselves. When our minds are calm, our senses open, we can see the wonders of life all around us. We can see that we're truly walking in the Kingdom of God." (p.61)
○ "One of the Buddha's first insights was that of interdependent co-arising. Everything arises in dependence on everything else. There's no beginning or ending; there's no creation or destruction or anything at all. This is equally true of the universe. Billions and billions of conditions have come together for us to manifest in this form. When different conditions arise, we will manifest in a different form." (p.68)
○ "Imagine the Earth is the tree and that we are a leaf. We think that the Earth is the Earth and that we are something outside of the Earth. But in fact we are inside the Earth. We may think that some day we'll die and we'll go back to the Earth. But we don't need to die in order to go back to Mother Earth. I am in Mother Earth right now and Mother Earth is in me." (p.69)
○ "When we speak of protecting our planet, we often speak of finding new technologies. But without real community, technology may be even more destructive than constructive. Real community, built with our practice of mindfulness, enables us to act together. When we can communicate with ourselves and with the Earth, we can communicate with others more easily."(p.82)
○ "When you sit down, be aware that you are sitting on the Earth. Practice following your breathing in and out. Feel your spine tall, straight, and relaxed like a tree. Feel yourself rooted int he Earth and your body as the connection between sky and ground. Just notice your breath. Thoughts come and go like clouds. Don't hold on to them or follow them, just let them pass by. Allow your body to completely relax. Don't struggle. Allow your mind to settle." (p.89)
○ "Drinking a cup of tea is a pleasure we can give ourselves every day. To enjoy our tea, we have to be fully present and know clearly and deeply that we are drinking tea.
When you lift your cup, you may like to breathe in and become truly present. When you are fully established in the present moment, you are free from the past and the future, from your thoughts, worries, and projects. In that state of freedom, you drink your tea. There is happiness, peace, and a feeling of connection with all of life. Looking deeply into your tea, you see that you are drinking fragrant plants that are the gift of Mother Earth. You see the labor of the tea pickers; you see the luscious tea fields and plantations in Sri Lanka, China, and Vietnam. You know that you are drinking a cloud; you are drinking the rain. The tea contains the whole universe." (p.91)
○ "There have even been times when, through ignorance and unskillfulness, we have underestimated, exploited, wounded, and polluted you. That is why I make the deep vow today, with gratitude and love in my heart, to cherish and protect your beauty, and to embody your wondrous consciousness in my own life. I vow to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before me, to live with awakening and compassion, and so be worthy of calling myself your child." (p.107)
○ "There are those who say that in their heaven there is no suffering. But if there is no suffering, how can there be happiness? We need compost to grow flowers, and mud to grow lotuses. We need difficulties in order to arrive at realizations about them, enlightenment is always enlightenment about something.
Dear Mother, I promise to cultivate this way of looking. I promise to enjoy the practice of dwelling peacefully with mindfulness in the here and now, so I can touch the Pure Land, the Kingdom of God, day and night. I promise that with every step I will touch eternity. With every step I will touch heaven here on Earth." (p.116)
○ "The Earth has all the virtues we seek, including strength, stability, patience, and compassion. She embraces everyone. We don't need blind faith to see this. We don't need to address our prayers or express our gratitude to a remote or abstract deity with whom it may be difficult or impossible to be in touch. We can address our prayers and express our gratitude directly to the Earth. The Earth is right here. She supports us in a very concrete and tangible ways. No one can deny that the water that sustains us, the air that we breathe, and the food that nourishes us are gifts of the Earth." (p.20)
○ "Mindfulness is a nonjudgemental awareness of all that is happening inside us and around us. It takes us back to the foundation of happiness, which is being present in the here and now. Mindfulness is always mindfulness of something. We can be mindful of our breath, our footsteps, our thoughts, and our actions. Mindfulness requires that we bring all our attention to whatever we're doing, whether walking or breathing, brushing our teeth, or eating a snack. When we concentrate on our breath and the steps we're making, we can see the beauty of the Earth around us more clearly. We can take each breath and each step with awareness and gratitude." (p.34)
○ "When we walk, we know we're not stepping on something inanimate. The ground we're walking on is not inert matter. In every speck of dust or grain of sand there are countless bodhisattvas. When we walk mindfully, we can be in contact through our feet with the Great Bodhisattva Mother Earth.
Understanding the Earth in this way, we can walk on the planet with as much respect and reverence as we would walk when in a house of worship or in any sacred space." (p.49)
○ "When you walk, don't think about anything else. Most of us have a radio constantly playing in our head tuned to the station Radio NST, Radio Nonstop Thinking. Most of this thinking is unproductive thinking. The more we think, the less available we are to what is around us. Therefore we have to learn to turn off the radio and stop our thinking in order to fully enjoy the present moment." (p.51)
○ "The physicist Albert Einstein, looking deeply into the natural world, was moved by the great harmony, elegance, and beauty of the cosmos. It produced in him a feeling of great admiration and love, which he described as a cosmic religious feeling. Einstein didn't believe in religion or a God as such, yet looking into the nature of the cosmos he expressed a religious sentiment which transcended the need for a personal God, and avoided dogma and theology." (p.60)
○ "Many people think that heaven is somewhere else and they want to go there when they die. Yet they have no proof that such a place really exists. We shouldn't let ourselves be lured by the idea of a faraway paradise. The Earth is real. The Earth is here. She is a wonderful phenomenon, present right here and now. In fact, the Earth is the most beautiful place in the heavens. We have to come back to take refuge in Mother Earth. The Kingdom of God is on Earth. Each step taken in mindfulness can put us in touch with the Kingdom of God. When we come back to the present moment, we are in touch with ourselves. When our minds are calm, our senses open, we can see the wonders of life all around us. We can see that we're truly walking in the Kingdom of God." (p.61)
○ "One of the Buddha's first insights was that of interdependent co-arising. Everything arises in dependence on everything else. There's no beginning or ending; there's no creation or destruction or anything at all. This is equally true of the universe. Billions and billions of conditions have come together for us to manifest in this form. When different conditions arise, we will manifest in a different form." (p.68)
○ "Imagine the Earth is the tree and that we are a leaf. We think that the Earth is the Earth and that we are something outside of the Earth. But in fact we are inside the Earth. We may think that some day we'll die and we'll go back to the Earth. But we don't need to die in order to go back to Mother Earth. I am in Mother Earth right now and Mother Earth is in me." (p.69)
○ "When we speak of protecting our planet, we often speak of finding new technologies. But without real community, technology may be even more destructive than constructive. Real community, built with our practice of mindfulness, enables us to act together. When we can communicate with ourselves and with the Earth, we can communicate with others more easily."(p.82)
○ "When you sit down, be aware that you are sitting on the Earth. Practice following your breathing in and out. Feel your spine tall, straight, and relaxed like a tree. Feel yourself rooted int he Earth and your body as the connection between sky and ground. Just notice your breath. Thoughts come and go like clouds. Don't hold on to them or follow them, just let them pass by. Allow your body to completely relax. Don't struggle. Allow your mind to settle." (p.89)
○ "Drinking a cup of tea is a pleasure we can give ourselves every day. To enjoy our tea, we have to be fully present and know clearly and deeply that we are drinking tea.
When you lift your cup, you may like to breathe in and become truly present. When you are fully established in the present moment, you are free from the past and the future, from your thoughts, worries, and projects. In that state of freedom, you drink your tea. There is happiness, peace, and a feeling of connection with all of life. Looking deeply into your tea, you see that you are drinking fragrant plants that are the gift of Mother Earth. You see the labor of the tea pickers; you see the luscious tea fields and plantations in Sri Lanka, China, and Vietnam. You know that you are drinking a cloud; you are drinking the rain. The tea contains the whole universe." (p.91)
○ "There have even been times when, through ignorance and unskillfulness, we have underestimated, exploited, wounded, and polluted you. That is why I make the deep vow today, with gratitude and love in my heart, to cherish and protect your beauty, and to embody your wondrous consciousness in my own life. I vow to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before me, to live with awakening and compassion, and so be worthy of calling myself your child." (p.107)
○ "There are those who say that in their heaven there is no suffering. But if there is no suffering, how can there be happiness? We need compost to grow flowers, and mud to grow lotuses. We need difficulties in order to arrive at realizations about them, enlightenment is always enlightenment about something.
Dear Mother, I promise to cultivate this way of looking. I promise to enjoy the practice of dwelling peacefully with mindfulness in the here and now, so I can touch the Pure Land, the Kingdom of God, day and night. I promise that with every step I will touch eternity. With every step I will touch heaven here on Earth." (p.116)
September 7, 2024
While I 100% agree that we should be more mindful and connected with the Earth, I found the conveyance of ideas to be too mystical for my tastes.
October 31, 2023
This is a lovely and easy read and, as such, it would be easy to think of it as portraying a simple message. After all who, at least who amongst readers of this title, doesn't think the Earth is a wonderful thing "we" should take better care of?
However, I read this book slowly, in sections, over several days and I now believe this may be one of the most important books of modern times. When you digest Thich Nhat Hanh's, or "Thay's," message with mindful concentration you begin to feel the depth and breadth of what he is cloaking in such a simple and straightforward approach. Yes, "Love Letter to the Earth" is a love letter to our esteemed and underappreciated Mother Earth. Within that, Thay analyzes our relationship with the Earth in terms of Buddhist ethics, the Buddhist concept of Interbeing and the key Buddhist precept of No Harm. His analysis supports and embodies the theory of Biocentrism, the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, Native American religious traditions, the Romantic Movement, systems theory, the concept of Divine Feminine, Wicca and broader contemporary Neo-Paganism, specifically Neo-Druidry and Gaia worship. If you use mindful concentration you will see there is a lot more going on in this book than a simple Valentine's card to the Planet.
Some readers seemed disappointed the book did not advocate direct action to stop environmental degradation. This view, as one reviewer alludes to, does miss the point of the book. Thay will never tell you to sit in the street to block traffic or deflate the tires on SUVs and you shouldn't expect that. What he is attempting to do here, in my view, is teach you a deep and holistic philosophy that will stand behind whatever you decide you want to do - or can do for the Earth. Rather than simply panicking about climate change you should read this philosophy mindfully so you can form a cogent argument about the interconnectedness of all things and fully understand your choices as we all confront the challenges facing Mother Earth.
However, I read this book slowly, in sections, over several days and I now believe this may be one of the most important books of modern times. When you digest Thich Nhat Hanh's, or "Thay's," message with mindful concentration you begin to feel the depth and breadth of what he is cloaking in such a simple and straightforward approach. Yes, "Love Letter to the Earth" is a love letter to our esteemed and underappreciated Mother Earth. Within that, Thay analyzes our relationship with the Earth in terms of Buddhist ethics, the Buddhist concept of Interbeing and the key Buddhist precept of No Harm. His analysis supports and embodies the theory of Biocentrism, the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, Native American religious traditions, the Romantic Movement, systems theory, the concept of Divine Feminine, Wicca and broader contemporary Neo-Paganism, specifically Neo-Druidry and Gaia worship. If you use mindful concentration you will see there is a lot more going on in this book than a simple Valentine's card to the Planet.
Some readers seemed disappointed the book did not advocate direct action to stop environmental degradation. This view, as one reviewer alludes to, does miss the point of the book. Thay will never tell you to sit in the street to block traffic or deflate the tires on SUVs and you shouldn't expect that. What he is attempting to do here, in my view, is teach you a deep and holistic philosophy that will stand behind whatever you decide you want to do - or can do for the Earth. Rather than simply panicking about climate change you should read this philosophy mindfully so you can form a cogent argument about the interconnectedness of all things and fully understand your choices as we all confront the challenges facing Mother Earth.
May 21, 2025
Some good thoughts, but a lot of redundancy. This was too zen for me.
June 14, 2020
I might just binge read the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh. Love Letter Earth is just that, a celebration and reminder of the beautiful Mother Earth, the sun, the moon and the world around us. Whether sitting, walking or spending time outside, now is the time to really focus on healing ourselves and this earth which has been impacted by our selfishness and greed but, if we look after ourselves and the earth, time will heal
This book was a great reminder to truly appreciate what our earth had to offer. We have been availing ourselves of hikes, in local conservation areas, and enjoying the peace and beauty of nature - from the slithery snake that crossed our path, the swallowtails and the trilliums - which makes us smile and appreciate our surroundings.
I encourage others to read this book full of wisdom and get outside and enjoy what our earth has to offer!
This book was a great reminder to truly appreciate what our earth had to offer. We have been availing ourselves of hikes, in local conservation areas, and enjoying the peace and beauty of nature - from the slithery snake that crossed our path, the swallowtails and the trilliums - which makes us smile and appreciate our surroundings.
I encourage others to read this book full of wisdom and get outside and enjoy what our earth has to offer!
January 26, 2024
I read this book as part of my morning meditation and it was perfect for those seeking to connect their daily life to nature and spirituality. “We can build a deep spiritual practice based, not on dogmas or beliefs in things we can’t verify, but entirely on evidence…” It connects humans physically (we are star dust) and emotionally (thank you Mother Earth and Father Sun for all you have given us) to the cosmos. Highly recommend.
June 23, 2017
I'm amazed by how simple yet meaningful this book can be. It relates to everyone of us about how we're connected to Mother Earth yet somehow most of us forget about this bonding relation. All came down to the single suggestion of being present and mindful of our existence in this vast being of the Earth and everything on her. If you have already read a number of Thich Nhat Hanh's book, this book might not carry so much new information, but still worth reading. If you are new to Thay's teaching, definitely you should read this piece.
May 8, 2024
A meditative series of mini-chapters and letters about the Earth, the sun, walking, breathing, and being mindful. A good read to continue your practice of breathing and refocusing your mind to the present. Id recommend it for any Buddhist or anyone trying to understand or use Buddhist teachings in their own meditative practices
July 9, 2024
How can a modern book about the environment be so relaxing?! Beautiful and hopeful, yet also realistic
September 24, 2024
If you’re in the right mindset for this book, it’s truly transformative. I highly recommend this exploration of (and meditation on) our relationship to Mother Earth.
January 21, 2025
Entering my Buddhist Era!!!
December 18, 2017
Great book to open your mind about your connection to the Earth and practicing mindfulness!
October 13, 2020
A beautiful little book about the depth and sacredness of our connection with the Earth.
November 24, 2025
Such a beautiful book! Read it especially if you feel anxious about the state of the earth and our environment.
June 9, 2022
This book has practical suggestions, mantras, and meditations for fostering a better relationship with Mother Earth. I liked it and will likely read it again.
June 25, 2015
An easy, all embracing concept if viewed from a higher perspective, that is, if detached from what is known as 'normal' modern life.
Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, as always, is so simple, and full of compassion and insight!
For example: "A bodhisattva is a living being who has happiness, awakening, understanding, and love.... Anyone who cultivates love and offers a lot of happiness to others is a bodhisattva. When we look at our planet, we know that the Earth is the most beautiful bodhisattva of all. Don't search for a bodhisattva in your imagination. The bodhisattva you are looking for is right at your feet."
If you are seeking ways to see and serve the Earth without falling apart, this is a book you'll be needing.
Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, as always, is so simple, and full of compassion and insight!
For example: "A bodhisattva is a living being who has happiness, awakening, understanding, and love.... Anyone who cultivates love and offers a lot of happiness to others is a bodhisattva. When we look at our planet, we know that the Earth is the most beautiful bodhisattva of all. Don't search for a bodhisattva in your imagination. The bodhisattva you are looking for is right at your feet."
If you are seeking ways to see and serve the Earth without falling apart, this is a book you'll be needing.
October 3, 2017
Whilst the book gave me a completely new insight into our relationship with Earth, and the need for mindfulness towards it, I can not accept that that is all we need to do to make things different. Those of us that know about Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings in UK will be tiny in number, at least in percentage terms. Meanwhile, radioactive waste is being dumped in waters close to Cardiff, fracking is about to start, industrial farming is completely out of control, badgers are sitting in cage traps waiting to be shot, and we may be only months away from being asked to support Trump dropping Nuclear bombs on North Korea. If we wait for the philosophy of mindfulness to be accepted by politicians and capitalists, there will be precious little left.
Personal AND political action is required.
Personal AND political action is required.
October 2, 2014
Reading this book was a treat. This wonderful book contains essential and beautiful truths regarding mindfulness. Practices that I have incorporated in my life so much so they are seamlessly woven and ingrained into everything I do. Much of this I have learned from this wise man in previous books and from talks he has given. His simple wisdom is there for us all. It is written in the stars, in our DNA and this fantastic book.
I recommend it. It's simple and gloriously uncomplicated. Fresh and uplifting. Like a piece of sweet fruit. Light and nourishing and very good for you--a pleasure to consume.
I recommend it. It's simple and gloriously uncomplicated. Fresh and uplifting. Like a piece of sweet fruit. Light and nourishing and very good for you--a pleasure to consume.
November 13, 2013
A great book that reminds us to be mindful of how we interact with our environment. The first chapters are very similar to other books by Thich Nhat Hanh, but they serve as a helpful reminder of how to be in the present moment. The real meat of the book comes in the 10 Love Letters to the Earth. The first two love letters alone are worth the price of admission. Read them and then contemplate your relationship with Mother Earth.
August 11, 2023
Este libro es como respirar muy profundo.
September 5, 2021
ESP/ SPA
Thich Nhat Hanh lo hace de nuevo y crea bajo una serie de cartas una reflexión profunda y bella sobre lo que somos para la Tierra y lo que ella es para nosotres.
Definitivamente uno de los mejores libros que he leído este año, no solo porque nos hace reflexionar con cada carta sino porque verdaderamente es una belleza poética y budista el leer este libro. Al término de cada carta, nos hace reflexionar lo que somos para la Tierra y lo que hacemos con ella. Realmente, somos uno mismo y muchas veces, gracias al ritmo de vida que tenemos hoy en día, no lo recordamos.
Se lo he leido a mi abuelita, y recuerdo que me dijo “Karol, realmente la naturaleza es tan bella y misteriosa que muy pocos sabemos apreciarla”, debo de admitir que mi abuelita no lo pudo haber dicho mejor. Este libro me ayudó en una etapa de mi ansiedad y me conecto con mi tierra, mis raíces y mi origen. Soy muy afortunada de ser un miembro más y una hija más de esta madre y hoy más que nunca, pareciera que me está llamando. Vivir en confinamiento, me hizo perder contacto con mi exterior, pero leyendo la poesía que hizo Tchich Nhat Hanh, lo he recuperado.
ING/ENG
Tchih Nhat Hanh did it, again. With a series of letters he creates a profound reflection about what we are for the earth, and what the earth is for us.
This is definitely one of the best books I have read this year. Not only bc it made me reflect on every single letter, but bc is truly a poetic Buddhist beauty. At the end of every letter, it made us think of what we truly are for the earth and what we do for her. We really are one and the same and sometimes, thanks to our daily rhythm, we just forget it.
I had read it to my grandma and she said “Karol, nature is so beautiful and mysterious that so few people know how to appreciate her”, she couldn’t say it better. This book helped me with an anxiety phase by connecting me with my earth, my roots, and my origins. I’m very lucky to be a member, a daughter of this planet. Today, more than never, it looks like she’s calling me. Living in times of pandemia, made me lose contact with the exterior but, reading this poetry, it feels that I just found her.
February 6, 2017
Love Letter to the Earth is a prayer book for the modern age, weaving science, spirituality, and ecology into a harmonious braid--not often these three can be so elegantly brought together!
I've never seen Buddhist thought so directly or so poetically applied to the Earth before. If there is ultimately no self and we are one with everything, naturally we are one with the Earth. Personifying the Earth as a great Bodhisattva and showing the reader how intimately we are connected to this magnificent being is a glorious and inspiring illustration of Buddhist thought and of the new-and-ancient planetary spirituality on the horizon.
The book is short and simple, yet lucid and critically important for individual and collective survival. TNH calls for a spiritual revolution of interbeing, where we recognize our ultimate unity once and for all and thrive through love and compassion for self, others, and the planet. The book can be read multiple times, as much of the wisdom is genuinely paradigm shifting and, like most enduring teaching, regular reminders are needed for the sage advice to fully sink in.
Recommended for all children of Mother Earth.
I've never seen Buddhist thought so directly or so poetically applied to the Earth before. If there is ultimately no self and we are one with everything, naturally we are one with the Earth. Personifying the Earth as a great Bodhisattva and showing the reader how intimately we are connected to this magnificent being is a glorious and inspiring illustration of Buddhist thought and of the new-and-ancient planetary spirituality on the horizon.
The book is short and simple, yet lucid and critically important for individual and collective survival. TNH calls for a spiritual revolution of interbeing, where we recognize our ultimate unity once and for all and thrive through love and compassion for self, others, and the planet. The book can be read multiple times, as much of the wisdom is genuinely paradigm shifting and, like most enduring teaching, regular reminders are needed for the sage advice to fully sink in.
Recommended for all children of Mother Earth.
October 15, 2017
A little book that can be read in one sitting, but I think it's better to read it in small sections. Why? Because it tends to get repetitive; you will find the same ideas being said in different ways. You will get more out of it in small amounts.
From my point of view, it feels like a dharma talk put into written form. It could also be a good introduction to someone who is interested in Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy and way of seeing the world. On the other hand, this book might do him disservice, as it feels like it oversimplifies complex ideas.
One of my favorite things from this booklet was his poem that can be found in the afterword, "The Old Mendicant" - http://www.handfulofsand.com/zen/arch....
From my point of view, it feels like a dharma talk put into written form. It could also be a good introduction to someone who is interested in Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy and way of seeing the world. On the other hand, this book might do him disservice, as it feels like it oversimplifies complex ideas.
One of my favorite things from this booklet was his poem that can be found in the afterword, "The Old Mendicant" - http://www.handfulofsand.com/zen/arch....
August 8, 2022
You might think the idea of a love letter to Mother Earth is hokey, as I did, but you won't after you read Vietnamese Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh's beautiful, scientifically-based prose, with its rich descriptions of all that our Mother has given us (which is everything), and all that we must give back in love and care if we wish to survive as a species. This book will add to your consciousness of everything that is meaningful about this human life you are having on this planet--I guarantee it! And it's short. Readable in one sitting if you wish. Worth returning to over and over, if you wish...
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