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Mindfulness Essentials #7
How to See
Reach true clarity and insight by looking deeply, minimizing misperceptions, and having the courage to see things as they really are.
The seventh book in the bestselling Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.
Profound and always approachable, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us the art of looking deeply—in to our knee-jerk assumptions and runaway thoughts—so we can recognize the true meaning and essence of our lives. How to See teases apart the act of seeing-both inside and outside of ourselves, and points the way to developing true clarity.
Written with his signature warmth, these pithy meditations are accompanied by playful sumi-ink drawings by California artist Jason DeAntonis.
The seventh book in the bestselling Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.
Profound and always approachable, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us the art of looking deeply—in to our knee-jerk assumptions and runaway thoughts—so we can recognize the true meaning and essence of our lives. How to See teases apart the act of seeing-both inside and outside of ourselves, and points the way to developing true clarity.
Written with his signature warmth, these pithy meditations are accompanied by playful sumi-ink drawings by California artist Jason DeAntonis.
128 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2019
481 people are currently reading
2758 people want to read
About the author
Thich Nhat Hanh
982 books12.9k 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 185 reviews
September 4, 2023
The author helps us to understand more about ourselves by helping us gain more insight. He will allow us to build a solid self-awareness to make us better human beings. Various meditation practices for the same are discussed in this book.
My favorite three lines from this book.
“Whether we are happy or whether we suffer depends largely on our perceptions. It is important to look deeply into our perceptions and recognize their source.”
“It is often our very idea of happiness that prevents us from being happy.”
“All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, the multitude of colors and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”
If you think that you are not giving much time to yourself, you should try reading this book.
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My favorite three lines from this book.
“Whether we are happy or whether we suffer depends largely on our perceptions. It is important to look deeply into our perceptions and recognize their source.”
“It is often our very idea of happiness that prevents us from being happy.”
“All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, the multitude of colors and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”
If you think that you are not giving much time to yourself, you should try reading this book.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Threads ID - Dasfill | X ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
June 13, 2024
Dieses Buch hat wieder gutgetan! Die einfachen Weisheiten erscheinen logisch; man muss sich nur immer wieder daran erinnern und sie leben! Es geht um Achtsamkeit und die Wichtigkeit der Wahrnehmung. Wenn man sich ein bisschen darauf einlassen kann, ist dieses kleine Büchlein sehr hilfreich und wohltuend.
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August 26, 2025
For those looking for a break from social media and a distraction from our political climate, find a quiet space and fold back the cover of How To See, by the world renowned Zen teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh.
Written in eloquent prose, his insight and unique perspective will transport you into the world of mindfulness.
After finishing the short book 120 pages, I am left with appreciation and gratitude for his important work.
Written in eloquent prose, his insight and unique perspective will transport you into the world of mindfulness.
After finishing the short book 120 pages, I am left with appreciation and gratitude for his important work.
February 9, 2020
Until we look deeply into reality and discover its true nature of impermanence and interconnectedness, we will continue to be fooled by signs. When we transcend signs, notions, and ideas, we are in touch with the ultimate reality. We need to see through the outer form to be in touch with the substance. When we’re no longer deceived by signs, our perceptions become insight.
August 29, 2019
"When you drink your tea mindfully, you know you are drinking a cloud."
February 4, 2025
A good, healthy reminder to stop and pay attention to physical signs and clues in our world and relationships. Listening is extremely important, but sight can tend to be underrated. These books are such wonderful tips on improving yourself and your relationships while not being overly wordy or overwhelming.
October 30, 2021
I loved How to Fight and How to Love, and there was some really good and helpful stuff in this one as well. Love, compassion, attention and awareness all the way.
There was, however, one big thing that bothered me: the recurring assertion that we can “see reality as it is” – freed from all the prejudices and background assumptions that cloud our perception. I think this is false: the idea of unmediated access to an objective reality is a myth, and a harmful one at that. You, as a knowing/perceiving subject, necessarily structure your access to reality, and as such you are not and cannot be a ‘mirror’, simply reflecting what is. (If philosophy has taught me one thing, it’s that.)
To make matters worse, at other times he writes, “Objects of mind are created by the mind itself. The way we perceive the world around us depends entirely on our way of looking at it.” I'm probably not reading too charitably but this seems like a conceptual 180: suddenly our seeing the world is created by the mind itself and not at all a pure, unmediated reflection. It’s the other extreme.
I would say both views are dogmatic: realism and idealism (although awkwardly worded here). The thing is you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Kant did, but Kant’s point was exactly that these two extremes, the “we can know the world as it is, the things in themselves” and “the world depends entirely on my mind”, must be given up in order to build a bridge between the two. And if you’re not willing to give them both up, you have to pick a lane. Pick a lane, Thich Nhat Hanh!
I know this little book is a practical mindfulness guide (and as such, it's very good! Hence 4 stars) and not an academic paper, but it still bothered me, especially because it’s about seeing clearly and letting go of wrong perceptions. These dogmatic positions (“I see reality *as it is*, and you don’t” / “Everything is simply all in our heads”) are exactly the dangerous ones. Don't fall for them.
There was, however, one big thing that bothered me: the recurring assertion that we can “see reality as it is” – freed from all the prejudices and background assumptions that cloud our perception. I think this is false: the idea of unmediated access to an objective reality is a myth, and a harmful one at that. You, as a knowing/perceiving subject, necessarily structure your access to reality, and as such you are not and cannot be a ‘mirror’, simply reflecting what is. (If philosophy has taught me one thing, it’s that.)
To make matters worse, at other times he writes, “Objects of mind are created by the mind itself. The way we perceive the world around us depends entirely on our way of looking at it.” I'm probably not reading too charitably but this seems like a conceptual 180: suddenly our seeing the world is created by the mind itself and not at all a pure, unmediated reflection. It’s the other extreme.
I would say both views are dogmatic: realism and idealism (although awkwardly worded here). The thing is you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Kant did, but Kant’s point was exactly that these two extremes, the “we can know the world as it is, the things in themselves” and “the world depends entirely on my mind”, must be given up in order to build a bridge between the two. And if you’re not willing to give them both up, you have to pick a lane. Pick a lane, Thich Nhat Hanh!
I know this little book is a practical mindfulness guide (and as such, it's very good! Hence 4 stars) and not an academic paper, but it still bothered me, especially because it’s about seeing clearly and letting go of wrong perceptions. These dogmatic positions (“I see reality *as it is*, and you don’t” / “Everything is simply all in our heads”) are exactly the dangerous ones. Don't fall for them.
January 13, 2020
I think anyone could benefit from reading this book. I always thought that “mindfulness” was a kind of hokey idea and I didn’t want to do it because my own mind seemed to be mostly fear, anxiety, and doubt. It seemed to me that really focusing on these feelings made them stronger and me weaker. This book encourages us to “look deeper” so that we can understand the true nature of what makes us fearful, so that we may let go of that fear. There’s also a lot of insight into love, communication, perception, peace, relationships, and so many other things and it is amazing that so much loveliness was crammed into such a small book.
December 8, 2024
estoy adicta a esta colección de libritos
en inglés y en español
la edición es tan deliciosa que dan ganas de comértela
las palabras, para saborearlas, digerirlas, pensarlas
bello, bello, pura Torah sin mencionarla
en inglés y en español
la edición es tan deliciosa que dan ganas de comértela
las palabras, para saborearlas, digerirlas, pensarlas
bello, bello, pura Torah sin mencionarla
March 21, 2021
Great, always great
March 21, 2024
Tolle, kurze, inspirierende Texte und kleine Atemübungen für eine achtsame Meditation.
May 24, 2020
Everytime I read one of his books, I get yet a new way to grasp reality and get closer to mindfulness.
Doing one thing at a time and focusing on it has helped me untangle my worries and anxieties. No matter how many books you read about the Now, the Present, الصوفي ابن الوقت, I think that having a minimalist guide like this one is very helpful indeed.
Just like his other two books : How to Love and How to Fight, mindfulness in this one is more about our perceptions, and how it affects our reality...
One key concept that is recurring in the book is choice... We are free to choose how we see the world and how we want to perceive it. The second concept was compassion aka empathy in EI terms: the willingness to accept things, people, circumstances as they are, beyond the illusion we have built for ourselves in the first place.
My favourite part had to do with eternity, and how it can be felt through anything really if we take the time to stop, sit still and enjoy its existence as it is...
Here's to another meditative reading!
#EidRead
"If we live mindfully in everyday life, walk mindfully, are full of love and caring, then we create a miracle and transform the world into a wonderful place. "
Doing one thing at a time and focusing on it has helped me untangle my worries and anxieties. No matter how many books you read about the Now, the Present, الصوفي ابن الوقت, I think that having a minimalist guide like this one is very helpful indeed.
Just like his other two books : How to Love and How to Fight, mindfulness in this one is more about our perceptions, and how it affects our reality...
One key concept that is recurring in the book is choice... We are free to choose how we see the world and how we want to perceive it. The second concept was compassion aka empathy in EI terms: the willingness to accept things, people, circumstances as they are, beyond the illusion we have built for ourselves in the first place.
My favourite part had to do with eternity, and how it can be felt through anything really if we take the time to stop, sit still and enjoy its existence as it is...
Here's to another meditative reading!
#EidRead
"If we live mindfully in everyday life, walk mindfully, are full of love and caring, then we create a miracle and transform the world into a wonderful place. "
September 24, 2019
I enjoy this series because they are short yet powerful reads.
A few of my favorite quotes:
"When our mind is not calm, we do not see clearly."
"When you drink your tea mindfully, you know you are drinking a cloud—"
"We cannot force people to practice mindfulness, but if we practice mindfulness ourselves and become happier people, we can inspire others to practice."
"If you know how to sit stably and follow your in- and out- breath, then after some time you become peaceful and clear,"
"Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I calm my mind."
A few of my favorite quotes:
"When our mind is not calm, we do not see clearly."
"When you drink your tea mindfully, you know you are drinking a cloud—"
"We cannot force people to practice mindfulness, but if we practice mindfulness ourselves and become happier people, we can inspire others to practice."
"If you know how to sit stably and follow your in- and out- breath, then after some time you become peaceful and clear,"
"Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I calm my mind."
March 22, 2023
My favorite line from this book.
“All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, the multitude of colors and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”
These days, every morning waking up, I always ponder if I cannot see today, what is the last image that I would keep or remember. I would desperately remember the blue sky, the sunshine, the green garden, the colors, and the smile of the people I love. At that moment, I am grateful for being aware and for being able to see.
“All the wonders of life are available in the present moment—the sunshine, the fresh air, the trees, the multitude of colors and forms all around us. The essential thing is to be aware. If we open our eyes, we will see.”
These days, every morning waking up, I always ponder if I cannot see today, what is the last image that I would keep or remember. I would desperately remember the blue sky, the sunshine, the green garden, the colors, and the smile of the people I love. At that moment, I am grateful for being aware and for being able to see.
January 28, 2021
Another notable addition to my bedside collection!
May 23, 2024
Rating: 3.5
July 17, 2019
It is a great and lucid book, a series of short meditations on various topics related to awareness, mindfulness, and meditation.
September 19, 2019
This is a deceptively quick read that bears rereading and reflection. Passages and chapters that at first blush sound platitudinous resonate more deeply with each repeat encounter.
February 14, 2020
Much needed reminders for a happier life.
July 2, 2022
Este libro escrito por el fallecido "Thay" (maestro en vietnamita) es muy breve pero da cuenta de lo esencial y simple de la doctrina zen: ver las cosas con claridad.
Thay admite que nunca vamos a poder abandonar los conceptos y los signos como medio para relacionarnos con el mundo pero al menos podemos dar cuenta de algunos de esos conceptos, de algunas de las reacciones emocionales y mentales que conllevan, e ignorarlos.
Hace poco charlaba con un amigo que me indulje con este tipo de charlas sobre qué efecto tiene meditar y comentábamos que todos vivimos en nuestros castillos de conceptos donde nos protegemos, nos refugiamos. Si aquel que esta perdido dentro de una mente rota por la enfermedad, la tragedia y el sufrimiento, se refugia en la torre más recóndita, donde ni el mundo ni los demás pueden llegar. El "sentarse y nada más" en qué consiste de alguna forma la meditación zazen es una forma de mirar el mundo desde las almenas de ese castillo. Aún si no podes desmantelar todos los conceptos que no nos permiten estar presentes sin mediaciones, al menos, podemos ir más ligeros y ver más allá del signo, más allá de la dualidad, aunque sea un puro atisbo, ya es un montón.
Thay me ayuda a recordar porque me siento en el zafu: para ver a los demás, para entenderlos y poder sentir compasión por ellos y por mí porque en el budismo la primer noble verdad es que la vida es sufrimiento pero también que hay un camino para ayudar a los demás y a uno a vivir sin producir ni sufrir tanto.
Thay admite que nunca vamos a poder abandonar los conceptos y los signos como medio para relacionarnos con el mundo pero al menos podemos dar cuenta de algunos de esos conceptos, de algunas de las reacciones emocionales y mentales que conllevan, e ignorarlos.
Hace poco charlaba con un amigo que me indulje con este tipo de charlas sobre qué efecto tiene meditar y comentábamos que todos vivimos en nuestros castillos de conceptos donde nos protegemos, nos refugiamos. Si aquel que esta perdido dentro de una mente rota por la enfermedad, la tragedia y el sufrimiento, se refugia en la torre más recóndita, donde ni el mundo ni los demás pueden llegar. El "sentarse y nada más" en qué consiste de alguna forma la meditación zazen es una forma de mirar el mundo desde las almenas de ese castillo. Aún si no podes desmantelar todos los conceptos que no nos permiten estar presentes sin mediaciones, al menos, podemos ir más ligeros y ver más allá del signo, más allá de la dualidad, aunque sea un puro atisbo, ya es un montón.
Thay me ayuda a recordar porque me siento en el zafu: para ver a los demás, para entenderlos y poder sentir compasión por ellos y por mí porque en el budismo la primer noble verdad es que la vida es sufrimiento pero también que hay un camino para ayudar a los demás y a uno a vivir sin producir ni sufrir tanto.
December 12, 2022
a bit basic and i disagreed with the oppressor collusion. that all felt a bit gaslighty. managed to pick some of the lines between my teeth for concepts but nothing left a meaningfully deep impression. felt very neolib.
April 25, 2023
Erstes und letztes Drittel für mich besonders hilfreich, in der Mitte etwas redundant, aber Wiederholung schadet ja nie.
Durch die ruhige und präsente Stimme von Herbert Schäfer wird im Hörbuch in Kombination mit musikalischer Untermalung eine sehr entspannte Atmosphäre geschaffen.
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Durch die ruhige und präsente Stimme von Herbert Schäfer wird im Hörbuch in Kombination mit musikalischer Untermalung eine sehr entspannte Atmosphäre geschaffen.
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January 3, 2024
giving this one 4 stars bc I really needed to hear this stuff again regarding PERCEPTION rn. & yeah, our perceptions are like 98.9% of the time FALSE. & I've been stuck, trapped in this awful cycle of negative perceptions, so yeah... def need to work on that. I AM TRYING!!!!!
July 13, 2024
Un libro precioso e imprescindible en la actualidad. Nos habla de como aprender a apreciar y a presenciar todo lo que nos rodea, a observar y valorar las casualidades y la complejidad de todo lo que nos envuelve.
June 11, 2022
I need my personal copy.
June 19, 2024
3.5 stars
April 7, 2022
I enjoyed the style of this book. It changed my way to see people and things around the world. It is my first non-fiction that I appreciated !!! Totally recommend !!!
August 3, 2022
This book has such powers truths and prose to ponder and investigate. I will keep referring back to it for support and beautiful reminders. ✨
November 16, 2020
People should be held responsible for their actions, off course we areaffected by variant factors but ultimatly we ,almost, always can choose to do the right thing.. so what i am trying to say is that i am not really a big fan of the "ultimate" understanding-accepting-foregiving concept
September 17, 2021
Wise meditations to peruse and digest. Nourishing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews