Nothing to Do, Nowhere to Go: Reflections on the Teachings of Zen Master Lin Chi

by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Zen school of Mahayana Buddhism contends that each one of us is already a Buddha — the enlightenment we seek is always within us, waiting to be realized through mindfulness and concerted spiritual work. This truth pushes us toward practice, in the hopes that we may awaken our potential and live up to what is inside us. This is a notion taught widely by ninth century Zen Master Lin Chi, and in his tradition Thich Nhat Hanh employs the teachings and writings of Mahayana Buddhism to discuss specific topics in Buddhist study and practice. With these teachings, readers have the tools to awaken the Buddha within.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Zen

204 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2007

About the author

Thích 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.

Reviews

[Tim Desmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Support for not getting lost in the teachings.

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nothing to Do, Nowhere to Go" is a profound collaboration between Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese Zen master and peace activist, and Rachel Neumann. The book intricately weaves together the essence of mindfulness, meditation, and the art of embracing the present moment.

In the first part, "The Art of Mindful Living," Hanh imparts practical wisdom for integrating mindfulness into daily life, encouraging full presence, emotional awareness, and inner tranquility to navigate the challenges of the modern world.

Moving on to "The Art of Mindful Breathing," Hanh explores transformative breathing exercises, not just as a path to meditation but as a means to cultivate heightened awareness, compassion, and insight.

The third section, "The Art of Mindful Walking," introduces walking meditation, blending the physical act with mindful presence, showcasing Hanh's belief in the practical application of mindfulness across diverse aspects of life.
Central to the book is the theme of interdependence. Hanh beautifully illustrates how our actions ripple through the interconnected fabric of existence, underscoring the imperative of cultivating compassion. His call to create a more just and peaceful society echoes loudly, urging readers to recognize their role in shaping a harmonious world.

The book's strength lies in its pragmatic approach, offering not just philosophical musings but tangible exercises and techniques. Hanh's meditation practices, spanning breathing exercises to visualization, provide a comprehensive toolkit for those seeking a transformative journey.

While the book is a beacon of wisdom, its prose may at times feel contemplative, requiring readers to engage deeply with the text. However, this reflective quality is intrinsic to the teachings, inviting readers to absorb the essence rather than passively consume.

In conclusion, "Nothing to Do, Nowhere to Go" is a beacon of mindfulness in a hectic world. Thich Nhat Hanh and Rachel Neumann have crafted a timeless guide, urging readers to embrace the beauty of each moment, cultivate mindfulness, and contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

[Sarmistha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wherever you go, you will just find yourself." We will just meet the difficulties, the loneliness, the sadness, and the suffering we already know. Nothing is equal to sitting there, returning to ourselves, finding the elements of happiness, enlightenment, and liberation right here in our own body and mind. - Master Linji
In this book, the author sheds light on the teachings of Master Linji.Master Linji was born in Shandong province of China between 810 and 815.He left home at an early age to study with Zen Patriarch Huangbo near Hongzhou at a time of political instability.
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His teaching style was way different from practitioners of that time.He broke the complex web of prejudices formed around Buddhism.He coined simple terms like businessesless people, guest, host and many others to impart the true knowledge of Dharma.His teachings embodies the true essence of Buddhism which focuses on inner wisdom & mindfulness.
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His teachings are compiled in the form of The Record of Master Linji divided into two parts - Zen Battles & Evening Talks.He talks about the lessons of Dharma we can learn not only from Sutras but also from mother nature. Master Linji repeatedly criticized the monks & practitioners who focused only on giving eloquent speeches to the seekers but failed to realise the true meaning of Buddhism during Zen Battles.
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Written in layman's language, the book indicates the social condition and the influence of Buddhism in the society.The book is full of thought provoking & inspirational lessons.The master has used short stories at times to explain some concepts & sometimes to dispel doubts.
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Although, the Zen Battles are interesting to read but sometimes they can be pretty confusing too for beginners like me.It would require me more than two reading sessions of the whole book to grasp the complete essence of it.
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I would love to recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn about Buddhism.

[Benito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es difícil calificar un libro de esta naturaleza. Sin duda, no es un libro para alguien que quiera aproximarse al budismo de forma introductoria, sino para lectores con un cierto nivel de conocimiento de esta filosofía. Se trata de los comentarios a una serie de enseñanzas de un gran maestro de época clásica. Sus enseñanzas encierran una verdad brillante fundamental, resumida en el título del libro. Pero la forma de expresarlo y el método la envuelven en un contexto ininteligible (también por anacrónico), que intentan descifrar los comentarios de Thay.

[Sol Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, but not an essential one. While “The Diamond Sutra” is a huge accomplishment as an interpretation and presentation of a primary Buddhist text, I would venture to say that the source material for this one isn’t quite as earth-shattering. However, Thay writes with his normal clarity and wisdom.

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is of a rare sort. In the beginning, reading the actual "Records of Master Linji," I followed the introduction's suggestion that I treat the short stories/teachings as 'marvels in a museum, to look upon lightly' before the meatier explanations in the second part of the book. What a comical and bizarre museum it was! Monks shouting and beating students while carrying on strange and unfathomable conversations, speaking of how wonderful each individual is while beating down the ladders of their mental scaffolding for how the world works. Being entirely new to this style of Buddhism, I gawked. But then the explanations! They added the props to the stage that gave context to the martial arts and riddles. What wonderful understandings. While they did sometimes refer to things I simply don't know about as a layperson, I simply read quickly over these bits to get to the jewels, like a kid without a dictionary at hand who still enjoys the action scenes in their chapter book. So worth it. Everyone, including me, and you too, can BE a buddha. There is no need to strive, and no need to ever feel you are far from home. Breathe and know that you are breathing. Be comfortable in your skin. Wherever you go, you are your true self. The final section of suggested practices and poems to use as skilful means to bring about mindfulness was a lovely touch. Peace.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

breathing in
coming home
breathing out
feeling safe
spirituality for me is the art of letting go. i assume that master linji is a favourite of thich nhat hahn and between them they emphasize mindfulness and staying connected to ordinary life. master linji never allows us to forget that knowing is not being. on first reading he hints that all we can know is sickness and medicine. a slight contradiction but maybe not. maybe there is a use to all this thinking and knowing and figuring out. give someone a hand and stop chasing rainbows.
this is a book i will keep an eye on.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concerns of 9th-century Zen Master Linji are still relevant today: over-intellectualization and doctrines, texts, ideas, study, ambitions, and discussions as roadblocks to spiritual attainment. The commentary is very helpful and practical.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not be fooled by the cover and title: a concise--and compassionate--lesson in Zen Buddhism. I took a lot of joy and instruction from Thich Nhat Hanh's commentary on Master Linji's record.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a critical book, in the sense that it turns what you understand of the world, of concepts, upside down.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little hard to get into but has some real gems.

[Jeffrey Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the fact that they packaged it like a self-help book----a fantastic read. I come back to this one fairly frequently.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We might go to a class, but we don't learn there - we learn from WITHIN.