Peaceful Action, Open Heart: Lessons from the Lotus Sutra

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Peaceful Action, Open Heart shines 60 years of study and practice upon one of the crowning scriptures of the path of the Buddha, and is destined to be known as one of the most significant writings by Thich Nhat Hanh.

The Lotus Sutra is one of the most revered of Mahayana sacred texts and is sometimes called "the king of sutras." Despite this fact, there are very few commentaries in English available today. Thich Nhat Hanh explores the Sutra’s main theme-- that everyone has the capacity to become a Buddha, and that Buddha-nature is inherent in everything--but he also uniquely emphasizes the sutra’s insight that Buddha-nature is the basis for peaceful action. Since we all will one day become a Buddha, he says, we can use mindfulness practices right now to understand and find solutions to current world challenges. In his interpretation of the sutra, he suggests that if the practices, views, and insights of the Lotus Sutra would find application not only by individuals but also by nations, it would offer concrete solutions to transform individual suffering and the global challenges facing the world today.

Stamped with his signature depth of vision, lucidity, and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh’s insights based on the wisdom of the Lotus Sutra invoke a wide range of contemporary topics and concerns, such as the Palestinian-Israeli war, the threat of terrorism, and the degradation of our environment. In proposing radical new ways of finding peaceful solutions to universal, contemporary conflicts, he not only challenges the U.N to change from an organization to a real organism working for peace and harmony in the world, but also encourages all branches of all governments to act as Sangha. In so doing, he demonstrates the practical and direct applicability of this sacred text to today's concerns.

This book has been re-released with a new title. The earlier hardcover edition was entitled Opening the Heart of the Cosmos .

Genres: Buddhism, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

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

[Brother Yonten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful throughout.

Another reflection of Dear Respected Thay's mastery of Buddhist sutras. His insight shines through like a lit diamond guiding the reader into the Lotus sutra, revealing the deep & profound teachings this foundation sutra of the Mahayana buddhism tradition.

[เนติวิทย์ โชติภัทร์ไพศาล · Rating 4 out of 5]

คู่มือแนะนำการอ่านสัทธรรมปุณฑริกสูตร (หนังสือสำคัญของฝ่ายมหายาน) ที่ดีเยี่ยม
An essential guide to Lotus Sutra

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is a way through any situation, no matter how difficult. And the way that is prescribed by the teaching is to practice deep listening, listening with compassion, and to use loving speech, one of the skillful means of the bodhisattva. Once communication is restored we have hope, and suffering will be lessened."

[Reinhard Plank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eastern wisdom

The book stimulates thought and reflection. Thich Nhat Hanh is probably one of the most insightful and wise people living. For someone like me who grew up in Europe it would be easier to read if there would be less foreign words and terms. This would probably not be an issue for someone familiar with Eastern spiritual terms and concepts.

[Peg Chace]

A wonderful, Thought-filled book. Thih Nhat Hanh wrote about mindfulnessness but not only to be in the,moment. Mindfulness of love and compassion is what counts. This thought really registered with me. WSell worth reading.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisdom from the Lotus Sutra

I read this book after finishing the BDK version of the Lotus Sutra. This book waters the seeds planted by reading the sutra itself. It recounts the most important stories and recaptures the wonder and excitement of reading the sutra for the first time.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I studied this book a few pages at a time, as part of my daily meditation practice, and I wouldn’t recommend a straight read of it. It’s a clear, concise, and approachable discussion of the Lotus Sutra and what it means. A very good book for compassion practice.

[Adam Zuwerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent commentary bringing forth an ancient piece of wisdom into modern day practice, showcasing the immense skills of Thich Nhat Hanh in bridging the two. I look forward to reading the Lotus Sutra itself, and then rereading this work.

[Quynh Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a few of us, myself included, wonder why the Lotus Sutra is consider the king of all sutras. Thanks to this book, I start to understand why.

[D William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the most profound book

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sutra, gently and compassionately explained by Thich

[Kim Morelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the book's fault for an average rating. Just not the content I was expecting. (I actually bumped it up from a 2.75 star rating) ;)

[Arizona Mildman]

Another book that has deep meaning. I opened the Gene Reeves version of the Lotus Sutra and placed the two books side by side. Thich Nhat Hanh once again walks us through each parable as a Zen master who has read these things for almost seventy years so we get the insight of the monk who has mastered it's meanings the first time we see it. Some think the lotus sutra is too complicated and full of deities and mythical creatures to be accurate, but this book opens the keys to the analogies of what Buddha wisdom has taught for years in that it explains each story character as analogies of parts of our own mental growth as we study Buddhist thought an come to understand. E.G. Bodhisattva Never Disparaging who bows to all other Buddhists on the path to inner peace, shows us that we need to be open minded because like the difference between four way stops at an intersection and modern stoplights with all the bells and whistles, they both have their place and do the same thing, one automatically and the rest using more experience and study, along with extra courtesy for others and patience. Compassion is the key and it is seen in the end, no matter what path we take.

[David Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

first couple of chapters, very helpful to give an historical context to this sutra.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST to accompany reading of the Lotus Sutra. It is clear, comprehensible and thorough and I both enjoyed it and learned a lot about how to read the Lotus, and other, sutras.

[Feisty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked last section on 6 paramitas.