Flowers in the Dark: Reclaiming Your Power to Heal from Trauma with Mindfulness

by Dang Nghiem

“Profound and hopeful . . . Sister Dang Nghiem integrates the neuroscience of trauma, effective treatments, and mindfulness training. Highly recommended.” —Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha's Brain Learn the accessible and deeply compassionate practices for healing trauma, known as the Five Strengths of applied Zen Buddhism. More than a philosophy, these body-based practices are backed by modern neuroscience research, and they can be applied by anyone suffering from trauma to begin experiencing relief.   Mindfulness teacher Sister Dang Nghiem, MD, is an inspiration for anyone who has ever suffered from abuse, life-changing loss, severe illness, or the aftermath of war. In Flowers in the Dark, she brings together her lived experience as a survivor, certified MD, and ordained Buddhist teacher to offer a body-based, practical approach to healing from life's most difficult and painful experiences. Offering insights from Buddhist psychology and simple somatic practices for tapping into our Five Strengths—our inner faculties of self-trust, diligence, mindfulness, concentration, and insight—Sister Dang Nghiem’s approach to trauma is radically accessible; it begins with awareness of our breathing. With each chapter containing a progression of guided reflections and exercises, this book can be read as an adjunct to therapy and a helpful guide for moving through trauma in the body. With the practice of mindfulness, we can access our strength as survivors and our joy in being alive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Buddhism, Psychology, Spirituality, Mental Health, Meditation, Self Help

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2021

Reviews

[Claudine Montes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I have suffered from complex PTSD for 15 years and this book has really made a difference. I have practiced mindfulness and meditation for years (off and on) but did not know how to use it in a way to help myself. I needed more specific trauma informed guidance. I recently had to go on disability for 2 months due to PTSD issues. It was during this time I found this book and it helped me get strong enough to go back to work. As a follower of Thich Nhat Hahn's teachings, and living one mile from Deer Park Monastery, this was such a blessing. I'm so grateful to Sister Dang Ngheim for her ground breaking work and her own vulnerability she shares. I encourage anyone with trauma to get this book!!!

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister Dang, a Buddhist nun who came to the US as an orphan and graduated from medical school, has helpful words for anyone seeking to live more mindfully, especially trauma survivors. She says, “The ‘mud’ and mess of our most painful experiences can become fertile ground for the blossoming of our understanding and self-compassion. This is a hard truth to accept if we are resolved to seeing a good life as consisting only of positive events. It is true that the cool waters of happiness are sweet and precious, but it is suffering that carves our cup.” Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.

[Sparrow Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an excellent book, I cannot say enough good things about it. Sr. Dang Nghiem is not just some mindfulness expert (tho’ she is that), not just medically knowledgable (she was a doctor before becoming a nun), she’s someone who has experienced sexual abuse as a child and has used the practice to heal her trauma. So in my book, that makes her a REAL expert. She’s been through it, and knows how confusing, painful, and soul destroying it is.

Although Sr. D speaks from a Buddhist perspective, none of these practices needs one to be Buddhist, or anything, one of the real strengths of the book. All that is needed is a desire to heal and willingness to try her suggestions. Her writing is clear, concise, and engaging as she shares her story of healing along with other’s stories. Even if you haven’t experienced any overt trauma, the pandemic has had an impact on our mental well-being, a subtle source of trauma that this book can help heal.

[Shar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This breath is for you.
This smile is for you.
This peaceful moment is for you.

I breathe for you.
I smile for you.
I cultivate this peaceful moment for you.”

[Rouchswalwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with heart, mind, and brain; excellent.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so healing and I will hold it dear to me… I love you Sister Dang Nghiem💜

[Leah Bargnesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, incredible, incredible.

[Cor T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this after listening to a podcast with the author which I found powerful. After a traumatic childhood and suffering multiple close personal losses, Sister D retired from being a doctor to be a Buddhist nun. One of the ways she healed was noting that in Vietnamese, the term 'soulmate' means to remember, to know, to take care of, to master one's own self. She dedicated her spiritual life to becoming her own soulmate.
Here is the podcast on 10 percent happier
As usual for me, the podcast-length version condensing the essence of the author's viewpoint is more compelling than the book-length version, in this case because it goes into meditation and Buddhism in too much depth and loses my interest. 5 stars for her story and the honesty which which she tells it.

[Dylan Tweney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang Nghiem is a nun in the Buddhist tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. This book is her collection of thoughts and experiences on using the techniques of mindfulness to address and heal from trauma. She writes witha great deal of authority on the subject, both from her life history and from many years of meditation practice and teaching. I think this book is primarily of interest to people already practicing in this tradition, but her approach is broad, gentle, and non dogmatic as well as practical and particular, so it should be easily accessible to anyone looking for more depth than the usual platitudes about the power of mindfulness.

[Lily Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read, suitable for anyone interested in the intersection between Buddhism and trauma, especially recommended for anyone with a history of sexual abuse. Anything that makes me shed this many tears deserves five stars. I think this is one of those books where you can read it through, read individual chapters, go back and re-read the whole thing, or focus on specific paragraphs and practises. I'm really happy and grateful to have found this book.

[Del Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book by Sister D. I love her Dharma talks too. She is wise and her voice is so gentle and soothing. She has experienced much trauma and writes from experience. Her medical training helps her technical understanding and her spiritual training makes her teachings authentic and practical. You will love learning from her.

[Ranvir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sister Dang Nghiem has such a profound understanding of the mind. In this book she explains how she and others she has met have worked on and overcome their trauma through mindfulness. She doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics, so read at your own pace and take breaks when you need to. I will definitely be referring back to chapters. Highly recommend!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are at the point of searching for this book on Goodreads I'd say definitely give it a go - you will find this book thought provoking and something that you will want to keep going back to.
Sister Dang Nghiem’s words make so much sense and she really does show that Buddhist concepts are relevant to the modern broken world.

[Leslie Rawls · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real treasure. While Sister Dang Nghiem seems to speak primarily to people who, like her, have experienced great trauma and need healing, her writing is valuable and encouraging for everyone. Her words nourish understanding and compassion in the hearts of those who have not directly experienced trauma, and encourage our deep practice with the principles of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.

[Umara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's because I am not at all involved in the Buddhist tradition the author follows, but I didn't find this book to be particularly, helpful, insightful, or interesting. More of an autobiography than a self help oriented book, which is fine but not necessarily what I was expecting. I found it a bit of a slog to get through.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tldr I chose this book because of the emphasis on the PRACTICE. Meeting Sister D and feeling the peace and gentleness exuded from her presence gives me hope and faith that trust in the practice yields similar.

[Sam Holstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent book on applying Plum Village traditions and teachings to the challenge of healing trauma in oneself. Lots of useful practices that have already begun increasing my quality of life.

[Lauren McGaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booked changed my life and helped me to see things in a new light. I have never marked so many pages or resonated with so many words. I am so happy I found it. Sister Dang Nghiem is a beautiful human and writer and has helped me immensely to heal parts of my trauma.

[Angie Taggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book, and I love Sister D. The only difficult thing, for me anyway, is that reading about other people’s trauma reopens my own, which is hard. But I loved the guided meditations and stories. This is an important book.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides basic, helpful practices and a calming, gentle tone for the reader to enjoy.

[Melinda Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me a bit as I read it always before falling asleep. Biggest takeaway - I need to meditate more.

[cherie heinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift

I wish all could read this, whether or not they've experienced trauma themselves, because I guarantee they know someone who has.

[DragonTree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult topic, but I still found it on the sappy side.

[Alireza · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's healing... simple!

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I love the Flowers in the Dark meditations that can be found in the Plum Village App.

[Ivy Elise]

lots of lovely activities

[Patrick Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and the Author are filled with an incredible amount of love and compassion. As a trauma survivor, this is one of the most nourishing pieces of literature I've read.