The Blooming of a Lotus: Guided Meditations for Achieving the Miracle of Mindfulness

by Thich Nhat Hanh

One of the world's great meditation teachers offers thirty-four guided exercises that will bring both beginning and experienced practitioners into closer touch with their bodies, their inner selves, their families, and the world. Compassionate and wise, Thich Nhat Hanh's healing words help us acknowledge and dissolve anger and separation by illuminating the way toward the miracle of mindfulness.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Meditation, Self Help, Religion, Health

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2011

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

[Mark Robison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me 20 years to read. It’s a compilation of guided meditations — thoughts to focus the mind on while meditating. It’s not meant to be read, but tried as part of a meditation practice. For years, I never made it past “Exercise Four” because it’s so profound — I still use it regularly, including today. But now I’ve done them all. What makes the book so useful is that Nhat Hanh explains each line of the meditations so you know their purpose and what they’re trying to evoke. More than half of the meditations did nothing for me — they were too esoteric or complicated. (I read the first edition; I’m not sure if this still holds true with the revised edition.) Of the 34 guided meditations, I probably do five with regularity. They are life-altering, and I suspect different ones will speak to different people. If you don’t want to just follow your breath, this is wonderful. Grade: A-

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super-straightforward guide to meditation that ought to be useful to just about everyone (level 5 monks, maybe not so much). Some of these exercises (I breathe in, being in the present moment; I breathe out, knowing it is a wonderful moment) are lovely and can be done anywhere or anytime. Some others are a little more intense (I breathe in, seeing my grey dead body lying on the bed; I breathe out AAAUUUGGHHHHHHHHHHHH). I like all the "smiling to" that goes on in here and I always feel better after smiling to a worm or my kidneys or whatever.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thich Nhat Hanh and his brother and sister Vietnamese monks have been an inspiration to me since the 1960's. This is a very focused book with many guided meditations.

[mehg-hen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And by currently reading I mean: Barely Gotten Through 3 Meditations. Still, I like the: I smile at my hair.

This is all due to Eat Pray Love. Also, ODing on meditation books is not taking the middle path. Thank you.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is saving my life.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the guided meditations you'll ever need.

[Crystal FloridaGrams Of3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and couldn't be happier after reading it.

I did as the book taught me. I used music from an app called Sacred Sounds with that in the background.

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discover the path to building loving relationships, nurturing compassion, and finding deeper self-commitment with the transformative wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh’s ‘The Blooming of a Lotus.’ This lucid and powerful guide offers meditation exercises for both beginners and seasoned practitioners, helping you regulate your actions and consumption to become more aware and prevent negative emotions from steering your life. Organized around the profound connections we share with our bodies, inner selves, and the world around us, this book is your meditative journey to a calmer, more joyous way of life.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you believe in meditation or not, I think this is the consummate book for anyone searching for peace. A person of any religion can explore meditative practices through this book. I have given a copy to over ten of my friends and acquaintances. The exercises are trans formative to say the least.

[Kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tool book. It helps me ease into meditation during my normal daily activities. It is nice to have specific words to think when my mind is noisy.

This is a favorite:

Breathing in, I see myself as a flower.
Breathing out, I feel fresh.

And there are other more serious meditations useful for breaking through barriers of addition, craving, anger, and other negative thoughts.

[Cuong · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book introduced me into practising mindfulness throughout the day. I can say that it is definitely a solid stepping stone for those who won't to delve more into it. simple topics such as washing dishes and be mindful and present within the moment are often forgotten. really puts things into perspective, whereby being in the present moment, is really everything.

[Geri Degruy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Thich Nhat Hanh offers a series of guided meditations that take you into important heart and life territory. I'm a meditator but these are different from sitting and breathing. These get into acceptance of ourselves, our pain, our joy, our life and death.

[Tammy Sadorus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book :) I used excerpts from his meditations for savasana in my yoga classes. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

[Ruby Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome book

[Joan]

Breathe in, breathe out, precious moment, wonderful moment!

[Bria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp, I guess I'm a master of mindfulness now.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great meditations, but it is hard to read them and use them at the same time. An accompanying CD would be a great asset when going through this book.

[VJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too repetitive and slow moving for my taste. I like my meditation to be active, so I'll continue knitting mindfully.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book to read and re-read. The exercises are helpful and can lead to great depth.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and easy read... helpful....

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, but not for someone who is just looking into meditation.

[SarahJaneSmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and soothing.

[Dao Thanh Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thở vào, tôi thấy tất cả trong một.
Thở ra, tôi thấy một trong tất cả .

[Kiranmayi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2023/11/bo...

In his insightful book, The Blooming of a Lotus, Thich Nhat Hanh offers a comprehensive collection of guided meditations designed to cultivate mindfulness and compassion. These meditations are suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners, and they can be practiced at any time or place.

First published in 1993, this book has since been translated into many languages, making its wisdom accessible to a global audience. The book’s collection of meditations focuses on various aspects of mindfulness, including breathing, walking, eating, and working.

What sets this book apart is its simplicity and ease of use. Hanh’s clear and concise instructions make the meditations accessible to people of all levels of experience. In cases where specific meditation exercises require a certain level of prior experience, the book explicitly mentions this, allowing readers to navigate and choose accordingly. Additionally, the book provides valuable guidance on setting up a meditation practice and overcoming common challenges that may arise.

Drawing upon the principles of Theravada Buddhism, Hanh’s teachings transcend religious boundaries, offering insights and guidance relevant to people of all faiths and backgrounds. This timeless book can be revisited and reread over time, providing continuous opportunities for personal growth and transformation.

Beyond the guided meditations, the book includes practical tips on incorporating mindfulness into everyday life, empowering readers to cultivate a deeper sense of presence and tranquility in their daily routines.

Overall, The Blooming of a Lotus stands as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their mindfulness practice and cultivate inner peace. Hanh’s wisdom and guidance provide a clear roadmap for personal transformation, offering a path to greater happiness and well-being.

[Dhwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the world's most revered Buddhist teachers. This book by him takes us on the journey of mediation for the soul.

While we have numerous sources for distraction these days, this book helps us go back to the cocoon of self. The deeper we look inside, the easier and simple our life becomes. It brings you a sense of self awareness and grounds you. While we enjoy numerous long distance relationships with people living away from our countries, we are very distant from the one soul that matters the most to us which is our own.

This book not only provides you with a set of guided meditation sequences but also tell you all about mediation, mindfulness, healing and how it impacts us. Mediation for different scenarios have been mentioned and certain other practices that are done along with it as well.

This book isn't going to solve your worldly problems but it will definitely help you ground yourself and help you heal, transform and achieve a state of mindfulness.

I would definitely recommend this book to the ones who need guidance to begin their journey to meditation and a peaceful and calmer life.

[Sarmistha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading The Blooming Of A Lotus was an enriching experience.The author introduces one to the various concepts of Buddhism and meditation.He detailed how one can find the path of transformation and healing through meditation only after accepting the unsettling emotions that troubles our mind.
Written in layman's language, the book focuses on mindfulness, purposes of various breathing exercises, the disturbing elements that troubles our mind, ways to deal with them and Nirvana.
The meditation exercises are easy to follow and practice.The One can calm her mind after consecutive practice on a daily basis.

[Janessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think this is a book that you really finish. It is a practitioner’s manual and reference. A guide to help deepen your awareness and competence as you practice the guided meditations over time.

I am a big Thich That Hahn fan and have read several of his books on Buddhism and mindfulness. Afterward, I have always wondered “okay, but how?” “What does this look like from a Buddhist perspective?”

This book is the how and it has helped deepen my spiritual and mindfulness practices.

[Rico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beloved master Thich Nhat Hanh delivers a compelling reason for meditation and transformation. Using techniques long favored and used by millions of people around the world but enhanced by his personal touch this book is one I highly recommend to anyone looking for purpose or guidance in this complex world we live in...

[Pro Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A genuine path to nourish our inner lotus - our innate ability to receive, hold and transform the “muddy water” of suffering into something beautiful.

For me, the two new chapters in this edition are a generous gift - offering practices from the 2004 three month retreat as well as rediscovering gentle meditations of touching the earth.

[Sarah Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m only on page 9, but already feel this is a classic, with so many ‘ah-ha’ moments. Thay’s books are so full of love, truth and wisdom it cannot be explained, only experienced in reading. Thankyou dear Thay for your legacy 🌧️ 🌻 ⛰️