Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Walking Toward Enlightenment

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Revered Zen Buddhist teacher and best-selling author Thich Nhat Hanh explores the connection between psychology, neuroscience, and meditation
 
In his previous book  Understanding Our Mind , Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh explored Buddhist psychology and its applications in everyday life. Here, he continues that study by asking, “Is free will possible?” as he examines how the mind functions and how we can work with it to cultivate more freedom and understanding, be in closer touch with reality, and create the conditions for our own happiness.

Drawing stories from the life of the Buddha and Hanh's own experiences, Buddha Mind, Buddha Body addresses such topics
 
• The importance of creativity and visualization in a mediation practice
• Basic Buddhist meditation practices such as sitting and walking meditation
• The importance of brotherhood and sisterhood in everyday life

Delivered in Hahn’s inimitable light, clear, and often humorous style,  Buddha Mind, Buddha Body will appeal to those new and familiar with Buddhist psychology.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Religion, Psychology

150 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 2003

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

[Thomas Zegray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the mind consciousness and store consciousness... (conscious mind and sub conscious mind). The walking meditation is now becoming a habit and having two dogs plus daycare/boarding dogs it fits perfectly into my daily routines and rituals. Life is great and so was this book.

[Antonella Litta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come sempre il monaco zen Thich Nhat Hahn con poche immagini è riuscito a illuminarmi su significati profondi. Interessante e abbastanza scorrevole.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's my review from Wildmind:

Thich Nhat Hanh’s Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Walking Toward Enlightenment offers instructions on dwelling in the body and mind, on metta (or universal lovingkindness), and on Thich Nhat Hanh’s distinctive teaching on “interbeing.” The book includes–as bookends, teachings on walking meditation–but many other practices are discussed in between. The book is in fact quite a collection of Dharma teachings.

Buddha Mind, Buddha Body is based on The Verses on the Characteristics of the Eight Consciousnesses by Master Hsuan-Tsang (ca. 596-664), though the connection to that text is not readily apparent, and nowhere does the author explicitly state he’s discussing Hsuan-Tsang’s work.

Sometimes Thich Nhat Hanh’s explanations neatly encapsulate major struggles from my own practice and remind me of why I seek the freedom that mindfulness brings:

“Dispersion is when you allow yourself to be carried away by emotions. When we feel out of control of our lives, as if we don’t have any sovereignty, that’s mind consciousness in dispersion. You think and speak and do things that you cannot control. We don’t want to be full of hate and anger and discrimination, but sometimes the habit energy feels so strong we don’t know how to change it. There’s no loving kindness, understanding, or compassion in your thinking, because you are less than your better self … you say things and do thing you wouldn’t say or do if you were concentrated. You lose your sovereignty.” (page 77)

In these flashes of clarity, I wonder: where did this guy come from? Who is he? Thich Nhat Hanh started practicing when he was 16 in Vietnam, in a tradition that draws heavily from Zen, although Thich Nhat Hanh seems to value the whole Buddhist tradition.

Conditionality is a key idea in Buddhism, and is always present in one form or another in this book, mostly in his emphasis on “interbeing.” Conditionality is the idea that we, and everything, are predicated on conditions. Being separate is a mistake and a delusion.

I found the lack of footnotes confusing. I like a Dharma book that notes exactly where a particular story comes from in the vast tradition, so I can look it up and reinforce what I’m learning, or see if I agree with an author’s interpretation of a text.

Also his translations are sometimes different from standard definitions. Instead of the usual translation of “patience” for kshanti, he translates it as “inclusiveness.” He likens it more to growing larger, so that little things do not bug you. He translates sila as “mindfulness”, though usually it’s considered “ethics.” Not that ethics doesn’t require mindfulness, but we have the tradition of the precepts to guide us here. Virya isn’t translated as “energy” but “diligence.”

Thich Nhat Hanh uses the language of theism when he says, “a kingdom of God or Pure Land.” This language might be helpful to some, and unhelpful to others. It’s pretty clear that the Buddha said questions about God’s existence, is not pragmatic on the path to Enlightenment, it’s a red herring. But Buddhism isn’t a stickler for dogma. What ever practically helps you on the path to enlightenment. If thoughts of god help you, then well it doesn’t matter what the Buddha said. Of course because the Buddha has said something, according to the tradition, there’s a good reason to look into it and take it seriously.

The last chapter of the book is a guided walking meditation, derived from past books, and then there are appendices, which leads to a clunky kind of ending, a mishmash of information that is not well strung together. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the book over all, and look forward to reading more from him. He’s clearly a spiritual genius, a star Buddhist in a great sky of wonderful Buddhist stars, and well worth your notice.

[Christine Beevis Trickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much here to absorb...Only beginning to scratch the surface of what he writes about. Learning to live more mindfully, with more compassion, gratitude and presence. We all have the Buddha within us and can walk in his footsteps. We can all live as though every moment is a miracle
.

The concepts of non-self and inter-being are probably the ones I'm most struggling with, in my western-educated mind...

[Kristine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book lacks clarity and relies too heavily on metaphors and persistent examples that are distracting to the reader. The phraseology within the text of this book is so convoluted that the concepts being discussed become mired and are difficult to discern.

The editors of this book have failed the author and the reader.

[Sindhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like meditating. You witness the results effective immediately. Complex mind can be trained with the most simple steps and the book teaches everything about it. True freedom is not achieved just physically but also mentally. A must read for people who are seeking help for attaining spiritual excellence.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really engaging and really got me interested in the ideas of Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hanh seems like a great teacher who is very thoughtful. The ideas and metaphors are completely fascinating and make you consider things in a way that you probably never would have otherwise.

[Srijal Sahu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisdom is inside you. All you gotta do is look in. The concepts of the book are difficult to understand for someone who hasn't stepped in spirituality yet. But once you start understanding what thich Nath Hanh is up to, you will just be mesmerized.

[Craig Kissho · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that perhaps, master thich does not write well

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come ogni lettura su Zen / Buddhismo, anche questo trasmette un senso di calma e pace e gratitudine. Thich Nhath Hanh ha poi tutto un modo suo di portare il messaggio, molto concreto, tangibile quasi. Questo librino fa una specie di volo di ricognizione su consapevolezza, meditazione, essere presenti nel qui e ora, e fornisce esercizi pratici.
Da tenere sul comò o comodino o di fronte agli altri libri come promemoria quotidiano

[Elizabeth Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are parts that I liked better than others. There are some passages that I found weird or discomforting. But the final exercises are so profound, moving and beautiful, they make up for any misgivings I may have had earlier. Strongly recommend.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as much about walking meditation as I thought at first, but still lots of great insights. Deals with some things I find cognitively difficult, like interbeing -- maybe not great as an introduction to Buddhism or meditation, but feels like a good intermediate read on the topics.

[David Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite…

I usually like the simplicity of the author’s books. I found this one long and tedious. I’ve read several of his books, so maybe I’m too familiar.

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are into meditation, read this book. A good read.

[Shivam Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read, if seeking some insight on complexities of mind. I say just Read it to feel you're free like a wave, and whatever it is that you're worried about, it'll be okay :)

[James Laf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Gets really deep into Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness practice. Classic!

[Nicole Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this three times. And periodically flip through it. It’s well written and easy to digest.

[Gnuvolante · Rating 5 out of 5]

La saggezza orientale sta nella semplicità e nell'applicabilità dei concetti espressi a tutti gli ambiti della vita e questa opera traspira saggezza orientale, ed il linguaggio con il quale è scritto è così diretto e allo stesso tempo illuminante che farne una recensione, anche una semplice sinossi, diventa difficile, infatti io non credo di essere in grado di fare tanto; è la forza della semplicità, non è facile riassumere qualcosa che è già così semplice e diretto.

I concetti accademici affrontati, come le manifestazioni mentali, la coscienza, la consapevolezza e l'attenzione, sono spiegati nel dettaglio ma la bravura dell'autore sta nell'esplicarli con esmepi semplici ed emblematici e la comprensione di questi è assicurata dalle esercitazioni pratiche suggerite alla fine dell'opera.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once read a review of another book by Thich Nhat Hanh that claimed that, although the book was beautiful and helpful, most books by Thay were, in essence, the same ideas repackaged over and over again. I would argue that that is NOT the case with this book. Buddha Mind, Buddha Body delves much deeper than any others I have read by Thay into Buddhist psychology. As usual, Thay writes with poetic language and expresses advanced concepts with apt metaphors that make it easier for the lay person to grasp. I have to admit, Ithoufh, I think I will set it aside to re-read in a few months to try again to grasp some of the more challenging concepts.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thich Nhat Hanh deserves the many accolades that he receives. This book delivered what its blurb promised. "Buddha Mind, Buddha Body emphasizes the importance of creativity, visualization, and meditation, and offers concrete exercises to improve mental clarity and restore our mind/body harmony."

[Tushar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, my 2nd read on this topic and some more morals learnt, the religion unlike others turns out to be more practical and real. Waiting for my next book ie Confessions of a buddhist atheist which will further set the course of my study on this amazing topic.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never actually finished it, but I was sick of it lingering in my "currently reading" shelf since I've moved on.

[Darmendra]

step by step to peaceful

[Sumanth Ƀharadwaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am no one to speak on this. I feel bad for having rated it... the word Magnanimous comes to mind...

[Mike Minervini · Rating 2 out of 5]

be mindful every moment

[Nugra Sattana]

Menuju pencerahan hidup sejati

[Msattana]

Pencerahan sejati

[Jay M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book that teaches one self on how to be mindful and to live in the moment. I did find some content a bit too in depth.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concepts in this book are a little more difficult than in some of Thay's other books, but they are presented in his usual clear manner. Excellent dharma reading for improving one's practice.

[Walter Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up to Understanding the Mind. Provides summary of concept and application to follow.