Be Free Where You Are

by Thich Nhat Hanh, Chan Khong (Foreword)

Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves.

This compendium of the core teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, based on a talk given at a prison, shows how mindfulness practice can cultivate freedom no matter where you are.

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

76 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2002

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

[jennyliest]

Ein schönes kleines Büchlein über Achtsamkeit im Leben ❤️

[Mamuska]

I carry this book with me always and give it to people I love.

[K.T. ♡]

“The fact that you are here—alive and capable of breathing in and out—is ample proof that you are a miracle. One string bean contains the whole cosmos in it: sunshine, rain, the whole Earth, time, space, and consciousness. You also contain the whole cosmos.”

Whenever I read from Thich Nhat Hanh, my mind feels inexplicably free and liberating.

[Vendy]

not my vibe
i don't feel this book

[Wendy]

Tiny pocket-sized book with 71 pages. You can take it anywhere and read it anytime. It's fast, simple and thoughtful. This book is a transcript of a speech given by Thich Nhat Hanh to prisoners at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Hagerstown. Basically, this zen master is describing how we are always free whether captive or not. The enjoyment we get from breathing and having food to eat and feeling the ground beneath our feet cannot be taken away. The sky is the same in the prison yard as it is outside the gates, etc. Thich Nhat Hanh says that we have the seeds for heaven and hell in every cell of our person and we decide which seeds we want to water. (I think I'll say that too my kids on a regular basis. Smile at your habit energy and move on. Pretty good stuff, but I could have done with a little more in depth advice.

[Marc]

What a gift to have given these talks inside a prison! The book closes with a section of questions and answers from his visit, as well as some quotes from those who were there. You get a sense for how Hahn's presence alone sets an example. A slim volume that gives a very clear overview of mindfulness and tangible ways of daily practice.

“With understanding you will become compassionate, and that will change everything.” -Thich Nhat Hanh , Sister Chan Khong

[Scott]

A pocket introduction to mindfulness, transcribed from a talk given at a Maryland correctional facility. I hope it helped some of those people. This author has more in-depth books on the subject, however.

[Amber]

4.5 Stars

A tiny book that deserves to be read. Remarks the most important sutras given by Buddha.
Thich Nhat Hanh reinforces the practice of the mindful meditation, as a meditator you wouldn't want to miss it.

[Carol]

I’m always so excited to read TNH’s work because his words give me so much strength and courage to live my own life.

I’ve found myself consistently reading his books because of how insightful they are and I see myself overfilled with joy every time I have the opportunity to read!

<3

[Kitty]

Short, powerful, and inspiring.

[Alana]

the most sincerely helpful fast release long lasting anti-depressant i’ve ever taken

[Cynda Reads]

Mindfulness Perfectly Described.

After reading this book, I have begun every meal with a few moments of contemplating some of the effort the Earth and Sun did to help turn a seed into a slice of cucumber or mushroom or a dice of tomatoe or apple. I smile. Then I look at my food as it is on my plate, think about how pretty it is. I smile. I thank God. I eat. Someday I may go through an entire meal being mondful/being in the moment.

I love how Thay provides simple directions. Without directions, I often wouldn't know what to do.

[l’ivresse rhapsodie.]

La lecture consciente, la promenade consciente, manger consciemment… tout ceci est censé changer nos vies : je commence demain

[Tretratti]

Nei passi, nel respiro.

[Mary]

This book is a lecture that Thich Nhat Hanh gave to the Maryland Correctional Institution in 1999. It is a small little book with very large ideas. It is very portable and would be a good reference in any situation. Mindfulness is such a simple concept but he explains how it is possible to be in the present moment no matter where you are. I loved this book and hope that I can be more mindful in my own life.

[Mark Robison]

This was my second reading of this very short book re-creating a dharma talk given at a Maryland prison. I especially liked the brief asides where it's explained how to live by Nhat Hanh's teachings while behind bars. Nothing new from his other books and he doesn't directly answer two of the prisoners during the Q&A transcription, but I still enjoyed it. I also liked the post-talk feedback from a prisoner who tells how Nhat Hanh sat in mindfulness on stage while chaos reigned around him as the sound system was set up and everyone took their places. (Available as a free e-book from the Parallax Press website.) Grade: B+

[Gail]

This book is a transcript of a talk Thich Nhat Hanh gave to the Maryland Correctional Institution at Hagerstown in 1999. It talks about the basics of mindfulness which are always a good reminder for me. I highlighted a number of passages in this book. After a stressful week, this helped ground me. I'll return to this one again.

[Sokcheng]

Many simple teachings from the lovely Thay. The best thing I've learned from this is no matter what we're doing every second of our lives, we can do it a slavish manner, or in a free manner. It's all about being mindful, and not fall trap into ruminating about the past or scheming for the future. Life is joyful. Life is here and now.

[Erika]

This book is a transcript from the talk at a correctional facility in the US. He was asked if it was ok to practice mindfulness even if one is a Christian.
“If you love oranges, you are welcome to eat them, but nothing prevents you from enjoying kiwis or mangoes as well. Why commit yourself to only one kind of fruit when the whole spiritual heritage of humankind is available to you?”

[Lizzie]

A short and easy read. Been wanting to read this kind of book lately because I’ve been stuck in rut. I love it because it made me realize that you can practice mindfulness even in your most mundane day to day actions. I used to think that meditation was not for me but this may change that way of thinking.

[Maria]

Una forma fácil de introducirnos al “mindfulness “ o conciencia en cada actividad que hacemos y los beneficios de vivir y actuar conscientemente y con compasión.

[Celeste Evans]

Most significant book I’ve read for teaching me how to change my mindset and cultivate happiness

[Chanita]

Be Free Where You Are is a compendium of the core teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, based on a talk given at a prison. It shows how mindfulness practice can cultivate freedom no matter where you are, and summarizes for the first time all of Thich Nhat Hanh's core teachings making it an outstanding introduction to the ideas and practices of one of the foremost Buddhist teachers alive. Included is a foreword by Sister Chan Khang and an appendix describing how Thich Nhat Hanh's visit impacted those that attended and encouraged their practice.

[Mr. Roboto]

I'd really give it 4.5 stars. This book is a gift, and my acquisition of it is well-timed given that I'm currently suffering with a prescribed dietary overhaul that is quite difficult. I will remember, thanks to this book, to eat mindfully, and to remember how much went into producing the things I don't particularly feel the desire to eat. We can make our own prison but also free ourselves from it.

[Kristin]

My sister gave me this book for Christmas and I'm glad I read it. This short book (71 very small pages) is the transciption of a speech Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh gave to Maryland prisioners about practicing mindfulness. The speech is an excellent introduction to Thich Nhat Hanh's ideas and made me think about ways to stay in the present moment. As someone who is often thinking about the future, it's good advice for me.

[Joycelyn]

Speechlessly amazing and beautifully written! I have always felt a lot of love and hope any time I come back to this little, yet so personally impactful, compilation of Thay's teachings. I am very grateful for having an opportunity to pass by and choose to buy this book the other day! I cannot tell how much this book has helped me through thick and thin, and deeply hope this book help other people the way it does to me. Thank you very much Thay.

[Heather]

This book is a talk about being completely involved in the present moment that Thich Nhat Hanh gave at a Maryland Correctional Facility. The book will benefit anyone to enjoy each moment more while your eating, walking, etc. I really enjoyed it, but being mindful while going to the bathroom was a little too much for me. :)

[WR]

Be here, be present, now. Mindfulness is so satisfying, yet so hard to attain. We are often so distracted by a thousand and one things, that we forget to take in the here and now. It's interesting that this was from a talk given in a prison, because that is surely the best place to practise to be free where you are. Awesome!

[Denise Tarasuk]

"Be Free Where You Are" is special! It made me feel good from beginning to end. This little pocket size gem is perfect for caring around and sharing with others. It is a perfect gift that will bring peace and harmony for all of those who read or just hear the words. Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh and Parallax Press!

[T.]

I love Thay's teachings but I was a bit skeptical about this little book as it is actually talks that he gave at a correctional institution. I wasn't sure it would be relevant. But trust Thay, we all live somewhat in a prison, even if it is of our own making, and there is plenty to digest in this book.