Book Review

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Answers from the Heart
Practical Responses to Life's Burning Questions
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press 04/09 Paperback $12.95
ISBN: 9781888375824

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh has written many books and leads retreats on mindful living. In this paperback, he responds to questions about everything under the sun. Thich Nhat Hanh believes that questions are good; they stretch our souls and provide us with "an opportunity to cultivate our capacity to listen with openness, receptivity, and stillness. Listening in this way, we will surely receive the medicine we need."

Answers from the Heart is divided into seven chapters:

• Daily Life
• Family, Parenting, and Relationships
• Spiritual Practice
• Engaged Buddhism
• Sickness and Health, Death and Dying
• Children's Questions
• Practices for Daily Mindfulness

He begins with some praise for the Buddhist practice of aimlessness. In the West, we are too busy, rushing from one thing to another and often not even taking our sick days or lengthy vacations. He suggests an antidote of a "lazy day" where we spend our time doing nothing. Taking time to be really present brings tidings of great joy. Since we are content we can try this chant: "I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning, and to relieve the suffering of one person in the afternoon."

Since the home is a primary place to practice mindfulness and deal with our anger, disappointment, and fear, Thich Nhat Hanh suggests that every home have a breathing or meditation room which offers an oasis of peace. Another important practice is to be silent on a regular basis: "We have to realize that silence comes from our heart and not from the absence of talk. Sitting down to eat lunch may be an opportunity for you to enjoy silence; though others may be speaking, it's possible for you to be very silent inside."

In the chapter on "Engaged Buddhism," he answers questions about practicing peace, burnout, saving the Earth, helping our leaders to become better, capital punishment, giving up on the world, and much more. Anyone familiar with Thich Nhat Hanh's writings will relish this book of questions and answers; it covers a lot of ground!

Books and Audios Recently Reviewed

Reviews and database copyright © 1970 – 2009
by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat