Parallax Press

Breathe, You Are Alive: Awakening to the True Nature of Breath with Thich Nhat Hanh

This timeless guide to mindfulness, originally published in 2002, provides a comprehensive exploration of the profound power of conscious breathing, drawing from the ancient wisdom of the Buddha's Anapanasati Sutra. In **Breathe, You Are Alive**, renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh expertly guides readers through sixteen exercises designed to cultivate awareness of our breath, ultimately leading to spiritual awakening.

A Journey of Breath and Insight

Thich Nhat Hanh's approach to mindful breathing is not merely a technique but a pathway to self-discovery. He masterfully bridges the gap between the physical act of breathing and its profound implications for our mental and spiritual well-being. The exercises progress systematically, starting with a keen focus on the physical sensations of breath, and gradually expanding to encompass the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit.

The Power of Conscious Breathing

**Breathe, You Are Alive** offers a unique blend of practical exercises and insightful commentaries that invite readers to:

* **Become aware of their breath in everyday life:** Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the integration of mindfulness into daily activities, helping readers cultivate a consistent state of awareness, even amidst the busyness of modern life.

* **Cultivate peace and tranquility:** By focusing on the breath, readers learn to navigate the complexities of emotions and thoughts with greater clarity and composure.

* **Connect to the present moment:** The practice of mindful breathing serves as a powerful anchor, grounding individuals in the present moment and releasing the grip of past regrets and future anxieties.

* **Discover the true nature of existence:** Through the transformative power of breath, readers are invited to explore the interconnectedness of all things and awaken to the inherent beauty and interconnectedness of life.

A Guide for All

This 20th anniversary edition features updated commentaries and practices, providing a fresh perspective on the timeless wisdom of breath awareness meditation. The inclusion of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Breathing and Walking" Gatha, set to music, adds a unique dimension to the practice, enhancing its accessibility and emotional resonance.

**Breathe, You Are Alive** is a compelling and insightful guide for anyone seeking to cultivate inner peace, deepen their connection to themselves and the world around them, and embark on a journey of personal transformation. Thich Nhat Hanh's compassionate guidance and clear instructions make this practice accessible to all, regardless of their prior experience with meditation.

<p>Clouds In A Teacup: A Mindful Journey And Coloring Book</p>

<p>As soon as you open the cover of Clouds in a Teacup, you step into a contemplative journey of your own creation. Oakland, California artist and activist Brett Cook invites you to shed your stress and worries to consider the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh during the relaxing process of coloring. His evocative black and white images nurture your own creativity; the resulting pictures will reflect your vision.</p>

<p>Clouds in a Teacup balances reflection and action, providing a personal springboard to contemplation and expression. Everyone has creativity within them, and these drawings nurture the meditative potential of the process, helping to relieve stress and increase joy, and rewarding you with compelling final images.</p>

<p>The 40 images, including double page spreads, are printed on the highest quality recycled paper through which gel and colored pens will not bleed.</p>

Relationships are always complex and challenging, but never more so than in today’s hectic, stressful world. Weaving together traditional stories, personal experiences, and a deep understanding of the Buddha's way of mindful living, Thich Nhat Hanh's Teachings on Love provides step-by-step practices that foster understanding and intimacy in any relationship and extend our love even to those who cause us pain. This book, written in the author's trademark clear, encouraging style, contains essential guidance for couples, families, co-workers, or friends who wish to nourish the gift and strength of their relationships and deal creatively with weaknesses and difficulties. Teachings on Love provides a time-tested path that anyone can follow to nurture the deepest love in themselves and others. Nhat Hanh has written an illuminating new introductory chapter for this second edition.

Path of Compassion is a collection of key stories from Thich Nhat Hanh’s classic Old Path White Clouds, a book celebrating its 20th publishing anniversary this year. It tells the fascinating life story of Prince Siddhartha, who left his family and renounced his carefully guarded life, and after many years of spiritual seeking became the Buddha, the Enlightened One. Far more than the description of an unusual life story, it serves as an enjoyable, compelling, and informative introduction to Buddhism by conveying its most important teachings in a compact and accessible format.Thich Nhat Hanh’s ability to show the Buddha as a person who deals with the same life issues as we do is unique and unsurpassed. Written in language accessible to readers of all ages and levels of experience Thich Nhat Hanh combines the description of the major life stages of the Buddha with his most important teachings. Reaching far beyond the biography genre Path of Compassion is a highly readable and informative introduction to Buddhism.

'Awakening of the Heart' is a comprehensive, single volume collection of the Buddha's key sutras, translated with contemporary commentary by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, making the Buddha's teachings accessible and applicable to our daily lives and times.

<p>A Love Letter To The Earth</p>

<p>This work is a passionate appeal for ecological mindfulness and the strengthening of our relationship to the Earth. It gives us a path to follow by showing that change is possible only with the recognition that people and the planet are ultimately one and the same.</p>

<p>In The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha's teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy--all qualities of enlightenment. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike.</p>

<p>Love In Action, Second Edition - Writings On Nonviolent Social Change</p>

<p>Be inspired by 21 key writings on nonviolence and reconciliation by Vietnamese peace activist and refugee advocate Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh</p>

<p>"The essence of nonviolence is love," Thich Nhat Hanh says. "Out of love and the willingness to act selflessly, strategies, tactics, and techniques for a nonviolent struggle arise naturally." Collecting essays written by Thich Nhat Hanh at crucial moments of social transformation, Love in Action is an important resource for anyone engaged in social work, community organizing, political action, and cause-oriented movements.</p>

<p>Reflecting on the devastation of war, Thich Nhat Hanh makes the strong argument that ethics and altruistic love based on mindfulness and insight are the only truly sustainable bases for political action. Having played a central role in the Buddhist nonviolent movement for peace in Vietnam during the 1960s and serving as Chair of the Buddhist Peace delegation to the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, Thich Nhat Hanh speaks with the voice of experience: "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."</p>

<p>Together with essays on the connections between outer engagement and the inner work for peace, this anthology also features poetry and the script of the hauntingly beautiful 1972 play, The Path of Return Continues the Journey. The play's characters are drawn from the author's own life, the young men and women of his School of Youth for Social Service--many of whom were killed for their social actions. "At 12:30 a.m. on July 5, 1967, in the village of Binh Phuoc, Gia Dinh Province, a group of strangers abducted five young men, brought them to the bank of the Saigon River, and shot them," reports Thich Nhat Hanh. "All five were volunteer workers in the School of Youth for Social Service, a nonviolent organization that sought only to heal the wounds of war and reconstruct the villages." An elegy and a prayer for peace, the script shows a less-known side of the young Thich Nhat Hanh: grieving, profoundly in touch with his sorrow and pain, and channeling his anguish into art, inspired by love.</p>

<p>Happy Teachers Change The World: A Guide For Cultivating Mindfulness In Education</p>

<p>Happy Teachers Change the World is the first official, authoritative manual of the Thich Nhat Hanh/Plum Village approach to mindfulness in education. Spanning the whole range of schools and grade levels, from preschool through higher education, these techniques are grounded in the everyday world of schools, colleges, and universities.</p>

<p>Beginning firmly with teachers and all those working with students, including administrators, counselors, and other personnel, the Plum Village approach stresses that educators must first establish their own mindfulness practice since everything they do in the classroom will be based on that foundation. The book includes easy-to-follow, step-by-step techniques perfected by educators to teach themselves and to apply to their work with students and colleagues, along with inspirational stories of the ways in which teachers have made mindfulness practice alive and relevant for themselves and their students across the school and out into the community.</p>

<p>The instructions in Happy Teachers Change the World are offered as basic practices taught by Thich Nhat Hanh, followed by guidance from educators using these practices in their classrooms, with ample in-class interpretations, activities, tips, and instructions. Woven throughout are stories from members of the Plum Village community around the world who are applying these teachings in their own lives and educational contexts.</p>

<p>How To Live: The Essential Mindfulness Journal</p>

<p>An inspirational, contemplative journal and guide for your own mindfulness practice</p>

<p>A companion to the bestselling How To (Mindfulness Essentials) books from Thich Nhat Hanh, this guided journal contains quotes to contemplate for your own mindfulness practice. Lined pages for writing are interspersed with quotes and the beautiful sumi-ink illustrations of Jason DeAntonis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Mindfulness Essentials have appeared on the NPR Bestseller list, the Washington Post Bestseller list the San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller list, the Boston Globe Bestseller list, the LA Times Bestseller List and the extended New York Times Bestseller List.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like the How To books, this journal is small enough to fit in your pocket or backpack.</p>

<p>Sacred Places: A Mindful Journey And Coloring Book</p>

<p>In this second book in our Mindful Journey Coloring Book series, Thich Nhat Hanh’s wisdom is paired with black-and-white renderings of magical places and simple interiors created by multi- faceted Berkeley, California artist Jason DeAntonis, the bestselling illustrator of the Mindfulness Essentials series. Each image offers a contemplative setting that you can make your own; the process of applying your own vision while considering Nhat Hanh’s teachings will allow for deep relaxation, creative abandon, and the creation of personal happiness. All images are printed on the highest quality non-bleed recycled paper.</p>

What does healthy intimacy look like? How we do we keep the energy and passion alive in long-term relationships? What practices can help us forgive our partner when he or she has hurt us? How can we get a new relationship off to a strong and stable start? What do we do if we feel restless in a relationship or attracted to someone outside of our partner? These are just some of the questions Zen master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh has been asked by practitioners and readers alike. Deeply moved by the suffering that can be caused by these issues, he offers concrete guidance in his first ever writings on intimacy and healthy sexuality.Fidelity guides the reader to an understanding about how we can maintain our relationships; keep them fresh, and accepting and loving our partner for who they are. Fidelity gives concrete advice on how to stay attentive and nourishing of each other amidst the many responsibilities and pressures of daily life. Readers will learn how to foster open communication, dealing with anger and other strong emotions, learning to forgive, and practicing gratitude and appreciation.Fidelity is written for both couples in a committed relationship wanting to further develop a spiritual dimension in their lives together, and for those where infidelity or hurt may have occurred, and there is a need for best practices to re-weave the net of love and understanding. In addition to addressing every day occurrences and challenges, Thich Nhat Hanh shows how traditional Buddhist teachings on attachment, deep listening, and loving speech can help energize and restore our relationships. Written in a clear and accessible style, and filled with personal stories, simple practices and exercises, Fidelity is for couples at all stage of relationships. It the guide book for anyone looking to create long-lasting and healthy intimacy.

<p>Breathe: A Thich Nhat Hanh Meditation Journal</p>

<p>Minimalist and meditative. The Breathe Journal is a clean and simple writing companion featuring the curated insights and authentic cover calligraphy of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.</p>

<p>A simple notebook with a Zen aesthetic. This meditative journal features selected excerpts and quotes from Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh's most-loved teachings, prayers, and poems. Designed with crush-proof rounded corners, thick and flexible cover stock, and the authentic calligraphy of Thich Nhat Hanh on the cover.</p>

An exciting contribution to the growing trend of applying Buddhist practices to encourage wellness and balance mental health. Reconciliation focuses on mindful awareness of our emotions and offers concrete practices to restore damaged relationships through meditations and exercises to help acknowledge and transform the hurt that many of us may have experienced as children. Reconciliation shows how anger, sadness, and fear can become joy and tranquility by learning to breathe with, explore, meditate, and speak about our strong emotions. Written for a wide audience and accessible to people of all backgrounds and spiritual traditions.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings (also referred to as ?Precepts”) ? not to kill, steal, commit adultery, lie, or take intoxicants ? are the basic statement of ethics and morality in Buddhism. In this fully revised edition, Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh argues eloquently for their applicability in our daily lives and on a global scale. Nhat Hanh discusses the value and meaning of each precept, offering insights into the role that it could play in our changing society.Thich Nhat Hanh calls the trainings a ?diet for a mindful society.” With this book he offers a valuable contribution to the debate, on how we can come together to define secular, moral guidelines that will allow us to explore and sustain a sane, compassionate, and healthy way of living. The Five Mindfulness Trainings offer a path to restoring meaning and value in a world marked by moral and spiritual emptiness. Whether called virtues, ethics, moral conduct, or precepts they are guidelines for living without bringing harm to others; they bring sanity and light into the world.

<p>Inside The Now: Meditations On Time</p>

<p>Never-before-published commentaries and personal reflections of the great Zen master on living in stillness and timelessness</p>

<p>Thich Nhat Hanh shares the essence of his lifetime of spiritual seeking in this intimate and poetic work, inspired by the classic text Being Time by thirteenth-century Japanese Master Dogen. Inside the Now begins with an autobiographical reflection in which we hear the voice of the young monk, poet, and community-builder struggling in war-torn Vietnam to develop a Buddhism relevant to the suffering of his time. These early experiences lay the groundwork for Thich Nhat Hanh’s insights into the nature of time and interbeing.</p>

<p>In part two, we hear the clear, direct voice of the Zen master challenging us to open our hearts, seize the moment, and touch the now. A beautifully designed and personal book that will be cherished for generations, Inside the Now is interspersed with poetry from other Zen masters as well as the author’s own verse and calligraphy.</p>

<p>Calming The Fearful Mind: A Zen Response To Terrorism</p>

<p>In a time of terrorism and uncertainty, how can any of us feel truly safe? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh looks at the real roots of terrorism and fear and offers the way out: a path of compassion and open-heartedness. In this unique book, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that we will only be safe when we acknowledge our real enemies, not other human beings, but our own ignorance, discrimination, fear, craving, and violence. With clarity and gentleness, Nhat Hanh offers step-by-step instructions for calming the mind and looking deeply into our own misperceptions. His own generosity of spirit and love for all beings models a path out of uncertainty and towards peace. By calming our minds and looking deeply into our hearts, will we have the insight to identify the roots of terrorism. Only with the practice of compassion, deep listening, and mindful communication can terrorism be transformed and uprooted.</p>

<p>Calming the Fearful Mind offers key teachings designed to help heal the misunderstanding, fear, and hatred that divide us as individuals, groups, and nations. An invaluable book for anyone who has wondered how to deal with anger and the desire for retaliation. Calming the Fearful Mind is, ultimately, a book about finding peace. It takes Thich Nhat Hanh’s signature mindfulness practices and reveals how they can help us address our most challenging and most deeply rooted fears.</p>

<p>How To Live When A Loved One Dies: Healing Meditations For Grief And Loss</p>

<p>In this comforting book that will offer relief to anyone moving through intense grief and loss, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh shares accessible, healing words of wisdom to transform our suffering.</p>

<p>In the immediate aftermath of a loss, sometimes it is all we can do to keep breathing. With his signature clarity and compassion, Thich Nhat Hanh will guide you through the storm of emotions surrounding the death of a loved one.</p>

<p>How To Live When A Loved One Dies offers powerful practices such as mindful breathing that will help you reconcile with death and loss, feel connected to your loved one long after they have gone, and transform your grief into healing and joy.</p>

<p>The Dragon Prince: Stories And Legends From Vietnam</p>

<p>The Dragon Prince is a collection of 15 stories and legends from Vietnam retold by Zen master poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh. As in many of his teachings, Nhat Hanh emphasizes themes of cooperation and reconciliation, while providing a rich introduction to the mythical elements of Vietnamese culture.</p>

<p>The stories range from creation myths to tales of wars and food and custom myths, all aiming at the notion of "mindfulness," of become aware of what is happening in the moment. Imaginary characters weave through the lives of actual persons and events, blending fiction and non-fiction, magic and fantasy, into the profound realization of the interconnectedness of all beings. The tales highlight the importance of "true seeing" and focuses on transcendence rather than anguish. Above all The Dragon Prince simply contains well-told stories with clear and lyrical writing, once again giving testament to Thich Nhat Hanh's immense skill as a writer. This book is a must for every collection.</p>

<p>From the afterword by translator Mobi Warren:</p>

<p>"The heroes and heroines of these stories celebrate closeness to the Earth, the importance of assuming personal responsibility for one's conduct, and the possibility of resolving conflict through understanding rather than violence". B/W Illustrations throughout.</p>

<p>How To Focus (Mindfulness Essentials)</p>

<p>The simple, refreshing meditations of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh give us the tools to cultivate concentration. Practicing mindfulness brings concentration, and concentration brings insight and understanding.</p>

<p>With our world experiencing the deep effects of loneliness, digital overload, and a proliferation of potential distractions, this pocket-sized How To book reminds us of the value of developing our concentration, so we can let go of misperceptions and cultivate the clarity of mind that is the basis for understanding ourselves, each other, and the world.</p>

<p>Written with characteristic simplicity and kindness, these wise meditations teach us that by practicing mindfulness in daily life, we are cultivating the power of concentration and fostering the conditions that bring insight, liberating us from misperceptions and misunderstanding.</p>

<p>The Mindfulness Essentials series is a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces readers to the essentials of mindfulness practice. All Mindfulness Essentials books are illustrated with playful sumi-ink drawings by California artist Jason DeAntonis.</p>