The Art of Living

Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now

By: Thích Nhất Hạnh

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Gabra Zackman

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

In troubled times there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh - one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today - reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.

Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships, and our interconnectedness with the world around us. Based on the last full talks before his sudden hospitalization, and drawing on intimate examples from his own life, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how these seven meditations can free us to live happy, peaceful, and active lives and face ageing and dying with curiosity and joy and without fear.

Containing the essence of the Buddha's teachings and Thich Nhat Hanh's poignant, timeless, and clarifying prose, The Art of Living provides a spiritual dimension to our lives. This is not an effort to escape life or to dwell in a place of bliss outside of this world. Instead this path will allow us to discover where we come from and where we are going. And, most of all, it will generate happiness, understanding, and love, so we can live deeply in each moment of our lives, right where we are.

©2017 Unified Buddhist Church, Inc. (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Affirming and Beautiful

I have made Thich Nhat Hanh's writings and principles on mindfulness and living in the present moment a core of my life for many years. Peace Is Every Step is a life bible to me, and informs my daily living and work. So I turned to this book as a relatively recent one, and it is exquisite.

The key meditations (such as aimlessness, impermanence, and signlessness) are explained so well and beautifully. I sense how truly transformative each is, in terms of aging, appreciating the wonders around us, dealing with feelings of fear, understanding interbeing, and living with true joy and compassion. Life presents challenges, difficulties, and losses, yet these teachings can sustain us, help in dealing with the myriad challenges, and shape our perspectives and experiences.

While it contains the ideas he has shared lifelong, I always find it amazing how Thich Nhat Hanh composes and expresses these teachings in new, brilliant, and fresh ways. The prose is accessible, clear, and inspiring. In the midst of the world's turbulent times, this book brings both deep inner peace and guiding precepts for action in our daily lives. I will turn to this book again and again.

For the Gentle Revolution

Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh for showing me the path to living a good life. Your teachings will be imprinted inside me and I will transmit them to others through my actions. I hope this book is read or listened by the whole world every year if possible.

Lovely

I've been diagnosed with heart failure, so I've seen some dark times. This book is exactly what I needed to get better perspective of how to live and how live the proper way. obviously keep an opened mind and do what makes you feel right.

Good intro to Eastern philosophy

This book is pretty intense and not so easy to digest when multitasking. There's a lot of information and philosophies compacted into a short book. I feel like I need to listen to it a few times to better grasp the subject material. very calming and relaxing and the concepts are liberating. Very worthwhile.

A Dharma talk for our time

Once again Master Hanh has blessed us with his ageless wisdom. Namaste. Peace, love, joy!

More mindful now...

Just completed listening to this wonderful audiobook and will come back to it again and again. Thank you. Everyone would enjoy this...everyone needs this... May peace and mindfulness be the key to unlocking all potential within us, and around us, as we are ONE!

Helped me make sense of the world

As a traditionally non-spiritual person, I am very skeptical of religious believes and institutions. This book somehow managed to connect all of the dots between my logical and scientific beliefs in my personal values that have always guided me. It really helped me feel at ease and make sense of the world in such a anxiety filled time like Covid-19.

Deep

I think this might be still a bit ahead of my time, yet there are powerful lessons in here that can be taken and tried by anyone. The more who take, the better and I'm sure a better world for us to share.

Masterpiece of timeless wisdom

Loved it. Best book that I have read with clear simple practical applications
Must listen and read

A solid and reflective listen

The world can be very hectic and rushed. As a matter of fact, it often times is. This book and its teachings are a reminder to us all to slow things down. Be more reflective of our lives, what it means to be human, and to live well on this Earth. After a long day it is a welcomed reprieve and reminder of these elements.

The narrator’s voice is perfectly suited to the topics in this book. It is a relaxing journey from beginning to end. It is probably why I have to keep listening night after night. I usually fall asleep listening to the narrator’s voice soothe me with Thich Nhat Hanh’s words.

this was excellent

this was excellent , as my fiancee passed away a couple of weeks ago the wording & phrasing in this book has seriously helped my mind to get through things

Helpful

A lot of books talk about why it is good to change and all the benefits but this book shows you what to do and think when faced with your demons. I prefer listening to Thich Nhat Hahn’s voice but the reader is very good.

Thays insights to guide you...

Thays insights to guide you through the many practices & aids to enjoy modern lifes challenges/sufferings🙏🏻

OK

I was enjoying it until sympathising with a rapist. I'm sorry. I live in a country filled with rapists and murderers...South Africa of course. As much as I can see we are all connected I can't get my head around senseless acts...we all have a choice. Maybe I should have started off with something lighter and for someone who is not very enlightened as I found it quite difficult to listen to the rape and murder of a child and then to sympathise and connect with the rapist.

A life changing book

Full of practical wisdom and insight - I love and appreciate how Thich Nhat Hanh shares a deep understanding of how to live mindfully and compassionately. The book explores accessible and authentic practice, reaching into the very heart and art living life fully. A rich book, extremely practical, beneficial and effective. Beautifully narrated as well. Thank you for sharing these important and timely teachings.

Profound accessible and helpful

I have listened to this book many times, and each time I gain fresh insights and learn more. It is a gem.

lights your day and life

I loved this book. when I was at my lowest it was the only thing that helped me not despair in darker thoughts. thank you for writing this book and your work.

Inspiring book

The book is well read and written. Explains Buddhists concepts and how we can apply them in an inspiring and encouraging way. Highly recommend.

Beautiful to listen

Love it! It was my daily meditation. I listened every morning going to my work.

Fantastic message

o rethink some of the values in my life and some of the falsehoods imposed by society regarding what our aspirations in life should be. Definitely check out this book. Regarding the narrator: ironically, I regarded it is fairly false and in-genuine. It seemed as though he tries to adopt a certain accent so that he is perceived as more cultured or learned. It doesn’t work for him nor does it aid in how one learns the teachings of this book. Perhaps my annoyance with his voice, which did dissipate as the book played on, is one of my own areas to cultivate.