The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
by Thich Nhat Hanh
4.28 · Rating details · 12,874 ratings · 557 reviews
“If there is a candidate for ‘Living Buddha’ on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh.”
– Richard Baker-roshi
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now with added material and new insights, 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.
“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.”
– His Holiness the Dalai Lama
“Thich Nhat Hanh is a real poet.”
– Robert Lowell (less)
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Paperback, 294 pages
Published June 8th 1999 by Broadway Books (first published May 1998)
ISBN0767903692 (ISBN13: 9780767903691)
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Chris Shank
Oct 18, 2010Chris Shank rated it really liked it
First, I want to make a distinction between what I’d like to call ‘cultural Buddhism’ and ‘secular Buddhism’. Secular Buddhism, much like secular Christianity, is a distilled version of cultural Buddhism made to fit the vogues of our society. Offensive elements are purged, unreasonable stories and precepts dismissed, and what you have left is a perfectly digestible form of the original that now can be taught as an elective for school credit. Cultural Buddhism, as I’ve deemed it, is Buddhism as religion, and it is chiefly concerned with the era and circumstances in which it arose. You cannot separate this kind of Buddhism from its environment, from its birthplace. Mythologist Joseph Campbell reminds us that to truly understand the meaning of a story or religion, we have to allow all symbols and elements of story to play out fully in all of their complex interrelations with other elements in the narrative. Only then will the full flavor of the symbols be drawn out, and one can understand what the story-teller was getting at.
Freud was only stating the obvious when he affirmed that religious doctrines bear the imprint of the times in which they arose. Buddhism awoke during a climate of ancient-eastern suffering. All of Buddhism is, at its heart, an answer to, and an attempt to rise above, human suffering. The story of the origin of Buddhism might reveal more.
Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha ("the awakened one"), was a prince in the northeastern Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. The story goes that after hearing a prophesy about his son’s destiny to either become the next king OR renounce his inheritance and become an austere holy man, Siddhartha’s father tried to keep his son within the palace walls so that Siddhartha wouldn’t forsake him as the heir. At age 29, Siddhartha finally left the palace and was confronted with the suffering of his world in what has become known as “Four Sights”: an old man, a sick man, a corpse and, finally, an ascetic holy man who was content and at peace with the world. This was enough to compel Siddhartha into a similar lifestyle to pursue peace and enlightenment. After discovering that years of meditation and asceticism alone did not end suffering, he had an experience under a tree during which he is said to have attained enlightenment which was to become the mean between self-indulgence and self-mortification. He then began to spread the word that through enlightenment one can end/transform suffering. “I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering” (Buddha).
This is exactly the reason why Thich Nhat Hanh said Buddhism “is born out of [our] suffering, not from academic studies”. Cultural Buddhism isn’t a western, rational attempt to reduce the universe to a set of definable laws that can be manipulated to build a better cosmos (isn’t that rationalism in a nutshell?) Rather, in its Eastern roots, it’s existential, it’s intuitive, and it’s a practical technique of working with the universe we have. It is ‘the people’s’ guide to find inherent beauty in this world, and live life without the metaphysical obsession of worrying about another(‘s) life. Truth, love and happiness start with me. That’s really enough to keep us busy for a while.
Buddhism teaches a four-stage cessation of suffering called “The Four Noble Truths”: 1) Acknowledge suffering in our lives and around us, 2) Recognize the origin of suffering (how it came to be), 3) Understand that you can stop suffering (or be transformed by it to rise above it), and 4) Practice The Noble Eightfold Path which is essentially right thinking and right action in all its forms.
There’s nothing to be afraid of here. Buddhism is first and foremost a pragmatic approach to ending suffering in our lives. Enlightenment is emphasized because suffering is part how we view the world, and part how we interact in the world. Instead of begging the world to become less hostile towards us, or blaming our problems on the evil actions of others, we must first realize that suffering begins with us. It’s a very personal approach that emphasizes each individual’s responsibility to end suffering within themselves, and not wait on the world around them to change first. In the words of Buddha Jackson, it’s ‘starting with the man in the mirror’.
I hear it coming. Go ahead and say it, “What about Nirvana? Isn’t that spiritual nihilism?” That’s what you were going to say, wasn’t it? WAS’NT IT??? Well, the answer is, ‘yes and no’. Nirvana means “extinction”, but according to my pal Thich Nhat Hanh, nirvana means first and foremost the extinction of ‘signs’ or concepts. The Buddha taught that in all perception is some deception. Sound familiar? “We see as if through a darkened glass.” In other words, as soon as we have observed something with our human senses, we have branded it with our finite bias. Nirvana is the entrance of ‘being’ into a realm where our concept of ‘being’ is blown wide open, and of course the Buddhist believe this is positive.
What I can especially appreciate about Buddhism is the practice of mindfulness. The Buddha said that if we could fully appreciate the beauty of a single flower, our lives would be changed forever. Why? Because we would enter into the secret of the universe. Says our author, “If we see the truth of one thing in the cosmos, we see the nature of the cosmos.” While reading this book I was surprised to stumble upon an idea that was identical to a sentence in a C.S. Lewis book I recently finished, The Great Divorce: “This moment contains all moments”. The concept in Lewis’ book was applied to our living this life as if it was the beginning of our Heaven or Hell, for who would want to meet a God in Heaven that had not really ‘meant’ earth and its sorrows? Thich Nhat Hanh echoes this, “The present moment contains all future moments”, “you don’t have to die to enter nirvana or the Kingdom of God. You only have to dwell deeply in the present moment, right now” and “Nirvana is not the absence of life. Nirvana [is] in this very life.” Very close the words of Christ, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”, though, to be fair, not everyone wanted to be implicitly included in Christ’s Kingdom.
Now, this is not to say that Buddhism extends itself no further than temporal ‘common sense’ and mindfulness to eliminate suffering and experience joy in life. In its extremities, it certainly catapults to metaphysical speculation and is ‘religious’ in the plurality of its doctrinal lists. But primarily, it is simple and does not conflict with the metaphysical/practical teachings of other religions. It might be criticized as being too general and non-invasive intellectually. It, in my opinion, celebrates mystery without attempting to resolve it, and is behavior-based in its approach to a solution to the problem of soul-lostness. As far as its fundamentals are concerned, I can’t think of hardly a single element in ‘basic Buddhism’ which even a dogmatic Christian would have good ground to dispute its primary teaching.
My summary of ‘basic, cultural Buddhism’—healthy bodies, healthy mind, healthy life. Stop your cycles of suffering, experience the wonder and joy of life every moment and every day. It is through your experience of life that you will find doors opening to a larger experience of life, and ever-expanding vista. Not bad, not bad at all.
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Jake
Aug 15, 2009Jake rated it it was ok
Shelves: buddhism
If you're looking for an erudite, comprehensive overview of mainstream Buddhist thought, "The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching" is an adequate choice, but prepare for a long, hard slog. Thich Nhat Hanh is at his best when he's telling stories from his own life— his time in Vietnam during the war, or stories about the Buddhist community he started in France. Unfortunately, most of the book isn't told from his personal point of view— it's an academic rundown of major Buddhist ideas (and endlessly listy— sure, you've heard of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, but maybe the reason you're not familiar with The Seven Factors of Awakening and Twelve Links of Inderdependent Co-Arising is because all of the other people who heard about them died of boredom before they could pass on those truths.)
If you're looking for more approachable Dharma teachings, try Pema Chodron. (less)
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Clif Brittain
Dec 24, 2009Clif Brittain rated it it was amazing
I loved this book. I think I love Buddhism, but please, please, please, don't make me take a test on it.
When I decided I wanted to know more about Buddhism, it was because of my developing interest in yoga. I can't tell you how exactly Buddhism is related to yoga, but it surely is. First of all, I find no need for faith in yoga or Buddhism. It works. I practice yoga, I feel better. I practice Buddhist principles, I feel better. No faith involved.
Compare this with Judaism. You believe in God? Prove it. Abraham, sacrifice your son. Compare it with Christianity. You believe in God? He sacrificed his son. A little stiff to my way of thinking.
Or guilt. I was raised a Presbyterian and converted to Catholicism in my thirties. Either way, original sin. You're a goner from day one. Presby - predestination. Catholic - although baptism receives you into the church, you get a few years, then you have to start confessing sins. Sins - in your thoughts (thoughts!), in your words, and what you have done, and what you haven't done. Did I miss anything? Is there any moment when I am not sinning?
Buddhism has a few guiding principles. Actually more than a few. Maybe several thousand few principles. But you can get by with a dozen or so. Hanh starts off with the Four Noble Principles and the Eightfold Path.
But these dozen emphasize conduct. Good conduct, not guilt. Wrong action (nothing about wrong thoughts)? Think about it, do better. No shame, no guilt. Different than Catholicism.
So why haven't I become a Buddhist? No creator. I first picked up a book by the Dalai Lama because he is the spiritual leader for many Buddhists. Within the first three paragraphs, I became fully cognizant that there is no creator in his Buddhism. I tried to wrap my mind around this, and I couldn't. I thought about those three paragraphs for about a week and still couldn't fathom no creator. I figured maybe reading the Dalai Lama was sort of like reading the Pope. Dense, unrelenting, and no prospect of fun. So I looked for something more approachable.
My local library had two dozen or so books on Buddhism, half of which were checked out (an auspiciously high proportion). I liked the title and Thich Nhat Hanh has written many books with similarly direct and interesting titles. He starts with the basics and gets into more and more complex structures, but the structures are all inter-related. One loops back to and includes another, which is related to others, which include others.
For example, impermanence. One of the Three Dharma Seals. That person you love? Always changing, so love that person right now, for everything they are. Not for what they were, or you hope they will become. Appreciate that now, for tomorrow they will be different, and so will you. The second of the three seals is nonself. That you that existed when you started reading this screed? Gone - you breathed. The oxygen atoms you inhaled became part of the new you and that houseplant has become you through the CO2 you exhaled. Over the course of your life, every atom has been exchanged on a regular basis. Third seal is nirvana, not to be confused with the dope enhanced nirvana experienced about in smokey rooms (not that I would know anything about this). "Nirvana is the extinction of all notions. Birth is a notion. Death is a notion. Being is a notion. Nonbeing is a notion." Do you see how all three are related? One exists within the other two and those two are present in the other two, and all are one and one are all.
The fun thing is that this is explained fairly well, and if you are alert and patient, you understand everything up to the summation, where we are BEING HERE NOW. If you are here instantly and totally now, nothing came before. There was no creator. You are part of the universe and the universe is part of you and there was no creator.
Sorry, because there is no leap of faith, I can't swallow this whole. In Catholicism, too much faith. In Buddhism too little faith.
This much is clear - Buddhists are more peaceful than Jews, Christians and Muslims. I sense none of the arrogance and non-acceptance in Buddhism which mark the world's major religions. I am becoming more estranged from the Catholic church. I joined because of the universality of the church and because I know that Christ taught by a very good example. I am a cafeteria Catholic, and there is plenty that they are serving that I'm not buying.
My new pope, my new archbishop, and my new priest are cooking up a stew that is significantly different than the stew I was served 25 years ago (Homophobia Goulash, Bully Pelosi, Badger Kennedy). [It has come to the point where I am reluctant to vote for a Catholic because I am afraid they will react to the bullying of the Vatican mafia. (I am represented by three Jewish males, one pro-choice Catholic woman (who is divorced and therefore mostly out of the fold), one Protestant woman and my Pat Robertsonesque Governor).:] Some of the new dishes weren't even on the menu back then. So I'm going to some new restaurants.
So why don't I want to be tested? Too many details. There are Three Dharma Seals, Four Noble Truths, Four Dhyanas, Four Establishments of Mindfulness, Four Great Elements, Four Immeasurable Minds, Four Reliances, Four Standard Truths, Four Wisdoms, Fourfold Right Diligences, Five Aggregates, Five Faculties, Five Mindfulness Trainings, Five Powers and Five Remembrances. This covers two digits. There are dozens more. Reading about each of these details, they all make sense. But as far as remembering them all, I remember about a dozen by name. So don't test me. But they are all one, so I could get at least 50% on an exam.
If you want the quickest possible course in Buddhism, go to a bookstore and read the 28th Chapter, "Touching the Buddha Within". The rest of the book is this good. But don't say I didn't warn you.
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Mary Overton
Dec 12, 2010Mary Overton added it
"Let us look at a wave on the surface of the ocean. A wave is a wave. It has a beginning and an end. It might be high or low, more or less beautiful than other waves. But a wave is, at the same time, water. Water is the ground of being of the wave. It is important that a wave knows that she is water, and not just a wave. We, too, live our life as an individual. We believe that we have a beginning and an end, that we are separate from other living beings. That is why the Buddha advised us to look more deeply in order to touch the ground of our being which is nirvana. Everything bears deeply the nature of nirvana. Everything has been 'nirvanized' That is the teaching of the LOTUS SUTRA. We look deeply, and we touch the suchness of reality. Looking deeply into a pebble, flower, or our own joy, peace, sorrow, or fear, we touch the ultimate dimension of our being, and that dimension will reveal to us that the ground of our being has the nature of no-birth and no-death.
"We don't have to ATTAIN nirvana, because we ourselves are always dwelling in nirvana. The wave does not have to look for water. It already is water." pg. 211
"...The Buddha said that in the depth of our store consciousness, alayavijnana, there are all kinds of positive and negative seeds - seeds of anger, delusion, and fear, and seeds of understanding, compassion, and forgiveness. Many of these seeds have been transmitted to us by our ancestors. We should learn to recognize every one of these seeds in us in order to practice diligence. If it is a negative seed, the seed of an affliction like anger, fear, jealousy, or discrimination, we should refrain from allowing it to be watered in our daily life. Every time such a seed is watered, it will manifest on the upper level of our consciousness, and we will suffer and make the people we love suffer at the same time. The practice is to refrain from watering the negative seeds in us....
"We also try to recognize the positive seeds that are in us and to live our daily life in a way that we can touch them and help them manifest on the upper level of our consciousness, manovijnana. Every time they manifest and stay on the upper level of our consciousness for a while, they grow stronger. If the positive seeds in us grow stronger day and night, we will be happy and we will make the people we love happy. Recognize the positive seeds in the person you love, water those seeds, and he will become much happier.... Whenever you have time, please water the seeds that need to be watered. It is a wonderful and very pleasant practice of diligence, and it brings immediate results.
"Imagine a circle divided in two. Below is the store consciousness and above is mind consciousness. All mental formations lie deep down in our store consciousness. Every seed in our store consciousness can be touched and manifests itself on the upper level, namely our mind consciousness. Continued practice means trying our best not to allow the negative seeds in our store consciousness to be touched in our daily life, not to give them a chance to manifest themselves. The seeds of anger, discrimination, despair, jealousy, and craving are all there. We do what we can to prevent them from coming up. We tell the people we live with, 'If you truly love me, don't water these seeds in me. It is not good for my health or yours.' We have to recognized the kinds of seeds not to be watered. If it happens that a negative seed, the seed of an affliction, is watered and manifests itself, we do everything in our power to embrace it with our mindfulness and help it return to where it came from. The longer such seeds stay in our mind consciousness, the stronger they become." pg. 206-207
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Carol
Aug 19, 2015Carol rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Lucid and helpful with great presentation of Noble Eightfold Path especially.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and am incorporating parts of it in my meditation.
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Bharath
Mar 25, 2017Bharath rated it really liked it
This is an excellent book to read to understand the core fundamentals of Buddhism. It covers the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, in a good amount of detail. It also goes further than that, drawing on key concepts which are common to most variants of Buddhism.
I liked the fact on how Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the need for depth in life - developing it by living the values, the Buddha taught and practised. Mindfulness is expectedly a strong theme throughout the book.
The only aspect which could have been better is that while many sections do have good anecdotes from either Thich N hat Hanh's own life or the Buddha's, there are a few sections which are entirely theoretical and dry. Hence, while reading a portion of a book, it feels like simply reading the obvious.
Overall, an excellent introductory book to the essence of the Buddha's teachings, and well worth a read. (less)
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Alan
Feb 15, 2019Alan rated it liked it
Thich Nhat Hanh 's book is hard to rate for a variety of reasons having to do with its laudable accomplishments and/but embarrassing shortcomings. His scholarship is undeniable: each section of the book is organized, each concept is fleshed out and Nhat Hanh goes through great lengths to interweave tangential abstractions together in the hopes of elucidating the more complex teachings Buddhism and its many schools has to offer. As a source of contemporary Buddhist criticism, however, The Heart of Buddha's Teaching staggers. This has to do with Nhat Hanh 's approach to teaching and the unorthodox and contemporary method he uses to convey information. Each section begins with an introduction of some core idea, be it the Dharmas, The Four Noble Truths, or the Eightfold Path (among many other pillars of Buddhist thought). Nhat Hanh then ties his explanations to some major criticism or religious text (often a Sutra). Finally, Nhat Hanh tries to make a contemporary statement about their meaning that often takes the form of a politically correct comment or even a general tone. Having not looked at the book's date of publication, it did not take me long to guess that it was written in the 90's with its recurrent emphasis on vegetarianism, plurality, and the push for world peace. While on the surface such an interpretation (or use) of Buddhist texts may appear to be progressive and productive, coming to them nearly twenty years later has shown them to - more often than not - sound cliche, generic, or naive. Several instances referring to the Israeli-Arab conflict come to mind. Nhat Hanh uses this incredibly complex and polarising conflict to push his interpretation of how we can apply a certain Buddhist interpretation of love to solve the conflict: if only the Isralies could empathize with the Arabs and vice versa, the conflict would end. Such naive and simplistic interpretations just ruin the actually profound knowledge nested in much of Nhat Hanh writing. The number of issues like this, where Nhat Hanh imposes simplistic politically correct solutions to incredibly complex issues under the guise of Buddhist wisdom really hurt the integrity of this book giving it a New-Agey kind of vibe. That being said, again, Nhat Hanh scholarship is great, and if you have the patience to read past all the fluff, The Heart of Buddha's Teaching is actually a remarkably well organized and informative book.
As a side note, I'm convinced Nhat Hanh's theory of Flowers from Garbage was inspired by Leonard Cohen's Suzanne. Look out for oranges, 'touching her perfect body with your mind' and of course, flowers among the garbage and seaweed. (less)
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Robert Gustavo
Apr 24, 2016Robert Gustavo rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: meditation
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One of the more difficult books I have read, to the point where I am not sure I got out even a tenth of what Thich Nhat Hanh put into it. I will want to revisit this in the future, once I have let it settle in.
I was bothered by some of the symbolism and examples, such as this: "The Buddha offered this example. A young couple and their two-year-old child were trying to cross the desert, and they ran out of food. After deep reflection, the parents realized that in order to survive they had to kill their son and eat his flesh. They calculated that if they ate such and such a proportion of their baby’s flesh each day and carried the rest on their shoulders to dry, it would last the rest of the journey. But with every morsel of their baby’s flesh they ate, the young couple cried and cried."
I was pulled entirely out of the book by this. I don't know whether this is an effective teaching technique or not -- did it secretly teach me to confront my own preconceived notions, "formations", about eating one's own child? Maybe? Mostly I found the examples like this (and there are many) to be deeply weird.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist, which is one of many traditions of Buddhism, and there are passages about the Vietnam War, and one of his students being killed. Perhaps this is not the right view of Buddhism for me.
There were long passages that felt repetitive, as the same thoughts were suggested in a variety of different ways -- I'm not sure if I failed to notice the subtle differences, or whether this was just different ways of teaching the same thing, or both.
There are references to gods, holiness, and past lives -- all of which I am having trouble reconciling with what I have learned of Buddhism elsewhere, and in this very book. I'm still not sure whether Thich Nhat Hahn means that we, as individuals, have experienced past lives and will experience future lives, or whether he means that we, as part of everything and being interdependent with everything, are a consequence of other people's past lives. All very complicated, and difficult to wrap my head around.
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11 March 2018: I keep coming back to this book, and finding something new and relevant each time. The repetitive parts still bother me, and the 12 thingies that might be 4, 5, or 10 just bores me.
4 Noble Truths, an 8 fold Noble Path, an ungodly number of formations and up to a dozen links of interdependence... it feels needlessly complicated.
But I keep coming back to it. Maybe it’s just for the metaphor of parents eating their kid. (less)
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Nicholas Whyte
Jun 16, 2012Nicholas Whyte rated it liked it
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1935728.html
A book by a prominent Buddhist monk outlining key teachings of Buddhism. I started off rather liking it as an approach to mindfulness and how to process suffering and the good things about life. But after he Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, I started to get a bit irritated with the constant discovery of new lists of important spiritual things, from the Two Truths up to the Twelve Links of Interdependent Co-Arising; it seems to me that over-describing the undescribable is fundamentally a mistake. I also started wondering to what extent Thich Nhat Hanh is presenting a mainstream account of Buddhism or his own particular take (or his school's). And I wonder also if there is much sense of the numinous in Buddhism; there didn't seem a lot here. Anyway, it is still the most interesting book by a Buddhist on Buddhism that I have read. (less)
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Suzy
Jun 08, 2008Suzy rated it it was amazing
I have been savoring this book for some time, and was lucky to have it with me while trapped on planes and in airports and on an overnight detour to Detroit--Hanh's teachings didn't quite transform the ordeal into great spiritual practice, but they did vastly improve the experience. Many of his other books can be read almost as a philosophy of Buddhism; here he explains the basic religious tenets in depth (and with more clarity than I'd previously encountered in introductory texts). While not quite as poetic as some of his other works, this is a beautiful book, inclusive of all beliefs and faiths while celebrating the Buddha's teachings. If you'd like an accessible description of the Four Noble Truths, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and more, you've found your book. My favorite passage (of many marked) describes Nirvana: "Nirvana is not the absence of life. Drishtadharma nirvana means 'nirvana in this very life.' Nirvana means pacifying, silencing, or extinguishing the fire of suffering. Nirvana teaches that we already are what we want to become. We don't have to run after anything anymore. We only need to return to ourselves and touch our true nature. When we do, we have real peace and joy." It becomes clear in Hanh's writing that he surely has found real peace and joy, and his life is a great embodiment of the teachings he presents so lovingly here. (less)
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The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation Paperback – Illustrated, June 8, 1999
by Thich Nhat Hanh (Author)
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With poetry and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy – all qualities of enlightenment.
In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, now revised with added material and new insights, 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.
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.
“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth.”
– His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
What should we think when on the one hand Buddhism tells us that life is suffering and on the other we are told to enjoy life's every moment? Loved around the world for his simple, straightforward explanations of Buddhism, Thich Nhat Hanh has finally turned his hand to the very core of Buddhism and conundrums such as this. In the traditional way, Thich Nhat Hanh takes up the core teachings one by one--the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Twelve Links of Interdependent Co-Arising--but his approach is as fresh as a soft breeze through a plum orchard. For illustration, he dips into the vast stores of Buddhist literature right alongside contemporary anecdotes, pointing out subtleties that can get glossed over in other popular introductions. He also includes three short but key sutras, essential source teachings from which all Buddhism flows. Studying the basics of Buddhism under Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh is like learning basketball from Michael Jordan. --Brian Bruya
Review
"Thich Nhat Hanh writes with the voice of the Buddha."
--Sogyal Rinpoche
"If there is a candidate for 'Living Buddha' on earth today, it is Thich Nhat Hanh."
--Richard Baker-roshi
"Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth."
--His Holiness the Dalai Lama
"Thich Nhat Hanh is a real poet."
--Robert Lowell
From the Inside Flap
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.
From the Back Cover
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.
About the Author
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, and peacemaker who was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize. The author of many books, including Living Buddha, Living Christ, he lives in France in the monastic community known as Plum Village and lectures and gives retreats regularly in North America.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Entering the Heart of the Buddha
Buddha was not a god. He was a human being like you and me, and he suffered just as we do. If we go to the Buddha with our hearts open, he will look at us, his eyes filled with compassion, and say, "Because there is suffering in your heart, it is possible for you to enter my heart."
The layman Vimalakirti said, "Because the world is sick, I am sick. Because people suffer, I have to suffer." This statement was also made by the Buddha. Please don't think that because you are unhappy, because there is pain in your heart, that you cannot go to the Buddha. It is exactly because there is pain in your heart that communication is possible. Your suffering and my suffering are the basic condition for us to enter the Buddha's heart, and for the Buddha to enter our hearts.
For forty-five years, the Buddha said, over and over again, "I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering." When we recognize and acknowledge our own suffering, the Buddha--which means the Buddha in us--will look at it, discover what has brought it about, and prescribe a course of action that can transform it into peace, joy, and liberation. Suffering is the means the Buddha used to liberate himself, and it is also the means by which we can become free.
The ocean of suffering is immense, but if you turn around, you can see the land. The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy. When one tree in the garden is sick, you have to care for it. But don't overlook all the healthy trees. Even while you have pain in your heart, you can enjoy the many wonders of life--the beautiful sunset, the smile of a child, the many flowers and trees. To suffer is not enough. Please don't be imprisoned by your suffering.
If you have experienced hunger, you know that having food is a miracle. If you have suffered from the cold, you know the preciousness of warmth. When you have suffered, you know how to appreciate the elements of paradise that are present. If you dwell only in your suffering, you will miss paradise. Don't ignore your suffering, but don't forget to enjoy the wonders of life, for your sake and for the benefit of many beings.
When I was young, I wrote this poem. I penetrated the heart of the Buddha with a heart that was deeply wounded.
My youth
an unripe plum.
Your teeth have left their marks on it.
The tooth marks still vibrate.
I remember always,
remember always.
Since I learned how to love you,
the door of my soul has been left wide open
to the winds of the four directions.
Reality calls for change.
The fruit of awareness is already ripe,
and the door can never be closed again.
Fire consumes this century,
and mountains and forests bear its mark.
The wind howls across my ears,
while the whole sky shakes violently in the snowstorm.
Winter's wounds lie still,
Missing the frozen blade,
Restless, tossing and turning
in agony all night.l
I grew up in a time of war. There was destruction all around--children, adults, values, a whole country. As a young person, I suffered a lot. Once the door of awareness has been opened, you cannot close it. The wounds of war in me are still not all healed. There are nights I lie awake and embrace my people, my country, and the whole planet with my mindful breathing.
Without suffering, you cannot grow. Without suffering, you cannot get the peace and joy you deserve. Please don't run away from your suffering. Embrace it and cherish it. Go to the Buddha, sit with him, and show him your pain. He will look at you with loving kindness, compassion, and mindfulness, and show you ways to embrace your suffering and look deeply into it. With understanding and compassion, you will be able to heal the wounds in your heart, and the wounds in the world. The Buddha called suffering a Holy Truth, because our suffering has the capacity of showing us the path to liberation. Embrace your suffering, and let it reveal to you the way to peace.
The First Dharma Talk
Siddhartha Gautama was twenty-nine years old when he left his family to search for a way to end his and others' suffering. He studied meditation with many teachers, and after six years of practice, he sat under the bodhi tree and vowed not to stand up until he was enlightened. He sat all night, and as the morning star arose, he had a profound breakthrough and became a Buddha, filled with understanding and love. The Buddha spent the next forty-nine days enjoying the peace of his realization. After that he walked slowly to the Deer Park in Sarnath to share his understanding with the five ascetics with whom he had practiced earlier.
When the five men saw him coming, they felt uneasy. Siddhartha had abandoned them, they thought. But he looked so radiant that they could not resist welcoming him. They washed his feet and offered him water to drink. The Buddha said, "Dear friends, I have seen deeply that nothing can be by itself alone, that everything has to inter-be with everything else. I have seen that all beings are endowed with the nature of awakening." He offered to say more, but the monks didn't know whether to believe him or not. So the Buddha asked, "Have I ever lied to you?" They knew that he hadn't, and they agreed to receive his teachings.
The Buddha then taught the Four Noble Truths of the existence of suffering, the making of suffering, the possibility of restoring well-being, and the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to well-being. Hearing this, an immaculate vision of the Four Noble Truths arose in Kondañña, one of the five ascetics. The Buddha observed this and exclaimed, "Kondañña understands! Kondañña understands!" and from that day on, Kondañña was called "The One Who Understands."
The Buddha then declared, "Dear friends, with humans, gods, brahmans, monastics, and maras as witnesses, I tell you that if I have not experienced directly all that I have told you, I would not proclaim that I am an enlightened person, free from suffering. Because I myself have identified suffering, understood suffering, identified the causes of suffering, removed the causes of suffering, confirmed the existence of well-being, obtained well-being, identified the path to well-being, gone to the end of the path, and realized total liberation, I now proclaim to you that I am a free person." At that moment the Earth shook, and the voices of the gods, humans, and other living beings throughout the cosmos said that on the planet Earth, an enlightened person had been born and had put into motion the wheel of the Dharma, the Way of Understanding and Love. This teaching is recorded in the Discourse on Turning the Wheel of the Dharma (Dhamma Cakka Pavattana Sutta).2 Since then, two thousand, six hundred years have passed, and the wheel of the Dharma continues to turn. It is up to us, the present generation, to keep the wheel turning for the happiness of the many.
Three points characterize this sutra. The first is the teaching of the Middle Way. The Buddha wanted his five friends to be free from the idea that austerity is the only correct practice. He had learned firsthand that if you destroy your health, you have no energy left to realize the path. The other extreme to be avoided, he said, is indulgence in sense pleasures--being possessed by sexual desire, running after fame, eating immoderately, sleeping too much, or chasing after possessions.
The second point is the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. This teaching was of great value during the lifetime of the Buddha, is of great value in our own time, and will be of great value for millennia to come. The third point is engagement in the world. The teachings of the Buddha were not to escape from life, but to help us relate to ourselves and the world as thoroughly as possible. The Noble Eightfold Path includes Right Speech and Right Livelihood. These teachings are for people in the world who have to communicate with each other and earn a living.
The Discourse on Turning the Wheel of the Dharma is filled with joy and hope. It teaches us to recognize suffering as suffering and to transform our suffering into mindfulness, compassion, peace, and liberation.
1. "The Fruit of Awareness Is Ripe," in Call Me By My True Names: The Collected Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh (Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1993), p. 59.
2. Samyntta Nikaya V, 420. See p. 257 for the full text of this discourse. See also the Great Turning of the Dharma Wheel (Taisho Revised Tripitaka 109) and the Three Turnings of the Dharma Wheel (Taisho 110). The term "discourse" (sutra in Sanskrit, sutta in Pali) means a teaching given by the Buddha or one of his enlightened disciples.
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Product details
Item Weight : 8.3 ounces
Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-0767903691
Product dimensions : 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
Publisher : Harmony; Illustrated edition (June 8, 1999)
Language: : English
Best Sellers Rank: #2,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#3 in Tibetan Buddhism (Books)
#3 in Buddhist Rituals & Practice (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,107 ratings
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Biography
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, a renowned Zen master, a poet, and a peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967, and is the author of many books, including the best-selling The Miracle of Mindfulness.
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thich nhat nhat hanh eightfold path noble truths heart of the buddha buddhas teachings highly recommend noble eightfold well written great book easy to understand nhat hahn anyone interested easy to read recommend it to anyone daily life dalai lama buddhist teachings recommend this book doors of liberation
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Top reviews from the United States
AllanL5
5.0 out of 5 stars If you only buy one Buddhist book, start with this one.
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2016
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Thich Nhat Hanh is a Viet-namese Zen-buddhist. Unlike many, many, many other books on Buddhism, this book attempts to explain the core concepts of Buddhist teachings. Where most Buddhist books get lost in glowing exhausting praises of how wonderful Buddhist concepts are, while actually never getting around to explaining the concepts, this book presents a loving detailed summary of the concepts. If you're curious about Buddhism, start here. If you're still curious, this gives you a center to branch out from.
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5.0 out of 5 stars This book improved my life overnight. The 3 or ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2016
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This book improved my life overnight.
The 3 or 4 small changes I made after reading the book
had an impact in my personal life and work that no other
insight has ever have made.
You will not regret buy it
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Mad Scientist
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book !!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018
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A man goes to a Buddhist and says "I want to be a Buddhist". The Buddhist replies: " then be one!!!". At first I thought he was being sarcastic, maybe he was pushed for time. After reading this book I have grown to see a deeper meaning to his words. This book is AMAZING and its filled with wisdom. It shows you how to live the Buddhist life. On one of the pages it discusses sexual suffering and how it can hurt you, families and children. If you are looking for the path you will find it inside this book.
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Katie
5.0 out of 5 stars I had been practicing mindfulness for the last year and a half before I decided to become more aware of the Buddhist path and this is the perfect book if you're just beginning to follow this path
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018
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I found it hard to put this book down. I had been practicing mindfulness for the last year and a half before I decided to become more aware of the Buddhist path and this is the perfect book if you're just beginning to follow this path. It's well written and goes into great detail the basics.
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Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Like a conversation with the Buddha himself
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2018
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This book, and the audio book as well really changed my quality of life. Simple phrasing with concepts we can all relate to. My depression was significantly worse before reading this book, and now I can kick myself in the butt a little bit and get myself going. Given, I've also had two years of therapy, but this book was what really sealed it for me. Im not only less depressed, but I'm less anxious, and much more happy. Thank you SO much Thich Nhat Hanh, your insights mean the world to me!
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Rosie
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
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This is a book on my Essential Recommended Reading List. Read it!
Whomever you are, whatever your belief, it will open your perspective and give you some fat to chew one - something to contemplate.
My favorite part is the section on the Six Paramitas - about interdependent co-arising - an important concept for understanding our life and times.
Start from the beginning - particularly if you grew up with a "western mind".
It may take some time to fully understand the concepts, even though they are simple, because the mind may be otherwise oriented.
This book is the simplest presentation of these concepts, so easy to read, with great illustrations of the concepts - very helpful.
I occasionally buy a copy and send it to someone as a gift.
Enjoy!
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John Hentsch
5.0 out of 5 stars I Recommend This Book.
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
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I went to Indonesia and was enthralled by the Buddhist and Hindu culture that dominated their lives. I was wondering what a religion of peace really looks like. I am still about 100 pages from finishing this book, but I think it will find a place on my periodic read list. Ultimately just reading this has made me more mindful (present), nicer to those around me, and just a generally good book for "self help."
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Carl
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and consistent explanation of Buddhist concepts
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
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This is my favorite book on Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hahn presents all of the major buddhist ‘lists’ and ‘principles’ in an approachable and consistent style informed by his comprehensive view of Buddhism. His explanations really help me feel the truth of these ideas, and to see their underlying connectedness. I love his metaphor of the wave and he ocean.
While I have started picking up additional books about Buddhism, I will be surprised if any of them speak to me as directly or effectively as this classic. I expect to return to its basic clarity repeatedly for many years. This week, for example, I will share the chapter on Sutta interpretation with my Sutta Study group.
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Holly "Ragdoll Reads" Hodson
5.0 out of 5 stars “This is definitely one of the most important books I have ever read.”
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2018
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TL;DR – This book is a basic introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, taught from the point of view of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Absolutely recommended.
RAGDOLL RATING: Exceptional
The Book…
The book covers the absolute fundamentals of Buddhism. Thầy introduces us to the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and a handful of other concepts he considers to be the bedrock of the Buddhist faith.
The writing style is quite unusual – I have no idea of this a trait of Zen masters, poets, Vietnamese folks or just a personal quirk but it seems quite unique. Specifically, the writing seems to flow quite rapidly from one thing to another, usually from explanation to metaphor and back again. I don’t personally find it difficult to read because my mind tends to wander a lot anyway and I found it actually helped me take things in, but some people my find it a little tricky to deal with.
Thich Nhat Hanh (Who I will refer to as Thầy (teacher) from now on) is not only a Zen master but a poet too and this look is laced with sections of poetry on related topics. It’s a nice touch although I confess I am far to ignorant of poetry to be able to suggest how good it is.
The book is well referenced, linking to canonical texts, other Buddhist teachers works, and other books Thầy has written. It also includes, in the final section, a small selection of translated discourses which had been mentioned in the text.
Why I read it…
I’ve been trying to read a Buddhist text before my evening meditation and I just happened to buy this book not so long ago. I had listened to a guided meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh and found his insights really struck a chord with me.
Conveniently, this book also took up a position in my reading challenge in the “A book that will make you smarter” category.
Thầy has devoted a considerable amount of word-space to the teachings of the Four Nobel Truths and the Noble Eightfold path – 16 chapters in fact. He breaks down the teachings into their component parts, explains these parts, often with the use of poetry, metaphor and canonical sources. Then he explains how all these elements are connected, how the interplay and are how the ‘inter-are’ – when you truly focus on one element, you will be practicing all the elements automatically.
The third section of the book is dedicated to what I hesitate to call lesser known teachings. Perhaps if you have a good background in Buddhism then you would probably at least know what they were (I knew a handful) but if you are new to Buddhism then the chances are you wouldn’t know them. These teachings are well explained and most importantly linked in to the other elements. It was really good to read about these other important teachings.
Why I love It…
Firstly I have to mention the use of metaphor. This book is full of metaphorical explanations to aid the reader in their understanding. They help make the teachings easier to digest – and some of these teachings can be confusing at the best of times. One thing that really stuck in my mind was a metaphor about waves:
“When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves, and we can call it more or less beautiful, higher or lower, longer lasting or less long lasting. But if we look more deeply, we see that a wave is made of water. While living the life of a wave, the wave also lives the life of water. It would be sad if the wave did not know that it is water. It would think, ‘Some day I will have to die. This period of time is my life span, and when I arrive at the shore, I will return to nonbeing.’
These notions will cause the wave fear and anguish. A wave can be recognized by signs — beginning or ending, high or low, beautiful or ugly. In the world of the wave, the world of relative truth, the wave feels happy as she swells, and she feels sad as she falls. She may think, ‘I am high!’ or ‘I am low!’ and develop superiority or inferiority complexes, but in the world of the water there are no signs, and when the wave touches her true nature — which is water — all of her complexes will cease, and she will transcend birth and death,” (p.124/5)
While I was reading this passage (and many others), suddenly the ideas behind impermanence, rebirth and all sorts of other things started to make a bit more sense. The book is full of useful metaphors like these and by the end I felt like my understanding of the fundamental concepts was improved.
All the way through I found myself learning new things, and understanding concepts I already knew about much more clearly than I ever have before. I’m sure I missed more than I took in, and this book will definitely become a book I will re-read over and over.
The main reason this book is ranked ‘exceptional’ rather than just 5 buttons is basically because of my emotional reaction to text. With every chapter my understanding grew and I had clear guidance to help me understand some difficult concepts and encouragement to apply these things to me own life. I really strongly felt motivated to make improvements in my life and to follow the teachings of the Buddha more closely. I felt a really strong emotion of loving kindness in my heart as I read this book and that feeling continued after I put the book down each night. It was a rare experience and one I feel very happy to have gone through. I genuinely feel this may be one of the most important books I have ever, or indeed will ever read.
Recommended For…
Everyone with an interest in Buddhism, from the absolute beginner to the advanced practitioner.
Everyone generally. I would recommend this book to everyone actually – the contents are very Buddhism-centric (obviously) but there are lessons to be learned from this book that everyone from all works of life could make use of.
Final thoughts…
This book is probably one of the best books on Buddhism that I have read for a beginners view. The concepts can be difficult but Thầy offers excellent guidance and explanation to help you understand.
The book also contains a good deal that would be of value to a more experienced practitioner. Yes, it’s good as a reminder of the basic teachings but the poetry and imagery of this work make it well worth reading as a guide to deeper understanding and encouragement to deeper practice.
Everyone should read this book.
___________________________________________
Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the author or publishers. I bought this book with my own money for my own reasons. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!
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Andrew G. Marshall
3.0 out of 5 stars Great wisdom but hard to digest in one reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2017
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I first read this book about five years ago. I found it both heavy going and life changing. Returning to The Heart of Buddha's Teaching, I was pleased that I was able to understand more but it is still overwhelming. I think the problem is the huge amount of information: the four noble truths, the twelve turnings of the wheel, the eight fold path, the twelve links of interdependent co-arising, I could go on... And although each item made sense, the overall feeling was indigestion but perhaps that's what happens when a whole tradition is being covered in ONE book. Or perhaps I need to read it a couple of times more before I can get the full benefit?
14 people found this helpful
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Amai Reads
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful Buddhism primer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2019
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This is a rich book that will get you started on Buddhism and mindfulness. It is very well structured without being rigid or textbook-like and reads very well. Reading through the chapters you will definitely learn new things that will broaden your perspective on life.
PROS:
+ A lot of content for every paragraph
+ No waffle
+ Diagrams and tables to aid understanding
+ Clearly written
+ Practical spirituality that you can apply in everyday experience
+ No bogus tricks
+ Worth reading multiple times
CONS:
- There are many concepts and it may be overwhelming at first
6 people found this helpful
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Simon Osborne
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2013
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I have a tendency to highlight and 'tab-up' books with key points of interest; items that have a resonance with my thinking; bits that I just enjoy, passages that I can go back to and enjoy again. If, with diligence and considerable thought, I restricted this process to the really key points in this book, I would have highlighted and tabbed about 90%!
Having read a little around Buddhism, this book by Thich Nhat Hanh, was my first deeper journey into the teachings of Buddha and I have found it absolutely fascinating.
I expected, and indeed it was the case, for this book to be a slow read: and the clue/instruction/guidance to this is found in Chapter 4 "While reading or listening, don't work to hard. Be like the earth. When the rain comes, the earth only has to open herself up to the rain. Allow the rain of the Dharma to come in and penetrate the the seeds that are deep within your consciousness".
Read this beautiful book in this way, and gently water your seeds of mindfulness, I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have done.
15 people found this helpful
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Kevin Hutchinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in Buddhism? This is an essential read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2015
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If you have any curiosity at all about Buddhism, this is a book that you 100% absolutely need. Thich Nhat Hanh has a simple, direct, elucidating style that cuts through any dogma and explains clearly and generously how Buddhism may be practised by the reader by following the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha. I absolutely recommend this book - it's an essential read.
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