2024~45. The Heart of Understanding

Thich Nhat Hanh. 2009.

Thich Nhat Hanh was one of my favorite authors in the 90's, so it was delightful to revisit his 2009 new-to-me book. It is always so interesting to revisit an old phase of life by reading a familiar author who can draw you into a moment. It felt like I was reaching back in time.  His writing is timeless, not quite stagnant, but so recognizable that it feels like it changed not at all from earlier works and yet still had something new to say.  I still remember learning to practice Telephone Meditation: "Every time you want to make a phone call, you touch the phone exactly where the poem is and you practice breathing. Breathing in, you say: ‘Words can travel thousands of miles;’ breathing out: ‘They are supposed to build up more understanding and mutual acceptance;’ breathing in, ‘I vow that my words will be like gems;’ breathing out, ‘I vow that my words will be fresh like flowers'."

Nothing in this book stuck with me quite like that 1992 lesson from Buddism Now, but this was nevertheless a lovely little read from a genuinely brilliant writer.  As between the two, I would probably point a interested reader to the classic Buddism Now first, but if you find yourself in a space wanting to read more than one Hanh book, this is a good one, too.

Recommend.

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