Beloved Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh offers 79 meditations to help you through your daily routines in a peaceful and mindful way and connect to the joy of the present moment Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. This beautifully illustrated book shares a simple verse with an enlightening commentary that will give you the space and heart to live each day in a connected and calm way. Developed during a summer retreat in Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's meditation center in France, these poetic verses were collected to help people practice mindfulness. The result is a handbook of practical, down-to-earth verses. These gathas, or mindfulness verses, are poetic verse designed to turn ordinary daily activities such as washing the dishes, driving the car, or standing in line, into opportunities to return to a natural state of mindfulness and happiness. Reciting these poetic yet practical verses can help us to slow down and enjoy each moment of our lives.
Present Moment Wonderful Moment: Verses for Daily Living, Thich Nhat Hanh, Parallax Press, 140 pages, $17.95
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk. His lifelong efforts to generate peace and reconciliation moved Martin Luther King, Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. He travels regularly, leading retreats on the art of mindful living. He lives in southern France, where he teaches, writes, and gardens. He is author of Energy of Prayer, Be Free Where You Are, and many other books.
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CONTENTS: Present Moment Wonderful Moment
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Introduction
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1
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VERSES FOR STARTING THE DAY
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1.
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Waking Up
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7
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2.
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Taking the First Step of the Day
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9
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3.
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Opening the Window
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11
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4.
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Turning on the Light
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12
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5.
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Turning on the Water
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13
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6.
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Brushing Your Teeth
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15
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7.
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Looking in the Mirror
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17
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8.
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Using the Toilet
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19
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9.
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Washing Your Hands
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20
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10.
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Bathing
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21
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11.
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Washing Your Body
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23
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12.
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Getting Dressed
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24
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13.
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Greeting Someone
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25
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VERSES FOR MEDITATION
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14.
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Following the Breath
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31
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15.
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Morning Meditation
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35
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16.
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Entering the Meditation Room
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36
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17.
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Lighting a Candle
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37
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18.
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Offering Incense
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40
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19.
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Praising Buddha
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43
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20.
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Sitting Down
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44
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21.
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Inviting the Bell
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45
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22.
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Listening to the Bell
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47
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23.
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Letting Go
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49
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24.
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Adjusting Your Posture
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51
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25.
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Hugging Meditation
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53
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26.
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Cleaning the Meditation Room
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54
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27.
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Walking Meditation
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55
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VERSES FOR EATING MINDFULLY
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28.
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Washing Vegetables
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59
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29.
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Looking at Your Empty Bowl
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61
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30.
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Serving Food
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62
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31.
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Looking at Your Plate
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65
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32.
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The Five Contemplations
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67
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33.
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Beginning to Eat
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70
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34.
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Finishing Your Meal
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72
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35.
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Washing the Dishes
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73
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36.
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Drinking Tea
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75
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Notes on Eating Mindfully
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77
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| VERSES FOR DAILY ACTIVITIES |
| 37. |
Touching the Earth |
83 |
| 38. |
Looking at Your Hand |
84 |
| 39. |
Hearing the Bell |
85 |
| 40. |
Using the Telephone |
87 |
| 41. |
Turning on the Television |
90. |
| 42. |
Turning on the Computer |
91 |
| 43. |
Cleaning the Bathroom |
93 |
| 44. |
Sweeping |
95 |
| 45. |
Watering the Garden |
97 |
| 46. |
Planting |
99 |
| 47. |
Picking a Flower |
101 |
| 48. |
Arranging Flowers |
102 |
| 49. |
Smiling at Your Anger |
103 |
| 50. |
Washing Feet |
105 |
| 51. |
Driving the Car |
107 |
| 52. |
Recycling |
109 |
| 53. |
Ending the Day |
110 |
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