Peace is Every Breath

Many readers will be familiar with Thich Nhat Hahn, who celebrates his 85th birthday this year. This new book extends his work on mindfulness to everyday practice so that one's whole life can become more mindful. This includes waking up, getting dressed, preparing breakfast and even brushing one's teeth, as well as more contemplative practices. Then there are short chapters on breaking out of psychological limitations and acquiring qualities such as freshness and stability. Towards the end of the book, there are a series of Gathas, verses about everyday actions. I was reminded of the Celtic tradition where daily life is also sacralised and there is a real sense of simplicity in the middle of the busy activity. A real gem of a book.