7 Books by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh to Help You Heal and Find Peace
I began reading books by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2022 - a time of crisis following the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting with Anger, I moved on to Being Peace, then No Death, No Fear, and many others. One by one, the Zen Master’s books guided me, helping me understand myself more deeply.
In the article below, I would like to introduce 7 books that I believe are most suitable for those on the journey of returning to themselves, or for those beginning to heal through reading!
1. Being Peace
Being Peace (published in 1987) is a quintessential work by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. It is a slim volume, small in size, and incredibly easy to read. Since the Zen Master is Vietnamese, his writing feels like the intimate confidences of a family member.
“We are very busy, so busy that we do not have time to look at the faces of the people we love, even in our own family, and we do not have time to look at ourselves.”
It is truly so; life sweeps us away. We follow the rotation of the wheel of life and forget miraculous moments like the "blue sky, white clouds, warm sunshine, and the eyes of a child." In this book, the Zen Master also speaks about feelings and how to practice meditation in daily life.
2. Anger
The next book by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh I wish to introduce is Anger. This is a very special book, published on September 10, 2001-just one day before the 9/11 events in the US. Consequently, Anger became a bestseller in America, selling 50,000 copies per week.
Beyond that, Anger has sold over 1 million copies in South Korea and many other countries, including Vietnam. In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses how to transform anger into positive energy. According to him, when we let anger take control, we make ourselves and those around us suffer.
To extinguish the fire of rage, the Zen Master suggests:
“When we are angry, when someone makes us angry, we must return to our body and mind and take care of our anger.”
3. No Death, No Fear
After Anger and Being Peace, which one should you read next? For me, it is No Death, No Fear. The main content of the book is a reminder that:
“The Buddha had a very different understanding of life. He understood that living and dying are just ideas that are not real.”
Through each chapter, the Zen Master shows us where we come from and where we are going. He explains why we fear death and why we worry about becoming nothingness. Then, the Zen Master demonstrates how to look deeply, how to transform suffering and fear into acceptance, how to begin anew, and how to enjoy life in a fresh way.
4. Silence
Silence is also a small, accessible, and easy-to-understand book by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Right from the introduction, he writes:
“To be alive and to walk on the earth is a miracle, and yet most of us are running as if there were some better place to get to.”
He explains that a "radio" of constant thinking plays in our heads. Our minds are so full of noise that we cannot hear the call of life. In other words, our minds are never silent; therefore, we cannot yet be happy.
The Zen Master diagnoses the problem accurately: “The common malady of our time is the need to always be looking for something to fill the void inside us.”
5. Happiness
I am not entirely sure, but there seem to be about 100 books by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In addition to those mentioned above, I want to introduce this book: Happiness (also known as Planting Seeds of Happiness)!
Unlike the previous books, this one helps us practice mindfulness daily. The Zen Master leads us through conscious breathing, sitting meditation, walking meditation, listening to the bell, or telephone meditation. In the book, he also shows how to eat mindfully, practice in the kitchen, engage in tea meditation, and total relaxation.
6. Fear
Like anger, fear exists within each of us. Notably, many people feel a heavy heart even at their happiest moments, fearing the joy will pass quickly, fearing things won't go as desired, or fearing separation from loved ones. And the greatest fear is the fear of death-the fear that the physical body will decay.
So, what do we need to do with this fear? In the book, the Zen Master points out that the first step is recognition without judgment. Recognize with a calm mind that fear is present within us. Then, embrace the worry and look deeply into its roots.
7. The Sun My Heart
This book opens with a gentle story: A Clear Glass of Apple Juice.
“If a glass of apple juice sits for a while, it becomes clear. By the same law, if we sit for a while, we also become clear. When we are clear, we are more peaceful, healthy, and fresh. We feel fresh ourselves, and those around us see us as fresh too.”
Throughout the book, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh provides easy-to-understand examples in which we see ourselves. For instance: “Our thoughts and feelings flow like a river. If we block the river, we create the resistance of the water. It is better to go with the river.”
Above are the 7 books by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that Reading To Heal introduces to you. The Zen Master has many other books, and we will continue to introduce them in detail on this website. You can find online versions at the Plum Village Library!
What about you? Which of the Zen Master's books has changed your life? Please share with Reading To Heal!
