Publisher's Synopsis
In 2005, Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh responded to the increasing number of terrorist acts being committed worldwide and in particular a response to the attacks of September 11 in the US with the publication of Calming the Fearful Mind: A Zen Response to Violence. In this new edition, the focus has been broadened to include members of the Plum Village community alongside Thich Nhat Hanh, responding to manifestations of violence that have been on the rise since the release of the first edition--such as school shootings and police violence, as well as more recent acts of terror such as the Paris shootings of 2015. Nhat Hanh describes various meditation practices we can use to calm body and mind and embrace our fear and pain. If we can respond to acts of violence and their aftermath with non-fear and a clear mind, we know what to do and what not to do to help the situation. He suggests ways to create safety and mutual understanding among individuals, groups, and nations by listening deeply and compassionately to each other as well as to both the victims and the perpetrators of violence. Thich Nhat Hanh recounts times in his own life when he was treated with discrimination and unwarranted suspicion by authorities, describing how he felt, how he practiced meditation, and how in many challenging circumstances we can find ways to create peace and joy in ourselves and in the world.
