Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Overview

A powerful and practical guide to overcoming our debilitating uncertainties and personal terrors by Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master, poet, scholar, peace activist, and one of the foremost spiritual leaders in the world - Thich Nhat Hanh.

Fear has countless faces: from the fear of failure to worries about everyday life, from financial or environmental uncertainties to the universal despair we all experience when faced by the loss of a friend or loved one. Even when surrounded by all the conditions for happiness, life can feel incomplete when fear keeps us focused on the past and worried about the future. While we all experience fear, it is possible to learn how to avoid having our lives shaped and driven by it.

In these pages, Thich Nhat Hanh, a gifted teacher who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr., explores the origins of our fears, illuminating a path to finding peace and freedom from anxiety and offering powerful tools to help us eradicate it from our lives.

A timeless path for living fearlessly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062004734
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	03/04/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	26,145
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, author, scholar, and activist for social change, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the author of many bestselling books, including the classics Peace Is Every Step and The Art of Living. Through his books and retreats at the monasteries he has founded in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia, he became a pre-eminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all. 

Sister Chan Khong is Thich Nhat Hanh’s most senior monastic disciple and lifelong collaborator. A leading force in his engaged Buddhism programs and humanitarian projects, her books include Learning True Love and Beginning Anew.

Sister True Dedication is a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh. 

Table of Contents

Introduction: Fearlessness 1

A Time Before 7

Original Fear 15

Reconciling with Our Past 21

Releasing Fears About the Future: The Five Remembrances 29

No Coming, No Going 41

The Gift of Fearlessness 59

The Power of Mindfulness 71

Learning to Stop 79

Calm in the Storm 85

Transforming the Fear Around Us 91

Blue Sky Above the Clouds 101

Transforming Fear into Love: The Four Mantras 109

The Opposite of Fear 115

Practices for Transforming Fear 127

Releasing Fear from Body and Feelings: Eight Simple Mindfulness Exercises 127

Transforming the Roots of Fear in the Mind: Eight Breathing Exercises 139

Deep Relaxation for Transforming Fear and Stress 149

Metta Meditation: May We Be Free from Fear 152

What People are Saying About This

Sogyal Rinpoche

“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us that by looking deeply and embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace.”

Editorial Reviews

“Thich Nhat Hanh shows us that by looking deeply and embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace.” — Sogyal Rinpoche

From the Publisher

Thich Nhat Hanh shows us that by looking deeply and embracing our whole experience with acceptance, love and understanding, we can go beyond fear and anxiety to find fearlessness and inner peace.

Sogyal Rinpoche

One of the world’s foremost Buddhist masters and advocates for peace, Nhat Hanh addresses the topic of fear in his latest book. He writes, “The practice of living fully in the present moment—what we call mindfulness—can give us the courage to face our fears and no longer be pushed and pulled around by them.” He examines the sources of fear and astutely explores how mindfulness can ease inner and outer fears. Nhat Hanh stresses compassion, nonviolence, and community building at all levels as a strategy for transforming the fear and anger in the world. His thinking is guided throughout by his signature concept of “interbeing”—that all creation is interconnected. The Zen master’s understanding of the grip that fear and anxiety have on modern individuals is profound. His unfailing simplicity, direct approach, and humanity shine on every page. This book is perhaps best approached by those new to his writings and to Buddhism, and those who want a gentle reminder about the possibility of true joy and respect for all living beings. Simple practices are included. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Acclaimed Vietnamese peace activist Nhat Hanh (Peace Is Every Step) is noted for his syncretism, the freedom with which he marries Zen and Theravada insights into Buddhism, as well as hints of Western thought. His new book, rather unsurprisingly, suggests communication, community, and relaxation as remedies for fear, anxiety, and despair. VERDICT Less a memoir than a spiritual guide, this book is likely to appeal most strongly to Buddhists rather than to those interested in peace activism or history.

Library Journal