Yoga: The Miracle of Mindfulness

https://terebess(dot)hu/zen/mesterek/Thich%20Nhat%20Hanh%20-%20The%20Miracle%20of%20Mindfulness.pdf



We will be reading The Miracle of Mindfulness over the next week or so. Please read this work slowly, prayerfully and with openness. Through-out the coming week, I encourage you to think about what the author is saying and try to implement his ever so simple, yet difficult ideas.

Name__________________________________                                 The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

                                                                                                                     https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Thich%20Nhat%20Hanh%20-%20The%20Miracle%20of%20Mindfulness.pdf

Preface vii-xii

1. What is the historical context of the book?  That is, what was historically happening?

1. Who wrote it? In what language and to whom?

1. See Pg. X: What did Thay (Thick Nhat Hanh) suggest regarding how to translate the book into English?

Chapter One: The Essential Discipline

1. See pg. 2: Explain how Allen “discovered a way to have a lot more time.”

1. See pg. 3-5 Explain what the author means by “washing the dishes to wash the dishes.”

1. See last paragraph p.4 going to pg. 5: Explain the “problem” with thinking about the upcoming cup of tea while washing the dishes.

1. Pg. 6: Explain the advice given to Jim as a means to cope with prison.

1. Pg. 8, last paragraph.  Attempt to answer the question raised: If you spend all day practicing mindfulness, how will there ever be enough time to do all the work that needs to be done to change and to build an alternative society?

Chapter Two: The Miracle is to Walk on Earth

1. Pg. 11 What is the definition of mindfulness?

1. Pg. 12 “Machine thinking is the opposite of mindfulness.” Explain!

1. Pg. 12: Interpret the last paragraph.

1. Pg. 14: Explain the second paragraph that begins with: “My answer is….”

1. Pg. 14-15 Explain: “Mindfulness is at the same time a means and an end.”

1. Pg. 21-22 Explain the philosophy behind “counting your breath.”

1. Pg. 22f: Explain the metaphor comparing our breath to “a thin piece of thread.”

1. Pg. 24 at the end of the page: Explain: “every act is a rite.”