The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

2130th BLOG POST

35^th Book of 2024

Well, there’s a tendency I have observed in my reading marathon where I always start and end my year with either spiritual or self-help books. And this is definitely not planned but a pattern that I have observed. After reading Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, I picked up “The Heart of Understanding” written by Thich Nhat Hanh today and completed it within two hours with slow and mindful reading. This book by Aleph publication also comes up with a tagline that says “Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy and Liberation”.

 

The book starts with a foreword by Shantum Seth who tells how he got intrigued by Buddha’s teachings and went through trainings like Vipassana etc. after which the teachings of Thich started inspiring him. The foreword gives the book a good start as you are first taken into confidence before starting with the real content. Then there’s a second foreword as well written by Peter Levitt. Here he introduces us with Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra which is one of the Buddhist teachings through which you can discover a way for peace to be realized. This Sutra is basically what this book is all about.

 

As I have myself been to Vipassana meditation recourse for 11 days, I was able to relate with the concepts being discussed in the book. The chapter starts with making us understand how all of us are tied together as Interbeing. None of us can survive without each other. Author helps us understand it with a great example of paper as to how a paper can’t exist without wood, cloud, water, sunshine, soil, time, space, the earth, the river, the heat etc. It gives immense clarity behind the logic that we have the whole Universe within us as well as being a part of the whole Universe as well.

 

Further, author explores the concept of emptiness and breaks down the concept of duality for us. It makes us comprehend how every positive thing exist because of non-positive elements and vice-versa. It realizes us of the fact that when we get the food, it is because someone else is not able to. That makes us understand the term called “Inter-are” where all of us are present because of someone’s absence.

 

The concepts are definitely new and gives the Buddhist vibes throughout. It helps us understand the law of nature and appreciate everything- good or bad – because the beauty of life is such. It also explores the fact that just life and death are not our starting and ending point but we continue even before and after that. It helps us understand that just as wave is water and water is wave, similarly we are just a wave which shall keep on occurring and dissolving.

 

Overall, the book is full of spiritual wisdom which is enjoyed by someone like me who has always believed in it. It ends with the topic on meditation and chanting as well. I never read anything by Thich Nhat Hanh before but after this, I am sure I am going to explore more of his writings and learnings. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

Thanks!

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WRITING BUDDHA