In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh offers us a Buddhist view of love along with techniques for manifesting it in our daily lives. In his characteristically direct, simple, and sweet style, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and freedom. In "True Love," Thich Nhat Hanh explains that in order to love in a real way, we need to learn how to be fully present in our lives.
Toward that end, he offers the technique of conscious breathing as a way of synchronizing the mind and the body and establishing the conditions for love. He goes on to offer a mantra practice for cultivating real love that consists of expressing four key statements or intentions in our relationships.
In the concluding section of the book, Thich Nhat Hanh explains how we can bring love to bear on our own pain, fear, and negativity. He explains that we must not regard these things as bad and repress them. We must recognize them as part of us and allow them into our consciousness, where they can be cared for by the loving mother of mindfulness.
One of the best known and most respected Zen masters in the world today, poet, and peace and human rights activist, Thich Nhat Hanh has led an extraordinary life. Born in central Vietnam in 1926 he joined the monkshood at the age of sixteen. The Vietnam War confronted the monasteries with the question of whether to adhere to the contemplative life and remain meditating in the monasteries, or to help the villagers suffering under bombings and other devastation of the war.
Nhat Hanh was one of those who chose to do both, helping to found the "engaged Buddhism" movement. His life has since been dedicated to the work of inner transformation for the benefit of individuals and society.
Thich Nhat Hanh continues to live in Plum Village in the meditation community he founded, where he teaches, writes, and gardens; and he leads retreats worldwide on "the art of mindful living."