Nothing To It: Ten Ways to Be at Home with Yourself

Description

Ten Ways to Be at Home with Yourself In Nothing To It, Brother Phap Hai brings his characteristic warmth and humor to explore the many different gates to transformation offered by Buddhism. A gate is a teaching, practice, or way of looking at things. Each gate is an invitation to consider a new frame of reference through which we can consider our situation, an opportunity to look at things differently. Readers who enjoyed Bhante Gunaratana's Mindfulness in Plain English will delight in this new explanation from the Australian-born senior monk of Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California. There are fifty-eight gates explored in Nothing To It, arranged in ten traditional groups, with one chapter exploring each gate. Based on a series of talks given by Phap Hai in 2013, the book is designed to be equally valuable when read through at leisure or used as the text for a ten week self-guided course. Each chapter includes questions for reflection, additional reading suggestions on the topic, and writing exercises. The gates can be explored in order or investigated at random. Phap Hai's charming blend of ancient wisdom, Dharma scholarship, and contemporary applications will offer all who read Nothing To It a new way of seeing the extraordinary opportunities for transformation in everyday life.

Originally from Australia, Brother Phap Hai is a senior student of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Prior to becoming a monk, he trained as a chef. Brother Phap Hai is known for his ability to convey complex teachings in an accessible and humorous manner and leads retreats and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Asia. He currently resides at Deer Park Monastery, in California, where he breathes, walks, and smiles on a regular basis.

"There may be nothing to it, but there's plenty here that's substantial and nourishing. Deeply rooted in the tradition and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, but with Phap Hai's own distinct voice, knowledge, and point of view, this playful, accessible commentary reads like a conversation with a friend, full of unusual candor and ease." -Lama Surya Das, founder of the Dzogchen Center and author of Awakening the Buddha Within "Brother Phap Hai, like his teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, is not only concerned with how we live, but willing to meet us where we live. Nothing to It teaches us simple ways that we might use all the moments of our lives to rejuvenate our minds, connect with others, and give strength to our better qualities. Grounded in Buddhist practice and philosophy, the exercises and encouragement here are not highfalutin', but practical and doable." -Rod Meade Sperry, editor of A Beginner's Guide to Meditation