Be Free Where You Are

This little book is a treasure because although small it contains in a few words the deepest Spiritual message of all times. The people who will benefit especially from reading "Be Free where you are" is everyone who feels trapped in a situation where there is not escape, like, yes prisoners in jails, but also for people searching for Light, Love and Peace.

I have been a fan of Thich Naht Hanh for quite some time and where some books I find don't get to the core of what I like to practice, I find this one really shows that you find peace even if you are locked up in a cell. It shows that even those who were once lost and now are paying for the crimes they commit can overcome them while finding peace in their heart. This peace can be spread to others over time when you find that peace yourself. This was a really touching book, knowing that it was said to many prisoners gives the titles a whole new deeper meaning. Be free where you are.

I found this little joyful tome a few years ago tucked away in the corner of a bookshop, and reading it made a lasting impact on my attitude towards life. I am not a buddhist, and I would say that the body of the text, which mainly deals with ritual and practice in a meat & potatoes, straight-to-the-point fashion, is rather useless for someone like me, even off-putting. It was the introduction by Sister Chan that earned this volume a spot in my backpack for two years, until the strap broke and I quit carrying it. The introduction is the story that you can't stop thinking about & you can't stop talking about. The teaching in the introduction makes this volume worth every penny worth for anybody like me who identifies with the buddhist practice yet does not identify as buddhist or practice much. If you are feeling stuck or trapped, this book can give you a new perspective on how to liberate yourself through attitude and changing your habits.

A exceptional book that encapsulates simple practices that are explained succinctly & beautifully. This book can help anyone (of any faith) to acheive happiness & peace. Whatever your situation this book is a touchstone for connecting with a LIFESPRING within & around you. A practical book that's a meditation in itself. The powerful techniques outlined can be practiced anywhere to plug into joy. Plus, it's short and takes you "there" consistently, quickly & easily.

A compendium of his core teachings, Be Free Where You Are is a transcription of a talk by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh given at the Maryland Correctional Institution at Hagerstown. Hanh reveals how the Buddhist approach to "mindfulness practice" can cultivate freedom no matter what the outer circumstances might be. This wonderful 71-page collection of observations, advice, and answers to questions is a welcome and highly recommended addition to Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference collections.