Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living

As CEO Coach, Poet and author of a leadership book that helps leaders unleash their genius and the genius of their teams and corporaions, I find Touching Peace to be one of the most profound books I have ever read. In his book he says, "Our true home is in the present moment. To live in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now. Peace is all around us-in the world and in nature-and within us-in our bodies and our spirits. Once we learn to touch this peace, we will be healed and transformed. It is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice. We need only to find ways to bring our body and mind back to the present moment so we can touch what is refreshing, healing, and wondrous." This quote is at the foundation of everything I have and will write. Experience this one. Paul David Walker. Unleashing Genius: Leading Yourself, Teams and Corporations

This was a really good read for several reasons. One reason i gave it a 5 is that the authors personality is strong throughout the book, as if he were in the room. This makes for a great read that is more like a friendly chat than anything. Another great part of this book is the emphasis on mindfulness. If you like this part of the book, you may want to check out Jiddu Krishnamurti's works as well. But the best thing i found about this book was the Sangra (or community) building section. Our happiness does depend very much on other people, so living in peace with the people close to you is very important. This book shows how to make the most of each others presence and our lives.

Almost immediately when reading this book, I felt a sense of relief by the book's emphasis on breathing exercises and certain attitudinal healing that works to improve your own personal level of peace (internal and otherwise). I actually was putting Hahn's techniques into practice while reading the book, very helpful! I found certain eastern spiritual practices covered like Samsara, Sangha Building,etc. very mind opening and worthy of of putting into practice as a means of optimizing my spiritual life. A great book for those interested in meditation and spiritual growth.

Touching Peace is short and simple. Hanh makes meditation easy to practice and understand. He also explains, succinctly, why it is important to practice conscious breathing and how a few conscious breaths can have a positive impact on emotions, health, relationships, and the community. It is zen in a nutshell.

In yet another book, Thich Nhat Hanh has taken buddist living and brought to the west. His gentle style and caring for the peole reading this book bring first hand the benifits that living mindfully can bring to the planet.