Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice Paperback – November 3, 2011

Enjoying the vibe this little book creates in Thich Nhat Hanh, Making Space: creating a home mediation practice invites thoughtful ideas as I prepare to renovate the office and further improve the rest of the business property.With warmer weather on the horizon, this means a new pollinator garden. Training last year's grapevine plantings to engulf their territorial eight foot high wire walls built especially for them. A fourth-year robust strawberry garden’s produce. Zen spaces of which a room and front porch now affectionately called, Zen Den’s.One of the chapters inspired me to contact a friend who is a practicing Buddhist nun. The section on tea meditation and self-help village planted some ideas to collaborate on as the neighborhood beautification committee chair and helper. The focus is on attitudes not landscaping.This book is very inspirational. Not just for personal peace. How to plant and grow world peace beginning in the immediate spaces occupied.Very exciting stuff for me. Partnering with scripture find my faith life improving enthusiastically. Inside with all the peace studies I’m currently participating in find it difficult to outwardly express the inward vibe.Scripture doesn’t have a template for how to set up spaces which makes this small book a fun inclusion with tips for making “Peace, be still” a whole other level of happiness.“Making an Alter” felt familiar as it’s a familiar connection to scripture. Though the ideas gleaned actually were unlike any I’ve researched previously.To reflect at a deeply loving space thought wouldn’t it be cool to host pictures of people when I felt most loved by them? Then, this would fill space that might still reside in a painful corner.This will include both family and people whom I’ve lost to death or some other circumstance.As a person who’s passed the middle point in life am seeking peace in a new way. I’ve found studying with books like this so interesting and helpful to discovering places inside and making room for more of “no thing” exciting.The reference “no thing” is found in Eckart Tolle’s The Power of Now. This is a great study of attachment and it’s foibles toward peace and more.I’ve found simplifying mental space to be very freeing and helpful for my veteran diagnosed PTSD. Family and friends have reflected a remarkable difference. As have I.If you’ve ever experienced overwhelm to the point of feeling no return for any reason this might be the additional read for you.No matter what faith background you are, practicing mindfulness is non-religious. Some people find prayer certain ways their mindful go to. Others like myself find pew prayers not as immediate as the need typically.Momentary mindfulness is with a person 24/7/365 every second of the day.To me, God is in the in breath. Exhale is my reciprocation. We work with each other together. I realized this many years before discovering the world of Thich Nhat Hanh’s guidance.Fun facts, Thay meaning teacher if you consider him this keeps a photo of Jesus on his alter and believes in his teaching. Buddhism isn’t a religion. It’s a practice. Though some people devotedly focus anyone can be who they are faith wise and also enjoy the benefits of this part of a journey, as well.People had told me negative and incorrect information as a young adult about these sorts of experiences. Yet, offered no solutions to my efforts to healing. The standard Christian responses were judgmental and alienating across the board from Protestant verses Catholic and Baptist plus Pentecostal backgrounds. I’ve seen this happen to many people who are pushed out of their faith practice, as a result.For me, the beginners mind is where I live by choice. Even scripture shares about being like children to pursue deeper connection.After doing a lot of research and listening to very cultured members who practice once had a leader say be careful and do a lot of research because it’s important to understand so that you are safe.Meaning, there are people who go overboard and have committed suicide because their mental health couldn’t withstand the deep practices available.Me, I’m like, “I don’t need to be that enlightened”. And, elected at that moment to remain a beginner eternally.Here I never get past what’s now. I don’t worry about over doing it or under doing for this matter.I practice life in the moment. Work to practice how to improve upon this. Which lead me to the word of the year, Peace.I even laugh at thinking the theme song from Grease is replaced with Peace. #PeaceistheWord2022I’ve been at this for a few months now and my life is more deeply transformed through this focus then I’ve ever noticed prior.I think doing steps discovered in places like this book that fit my lifestyle rather then replicate a template very freeing, encouraging, and helpful.Something that’s been on my mind since seeing in another review wanted to address here. As you know the cover of the book is a woman sitting.People complained. They prefer seeing Thich Nhat Hanh. Think it’s a marketing money grab. As a consultant know this is true for any book ever. Books are published for revenue.In this case benefit the community who do wonderful work. But, none the less it’s still a business deal.I thought about the cover and decided the picture represents the audience. Envision yourself sitting in the space created upon reading this book.The publisher thought the vision of what we do with the space is the focus. I can easily replace this woman with myself and see myself in the space.This is just my two cents of the possible why. The book is for us to create with ideas.The book is less than 100 pages. Each chapter has a lovely black and white illustration that looks as though it was done in watercolor with a mindful thought in regards to the next chapter.“The Cake in the Refrigerator” is a concept for me from a different view. I use to say, “It’s not about the sweater” to someone I loved and we would know this meant we could talk about the personal meaning of something difficult for me to express.The story was about an old sweater given to me by someone I had loved and lost. My fiancé reacted to this in a way that caused pain between us.When we realized what was behind the pain for each of us came up with the saying, “It’s not about the sweater.” This cue helped us know there needed to be time set aside for a deeper conversation.I really like this chapter because it outlines things I hadn’t thought of I trust most of not all people could find benefit from employing and maybe even have fun using this tool.I could go on an on at what I got out of this book. To me this is pointless because the book is for each of us to use individually. Employ the inspiration faced that will be most helpful.It’s like scripture, we may all hear the same message, but everyone should do their own research and manage how the word impacts us individually for the most benefit.How I approached the book was a chapter at a time. Highlighted a few important things that impacted me. Rested on this and allowed creativity to encourage possible ways I could use this. Then read the next chapter. I did not run through this in a sitting. Though could have.For me, Making Space is likened to a decadent meal. One bite at a time chewed completely offers optimal digestion and nutrients.Remembering as a kid being told to chew all food before swallowing. Someone once told me 36 chews for meat to help break it down. Not sure about this and I’m not googling it 😊A lot of people gulp down large bites without enjoying the taste. Or even consider the purity of ingredients. Neglecting absorbing the love meal offer. Probably because a lot of people don’t take the time to reflect where food comes from or is processed and prepared.If you’ve never grow a strawberry. Prepared it for storage or a meal. It would be difficult to understand the taste differentiation from a refrigerated mass produced strawberry. Grown with chemicals to be larger and make a profit.To me, this book merely points out ways to be aware and make choices how to live with oneself and others at a level of thoughtfulness that supports deep wellness.Imagining if everyone tried this how much more peace and happiness we’d have with ourselves and the energy into the world that would impact those around us. How much happier life might be.I’ve read studies about how happiness is contagious. This could be true for the one person who fixed up their property. Or, the saying, “misery loved company”.Think about how the world is dealing with war at the moment. After two years of rolling in pandemic drama. Now this.What if we all read this book. Every single human. We all make space for peace. Every single human. Okay, how about half of 7.8 billion? A quarter? And on down the line. How about just me?This reminds me as a child being asked what I wanted. It was during the Vietnam war which raged through my early life. The most pronounced memory was of a poster of piled bodies. I was about six at the time.Anyhow, I’d been dissuaded from wanting world peace to be my answer because it’ll never happen. There’s no way to get everyone on board.What I’ve learned is peace begins with me. If I focus all my energy on this I’ll become a virus like has happened in regards to happiness.I’ve also learned being around people who aren’t if similar mindset isn’t helpful for them. Though I practice being intact and spreading like a peace pandemic. Even if it’s focused on the energy within.This is how I’ve learned to solve world peace.As you can tell by this review and sharing the book inspires me. I certainly hope it will you, as well.Who doesn’t want more peace, joy, happiness and to share this in the world?If you don’t now, maybe this easy read will help. It’s up to each of us to decide.Hope this was helpful and interesting. Often I like to share how a book impacts me and offer ideas to keep the context going and flowing. If you are please like and share⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💯

Nice and simple little book. Mostly common sense ways to create a meditation space - practice and place.Perfect for what it is - simple, and meditative. ;-)

Ok. It's true. No one needs to be told how to create sacred space in their house. So many people have altars and/or meditation spots in their homes now, the how-to guides are in popular magazines all the time. Still . . . .This little book is inspiration and gentle instruction. It is a call to come home. Like everything Thay writes or says, it is a gentle waft of fresh air. Read it just to 'hear' Thay's voice giving guidance on how to live mindfully by taking care of ourselves, attending to our need to return, often, to our own center. It is also a guide to peace in the home, and by extension, the workplace, community and world.It is a little book and less than 100 pages. If money is an issue, spend it on a regular sized book by Thich Nhat Hanh. If it isn't an issue and you like to read short, inspirational chapters in just a few minutes to give you a boost and inspire ideas, then you might like this book. I do, and I'm glad I got the book.

I have read this book twice in a row, it's very easily understood and the information is well able to be applied in one's life. It makes a lot of sense to me and I do recommend reading it for anyone who is looking for a simpler way of life and way of thinking.

I routinely recommend this book to clients and others interested in learning to meditate. It is small and easy to tuck into a pocket or bag. The ebook is also excellent, but I like this hard copy for its tangible ease of use. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh writes with clarity and in accessible terms that are easy to grasp. His Engaged Buddhism offers concrete guidance for living, some of which he covers in the book. I recommend this book, but then it seems anything he has put his name to has been amazing. Thay, as he is known to his followers, is ill as I write this, recovering from a massive stroke. We hope for his recovery so that he may continue his life's work.

This book was short and sweet. He gets right to the subject matter and has wonderful suggestion. I have liked every Thich Nhat Hanh book I have ever picked up but even though this one was done well, it was a disapointment. The book is too expensive for its short content.

This is one of my favorite books. It is a small book and can easily be placed in a pocketbook or pocket to read whenever. Each short chapter shares a meditation and idea for bringing meditation and mindfulness into daily life. I have purchased this same book over and over to share with others. This is not a one time read but a little book to read over and over.

I was expecting a guide to interior decorating (or lack there of) to engage in mindfulness. But looking back on the title it's pretty obvious that it would transcend decorations. There was a lot of focus on poems and breathing practices. There was advice on decorating but he leaves it up to the reader.What I really enjoyed is that it was a practical guide to meditation. It's a quick read and worth coming back to. I also enjoyed the illustrations.I'm giving it four stars because I didn't understand some of the conflicting advice in the book. At one point you're supposed to "shut the windows of the senses" but then you're supposed to ring bells, burn incense, look at nature/relatives, eat food. It just seemed conflicting but it did make me think that you could shut senses down by using one thing to focus on...Anyway the book is worth reading if you're experienced in meditation or not.