Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 500 ratings

Price: 21.25

Last update: 08-19-2024


About this item

“When you wake up and you see that the Earth is not just the environment, the Earth is us, you touch the nature of interbeing. And at that moment you can have real communication with the Earth.... We have to wake up together. And if we wake up together, then we have a chance. Our way of living our life and planning our future has led us into this situation. And now we need to look deeply to find a way out, not only as individuals, but as a collective, a species.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

We face a potent intersection of crises: ecological destruction, rising inequality, racial injustice, and the lasting impacts of a devastating pandemic. The situation is beyond urgent. To face these challenges, we need to find ways to strengthen our clarity, compassion, and courage to act.

Beloved Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is blazingly clear: There’s one thing we all have the power to change, which can make all the difference, and that is our mind. Our way of looking, seeing, and thinking determines every choice we make, the everyday actions we take or avoid, how we relate to those we love or oppose, and how we react in a crisis.

Mindfulness and the radical insights of Zen meditation can give us the strength and clarity we need to help create a regenerative world in which all life is respected. Filled with Thich Nhat Hanh’s inspiring meditations, Zen stories and experiences from his own activism, as well as commentary from Sister True Dedication, one of his students Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet shows us a new way of seeing and living that can bring healing and harmony to ourselves, our relationships, and the Earth.

Plus, exclusive to the audiobook, you can continue your awakening with the meditations that are the foundation of this book, directly from Thich Naht Hanh himself.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.


Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
It spoke about much more than just “saving the planet” although there was a fair amount related to that in the final third of the book. I had some realizations based on the way Thay spoke about Buddhist concepts that the Tibetan Buddhist texts I study did not explain particularly well. It was also relevant to some work and life situations I’m currently experiencing.
JSM
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read -- But the follow-up experience raised questions
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2022
This is an exceptional book. It gave us fresh perspectives about Zen -- easy to understand and articulated in a 21st century style. And, as non-Buddhists, we found it very reader-friendly. We felt quite comfortable with the concepts, ideas, and suggestions. "Thay" and Sister True Dedication are excellent writers. And the recommended actions for "Saving the Planet" seem practical ....and downright exciting!

After reading the book we were so moved that we visited a nearby Monastery in Escondido, CA. (which is affiliated with Plum Village). Unfortunately, we came away quite disappointed. The practices and Dharma talk we experienced were highly ritualistic and somber -- mostly joyless, if not morose.

Most disappointing of all was that there was no evidence that those in this Monastery were committed to or implementing any of the initiatives related to "Saving the Planet" as shared in the book.
RETSOC
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested in Buddhism and environmental issues
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
Reading this book has been a life changing experience for me. This is so much despair in the world today and Thich Nhat Hanh teaches practices to manage our suffering surrounding environmental concerns today. A must read.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Saving the planet is stressful
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
This book can help.
In addition to providing plenty of mental frameworks for processing the stress and anxiety that come with working on climate change, this book also offers plenty of guidelines for evaluating the validity of solutions proposed to us.
A must read to all of those who feel overwhelmed and/or confused about climate change - and potential solutions.
Nola Prevost
5.0 out of 5 stars A Ray of Hope
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
This book gave me the insight of hope to believe that we're not too late to save the planet. Thich Nhat Hanh never fails to speak to the most human aspects of important issues, not only ones like climate change, but racism, sexism, and xenophobia as well. I love the dialogue in this book between Thay and Sister True Dedication. They compliment each other beautifully. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a little hope in humanity, or wants to make a change in the world.
From the trenches
4.0 out of 5 stars "Pseudepigrapha" ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
The title is sure compelling since, from these eyes anyway, it has felt like the "bottom of the ninth" ever since I had any awareness at all to speak of. A more honest title would have aknowledged that it was a compilation of Thay's teachings along with essays from his closer associates and from the very beginning I wondered if there was a such a thing as the opposite of plagiarism. The message is sincere though, whoever wrote it, offering a restful place for those of us concerned with how to navigate our relative, finite existence from a Buddhist perspective.
Lynne Manning
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book I've ever Read!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2022
If you are a spiritual person and want to help save this planet, read this book. Overall, this book points out that we must have a good foundation of knowing ourselves by being calm, compassionate, and mindful before we can ever help the planet. If we are not together collectively in this way, we will not be able to help our planet, stop wars, and anything other violence, addictions, and dysfunction that has plagued the human species ever since we came into being. We have a lot to learn. Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution......if you want to be part of the solution, READ THIS!!!!
Neville Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars Knowing yourself and knowing a planet
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
This book will surprise you in a good way. It’s not how do we recycle or how do we reduce our material goods- it’s how do we become a better person and how does becoming a better person- create a better planet. I really loved the equation and examination of this. My favorite chapter asked if there is True Love? True Love and the planet- they go together? As a matter of fact they do. In order to have True Love we need to be willing to Let Go, Have Understanding, and Love- this was such an awakening moment for me. Thank you for writing such a thoughtful book

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