Our Appointment with Life

by Thich Nhat Hanh

This book is a translation and commentary on the Sutra on knowing the better way to live alone. This is the earliest teaching of Buddha on living fully in the present moment.

To live alone means to live in mindfulness: to let go of the past and the future, and to look deeply and discover the true nature of all is taking place in the present moment. Living alone does not mean to isolate ourselves from the society. If we know how to live alone, we can be in real touch with people and society, and we know what to do and what not to do to be of help.

The essential teaching of Buddhism is to be free of all anxiety concerning the past and desire for the future in order to come back into the present. Life can be found only in the present moment, because ' the past no longer is' and 'the future has not yet come'. Liberation, awakening, peace, joy, and happiness can only be found in the present moment. Our appointment with life is in the present moment.

Table of Contents:

• Part one - The Sutras
• Part two - The Subject Matter of the Sutras
• Part three - Putting the Teaching of the Buddha into Practice
• Appendix.

About the Author:

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, scholar and poet. He is the founder of Van Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon, and the author of over 75 books, including Old Path White Clouds, a biography of the Buddha; Being Peace; and The Miracle of Mindfulness. At his community, Plum Village in France, he teaches, writes, and gardens; and he leads retreats worldwide on “the art of Mindful living.”