A Handful of Quiet

A Handful of Quiet
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 66
Release: 2008-09-13
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1937006263

A playful, illustrated guide to one of the best known and most innovative meditation practices for young children experiencing stress, difficulty focusing, and difficult emotions Developed by Thich Nhat Hanh as part of the Plum Village community’s practice with children, pebble meditation is a playful and fun activity that parents and educators can do with their children to introduce them to meditation. It is designed to involve children in a hands-on and creative way that touches on their interconnection with nature. Practicing pebble meditation can help relieve stress, increase concentration, nourish gratitude, and can help children deal with difficult emotions. A Handful of Quiet is a concrete activity that parents and educators can introduce to children in school settings, in their local communities or at home, in a way that is meaningful and inviting. Any adult wishing to plant seeds of peace, relaxation, and awareness in children will find this unique meditation guide helpful. Children can also enjoy doing pebble meditation on their own.

Planting Seeds

Planting Seeds
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2007-05-09
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 1935209809

Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children is the fruit of decades of development and innovation in the Plum Village community's collective practice with children. Based on Thich Nhat Hanh's thirty years of teaching mindfulness and compassion to parents, teachers, and children, the book and enclosed CD cover a wide range of contemplative and fun activities parents and educators can do with their children or students. The activities are designed to help relieve stress, increase concentration, nourish gratitude and confidence, deal with difficult emotions, touch our interconnection with nature, and improve communication. Planting Seeds offers insight, concrete activities, and curricula that parents and educators can apply in school settings, in their local communities or at home, in a way that is meaningful and inviting to children. The key practices presented include mindful breathing and walking, inviting the bell, pebble meditation, the Two Promises or ethical guidelines for children, children's versions of Touching the Earth and Deep Relaxation, eating meditation and dealing with conflict and strong emotions. Also included, are the lyrics to the songs on the enclosed CD that summarize and highlight the key teachings, as well as a chapter on dealing effectively with conflict in the classroom or difficult group dynamics, based on a conference with Thich Nhat Hanh, teachers and students. The accompanying CD has inspiring recordings of all the songs in the book as well as a guided pebble meditation, total relaxation, and children's touching the earth. Beautiful, color illustrations by Wietske Vriezen Illustrator of Mindful Movements (ISBN-13: 978-1-888375-79-4) accompany the various practices. Any adult wishing to plant seeds of peace, relaxation, and awareness in children will find this book and CD helpful. It is full of wisdom on how to simply be with children and nourish their compassion for themselves and others. Illustrated by Wietske Vriezen Illustrator of Mindful Movements (Mindful Movements – Ten Exercise for Well Being, ISBN-13: 978-1-888375-79-4). Includes 1 audio CD.

Mindful Movements

Mindful Movements
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 65
Release: 2008-07-10
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 1935209833

Over the years, Thich Nhat Hanh and his monastic community in Plum Village, have developed more and more ways to integrate mindfulness practices into every aspect of their daily life. A few years back Thich Nhat Hanh began to develop gentle exercises based on Yoga and Tai Chi movements. Initially designed as mindful stretching breaks between long periods of sitting meditation, Mindful Movements became a popular tool to complement to sitting meditation extending Thich Nhat Hanh's trademark gentle approach to Buddhist teachings into a series of physical movements. These movements enjoy a growing popularity amongst his students and have become integral part of his retreats. These simple and effective practices are meant to reduce stress and tension to help the practitioner gain the serenity he needs to return to a state of mindfulness. When done as part of a full mediation practice, theses movements can address mental, emotional, and physical stress. Offered to the general public for the first time, the Mindful Movements have been lovingly illustrated by one of Thich Nhat Hanh's long-time practitioner, Wietske Vriezen. Drawn in a whimsical and immediately appealing style the booklet presents 10 routines that can be practiced by people of all ages and body types whether they are already familiar with mindfulness practices or not. The Mindful Movements are designed to be accessible to as many people as possible. Far from being another exercise program, Mindful Movements is for all those wanting to add a gentle but physical element to their meditation practice.They can be practiced before or after sitting meditation, at home, or at work - any time you have a few minutes to refresh your body and quiet your mind. For those new to meditation they are a great, non-threatening way to get acquainted with mindfulness as a complete and multi-faceted practice. For those who already have an established sitting practice Mindful Movements will come as a welcomed addition to their practice. With a foreword by Thich Nhat Hanh and Introduction by Jon Kabat-Zinn [TBC]

Peaceful Piggy Meditation

Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Author: Kerry Lee MacLean
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2016-09-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0807593052

The Coalition of Visionary Resources Children's Book of the Year Winner What can you do when you're mad, sad, or anxious? Find a quiet spot, sit, and breathe. When you meditate every day, your mind stays happy, and even bad days are a little easier. Sometimes life seems like it's all about hurrying—so many places to go! And sometimes it's hard when things don't go your way—it can make a piggy angry and sad. So how do young piggies find a peaceful place in a frustrating world? They meditate! They find a quiet spot, a special place with a few simple things, and just breathe. They do this every day, feeling their breath going in and out. They slow down and calm down. Now it's easier to deal with whatever comes their way, and they have time to notice all the magical things in life, too!

What Does It Mean to Be Present?

What Does It Mean to Be Present?
Author: Rana DiOrio
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2010-07-30
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1619890054

A Mom's Choice Gold Award Winner! Being present means... Noticing when someone needs help Waiting patiently for your turn Focusing on what's happening now Follow a group of friends at school, at home, and at the beach as they experience just what it means to be present. More Awards for What Does It Mean to Be Present? The Living Now: Books For Better Living Award The Nautilus Silver Award for Children's Picture Book The Moonbeam Gold Children's Book Award for Mind-Body-Spirit/Self-Esteem

Is Nothing Something?

Is Nothing Something?
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 50
Release: 2014-03-20
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1937006654

In Is Nothing Something? Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh answers heartfelt, difficult, and funny questions from children of all ages. Illustrated with original full-color artwork by Jessica McClure, Is Nothing Something? will help adults plant the seeds of mindfulness in the young children in their lives. Beginning with the most basic questions, "What is important in life?" and "Why is my brother mean to me?" and progressing through issues that we all wrestle with, such as "How do I know if I really love somebody?", "How long am I going to live?", and "What does God look like?", each page presents a question with a short answer from Thich Nhat Hanh, appropriate for beginning readers to work with on their own. The back of the book has the first complete children’s biography of Thich Nhat Hanh, along with basic, kid-friendly instructions for mindful breathing and mindful walking. Both humorous and profound, Is Nothing Something? is the perfect resource for kids with questions, adults looking to answer them, and anyone with questions of their own.

A Pebble for Your Pocket

A Pebble for Your Pocket
Author: Thich Nhat Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2006-04-09
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1937006069

Basic Buddhist teachings presented in an easy, conversational style, comprised of parables and stories from the world-renowned spiritual teacher’s own childhood experiences A significantly expanded edition combining the previous edition with Under the Rose Apple Tree, plus several new stories—over 2 dozen practices for kids and grown-ups to do together Written in a highly accessible style that doesn’t rely on lot of jargon or difficult vocabulary, Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the importance of the present moment through vivid metaphors, original allegories, and colorful stories. Young readers will learn about handling anger, living in the present moment, and the interconnectedness of all things. Thich Nhat Hanh offers various practices that children can do on their own or with others that will help them to transform anger or unhappiness. They’ll learn techniques to reconnect to the wonders of nature and the joy of living in the present moment. This revised edition contains teachings and stories that the whole family can benefit from, as well as practices such as transforming anger in the family, instructions on how to invite the bell, breathing and sitting meditation, touching the Buddha inside, and others. These simple teachings on spirituality and awareness provide thought-provoking advice and practices for children to use again and again. Including 10 black & white illustrations by Philippe Ames and Nguyen Thi Hop.

The Coconut Monk

The Coconut Monk
Author: Thich Hanh
Publisher: Parallax Press
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2009-03-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1888375973

Based on the life of a Buddhist monk, presents the story of a simple monk and his two friends, a cat and mouse, who live in harmony and advocate for peace. Reprint.

Sitting Still Like a Frog

Sitting Still Like a Frog
Author: Eline Snel
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 125
Release: 2013-12-03
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0834829193

Simple mindfulness practices to help your child (ages 5-12) deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions—with a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises Mindfulness—the quality of attention that combines full awareness with acceptance of each moment, just as it is—is gaining broad acceptance among mental health professionals as an adjunct to treatment. This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what mindfulness is and how mindfulness-based practices can help children calm down, become more focused, fall asleep more easily, alleviate worry, manage anger, and generally become more patient and aware. The book contains eleven practices that focus on just these scenarios, along with short examples and anecdotes throughout. Included with purchase is an audio CD with guided meditations, voiced by Myla Kabat-Zinn, who along with her husband, Jon Kabat-Zinn, popularized mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) as a therapeutic approach.

The Quiet Americans

The Quiet Americans
Author: Scott Anderson
Publisher: Anchor
Total Pages: 722
Release: 2020-09-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 0385540469

From the bestselling author of Lawrence in Arabia—the gripping story of four CIA agents during the early days of the Cold War—and how the United States, at the very pinnacle of its power, managed to permanently damage its moral standing in the world. “Enthralling … captivating reading.” —The New York Times Book Review At the end of World War II, the United States was considered the victor over tyranny and a champion of freedom. But it was clear—to some—that the Soviet Union was already seeking to expand and foment revolution around the world, and the American government’s strategy in response relied on the secret efforts of a newly formed CIA. Chronicling the fascinating lives of four agents, Scott Anderson follows the exploits of four spies: Michael Burke, who organized parachute commandos from an Italian villa; Frank Wisner, an ingenious spymaster who directed actions around the world; Peter Sichel, a German Jew who outwitted the ruthless KGB in Berlin; and Edward Lansdale, a mastermind of psychological warfare in the Far East. But despite their lofty ambitions, time and again their efforts went awry, thwarted by a combination of ham-fisted politicking and ideological rigidity at the highest levels of the government.