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Mindfulness Essentials #4
How to Walk
An introduction to mindful walking, which can be done anywhere, at any time—even on a commute to work or school.
The fourth book in the bestselling Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.
Slow, concentrated walking while focusing on in- and out-breaths allows for a unique opportunity to be in the present. There is no need to arrive somewhere—each step is the arrival to concentration, joy, insight, and the momentary enlightenment of aliveness. When your foot touches the Earth with awareness, you make yourself alive and the Earth real, and you forget for one minute the searching, rushing, and longing that rob our daily lives of awareness and cause us to "sleepwalk" through life.
Thich Nhat Hanh shares amusing stories of the impact mindful walking has on both the walker and those who notice him, and shows how mindful walking can be a technique for diminishing depression, recapturing wonder, and expressing gratitude. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Walk is a unique gift for all ages, sharing a simple practice that can have a profound effect on practitioners.
The fourth book in the bestselling Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.
Slow, concentrated walking while focusing on in- and out-breaths allows for a unique opportunity to be in the present. There is no need to arrive somewhere—each step is the arrival to concentration, joy, insight, and the momentary enlightenment of aliveness. When your foot touches the Earth with awareness, you make yourself alive and the Earth real, and you forget for one minute the searching, rushing, and longing that rob our daily lives of awareness and cause us to "sleepwalk" through life.
Thich Nhat Hanh shares amusing stories of the impact mindful walking has on both the walker and those who notice him, and shows how mindful walking can be a technique for diminishing depression, recapturing wonder, and expressing gratitude. Pocket-sized, with original two color illustrations by Jason DeAntonis, How to Walk is a unique gift for all ages, sharing a simple practice that can have a profound effect on practitioners.
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
450 people are currently reading
4064 people want to read
About the author
Thich Nhat Hanh
969 books12.7k followersThích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm Tế (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
October 7, 2025
My daily walks have always been a form of mindfulness for me – something I do to reset. I previously enjoyed How to Relax, so was eager to read this one too.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a way of making mindfulness easy to understand and digest. His words act like a comfort balm in a chaotic world. I have already ditched my headphones since reading this, hoping to embrace the sights and sounds of my surroundings and become more present.
“Every time you need to move from one place to another, you can apply the techniques of walking meditation. From your living room to your kitchen, from your car to your work, take your time and enjoy every step.”
Many of us focus on the destination of our walk. This encourages us to instead focus on the here and now – what if the simple act of walking was the destination? Many passages were thought-provoking. I found myself thinking about various quotes, then shifting to walking more mindfully, slower and less rushed – something my body was thankful for.
“Your true destination is the here and the now, because only in this moment and in this place is life possible.”
There are plenty of reminders for silence and not talking or snacking while walking. You are down there in your foot, not up here in your head. While some entries felt like rewordings of previous ones, it was still enjoyable.
One of my favourite chapters included something I hadn’t considered – walking for ancestors and friends who have passed away and those who can’t walk. It was something which gave me immediate motivation and sense of gratitude.
“When we walk, we can walk for our ancestors and future generations. Maybe they had to walk with sorrow; perhaps they were forced to march or migrate. When we walk freely, we are walking for them.”
There’s so much wisdom packed inside this little book – you can’t help feeling calmer while reading. I enjoyed this more than How to Relax. It’s always a good thing when books encourage us to be more present and connect with the Earth and ourselves in more mindful and loving ways.
Equal parts thought-provoking and calming, this is another great addition to the Mindfulness Essentials series.
Thich Nhat Hanh has a way of making mindfulness easy to understand and digest. His words act like a comfort balm in a chaotic world. I have already ditched my headphones since reading this, hoping to embrace the sights and sounds of my surroundings and become more present.
“Every time you need to move from one place to another, you can apply the techniques of walking meditation. From your living room to your kitchen, from your car to your work, take your time and enjoy every step.”
Many of us focus on the destination of our walk. This encourages us to instead focus on the here and now – what if the simple act of walking was the destination? Many passages were thought-provoking. I found myself thinking about various quotes, then shifting to walking more mindfully, slower and less rushed – something my body was thankful for.
“Your true destination is the here and the now, because only in this moment and in this place is life possible.”
There are plenty of reminders for silence and not talking or snacking while walking. You are down there in your foot, not up here in your head. While some entries felt like rewordings of previous ones, it was still enjoyable.
One of my favourite chapters included something I hadn’t considered – walking for ancestors and friends who have passed away and those who can’t walk. It was something which gave me immediate motivation and sense of gratitude.
“When we walk, we can walk for our ancestors and future generations. Maybe they had to walk with sorrow; perhaps they were forced to march or migrate. When we walk freely, we are walking for them.”
There’s so much wisdom packed inside this little book – you can’t help feeling calmer while reading. I enjoyed this more than How to Relax. It’s always a good thing when books encourage us to be more present and connect with the Earth and ourselves in more mindful and loving ways.
Equal parts thought-provoking and calming, this is another great addition to the Mindfulness Essentials series.
July 21, 2022
Why should I read a book about walking is the first thought that went through my mind when I picked it up for reading. But Thich Nhat Hanh proved me wrong. The practice of bringing mindfulness to walking is unique.
The author mentions the method of slow walking by focusing on our breath and by being aware of our feet touching the ground. We should try to do this at least a few times a day no matter how busy we are in our life.
My favorite three lines from this book.
“Most of us walk without chains, yet we aren’t free. We’re tethered to regret and sorrow from the past. We return to the past and continue to suffer. The past is a prison. But now you have the key to unlock the door and arrive in the present moment. You breathe in, you bring your mind home to your body, you make a step, and you arrive in the here.”
“When you walk, arrive with every step. That is walking meditation. There’s nothing else to it.”
“Walk slowly, but not so slowly that you draw too much attention to yourself. This is a kind of invisible practice. Enjoy nature and your own serenity without making others uncomfortable or making a show of it.”
This book is not for the hustlers who try to do everything in a hurry. This one is for those who want to improve everything slowly and steadily and enjoys everything we do to make us a better version of ourselves.
The author mentions the method of slow walking by focusing on our breath and by being aware of our feet touching the ground. We should try to do this at least a few times a day no matter how busy we are in our life.
My favorite three lines from this book.
“Most of us walk without chains, yet we aren’t free. We’re tethered to regret and sorrow from the past. We return to the past and continue to suffer. The past is a prison. But now you have the key to unlock the door and arrive in the present moment. You breathe in, you bring your mind home to your body, you make a step, and you arrive in the here.”
“When you walk, arrive with every step. That is walking meditation. There’s nothing else to it.”
“Walk slowly, but not so slowly that you draw too much attention to yourself. This is a kind of invisible practice. Enjoy nature and your own serenity without making others uncomfortable or making a show of it.”
This book is not for the hustlers who try to do everything in a hurry. This one is for those who want to improve everything slowly and steadily and enjoys everything we do to make us a better version of ourselves.
November 20, 2015
When you walk, arrive with every step. That is walking meditation. There's nothing else to it.
Hmmm. There may be nothing else to it but there is much more to say about it. This charming little book gives short bursts of insight and encouragement, guiding the reader to be present and mindful while walking. Let's face it, most of us (if we are lucky) walk all day long. This book challenges us to be present in the act of walking rather than rushing around, our minds on where we headed, what just happened or what we need to do. For those looking to be present in every moment, there is wisdom in this book and likely something that will resonate with you.
Hmmm. There may be nothing else to it but there is much more to say about it. This charming little book gives short bursts of insight and encouragement, guiding the reader to be present and mindful while walking. Let's face it, most of us (if we are lucky) walk all day long. This book challenges us to be present in the act of walking rather than rushing around, our minds on where we headed, what just happened or what we need to do. For those looking to be present in every moment, there is wisdom in this book and likely something that will resonate with you.
December 26, 2024
I've been a walker for as long as I can remember. My true love of walking began about 1959 when my family moved about 3 miles from the elementary school I then attended. I could ride the bus but I had to change buses halfway and wait for the new bus and soon found I could walk home almost as fast and enjoyed it so much more than sitting and looking out a window or standing looking down the street for the next bus. I found different routes and new places to examine and dream about as I walked.
All to say I don't think there is much to know about walking that I have not already learned. Still it is good to be reminded, so I read this short book.
I truly believe that "Steps have the power to save one's life." as Hanh put it.
I know steps and walks have brought me so much.
This is a good book to remind the reader that walking is a type of meditation. It is more than a way of getting from one place to another. It is a way to enjoy the earth, air and all around one right now. This is the message of the book and is said over and over but is still hard to remember from step to step. I find I need to be reminded often. The thought is 5 star and I will walk to keep it in mind with each step.
All to say I don't think there is much to know about walking that I have not already learned. Still it is good to be reminded, so I read this short book.
I truly believe that "Steps have the power to save one's life." as Hanh put it.
I know steps and walks have brought me so much.
This is a good book to remind the reader that walking is a type of meditation. It is more than a way of getting from one place to another. It is a way to enjoy the earth, air and all around one right now. This is the message of the book and is said over and over but is still hard to remember from step to step. I find I need to be reminded often. The thought is 5 star and I will walk to keep it in mind with each step.
October 17, 2025
A thoughtful, compact book that demonstrates how the activity of walking can also provide opportunities to meditate upon concepts such as joy, suffering, respect and love for nature and ancestry, and gratitude. I find the practice of quieting my mind difficult at the present but it’s an ideal to work toward.
Read
January 8, 2021As you expect, there's some degree of repetition in the Mindfulness Essentials series, but in this one it seemed to show more than in the others.
Still, it focuses on the one activity we'd least associate with mindfulness -- walking. I mean, think about it. Many people "walk off" anger, frustration, nerves. Their minds are full of those things. Or maybe they walk to think, to daydream. Again, not in the moment.
In that respect, this comes as an interesting alternative -- walking as a chief reason to be in the here and now. Steps and breaths, my friends. And soaking in your surroundings, preferably nature. Mother Earth, to Thich Nhat Hanh, is a sentient being, same as us, so there's that. Union.
If you asked me, I'd guess that the first thing a Vietnamese Buddhist monk did after waking each morning is sit and meditate. In Hanh's case, I'd be wrong. After dressing, he walks first. Every day. Even if it's still dark out.
I like that.
To emphasize here and now and the value of the present moment, Hanh contrasts them to the past and the future through metaphor:
"Most of us walk without chains, yet we aren't free. We're tethered to regret and sorrow from the past. We return to the past and continue to suffer. The past is a prison. But now you have the key to unlock the door and arrive in the present moment. You breathe in, you bring your mind home to your body, you make a step, and you arrive in the here and the now. There is the sunshine, the beautiful trees, and the songs of the birds.
"There are those of us who are prisoners of the future. We don't know what will happen but we worry so much that the future becomes a kind of prison. The real future is made only of one substance, and that is the present. What else can the future be made of? If we know how to take care of the present moment the best we can, that's all we can do to assure ourselves of a good future. We build the future by taking care of the present moment. Taking care of the present moment includes mindful breathing, enjoying your in-breath and out-breath. With each step, you arrive in the future you are making. Make it a future of peace and compassion."
I also appreciate this honesty:
"One of the most profound teachings is also the shortest: 'I have arrived.' When we return to our breathing, we return to the present moment, our true home. There's no need for us to struggle to arrive somewhere else. We know our final destination is the cemetery. Why are we in a hurry to get there? Why not step in the direction of life, which is the present moment?"
Good questions. And it bears repeating. And so it is repeated, because walking -- like sitting, eating, loving, and relaxing -- takes some doing for something so simple.
There. Now before I hit "Post," let me take a breath.
Then a mindful walk.
Still, it focuses on the one activity we'd least associate with mindfulness -- walking. I mean, think about it. Many people "walk off" anger, frustration, nerves. Their minds are full of those things. Or maybe they walk to think, to daydream. Again, not in the moment.
In that respect, this comes as an interesting alternative -- walking as a chief reason to be in the here and now. Steps and breaths, my friends. And soaking in your surroundings, preferably nature. Mother Earth, to Thich Nhat Hanh, is a sentient being, same as us, so there's that. Union.
If you asked me, I'd guess that the first thing a Vietnamese Buddhist monk did after waking each morning is sit and meditate. In Hanh's case, I'd be wrong. After dressing, he walks first. Every day. Even if it's still dark out.
I like that.
To emphasize here and now and the value of the present moment, Hanh contrasts them to the past and the future through metaphor:
"Most of us walk without chains, yet we aren't free. We're tethered to regret and sorrow from the past. We return to the past and continue to suffer. The past is a prison. But now you have the key to unlock the door and arrive in the present moment. You breathe in, you bring your mind home to your body, you make a step, and you arrive in the here and the now. There is the sunshine, the beautiful trees, and the songs of the birds.
"There are those of us who are prisoners of the future. We don't know what will happen but we worry so much that the future becomes a kind of prison. The real future is made only of one substance, and that is the present. What else can the future be made of? If we know how to take care of the present moment the best we can, that's all we can do to assure ourselves of a good future. We build the future by taking care of the present moment. Taking care of the present moment includes mindful breathing, enjoying your in-breath and out-breath. With each step, you arrive in the future you are making. Make it a future of peace and compassion."
I also appreciate this honesty:
"One of the most profound teachings is also the shortest: 'I have arrived.' When we return to our breathing, we return to the present moment, our true home. There's no need for us to struggle to arrive somewhere else. We know our final destination is the cemetery. Why are we in a hurry to get there? Why not step in the direction of life, which is the present moment?"
Good questions. And it bears repeating. And so it is repeated, because walking -- like sitting, eating, loving, and relaxing -- takes some doing for something so simple.
There. Now before I hit "Post," let me take a breath.
Then a mindful walk.
May 29, 2025
An excellent little book filled with wisdom on how to better mindfully walk with a reminder on why being present is so important and how walking can help one be present. As someone who loves their walking meditation, I found this to be a comforting listen (as always with him) with some useful mindfulness tips for future walks.
“We frequently walk with the sole purpose of getting from one place to another, but where are we in between?”
“When you walk, arrive with every step.”
“If every step you make takes you to the shore of freedom, then you can already taste nirvana.”
“Solidity and freedom are the foundation of happiness.”
“We build the future by taking care of the present moment.”
“If your practice is natural, if your practice brings you happiness, that’s the best kind of practice. You don’t look like you’re practicing, but you’re practicing very deeply.”
“Dwelling in the island of self, you are safe”
“I am walking not merely on matter, but on spirit.”
“We frequently walk with the sole purpose of getting from one place to another, but where are we in between?”
“When you walk, arrive with every step.”
“If every step you make takes you to the shore of freedom, then you can already taste nirvana.”
“Solidity and freedom are the foundation of happiness.”
“We build the future by taking care of the present moment.”
“If your practice is natural, if your practice brings you happiness, that’s the best kind of practice. You don’t look like you’re practicing, but you’re practicing very deeply.”
“Dwelling in the island of self, you are safe”
“I am walking not merely on matter, but on spirit.”
May 26, 2020
When I wish to become more connected with the present, I touch base with this book and go for a walk.
It has completely changed the way I enjoy walking
It has completely changed the way I enjoy walking
April 1, 2021
O carte subțire, dar importantă. Am marcat foarte multe pasaje din ea, doar pentru a reveni asupra lor atunci când am nevoie de o întoarcere în „aici și acum”. Vreau să citesc și celelalte cărți ale autorului. ^_^
April 1, 2021
* Be in the moment
* Recovering Our Sovereignty
* Walking is a wonderful way to calm down when we are upset.
* If we want the ocean to be calm, we don’t throw away its water. Without the water, nothing is left. When we notice the presence of anger, fear, and agitation in us, we don’t need to throw them away. We only have to breathe in and out consciously and take a mindful step. Allow yourself to sink deeply into the here and the now because life is available only in the present moment. This alone is enough to calm the storm.
* When I breathe in and become fully alive, I see myself as a miracle.
* Peace is also within us, in our bodies and our spirits. The act of walking will water the seeds of peace that are already there inside us. Our mindful steps help us cultivate the habit of touching peace in each moment.
* When people ask me for my address, I tell them, “It’s the here and now.”
* The only moment in which life is available
From the book:
* Recovering Our Sovereignty
* Walking is a wonderful way to calm down when we are upset.
* If we want the ocean to be calm, we don’t throw away its water. Without the water, nothing is left. When we notice the presence of anger, fear, and agitation in us, we don’t need to throw them away. We only have to breathe in and out consciously and take a mindful step. Allow yourself to sink deeply into the here and the now because life is available only in the present moment. This alone is enough to calm the storm.
* When I breathe in and become fully alive, I see myself as a miracle.
* Peace is also within us, in our bodies and our spirits. The act of walking will water the seeds of peace that are already there inside us. Our mindful steps help us cultivate the habit of touching peace in each moment.
* When people ask me for my address, I tell them, “It’s the here and now.”
* The only moment in which life is available
From the book:
Enlightment
To enjoy walking meditation isn’t difficult at all. You don’t need ten years of practicing mindful walking to be enlightened. You need only a few seconds. You just need to become aware that you’re walking. Awareness is already enlightenment. Each of us is capable of being mindful of our in-breath and our out-breath. When you breathe in, be aware that you’re breathing in. Be aware that you have a body that you’re breathing in and nourishing that body. Be aware that your feet are strong enough for you to enjoy walking. That is also enlightenment. When you breathe out, be aware of the air leaving your body. Be aware that you are alive. This awareness can bring you so much happiness.
Running
One mindful step can help us to stop running. When the mind is focused on breathing and walking, we are unifying body, speech, and mind, and we are already home.
Life's Address
When you walk mindfully, just enjoy walking. The technique to practice is to walk and just to be exactly where you are, even if you are moving. Your true destination is the here and the now because only in this moment and in this place is life possible. The address of all the great beings is “here and now.” The address of peace and light is also “here and now.” You know where to go. Every in-breath, every out-breath, every step you make should bring you back to that address.
Invest Your Whole Body
Invest one hundred percent of yourself into making a step. Touching the ground with your foot, you produce the miracle of being alive. You make yourself real and the Earth real with each step. The practice should be very strong and determined. You are protecting yourself from the habit energy that is always pushing you to run and to get lost in thinking. Bring all your attention down to the soles of your feet, and touch the Earth as though you are kissing the Earth with your feet. Each step is like the seal of an emperor on a decree. Walk as though you imprint your solidity, your freedom, and your peace on the Earth.
Recovering Our Sovereignty
When we are pushed and pulled in many different directions, we lose our sovereignty. We’re not free. Don’t allow yourself to be carried away anymore. Resist. Each mindful step is a step toward freedom. This kind of freedom is not political freedom. It’s freedom from the past, from the future, from our worries and our fears.
Putting on your shoes
Every day you put on your shoes and walk somewhere. So every day, you have an opportunity to practice mindfulness that doesn’t take any extra time. You take off your shoes, and you put them on. This is also a time for practice and enjoyment.
Putting on Your Shoes
Every day you put on your shoes and walk somewhere. So every day, you have an opportunity to practice mindfulness that doesn’t take any extra time. You take off your shoes, and you put them on. This is also a time for practice and enjoyment.
Generating Mindful Energy
Don’t wait until you have a group or a scheduled time. Every time you need to move from one place to another, you can apply the techniques of walking meditation. From your living room to your kitchen, from your car to your work, take your time and enjoy every step. Stop the thinking, stop the talking, and touch the Earth with your feet. If you enjoy every step, your practice is good.
Letting Go of the Past
Most of us walk without chains, yet we aren’t free. We’re tethered to regret and sorrow from the past. We return to the past and continue to suffer. The past is a prison. But now, you have the key to unlock the door and arrive in the present moment. You breathe in, you bring your mind home to your body, you take a step, and you arrive in the here and the now. There is the sunshine, the beautiful trees, and the songs of the birds.
Taking Care of the Future
There are those of us who are prisoners of the future. We don’t know what will happen, but we worry so much that the future becomes a kind of prison. The real future is made only of one substance, and that is the present. What else can the future be made of? If we know how to take care of the present moment the best we can, that’s all we can do to assure ourselves of a good future. We build the future by taking care of the present moment. Taking care of the present moment includes mindful breathing, enjoying your in-breath and out-breath. With each step, you arrive at the future you are making. Make it a future of peace and compassion.
Forgetfulness
We have been living in forgetfulness for many years. Forgetfulness is the opposite of mindfulness. Mindfulness is to remember that life is a wonder; we are here, and we should live our lives deeply. We know that we want to be more present, but very often we don’t do it. We need a friend or a teacher to remind us. The Earth can be that teacher. It is always there, greeting your feet, keeping you solid and grounded.
The Soul of Your Foort
You might like to focus your attention on the sole of your foot. Feel the contact between your foot and the ground. You are down there in your foot, not up here in your head. There’s a feeling that you are touching the beautiful Mother Earth.
We Don't Walk Alone
When we walk, we’re not walking alone. Our parents and ancestors are always walking with us. They’re present in every cell of our bodies. So each step that brings us healing and happiness also brings healing and happiness to our parents and ancestors. Every mindful step has the power to transform us and all our ancestors within us, including our animal, plant, and mineral ancestors. We don’t walk for ourselves alone. When we walk, we walk for our family and for the whole world
Whole Body, Whole Mind
Don’t pretend you’re walking mindfully when in reality, you’re planning your grocery shopping or your next meeting. Walk with your whole body and mind. Each step contains insight. Each step has happiness. Each step has love—love and compassion for the Earth and for all beings, as well as for ourselves. Why do we walk like that? To be in touch with the great Earth, to be in touch with the world around us. When we’re in touch, when we’re fully aware of the wonder of walking on the Earth, each step nourishes and heals us. Thirty steps taken with this kind of insight are thirty opportunities to nourish and heal ourselves.
Waking Up
Walking meditation is a way of waking up to the wonderful moment we are living in. If our minds are caught up and preoccupied with our worries and our suffering, or if we distract ourselves with other things while walking, we can’t practice mindfulness; we can’t enjoy the present moment. We’re missing out on life. But if we’re awake, then we’ll see this is a wonderful moment that life has given us, the only moment in which life is available. We can value each step we take, and each step can bring us happiness because we’re in touch with life, with the source of happiness, and with our beloved planet.
Breathing and Walking [how to]
Our in-breath tends to be a little bit shorter than our out-breath. When you breathe in, take two or three steps. This is determined by your lungs. If your lungs want two steps as you breathe in, then give exactly two steps. If you feel better with three steps, then give yourself three steps. When you breathe out, you also listen to your lungs and let them determine how many steps you make while breathing out. In the beginning, practice two steps for the in-breath and three for the out-breath: two, three; two, three; two, three. Later on, it may be three, four, or three, five. If you feel you need to make one more step while breathing in, then allow yourself to enjoy one more step. When you feel that you want to make one more step while breathing out, then allow yourself to add another step as you breathe out. Every step should be enjoyable.
Slow Walking
When you are alone, you can practice slow walking meditation. Choose a distance of about three meters, or ten feet, and as you traverse that distance, take one step for each in-breath and one step for each out-breath. With the first step, you can say silently, “I have arrived.” With the next step, you can say silently, “I am home.” If you aren’t arriving one hundred percent in the here and now, stay there and don’t take another step. Challenge yourself. Breathe in and out again until you feel you have arrived one hundred percent in the here and the now. Then smile a smile of victory. Then make a second step. This is to learn a new habit, the habit of living in the present moment.
June 24, 2019
“When we return to our breathing, we return to the present moment, our true home. There’s no need for us to struggle to arrive somewhere else. We know our final destination is the cemetery. Why are we in a hurry to get there? Why not step in the direction of life, which is in the present moment?”
This little book is a great reminder to slow down, consciously put one foot in front of the other, appreciate that you can even do so, and arrive into the present moment. Little one page musings on the topic with nice brush illustrations sprinkled throughout. A good one to dip into every so often.
This little book is a great reminder to slow down, consciously put one foot in front of the other, appreciate that you can even do so, and arrive into the present moment. Little one page musings on the topic with nice brush illustrations sprinkled throughout. A good one to dip into every so often.
November 4, 2015
Sort of a compilation of Thich Nhat Hanh's "best of" re: walking. Short and easily digestible, these would make great daily reminders if read one at a time and savored. That's likely Thay's preferred method and likely more effective than reading it all the way through like I did. It's hard not to; it's a very short book. The illustrations are a lovely addition to the text.
July 4, 2023
SIX WORD REVIEW: A meditation coach while you read.
June 24, 2020
A short insightful read on walking meditation.
Brief Excerpts.
If we can transform our walking path into a field for meditation, our feet will take every step in full awareness, our breathing will be in harmony with our steps, and our minds will naturally be at ease.
"Let your own lungs determine your breathing. Never force your breath. When walking, match your steps to your breath, not the other way around."
Brief Excerpts.
If we can transform our walking path into a field for meditation, our feet will take every step in full awareness, our breathing will be in harmony with our steps, and our minds will naturally be at ease.
"Let your own lungs determine your breathing. Never force your breath. When walking, match your steps to your breath, not the other way around."
November 14, 2024
Minimalista, un poco delicado. Como un perfumecillo efímero.
Me gustó.
Me gustó.
April 4, 2025
به نظرم مثل بقیه خوب نبود یعنی خیلیییی یک موضوع کش داده شده بود.
لپ کلام این بود: ذهن آگاهی به این صورت
تنفس خودتون رو آرام با گام ها هماهنگ کنید.
اما راه و رسم خوردن، مبارزه و تمرکز خیلیییی خیلی عالی بود!!!
لپ کلام این بود: ذهن آگاهی به این صورت
تنفس خودتون رو آرام با گام ها هماهنگ کنید.
اما راه و رسم خوردن، مبارزه و تمرکز خیلیییی خیلی عالی بود!!!
January 24, 2020
Every step brings us back to the here and the now. We can touch the Earth and see the sky and notice all the wonders in between. In each step there is the possibility of mindfulness, and insight.
May 23, 2022
A marvelous little thing. The kind of book that shows you the things you already know but in a way that you kind of see them for the first time.
It is a quick read. I would describe the first part, Notes on Walking, as 73 arguments in favour of walking: most take one page, most pages are just one paragraph, with the titles like Touching peace, Finding ease, Walking for others, Training ourselves etc. They derive from same root, but each time it is a slightly different angle to look at walking. The second part, Walking Meditation, gives short advice on how to start, and mainly revolves around rhythm and using short poems when necessary to achieve one.
I've heard from my friends who practice meditation about its positive influence on their lives. However, I didn't know before, that meditation can be not only sitting but walking, too. When I need to calm down and find peace, I usually can't sit and go for a walk. Moving, and listening to the body that moves, is a nice thing to do. I was already using the walking to come to here and now, and this little book has just gave some more treats to have in the pockets when walking next time.
It is a quick read. I would describe the first part, Notes on Walking, as 73 arguments in favour of walking: most take one page, most pages are just one paragraph, with the titles like Touching peace, Finding ease, Walking for others, Training ourselves etc. They derive from same root, but each time it is a slightly different angle to look at walking. The second part, Walking Meditation, gives short advice on how to start, and mainly revolves around rhythm and using short poems when necessary to achieve one.
I've heard from my friends who practice meditation about its positive influence on their lives. However, I didn't know before, that meditation can be not only sitting but walking, too. When I need to calm down and find peace, I usually can't sit and go for a walk. Moving, and listening to the body that moves, is a nice thing to do. I was already using the walking to come to here and now, and this little book has just gave some more treats to have in the pockets when walking next time.
March 15, 2020
Backstory: I saw several books in this series at Moms grocery store and could not resist, although I borrowed from the library rather than buying. This was the third one I’ve read after “how to eat” and ”how to see”, I hope to get through them all (I still have to read sit, love, fight, relax, connect) and then decide which ones to purchase.
One theme in this book is the theme of walking for others: those who physically cannot, our ancestors who might have suffered and been forced to march or migrate. The idea of walking slowly, mindfully and observantly. The main theme is to SLOW DOWN!! And to breath in and out and stay in the here and now.
He peppers it with anecdotes from his travels around the world. For instance in Honolulu airport when he was stopped by a man who asked him who he was and what he practiced because he’d observed the way he walked.
The first night after I read it I had a dream about walking very fast and running into a wall! It didn’t make much sense but my subconscious was obviously telling me I need to slow down.
I wish he’d write mindfulness books on how to sleep and how to raise kids!
I still like “how to eat” best but I’m not sure if it’s only because it was the first one I read. This one is probably my second favorite so far. They all have some repetition of mindfulness themes of course.
Easy quickly-read pages. I have tried to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into my life and this book series is another way to add an extra layer of that in a meaningful way.
I like the idea of carrying around one or more of these books in my purse (they are small enough) to be able to refer to whenever needed, almost as a sort of “reference library for being”.
One theme in this book is the theme of walking for others: those who physically cannot, our ancestors who might have suffered and been forced to march or migrate. The idea of walking slowly, mindfully and observantly. The main theme is to SLOW DOWN!! And to breath in and out and stay in the here and now.
He peppers it with anecdotes from his travels around the world. For instance in Honolulu airport when he was stopped by a man who asked him who he was and what he practiced because he’d observed the way he walked.
The first night after I read it I had a dream about walking very fast and running into a wall! It didn’t make much sense but my subconscious was obviously telling me I need to slow down.
I wish he’d write mindfulness books on how to sleep and how to raise kids!
I still like “how to eat” best but I’m not sure if it’s only because it was the first one I read. This one is probably my second favorite so far. They all have some repetition of mindfulness themes of course.
Easy quickly-read pages. I have tried to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into my life and this book series is another way to add an extra layer of that in a meaningful way.
I like the idea of carrying around one or more of these books in my purse (they are small enough) to be able to refer to whenever needed, almost as a sort of “reference library for being”.
March 19, 2025
This short book has changed how I see walking, act while walking, actually engage with walking, and contemplate the Earth below my feet. I've looked at this book for years and finally read it. I wish I had sooner, yet it must have been the right time. I'm collecting the rest of the Mindfulness Essentials because if this one had as much of an impact on me, I can imagine the others will as well.
The best thing about this book is that I can reread it again and again because it has simple, albeit significant messages that I may need to be reminded of from time to time. It is also short, with a little over 100 pages. This can be read in one sitting with a cup of tea, a passage at a time before a walk.
The best thing about this book is that I can reread it again and again because it has simple, albeit significant messages that I may need to be reminded of from time to time. It is also short, with a little over 100 pages. This can be read in one sitting with a cup of tea, a passage at a time before a walk.
February 1, 2022
A charming book about how to practice mindfulness while walking*. This would be read best a page a day, I think. Otherwise it’s repetitive (maybe the point)?
*reading this made me grateful for an able body that can enjoy walking and feeling my feet touch the ground.
*reading this made me grateful for an able body that can enjoy walking and feeling my feet touch the ground.
July 25, 2022
O carte scurta, cu o idee principala, care ar putea fi explicata într un paragraf.
Ușor repetitiva dar e perfecta pentru relaxare la cafea.
Ușor repetitiva dar e perfecta pentru relaxare la cafea.
January 3, 2025
Lovely guidance for the best form of exercise
December 30, 2019
Why is simple so hard? Breath-in take two steps, breath-out take three steps. Its so simple that its hard to follow!
November 15, 2023
Now I know.
March 3, 2019
Simple, practical and effective ...
This is one of the life changing books, the main takeaway is: "Focus on now and here, don't be a bond-slave of future worries and of past regrets, focus on the NOW_HERE and appreciate every single moment".
Unfortunately, sometimes here and there in the book, you find dogmatic language about Buddha, simply skip these parts if you are not a dogmatic reader, and follow practical advices. I do not believe in dogmatic beliefs such as "Buddha nature" and other metaphysics, but still I do enjoy the book and find it extremely useful.
The most smart idea, is to use walking as an event trigger to remind you and to return you back to here and to now: to HOME, where you can find peace, happiness and tranquility. This stimulus makes this target very practical, and creates a daily reminder.
I love the mix of simplicity and deepness in this book!
This is one of the life changing books, the main takeaway is: "Focus on now and here, don't be a bond-slave of future worries and of past regrets, focus on the NOW_HERE and appreciate every single moment".
Unfortunately, sometimes here and there in the book, you find dogmatic language about Buddha, simply skip these parts if you are not a dogmatic reader, and follow practical advices. I do not believe in dogmatic beliefs such as "Buddha nature" and other metaphysics, but still I do enjoy the book and find it extremely useful.
The most smart idea, is to use walking as an event trigger to remind you and to return you back to here and to now: to HOME, where you can find peace, happiness and tranquility. This stimulus makes this target very practical, and creates a daily reminder.
I love the mix of simplicity and deepness in this book!
March 15, 2018
Like the other tiny books in this series, this one is full of aphorisms, anecdotes, and repetitious meanderings. And apparently lies, like: "A child is a bell of mindfulness" - really? It could easily have been summarized by a single paragraph of intentional thought.
I like Thich Nhat Hanh, but this series is irksome. It's an expensive, well-packaged notebook of everything that passed through his mind, at any given point, in no order, and with a lot of assumptive pseudoscience thrown in for good measure. Rather than being helpful or mindful (or, you could argue, being a practice in prolonged mindfulness in itself), the book seems like a monologue of things Which Nhat Hanh thinks about while he should be walking in mindfulness.
I like Thich Nhat Hanh, but this series is irksome. It's an expensive, well-packaged notebook of everything that passed through his mind, at any given point, in no order, and with a lot of assumptive pseudoscience thrown in for good measure. Rather than being helpful or mindful (or, you could argue, being a practice in prolonged mindfulness in itself), the book seems like a monologue of things Which Nhat Hanh thinks about while he should be walking in mindfulness.
May 11, 2016
I might not ever consider a set of stairs the same way. Also, this book somehow conveyed the feeling of Thích Nhất Hạnh speaking directly to me, and caring specifically about me. How does he do that?
The simple, single-color drawings added just the right touch.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the little books in this series of instruction and gentle ruminations on mindfulness practice.
The simple, single-color drawings added just the right touch.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the little books in this series of instruction and gentle ruminations on mindfulness practice.
Read
August 25, 2016A short meditation on walking -- or rather, making a walk a meditation.
Being mindful, being present, practicing meditations -- all while walking.
A short book but one that will be read again, in smaller pieces. A reflection for a short walk.
Slowing down and being present. Finding calm in a chaotic world .... enough said!
"Allow yourself to sink deeply into the here and the now, because life is available only in the present moment. This alone is enough to calm the storm."
Being mindful, being present, practicing meditations -- all while walking.
A short book but one that will be read again, in smaller pieces. A reflection for a short walk.
Slowing down and being present. Finding calm in a chaotic world .... enough said!
"Allow yourself to sink deeply into the here and the now, because life is available only in the present moment. This alone is enough to calm the storm."
Read
December 2, 2021I'm not going to rate this. I think that would be unfair, as my enjoyment was definitely hindered by the fact that I don't share the beliefs of the author. But it was beautifully written, and there were a few bits that were quite poignant.
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