You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment

By Thich Nhat Hanh, Sherab Ch÷dzin Kohn and Melvin McLeod

Cut through the busyness and anxieties of daily life to discover the simple happiness of living in the present moment, as taught by a world-renowned Zen monk

In this book, Thich Nhat Hanh—Zen monk, author, and meditation master—distills the essence of Buddhist thought and practice, emphasizing the power of mindfulness to transform our lives. But true mindfulness, Hanh explains, is not an escape. It is being in the present moment, totally alive and free.

Based on a retreat that Thich Nhat Hanh led for Westerners, You Are Here offers a range of effective practices for cultivating mindfulness and staying in the present moment—including awareness of breathing and walking, deep listening, and skillful speech. These teachings will empower you to witness the wonder of life and transform your suffering, both within and outside you, into compassion, tenderness, and peace. As Thich Nhat Hanh declares, “the energy of mindfulness is the energy of the Buddha, and it can be produced by anybody.” It is as simple as breathing in and breathing out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Dec 21, 2010
• ISBN: 9780834821118

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced tik-not-hawn) waas a world-renowned writer, scholar, spiritual leader, and Zen Buddhist monk. Since the age of sixteen, he was a Buddhist monk, a peace activist, and a seeker of the way. He survived three wars, persecution, and more than thirty years of exile from his native Vietnam, when he was banned by both the non-Communist and Communist governments for his role in undermining the violence he saw affecting his people. He was the master of one of the most prominent temples in Vietnam, and his lineage is traceable directly to the Buddha himself. A prolific author, Nhat Hanh has written more than one hundred books of philosophy, poetry, and fiction. Nhat Hanh lived in a monastic community in southwestern France that he founded, called Plum Village, recognized as the main inspiration for engaged Buddhism. He died in January 2022 at the age of 95.  

Reviews for You Are Here

[satyridae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There's nothing particularly new here- it's the same old "breathing in, I know that I am breathing in, breathing out, I know that I am breathing out."
For all that, it never gets old for me. I need, constantly, to be reminded to be mindful, to be reminded that now, this very moment, is all I ever have.

I'm not at all religious, but the doctrine of mindfulness speaks deeply to me and is one I strive, unsuccessfully, to practice. This little gem of a book is a bell bringing me back to my present moment.

Be here now. Now. Now. Now. Breathe. Be here. Breathe. Be.

[shadowofthewind · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to The Art of Mindful Living three years ago and it really helped me through a difficult time. It helped me become centered and to focus on the present, what's right in front of you. You Are Here is a very condensed version of Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, but it focuses on that very important point, being present in your everyday life. Being present honors your friends and family and helps you focus on them and less on your own worries. This book is great for those stressed, distracted or getting over a difficult time. The main theme of the book is best described in a single quote:There is only a single moment in which we can be truly alive, and that is the present moment. My favorite passages:Breathe in, I know that I am breathing inBreathe out, I know that I am breathing outWhen we concentrate on our breathing, we become more relaxed, more focusedYou are here for life, and if you are here for life, life will be here for you.This is reality. An hour of mindfulness practice, even 15 minutes, is already enough to prove to you that mindfulness is possible. A beautiful sunset is something that exists; the song of a bird and the blue sky also exist. The paradise of forms and colors is always accessibleDescartes said "I think therefore I am." In light of Buddha's teaching, you might say, "I think therefore I am ...not here." You are lost in your thinking, so you are really not here. For you to truly be here, thinking has to stop. As you are practicing mindfulness of the breath. You stop thinking about the past, the future, your pain, your plans, and so forth, and you start to be really here, body and mind united.Cultivate Solidarity. You are somebody; you are something. You are a positive factor for your family, for society, for the world. You have to recover yourself, to be yourself.When people feel appreciated in this way--when they feel embraced by the mindful attention of another--then they will open and blossom like a flower. There is no doubt that you can make this happen through the energy of mindfulness. You can do it right away, even today, and you will see that the transformation it brings about is instantaneous. In order to love, we must be here, and then our presence will embrace the presence of the other person. Only then will they have the feeling of being loved. So you must recognize the presence of the other person with the energy of mindfulness, with the genuine presence of your body and mind in oneness. Impermanence is the very heart of life. It makes life possible. Reject impermanence and you reject life. Impermanence makes everything possible...a river is in a constant process of transformation, and so are we. The flower is full of all the elements of the cosmos--time, space, the sun, rain, even your consciousness--everything. But the flower is empty of one thing... a separate existence.What you are looking for is already in youIf you don't want to suffer, if you don't want to be tormented by regret, the only solution is to live every minute you are given in a deep way. That's all there is to it. The only way to deal with insecurity fear and suffering is to live the present moment in a profound way. If you do that, you will have no regrets.

[dharmainitiative-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author describes in great detail and in a very gentle, caring way how to redirect your thoughts and emotions. Hahn is a powerful communicator and a wise teacher. Highly recommended introduction into mindfulness/meditation practice.

[michaelkelberer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this during my morning meditations, a couple of pages at a time. Great book~