The Long Road Turns to Joy - by Thich Nhat Hanh (Paperback)

About the Book

One of the few books focused completely on mindful walking and walking meditation. This revised edition of the best-selling title (nearly 80,000 copies sold to date) includes over 30 percent new material--including new walking meditation poems and practices--and provides a practical and inspirational introduction to this important practice. Written in Thich Nhat Hanh's clear and accessible style, "Long Road Turns To Joy" reminds us that we "walk not in order to arrive, but walk just for walking." Touching the earth with our feet is an opportunity to live in the here and now. Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to enjoy each step and each breath in order to regain peace in difficult moments. The simple practice of walking with attention and mindfulness can bring the spirit of prayer into our everyday life. This book will appeal to anyone who would like to get more out of walking, from long-time meditators to those who are just looking for a way to make their walk around the block more meaningful.
Features photographs of walking meditation from around the world.
Foreword by Robert Aitken, author of "Taking the Path of Zen"

Book Synopsis

The late, great Zen master reflects on the benefits of walking meditation in one of the few guidebooks focused solely on mindful walking

Written in Thich Nhat Hanh's clear and accessible style, Long Road Turns to Joy reminds us that we "walk not in order to arrive, but walk just for walking." Touching the earth with our feet is an opportunity to live in the here and now. Thich Nhat Hanh encourages us to enjoy each step and each breath in order to regain peace in difficult moments. The simple practice of walking with attention and mindfulness can bring the spirit of prayer into our everyday life.

This revised edition of the best-selling title includes new walking meditation poems and practices as well as photographs of walking meditation from around the world. A practical and inspirational introduction to this important practice, The Long Road Turns to Joy will appeal to anyone who is eager to bring mindfulness into their daily activities--from long-time meditators to those who want to find more meaning in their walk around the block.

Review Quotes

"This meditation practice is not a means to an end; it is sufficient unto itself. According to the author, it helps us regain our sovereignty, our freedom as a human being. It is a way of connecting with the Earth, getting more fresh air, improving our circulation, nourishing our spirit, and fostering community."
--Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in Spirituality and Practice

About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh was a world-renowned spiritual teacher and peace activist. Born in Vietnam in 1926, he became a Zen Buddhist monk at the age of sixteen. Over seven decades of teaching, he published more than 100 books, which have sold more than four million copies in the United States alone. Exiled from Vietnam in 1966 for promoting peace, his teachings on Buddhism as a path to social and political transformation are responsible for bringing the mindfulness movement to Western culture. He established the international Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism in France, now the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the heart of a growing community of mindfulness practice centers around the world. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 95 at his root temple, Tu Hieu, in Hue, Vietnam.