New paperback edition. The renowned Buddhist teacher explains the meaning of "real love" and explains how we can experience it in our daily lives. In his characteristically direct, simple, and compassionate style, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: loving kindness, compassion, joy, and freedom. In order to love in the real way, Thich Nhat Hanh explains, we need to learn how to be fully present in our lives. He offers the technique of conscious breathing as a method for synchronizing the mind and body to establish the conditions of love. He then explains how love can help us to heal our own pain, fear, and negativity and that we should not regard negative emotions as bad and repress them. Instead we should recognize them as part of us and allow them into our consciousness, where they can be cared for by the "loving mother of mindfulness." "Training is needed in order to love properly; and to be able to give happiness and joy, you must practice deep looking directed toward the person you love. Because if you do not understand this person, you cannot love them properly. Understanding is the essence of love." Thich Nhat Hanh.
