Way Out is In

A profound guide to mindful living through the art of calligraphy from the “father of mindfulness”, Thich Nhat Hanh. Whilst the "father of mindfulness" was how zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was best known, he was also a prolific author, poet, teacher, scholar and peace activist. Whilst mindfulness is now a universal concept and a widely practiced idea, it was Thich Nhat Hanh that first bought the practice to the West from the East, and his influence that made mindfulness truly accessible. After entering a Vietnamese monastery aged 16, Hanh went on to combine meditation practice with social action and scholarship. He was exiled from his home country after opposing the Vietnam war, which earned him admiration from Martin Luther King, who later nominated Hanh for a Nobel Peace Prize, hailing him "an apostle of peace and nonviolence". Following his death, the Dalai Lama expressed how Hanh lived “a truly meaningful life” and urged his followers to “continue his work to promote peace in the world”. In developing his movement of ‘engaged Buddhism’ as well as his philosophy of ‘interbeing’, Hanh leaves behind him a worldwide influence and a legacy of mindfulness in the social mainstream.

Thich Nhat Hanh was also known as a master calligrapher, distilling ancient Buddhist teachings into simple phrases that resonate with our modern times, capturing and expressing his lifetime of meditative insight, peace and compassion. This book offers a rare opportunity to spend time in the presence of his beautiful creations. For Thich Nhat Hanh, creating calligraphy was more than creating art - it was also a meditative practice. He encouraged being fully present for every moment, from drinking his tea, to sitting down and taking a brush, and using the tea to make the ink. Each calligraphy is made of mindful sitting, breathing, walking, smiling - and love. By adopting the teachings in this book, readers are equipped with the skills needed to practice mindfulness in their everyday life, and continue Hanh’s ground-breaking wisdoms.