I have been a fan of Thich Naht Hanh for quite some time and where some books I find don't get to the core of what I like to practice, I find this one really shows that you find peace even if you are locked up in a cell. It shows that even those who were once lost and now are paying for the crimes they commit can overcome them while finding peace in their heart. This peace can be spread to others over time when you find that peace yourself. This was a really touching book, knowing that it was said to many prisoners gives the titles a whole new deeper meaning. Be free where you are.

Sent this to my daughter who is away out of state for college. She liked it.

I found this little joyful tome a few years ago tucked away in the corner of a bookshop, and reading it made a lasting impact on my attitude towards life. I am not a buddhist, and I would say that the body of the text, which mainly deals with ritual and practice in a meat & potatoes, straight-to-the-point fashion, is rather useless for someone like me, even off-putting. It was the introduction by Sister Chan that earned this volume a spot in my backpack for two years, until the strap broke and I quit carrying it. The introduction is the story that you can't stop thinking about & you can't stop talking about. The teaching in the introduction makes this volume worth every penny worth for anybody like me who identifies with the buddhist practice yet does not identify as buddhist or practice much. If you are feeling stuck or trapped, this book can give you a new perspective on how to liberate yourself through attitude and changing your habits.

I originally bought this book as a gift for someone who had lost her husband. My meditation group at work has now read through the book twice together. This is very useful if you are going through a difficult time or just want to do some mindfulness meditation and want to learn how to incorporate the practice into your life. The size of the book allows you to take it anywhere and it makes a great gift.

this little lesson is great for how to apply some basics and overcome that "stuck" feeling in life. freedom from the inside out....the greatest prison is in your own mind get free from there and all else follows.... forever.....