"I am breathing in and making my whole body calm and at peace. It is like drinking a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day and feeling your body become cool inside. When you breathe in, the air enters your body and calms all the cells of your body...This is the key to meditation. Breathing brings the sweet joy of meditation to you. You become joyful, fresh, and tolerant, and everyone around you will benefit." Thich Nhat Hanh

In this new edition of the Buddha's most important and basic teachings on meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh presents three translations of The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing (Anapanasati) from the Pali and the Chinese. In his commentaries, Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the methods of conscious breathing taught by the Buddha and offers exercises for practicing them today. These commentaries give the reader access to the profound nourishment available when we slow down and get in touch with our in-breath and our out-breath.

Along with the Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness and the Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone, the Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing is one of the three most essential teachings of the Buddha.

"...an indispensable guide for anyone who wishes to nourish themselves with the peace of joy and meditation practice." Karuna