Buddha's Teachings on Love

In his latest book, the popular Vietnamese monk (Peace Is Every Step) undertakes a renovation of the Western understanding of the word ""love."" According to Nhat Hanh, ""if we learn ways to practice love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we will know how to heal the illnesses of anger, sorrow, sadness, hatred, loneliness, and unhealthy attachments."" Toward this end, he offers many suggestions for practicing the ""Mind of Love"" meditation. One of these suggestions is a practice he calls ""Hugging Meditation,"" a kind of meditation he invented when he first encountered the practice of hugging in the United States. ""Hugging Meditation"" involves being mindful of the act of hugging the loved one and using hugging to nurture that loved one. Hanh's book is a rich source for providing fresh ways to think about the practice of love. (July)