In this book Thich Nhat Hanh addresses a mindful community. He starts with the individual and peace within. From there he moves to creating peace and harmony within relationships with another person. The last is the community.

This book was written during the first Gulf "Conflict" and his feelings on that are included in this book. It's always inspiring to read about philosophical leaders who are generally regarded as pacificts yet angry and frustrated about things that happen in the world arena. Illustrating how they mentally frame them.

In 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was raised in Viet Nam and was present during the VietNam war. His village "Plum Village" is in France and he teaches world-wide. His "style" (for lack of better word) brings another beautiful dimension to the endlessly facinating philosophy of Buddhism. A "philosophy" that, from India, Tibet or Japan, still eschews the main underlying principles of peace, compassion and non-violence.

He also wrote another book, which I have not read yet, comparing Buddha to Jesus as brothers in peace. Maybe we all should read that one.

I was looking for Buddhist writings that were down to earth and relevant to modern Western lifestyle. Being Peace and Touching Peace are just that. They are simple, approachable, and meaningful. I was instantly able to apply what I learned and my practice is better for it.