No Self

A concise, accessible guide and a profound invitation into one of Buddhism's most challenging and liberating insights: non-self

Freedom is available now. It begins when we stop looking for a self to improve, defend, or dissolve—and awaken to the vastness of who we truly are. Rather than a philosophical puzzle, non-self is presented here as a practical medicine—a way to see clearly, release our suffering, and experience deep connection with the world around us. 

With warmth and precision, this book explores:

• The subtle ways we cling to the notion of “I” and why this clinging causes suffering
• How non-self reveals our deep kinship with the Earth, our ancestors, and one another
• Ways to practice and live into the insight of non-self in daily life: in community, in relationships, in activism, and in each breath

Featuring never-before-published teachings and beautiful illustrations throughout, this book shows that non-self is not an abstract doctrine to believe—it is a lived insight that can transform every moment.Thich Nhat Hanh, a world-renowned spiritual teacher and peace activist, was born in Vietnam in 1926 and became a Zen Buddhist monk at the age of sixteen. Over seven decades of teaching, he published more than one hundred books, which have sold millions of copies. Exiled from Vietnam in 1966 for promoting peace, his teachings on Buddhism as a path to social and political transformation are responsible for bringing the mindfulness movement to the West. He established the international Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism in France, now the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the heart of a growing community of mindfulness practice centers around the world. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh passed away in 2022 at the age of ninety-five at his root temple, Tu Hieu, in Hue, Vietnam, surrounded by his beloved community.