Spiritual practice and meditation are often thought of as being the province of priests, monks, and nuns—those few individuals who have returned from the preoccupations of day-to-day life. This inspiring book reveals how the simple practice of mindfulness can be a magical and transformative part of anyone's daily life. Thirty-five wide-ranging essays written by well-known spiritual teachers, therapists, and creative artists show how learning to focus awareness can bring a new richness to ordinary activities; how mindfulness can heighten creative pursuits such as painting, journal writing, or playing music; how contemplative awareness enhances both physical and psychological well-being; and how meditation can contribute to better relationships with family, community, and the world at large.

Sunshine and green leaves / Thich Nhat Hanh --
Everyday life as practice / Karlfried Graf von Dürckheim --
Earth and space / Chögyam Trungpa --
This very moment / Charlotte Joko Beck --
Not preferring samsara or nirvana / Pema Chödrön --
Seeing without the observer / J. Krishnamurti --
Are you here? / A.H. Almaas --
The way of seeing / Frederick Franck --
Writing fearlessly / Natalie Goldberg --
Meditation and poetics / Allen Ginsberg --
Just being at the piano / Mildred Chase --
Coming home to the body / Denise Taylor --
Zen archery / Eugen Herrigel --
The art of sword / Takuan Soho --Driving meditation / Kevin Berger and Todd Berger --
The work of craft / Carla Needleman --
Working for a living / Jean Martine --
The healing power of unconditional presence / John Welwood --
Touch and go / Karen Kissel Wegela --
The listening mind / Ram Dass and Paul Gorman --
On being unable to breathe / Stephen Butterfield --
Conscious eating / Marc David --
Being with anger / Stephen Levine --
Being peace / Thich Nhat Hanh --
Personal disarmament / Deena Metzger --
The greening of the self / Joanna Macy --
The path of service / Jack Kornfield --
Mindful social action / Ken Jones --
The power of peace / Chagdud Tulku --
Nowness and enlightened society / Chögyam Trungpa --
Intimate relationship as a practice and a path / John Welwood --
Contemplation and intimacy / Monica Furlong --
Family life and spiritual practice / Fran Tribe --
Working with dying people / Stephen Levine --
Facing death / Dainin Katagiri