"The act of praying is not just an empty wish, because behind each prayer there is a practice of mindfulness and concentration." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

In this extraordinary celebration of spirituality, The Energy of Prayer demonstrates the relevance of prayer in our daily lives. Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how the energies of prayer and meditation allow us to reconnect with our higher selves while satisfying our basic need to connect with the world as a whole. With a generous spirit that acknowledges the many different types and functions of prayer, The Energy of Prayer provides a guide for deepening our spiritual practice through the use of prayer.

Thich Nhat Hanh introduces the reader to several meditation methods that re-envision prayer as an open, inclusive, and accessible practice that helps create healthy lives through the power of awareness and intention. This book includes visualization and breathing exercises, as well as a rich sampling of prayers, chants, and invocations from the Buddhist tradition.

Chapters include Does Prayer Work? Two Elements of Effective Prayer, Buddhist and Christian Parallels, Daily Prayers (to be said while washing hands, brushing teeth, or gardening,) and others. It also includes breathing practices and visualizations, and a rich sampling of prayers, chants, and invocations from the Buddhist tradition.

"Thich Nhat Hanh has a winning style, nimbly mixing deep philosophy with personal anecdotes and helpful illustrations." -- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Thich Nhat Hanh guides us to a deeper understanding of both Buddhist and Christian prayer ... he orients us toward its genuine practice." -- Shambhala Sun Magazine

"Is any human act more mysterious (and more beautiful) than prayer? How good that we have the gentle, wise voice of Thich Nhat Hanh to help us understand the nature and purpose of prayer from a Buddhist perspective. This is a lovely book, a prayer in itself." -- Philip Zaleski, co-author of Prayer: A History and edidtor of The Best American Spiritual Writing Series