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