Gözde Yeşiltaş's Key Ideas from How to Sit
by Thich Nhat Hanh

Connect sitting with breathing. The breath is an anchor—natural, always present, always available.

Breath awareness reminds us of the sacredness of life. With each breath, we return home to ourselves.

Grounding is important. Whether you're sitting on a cushion or a chair, ensure that your body is stable and relaxed.

Stability in body supports stability in mind. A comfortable, upright position fosters inner stillness.

Meditation is not rigid. It is fluid, joyful, and free. Allow your body and mind to feel spacious.

Let go of inner expectations. Sit with the freedom of a child watching clouds.

Sitting is not a means to an end. Peace is the act of sitting itself. We touch peace each time we stop and breathe.

Peace isn’t out there—it’s cultivated from within, one mindful breath at a time.

True meditation begins when we stop—stop rushing, thinking, doing.

The practice of stopping allows us to reclaim our lives from autopilot. Stopping is an act of freedom.

Meditation isn’t a performance. No need to strive. Let go of effort and rest in awareness.

When we stop striving, we meet ourselves fully. That meeting is sacred.

Mindfulness brings us back to our body. Not as a concept—but as a living, breathing presence.

Being in the body reconnects us to the moment. Tension eases, grounding deepens.

Simply sitting with awareness is healing. It nurtures the nervous system, heart, and soul.

The breath becomes medicine. The silence becomes a salve.

Meditation is not solemn or heavy. It can be filled with joy, lightness, and ease.

Joy arises when we remember that this moment is a gift. Meditation lets us fully unwrap it.

Release the urge to get somewhere. True sitting is resting in the present.

In a world driven by constant motion, stillness becomes an act of rebellion—and renewal.

Use a bell to bring attention back to the present. It’s not a rule but a reminder to return.

Even without a bell, the breath is always ringing. A bell outside helps awaken the bell within.

Sitting with others deepens the practice. There is power in collective stillness.

Even when sitting alone, you are never truly alone. You sit with generations of practitioners.

How to Sit is not a technical manual—it is a gentle call back to your own aliveness. Each chapter is a breath of calm clarity, inviting you to stop, sit, breathe, and come home.