At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to PeaceIn this raw and moving memoir, Claude Thomas describes his service in Vietnam, his subsequent emotional collapse, and his remarkable journey toward healing. At Hell's Gate is not only a gripping coming-of-age story but a spiritual travelogue from the horrors of combat to the discovery of inner peace—a journey that inspired Thomas to become a Zen monk and peace activist who travels to war-scarred regions around the world. "Everyone has their Vietnam," Thomas writes. "Everyone has their own experience of violence, calamity, or trauma." With simplicity and power, this book offers timeless teachings on how we can all find healing, and it presents practical guidance on how mindfulness and compassion can transform our lives. This expanded edition features: • Discussion questions for reading groups • A new afterword by the author reflecting on how the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are affecting soldiers—and offering advice on how to help returning soldiers to cope with their combat experiences |
Contents
The Light at the Tip of the Candle | 37 |
The Bell of Mindfulness | 55 |
If You Blow Up a Bridge Build a Bridge | 70 |
Walking to Walk | 99 |
Finding Peace | 132 |
Afterword to the 2006 Edition | 155 |
Appendix | 163 |
| 171 | |
Discussion Questions | 177 |
Other editions - View all
At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace Claude Anshin Thomas No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
able abuse actions aggression Air Medal alcohol anger asked Auschwitz awareness become began begin bell of mindfulness Bernie Glassman breath Cambodia camps church combat commitment drugs emotional enemy experience experienced father fear feel felt fighting fought happen healing and transformation helicopter homeless invited killing knew listen live in mindfulness look deeply M60 machine gun military monastery Mostar nature night nonviolence NSDAP ordained ourselves pain path peace pilgrimage Plum Village reality realize relationship responsible retreat rience sangha seeds sense Sister Chan Khong sitting meditation sleep soldiers someone spiritual practice stay stop stories suffering talk teaching tell Thich Nhat Hanh things thought tion told took touch trapped trauma understand Viet Vietcong Vietnam veterans Vietnam War Vietnamese violence wake walking meditation Wiebke wounds Yonkers Zen Buddhist Zen Peacemaker Order