ABOUT THE PRACTICE
Finding meaning
in the ordinary.
Short verses for moments of mindfulness, calm,
and connection in everyday work.
What is a Gatha?
A Gatha is a short verse we can return to during an everyday activity—a reminder to pause and be present. Rooted in Buddhist practice, Gathas are used at Plum Village throughout daily life. A familiar activity becomes a cue to notice what is happening here and now.
About John
I’m John Miller, the writer behind Gathas at Work.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s Gathas helped me find moments of mindfulness, calm, connection, and meaning in things I had thought of as mundane. That experience is the inspiration behind this collection.
Here, I’m bringing that invitation into the working day: joining a call, sharing unfinished work, asking for feedback. Each Gatha offers a small pause within an ordinary moment.
Over time, I hope to gather this collection into a book. For now, the invitation is simple: find a moment you recognize, read slowly, and meet this moment with openness and care.
What we’re focused on.
Work is full of moments we can move through without really being there. These Gathas invite a pause within those moments: to notice where our attention has gone, reconnect with the people involved, and choose how to respond.
The focus is mindfulness, calm, connection, and meaning in everyday work. Each page pairs a verse by John Miller with an illustration, a reflection, and one small practice to try.
Try it with one moment.
- Choose something familiar.Find a title that sounds like a moment in your own day.
- Read the verse slowly.Notice the pull, the pause, and the small action that follows.
- Bring one choice back.Read the reflection if it helps. Try the closing practice when the moment comes.