Thich Nhat Hanh in Hospital with Pneumonia
May this great master get well and strong very soon. I offer my prayers to The Three Jewels.
Tsem Rinpoche
Thich Nhat Hanh in Hospital with Pneumonia
Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh is in Massachusetts General Hospital being treated for pneumonia.
Our brother and teacher, the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, is presently in Massachusetts General Hospital with an infection of pseudomonas aeruginosa (wiki), which is a serious but treatable pathogen. He had planned to lead a retreat during this time but will remain in the hospital for at least two weeks.
“Dear Friends and Co-practitioners at the Retreat One Buddha is not enough, Estes Park, CO.”
My dear friends,
I am writing to you from the Massachusettes General Hospital in Boston. I know the Sangha has manifested today in Estes Park. I miss the Reterat. I miss the beautiful setting of the Retreat. Especially I miss the Sangha, I miss you. I always enjoy sitting with the Sangha, walking with the Sangha, breathing with the Sangha. The joy of being together, sharing the Dharma and the practice together is always very nourishing and healing…
But I do not suffer, because I know I am taking care of myself. And taking care of myself is to take care of you. The doctors here decided that I should stay 14 days here for the treatment of a lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Please do not worry. It is only an infection. But it has to be treated right away. My kidneys, my liver, my heart, my digestive tract all function well. I am given two strong anti-biotics, from I.V. injections per day. And the clinicians here are monitoring closely the process of treatment. I am allowed to go out of the hospital to the park nearby one hour per day to do walking meditation.
I received this lovely message below… and I am very glad that Ven Thich Nhat Hanh’s illness is old news and over. I am very glad he is well. Wonderful.
Tsem Rinpoche
2010/10/09 at 12:56 pm
Hello Rinpoche & Dharma Friends,
Just a friendly FYI, I think the posting about Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh being hospitalized for lung problems occurred in August 2009, and now I think Thay is doing much better! In fact, I think Thay and the Plum Village sangha was in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand recently offering retreats and public talks.
…though my posting here is not intent on wanting to stop the prayers for well-being and good health, always for all our Dharma teachers and dear Thich Nhat Hanh.
Actually, I wanted to quickly state how I appreciate very much, Rinpoche’s commitment to Dharma in all traditions and faiths. Earlier this year, I heard of the term, EKAYANA. It makes me very happy to know that word and to learn always from Rinpoche’s open-minded and open-hearted way of seeing Dharma in so many places and sources. When I found out that Thich Nhat Hanh was going to Malaysia (and other parts of SE Asia) to offer a retreat, it made me very happy to know that he was going to the same place where Kechara is! I live in San Diego, California, a borderlands as some might say, and mixin’, hybridizing and intermingling is the reality here. In that same spirit, I am very much inspired by the range and expanse of the Dharma mixes and remixes that I see from Rinpoche’s many posts and expressions of dharma praktis! You have taught me a great deal about the specificity and universality of Dharma and lineage and ultimately just being a good person, without any labels or identities or names.
Thank you.
Prayers of vibrant health, wellness and vitality to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh and all Dharma teachers in Southeast Asia! May I always remember the healing and transformative dharma rain and fires you have brought to my life.
_/|\_
Jnaseh
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Thich Nhat Hanh is an exceptional master and I do with him the best of health and may he live long to continue spreading Buddhism in the west and east. His teachings that are made into great Dharma books in English are on the shelves of major english bookstores all over the world and he is perhaps one of the best known Mahayana teachers of all time. May more teachers of his calibre abound and may teachers like him, Tsem Rinpoche live long and produce innumerable teachers that would benefit an ocean of practitioners that will transform by applying the teachings. May monetary support be plentiful so all the Dharmic projects of these great masters be realized without exception.
I absolutely adore animals! Please, we need more posts like this from you!
Although the news that Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in Hospital with pneumonia is old news. It would be nice to recollect what this sangha feels when he was hospitalised in the Massachusettes General Hospital in Boston. Pneumonia is a very suffering illness with infection of the lungs which affect the breathing of a person. Rinpoche has a lot of respect for this Zen master. Even though Ven Thich Nhat is suffering during his sickness he still pacify his students that he can take care of himself and get well quickly for the sake of his students so that he can take care of them. This brings to my mind that our Rinpoche does the same. When Rinpoche was sick he still give Dharma teachings to his students.
i viewed the video recording of Rinpochela’s dialogue with world renowned spiritual healer Anne-Jones and others – and was very touched by Rinpochela’s great, ALL-ENCOMPASSING attitude towards all (religions, faiths and paths). Rinpochela mentioned that he did not expect everyone to be Buddhist. i see that as Rinpochela’s unconditional love for all. Thank you Rinpochela…. i hope we would all learn to be so.
Sandy is right. The Very Venerable Master Thich Nhat Hanh is wonderful; he’s a LIVING EMBODIMENT of Dharma. Recently he had touched the lives and inspired many of my friends in Penang who listened to his beautiful teaching, held at Phor Thay High School (a school founded by Buddhist missionaries – probably the only one such school in our country; “phor thay” is the Chinese-Hokkien pronunciation for the Sanscrit “Bodhi”). Please allow me to suggest a good way to wish for the great master’s speedy recovery and good health – please PRACTISE his TEACHINGS! Always be “in the here” with Compassion and Wisdom. Please, please may we all do so.
Hello Rinpoche & Dharma Friends,
Just a friendly FYI, I think the posting about Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh being hospitalized for lung problems occurred in August 2009, and now I think Thay is doing much better! In fact, I think Thay and the Plum Village sangha was in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand recently offering retreats and public talks.
http://stream.pvweb.org/
…though my posting here is not intent on wanting to stop the prayers for well-being and good health, always for all our Dharma teachers and dear Thich Nhat Hanh.
Actually, I wanted to quickly state how I appreciate very much, Rinpoche’s commitment to Dharma in all traditions and faiths. Earlier this year, I heard of the term, EKAYANA. It makes me very happy to know that word and to learn always from Rinpoche’s open-minded and open-hearted way of seeing Dharma in so many places and sources. When I found out that Thich Nhat Hanh was going to Malaysia (and other parts of SE Asia) to offer a retreat, it made me very happy to know that he was going to the same place where Kechara is! I live in San Diego, California, a borderlands as some might say, and mixin’, hybridizing and intermingling is the reality here. In that same spirit, I am very much inspired by the range and expanse of the Dharma mixes and remixes that I see from Rinpoche’s many posts and expressions of dharma praktis! You have taught me a great deal about the specificity and universality of Dharma and lineage and ultimately just being a good person, without any labels or identities or names.
Thank you.
Prayers of vibrant health, wellness and vitality to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh and all Dharma teachers in Southeast Asia! May I always remember the healing and transformative dharma rain and fires you have brought to my life.
_/|\_
Jnaseh
Dear Jnaseh, Thank you so much for letting me know that the illness occured in August 2009. That means this supreme master Thich Nhat Hanh is ok. It is a great relief to me. I am sure it is a great relief to many. Thank you so much. I will post your comments up on the actual blog post of Ven Thich Nhat Hanh so everyone will know it is an old article.
Thank you so much again.
Tsem Tulku
Dear Rinpoche,
I share in your sentiments in wishing for Thich Nhat Hanh’s full and speedy recovery. This great teacher, to me, embodies complete spirituality; even in listening to him speak I feel an immense sense of peace.
It goes to show the incredible inner strength this great teacher has when, in suffering from illness, he thinks of others and still seeks to carry on with his practice joyfully and with great devotion, when people like me would be full of self-pity and seeking attention with any kind of illness. Such a wonderful inspiration.
May the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh regain full health quickly, may he always know inner peace and happiness and may he enjoy a long, blessed life.
With warmest regards,
Sandy