Thich Nhat Hanh: Icon of Peace and Courage
Thich Nhat Hanh is a courageous Vietnamese Buddhist monk, writer, poet, peace activist, scholar and teacher. Considered one of the most prominent Buddhist masters of our time, he draws thousands of people from around the world to his talks, centres, monasteries and retreats every year.
His courage and determination to benefit all sentient beings was tested during the Vietnam War. During the conflict, he helped victims from both sides as an extension of his compassion and, as a result, faced intimidation and threats from many. But his resolve to help those who were suffering was indomitable. While promoting peace and encouraging an end to the war, Thich Nhat Hanh drew the attention of influential activists from other countries such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and won them over to his cause.
He has written over 100 books to promote the Buddhist path and his message of peace, which includes the best sellers Peace is Every Step, Living Buddha, The Miracle of Mindfulness, and Anger. His life story is a great inspiration for anyone seeking peace and to benefit other sentient beings as he has shown the world what we can achieve if we have the correct motivation and persevere through adversity.
Early Life
Thich Nhat Hanh was born in Hue City in central Vietnam on 11th October 1926. In 1942, he entered the Tu Hieu Temple near the city, and it was here that he met his root teacher, the Zen Master Thanh Quy Chan That and received ordination as a novice monk.
The City of Hue in Central Vietnam
Thich Nhat Hanh also received a Buddhist education from Bao Quoc Buddhist Academy where he trained mainly in the Vietnamese Thien and the Mahayana Buddhist traditions. In 1949, he received full monastic ordination and was given the title ‘Thich‘, which derives from the term ‘Thích Già‘ meaning ‘of the Shakya clan‘ that Buddha Shakyamuni belonged to. It is a title given to members of the Sangha or the ordained community, who take it as their surname to identify themselves as monks and nuns.
As a young monk in the early 1950s, Thich Nhat Hanh was involved in the movement to revitalise Vietnamese Buddhism. He felt that the people of Vietnam had lost touch with their religion and he was determined to reconnect them to the teachings of Buddha. He did this by:
- Teaching and spreading the practice of mindfulness amongst his students
- Updating translations of various sutras
- Engaging in social work
Thich Nhat Hanh became one of the first six monks to ride a bicycle, and one of the first monks to take secular courses at university level. It was during this time that he also established the An Quang Temple in Saigon, Vietnam.
Tu Hieu Temple, near Hue City in central Vietnam
The Vietnam War
In 1955, war came to Vietnam and the Vietnamese Sangha were faced with a difficult choice: to retain their contemplative lifestyle in their monasteries, or to help relieve the sufferings of war victims. Thich Nhat Hanh chose both options and founded the Engaged Buddhism movement that embodied his choices.
In his book, Vietnam: Lotus in the Sea of Fire, Thich Nhat Hanh stated that the idea of Engaged Buddhism originated with the 13th century Vietnamese king, Tran Nhan Tong. King Tran Nhan Tong was famous for abdicating his throne to become a monk and establishing one of the Vietnamese Buddhist schools of the Bamboo Forest tradition. In the course of his life, Thich Nhat Hanh would become the leader of the Engaged Buddhism movement in Vietnam and later brought this idea to the West.
A statue of King Tran Nhan Tong, the 13th century Vietnamese King who conceived the idea of Engaged Buddhism
In 1956, Thich Nhat Hanh was given the position of Editor-in-Chief of ‘Vietnamese Buddhism‘, a periodical published by the Unified Vietnam Buddhist Association.
In 1961, he went to America to study and teach comparative religion at the prestigious Princeton University. While he was in the United States, Columbia University also employed him as a lecturer of Buddhist Studies. It was there that he became fluent in several languages including English, Chinese, Sanskrit, Pali, Japanese and French, in addition to his own language, Vietnamese.
In 1963, he returned to Vietnam to assist in the Buddhist peace effort there. Upon his return, he actively expanded his humanitarian efforts and established several institutions that include:
- La Boi Publishing House, which would later publish his many books as well as a magazine promoting peace
- Van Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon, a private university that focuses on Vietnamese language, culture and Buddhist studies. Thich Nhat Hanh taught Prajnaparamita literature and Buddhist psychology there.
At the height of the war in February 1964, Thich Nhat Hanh established the Order of Interbeing (Tiep Hien Order). In his introduction to a translation of Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Interbeing: Fourteen guidelines for engaged Buddhism, Fred Eppsteiner wrote that he created the order to “combat the hatred, violence, and divisiveness enveloping his country.” The order consisted of dedicated followers who were committed to the principles of Engaged Buddhism and social work. Their underlying principles were the Fourteen Precepts of Mindfulness Training.
In that same year, Thich Nhat Hanh joined university students and professors in establishing the School of Youth for Social Service (SYSS), a relief organisation that helped to construct schools, health care clinics, and rebuild entire villages that were destroyed during the war.
Staying true to his humanitarian principles even during the most difficult situations, Thich Nhat Hanh actively promoted non-violence and peace in war-ravaged Vietnam. The situation was challenging because SYSS helped both communists and anti-communists alike, something that earned them the ire of both sides. He faced threats to his life and many laypeople, nuns, and monks were murdered.
Children in Hue with school supplies from SYSS
In 1965, Thich Nhat Hanh issued a document titled ‘Call for Peace’. In it, he wrote,
“It is time for North and South Vietnam to find a way to stop the war and help all Vietnamese people live peacefully and with mutual respect.”
https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/thich-nhat-hanh.html
Becoming a Dharmacharya
On 1st May 1966, his teacher Master Chan That gave Thich Nhat Hanh the Lamp Transmission that qualified him as a Dharmacharya or Dharma teacher. Thich Nhat Hanh is currently the Dharmacharya and the spiritual head of the Tu Hieu Temple and its affiliated monasteries. He is considered an elder of the Tu Hieu branch of the Lieu Quan lineage’s 8th generation and the 42nd generation of the Lam Te Dhyana School of Buddhism, also known as Rinzai Zen in Japanese.
His students often refer to him as ‘Thay‘ which means master or teacher or as ‘Thay Nhat Hanh‘. In the Vietnamese version of the Plum Village website, he is also referred to as the Zen Master Nhat Hanh (Thien Su Nhat Hanh).
Returning to America
Thich Nhat Hanh with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh was given an opportunity to return to the United States when Cornell University and the Fellowship of Reconciliation invited him to speak on behalf of Buddhist monks. Thich Nhat Hanh used this occasion to offer his views on ways to end the Vietnam War. Thereafter, he continued to speak in other colleges and impressed dignitaries and officials during his stay there.
Prior to his visit, Thich Nhat Hanh had written a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1965, titled ‘Searching for the Enemy of Man’, and during this visit to the United States, he was able to meet Dr. King in person, and urged him to condemn the Vietnam War publicly.
VIDEO: Dr. Martin Luther King & Thich Nhat Hanh
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Thich-MartinLutherThichNhatHanh.mp4
He also met with another prominent Christian leader, Thomas Merton, an American Catholic writer and theologian from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, as well as peace activists and Catholic priests Daniel Berrigan and John Dear. They were very impressed with Thich Nhat Hanh and had only good words to say about him and Buddhist practice. Thomas Merton went as far as to say,
“The only way to be a good Christian now is to practise Buddhism.”
Thich Nhat Hanh and Thomas Merton
On another occasion after a discussion with Thich Nhat Hanh, Father John Dear said,
“We have lost the teachings about mindfulness, the present moment, universal compassion which are all right there in the Sermon on the Mount. Thich Nhat Hanh has taken that in so many deep ways and we Christians haven’t.”
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/the-extraordinary-life-of-thich-nhat-hanh/6358880
Father Daniel Berrigan also spent many hours in long conversation with Thich Nhat Hanh discussing subjects such as Buddha and Jesus, war and peace, and life and death. These precious discussions were compiled in a book titled “The Raft is not the Shore”.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s efforts started to deliver results when, in 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. openly questioned the Unites States’ involvement in the Vietnam War during a speech at the Riverside Church in New York City. Dr. King decided to speak on the subject despite criticism that he was mixing international politics with the Civil Rights movement. In fact, Dr. King was so impressed with Thich Nhat Hanh that he nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. In his statement, Dr. King said,
“I do not personally know of anyone more worthy of [this prize] than this gentle monk from Vietnam. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.”
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. in his letter ‘Nomination of Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize’, 25 January 1967
The letter was more than a nomination; it was a strong request to the committee to award the prize to Thich Nhat Hanh. However, Dr. King’s public praise of Thich Nhat Hanh was a violation of tradition, which required nominations to remain private until the prize was awarded. In the end, the Nobel Committee decided not to present an award that year.
Advocating for Peace
Sister Chan Kong when she was younger
Unfortunately, shortly after Thich Nhat Hanh left for the United States, one of the Chancellors of Van Hanh University sought to sever its relationship with him and the SYSS. He went so far as to call Sister Chan Kong, the Operations Director of SYSS and a student of Thich Nhat Hanh, a ‘communist’, a particularly sensitive political term at the time.
It became difficult for SYSS to raise much-needed funds and its members were intimidated, harassed and threatened. Despite these challenges, the SYSS persevered in its charitable efforts and remained neutral in the conflict.
In 1969, Thich Nhat Hanh moved to France to lead the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation at the Paris Peace Talks. In the same year, he also established Église Bouddhique Unifiée (the Unified Buddhist Church) in France. This organisation is not related to the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam.
The signing of the Paris Peace Accords
On 27th January 1973, the Paris Peace Accord titled ‘Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam’ was signed. The treaty ended the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War and temporarily stopped the fighting between North and South Vietnam. In 1975, the Northern Vietnamese army took control of South Vietnam and the Communist government barred Thich Nhat Hanh from returning to Vietnam due to his anti-war activities. Although exiled from his homeland, his efforts to promote peace and non-violence won him praise and admiration around the world.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s activism and care for the Vietnamese people did not stop while he was in exile. Between 1976 and 1977, he led the effort to rescue Vietnamese refugees in the Gulf of Siam. However, the governments of Singapore and Thailand put a stop to this effort.
Thich Nhat Hanh led the effort to rescue Vietnamese refugees in the Gulf of Siam
Spreading Buddhism in the West
While living in exile, Thich Nhat Hanh became one of the most well-known Buddhist teachers in the West. The media often called him “The Father of Mindfulness”, “The Zen Master Who Fills Stadiums” and “The Other Dalai Lama”. To get a sense of his popularity, consider that in 1993, Thich Nhat Hanh led a retreat of 500 people in New York and taught a crowd of approximately 1,200 people at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.
His teachings appealed to many regardless of religious denomination, spiritual affiliation, political background, and place of origin. His wide appeal is a testament to the fact that Thich Nhat Hanh successfully adapted the teachings of mindfulness for Western sensibilities. His approach to modern Zen practice combines his mastery of various traditional Zen teaching methods, Mahayana Buddhism, and Western psychology. Today, he is known as one of the most important forces behind the development of Western Buddhism.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Father of Mindfulness
The subjects of his lessons range from respect for life and responsible sexual behaviour to generosity, loving communication and the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle. He emphasises joy, engagement in the world and integrating the practice of mindfulness into daily life. In regards to mindfulness, the BBC described:
“To be mindful is to become aware of what is going on in our bodies, our minds, and the world around us.”
His teaching centres on conscious breathing and the mindful awareness of each breath. He reminds his students that any act is an opportunity to touch the sacred, whether it is washing the dishes or driving a car. He asks us to stop the war inside ourselves, to quiet our distracted minds and to return to the present moment.
“If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace. This allows us to discover, that ‘There is no way to happiness — happiness is the way‘.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/people/thichnhathanh.shtml
Some of Thich Nhat Hanh’s most notable students, whose lives were deeply affected by his teachings, include:
- Natalie Goldberg, author and teacher
- Skip Ewing, the founder of the Nashville Mindfulness Centre
- Chan Kong, a Dharma teacher
- Joan Halifax, the founder of Upaya Institute, a Zen centre in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Stephanie Kaza, an environmentalist
- Albert Low, a Zen teacher
- Noah Levine, author
- Leila Seth, author and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court
Plum Village and Other Centres
In 1975, together with his main student, Sister Chan Kong, Thich Nhat Hanh established the Sweet Potato Meditation Centre in France. The popularity of his teachings continued to grow and so did the number of his centres around the world.
In 1982, he founded the Plum Village Buddhist Centre in Dordogne in the south of France. The place is the embodiment of his vision of a community where those engaged in social transformation work can come together for spiritual nourishment and rest.
The beautiful Plum Village Monastery
Under his spiritual guidance, Plum Village has developed into one of the largest and most active Buddhist monasteries in the West. Currently, there are approximately 200 resident monastics and a further 8,000 visitors come every year to learn ‘the art of mindful living’. The Unified Buddhist Church is the governing body of Plum Village and other affiliated centres and organisations around the world that include:
- Blue Cliff Monastery in Pine Bush, New York
- The Community of Mindful Living
- Parallax Press
- Deer Park Monastery in California
- Magnolia Village in Batesville, Mississippi
- The European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Waldbrol, Germany
Thich Nhat Hanh’s monasteries and centres around the world continue to be a destination for the practice of mindfulness and meditation. To date, he has established at least six monasteries, dozens of practice centres, and over 1,000 local mindfulness practice communities. His global community consists of approximately 600 monks and nuns, and tens of thousands of lay students.
Sister Chan Kong
The members of Blue Cliff Monastery
Thich Nhat Hanh and the members of Parallax Press
Deer Park Monastery in California
The monastics of Magnolia Village Monastery
Activities at the European Institute of Applied Buddhism in Waldbrol, Germany
Writings
Thich Nhat Hanh has authored over 100 books on various subjects including mindfulness, meditation, Engaged Buddhism, children’s stories, poems and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts. In the United States alone, over three million copies of his books have been sold. Some of his best-known titles include Peace is Every Step, Being Peace, The Miracle of Mindfulness, True Love, Anger and The Art of Power.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote a foreword to Peace is Every Step, where he stated,
“[Thich Nhat Hanh] shows us how to use the benefits of mindfulness and concentration to transform and heal difficult psychological states. He shows us the connection between personal, inner peace and peace on Earth.”
Thich Nhat Hanh’s books are also available in German, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese, amongst other languages.
Thich Nhat Hanh with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Return to Vietnam
Thich Nhat Hanh’s historic return to Vietnam
In 2005, after long negotiations with the Vietnamese government, Thich Nhat Hanh was finally permitted to enter Vietnam for a visit. He was also allowed to publish his books in Vietnamese, to teach, to return to his root temple and to travel around the country with members of his monastic order.
VIDEO: Thich Nhat Hanh’s Return to Vietnam in 2005
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/ThichNhatHanhVietnamReturn2005.mp4
In 2007, Thich Nhat Hanh returned to Vietnam for the second time. According to an official communication from Plum Village, this visit had three goals:
- To support new monks and nuns in his Order
- To organise and execute Great Chanting Ceremonies to help heal remaining wounds from the Vietnam War
- To lead retreats for monastic and lay people.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s return to Vietnam in 2007
The great chanting ceremonies were initially called “Grand Requiem for Praying Equally for All to Untie the Knots of Unjust Suffering”. However, due to objections from the Vietnamese government who refused to “equally” pray for American or South Vietnamese soldiers, the name of the chanting ceremony was changed to “Grand Requiem for Praying“. It was during this visit that Thich Nhat Hanh’s also established two monasteries in Vietnam — one at the Prajna Temple in the Central Highlands and another at the site of the original Tu Hieu Temple.
Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam
Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam
Achievements and Awards
Thich Nhat Hanh is renowned as an advocate for peace, for his humanitarian efforts, his teachings on mindfulness, his writings, and a lifetime of working to benefit others. His achievements have inspired countless people and earned him many awards. These are just some of the commendations he has received:
- The 1991 Courage of Conscience Award
- The 2015 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
- He has been featured in many films including ‘The Power of Forgiveness‘ which was shown at the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival
- In 2013, he was featured in the graphic novel titled ‘The Secret of the 5 Powers‘
- In 2017, the Education University of Hong Kong presented him with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his “life-long contributions to the promotion of mindfulness, peace and happiness across the world.”
The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
Later Life
Thich Nhat Hanh continues to travel and teach mindfulness around the world despite his advancing years. In a 2005 interview, he responded to a question about his age.
Question: You will be 80 this year. Do you plan to retire as a spiritual teacher at any point?
Answer: “In Buddhism, we see that teaching is done not only by talking but also by living your own life. Your life is the teaching, is the message. And since I continue to sit, to walk, to eat, to interact with the Sangha and people, I continue to teach, even if I have already encouraged my senior students to begin to replace me in giving Dharma talks. In the last two years, I have asked Dharma teachers, not only in the monastic circle but also in the lay circle, to come up and give Dharma talks. Many of them have given wonderful Dharma talks. Some Dharma talks have been better than mine. I see myself in my continuation, and I will not retire. I’ll continue to teach, if not by Dharma talks then in my way of sitting, eating, smiling, and interacting with the Sangha. I like to be with the Sangha.
Even if I don’t give a Dharma talk, I like to join walking meditation, sitting meditation, eating in mindfulness and so on. So don’t worry. When people are exposed to the practice, they are inspired. You don’t need to talk in order to teach. You need to live your life mindfully and deeply. Thank you.”
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/biography/
However, this great master had a serious setback on 11th November 2014. One month after his 88th birthday, he suffered a stroke and had to undergo intensive rehabilitation. At first, he received treatment at Bordeaux University Hospital in France, and on 11th July 2015, he was flown to San Francisco to undergo an intensive rehabilitation program at the UCSF Medical Centre.
Thich Nhat Hanh leading a walking meditation session
By 8th January 2016, Thich Nhat Hanh had made an amazing recovery and was able to return to his beloved hermitage, Plum Village. Whenever his health allows, he continues to engage in many different activities such as mindful meals, sitting meditation, walking meditation and other public events.
VIDEO: Thich Nhat Hanh Returns to Plum Village After Stroke
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/ThichReturnedToPlumVillageAfterStroke.mp4
On 11 November 2014, Thich Nhat Hanh suffered a stroke which required him to undergo intensive rehabilitation
When his health allows, Thich Nhat Hanh continues to engage in many different activities
Quotes of Wisdom by Thich Nhat Hanh
Recommended Reading (Free Download)
The texts above were sourced from legitimate book-hosting services offering these texts for free download. They are made available here for purely educational, non-commercial purposes.
More Books by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire, New York, Hill and Wang, 1967
- Being Peace, Parallax Press, 1987
- The Sun My Heart, Parallax Press, 1988
- Our Appointment with Life: Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone, Parallax Press, 1990.
- The Miracle of Mindfulness, Rider Books, 1991
- Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, Parallax Press, 1991
- Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, Bantam reissue, 1992
- The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion, Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Diamond Sutra, Parallax Press, 1992
- Hermitage Among the Clouds, Parallax Press, 1993
- Zen Keys: A Guide to Zen Practice, Three Leaves, 1994
- Cultivating The Mind Of Love, Full Circle, 1996
- The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, Full Circle, 1997
- Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness, Full Circle, 1997
- Living Buddha, Living Christ, Riverhead Trade, 1997
- True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, Shambhala, 1997
- Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals, 1962–1966, Riverhead Trade, 1999
- Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers, Riverhead Books, 1999
- The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Broadway Books, 1999
- The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation, Beacon Press, 1999
- The Raft is Not the Shore: Conversations Toward a Buddhist/Christian Awareness, Daniel Berrigan (Co-author), Orbis Books, 2000
- The Path of Emancipation: Talks from a 21-Day Mindfulness Retreat, Unified Buddhist Church, 2000
- A Pebble in Your Pocket, Full Circle, 2001
- Essential Writings, Robert Ellsberg (Editor), Orbis Books, 2001
- Anger, Riverhead Trade, 2002
- Be Free Where You Are, Parallax Press, 2002
- No Death, No Fear, Riverhead Trade reissue, 2003
- Touching the Earth: Intimate Conversations with the Buddha, Parallax Press, 2004
- Teachings on Love, Full Circle, 2005
- Understanding Our Mind, HarperCollins, 2006
- Buddha Mind, Buddha Body: Walking Toward Enlightenment, Parallax Press, 2007
- The Art of Power, HarperOne, 2007
- Under the Banyan Tree, Full Circle, 2008
- Mindful Movements, Parallax Press 2008
- Blooming of a Lotus, Beacon, 2009
- Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, HarperOne, 2010
- Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child, Parallax Press, 2010
- You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment, Shambhala, 2010
- The Novice: A Story of True Love, Unified Buddhist Church, 2011
- Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, Shambhala Publications, 2011
- Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm, Rider, 2012
- The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh, Shambhala Pocket Classics, 2012
- The Art of Communicating, HarperOne, 2013
- No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering, Parallax Press, 2014
- Is Nothing Something? Kids’ Questions and Zen Answers About Life, Death, Family, Friendship, and Everything in Between, Parallax Press 2014
- Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise, HarperOne, 2015
- Old Path, White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, Blackstone Audio, Inc.; 2016
- At Home in the World: Stories and Essential Teachings from a Monk’s Life, with Jason Deantonis (Illustrator), Parallax Press, 2016
- The Other Shore: A New Translation of the Heart Sutra with Commentaries, Palm Leaves Press, 2017
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nhất_Hạnh
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/people/thichnhathanh.shtml
- https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/thich-nhat-hanh-mindfulness-google-tech
- https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/thich-nhat-hanh.html
- www.plumvillage.org
- http://www.buddhanet.net/masters/thich.htm
- http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/the-extraordinary-life-of-thich-nhat-hanh/6358880
- https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/biography/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords
- https://orderofinterbeing.org/about/timeline-of-community/
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- Dr Martin Luther King nominate Thich Nhat Hanh for Nobel Peace Prize
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Any article on Thich Nhat Hanh a courageous Vietnamese Buddhist monk, writer, poet, peace activist, scholar and teacher always interest me. I do enjoy reading his article all about his journey to the west and back to his home land Vietnam. Thich Nhat Hanh, is often referred by many as the “father of mindfulness”. For opposing the Vietnam War, he went into exiled to the west . Thich Nhat Hanh, became one of the world’s most influential zen masters, who had campaigned for peace and urging the practice of mindfulness meditation. His efforts to promote peace and non-violence won him praise and admiration around the world including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He had inspired thousands of people from around the world to his talks, centres, monasteries and retreats every year. He wrote over 100 books to promote the Buddhist path and his message of peace. He gave teachings, spreading the practice of mindfulness and wrote books full of compassion about eating animals and animal products in his books. He inspires thousands to go on a vegan lifestyle. He has established at least six monasteries, dozens of practice centres, and over 1,000 local mindfulness practice communities. Interesting read.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Thich Nhat Hanh is truly a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his powerful teachings on mindfulness. He is the founder of the Plum Village Tradition where he spent most of his later life residing at the Plum Village Monastery in France. He is one of the best known and most respected Zen masters in the world today. He has been travelling internationally to give retreats and teachings. He finally made a surprise decision to go back to his root country in Vietnam . Interesting read of a great spiritual leader who has won him several awards for his incredible work of spreading compassion around the world solely just to benefits others.He has authored more than 100 books on various subjects and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh a Vietnamese monk, is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist. Well known throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings. His wisdom have help many to transform negative emotions and live a happier, more peaceful, and more balanced life. This Zen master has articulate and disseminate the core Buddhist teachings of mindfulness, kindness, and compassion to thousands more across the globe. Spending most of his life doing human rights and reconciliation work during the Vietnam War. He’s considered the father of “engaged Buddhism,” a movement linking mindfulness practice with social action, having built a network of monasteries and retreat centers around the world. He is truly an Icon of Peace and Courage, had wrote more than hundreds of books, have inspired countless people. For his achievements he won many awards. Interesting read of biography of a Zen Master. He is living peacefully and in mindfulness in his original home temple in Vietnam. It is wonderful that he could return to Vietnam after being exiled for over 30 years. Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing of an inspiring Zen Master.
All enlightened beings are worthy of homage and worship. They are the best beings to take refuge in and we should offer them our prayers as we can put our full confidence in them. Of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I personally find that Manjushri is extremely important. This is because what keeps us in samsara (cyclic rebirth) is our total ignorance and misunderstanding of the reality of existence. What is necessary to penetrate this deep ignorance that keeps us bound in a perpetual state of reincarnation is wisdom. We need many types of wisdom which can be acquired by relying on Manjushri as our yidam (meditational deity). By focusing on his meditation, practice, mantra and path we can gain wisdom in order to have the tool to penetrate the reality of existence. Therefore, Manjushri is an extremely important Buddha for us to focus on and take refuge in.
Tsem Rinpoche
(Photograph: this is the beautiful outdoor Manjushri statue who is in a teaching pose. He is floating above a koi fish pond nestled among lush greenery in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia)
每一位觉者都能成为我们朝拜、膜拜的对象。他们是我们至高、至好的皈依，我们应该向他们做祈请，并且对他们生起全然的信念。在众佛菩萨之中，我个人认为文殊菩萨极为重要。这是因为使我们身陷娑婆（轮回）的是我们自身的无明，以及对实相的曲解。智慧是一种必要，它能穿透我们深不见底的无明，那个使我们受困于无止境投生的无明。我们需要多种智慧，而依止文殊菩萨作为我们的本尊，即能使我们成就多种智慧。透过文殊菩萨的观想、修持法门、心咒及修行道路，我们能成就智慧，拥有了知实相的“器具”。故此，专注于文殊菩萨的修持法门、皈依他，对我们而言都极为重要。
詹杜固仁波切
（相片：这尊户外文殊菩萨像呈转法轮姿。他被茂密的草木环绕，安坐在马来西亚克切拉禅修林的鱼池之上。）
Medicine Buddha puja encourages healing of all levels – physical, mental and emotional healing for those in need.
High resolution file of this thangka is available for download for all dharma practitioners around the world and for those who just want sacred images in their environment. Enjoy, be blessed and share this with others.
Here is the link to free download of this image and many other images: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/downloads/buddha-images.html?nggpage=7
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Reading about Thich Naht Hanh is so very inspirational, he is truly a Bodhisattva of our times, sad to see that he is so aged. He had gone through so much pain and disappointment to see his people the Vietnamese gone through so much war, suffering of his own people even helping both sides of Vietnamese conflict. Yet he remained so centered and focused in bringing the dharma to the world.
One of the powerful quotes from Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh impressed me very much is:
The past is no longer here, the future has not yet come; the present moment is the only moment we can live.
Many of us have believed that letting go is tough. But, holding on to these past are actually hurts us often. We must be willing to let go and open up ourselves to new possibilities of the future. It is not easy, as our mind stick to constant and easily get distraction. Through practice of mindfulness in contemplation and meditation, it leads us to happiness and end for suffering.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring article.
In Buddhism, mindfulness is to develop self-knowledge and wisdom that lead to freedom from suffering and enlightenment. Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh is considered by many as the father of mindfulness. He dedicated his life to the dharma work, bringing inner transformation for the benefit of individuals and society.
This is one of the profound quote from Thich Nhat Hanh which has inspired many.
“Tea is an act complete in its simplicity.
When I drink tea, there is only me and the tea.
The rest of the world dissolves.
There are no worries about the future.
No dwelling on past mistakes.
Tea is simple: loose-leaf tea, hot pure water, a cup.
I inhale the scent, tiny delicate pieces of the tea floating above the cup.
I drink the tea, the essence of the leaves becoming a part of me.
I am informed by the tea, changed.
This is the act of life, in one pure moment, and in this act the truth of the world suddenly becomes revealed: all the complexity, pain, drama of life is a pretense, invented in our minds for no good purpose.
There is only the tea, and me, converging.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
??? Thanks for sharing.
Ven.Thich Nhat Hanh , Father of Mindfulness has a great master who give teaching on mindfulness , meditation and promote peace to stop the Vietnam war and suffering of the people.
Ven.Thich Nhat Hanh indeed a boddhisattva and it really inspired us.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a famous Vietnamese Monk who giving teachings on mindfulness. When we know and practice mindfulness, we will more conscious on every actions we did. These will benefit us and others.
I am so proud of him because he advocated world peace and he also help to stop the Vietnam War. Ending the Vietnam War will bring peace to Vietnam and less victims.
He always give help to anyone regardless the people background. This is truly compassion .
I hope this article will nurture more people to practice compassion and create harmony and peace to this world.
Thanks for sharing.
Jason
Thich Nhat Hanh, much loved , revered and renowned Buddhist monk , through his tireless endeavours, has brought the cultivation of Peace and Inner Peace to a meaningful level for lay people and to the ordinary man in the street. His advocacy and implementation of moment to moment mindful living ties up with his powerful teachings on joy, universal compassion ,interbeing and engaged Buddhism.
He has fought conflicts and adversities courageously with non-violence nurtured by love and a pervasive awareness of suffering . My first powerful encounter with this Buddhist master of peace ,love and compassion was through his book “Peace Is Every Step”. He opened up a new world of Buddhism to me, where the ultimate message of Peace and Compassion was that we have to be completely immersed in “interbeing”. I do understand why he has created the Buddhist Unity Church and why Trappist monk Thomas Merton, through his close study of him and friendship with him, would say “The only way to be a good Christian now is to practise Buddhism” or why Dr Martin Luther King would write the following about him, ” His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.”
He has built bridges to unite all , regardless of race or creed. Religion is only a label to him. True spirituality transcends the narrow confines of labels, which usually creates barriers between people.
Thank you Rinpoche for this powerful sharing on the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. He considered by many to be the father of mindfulness in the west. He is the author of many hundred of books. He has inspired many people through his teachings of mindfulness and peace world wide. As such he has rewarded many awards. Amazing his many books are available in many languages world wide besides in German, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Korean and so forth. Thich Nhat Hanh is an Icon of peace and courage through his life-long contributions to the promotion of mindfulness, peace and happiness across the world. He has since founded many retreats center, monasteries and organisations around the world.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring sharing.
I first started to notice Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings was when he was interviewed by media queen, Oprah Winfrey. I was blown away by his wisdom and how simple he puts it to us. Ven. reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi as he uses non-violent and peaceful means to counter violence. This soft-spoken peace activist is such an inspiration to me as he embodies humility, expounds profound wisdom and radiates true compassion.
I would like to share the interview where Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches mindfulness and being in the now. From 19.00, Ven. offers us mantras for a good relationship. Not at all what I expected at first but very applicable for everyone in a relationship. ➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOOJombTJLY
Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh shares many similarities with my own Guru, Tsem Rinpoche but here are 3 that stand out for me the most.
? Both peace advocates use peaceful means to counter adversities. My Guru, although maliciously attacked anti-Shugdenpas for upholding his Protector practice, has used wisdom, compassion and peaceful means to stand firm in his choice.
? Both are highly inspirational due to their immense courage to fight for what they believe in and speak up for the voiceless, although they are in “right in front of the line of fire”. How extremely compassionate and selfless!
? These 2 erudite masters are able to teach Dharma in simple and easy to understand manner. The best part of their teachings is how they are able to break it down for us, making it so relevant and applicable to our current lifestyle.
Thank you with folded hands for this wonderful post, Rinpoche.
‘Old Path White Clouds’ is the first Buddhism book that I read, therefore, I felt the I am a little more familiar with Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh than other Buddhist masters. He is a strong advocate of mindfulness; promoting peaceful, harmony and respectful living with self and surrounding. His story is an inspiration. Thank you for this sharing.
It’s always wonderful to read about someone who is inspiring and has many talents. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for sharing about Thich Nhat Hanh who wrote so many inspiring books and built such a beautiful retreat center like Plum Village Monastery ??
Reminds me of Tsem Rinpoche who is an all rounder multi-talented Lama.???