Thich Nhat Hanh
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, writer and peace activist renowned for his teachings on mindfulness and peace.
About:
Thich Nhat Hanh is widely recognized as a pioneer in bringing Buddhism to the West, including the United States. Known fondly as ‘Thay’ (pronounced “Tay” or “Tie”), which is Vietnamese for “teacher”, Thich Nhat Hanh has built a global community of mindfulness practitioners including six monasteries, dozens of practice centers and over 1,000 local mindfulness communities like First Light Sangha.
Born in 1926 in central Vietnam, Thay became a novice at the age of sixteen. During the war in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh refused to make a choice between maintaining his contemplative life and responding to those around him suffering from the violence of war. Instead, Thay chose to do both and so founded the movement of Engaged Buddhism where elements of nonviolence activism are integral components of meditation and mindfulness practice.
In 1966, Thay established the Order of Interbeing based in traditional Buddhist Bodhisattva precepts. Soon after, he was nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end the violence in Vietnam. Thich Nhat Hanh traveled widely sharing his teachings of Engaged Buddhism and in 1975 established Plum Village, a practice community in south west France which is currently the largest Buddhist monastery in the Western world and welcomes people from all backgrounds, ages and root traditions.
“To love our enemy is impossible. The moment we understand our enemy, we feel compassion towards him or her, and he or she is no longer our enemy”
— Thich Nhat Hanh