Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926–2022) was a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk and a peace activist. He was one of the greatest contemporary Buddhist teachers and the founding father of the Engaged Buddhism movement.
Born Nguyen Xaun Bao in central Vietnam, Nhất Hạnh became a monk at sixteen. As an apprentice, he neglected his Buddhist training college for Saigon University to study world literature, philosophy, and science. During the Vietnam War, he coined the term Engaged Buddhism to describe the antiwar movement in his country. He left his monastery and became actively engaged in helping victims of the war and publicly advocating peace. He organized rescue missions to save the “boat people” fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s. However, his anti-war activism made him unpopular with the powers that be, and he was forced into exile. In 1967, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nhất Hạnh was considered by many to be the father of mindfulness in the West. He lived in exile in Plum Village, a retreat center in southern France from where he taught meditation to thousands of followers in the West.
Nhất Hạnh, affectionately referred to as “Thay” by his students, was the author of many books of poetry and prose on Engaged Buddhist themes. His notable works include Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha (1987,) Peace Is Every Step (1992,) Living Buddha, Living Christ (1997,) Being Peace (2005,) How to Love (2014,) and The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching (2015.)
In his writings, Nhất Hạnh stressed the oneness or “interbeing” of all existence, mindfulness in daily life, and service and nonviolent activism on behalf of those suffering tyranny and injustice.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thich Nhat Hanh
Meditation is not to escape from society, but to come back to ourselves and see what is going on. Once there is seeing, there must be acting.
With mindfulness, we know what to do and what not to do to help.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Meditation
We do so much, we run so quickly, the situation is difficult, and many people say, “Don’t just sit there, do something.” But doing more things may make the situation worse. So you should say, “Don’t just do something, sit there.” Sit there, stop, be yourself first, and begin from there.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Of all the ways you can think of, none has a sixteenth part of the value of lovingkindness. Lovingkindness is a freedom of the heart which takes in all the ways. It is luminous, shining, blazing forth.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Kindness
People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Suffering, Letting Go
The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
May our heart’s garden of awakening bloom with hundreds of flowers.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Gardening
In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Government
If you are motivated by loving kindness and compassion, there are many ways to bring happiness to others right now, starting with kind speech.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Compassion
We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Happiness
Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Smile
We often think of peace as the absence of war; that if the powerful countries would reduce their arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds – our prejudices, fears, and ignorance. Even if we transported all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the reasons for bombs would still be here, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we would make new bombs. Seek to become more aware of what causes anger and separation, and what overcomes them. Root out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately and mindfully
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Compassion, Absence
Our notions of happiness entrap us. We forget that they are just ideas. Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Feel, Earth, Water, Live
If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Optimism
If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into the situation-our own situation, the situation of our beloved one, the situation of our family and of our community, and the situation of our nation and of the other nations?
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Reflection
Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like beautiful flowers that are colorful but have no fragrance.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Activism
The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Peace
Live your daily life in a way that you never lose yourself. When you are carried away with your worries, fears, cravings, anger, and desire, you run away from yourself and you lose yourself. The practice is always to go back to oneself.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Whatever you can do, do it today and then old age will be a delicious fruit.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
If love is in our hearts, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
When we say, “I take refuge in the Buddha,” we should also understand that “The Buddha takes refuge in me,” because without the second part the first part is not complete. The Buddha needs us for awakening, understanding, and love to be real things and not just concepts. They must be real things that have real effects on life. Whenever I say, “I take refuge in the Buddha,” I hear “the Buddha takes refuge in me”.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Water flows from high in the mountains
Water runs deep in the Earth
Miraculously, water comes to us,
And sustains all life.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Water
But if we have the energy of compassion and loving kindness in us, the people around us will be influenced by our way of being and living.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Compassion
We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own needs and ignore the needs of the other person, we cannot love.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Love
Your true home is in the here and the now. It is not limited by time, space, nationality, or race. Your true home is not an abstract idea. It is something you can touch and live in every moment. With mindfulness and concentration, the energies of the Buddha, you can find your true home in the full relaxation of your mind and body in the present moment. No one can take it away from you. Other people can occupy your country, they can even put you in prison, but they cannot take away your true home and your freedom.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
To educate people for peace, we can use words or we can speak with our lives.
—Thich Nhat Hanh
Topics: Peace
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
The 14th Dalai Lama Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader
Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche Tibetan Buddhist Teacher
Sakyong Mipham Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader
D. T. Suzuki Japanese Buddhist Philosopher
Taisen Deshimaru Japanese Buddhist Teacher
Mary Manin Morrissey American Christian Religious Leader
Joseph Goldstein American Buddhist Teacher
Pema Chodron American Buddhist Nun
Yogaswami of Jaffna Sri Lankan Hindu Religious Leader
L. Ron Hubbard American Scientologist Religious Leader