Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh

It was with deep and heartfelt sorrow that we recognise the passing of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022). As a global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, he was renowned for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. His key teaching was that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment—the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world.

An inspirational life*

In a life spanning almost a century, Thich Nhat Hanh published over 100 titles on meditation, mindfulness, and engaged Buddhism, as well as poems, children’s stories, and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts.

Thich Nhat Hanh was a pioneer in bringing Buddhism to the West, founding eleven monasteries and dozens of practice centers in the United States, Asia, and Europe, as well as over 1,000 local mindfulness practice communities, known as ‘sanghas.’ He built a thriving community of over 600 monks and nuns worldwide, who, together with his tens of thousands of lay students, apply his teachings on mindfulness, peace-making, and community-building in schools, workplaces, businesses – and even prisons – throughout the world.

Thich Nhat Hanh was a gentle, humble monk – the man Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called “an Apostle of peace and nonviolence” when nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. In the media he has also been called “The Father of Mindfulness,” “The Other Dalai Lama” and “The Zen Master Who Fills Stadiums.”

Read Thich Nhat Hanh’s inspirational life story here

Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings in Rigpa

Many Rigpa students fondly remember Thich Nhat Hanh’s visit to its retreat centre, Lerab Ling, in France in 1993, when he demonstrated mindful living for us through calm words, simple actions, and the openness and clarity of his being. Sogyal Rinpoche would often refer to the teachings that Thich Nhat Hanh gave at this time. He would frequently recommend students facing difficulties to ‘water the seeds of joy’ and when teaching on emptiness and the need to transcend conceptual thinking, he enjoyed reminding us of Thich Nhat Hanh’s adaptation of Shakespeare: “ ‘To be or not to be?’, that is not the question.”

Position on the environment

In 2014, Thich Nhat Hanh made a statement about climate change at the invitation of the United Nations. In his statement he wrote:

“The Earth is a loving mother, nurturing and protecting all peoples and all species without discrimination. When you realize the Earth is so much more than simply your environment, you’ll be moved to protect her in the same way as you would yourself. This is the kind of awareness, the kind of awakening that we need, and the future of the planet depends on whether we’re able to cultivate this insight or not.”

Read his full statement on the environment here

Continuing his legacy

It is a source of great joy for all to know that Thich Nhat Hanh’s legacy will continue in the hearts, minds and actions of all his students and those continuing his work for future generations. What a miraculous and transforming legacy it would be for us, the people of the world, to wake up and speak and act in society with the fearlessness, wisdom and compassion that typifies Thich Naht Hanh’s engaged Buddhism.

*Biography details included in this article are thanks to The Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation