Vietnamese monk Thích Nhất Hạnh, who passed away on January 22, 2022 at the age of 95, was one of the foremost teachers of Zen Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation. Having joined a monastery at age 16 in 1942, the spiritual leader spent most of his life studying, practicing, and spreading the Buddhist principles of nonviolence and awareness. He was an author, poet, artist, and peace activist with a gift for distilling ancient Buddhist philosophies into accessible daily practices. His teachings helped people all around the world to slow down, catch their breath, and enjoy the present moment.
Over the course of his long life, Thích Nhất Hạnh wrote more than 70 books and founded several Buddhist movements and organizations, most notably the Plum Village monastery and mindfulness center in southern France. During the Vietnam War, he developed a practice of “engaged Buddhism,” which unites personal spirituality and social action, inspiring people to demonstrate against war, rebuild villages, provide medical treatment, and advocate for human rights. These actions led to his exile from his home country for 39 years, during which he traveled the world spreading the message of peace and love. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called Thích Nhất Hạnh “an apostle of peace and nonviolence” when he nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.
In his nineties, Thích Nhất Hạnh returned to his native country to live at the monastery where he was first ordained as a teen, in the central Vietnam city of Huế. His work continues to inspire, offering a simple and inviting approach to meditation and Buddhism. His equanimous and caring style is evident in these 15 calming quotes from the Zen master’s life’s work.
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