An Ode to Buddhist Monk Philosopher THICH NHAT HANH

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders and pioneer of the modern mindfulness movement, has breathed his last at the age of 95. He passed away peacefully at Tù Hiéu Pagoda in Hué, Vietnam, the same monastery where he ordained as a monk 80 years ago.

A prolific author and poet, Thich Nhat Hanh has written over one hundred books, translated into over 40 languages. Thich Nhat Hanh has influenced leaders in the fields of politics, business, social justice, and environmental action. He has spoken at the US Congress, the UK Parliament, the Indian Parliamentarians, and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Thich Nhat Hanh first came to international prominence in 1966, when he arrived in the West to call for an end to the Vietnam War. He befriended Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and played a pivotal role in the decision of the civil rights leader to speak out against the war. In 1967, Dr. King nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize calling him, “an apostle of peace and nonviolence.” Thich Nhat Hanh was exiled from Vietnam for 39 years because of his peace work and returned only in 2018 to spend his last days in his root temple.

His work is continued by the International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism which he founded: a global grassroots network comprising more than 1,000 local mindfulness groups, dozens of meditation centers, and ten monasteries in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Thich Nhat Hanh attracted national attention in India during his historic visit in 2008 as he encouraged efforts to re-establish Buddhism and bring mindfulness into the mainstream. The Indian Government recognised Thich Nhat Hanh as a global peace icon, author, poet, and international statesman and invited him as a guest of the State, to deliver the Gandhi Memorial Lecture and to address Parliamentarians.

Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh, Ahimsa Trust was set up in 1996 to represent him and his community in India. It has been involved in bringing Mindfulness and Applied Ethics to many facets of society. Thich Nhat Hanh’s message of peace, happiness and mindfulness is being spread by Dharmacharya Shantum Seth and the Ahimsa community in India.

To further this work, Ahimsa Trust is setting up Jamun Village, a Mindfulness Practice Centre, in the village of Rajpur near Dehradun in Uttarakhand. The land has been donated and is being developed as an educational, spiritual, and socio-ecological centre, a place of refuge, training, and compassionate action. The land was blessed by Thich Nhat Hanh on his last visit to India and he called it ‘Plum Village, India’.

Plum Village is where Thay has realised his dream of building a Beloved Community: creating a healthy, nourishing environment where people can learn the art of living in harmony with one another and with the Earth. Every year, Plum Village welcomes thousands of meditation practitioners from all around the world who come to experience the art of mindful communal living. Over 40 nationalities are often represented at the festive four- week annual Summer Opening Retreat which offers special programs for children and teenagers.

Source: Himalayan News Chronicle