Thích Nhất Hạnh

Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, author, poet, and teacher. He was born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo on 11 October 1926 and passed away on 22 January 2022. Many people call him the "father of mindfulness" because he helped many people learn how to be calm and kind.

In the 1960s, Nhất Hạnh helped start the School of Youth for Social Services and created the Order of Interbeing. He spoke out against the war in South Vietnam. In 1967, Martin Luther King, Jr. even thought he should get a Nobel Peace Prize. Nhất Hạnh founded the Plum Village Tradition and spent many years at the Plum Village Monastery in southwest France. He traveled the world giving talks and teaching people how to listen to each other to solve problems peacefully.

Nhất Hạnh wrote about the idea of "engaged Buddhism" in his book Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire. After many years away, he was allowed to return to Vietnam in 2005. He went back to his "root temple", Từ Hiếu Temple, near Huế, where he lived until he passed away at the age of 95.

Early life

Thích Nhất Hạnh was born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo on 11 October 1926, in the city of Huế in central Vietnam. He grew up in a big family and was the fifth of six children. When he was very young, he lived with his extended family at his grandmother's home. As a child, he felt happy when he saw a drawing of a peaceful Buddha. One day on a school trip, he visited a mountain where a hermit lived. After drinking from a natural well there, he felt very calm and decided he wanted to become a Buddhist monk. With his parents’ permission, he began his training when he was 16 years old.

His family included the poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, who wrote the book Lục Vân Tiên. His father worked for the French administration, and his mother took care of the home.

Names applied to him

Thích Nhất Hạnh was called many names during his life. As a boy, he had a family name for school and a nickname for friends. When he became a Buddhist and a monk, he received special names. His main name, Nhất Hạnh, means “One” and “Action,” showing ideas of quality and goodness. People often called him “teacher” or “Zen Master Nhất Hạnh.”

Main article: Vietnamese name Shakya East Asian Buddhism refuge Three Jewels given name right conduct

Education

At age 16, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined the monastery at Từ Hiếu Temple. There he learned from Zen Master Thanh Quý Chân Thật. For three years as a novice, he studied Vietnamese traditions of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. He also studied Chinese, English, and French.

He later went to Báo Quốc Buddhist Academy but left in 1950. He felt the school did not teach enough about philosophy, literature, or foreign languages. He moved to Ấn Quang Pagoda in Saigon and became a monk in 1951. He sold books and poetry to support himself while studying literature, philosophy, psychology, and science at Saigon University. He earned a degree in French and Vietnamese Literature.

In 1955, he returned to Huế. He worked for two years editing a Buddhist publication. It stopped because some senior monks disagreed with his views. He taught at a high school and wrote about uniting Buddhist groups in South Vietnam. He also taught Buddhism at several temples in Saigon, including Xá Lợi Pagoda. His classes stopped because some people did not agree with his teachings. Later, he studied at Princeton University and taught at Columbia University and Cornell University. He learned many languages including French, Classical Chinese, Sanskrit, Pali, and English.

Career

Activism in Vietnam 1963–1966

In 1963, Thích Nhất Hạnh returned to South Vietnam to help organize Buddhist groups. He worked to bring different Buddhist groups together into one Unified Buddhist Church. He wanted to end the Vietnam War and create places to support peaceful work based on Buddhist teachings.

In 1964, Thích Nhất Hạnh’s students began a press to publish books about peace. Later, the government closed a journal he edited because it talked about peace.

School of Youth for Social Service (SYSS)

In 1964, Thích Nhất Hạnh started the School of Youth for Social Service. This group sent young people to help in villages by building schools and health clinics. They helped many communities during the war.

Order of Interbeing

Thích Nhất Hạnh created the Order of Interbeing between 1964 and 1966. This group teaches people to live with mindfulness and compassion, following ideas that support peace and helping others.

During the Vietnam War

During the war, Thích Nhất Hạnh spoke out for peace in the United States. He met with important leaders and wrote books and articles about his ideas for ending the conflict. He was accused of working against the government and could not return to Vietnam for many years.

Refuge in France

In 1966, Thích Nhất Hạnh moved to Paris and worked for peace through talks and writing. He started centers for Buddhist practice and wrote books teaching people how to live mindfully every day.

Plum Village

In 1982, Thích Nhất Hạnh and his colleague Chân Không started Plum Village Monastery in France. This became a large center for Buddhist practice and welcoming people from around the world.

Writings

Thích Nhất Hạnh wrote over 130 books, many about mindfulness and Buddhist teachings. His books have been translated into many languages and helped people learn how to live with more peace and awareness.

Later activism

Later in life, Thích Nhất Hạnh spoke out for many causes, including helping people who were treated unfairly and protecting animals. He also supported efforts to work together for a better world.

Relations with Vietnamese governments

Thích Nhất Hạnh had a changing relationship with the government of Vietnam. He stayed away from politics but did not agree with some policies of the South Vietnamese government. Because of this, the government did not allow him to return when he was abroad in 1966.

His relationship with the communist government of Vietnam was also difficult. The government did not trust him and sometimes limited his activities.

In 2005, the Vietnamese government allowed Nhất Hạnh to visit Vietnam again. He was permitted to teach, publish books, and travel with members of his Order.

In 2007, Nhất Hạnh returned again. During this visit, he suggested that the government should allow more freedom for religious groups.

In 2008, some statements Nhất Hạnh made led to pressure from another country. This caused some difficulties for his followers.

Religious approach and influence

Main article: Plum Village Tradition

Thích Nhất Hạnh mixed ideas from Buddhist traditions like Mahayana and Zen with Western psychology. He taught mindfulness and meditation in a new way. He was a leader in Engaged Buddhism, which encourages people to work for positive change.

He changed old Buddhist rules into "mindfulness trainings" that focus on good actions. For example, instead of just not stealing, he taught people to stop unfair practices. He created a special set of mindfulness trainings for his community, the Order of Interbeing. He introduced a new way of thinking called "interbeing," showing how everything is connected. He used simple stories and phrases, like "no mud, no lotus," to teach important ideas.

Nhất Hạnh was known for bringing Buddhist teachings to the West. His book The Miracle of Mindfulness helped people learn to be calm and present. He worked with people of different religions to promote peace, making friends with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Thomas Merton.

Final years

In November 2014, Thích Nhất Hạnh had a health problem and went to the hospital. After many months, he left the clinic in France. In July 2015, he went to San Francisco for more care. He returned to France in January 2016 and later went to a temple in Thailand. Even with help from doctors, he could no longer speak for the rest of his life.

In November 2018, Thích Nhất Hạnh returned to Vietnam to live at Từ Hiếu Temple. Though he could not speak, he showed his wish to return through gestures. In January 2019, a member of his community said his health was stable, and he liked being outdoors when the weather was nice.

Death

Thích Nhất Hạnh passed away at his home in Từ Hiếu Temple on 22 January 2022 at the age of 95. Many people, including leaders from different countries, felt sad about his passing. His funeral lasted several days, ending with a ceremony where his remains were scattered in temples.