Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (“Thay,” pronounced like “tie”) was a Vietnamese monk and poet who became a global spiritual leader and peace activist who was nominated by Martin Luther King, Jr. for a Nobel Peace Prize. He is well known for espousing Engaged Buddhism from the very beginning of his path. 

Even as a young monk Thay advocated for a unified Buddhism that adapted to meet the needs of the current social climate. He worked tirelessly to engage the world to help people see the destructive forces of war (thus how he met MLK) and advocated fearlessly to stop the violence while also working directly to help those directly impacted by the war. This basic orientation is central to the Plum Village lineage.

Thay’s powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness continue to help us create a just and peaceful world where all beings can flourish together.

Thich Nhat Hanh has published over one hundred titles on meditation, mindfulness, and engaged Buddhism. Additionally, he has authored many poems, children’s stories, and commentaries on ancient Buddhist texts/sutras. His published works have sold over three million books in America alone, with some of his best-known works being Peace Is Every Step, The Miracle of Mindfulness, The Art of Power and True Love and Anger.

Thich Nhat Hanh was a pioneer in bringing Buddhism to the West, often regarded as the “father” of the modern mindfulness movement. He founded six monasteries and dozens of practice centers in America and Europe. He has developed an immense network of lay practitioners as well, with well over 1,000 mindfulness-based practice communities operating now. From the first land-based center in Plum Village, France, the Plum Village community and traditions have grown world-wide, encompassing over 1,000 monks and nuns worldwide. The Plum Village Worldwide Sangha also includes tens of thousands of lay students who live in accordance with his teachings and strive to create peaceful communities of every kind.

Thay passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, at the age of 95, at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam. Yet in the Plum Village tradition, we understand that Thay has not truly left us. He often spoke of continuation—the understanding that nothing is ever entirely born or entirely lost, but continues in new forms. Today, Thay's continuation lives in the Plum Village monastic community, in sanghas (like ours!) around the world, and in the countless people who bring his teachings into their daily lives. Every mindful breath, peaceful step, and act of compassion is an opportunity to continue his work. Although Thay is no longer physically with us, his teachings remain as alive and relevant today as they were during his lifetime.