Thich Nhat Hanh
Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet. (Thich Nhat Hanh)
Beloved Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh was born in Vietnam in 1926. He trained to be a monk at the age of 16 and went on to teach in Vietnam. In 1966 he was exiled from Vietnam for opposing the war. He went on to found monasteries and schools around the World, most famously Plum Village in South West France. He is the author of numerous books and touched the hearts of many with his interpretations of Mahayana, and Zen Buddhism, and mindfulness practices which he called Engaged Buddhism.
Nhat Hanh is known as the “father of mindfulness”, communicating the core principles of Buddhism in a way that made them accessible to generations of westerners. He was instrumental in using mindfulness to treat mental health disorders. One of his students Jon Kabat Zinn developed the mindfulness based stress reduction course that is available at hospitals and medical centres across the world.
He died in 2022 at the age of 95. He was mourned worldwide.
“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
“Peace in oneself is the first step in creating peace in the world.”
“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”
Books:
The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
NO MUD, NO LOTUS: The Art of Transforming Suffering
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