Thich Nhat Hanh has passed away

Philip Wang, CNN via MSN, 1/21/22; Ashley Wells, T. Nguyen, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, whose reach within Buddhism is seen as second only to the Dalai Lama, was in exile after being banished from his homeland for calling for an end to war (AFP).

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Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk turned peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh is dead

Thich Nhat Hanh or "Thay" (Plum Village)

Thich Nhat Hanh, a prominent Vietnamese engaged Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, and leading voice in opposition to the American War on Vietnam, has passed away at Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam.

He was 95 years old. The monastic organization he founded in France, Plum Village, announced the news on their website.

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Plum Village said Thich Nhat Hanh passed away "peacefully" on Saturday morning local time. [What time is it? It's NOW. It's always NOW. Be present. Be presence. Be here now.]

The Art of Dying is important, too

"Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] has been the most extraordinary teacher, whose peace, tender compassion, and bright wisdom has touched the lives of millions," the Plum Village (plumvillage.org) statement reads.

"Whether we have encountered him on retreats, at public talks, or through his books and online teachings -- or simply through the story of his incredible life -- we can see that Thay [Thich Nhat Hanh] has been a true bodhisattva, an immense force for peace and healing in the world," it reads.

Light goes out just as it came on

Thich Nhat Hanh first traveled to the US in 1961 to teach comparative religion at Princeton University. Later that decade, he lectured at Cornell and Columbia University, where he continued to spread a message of peace and lobbied Western leaders to end the Vietnam War, Plum Village said.

In 1967, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize, calling him "an Apostle of peace and nonviolence."

Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. with Thich Nhat Hanh

However, no Nobel Peace Prize was awarded that year. Thich Nhat Hanh's mission of opposing the war led to both North Vietnam and South Vietnam denying him the right to return to either nation for decades, until recently.

He was exiled for 39 years and given permission to return to his homeland in 2005. More

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Plum Village commemoration

Buddhist monk second in the West only to the Dalai Lama dies in Vietnam (AFP)

A beautiful lotus needs mud.

With a deep mindful breath, we announce our beloved teacher Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh has passed away peacefully on 22nd January, 2022. Join us online as we commemorate his life and legacy with a week of practice and ceremonies.

[Thay wrote many books or had them written for him by ghostwriters with their Western concerns and perspectives, published by his Parallax Press in Berkeley, California, including awkward poetry.]