Thich Nhat Hanh
Born 1926 · Age 99
Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author and teacher; founder of the Plum Village tradition and a primary inspiration for engaged Buddhism and modern mindfulness in the West.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Huế, Vietnam
Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo in the imperial city of Huế, central Vietnam.
Entered Từ Hiếu Temple as novice
At age 16 he began novice training at Từ Hiếu Temple under Zen Master Thích Chân Thật.
Received novice precepts (full moon of 9th lunar month)
Completed three years of novice training and formally received novice precepts; recorded in his memoirs (date corresponds to full moon of the 9th lunar month, 1945).
Moved to Saigon; adopted Dharma title Nhất Hạnh
Left Huế for Saigon to continue studies; took the Dharma title 'Thích Nhất Hạnh' around this period.
Published first poetry collection (Tiếng Địch Chiều Thu)
Early publication of poetry which established his reputation as a poet in Vietnam.
Co-founded Ấn Quang Pagoda (Saigon)
Helped establish Ấn Quang Pagoda in Saigon, which later hosted a reformist Buddhist institute where he taught.
Ordained as a bhikshu (full monk)
Received full ordination as a bhikshu at Ấn Quang Temple (Bhikshu precepts).
Awarded BA in French & Vietnamese Literature (Saigon University)
Studied literature, philosophy, psychology and science at Saigon University while supporting himself writing and selling books and poetry.
Editor-in-Chief of Phật Giáo Việt Nam (Vietnamese Buddhism)
Became editor of the General Association's official publication; used the post to advocate unity and renewal; publication later suspended.
Purchased Phương Bối land (Fragrant Palm Leaves community)
Bought ~60 acres in the Đại Lão Forest and established Phương Bối, an experimental rural monastic community (land purchase date recorded Aug 7, 1957).
Invited to international Buddha’s birthday in Japan; resolved to learn English
First trip outside Vietnam; exposure to international Buddhist networks convinced him to master English.
Accepted Fulbright Fellowship to study comparative religion
Awarded a Fulbright to study comparative religion in the U.S.; left Vietnam to broaden scholarship and perspective.
Studied at Princeton Theological Seminary
Studied Comparative Religion at Princeton (1961); formative period leading to his applied mindfulness practice.
Lecturer / researcher at Columbia University
Appointed lecturer in Buddhism at Columbia University; used access to Western Buddhist collections to deepen scholarship.
Published A Rose for Your Pocket (Seeing Your Mother Deeply)
Wrote and published the short, influential book (initially in Vietnamese) that became widely used as a guided mindfulness practice.
Returned to Vietnam to help restructure Buddhism
Returned at request of Thích Trí Quang to help reorganize Vietnamese Buddhism after the overthrow of Diệm.
La Boi (Lá Bối) publishing activities begin
Two of his students founded La Boi Press with a grant (Mrs. Ngo Van Hieu) to publish his and related works; press published multiple titles by 1966.
Co-founded the School of Youth for Social Service (SYSS)
Created a neutral corps of Buddhist peace workers undertaking rural relief, education and healthcare; SYSS grew to ~10,000 volunteers.
Editor of Hải Triều Âm (Sound of the Rising Tide)
Edited the UBCV's influential weekly; the journal was later closed by the South Vietnamese government for its peace advocacy.
Founded Institute of Higher Buddhist Studies (Vạn Hạnh University)
Founded the Institute (later Vạn Hạnh Buddhist University) in Saigon to teach Buddhist studies, culture and languages; he taught Buddhist psychology there.
Published anti-war poetry and activism
Became known in the American press as an 'antiwar poet' after publication of a strongly worded poem opposing the war.
Exiled from Vietnam (began 39-year exile)
After international peace mission and public opposition to the Vietnam War, both North and South governments denied him reentry; he moved to Paris and was granted asylum in France.
Met Thomas Merton and Martin Luther King Jr. (U.S./Europe peace mission)
Met Thomas Merton (who wrote 'Nhat Hanh is My Brother') and Martin Luther King Jr.; built influential interfaith relationships.
Received the 'lamp transmission' from Master Chân Thật
On 1 May 1966 at Từ Hiếu Temple he received lamp transmission, making him a dharmacharya (teacher) and spiritual head of Từ Hiếu.
Publication: Vietnam — The Lotus in a Sea of Fire
Wrote the book that coined and popularized the term 'engaged Buddhism' and detailed peace proposals for Vietnam.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (by Martin Luther King Jr.)
Dr. King nominated him for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize and praised him as 'an apostle of peace and nonviolence.'
Established Unified Buddhist Church in France
Set up a version of the Unified Buddhist Church (Église Bouddhique Unifiée) in France to serve exiled Vietnamese Buddhists.
Led Buddhist delegation to Paris Peace Talks
Participated as chair of the Vietnamese Buddhist Peace Delegation at the Paris peace negotiations relating to the Vietnam War.
Purchased Sweet Potatoes property (near Paris)
Bought a small countryside property southeast of Paris called 'Sweet Potatoes' as the first Western practice center and refuge.
Founded Sweet Potatoes Meditation Centre
Established the Sweet Potatoes community near Paris as a year-round residence and practice center for exiles and followers.
Published The Miracle of Mindfulness
Published one of his most influential books (originally Miracle of Being Awake), a practical manual on mindfulness.
Campaign to rescue Vietnamese boat people; chartered ships
Organized clandestine rescue operations for refugees at sea (e.g., ships Roland and Leapdal); rescued hundreds but later faced diplomatic pressure and expulsion from Singapore.
Wrote 'Please Call Me by My True Names' (poem)
Composed his best-known poem in connection with his activism to rescue Vietnamese 'boat people' and humanitarian efforts.
Founded Plum Village Monastery (Dordogne, France)
Moved the community to a larger site in southwest France and established Plum Village, which became the main international practice center.
Founded Parallax Press
Established Parallax Press (nonprofit) in California to publish his works in English and books on engaged Buddhism.
Began ordaining first generation of Plum Village monastics
Started formal monastic ordination of his disciples in Plum Village; ordinations increased monastic community in the West.
Founded Deer Park Monastery (Escondido, California)
Established the first Plum Village–affiliated monastery in the United States (Deer Park Monastery).
Bat Nha monastery occupation and development
Followers were invited to occupy Bat Nha; his community reportedly invested ≈$1,000,000 to develop the monastery, including a meditation hall for 1,800 people.
Permitted to visit Vietnam after 39 years in exile
Arrived in Vietnam (12 Jan 2005), allowed to visit, teach, and return to his root temple Từ Hiếu after long negotiations with the government.
Led large 'Grand Requiem' healing ceremonies in Vietnam
During a 2007 visit he led multi-day ceremonies and retreats in multiple cities to heal wounds of the Vietnam War; groups up to ~10,000 attended.
Opened European Institute of Applied Buddhism (Waldbröl, Germany)
European Institute of Applied Buddhism established to train teachers and apply mindfulness in secular contexts.
Bat Nha standoff and forced dispersal by authorities
Government-backed raids, mob attacks and police actions in Sept–Oct 2009 resulted in power cuts, raids and forcible removal of hundreds of monks and nuns from Bat Nha.
Started exhibiting calligraphies internationally (since ~2010)
His calligraphy works were exhibited in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, Germany, France and New York beginning around 2010.
Created teacher training program for Wake Up Schools (applied ethics)
Launched a training program to bring secular 'applied ethics' and mindfulness into classrooms (Wake Up Schools initiative started around this period).
Led sitting meditation in Trafalgar Square (London)
Led a public sitting meditation for over 3,000 people in central London (reported 31 March 2012).
Met Jim Yong Kim (World Bank President) at World Bank
Met and photographed with World Bank President Jim Kim in Washington, D.C., Sept 2013 during mindfulness engagements.
Addressed large audiences including Hong Kong Coliseum (10,000+) and events at Google/World Bank/Harvard
Led events for institutions such as Google, The World Bank and Harvard School of Medicine during a 2013 US/Asia visit; addressed 10,000+ in Hong Kong Coliseum.
Moved to Thai Plum Village center after stroke
Following the stroke he moved to Thailand to be cared for by disciples at a Thai Plum Village meditation center.
Received honorary doctorate from Hong Kong University
Honored by HKU with an honorary doctorate in May 2014.
Completed new translations of the Heart Sutra
Released new English and Vietnamese translations of the Heart Sutra in September 2014, citing clarification of centuries-long mistranslations.
Suffered severe stroke
On 11 Nov 2014 he suffered a major stroke, leaving him unable to speak and mostly paralyzed on the right side.
Monastic order size reported
Plum Village's charitable arm reported the monastic order comprised over 750 monastics in 9 monasteries (reporting year 2017).
Returned to Vietnam to live at Từ Hiếu Temple (root temple)
Moved back to his root temple near Huế to spend his remaining days; visited regularly in wheelchair and led walking meditation.
Bibliography milestone: Over 130 books; 5+ million copies sold
By Jan 2019 he had published over 130 books (100+ in English) and reported sales of over five million copies worldwide.
Living legacy reported
At his death Plum Village community reported over 700 monastic disciples at 11 monasteries and hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide continuing his engaged Buddhism.
Passed away at Từ Hiếu Temple
Died peacefully early 22 Jan 2022 in the Deep Listening Hut at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, surrounded by disciples.
Funeral and cremation; ashes distributed
Funeral and cremation took place on 29 Jan 2022 in Huế; ashes distributed among practice centers in Europe, the US and Asia.
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