We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Remembering Venerable Man Giac
The monastic brothers and sisters from Plum Village visited Kiep So Monastery, where Thay Tu Luc emphasized that in order to truly inquire after one another, we must speak sincerely, even if there is no specific topic. Last Sunday, Thay Nhat Hanh started the tape recorder to record his teachings so that the sangha could listen to them again today; two benefactors helped provide plane tickets for the sangha, without whom this trip would not have been possible. In the current community, there are 36 monastics; counting Su Ong makes 37, and with nearly 40 lay friends from Plum Village, compared to the 1,250 disciples of the Buddha in ancient times, our number today is still very small, so each individual needs to encourage and spread the practice.
Thay Nhat Hanh is likened to a bridge connecting the past, present, and future, guiding the Plum Village sangha to follow a fresh and creative path of practice. From the Chanting Book project to his ability to speak English and French naturally, Thay brings honor to Vietnamese Buddhism around the world. Through the story of his gentle bow to the Buddha at Kusinagara, and his advice to students to “imitate each step of the Teacher” rather than merely keeping up appearances, Thay teaches us not to be attached, but to give rise to the mind of awakening. In practice, the image of shaving the head—a symbol of letting go—is performed on the 14th and 30th days of the lunar month or whenever there is discomfort; both body and mind are cared for through support, the spirit of solidarity, and the practice of the Diamond Sutra.
Highlights of Thay Nhat Hanh
- A bridge connecting past, present, and future
- The Chanting Book—scriptures compiled by Thay
- The poem “Free and Easy White Clouds” and other poems that inspire creativity and aspiration
- A humble, calm demeanor, creating wholesome conditions for the sangha to practice