Brother Troi Pham Hanh (Holy Life of Heaven), born Bart Johan Christiaan Bannink in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1981. His birth card read: “So he may live as a priestly thinking human being.” He comes from a line of ministers and teachers within the Apostolic Society. This tradition planted the first seeds, which, in the right conditions of Plum Village, grew, leading him to be ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as a Buddhist monk in 2012.
In 2022, he received his Dharma Lamp, showing his journey in his insight poem:
“Standing on the shoulders of Giants, a holy fire lit with a passion to transform all my afflictions with my 8 bodies together into love and understanding, offering joy to the world.”
Sister Jina, a long time mentor of his, wrote in response:
“The sacred holy life of both East and West illuminates the well-trodden ancestral paths. Revealing their true treasures as action and non-action go perfectly together.”
As a storyteller and inventor, Brother Pham Hanh mixes personal experiences and stories into his teachings, giving simple but deep insights that connect and inspire. His work often looks into the fields of trauma and healing, helping others toward transformation and resilience.
His curiosity leads him to adjust everyday things for the community. His creative coffee roaster — made of non-coffee roaster elements — found its way into a Dharma talk, while his method for tempeh production has nourished thousands.
In Brother Pham Hanh’s presence, kindness and creativity grow, encouraging others to experience the Plum Village Dharma in new and surprising ways.