Thich Nhat Hanh (affectionately called “Thay” by his students) is a world-renowned Buddhist teacher of the “Art of Mindful Living.” Millions around the world from all faiths have benefited from his over 80 published books and his family-friendly meditation retreats for beginners. He has many Jewish and Christian students, several of whom are priests, rabbis and ministers. Thomas Merton, the famous Catholic author, called him a true brother and friend. And Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. Some of his books have become national bestsellers, including the classic: Living Buddha, Living Christ, an inspiring book on Interfaith dialogue and spiritual practice in modern times.

In collaboration with his community, he has authored Fourteen principles as the foundation of his spiritual work in mindfulness. Here is one of them:

Nonattachment to Views
Aware of the suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions, we are determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. We shall learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to others’ insights and experiences. We are aware that the knowledge we presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth. Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.

Thich Nhat Hanh is contributing to a gentle, transformative revolution in religion, ecology, education and social action through this compassionate, non-dogmatic and practical approach to spirituality and life.

Each other year in late summer/early autumn, Thay and dozens of his monastic disciples come to the United States to facilitate retreats in Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado, California and other states.

For more information,you may visit his website at: http://www.IAmHome.org or www.plumvillage.org

Timeline for Thich Nhat Hanh and the Order of Interbeing

Thich Nhat Hanh and the Order of Interbeing Timeline

1926

• October 11 – Birth of Thich Nhat Hanh (TNH) (birth name: Nguyễn Xuân Bảo in Thừa Thiên, Vietnam)

1938

• Birth of Sister Chan Khong (born Cao Ngoc Phuong in Ben Tre, Vietnam)

1942

• TNH entered the Tu Hieu Temple Monastery as a novice monk

194_

• TNH graduates from Bao Quoc Buddhist Academy

1949

• TNH is ordained a monk

1950

• TNH co-founded An Quang Temple in Saigon, Vietnam

195_

• TNH Founded the Phoung Boi (Fragrant Palm Leaves) Meditation Center in the highlands

1956

• TNH named Editor-in-Chief of “Vietnamese Buddhism” the periodical of the Unified Vietnam Buddhist Association

1958

• Sister Chan Khong enrolled at the University of Saigon, studying biology

1960

• TNH goes to the United States to study comparative religion at Columbia University and Princeton University

1961

• TNH Teaches at Columbia University and Princeton University

1963

• TNH returns to Vietnam
• Sister Chan Khong goes to Paris, France to complete her degree in biology

1964

• TNH establishes the Van Hanh University, La Boi Press, and the School for Youth and Social Service (SYSS)
• Sister Chan Khong returns to Vietnam to work with the SYSS
• The Order of Interbeing is established

1965

• TNH writes “Searching for the Enemy of Man” a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. urging him to publicly oppose the war in Vietnam

1966

• February 5 – the first 6 members (the Six Cedars) are ordained into the newly formed Order of Interbeing
• May 1 – TNH is given the Lamp Transmission at Từ Hiếu Temple from Master Chân Thật, making him a Dharmacharya (Dharma Teacher)
• TNH returns to the US to lead a symposium at Cornell University
• TNH speaks to many groups and leaders, including Robert MacNamara and Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Sister Chan Khong is named operations director of the SYSS
• Control of Van Hanh University is taken over by the Vice Chancellor who severs ties with the SYSS, calling Sister Chan Khong a communist
• The SYSS continues to work despite the harassment and murder of many of its members

1967

• TNH is nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• TNH is exiled from Vietnam by the Vietnamese government
• TNH gains asylum in France
• May – Nhat Chi Mai, one of the first six Order of Interbeing members, immolates herself for peace

1969

• TNH Leads the Buddhist Peace Delegation
• Sister Chan Khong joins TNH in France to assist with the Buddhist Peace Delegation; she is considered an enemy of the Vietnamese government and exiled as well
• TNH Establishes the Unified Buddhist Church in France
• TNH lectures at the Sorbonne in Paris

1973

• Paris Peace Accords are signed. TNH is not allowed re-entry into Vietnam by the newly formed communist government.

1975

• TNH and Sister Chan Khong form the Sweet Potatoes Meditation Center in France

1976-77

• TNH and Sister Chan Khong lead efforts to rescue Vietnamese boat people

1981

• Thich Nhat Hanh ordains Anh-Huong Nguyen into the Order of Interbeing. This ordination in France is the first ordination since the establishment of the Order of Interbeing in Vietnam in 1966.

1982

• Plum Village Buddhist Center in the Dordogne region in France is established by TNH and Sister Chan Khong

1988

• Sister Chan Khong is ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as a nun on Vulture’s Peak in India

1990

• Sister Annabel Laity (True Virtue) ordained as a Dharmacharya and serves as Director of Practice at Plum Village

1992

• The first conference of the International Order of Interbeing is held. This conference established the Order of Interbeing Charter, elected an Executive Council, and established that Assembly meetings would be held regularly to revise and amend the Charter. It also established a Council of Elders and a Council of Youth to draw from the experience of it’s members for leadership and guidance.[1]

1997

• Maple Forest Monastery was formed in Vermont

1998

• Unified Buddhist Church (UBC), Inc is formed in the United States
• Sister Annabel named to head the UBC, Inc
• Green Mountain Dharma Center formed
• Sister Annabel named Abbess of the Maple Forest Monastery and Green Mountain Dharma Center

2000

• June – TNH assists in wrting the Manifesto 2000 which consists of six pledges to promote a culture of peace and non-violence in the world. It has been signed by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.[2]
• Deer Park Monastery is formed in California near Escondido

2001

• September 21 – TNH begins a fast for peace and to remember those who have died in the September 11, 2001 attacks
• September 25 – TNH gives a speech at the Riverside Church in New York City urging the American people and government to think before reacting to the events of September 11th and to look for a peaceful resolution.

2005

• January 12 to April 11 – TNH returns to Vietnam to visit Buddhist temples, teach, and is allowed to publish a limited number of his books in Vietnamese; 100 monastic and 90 lay members of the OI accompany him
• Two temples are re-established in Vietnam with TNH as their spiritual head: the Tu Hieu Temple and the Prajna Temple
• August – Magnolia Village Practice Center is accepted by TNH as an Order of Interbeing center in Mississippi
• October 9 – TNH and Order of Interbeing members lead the “Peace is Every Step” walk at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, California.

2006

• May 22 – TNHs book Old Path White Clouds is optioned for the film Buddha to be produced by MCorpGlobal. TNH makes an appearance at the Canne’s film festival to promote the project.[3]
• September 11 – TNH makes an appearance in Los Angeles to promote the Buddha film project. His Holiness the Dalai Lama endorsed the project at the luncheon which was attended by a number of Hollywood actors.[4]
• October 7 – TNH addresses UNESCO, calling for specific steps to reverse the cycle of violence, war, and global warming. He calls for a committment of observing a weekly No Car Day to be promoted globally.[5]
• October 11 – TNH enjoys his 80th birthday

2007

• February 20 to May 9 – TNH Returns to Vietnam to conduct “Grand Requiem For Praying” ceremonies to help heal the wounds of the Vietnam war.[6]