Hanh, Thich Nhat

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and a world-renowned teacher of socially and politically conscious “engaged Buddhism.” In 1966 Thich Nhat Hanh was invited by the Fellowship of Reconciliation to tour the United States so he could explain to the American public why Buddhists were leading demonstrations against the American-supported Saigon government. As a result of his outspoken appraisal of the Saigon government’s policies, Nhat Hanh faced certain imprisonment upon his return to Vietnam. He took asylum in France, where he founded Plum Village, an important center for meditation and social and political action.