THICH NHAT HANH
Known as Thay.
He was a Buddhist monk.
A man of peace.
A poet.
A master of Mindfulness, “stay in the present moment”.
A prolific writer (more than one hundred books).
A founder of monasteries, communities, new paths…
He traveled all over the world, bringing Buddhism closer to the West, with his integral vision of life.
He lived in Plum Village, France, named for its plum trees, where he founded a Buddhist community.
He created the Order of InterBeing, with monks and laypeople.
He was born and died in Vietnam. (October 11th, 1926-January 22nd, 2022)
In 1967 Martin Luther King nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. “I do not personally know of anyone more worthy of this prize than this gentle monk from Vietnam. He is an Apostle of Peace and Nonviolence. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.”
His spiritual freedom meant 39 years of exile. He was able to return to Vietnam in 2005. He returned to his temple of origin, in 2018, where he stayed until his death, due to a brain hemorrhage in which he lost his speech and had to use a wheelchair.
I never met him. But saw the movie “Walk with Me: A Journey into Mindfulness”, then some others available at the web and a pair of his books.
I made this painting in gratitude for his life. And the light of his smile…
Acrylic painting on wood, 35 x 40 cms.
THICH NHAT HANH
Conocido como Thay.
Monje budista zen.
Hombre de paz.
Poeta.
Maestro de Mindfulness, “permanecer en el momento presente”.
Prolífico escritor (más de 100 libros).
Fundador de monasterios, comunidades, caminos nuevos…
Viajaba por todo el mundo, acercando el budismo a Occidente, con su particular visión integradora.
Vivió en Plum Village, Francia, llamada así por sus ciruelos, donde fundó una comunidad budista.
Creó la Orden de InterSer, con monjes y laicos.
Nació y murió en Vietnam. (11 de Octubre 1926-22 de Enero 2022).
En 1967 Martin Luther King lo nominó para el Premio Nobel de la Paz. “No conozco personalmente a nadie que merezca más este premio que este amable monje vietnamita. Sus ideas para la paz, si se aplicasen, levantarían un monumento al ecumenismo, a la fraternidad universal, a la humanidad”.
Su libertad espiritual le significó 39 años de exilio. Pudo volver a Vietnam en 2005. Y luego retornó a su templo de origen, el 2018, donde estuvo hasta su muerte, debido, tal vez, a una hemorragia cerebral en la que perdió el habla y tuvo que usar silla de ruedas.
No lo conocí. Vi una película sobre su vida, “Walk With Me: A Journey into Mindfulness” (“Camina conmigo”), luego otras disponibles en la web y un par de sus libros.
Pinté su retrato en gratitud a su paso por esta tierra. Y por dejarnos la luz de su sonrisa…
Pintura acrílica sobre madera 35 x 40 cms.
LINKS:
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh
https://www.lionsroar.com/author/thich-nhat-hanh/
“A Cloud Never Dies” biographical documentary of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh narrated by Peter Coyote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRObW9noiVk
FRANCISCA LEIGHTON ART 