Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain Expresses His Heartfelt Condolences and Infinite Remembrance on the Passing of Chan Master Thich Nhat Hanh

Updated January 25, 2022 

Internationally renowned Chan Master and peace advocate, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, intimate friend of DDM founder Master Sheng Yen, passed away on January 22 at Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, south-central Vietnam, at the age of 95. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh dedicated decades of his life to leading Chan retreats, spreading the Dharma, and promoting peace around the world, with far-reaching impacts. Upon receiving news of his passing, Venerable Guo Huei, Abbot President of Dharma Drum Mountain, immediately wrote a letter of condolence to the International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism to commemorate and pay tribute to the Master.

The Abbot President indicated that Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh dedicated his whole life to the spread of Buddhism and to the welfare of sentient beings, guiding people to experience the benefits of Dharma practice. In his attempt to benefit all sentient beings, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh took on multiple identities, as a noble Dharma teacher, Zen master, prolific author, and peace activist. "Thay responded to people with various needs by sharing the Dharma, manifesting as Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara by answering the calls for help from far and wide. He will always be a source of inspiration and a great model for all of us in sharing the Dharma." 

In the spring of 1995, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh first visited Taiwan and participated in a dialogue with Master Sheng Yen on "Chan and Environmental Protection" hosted by Dharma Drum Mountain at the Nung Chan Monastery in Beitou, Taipei. In the fall of 1997, he personally attended the launch of Master Sheng Yen's new English book "Complete Enlightenment". Up until the passing of Master Sheng Yen, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh had always offered loving care and words of encouragement to the monastic and lay disciples of DDM. During his second visit to Taiwan in April 2011, he attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition held at Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education entitled "Calligraphy: In the Spirit of Chan Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Master Sheng Yen". There, he offered his blessings and encouragement to the monastic and lay followers.

Chan Master Thich Nhat Hanh was the 42nd successor of the Chinese Linji School. Born in 1926 in Vietnam, he was ordained at the age of 16, and, in 1960, went to Princeton University in the United States to further his studies. Owing to political factors, he left Vietnam in 1973 to begin life in France and spread Buddhist teachings throughout Europe and America. He established the Plum Village Monastery in southwest France in 1982, which has now grown into Europe's primary Chan community, admired by practitioners from all over the world.

The Master utilized methods easily accessible to modern people to spread the teachings of Chan practice, thereby making significant contributions to contemporary Buddhism. When Master Sheng Yen was still alive, he publicly acknowledged on numerous occasions Thay's exemplary accomplishments. In response to the passing of the Master, the Abbot President expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of the Buddhist community of DDM, praying that, for the sake of all sentient beings, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh would soon return to the world in accordance with his compassionate vows.  

Text: Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural Center  
Photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Cultural Center 
Translation: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁)
Editing: YKL, Keith Brown