The Life and Legacies of Thích Nhất Hạnh

Abstract

Thiền sư Thích Nhất Hạnh was one of the most influential Buddhist public figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. His name is now synonymous with global mindfulness and engaged Buddhism movements. Yet before achieving international acclaim, Thích Nhất Hạnh was also an active Buddhist reformer and social organizer in his home country, Vietnam. This introduction to the special issue contextualizes Thích Nhất Hạnh as a monastic, poet, activist, scholar, innovator, and beloved community leader for many, tracing his multiple legacies in and beyond Vietnam.