We are saddened to announce the passing of Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of 95, earlier today at Tu Hien Temple in Hue, Vietnam. The late Zen Master and peace activist had inspired millions of people worldwide in the practice of mindfulness, stimulating deep reflection and faith in the Buddha’s teachings.

In 1982, after his exile from his home country of Vietnam, Venerable founded Plum Village in France. Under his spiritual leadership, the community at Plum Village has grown from a small rural farm to become the largest and most active Buddhist monastery in the West. This growth is attributed to Venerable’s active promotion of “engaged Buddhism” which applies Buddhist ethics and philosophy to contemporary social issues.

Venerable alongside Martin Luther King Jr., advocating for peaceful secessions to the Vietnam War. King later nominated Venerable as a Noble Peace Prize laureate in 1967.

His last visit to Malaysia was in September 2010 where he gave the keynote address at the World Buddhist Conference, as well as to conduct a series of programmes on mindfulness as part of a teaching tour around South-East Asia.

Nalanda Buddhist Society records our deepest condolences to the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, disciples and students of the late Venerable. Let us honour a tremendous life well-lived by dedicating our mind to being in the moment, to experience the happiness of here and now. May Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh attain the highest bliss of Nibbāna. May he be at Peace.

Keynote address by Ven.Thich Nhat Hanh at World Buddhist Conference 2010, Kuala Lumpur: Our right and left hands work together harmoniously without the sense of superiority or inferiority. They show us the wisdom of non-discrimination.

Venerable leading the community at Plum Village on one of his famous mindfulness walks.