Buddhism: Thich Nhat Hanh from usatoday.com

Buddhism: Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh, an exiled Vietnamese monk, is among the world's most respected Buddhist leaders. A monk since age 16, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by the Rev. Martin Luther King for his efforts to bring peace to his divided country. He also helped organize rescue missions into the 1970s for Vietnamese trying to escape political oppression. At 40, he founded Plum Village Monastery in France as a home for monks and nuns and a practice center where each year thousands of lay people, activists and refugees visit. Nhat Hanh has conducted many retreats in Europe and North America for thousands, and has written more than 75 books of prose, poetry, spiritual guidance and prayers. For at least a decade, Nhat Hanh has visited the United States every other year, drawing large multidenominational crowds. His popularity in the United States inspired the mayor of New York City to declare a Day of Reconciliation during a visit in the 1990s. Now in his 70s, Nhat Hanh is coming to America for a series of retreats, including a controversial one this month in Madison, Wisc., aimed at police and others in high-stress public service jobs called "Protecting and Serving without Stress or Fear." In September, he hopes to offer a public talk to members of Congress and a weekend retreat for the elected representatives and their families. Chat with Thich Nhat Hanh about his teachings.

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