Vietnam’s famous Buddhist guru comes home one last time

Thich Nhat Hanh is back home in Vietnam. Hanh, the renowned author of over 100 books on Buddhism, who is largely credited with the global popularity of the religion as also the “peace movement”, came back to his hometown of Hue, to his “root temple” of Tu Hieu Temple, a few days after his 92nd birthday. According to an official announcement, this is where he will live out his remaining days.

It was also where he lived in initial days. In 1942, aged 16, Hanh received training in Vietnamese Buddhism traditions, and was ordained as a Bhikshu nine years later. He then travelled to the West, from the US to Europe. He also set up a series of community centres and monastries in six countries across the world. He also founded the School of Youth and Social Service, a grassroots relief organisation of 10,000 volunteers based on the Buddhist principles of non-violence and compassionate action.

His most prominent work, however, came during the Vietnam War, for which he was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. While several monks in the country were gripped by the question of whether to meditate during the war or to help out with the turmoil of the war, Hanh was among those who did both. His anti-war activism even meant he was exiled from the country between 1966 and 2005.

A stroke in 2014 meant he is today unable to speak, and communicates only through gestures. And through gestures is how he communicated his desire to return to Vietnam, to Hue village, to the Tu Hieu Vilage root temple. This is where he will regain touch with his heritage and his roots, and where he will eventually perish, in the same place he was born.

Meet Thich Nhat Hanh

• 92-year-old Thich Nhat Hanh has written over 100 books on Buddhism
• His work for peace activism during the Vietnam war earned him a Nobel Prize nomination
• He was barred from returning to his home country from 1966-2005