Honoring a Zen Master: Reflection and Legacy

Welcome to episode 20 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.

At such a demanding and delicate time, the presenters, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and lay Buddhist practitioner and journalist Jo Confino, reflect on Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh passing on January 22nd, 2022. They offer a profound insight into the memorial week, the funeral, impact on the Plum Village community, and the overwhelming global response.

This instalment of the podcast is an intimate account of the period between the announcement of Thich Nhat Hanh’s passing and the recording of this episode: “a retreat of silence, and a retreat of remembering Thay and continuing Thay.”

Brother Phap Huu, Thay’s former attendant and current Abbot of the Upper Hamlet, shares his personal relationship with Thich Nhat Hanh and how these events have impacted him. He also shares a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the traditional ceremonies and memorial services, preparations, and processions, as well as personal stories from the Plum Village communities over the eight days following the beloved teacher’s passing. 

The conversation delves into: the significance of the ceremonies’ texts; the deep practises underpinning the formalities; Thay becoming a spiritual ancestor; deep levels of aspiration; the symbolic homes for Thay’s ashes; acceptance, togetherness, and impermanence; the relevance of Thay’s teachings for years to come; and what it means to be the continuation of Thay. 

The episode ends with a short meditation on continuation and gratitude, guided by Brother Phap Huu.

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Co-produced by the Plum Village App:
https://plumvillage.app/

And Global Optimism:
https://globaloptimism.com/ 

With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:
https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ 

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List of resources 

Plum Village
https://plumvillage.org/ 

Thich Nhat Hanh memorial ceremonies
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaX_vxbhs8fi9nUbUL75NorK6yYOSrWzd 

Memorial Week for Thich Nhat Hanh
https://plumvillage.org/memorial/

Memorial Practice Resources
https://plumvillage.org/memorial-practice-resources/ 

‘Photos from Thay’s Memorial Ceremonies’
https://plumvillage.org/articles/photos-from-thays-memorial-ceremonies/

‘Daily Contemplations on Impermanence and Interbeing’
https://plumvillage.org/daily-contemplations-on-impermanence-interbeing/

Chants: ‘Namo Avalokiteshvaraya’
https://plumvillage.org/library/chants/namo-avalokiteshvaraya/ 

‘Namo’valokiteshvaraya Chant’ (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkjX_c4hm4 

Chants: ‘Heart Sutra’
https://plumvillage.org/library/chants/heart-sutra/ 

‘New Heart Sutra Translation by Thich Nhat Hanh’
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/ 

Monastic robes
https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/monastic-fashion/ 

Sister Chân Không
https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong/

Plum Village Lineage
https://plumvillage.org/series/plum-village-lineage/  

‘Memories from the Root Temple: My Master’s Robe’
https://plumvillage.org/articles/memories-from-the-root-temple-my-masters-robe/ 

‘The 16 Exercises of Mindful Breathing’
https://plumvillage.org/library/songs/the-16-exercises-of-mindful-breathing/#

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Quotes

“Thay’s life is his message.”

“Many of us grew up in a Buddhist family, but didn’t know the beautiful culture and the depths of Buddhism, and have been waiting for a master to open our eyes to the spiritual dimension. And we were so lucky that we found Thay. So the tears and the prostration are just gratefulness, and honoring, and respect.” 

“The tears are bitter but also very sweet, because if we don’t go deep into our feelings – this podcast is The Way Out Is In – if we’re not going into our feelings of grief, then all we’re doing is blocking them. But the point is not to be stuck in them. Our tears are like a flow. And we need to let it flow.”

“Impermanence. We are of the nature to grow old. We are of the nature to get sick. We are of the nature to die. Everything that we hold deep and dear to us, one day we will let go of.” 

“I’ve always said that Thay’s the most famous person no one’s ever heard of, because he’s had such an influence yet his name doesn’t… […] Suddenly I felt Thay in the public, in his fullness. And I thought that was his extraordinary power: that he wasn’t well known, but everyone knew him.”

“When Thay did a retreat in 2003 for police officers, we used no Buddhist terms. We did a ceremony, but no incense offering. It’s possible, and we have to be flexible. We have to hope for that spirit.”

“I want to be in the midst of this storm and still have my two feet on the ground. Thay has given us the tools, and I need to cultivate that deeper and deeper, because then brotherhood, sisterhood, community will have stability. And Thay said, ‘If in Thay’s community there is still brotherhood and sisterhood, then anything is possible.’”

“The chanting is another way of directing our grief, another way of honoring our masters, our teachers, our spiritual ancestors.”

“What I see so clearly is Thay’s continuation in his actions and his teachings, and that they are as robust as if he were here; there’s no dilution of them. He’s taught us so beautifully and in such a practical and simple way that people can immediately relate to and practice; as he said, you don’t need to be in the practice for 10 years, you can start right now.”