In Love and Trust: Letters from a Zen Master

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Experience Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep and direct expressions of love, connection, and wisdom through a new collection of the Zen master’s personal letters.Widely recognized for his deep and accessible teachings on the art of mindful living, Thich Nhat Hanh lived a rich life dedicated to fostering community and connection within and outside of the monastery walls. In Love and Trust offers a striking look at Thich Nhat Hanh as seen through his intimate letters to monastics, lay practitioners, allies in the peace movement, and other friends on the path. Through these touching pieces of correspondence, we see Thich Nhat Hanh at his warmest and most inspirational, at his most candid and direct. These personal messages of love and trust demonstrate the deeply human origins of Thay’s teachings—and Thay’s own deeply human expression of them. In Love and Trust is composed primarily of newly translated letters, presented here in English for the first time. The book features archival photos and Thich Nhat Hanh’s own handwriting throughout.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist who then lived in southwest France where he was in exile for many years. Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo, Thích Nhất Hạnh joined a Zen (Vietnamese: Thiền) monastery at the age of 16, and studied Buddhism as a novitiate. Upon his ordination as a monk in 1949, he assumed the Dharma name Thích Nhất Hạnh. Thích is an honorary family name used by all Vietnamese monks and nuns, meaning that they are part of the Shakya (Shakyamuni Buddha) clan. He was often considered the most influential living figure in the lineage of Lâm Tế (Vietnamese Rinzai) Thiền, and perhaps also in Zen Buddhism as a whole.

Reviews

[Cecille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know much about Thich Nhat Hanh or Zen Buddhism going in, and while I wouldn't say I'd picked up all the nuances through context clues, I feel a little more enriched learning about one of the most influential agitators for peace in the 20th century.
This was also just a very grounding text to read on particularly bad days, especially considering the general bleakness of the world today.

[kiik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, deeply moving.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just okay. The format is letters, obviously, and it felt a little overly didactic and did not show the most inspirational side of the community.