Reincarnation

by Thich Nhat Hanh

Accessible and deep, this is the cream of Thich Nhat Hanh's insight into one of the most perennial yet misunderstood topics in Buddhism.

n Understanding Rebirth, with characteristic clarity and simplicity, Thich Nhat Hanh offers deep reflections on rebirth or “continuation.” Using intuitive examples—a teapot, parents and children, banyan trees, and more—Thich Nhat Hanh breaks down what it means to go beyond the notions of birth and death.

As Thich Nhat Hanh explains, every moment is a moment of rebirth. And because the future is made of the present, we must live so that we have peace, freedom, and happiness in this moment.


Influenced by what and how we consume, our actions of thought, speech, and body are our true continuation. WIth mindfulness, we can intervene in this process of “input and output” to ensure a wholesome, beautiful continuation. And moving into the future as the totality of our actions, we can see ourselves as more than this body and mind.

When we free ourselves from a limited conception of who we are—when we let go of self-attachment—we make possible a true understanding of continuation.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

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

[Translator Monkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from three and a half stars. While there's nothing to suggest it on the cover, this edition is cobbled together from papers and transcribed talks from Thich Nhat Hanh, material that's been published and available for some time. Further, about a third of the book is explanatory material from well-known Plum Village monk Phap Luu to supplement Thay's writing for those less familiar with the subject.

Unsurprisingly, there are no connections between Engaged Buddhism's idea of reincarnation and what the public has been fed through popular media (wherein a dying/dead person's soul somehow inhabits a newborn baby), and Thay clearly explains the concept of reincarnation (rebirth) manifesting in no-self while we are alive, before we are alive, and after we have passed. As is his trademark he is able to take easily digestible examples throughout.

A small book, but steeped in sometimes challenging concepts.

Three and a half stars (rounded up to four) because I liked it, but would have appreciated forewarning on the cover of the shared authorship, and with an explanation in the description that the material is derived from previous publications. Neither is a bad thing, but I opened the cover thinking I was reading a new book penned by Thay in his later years.

[Bryce Houck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful view on the continuation of what we think of as the “self”. Highly recommend this read if you’re into Buddhist/ Eastern Philosophy.

[Cynthia Marcolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything written by Thich Nhat Hanh is helpful for reducing stress.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an excerpt of the book first in Tricycle magazine and immediately felt resonance and intrigue by the way Thich Nhat Hahn’s teachings turn the caricatures I had of reincarnation and karma into accessible and authentically Buddhist teachings on mindfulness and nonattachment — e.g., his teaches that reincarnation is not meant to imply we transpose or transmute from our current bounded life form into another bounded life form but that we are all temporary bundles of life that affect and are deeply affected by other bundles of life, both in the present moment and as continuations of all past bundles, particularly personal ancestors. In this way, karma becomes about the energy we cultivate in the present moment and reincarnation as the invitation to consider each successive present moment as a rebirth in which to make a mindful choice that can weaken habits of thought or action that cause suffering and instead strengthen the seeds of peace, love, and “right” action.

Also really enjoyed the commentary from Brother Phap Luu along the way which felt to me like a filter through which to translate and absorb the Buddhist ideas. Because as a product of the 1970s and 1980s here in the US, I feel like Buddhism will only ever be available to me as a second language, forever limited by my deeply conditioned Western mind. ;)

[Eloise Tanguy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely short read! The highlighter got plenty of use! Some amazing passages and reflections on the teachings of the Buddha and how to walk in his footsteps more in every day life!
I loved the views of having all the things in life that influence you being planted as seeds within you, all the good and all the bad! Happiness, kindness, compassion, anger, jealousy, hate! All of them are planted as seeds, but then it’s up to us to choose which ones we look after, water and tend to till they grow into great trees and beautiful flowers, and which we choose to let die!!

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing that we are the sun, we give up the candle's habit of fearing the wind.

Deeply helpful in a number of ways, I truly feel the instruction given in this short little volume could change my life. I love reading about philosophy and religion and it's even more enjoyable when it's as practical and realistic as this. Adore!!!!

[Maughn Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reflects my current understanding and belief in a naturalist (= non-supernatural) account of an afterlife: our bodies are continually dying and being reborn and eventually they will continue as part of the Earth. Our ideas, speech, and actions are the continuation of what we lived through before, and some of them will be effective in some ways after our natural deaths. So live well!

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and concise summary of Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings on what happens when we die, taken from his own talks and from commentaries by Br. Phap Luu. It's not reincarnation but continuation.