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How did Thich Nhat Hanh die? MLK Jr nominated Buddhist monk for Nobel Peace Prize

Thich Nhat Hanh, who spoke seven languages, penned more than 100 books, the last being released in October 2021

Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who was exiled from Vietnam for nearly 40 years for opposing war, died on Saturday, January 22. He was 95. The unfortunate news of his death was shared by the Instagram and Twitter accounts of his foundation known as Plum Village Tradition. The prolific author and peace activist breathed his last in the presence of his followers.
 
Sharing the obituary on social media, the official Instagram account of Thich Nhat Hanh read, “The International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism announces that our beloved teacher Thich Nhat Hanh has passed away peacefully at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam, at 00:00hrs on 22nd January 2022, at the age of 95”, adding, “We invite our global spiritual family to take a few moments to be still, to come back to our mindful breathing, as we together hold Thay in our hearts in peace and loving gratitude for all he has offered the world. Speaking of renowned public figures dying recently, we lost celebrities like Betty White, Bob Saget, comedian Louie Anderson, and singer Meat Loaf.
 
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How did Thich Nhat Hanh die?

The cause behind Thich Nhat Hanh was not revealed on social media platforms except that he passed away peacefully. The renowned poet was born on October 11, 1926, in Vietnam and had many names in his lifetime. Thich Nhat Hanh was known for bringing mindfulness to the west. One of the most influential Zen Buddhist monks also made a name for his sayings like “You learn how to suffer. If you know how to suffer, you suffer much, much less. And then you know how to make good use of suffering to create joy and happiness” and “The art of happiness and the art of suffering always go together".
 
Thich Nhat Hanh made headlines when he met Martin Luther King Jr in order to persuade him to speak out against the Vietnam war. Hanh's efforts to promote reconciliation between the North and South Vietnam impressed Martin Luther King that a year later he nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The daughter of the latter Bernice also paid condolences to the late monk in a tweet saying, “My father with his friend and ally, #ThichNhatHanh, who died this week. I celebrate and honor Thich Nhat Hanh’s life and global influence for peace.” Thich Nhat Hanh had suffered a stroke in 2014 that did not allow him to speak. He returned to Vietnam in his final days after his exile was terminated by the government. Hanh spent most of his life in France where he founded the Plum Village Tradition. Hanh, who spoke seven languages, penned more than 100 books- the last being released in October 2021.

‘His teachings of compassion and mindfulness will continue to lighten this world’

The news of Thich Nhat Hanh’s death left the social media users sad as one of the users posted, “I know I should not cry, I know I should not grieve, I know my attachments bring on my suffering, but damn it, Thick Nhat Hanh has died and I am crying, and grieving, and suffering.   I must remember he would not want that.  I must learn better from his teachings.” One posted, “Breathing today with the news of #thichnhathanh 's recent passing at the age of 95.  'Thay' was a global visionary who combined profound spirituality, a deep understanding of how to communicate, and a passionate commitment to justice.  Truly an inspiration.”
 
The next one stated, “Thich Nhat Hanh died today. His work taught me more about kindness and calming the mind than just about anyone else I've ever read. He even inspired MLKJr. May he live on in our acts of kindness and deep understanding.” Whereas, equally grieving individual shared, “A man who helped change the world through the moral power of his voice and actions.” One user tweeted, “So so sad and a loss for the world. Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, passed away today. I learned so much from him from his thoughts and writings. He helped me become a better human being.” And, one concluded, “It was an honor to meet Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam in 2019. His teachings of compassion and mindfulness will continue to lighten this world. Rest in peace.”