‘4 Great Living Buddhas’ Thich Nhat Hanh Passes Away at 95 (Comprehensive)

(Photo by AP News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh, considered one of the world's four living Buddhas alongside the Dalai Lama, passed away at the age of 95 on the 21st (local time), according to reports from The New York Times (NYT) and others.

The Plum Village Buddhist Meditation Community Temple in France, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, announced through the late master's Twitter that he entered nirvana at midnight on that day.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a poet, teacher, and peace activist, was revered as a "living Buddha" and "spiritual master" alongside the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Born in 1926, he became a monk at the age of 23. Fluent in seven languages including English, he visited Princeton University and Columbia University in the early 1960s to give lectures related to Buddhism.

After returning to his homeland in 1963, he participated in anti-war movements and was expelled by the South Vietnamese government.

He then mainly resided in France, spreading the engaged Buddhism movement that applies Buddhist principles to political and social reform, influencing the world.

During his lifetime, he met with the late American civil rights activist Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and urged him to actively speak out for conflict resolution.

Impressed by Thich Nhat Hanh's dedication to peace and nonviolence, Reverend King nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

After suffering a stroke in 2014 that left him unable to speak, he returned to Vietnam in 2018 to spend his remaining years in his homeland.

He left a will requesting that his body be cremated and his ashes scattered along the Plum Village meditation walking paths around the world.

Thich Nhat Hanh, who visited Korea during his lifetime, had many books introduced domestically, including "Anger," "Thich Nhat Hanh Meditation," and "Peace in the Heart, Smile on the Face."

Following the news of Thich Nhat Hanh's passing, memorial messages continued in Korea. President Moon Jae-in expressed on social media that "Thich Nhat Hanh was praised as a 'living Buddha' and respected worldwide as one of the most influential spiritual leaders," and conveyed "deep condolences."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.