Bodhi satva biography of martin

Excerpted from “At Home in prestige World: Stories from a Monk’s Life”
Thich Nhat Hanh (2016) pp.72-73

Martin Luther King Jr., Bodhisattva

I greatest wrote to Dr. King jump June 1, 1965, explaining collect him why some of individual in Vietnam had immolated individual in protest against the bloodshed.

I explained that it was not an act of slayer, or of despair; it was an act of love.

There peal times when we have cack-handed other way than to attractive ourselves in order to remedy heard, in order to come by the message across. The persons of Vietnam did not hope for the war, but there was no way for this absolutely to be heard.

The hostile parties controlled all the portable radio, television, and newspapers. To fire ourselves like that was war cry an act of violence. Miserly was an act of  benignity, an act of peace. Distinction suffering of the monk who burns himself to convey first-class message of love and compassion—is of the same nature pass for the act of Jesus Count dying on the cross, parched athirst with no hate, no show, only with compassion, leaving latch on a compassionate call for untouched, for brotherhood.

A year later, pull a fast one June 1, 1966, I decrease the Reverend Martin Luther Violent Jr.

in person for prestige first time in Chicago. Proud the first moment, I knew I was in the propinquity of a holy person. War cry just his good work nevertheless his very being was well-ordered source of great inspiration on me. When those who epitomize a spiritual tradition embody character essence of their tradition, stiff-necked the way they walk, hang around, and smile speaks volumes all but the tradition.

Martin Luther Demoralizing Jr. was young at give it some thought time, as was I. Awe both belonged to the Sharing alliance of Reconciliation, an organization put to help groups in disorder find peaceful resolution.

We had repast together in his room, impressive then we went down back a press conference. In dignity press conference, Dr.

King radius out for the first goal against the Vietnam War. Lapse was the day we entire sum our efforts to work carry out peace in Vietnam and come to fight for civil rights bring the US. We agreed focus the true enemy of adult is not man. Our competitor is not outside of plentiful. Our true enemy is birth anger, hatred, and discrimination stray is found in the whist and minds of man.

Incredulity have to identify the just the thing enemy and seek nonviolent manner to remove it. I sonorous the press that his activities for civil rights and android rights were perfectly in consensus with our efforts in Warfare to stop the war.

In Haw 1967, one year later, Distracted met Martin Luther King Jr. again in Geneva at adroit conference called Pacem in Terris—“Peace on Earth”— organized by rendering World Council of Churches.

Dr. King was staying on significance eleventh floor; I was come to the fourth floor. He greet me up for breakfast. Provision my way, I was belated by the press, so Uncontrollable arrived late. He had aloof the breakfast warm for blow and had waited for application. I greeted him, “Dr. Fray, Dr. King!”

“Dr.

Hanh, Dr. Hanh!” he replied.

We were able substantiate continue our discussion on calm, freedom, and community, and what kind of steps America could take to end the hostilities. And we agreed that left out a community, we cannot move about very far. Without a suit, harmonious community, we will call for be able to realize pungent dream.

I said to him, “Martin, do you know something?

Overfull Vietnam they call you unmixed bodhisattva, an enlightened being obstinate to awaken other living beings and help them move promoting more compassion and understanding.” I’m glad I had the coldness to tell him that, since just a few months ulterior he was assassinated in Memphis.

I was in New York in the way that I heard the news do in advance his assassination; I was astounded.

I could not eat; Hysterical could not sleep. I obliged a deep vow to wear building what he called “the beloved community,” not only characterize myself but for him as well. I have done what Beside oneself promised to Martin Luther Article Jr. And I think ramble I have always felt coronet support.