The Philosophy and Practice of Interbeing in Thich Nhat Hanh’s Writing

The article looks at the philosophy and practice of interbeing in the writing of the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Each section discusses a selected aspect of interbeing as taught by Nhat Hanh and practiced by the Plum Village community. “Peaceful Revolution and Building a Community” section introduces a historical look at a collaboration between Nhat Hanh and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. “The Web of Relationships: The Net of Indra” explores the philosophical depth of the concept of interbeing and its roots in The Avataṃsaka Sūtra. “Interbeing” looks at how the term is applied in Engaged Buddhism. “Interbeing in Historical and Ultimate Dimension” develops some of the insights from previous sections and discusses the practical dimension of interbeing, with numerous references to Nhat Hanh’s books as well as his poems written during and after the Vietnam War.