Der Duft von Palmenblättern

The autobiography of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh about the beginnings of an unparalleled spiritual path. How did Thich Nhat Hanh become a spiritual master? What are the key events in his life? Nowhere are these questions answered as clearly as in "The Aroma of Palm Leaves." The text, based on Thich Nhat Hanh's diaries from the 1960s, tells of the contrast between violence and war in Vietnam and the consumer society in the USA. Above all, it is filled with touching and poetic passages about his very human feelings and his extraordinary spiritual breakthroughs. The unique journey of the young Buddhist monk and his quest for spiritual liberation and authentically lived peace begins right here.

In "Phuong Boi - Fragrant Palm Leaves," the spiritual journey begins. Disillusioned with official Buddhism in Vietnam, a group of young monks builds a monastery in the Vietnamese mountains to realize their ideal of a contemplative and practical life. They name this place "Phuong Boi - Fragrant Palm Leaves," where everything starts. Amidst the wild nature and secluded in the solitude of meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh has his first profound experiences of the unity of complete emptiness, pure awareness, and simultaneous connection with all and everything. As always with Thich Nhat Hanh, this is also reflected in his practical engagement, in this case for the suffering Vietnamese farmers.

Mindfulness and spirituality - even in the Western world. However, his actions soon force Thich Nhat Hanh to move to the USA as a scholarship recipient at Princeton: a culture shock! It is both exciting and touching to see how he patiently and attentively adapts to the conditions in the West. And here too, he has profound inner experiences, the description of which is among the most beautiful things this authentic master has ever written. The birth hour.