Meeting Thich Nhat Hanh

In September, 1993, I attended a one week retreat at Camp Swig, which is located in the hills just outside of Sacramento, California. I showed up quite early, due mainly to my flight schedule. I registered and then helped some other folks move a couch into the accomodation that was set up for Thay (Thay, pronounced "tie", means "teacher" in Vietnamese and is the name students use for Thich Nhat Hanh). I moved my stuff to the hut where I was to bunk with about 7 other guys. One of the guys was an amazing snorer. I had anticipated this might happen and had brought some earplugs with me! We woke up at 6am to get ready for the morning meditation.

I had brought a book with me that had beautiful pictures of Clayoquot Sound which is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I was, at the time, campaigning with the Sierra Club to try and save this area from logging. I was hoping to give the book to Thay as a gift. Just before one of the dharma talks, I was walking towards the hall. There was no-one else around except for a nun who was walking towards me... I recognized her - it was Sister Chan Khong, who has been working with Thich Nhat Hanh for many, many years. I asked her how I might get my gift to Thay and she suggested that I approach him as he was about to enter the hall to give one of his dharma talks. I thanked her and continued on my way...

The day before I was to return home, I took the book and went to the cabin where I knew Thay was staying and waited for him to appear as he was scheduled to give a dharma talk in about 30 minutes. After a while, I sheepishly knocked on the door. After a few minutes, Sister Jina emerged from the cabin and I asked her if I might give the gift to Thay. She also suggested that I wait until he was just about to enter the lecture hall...

I went and waited by the hall and after about 10 minutes, I could see Thay walking very slowly up the hill towards the hall. He walked up to the entrance, then looked up at me as I was standing in front of him by this time. I held my hands together, bowed and said "I would like to give you this gift, Thay... we are trying to save the trees..." He smiled and took the book. Looking at the cover he said "it's so beautiful!... thank you!" and he put his hand gently on my shoulder and smiled. It was such a wonderful moment that I said "may I have a hug?" We embraced and shared our hugging meditation... Thay thanked me again and proceeded into the hall. People around me were smiling as I must have just been glowing.

I consider Thay Nhat Hanh, as I'm sure many do, one of the greatest teachers of our time and a true Bodhisattva! I am blessed to have shared a few personal moments with him and I will never forget his gentleness and humility.