Fragrant Palm Leaves

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, and peacemaker. Author of more than 35 books, including Living Buddha Living Christ, Being Peace, and The Heart of Understanding, he lives in France, where he heads the monastic community known as Plum Village. Since the early 1980s, he has come to NorthAmerica regularly to lecture and give retreats on the art of mindful living.

Following the Mind's Path is a journal recounting three significant years in Thich Nhat Hanh's formation. The narrative shifts between experiences and friendships in the U.S., where Nhat Hanh was studying comparative religion at Princeton and Columbia Universities, and reminiscences about Phuong Boi, the innovative monastic community Thich Nhat Hanh founded in the Dalat region of central Vietnam.

This is the most autobiographical of Thich Nhat Hanh's works, and it has long been a favorite among Vietnamese readers. Its deeply personal tone creates an unforgettable encounter with the man whose life and teachings have touched an entire generation. Far more than an autobiographical sketch, Following the Mind's Path takes an unflinching look at what it means to live fully, with awareness, during a time of great upheaval and change.