Find Strength in Unity and Community
Letter From Our Executive Director
June 2026
When I first helped organize a public talk of Thay’s in 2002, I heard a cautionary tale that I took to heart.
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A group that planned a previous event featuring Thay were eager to make sure everything was perfect. But in their pursuit of perfection, they forgot their mindfulness practice and were unable to work in harmony. This affected not only the spirit of their work preparations, but the atmosphere of the event. I noticed that Thay did not schedule a similar event in subsequent U.S. tours.
This was a real lesson for me: that the transmission of the Dharma of the talk I was helping organize for Thay began long before he stepped onto the stage. Harmony should take precedence during every step of the event-planning process, and in every aspect of life in community.
For Thay, harmony is essential to the health and wellbeing of the mahasangha. He knew that a community of dedicated mindfulness practitioners has great power to bring peace and compassion to a suffering world. But he also knew that internal strife, ego, and the strong pull of individualism pose risks to both the monastic and lay communities.
As a remedy, he encouraged the practice of the Six Harmonies to ensure the Sangha practices to “go as a river,” even in challenging times. These include things like sharing space and belongings, observing the precepts, sharing insights, and respecting different viewpoints.
“Why are we present in the Sangha?” Thay asked during a 2006 Dharma talk at Plum Village in France. “To go as a river, to create harmony, to manifest the appearance of harmony, to embody the spirit of harmony. And when we remember this, naturally everything becomes part of the symphony, every note finds its place in the music.”
Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation Executive Director Denise Nguyen
I hope you find much to celebrate in the pages of this report, including all the ways our monastic and lay communities are carrying forward Thay’s remarkable vision for peace and compassion. None of this would be possible without your generous support, especially your general and regular giving, which allows the foundation to meet our monasteries’ most urgent needs.
Thank you for your care, your mindfulness practice, and your peaceful presence.
In deep gratitude,
Denise Nguyen
Executive Director
The Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation
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