Calligraphic Meditation: The Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh is coming to New York this September; Take a look here

A look into the first-ever U.S. exhibit of Thich Nhat Hanh’s meditative calligraphy.

Konchog Norbu
16 August 2013
Be Beautiful be yourself calligraphy by Thich Nhat Hanh

While many thousands are eagerly anticipating peace advocate and Zen meditation master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Nourishing Great Togetherness tour of North America that began this week in Ontario, New York City and its visitors are in for an added treat: the first-ever U.S. exhibit of Hanh’s meditative calligraphy hosted by Blue Cliff Monastery and ABC Home. Entitled “Calligraphic Meditation: The Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh,” the exhibit will feature examples of his art that “[distill] ancient Buddhist teachings into simple phrases that resonate with our modern times, capturing and expressing [Hanh’s] lifetime of meditative insight, peace, and compassion.”

It’s estimated that Thich Nhat Hanh has created more than 10,000 pieces of calligraphy. This exhibit features a careful selection of the most poigant and memorable among them, from some of the earliest pieces he created in wartime Vietnam to his most recent contemplative expressions. “Calligraphic Meditation” opens September 7 at the ABC Home , Deepak HomeBase, Mezzanine at 888 Broadway in Manhattan, and runs through December 31.

For Thich Nhat Hanh, the momentary, meditative process of preparing for a calligraphic piece—making tea; preparing ink with that same tea; mindfully taking one’s place; being fully present with ink, brush, paper, and mind—is imbued with as much significance as bringing to life the completed piece itself: 

“In my calligraphy, there is ink, tea, breathing, mindfulness, and concentration. Writing calligraphy is a practice of meditation. I write the words or sentences that can remind people about the practice.”

“If we just act with awareness and integrity, our art will flower, and we don’t have to talk about it at all. When we know how to be in peace, we find that art is a wonderful way to share our peacefulness.”

And yet, Thich Nhat Hanh has composed pith teachings to accompany some of his calligraphic art. We offer three of them here for you to contemplate:

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Click here for the Nourishing Great Togetherness tour, which will feature talks and mindfulness retreats through the end of October in Toronto, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and California.

Konchog Norbu

Konchog Norbu

Konchog Norbu became a Buddhist in 1990 and ordained as a monk in 1993. Since then, he has overseen communications and media relations for several dharma organizations, authored the widely-read blog Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa during a four-year stint in Mongolia, and filled his begging bowl on occasion with freelance writing and editing gigs.