Rider pays tribute to 'Father of Mindfulness' Thich Nhat Hanh

Rider has paid tribute to spiritual leader, bestselling author and pioneer of the mindfulness movement Thich Nhat Hanh, who has died aged 95. 

The author was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, scholar and activist for social change. He died at Từ Hiếu Pagoda in Huế, Vietnam, the same monastery where he was ordained as a monk 80 years ago. 

Andrew Goodfellow, publisher at Ebury, said: “We are deeply saddened at the passing our beloved author Thich Nhat Hanh. The man who taught the world the art of mindfulness and who inspired us all with his life-changing spiritual guidance, compassion and tireless work for peace. It is an honour to be his publisher. We hope his wisdom and kindness are a source of solace and inspiration for many years to come. Our thoughts are with everyone at Plum Village, Từ Hiếu temple and those whose life he personally touched.” 

As an author, he wrote a series of bestselling books which have sold 325,000 print copies in the UK for £2.7m since Nielsen BookScan record began. 

Rider said: “A prolific author and poet, he wrote multiple bestselling books including The Miracle of Mindfulness, The Art of Living and, most recently, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. Often called ‘the Father of Mindfulness’, he pioneered the modern mindfulness revolution, bringing his teachings and healing methods to people around the world.” 

The publisher added: “In the war and turmoil of 1960s Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh established a university and a training programme for thousands of young social workers. For his efforts to promote peace and build a new vision for compassionate community-building, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr Martin Luther King, Jr in 1967. Through his books and retreats at the International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, he became a pre-eminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all.”