Thích Nhất Hạnh quotes
1926 – 2022 · Vietnam, 20th–21st century · Thiền (Zen) Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist
About Thích Nhất Hạnh
Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo in Huế on 11 Oct 1926, he became a novice at Từ Hiếu Temple in 1942 and was ordained in 1949 as Thích Nhất Hạnh. After leaving Vietnam in 1966 on a peace mission and living mainly in France, he co‑founded Plum Village (1982). He taught mindfulness as everyday practice, developed the notion of interbeing, and linked meditation with social action.
Works: The Miracle of Mindfulness; Being Peace; Peace Is Every Step; The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
Quotes
“Letting go takes a lot of courage sometimes. But once you let go, happiness comes very quickly. You won’t have to go around searching for it.”
Source: 5 Practices for Nurturing Happiness (article presenting this teaching; no dated primary source identified) · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording appears in an article that attributes the teaching to Thích Nhất Hạnh; a closely related passage is in Peace Is Every Breath.
- What remains uncertain
- Scholars judge the attribution as plausible but not fully verified: the exact sentence lacks a clear primary source and may come from an edited transcript or paraphrase.
The line points out that courage to let go creates the inner space where happiness can arise on its own, without chasing it. It frames release as an active, brave choice rather than passivity. The idea reflects Thích Nhất Hạnh’s practical emphasis on freeing the mind from clinging so joy can be discovered.