This last week I went to Bangkok to attend 4 lectures - Dharmma talks - by The Venerable Thich Nhut Hanh.

I know...you are asking ...who the heck is that?

For me, when I came to Bangkok, it was the person who is most often quoted when anyone writes about socially-engaged Buddhism.

I found out much about him this week. He is a Zen Buddhist monk..I am still not entirely clear on what that means compared to say the Theravada monks here in Thailand or the Asoke monks or the Dali Lama. He is 79 years old and looks, moves and speaks at least a generation younger than that. He was born in Viet Nam and has live in exile in France (at the Plum Village) for many, many years. He came here with about 70 members of his Sangha - men and women about 50-50. He is an incredible teacher. When he speaks, you somehow feel like you are the only person he is speaking to. And he explains tough concepts with simple stories, humor and the most gentle demeanor I have ever witnessed.

The first talk that I went to was at the UN. It was by invitation only and I Was fortunate enough to get an invitation. At that talk, I think I met the only Ugandan Buddhist monk. He is currently living in West Virgina. (I know - Ugandan monks in a monastery in West Virginia...it's kind of surreal.) He spoke about staying in the moment; about compassionate listening and loving speech. I was entrapped.

The second talk was on Tuesday night at the Thai Chamber of Commerce University. He spoke of competition and jealousy and used an incredible analogy of his right and left hands.

I went to the scheduled talk on Wednesday at Wat Mahathat but it was canceled. I think someone had previously scheduled the space for a large group of nuns and no one had the heart to ask them to move or leave.

The final talk was on Vesacha Bucha Day - what he had come to Thailand to celebrate. I got an opportunity, thanks to my friend Victor, to help serve some of the French Sangha dinner. They were a joy. And the talk was amazing. I will let you figure out how he worked no car day and listening to the ones you love and giving them space into the same talk. Trust me, it worked. (http://deerparkmonastery.org http://www.greenmountaincenter.org/ http://plumvillage.org I will find the link to no-car-day ...my notes are in my office.)

I have been touched. Gently.