Peaceful Action, Open Heart

The Lotus Sutra is one of the most revered Mahayana texts, yet there are very few commentaries on it available in English. In this book, renowned Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh explores the Sutra's main theme — that everyone has the capacity to become a Buddha and that the Buddha nature is inherent in everything — while emphasizing that Buddha-nature is the basis for peaceful action. Hanh interprets the Sutra with his signature depth of vision, lucidity, and clarity, showing how both individuals and nations can use its wisdom to solve the many problems facing the world today. Invoking a wide range of current topics, from the threat of terrorism to the degradation of the environment to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, he challenges the U.N. to change from an organization to an organism working for peace and harmony. In doing so, he demonstrates the practical application of this sacred text to today's most pressing issues.