Peace Is Every Step

The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hanh

Peace Is Every Step provides an intimate portrait of the life of Thich Nhat Hanh, internationally known Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. His main message, delivered in soft-spoken tones, concerns meditation in action. "You get out of the meditation hall," Thich Nhat Hanh says, "and that is called meditation in action. Deep looking is meditation, and deep acting is also meditation."

Since his efforts to end the Vietnam War, which resulted in a forty-year exile from Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh has resided in Plum Village, France. Footage of his work in Vietnam and at his monastery in Plum Village, as well as at several retreats in the U.S., weaves a tapestry of his constant efforts at reconciliation. Thich Nhat Hanh served as Chair of the Vietnamese Peace Delegation to the Paris Peace Talks and some of the most interesting moments filmed involve his ongoing interactions with Vietnam Veterans. One of the most touching moments in the film is his visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC.

In Peace Is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh reminds viewers to lead a "mindful and meaningful life... The best way to take care of the future," he says, "is to take care of the present moment. There are things we can do, we all can do."