Reincarnation

Every moment is a moment of rebirth. And because the future is made of the present, we must live so that we have peace, freedom, and happiness in this moment.

In this book, with characteristic clarity and simplicity, Thich Nhat Hanh offers deep reflections on reincarnation or “continuation.” Using intuitive examples—a teapot, parents and children, banyan trees, and more—Thich Nhat Hanh breaks down what it means to go beyond the notions of birth and death. 

Influenced by what and how we consume, our actions of thought, speech, and body are our true continuation. Moving into the future as the totality of our actions, we can see ourselves as more than this body and mind. 

When we free ourselves from a limited conception of who we are—when we let go of self-attachment—we make possible a true understanding of rebirth.

Series Overview: Thich Nhat Hanh’s prominent place in Western Buddhism is marked by his singular ability to make obscure teachings accessible. Because of Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep, lifetime commitment to awakening for all—across cultural, educational, and experiential divides—he was able to distill ancient Buddhist teachings to their most understandable essences for modern audiences.

Books in the Zen Doors series highlight some of the topics where Thich Nhat Hanh bridged those divides most skillfully: reincarnation, nirvana, enlightenment, etc. Supplemented by material from current Plum Village monastics to make these teachings even fresher and more intuitive, Thich Nhat Hanh’s writing in this series presents the cream of his insight on the most perennial yet misunderstood topics in Buddhism.

About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh, a world-renowned spiritual teacher and peace activist, was born in Vietnam in 1926 and became a Zen Buddhist monk at the age of sixteen. Over seven decades of teaching, he published more than one hundred books, which have sold millions of copies. Exiled from Vietnam in 1966 for promoting peace, his teachings on Buddhism as a path to social and political transformation are responsible for bringing the mindfulness movement to the West. He established the international Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism in France, now the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the heart of a growing community of mindfulness practice centers around the world. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh passed away in 2022 at the age of ninety-five at his root temple, Tu Hieu, in Hue, Vietnam, surrounded by his beloved community.

Author Residence: Hue, Vietnam

Author Hometown: Hue, Vietnam