In addition to providing a much needed PTO day in mid-January, MLK Day also reminds me that Martin Luther King and I share a common appreciation.
In 1964 MLK won a Nobel Peace Prize and in 1967, Dr. King deemed another human worthy and nominated Thích Nhất Hạnh for the same honor.
Thích Nhất Hạnh (or Thich Nhat Hanh if your browser has trouble rendering the name properly) was a Buddhist, teacher and peacemaker. His life is described here and here. His accomplishments and his character are noteworthy.
Thích was an author and wrote many books. In the early 90’s his book Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life was published. The entire focus of the book is inner peace and calmness and the chapters are short and direct. Unlike some similar books, Peace begins with the basics of breathing and walking. I read this for the first time in March 2022, and rated it an 8, a very high non-fiction rating on my scale. This book is a strong recommendation. It resonates from the first page.
MLK and Thích Nhất Hạnh in 1966 (from plumvillage.org):
