In Love and Trust: Letters from a Zen Master

Step into the intimate world of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh through In Love and Trust, a profound collection of personal letters and archival photos published in English for the very first time. These inspirational words—written to monastics, peace activists, and fellow practitioners on the path—reveal Thầy at his warmest and most human, demonstrating how genuine inspirational speech emerges not from perfection but from a heart dedicated to fostering connection, love, and understanding across all barriers.

“Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughs at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart can be left open,
the door of compassion.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh, from “Please Call Me by My True Names”

In Love and Trust offers something rarely accessible in Thich Nhat Hanh books—the unfiltered voice of a beloved teacher speaking directly to individuals he cared for deeply. These previously untranslated letters span decades of Thầy’s life, capturing moments of joy, challenge, encouragement, and profound spiritual insight shared with his global community.

• Unlike typical meditation books that present polished teachings, this collection reveals the deeply human origins of wisdom that has touched millions. You witness Thầy writing from monastery gardens, from exile during wartime, from quiet hermitages where he tended both inner and outer gardens. Each letter demonstrates how mindfulness practice grows from genuine relationship—with ourselves, with each other, with the living earth we share.
• The archival photos accompanying these letters create a visual journey through Thầy’s remarkable life of engaged Buddhism. You see him leading an alms round near Bat Nha monastery with monastics, or personal pictures of his fellow friends on the path, and some handwritten letters during the war that showcase his steady presence through decades of service to peace. These images, many never before published, complement the letters’ intimacy by showing the embodied practice behind the inspirational words.
• What makes In Love and Trust particularly transformative is its revelation of how Thầy practiced what he taught. The letters don’t just discuss love and trust—they enact these qualities through their warmth, directness, and genuine care for each recipient’s wellbeing and spiritual development. Reading them, you feel addressed personally, as if Thầy wrote these words specifically for your current struggles and aspirations.

This Buddhism book serves practitioners at all stages—those new to mindfulness find accessible entry points through Thầy’s clear, compassionate guidance, while experienced practitioners discover fresh depths in familiar teachings when encountered through these personal exchanges. The Plum Village shop offers this collection as an invitation to know Thầy more intimately, understanding the human heart behind teachings that continue transforming lives worldwide.

The letters address universal themes: finding courage during difficulty, maintaining practice through doubt, balancing personal needs with community responsibilities, and most fundamentally, learning to trust love as the foundation for genuine transformation. Thầy’s candor about his own challenges and uncertainties makes these themes accessible rather than abstract.

Whether you’re seeking solace during personal struggles, wanting to deepen your connection to Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, or simply curious about the life behind the wisdom, In Love and Trust provides intimate entry into one of Buddhism’s most influential modern voices. Each letter becomes a dharma talk offered directly to your heart.

Key Takeaways / Transformative Benefits

• Intimate Access to a Zen Master’s Heart: Experience Thich Nhat Hanh’s warmest, most candid expressions through personal letters never before published in English, revealing the deeply human origins of teachings that have transformed millions of lives worldwide
• Wisdom Through Relationship: Discover how mindfulness practice flourishes through genuine connection as you witness Thầy nurturing students, allies, and friends with direct guidance, encouragement, and profound compassion across decades of correspondence
• Visual Journey Through a Life of Service: Encounter rare archival photos showing Thích Nhất Hạnh building community, and embodying peace work, bringing his teachings alive through images that complement the letters’ intimate wisdom
• Practical Guidance for Real Struggles: Find solace and direction for your own challenges through Thầy’s honest responses to others facing doubt, difficulty, exile, and uncertainty—learning how love and trust become the foundation for transformation in any circumstance

The Context and Origin

In Love and Trust emerges as a precious gift from the Plum Village archives—a collection of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s personal letters spanning his decades of community-building, peace activism, and spiritual teaching. These previously untranslated correspondences reveal Thầy’s dedication to fostering connection within and beyond monastery walls, offering unprecedented intimacy with a teacher whose influence shaped modern engaged Buddhism and brought mindfulness practice to countless practitioners seeking peace in our turbulent world.

Open Your Heart to Thầy’s Intimate Wisdom – Add In Love and Trust to your cart and receive these precious letters as personal guidance for your own journey toward love, connection, and awakening.

You can explore extracts from In Love and Trust on PlumVillage.org, where the Plum Village community shares glimpses of Thầy’s correspondence. Additionally, the monastics have created a touching message for Thầy’s birthday on the site, demonstrating how his legacy of love and connection continues to flourish in the community he nurtured.