Tears Become Rain

When grief feels like it will drown you, you need to hear from people who learned to breathe through the same storms. Tears Become Rain gathers 32 voices from 16 countries—practitioners who faced loss, trauma, and death itself—and discovered through Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings that your tears don’t disappear; they transform into something that nourishes life again.

Why This Collection Matters

Thich Nhat Hanh on Grief: Wisdom from His Direct Students
These aren’t theoretical reflections—they’re lived experiences from people who practiced alongside Thay for decades at Plum Village and meditation centers worldwide. You’ll read how a Canadian author found peace after her mother’s death at Plum Village monastery, how a Vietnamese refugee doctor transformed nightmares through mindfulness, and how a Norwegian practitioner navigated both marriage and widowhood with Thay’s guidance.

The Tears I Shed Yesterday Have Become Rain: Real Transformation
This book proves the core teaching that nothing is lost, only transformed. Through stories of battling sickness, facing old age, and sitting with death—both of loved ones and one’s own mortality—you witness how grief, anger, and despair can open into refuge and even joy. These aren’t platitudes; they’re documented journeys from 32 ordinary people who found their way through.

Published by Plum Village: Honoring Thay’s Passing
Released after Thich Nhat Hanh’s transition in January 2022, this collection stands as both celebration and testament to his lasting impact. When you purchase from the official Plum Village Shop, you’re receiving a book created by the community that lived these teachings, ensuring authenticity and supporting the monastics who continue sharing this wisdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does Plum Village teach people to grieve?

A: Plum Village’s approach to grieving, rooted in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, emphasizes that grief doesn’t need to destroy you—it can coexist with continued living and even joy. Through mindfulness practices like conscious breathing and walking meditation, practitioners learn to be present with their pain without drowning in it. The stories in “Tears Become Rain” demonstrate this approach through real experiences: a Canadian author finding peace at Plum Village monastery after her mother’s death, a Norwegian woman navigating the loss of her husband with Thay’s support, and a Vietnamese refugee transforming trauma so profound he no longer suffers nightmares. The core teaching is that nothing is truly lost—your tears transform like rain that nourishes new growth.

Q: What makes “Tears Become Rain” different from other grief books?

A: Unlike books written by a single author theorizing about grief, “Tears Become Rain” offers 32 authentic voices from 16 countries—people who actually lived through devastating loss and found their way forward using Thich Nhat Hanh’s practices. You’ll read from direct students who practiced with Thay for decades alongside newcomers to the path, including a Jamaican American professor who found freedom from workplace racism, a doctor who healed refugee trauma, and practitioners who faced terminal illness and the death of loved ones. This mosaic of real stories shows that transformation isn’t abstract; it’s what happens when ordinary people apply mindfulness to extraordinary pain. Published by Plum Village after Thay’s passing in 2022, it’s both celebration and living proof of his teachings’ power.

Q: Does Thich Nhat Hanh write about grief in this book?

A: “Tears Become Rain” isn’t written by Thich Nhat Hanh himself but rather by 32 practitioners from around the world who applied his teachings on grief, loss, and transformation to their own lives. These contributors share how Thay’s wisdom on impermanence, interbeing, and mindfulness helped them navigate their darkest moments—from the death of parents and spouses to facing their own mortality. While this book captures Thich Nhat Hanh’s approach to grief through lived experience, if you’re seeking his direct teachings on loss, you might also explore “How to Live When a Loved One Dies” or “No Death, No Fear.” All are available in our Emotional Healing collection, where we’ve curated his complete guidance on transforming suffering.

Support the Sangha

Every purchase from Plum Village Shop directly supports the international monastic community—the monks and nuns who preserve and practice Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings daily. The contributors in this book found healing at Plum Village centers worldwide; your investment helps keep these sanctuaries available for the next person facing overwhelming grief.

Part of Our Emotional Healing & Transformation of Suffering Pathway

Tears Become Rain shows you’re not alone in your grief through real stories of transformation. Explore more books for healing anxiety, fear, anger, and loss here →

Building Your Mindful Library?

This collection of healing stories is one entry point into Thay’s teachings. For a complete roadmap—from foundational practices to advanced insights on transforming suffering—explore our Applied Wisdom: Thich Nhat Hanh Guide Books. Discover which books will support exactly where you are on your journey.