Thich Nhat Hanh Live Calligraphy Performance

Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh began auctioning his calligraphic work last week in a silent auction called "Calligraphic Meditation: The Mindful Art of Thich Nhat Hanh."  The proceeds from the sales will go back to Hahn's various monasteries. On the opening night, September 6th, Hahn gave a live performance where, according to this review in the Huffington Post, "he crafted five additional pieces of art to be auctioned off."

Hahn says that writing calligraphy is like meditation. “In my calligraphy, there is ink, tea, breathing, mindfulness and concentration. I write words or sentences that can remind people to be mindful, to wake up.,"

Thich Nhat Hanh, maybe the second most well-known Buddhist after the Dali Lama, was ordained a Buddhist monk in 1949. During the Viet Nam War he worked to bring about a reconciliation between the north and the south. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. He now lives in southern France where he founded Plum Village for monks and nuns.