This is a beautiful book, written at the time of the author’s youth in Vietnam, interspersed with periods in the United States, in the midst of the American war. It is comprised of journal entries written as letters to his friends in the engaged Buddhism movement, monks and nuns like himself who worked toward peace and acted with compassion to every human no matter what “side“ of the conflict they are on. It was a pleasure to hear his vulnerability in addition to his usual clear thinking. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in peace activism and other forms of social transformation. ( )

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Hanh-Feuilles-odorantes-de-palmier/1271415
> Bibliographie : http://www.librarything.fr/work/254643/book/198902861

> FEUILLES ODORANTES DE PALMIER, Journal 1962-1966, de Thich Nhat Hanh. — Jeune moine bouddhiste de tradition zen, Thich Nhat Hanh souhaitait développer un bouddhisme plus proche des préoccupations de la vie quotidienne des Vietnamiens. Le chaos de la guerre du Viêtnam va lui donner l'opportunité de s'affranchir de l'autorité bouddhiste conservatrice et de créer des villages expérimentaux ainsi qu'une université. Mais cette guerre l'obligera également à quitter sa terre natale. Ce journal a été écrit aux Etats-Unis et au Viêtnam entre 1962 et 1966. Il nous fait part de ses réflexions sur la politique, parle de ses amitiés, de sa vie au jour le jour et médite sur l'évolution du bouddhisme. Son souci principal était de ramener la paix dans un pays déchiré : Martin Luther King le recommandera d'ailleurs pour le prix Nobel de la Paix.
« La capacité de destruction de l'agitation perpétuelle peut rivaliser avec celle de la bombe atomique. Elle devient une habitude aussi dangereuse que l'opium. Une telle attitude annihile celle de l'esprit. Les faux héros trouveront plus facile de faire la guerre que de faire face au vide de leurs âmes. … Ils ne peuvent pas tolérer quelques minutes de vraie oisiveté. Il leur faut allumer la télévision ou prendre un journal qu'ils lisent jusqu'à la dernière ligne sans oublier la publicité. Il leur faut toujours quelque chose a regarder, à entendre ou à discuter. Tout leur est bon pour empêcher le vide qui est en eux de dresser sa tête effrayante. ». Ed. La Table Ronde, 2000 - 220 p.
—3e millénaire, (56), Été 2000

> Ce premier journal publié d’un moine zen de renom est l’occasion d’assister à l’éveil d’une conscience. Du même auteur, on notera également la parution d’“Entrer dans la liberté” (Dangles, 144 p., 95 F), un guide de pratiques de sagesse.
—Psychologies

Reprinted 1998.

Personal/philosophical memoir from an historically significant period

- Somewhat confusing time sequence; no particular reason for start or end points

This early volume (published in Vietnamese in 1966 but not in the U.S. until 1998) chronicles several years of Thích Nhất Hạnh's young adulthood in the U.S. and Viet Nam against the larger backdrop of the war. It provides a glimpse of the early years of Engaged Buddhism and provides some insights into the polarization of Vietnamese society and the suspicion under which anyone critical of the government functioned. Sadly, this will not be foreign to contemporary Americans concerned about the U.S. government's contemporary actions.

The structure is nominally in journal format, but since it focuses on just a few topics, and includes long essays about previous events, it is best read and understood as a memoir rather than a day-to-day account of experiences and impressions. This combination of present and retrospective accounts is confusing at times, but this does not detract much from the overall positive impression made by the volume. For me, the accounts of daily life, contrasts between the U.S. and Vietnam, and relationships are by far the most interesting aspects of the narrative; the philosophical and poetic segments are less engaging and sometimes abstract and disassociated from the heart of the book.

A sometimes-intimate portrait of Thích Nhất Hạnh as a young monk that will increase the reader's appreciation for his courage, vision, and deep concern for justice and the dignity of all people.
( )

Fragrant Palm Leaves
Journals 1962-1966
by Thich Nhat Hanh

Though small in stature this author measure large to all who follow and love his simple style and loving words of wisdom. I have enjoyed his work for many many years, and this selection was no exception. Personal snippets of the man himself, at a time when the world was full of unrest and wonder.

Many talk of the Buddhist philosophy, but it is clear from reading the pages of this little enlightened blessing that Thich Nhat Hanh lives and breathes it. I have found what seemed to work best for me with this book was to just open the book and read the page it fell to, because it is usually just what I need at the right time. I would recommend this book to anyone, who would like a quieter mind and a simpler way of looking at things.

Love & Light,

Riki Frahmann ( )