Plum Village (Thich Nhat Hanh)

“This Bitter Earth… May Not Be so Bitter After All.”

Brother Dinh Thanh recounts a recent pilgrimage in Vietnam that follows Thich Nhat Hanh’s footsteps, centering on the Root Temple of Tu Hieu and the forest of Phuong Boi. He uses the classic song “This Bitter Earth” to illustrate the tension between life’s suffering and the possibility of sweetness through mindfulness. The narrative weaves personal reflections on impermanence, compassion, and the interbeing taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. It concludes that embracing the present moment can transform a bitter world into a more compassionate one.