Agape in the selected works of thich nhat hanh implecations on vietnamese students values

AGAPE IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF THICH NHAT HANH: IMPLICATIONS ON VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ VALUES A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Graduate School Batangas State University Batangas

AGAPE IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF THICH NHAT HANH: IMPLICATIONS ON VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ VALUES

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Graduate School Batangas State University Batangas City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy Major in English

by

NGUYEN THUY LINH

2015

APPROVAL SHEET

NHAT HANH: IMPLICATIONS ON VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ VALUES”

prepared and submitted by NGUYEN THUY LINH in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy major in English has

been examined and is recommended for Oral Examination

ABSTRACT

IMPLICATIONS ON VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ VALUES

This study analyzed agape as manifested in the selected literary pieces

of Thich Nhat Hanh pointing out the events and situations which show the

implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese students‟ values Likewise, this paper tries to present how the historical beginnings of agape in

the Buddhist tradition; the virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and

equanimity as the essence of agape; the virtues of peace, respect and service

portrayed in the selected works; the social issues gleaned from the selections; and the implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese students‟ values

This study employed the qualitative method of research in analyzing the

Thich Nhat Hanh‟s concept of agape in the representative literary works

chosen Likewise, this analysis made use of the sociological, philosophical and historical approaches as the bases for analysis In particular, the sociological and philosophical approaches are supported by Goseph Fletcher‟s Situational Ethics and Peter Alber David Singer‟s Utilitarian Theories

This paper also involved content analysis, which is a systematic technique in analyzing message content and message handling The data analysis in this research centered on seeking and the extraction of meaning from Thich Nhat Hanh‟s selected literary narrative or image data Much effort was focused on the task of making notes through concepts and categories; altering or creating new codes due to the incorporation of a matrix; linking and combining abstract concepts; extracting the essence; organizing meaning; writing an understanding; and drawing conclusions

The essential features in the treatment of materials were considered by the researcher in the conduct of this study The general rules cited by Stott (2014) as regards the seven standards a piece of literature such as universal appeal, permanence, suggestiveness, intellectually valuable, spiritually valuable, style and artistry should abide to in order to be considered literary

guided in the selection of works under study

The representative literary works were analysed include: True Love: A Practice of Awakening the Heart, and Being Peace The said selections were

chosen because of the correlation between the aforecited themes, literary devices, the social issues particularly gleaned from the selections, which

helped in unveiling the implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese

students‟ values

Findings of the study revealed that the historical root of agape can be traced back to the early days of Buddhism and is manifested in many teachings of the said religion From the selected literary pieces, Thich Nhat Hanh elaborated on the Four Immeasurable Minds known as loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity as concrete expressions of man‟s deepest love Nhat Hanh underscored that when a group of people manifest the virtues

of peace, respect and perform a kind of service as a practice, it creates an ecosystem that holds a space, allowing value to emerge organically All of these indirect values, its ripple effect, have space and time to add up, synergize with other ripples, and multiply into something completely unexpected There are social issues particularly focused and have affected the Vietnamese people These include poverty, environmental degradation, war,

violence, social inequality and oppression The implications of agape on noted

Vietnamese students‟ values can be discerned and distinguished from Nhat Hanh‟s selected works Students may glean insights on Buddha's words on the four immeasurables in ways that are deeply resonant for contemporary young readers as concrete expressions of men‟s deepest love

Dr Dang Kim Vui, the President of the Thai Nguyen University, Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Tuan Anh, Assoc Prof Dr Dang Xuan Binh, Prof Dr Nguyen The Hung, the former Directors of the TNU International Training and Development Center, Dr Hoang Thi Bich Thao, the current Director of TNU ITDC, Prof Pham Viet Binh, the President of TNU of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Vu Duc Thai, the Vice President, Dr Truong

Ha Hai, the Dean of the Faculty of Basic Science, for their motivation and wisdom that helped hasten the completion of this study

Dr Maria Luisa A Valdez, the Dean of Colleges and Head of the Graduate School of the Batangas State University ARASOF Nasugbu Campus, the researcher‟s dissertation adviser, for her constant encouragement, dedication, and inspiring character which motivated diligent research for the realization of this study

Dr Matilda H Dimaano, the Chairman of the Panel of Examiners, for her thorough dissection and candid remarks that drew up the essential and relevant dimensions in this research

Dr Amada G Banaag, Dr Felix M Panopio, and Dr Myrna G Sulit, the Members of the Panel of Examiners, for their valuable suggestions and criticism which motivated conscientiously the researcher during the conduct of this study

Dr Remedios P Magnaye, the Recording Secretary and Ms Le Quynh Anh, the ITDC Administrative Staff, for their words of encouragement and kind gestures

The writers whose works were included in this study for their emboldened wisdom in every page of this dissertation

The researcher‟s colleagues and friends, all of whom generously gave their time, advice, and prayers They made her realize the value of truth and principles about people and human experiences

The researcher is also very grateful for the wholehearted support and love that her husband, Do Ba Giang and her children, Do Thanh Thao, Do Thai

Ha, and Do Gia Minh, along with her parents and brothers, have extended

during the writing process They supported her high and low points that accompanied the realization of this paper

Nguyen Thuy Linh

DEDICATION

To my ever dearest husband, Do Ba Giang and my loving daughters, Do Thanh Thao, Do Thai Ha, and Do Gia Minh, who inspired

me to search for the highest values in life,

Nguyen Thuy Linh

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

TITLE PAGE ……… i

APPROVAL SHEET ……… ii

ABSTRACT ……… iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ……… vii

DEDICATION ……… x

TABLE OF CONTENTS ……… xi

LIST OF FIGURES ……… xiii

CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM Introduction ……….… 1

Statement of the Problem ……….… 9

Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study … 10

Significance of the Study ……… 12

II REVIEW OF LITERATURE Conceptual Literature ……… 15

Research Literature ……….………… 45

Synthesis ……… 56

Theoretical Framework ……… 59

Conceptual Framework ……… 62

Definition of Terms ……… 65

III RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE Research Methodology ……… 69

Treatment of Materials ……… 70

IV ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION ……… 75

V SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary of Findings … ……… 149

Conclusions …….……… 155

Recommendations ……… 156

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 159

APPENDICES ……… 174

Summary of the Selections ……… 175

CURRICULUM VITAE ……… 178

CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction

That love plays a significant and inexorable role in diverse cultures is an undeniable fact People of varied cultures can have a glimpse of it from movie shows, novels, plays, and songs It is an exciting theme for young people and

a relentless theme for the adults Theoretically, the nature of love has not ceased to be the lifeblood of philosophy, generating theories ranging from the worldly notion of love as merely a physical occurrence to theories of love as an extremely spiritual affair that in its ultimate gives man the right to touch divinity

Evidently, love is generally understood with a wide array of meanings

The first facet of love is referred to as eros just as the Greeks knew of

passionate, romantic love It is viewed as an exulted and exquisitely idealistic love, typically between a woman and a man, and it leads to joy, laughter, children and family This retells the fact that inner peace in a family results to outer peace in a country to help men in nurturing and maintaining this

wondrous love in lives Another aspect is philia which is all about enduring

friendship, affectionate love, and family love It is an embodiment of culture and beliefs

Therefore, philia pertains to soul love, and its power and value lies on

the elevation of the soul of the holder And finally, the highest type of love

gained is agape, the paternal love of God for man and vice versa, but is

drawn-out to include a brotherly love for all of the human race It places the beloved first and sets aside self-interest, pride, and possessions for the

welfare of that dearly loved one Agape finds echoes in the principles of Kant

and Kierkegaard, who emphasize the moral significance of showing neutral love to another individual through human presence in the abstract

A Vietnamese Zen monk named Thich Nhat Hanh who established

the Engaged Buddhism movement, characterized agape in a selection of his

works as the unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love, and the concern regarding the best interest and welfare of the other people irrespective of how those individuals make another person feel Moreover, it is always perceived as the highest love wherein everyone frequently come across the four immeasurable such as loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, that extend and

magnify the scope and quality of agape Nevertheless, a closer look at the list

of entries reveals the prominence of terms such as peace, respect, or service which may inspire Vietnamese people to adopt in order to live a meaningful life

Thich Nhat Hanh‟s agape, the outcome of his exhaustive study and

wisdom of the principles of Buddhism, reflects the way of life of the Vietnamese In his literatures, he was able to express how simple everyday actions can signify man‟s compassion and concern not only for himself, not only for others, but for the entire world, and for all sentient beings This advocate of love declared that individuals need to make an effort to rebuild their language by making use of words carefully The word “love” is a wonderful word People have to bring back what it means Love is whole, deep and beautiful

Agape conveys true love which comprises the sense of responsibility, to

agree to take another individual as he is, including all his strengths and weaknesses Genuine love is not merely liking whatever is good in the beloved It entails acceptance of the beloved‟s weaknesses, and having the energy, patience and understanding to help him transform

Nhat Hanh emphasized that in order to acquire the four immeasurables, one must practice by means of meditation Meditation is seeing into man‟s peculiar nature and waking up This Zen Buddhist master shows meditation by means of carefully focused breathing, by way of mindful walking, by vigilant attention to nature and the characteristics of things Practicing mindfulness and

looking deeply into the characteristics of things is tantamount to discovering the exact nature of interbeing This type of meditation is an integral part of the Buddhist route to awakening

Nhat Hanh, likewise, brings into Buddhism a new component of social consciousness A lot of people may start meditating to find solutions for their own difficulties relative to the manner of manifesting loving-kindness, equanimity, compassion and joy and as well as service, respect and peace Ultimately, mediation explains that personal solutions to these difficulties must include answers to society‟s complications and vice versa The center of such engaged Buddhism is the understanding that every individual is comprised of all the components which are not herself or himself The rest of the people in the human civilization are within each one Therefore, everyone shares responsibility with regard to the social conditions that produce every social evil

Engaged Buddhism imparts a cyclical process By accepting the real nature of the self, individuals understand the real nature of civilization, then they make use of that enhanced understanding to acquire an even deeper understanding of themselves to gain an even more profound understanding of the society, and the cycle goes on In the end, they gain an understanding that self and society do not exist separately They are merely two ways of looking

at only one unified reality

Mindfulness of interdependence makes it instantaneously evident that each individual shares accountability for everything that happens and will happen When people become aware of that responsibility, they are motivated

to act to improve the condition All of them are part of the same human progression, all propelled by the same processes Altering that process means altering both the condition and the self Meditation is seeing deeply into things, seeing how they can transform, and how they can change the situation Transforming the situation means transforming their minds Transforming their minds is also transforming the situation, since the situation is mind and the mind is also the situation

Delving deeper into the writings of this Zen Buddhist, one can discern

the indicators and implications of agape as explained by the writer on specific

Vietnamese students‟ values Based on the ideologies of compassion,

loving-kindness, joy and equanimity, agape holds the same mark as that of the

representative Vietnamese character: loving and caring, meek, and innocent of

the malevolence of the modern world Also, agape instills the significance of

peace to the Vietnamese students‟ thoughts Peace pertains to a type of tranquility anchored on the value of deference for themselves, and for other

people or the spirit of respect for life, for the ecosystem and the environment which may directly affect their own lives

Moreover, Nhat Hanh likewise helps men become aware of the value of service Service is said to be one of the ultimate tools, the sharpest sword, and the most flexible remedy for the destructive nature of war By means of service to others, joy, compassion, love and equanimity mature in the lives of men People may be able to overcome hatred and anger in the world Most significantly, people understand and become aware of the real nature of things All these can stop the occurrence of social issues in the youth in a multifaceted society

Based on the aforementioned, it can be established that the Vietnamese students can start by becoming aware of those virtues at home - that they

have the beginnings of agape in the depths of their hearts and consciousness

They come to recognize that their minds and hearts are like a garden that houses all types of seeds: seeds of joy, seeds of respect, seeds of loving-kindness, seeds of compassion, seeds of peace, seeds of equanimity, and also seeds of service They come to a realization that, anytime, they can react with either true love or violence, depending on how strong these seeds are, within them The works of Thich Nhat Hanh take on a cape of sincerity and

simplicity to prompt the Vietnamese, for the most part the students, to take time to breathe and rest from the complications of everyday life and to find simple happiness and joy in being agents of compassion and goodwill to others

Being a college instructor, the researcher has witnessed that the young age group in Vietnam particularly in Thai Nguyen has a preference for what is suitable even if it is not appropriate The family values are gradually disappearing and day by day it looks as if more and more persons are starting

to think more as an individual instead of a whole in the society Instead of nurturing closer family ties and camaraderie among their fellow youth, individuals are slowly separating their own identity and virtually simulating a world wherein everything is made possible excluding true friendship and social values

Life is short and before he knows it, an individual is faced with the reality that he has spent much of his lifetime without really being able to manifest genuine love He then comes to the rude awakening that he did not measure

up to the great ideal of concern for others

It is imperative that people study agape because in this modern world,

people become so preoccupied with work, technological gadgets, household

chores and a lot of other concerns Because of this, they tend to forget that they work for their families who have actually been neglected for such a long time

It is important to study agape because life has become so complicated

that hatred, jealousy, and other negative feelings eat up the very foundations

of love in young and old people alike It is important to relearn this basic need for genuine love which is so powerful if only people would internalize it and not place so much emphasis on material things

By means of the works or teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese will be capable of connecting their own values system with the distinctive values highlighted in Nhat Hanh‟s works Service for others, respect, caring for their fellowmen, love, peace and the rest of the values manifested in the books

in study are all core Vietnamese values In the process of reading and examining his works, Vietnamese can understand how their values can be at play in helping others to make the world a better place The principles and beliefs of the aforementioned peace advocate impart the ways on how men can attain inner peace and eventually reach out to others

It is in this light that the researcher, who is an English instructor from the Thai Nguyen University of Information and Communication Technology

deemed it necessary to analyze the literary works of Thich Nhat Hanh to gain

honest implications of his virtue of agape on Vietnamese students‟ values

Statement of the Problem

The study primarily aimed to identify the manifestations of agape in

selected works of Thich Nhat Hanh and their implications on Vietnamese student values

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1 What is the historical root of agape in the Buddhist Tradition?

2 How is the agape in selected works True Love, A Practice of Awakening the Heart and Being Peace of Thich Nhat Hanh manifested in

3.3 service?

4 What social issues are gleaned from the selections?

5 What are the implications of Thich Nhat Hanh‟s agape on noted

Vietnamese students‟ values?

Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study

This study analyzed agape as manifested in the selected literary pieces

of Thich Nhat Hanh pointing out the events and situations which show the

implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese students‟ values Likewise, this paper tried to present how the historical beginnings of agape in

the Buddhist tradition; the virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and

equanimity as the essence of agape; the virtues of peace, respect and service

portrayed in the selected works; the social issues gleaned from the selections;

and the implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese students‟

values

This study employed the qualitative method of research in analyzing the

Thich Nhat Hanh‟s concept of agape in the representative literary works

chosen Likewise, this analysis made use of the sociological, philosophical and historical approaches as the bases for analysis In particular, the sociological and philosophical approaches are supported by Goseph Fletcher‟s Situational

Ethics and Peter Alber David Singer‟s Utilitarian Theories Other approaches that may be employed in the analysis like the Formalist Criticism, Historical Criticism, and Psychological Criticism are not parts of this study

This paper also involved content analysis, which is a systematic technique in analyzing message content and message handling The data analysis in this research centered on seeking and the extraction of meaning from Thich Nhat Hanh‟s selected literary narrative or image data Much effort was focused on the task of making notes through concepts and categories; altering or creating new codes due to the incorporation of a matrix; extracting the essence; organizing meaning; writing an understanding; and drawing conclusions

The essential features in the treatment of materials were considered by the researcher in the conduct of this study The general norms cited by Stott (2014) by which all literary pieces can be measured for evaluation and analysis served as the researcher‟s guide in the selection of works that were included in this study These include universal appeal, permanence, suggestiveness, intellectually valuable, spiritually valuable, style and artistry

The representative literary works were analyzed: Love Is Being There, Overcoming Pride, Interbeing, Meditation in Daily Life, Feelings and

Perceptions, Working for Peace, Telephone Meditation, Everybody Should Practice Mindfulness, The Heart of Practice, and The Three Gems, which are all found in his masterpieces entitled True Love: A Practice of Awakening the Heart, and Being Peace The said selections were chosen because of their

correlation on the aforecited themes, literary devices and social issues particularly gleaned from the selections, which helped in unveiling the

implications of the writer‟s agape on noted Vietnamese students‟ values

Significance of the Study

The germaneness literary analysis as an essential part of a research study is highlighted in terms of its significance to a number of individuals Therefore, it is vital to expound how this study is beneficial to academic managers, working professionals, college instructors of literature, students of literature, researchers and future researchers

developmental projects, programs, priorities and policies in educational

organizations to guarantee that the practice of spirituality and agape are

incorporated in the academe This will also inspire them to spawn activities related to peace, respect and service in the curricula that will educate the

academic community of the beneficial outcomes of agape to all people

regardless of gender, race, nationality and religious backgrounds and to serve

as a bridge builder in interfaith encounter

Working Professionals This study will be beneficial for them in the

sense that the selected works have brought in the West some precious jewels from the Asian practice of Buddhism Likewise, they may be inspired to

organize agape workplace initiatives to nurture and challenge people of all

ages working in various sectors of society to a life of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity as well as the practice of the virtues of peace, respect and service in their workplaces These initiatives may help the working

people to embrace agape, clarify life goals, tackle stress and revitalize working

relationships within their workplaces

College Instructors of Literature This dissertation will be supportive of

the instructor‟s methodology in literature instruction as an investigation into the application of suitable literary approaches and theories in literary analysis This will eventually lead to discussing literary criticism as a meaningful exercise that comprises, among others, the identification of a significant theme and the examination of approaches to expose such themes In addition, this will provide them with opportunities to touch the concept of agape in their literature classes and open their students‟ mind and hearts to the noted

implications of the said virtue

Literature Students Results of the study provide them a wide-ranging

and profound outlook in life with regard to agape as well as make them realize

that violence, injustice, oppression and other social problems should not be tolerated In addition, this paper will make them treat literature as a work of art distinguished from other texts through content and form, and eventually intensify their appreciation of wisdom stories from various traditions; guided meditation practices and experiences of practices; gentle anecdotes and life coaching advises and teachings of a reverend Zen master and inspire them to engage in literary analysis as an academic activity

Researcher Results of the study will benefit her through the analysis

and treatment of materials, and through the careful investigation of both theme and form in literary genres Likewise, this paper will enlighten her on the process of drawing out literary theories and utilizing critical approaches in literary analysis

Future Researchers Future researchers may be able to conduct other

literary works in the veins of the recent research for academic enhancement to have a cross dissection of views of life and to substantiate the present study

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter presents the review of conceptual and research literatures with the end view of identifying the constructs of the study Likewise, the synthesis of the literature reviewed, the theoretical and conceptual frameworks

as well as the conceptual and operational definitions of terms were included

Conceptual Literature

The review of conceptual literature yields six types of constructs, which are used in the analysis and interpretation of the prose and poems dissected These constructs include: literature and philosophy , Thich Nhat Hanh and his significant works, social issues, philosophical human transformation, sociological and philosophical approaches in literary criticism, agape and student values

Literature and Philosophy Literature is considered as the most

notable among the humanities by which man becomes more completely human It preserves the ideals of a people And these deals like love, faith, duty, friendship, freedom and reverence are part of human life most worthy of preservation As an expression and mirror of life, it initiates the readers, into looking at the people and the world around them and into their inner selves It

introduces individuals into their own vast, varied and multi-faceted world Within its boundary, this world of literature affords glimpses of triumph and despair as well as unhappiness and joy Its extent embraces the commonplace

as well as the awe-inspiring It offers wisdom as well as delight to every person

of every disposition, education, and culture (Garcia, 1998)

Literature is about human beings specifically about their daily lives as well as their exceptional, towering experiences In sweeping through the whole range of human experience, it usually singles out the significant, meaningful and true, whether it is in the realm of the ordinary or that of the rare Whether literature, as a fine art, stresses the verifiable or the imaginary and ideal, it must have the power to win appreciation even from the most fastidious reader

In other words, not only must the experience be true, its truth must shine out It must be illuminating and must give the reader a sense of participation in a vital human experience This means that literature must be both a component and

an instrument in the process of humanizing education through this particular art (Garcia, et al, 2000)

Literature exercises its power in the expansion of man‟s mental vision or

in extending their intellectual horizons Mostly through the choice of theme and the articulation of vision, it exerts an influence in the shaping and perfecting

man‟s vision It facilitates the fusion of the humanities and education in the core of man‟s beings Like any other art, its foremost aim is to arouse and sustain delight and pleasure in the heart and mind of the readers

Literature blends the intellectual and emotional elements Modern literature tends to infuse the moral and ethical concern with subtlety and finesse It includes these concerns as inescapable and vital Judgment of morality and immorality in literature is mostly based on the writer‟s vision of life This vision is colored by the writer‟s philosophy of life, his attitude towards experience as reflected in his choice of subject, theme, and purpose If his purpose is morally sound, his technique and style will be governed and guided

by this purpose The integration of vision and experience is directed by his moral sense, by his desire not to exaggerate or distort reality, but to be truthful and rational

On the other hand, philosophy means to study a general knowledge of values and reality by mainly thoughtful rather than observation means It is considered practical because it is seen as a tool and an opportunity to reflect

on the basic values and concepts of persons as well as their relations with others (Uri.Edu Website, 2014) It is also said to give the ideas about human nature and the nature of life in reality It is seen as guides or rules for living,

because all the aspects of human life are influenced by the philosophical consideration Rand (1974) noted that philosophy studies the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of man's relationship to existence

In addition to this, philosophy seeks the mysteries of existence and reality to explore the nature of truth and knowledge and to understand what is the basic value and importance of life It also discovers the relationships between humanity and nature and between the individual and society (http://sciphilos.info/ Website, 2015) It enlarges men‟s understanding of the world, even intellectual horizons and freedom of thought of people Ihuah (2010) stated that philosophy may help develop the capacity to look at the world from the perspective of other individuals and cultures

It is said that literature and philosophy are the same in the sense that both focused on the people‟s experiences of the fullness of life They have explored the dialogue between literary and philosophical studies and addressed the most fundamental questions about the nature of literature as an art It has been profoundly shaped by works in other areas of philosophy Besides, philosophy develops concepts and clarifies them while literature employs these words to convey ideas, figures and moral principles and to enlarge realities

Keiman (1997) also said that philosophy and literature are considered as areas of study devoted to both written works of artistic creation and philosophical works, with the end view of identifying how both categories can illuminate experiences and address human perplexities

From what has been discussed above, it can be seen that literature and philosophy have a very close relationship and moral influence on human behavior because philosophical problem is possibly learned through the medium of literature and the intellectual values are embodied in philosophy Through literature and philosophy, humans can achieve knowledge and wisdom about life in general

Thich Nhat Hanh and his Significant Works Thich Nhat Hanh who

was one of the most famous and most respected Zen masters today works as the poet, peace and human rights activist He was born with the name Nguyen Xuan Bao in 1926 in the province of Quang Tri in Vietnam under French colonial rule Nhat Hanh worked tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam He lives in exile in France where he teaches, writes, gardens, and works to help refugees, veterans, children, environmentalists, psychotherapists, artists and many thousands of individuals seeking peace Thich Nhat Hanh was one of those who chose to do both, helping to found the

“engaged Buddhism” movement (Mindfulnesspracticecommunity.orgWebsite, 2014)

Thich Nhat Hanh was seen as one of the great teachers He was able to walk calmly with peace and awareness Although his mode of expression is simple, his message reveals the quintessence of the deep understanding of reality that comes from his meditations, his Buddhist training, and his work in the world His philosophy is about not only the preexistent religious structures, but also the individual's desire for wholeness and inner calmness

According to Deer Park Monastery Website (2015), Thich Nhat Hanh has received recognition for his prolific writings on meditation, mindfulness, and peace More than 85 titles of accessible poems, prose, and prayers, with over 40 of those works in English have published with more than 100 books about ecology, politics, consumption, relationships, cultivating peace,

community building, and global ethics including Miracle of Mindfulness, The World We Have, Anger, Savor, and Creating True Peace Many of his famous

works have been geared toward the readers, like poetry, children‟s stories, meditation manuals, and radically modern commentaries on ancient Buddhist

teachings Some of his best-known books include Touching Peace, Call Me by

My True Names, Living Buddha, Living Christ, Teachings on Love and Anger

In True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, with simplicity,

warmth, and directness, four critical aspects of love are described in the Buddhist tradition by Thich Nhat Hanh: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity which bring happiness and share soothe and relieve suffering in life In this prose, Nhat Hanh also emphasizes that in Buddhism, compassion

is associated with wisdom which is always one of the most important factor to

create agape When having wisdom, men can understand each other It is also

acknowledged that it is impossible for everyone to understand deeply love if there is no true love For this reason, understanding is seen as the foundation

of love In true love, with simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition, people must first learn how to be fully present in their lives Throughout, he skillfully weaves in Buddhist teachings about consciousness and nonduality whose complexity belies the simplicity of the author's words

The second work, Being Peace contains Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings on peace and meditation Using real examples from his own life, as well as poems and fables, Nhat Hanh explains his key practices for living, which is the "right

in the moment men are alive." With useful and meaningful teachings, Being Peace has become more popular all over the world and encourages multiple readings, both alone and in groups (www.spiritualityandpractice.com Website,

reason, Being Peace has spread the teachings of Buddhism

Social Issues There are several social issues that en encountered

These include poverty reduction, rampant corruption, ethnic conflicts and growing number of religion In addition to these are the natural disasters and climate change, the inequality of women, and poor understanding of the law, and the potential threat to growth and development of countries

Poverty refers to a general scarcity or the state wherein an individual lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money It is a multifaceted concept, which includes social, economic, and political elements Poverty seems to be chronic or temporary, and most of the time closely related to inequality As a dynamic concept, poverty is changing and adapting according

to consumption patterns, social dynamics and technological change (Sabates, 2008) Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter and

health care Relative poverty is defined contextually as economic inequality in the location or society in which people live (The World Bank 2011) and (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, 2009)

Another social issue that beset the people is hunger According to the United Nations, about 21,000 people most especially children died because of hunger They are trapped in severe poverty They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier This downward spiral often continues until their death and their families (Poverty.com Website, 2015)

Science also brought up many problems in the human society One such havoc caused by the social development of the human society is pollution Environmental pollution has become the biggest problem to the human race on this planet (TutorVista Com Website, 2015) Environmental pollution is increasing with every passing year and causing grave and irreparable damage

to the earth It consists of five basic types of pollution, namely, air, water, soil, noise and light all contributing to health problems and a lower quality of life (Abandoned Environment Website, 2015) It can be said that pollution is the result of social development through the means of science Pollution is the

product of the scientific achievements being applied for the improvement of human facilities This environmental pollution is considered a very popular issue after World War II

Violence is another dominant social issue It is defined by the World Health Organization (2002) as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation, but acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word

Other forms of social issues include oppression, which refers to relations

of domination and exploitation such as economic, social and psychological between individuals; between social groups and classes within and beyond societies; and, globally, between entire societies Oppression seems motivated

by intent to exploit and it results typically in disadvantageous, unjust conditions

of living for its victims It serves as a means to enforce exploitation toward the goal of securing advantageous conditions of living for its perpetrators (Gil, 1998).The oppressed individual or group is devalued, exploited and deprived

of privileges by the individual or group which has more power

(Barker, 2003)

Despite massive progress, women‟s rights remain a critical issue throughout the world especially in regions like North Africa and the Middle East Women are confronted with a systematic denial of rights where legal discrimination leaves them inferior to their male counterparts Consequently, women globally lack a full realization of their fundamental human rights Learning about this problem reveals that gender equality is central to sustainable progress Gender inequality existing in the world today include lack of mobility, freedom of marriage, discriminatory divorce rights, citizenship, frontline combat, custody rights, violence, professional obstacles, restricted land ownership, and access to education (McCune, 2014)

Philosophical Human Transformation Human beings change in many

ways They become smarter, stronger, more assertive, and more reflective Seemingly, there is no end to the ways in which these human beings can improve themselves If they make a category for all these ways of changing, they can call them forms of self-improvement

However, there is another way wherein human beings change and they categorize this as human transformation This change is very much essential for those of who aspire to attain dramatic and lasting change during their

lifetime The experience of human transformation is one in which the individual‟s sense of identity and way of thinking changes In this, experience people do not feel that they have become an improved version of who they already were They feel like they have become a different person altogether That they have transformed

A society must possess a sound philosophy of values because it must influence the members to the acquisition of right values in life, according to Andres (1981) in order to transform Man‟s activity embraces the individual welfare and the common weal He is an individual person, a valuable member

of society Without society, man is man but not perfectly developed Man‟s rationality is a result of a social process Man‟s entire mentality is molded by social patterns and man‟s thinking is done by society The Vietnamese as a person is perfected by society

Nowadays, the lives of most 21st century citizens seem to have become battle zones With the human development, humans are made to be able to change and transform Fundamentally, change begins with letting go of something such as an undesirable behavior, idea, concept, arrangement and replacing it with something more positive and more fitting Transformation is

change is to focus all of one‟s energy, not on fighting the old, but on building

With reference to this reason, it can be noted that in order to understand people, one must experience some sort of transformation, a rebirth, a new awareness of reality or an illumination The transformation called for by Socrates is a transformation of thought or philosophical transformation while Buddha calls this as meditation and the way of life that goes with it

Taggart (2015) stated that men are moved by what they have in common because they stand with them in the situation of being men, while on the other hand, Schoeman (2012) pointed out that it is important to define whom one should target in order to facilitate human transformation in a society In this regard, philosophical and cultural attitudes and values provide the foundation for social norms by which people live Murithi (2006) noted that such teaching should be culturally appropriate and grounded in traditional values and methods of human control He also concurred that in order to initiate human transformation in communities; people must find a way to change themselves with a cultural logic that emphasizes sharing and equitable

resource distribution and by emphasizing the importance of reviving cultural attitudes and values that can foster a climate within which peace can flourish