Tears Become Rain

Thirty-two first-person accounts by people around the world of meeting the extraordinary Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, who passed away in January 2022.

Some meetings change our lives. We have moments of wonder and relief when we realize that we can be okay, just as we are. How do we then integrate these transformative moments into our daily life? Tears Become Rain is a collection of such stories, with one common inspiration: the teachings of mindfulness and compassion offered by the most influential meditation teacher of the past century, the Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Exploring common themes of coming home to ourselves, healing from grief and loss, overcoming fear, and building community, the stories encapsulate the benefits of mindfulness practice as told through the experiences of ordinary people. Some of the contributors have been students of Thich Nhat Hanh for decades and are teachers in their own right, while others are relatively new to the path. Through sharing their stories, Tears Become Rain is both a celebration of Thich Nhat Hanh and a testament to his lasting impact on the lives of people of diverse backgrounds and many walks of life.