Product Description

Leading Vietnamese Zen teacher and author of many books (including the bestsellers Being Peace, Living Buddha/Living Christ, The Miracle of Mindfulness and Peace Is Every Step), Thich Nhat Hanh has had a profound impact on contemporary thinking and, importantly, social action. His efforts to achieve an early peaceful end to the American war in Vietnam earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a forty-year exile from his homeland.

Peace Is Every Step is an intimate and direct portrait of of a monk who has lived through war and fought back with meditation, love and grace under fire, testimony to the faith that simple practices and insights drawn from (but not by any means limited to) the Buddhist meditative tradition can help change conditions for the better: on a personal level, in the family, in the community, in a nation and in the world.

Narrated by Ben Kingsley Produced and Directed by Gaetano Kazuo Maida

• Filmed on location in Plum Village, France; Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.; and at retreats around the U.S. • Plus: rare archival footage from Vietnam in the 1960s

Bonus feature: Touching Peace—An Evening With Thich Nhat Hanh This 90-minute public talk before an audience of 3500 in Berkeley, California; introduced by author/activist Joanna Macy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20789 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-12-13
• Formats: Color, Dolby, Full length, Full Screen, Special Edition, NTSC
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 142 minutes

Yoga Journal
"Centered around the quiet words and serene presence of Thich Nhat Hanh. His words resonate long after the film stops."

Tricycle
"An homage to one of the great peace activists and Buddhists. It tells his story accessibly, lyrically, and simply."

Tricycle
"An homage to one of the great peace activists and Buddhists... It tells his story accessibly, lyrically, and simply."

Customer Reviews

Don't miss the "EXTRA"
I don't recall having ever seen a DVD in which the "Bonus Extra" surpasses the feature itself. But the added "extra" is, in my opinion, the ESSENCE of Thich Nhat Hanh.

The biographical main feature is engaging - even beautiful. But what would you rather see, the biography of a famous painter, or the paintings themselves? The biography of a famous football player, or the actual film clips of the player in action? The biography of a famous Buddhist monk, or the actual words of the monk as he describes his practice and teaches us how to incorporate compassion in our everyday lives?

I watched the main feature many times and certainly benefited from it. But the "extra" is more than beautiful - it's transforming. It seems that no matter how many times I watch it, I keep learning new things from it each time.

Suberb, captures the essence of the man and his work...
This is a very well done portrait of Thich Nhat Hanh. The most important and engaging aspect of this production is that is conveys Thich Nhat Hanh's personality and soul. This is what I find to be the most transformational aspect of his Being. To bring this forth so beautifully, constitutes art.

While the documentary covers some highlights from the Vietnam period, the underlying message is really about finding peace in yourself and sharing this in your sphere of influence. Part of this message is that everything and everyone is interdependent, Thich Nhat Hanh refers to this as "interbeing." In other words, love and happiness by its very nature is intersubjective and individual happiness apart from others is an illusion.

The film also portrays Plum Village, which is Thich Nhat Hanh's headquarters in France. This is a worldwide retreat center and monastery and the film gives a feel for the day-to-day life of Thich Nhat Hanh.

What I really value here is the portrayal of the inner life of a world famous leader and peace activist. It conveys the power of love and non-violence that is embodies in this gentle and humble man.

The film is also appropriate for younger people. While there are vignettes of Vietnam, there were no violent scenes. I think this makes the film ideal for kids 10 and older. Thich Nhat Hanh is a great example of the power of vulnerability, sensitivity and gentle persistence coming from a grounded and loving place. I believe this is a very worthwhile message to convey to our youth and the film length at less than an hour is idea for classroom environments.

peace is every step dvd
Fantastic film and the dvd is extra special because there is a bonus filmed at one of his lectures.Very inspiring