Thich Nhat Hanh’s condition improves, speaks first words since his stroke

The Monks and Nuns of Plum Village have issued another update on the progress of Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) in his recovery from a stroke last November. In their update in July the Monks and Nuns let us know that a donation page had been established to help pay for the treatments he would receive while in the United States.

As of the last update, that account has taken in nearly $300,000.

This week’s update discusses his ongoing therapies, including acupuncture, physical therapy, speech therapy, osteopathy, and neurofeedback, all contributing to his recovery.

A recent breakthrough has been that whilst using a partial weight support walking frame, Thay’s right leg has started to make small movements, initiating the stepping motion.

Thay has received training from three different speech therapists over the last two months, one of whom was able to help Thay speak his first words since the stroke. It was a legendary day. We are happy to be able to share his very first words:

In, out (several times)
Happy (several times)
Thank you (several times)

and “Vui quá” (meaning, “So happy,” in Vietnamese)

It was like a guided meditation. Everyone was crying and laughing at the same time, including Thay.

The miracle continues…

The update concludes:

With great gratitude we thank you for keeping your practice alive, with your mindful breathing, your mindful steps, and your gentle smiles. When we come together to generate a strong collective energy of mindfulness, compassion and insight, we are manifesting Thay’s vision for our collective future. Together we are discovering ways to continue Thay’s legacy of bringing peace, happiness and healing to ourselves and the world.

Please join us at our retreats and events in the US this fall: tnhtour.org

With love and trust,

The Plum Village Monks and Nuns

Read the full update here.

You can read accounts of his continued progress here:

• Thich Nhat Hanh: still stable but “sleeping more deeply and communicating less”  (November 22, 2014)
• Thich Nhat Hanh still stable and his “hemorrhage has slightly reduced in size” (December 1, 2014)
• Thich Nhat Hanh, still in coma, is recalled across the globe (December 21, 2014)
• Thich Nhat Hanh out of the coma, wakeful, and smiling (January 4, 2015)
• UPDATED: Thich Nhat Hanh drinks tea, smiles in rehab (February 19, 2015)
• Thich Nhat Hanh is home at Plum Village following his November stroke and rehab (April 6, 2015)
• Thich Nhat Hanh’s remarkable recovery shows that “everything is possible” (June 28, 2015)
• Thich Nhat Hanh comes to USA for further treatment, funds sought to cover costs (July 14, 2015)