Thich Nhat Hanh in Hospital with Pneumonia

Thich Nhat Hanh in Hospital with Pneumonia
Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh is in Massachusetts General Hospital being treated for pneumonia.

Our brother and teacher, the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, is presently in Massachusetts General Hospital with an infection of pseudomonas aeruginosa (wiki), which is a serious but treatable pathogen. He had planned to lead a retreat during this time but will remain in the hospital for at least two weeks.

"Dear Friends and Co-practitioners at the Retreat One Buddha is not enough, Estes Park, CO.

My dear friends,
I am writing to you from the Massachusettes General Hospital in Boston. I know the Sangha has manifested today in Estes Park. I miss the Reterat. I miss the beautiful setting of the REtreat. Especially I miss the Sangha, I miss you. I always enjoy sitting with the Sangha, walking with the Sangha, breathing with the Sangha. The joy of being together, sharing the Dharma and the practice together is always very nourishing and healing...

But I do not suffer, because I know I am taking care of myself. And taking care of myself is to take care of you. The doctors here decided that I should stay 14 days here for the treatment of a lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Please do not worry. It is only an infection. But it has to be treated right away. My kidneys, my liver, my heart, my digestive tract all function well. I am given two strong anti-biotics, from I.V. injections per day. And the clinicians here are monitoring closely the process of treatment. I am allowed to go out of the hospital to the park nearby one hour per day to do walking meditation.

Written by hand, you can also read or download a PDF copy of this letter from Thay to his community.

Limited additional information is available at this time.