My Master's Robe: Memories of a Novice Monk

By Thich Nhat Hanh and Nguyen Dong

Zen Master, poet, and peace and human rights activist Thich Nhat Hanh was born in central Vietnam in 1926 and joined the monkhood at the age of sixteen. Written by the author in his late twenties, My Master's Robe is set in the heart of a peaceful monastery that is surrounded by war during the years from 1942-1947. These stories give insight into the young novice's life and experiences that helped shape him into the wise spiritual leader he would grow to become.

These stories first appeared in Phat Giao Buddhist Magazine between 1956 and 1959. The stories were collected in a book titled Tinh Nguoi (Vietnamese) and published in 1964 by La Boi Press, Saigon. Tinh nguoi means "humanity" and the stories are about just that--humanity in the midst of war and violence.

In this little book we see how the pure love of a teacher can fill the young monk's heart with a deep aspiration to devote his life to serving those who suffer in the world. We can all train ourselves in love by learning the way to listen deeply in order to understand the situation and the suffering of the one we consider to be our enemy, and we can train ourselves to speak lovingly. These stories can help inspire and guide us as we train and practice.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888375035
• ISBN13: 9781888375039
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Parallax Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful and moving

Although not a manual of meditation, it's a wonderful text desribing memories of a beloved Zen master as a teenage novice monk in mid-1940s Vietnam. He shares his very personal reflections and conversations with his brother monk. Even though the book was written nearly half a century ago when Thich Naht Hanh's ideas were not as mature as today, his words and thoughts reveal a prospective great master and all his later refined concepts seem to be already present. He describes his daily chores and tedious routines which from his perspective seem to be wonderful and important practices. We are also introduced to his friends, monastic brothers and teachers described as compassionate bodhisattvas. We find out a lot about traditional koan training as well as other practices. One of the most moving moments of the book is his encounter and friendship with a young French soldier - an experience that must have inspired him as a future peace activist. I'd recommend this book to all those interested in Thich Nhat Hanh teching and practice. Additionally, although very concise it seems to be one of his best narrative stories. Its Vietnamese title "Humanity" is porbably the best summary of the contents and the spirit of the book.

Tinh Nguoi

"Tin Nguoi" is the Vietnamese title of this little book. It means "humanity," and humanity is precisely what Nhat Hanh reflects on in it. What it means to be human, what it means to seach for one's true self, what it means to live in community with other humans: each of these questions are explored through a series of short story-like reflections on Nhat Hanh's years as a young Buddhist monk.At first reading, the book seems slight. But like most of Nhat Hanh's books, it's better thought of as simple rather than simplistic. We make the world too complicated with our rushing about and our efforts to master everything. Nhat Hanh's prose offers a simpler, slower, more meditative approach to reality, and thus mirrors the points he wishes to make.So his stories about memorizing large books as part of his novice training, or of being assigned to look after the cattle (kept by the monks solely for their manure), or his delightful sketches of fellow-novice Brother Man or monastic cook Aunt Tu, generally aim to teach a lesson about what it means to follow the Buddha's path. They are parables, and as such will provoke any number of reflections on the part of the perceptive reader. The chapter dealing with koans is one of the most insightful treatments of the subject I've ever read. It alone is worth the price of the book.