Interbeing, Mindfulness, and Compassion: A Textual and Thematic Study of Student Well-being in Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Engaged Buddhism
Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences August 22, 2026 DOI: 10.52711/2321-5828.2026.00029 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | Argues that Thích Nhất Hạnh's concepts of interbeing, mindfulness, and compassion provide a philosophical and practical framework for rethinking student well-being, emphasizing relational awareness and ethical responsibility over individual coping mechanisms. |
Abstract
This paper examines the concepts of interbeing, mindfulness, and compassion in the teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, with particular emphasis on their relevance to student well-being in contemporary educational contexts. Drawing upon the framework of Engaged Buddhism, the study adopts a qualitative textual and thematic approach to analyse selected writings and teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh. The concept of interbeing, which emphasizes the interconnected nature of existence, is explored as the philosophical foundation underlying both mindfulness and compassion. The study discusses how mindfulness, understood as awareness of the present moment, can assist students in developing emotional balance, clarity of thought, self-awareness, and resilience in the face of academic and social pressures. At the same time, compassion, grounded in the insight of interbeing, encourages empathy, ethical sensitivity, and meaningful human relationships. Through thematic analysis, the paper demonstrates how these interconnected concepts address issues such as stress, anxiety, emotional isolation, and disconnection frequently experienced within contemporary educational environments. The paper further argues that the integration of mindfulness and compassion within education offers a more holistic understanding of student well-being. Rather than focusing solely on individual coping mechanisms, this perspective highlights the importance of relational awareness, ethical responsibility, and interconnectedness. In this way, the teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh provide a significant philosophical and practical framework for rethinking student well-being in a more comprehensive, humane, and socially grounded manner.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... | 2017 | Qualitative study with mixed-methods | |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 6 |
| The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators | 2018 | Qualitative study |