Non-Self and Mindfulness in Thích Nhất Hạnh’s Buddhist Prose: An Ecocritical and Yin–Yang Perspective
Hoang Thị Thuy Duong
3L The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies March 18, 2026 DOI: 10.17576/3l-2026-3201-07 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that in Thích Nhất Hạnh's prose, non-self is a philosophical notion for transcending self-attachment and mindfulness is a practical path for living deeply in the present moment, together forming a foundation of peace and harmony. Read through spiritual ecocriticism and Taoist Yin–Yang philosophy, these works are presented as an eco-humanistic discourse emphasizing "interbeing" among humans, nature, and spiritual life. |
Abstract
Two of the core concepts in the Buddhist prose of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh are non-self and mindfulness. These notions play a pivotal role in cultivating inner peace and fostering a harmonious world. This study focuses on two representative non-fiction prose works by Thích Nhất Hạnh: “Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life” (Thích Nhất Hạnh, 2023a) and “No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life” (Thích Nhất Hạnh, 2024). The article employs spiritual ecocriticism in combination with comparative Eastern philosophy – specifically the Yin–Yang framework of Taoism – while applying textual analysis and an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Buddhist studies, poetics, and ecology. It explores non-self and mindfulness in Thích Nhất Hạnh’s representative prose works. The findings reveal that non-self is a philosophical notion guiding human beings to transcend self-attachment, whereas mindfulness is a practical path that enables one to live deeply in each present moment. Together, these two elements establish a foundation of peace and harmony – not only on the personal level but also in relation to the community and the natural environment. Viewed through the lens of ecocriticism and in dialogue with the Yin–Yang philosophy of Taoism, Thích Nhất Hạnh's prose emerges as an eco-humanistic discourse, emphasising the principle of interbeing among human beings, nature, and spiritual life. The findings of this article provide reference material for the reading and study of the Buddhist prose of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh. Keywords: non-self; mindfulness; prose; Buddhism; Thích Nhất Hạnh DOI: http://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2026-3201-07
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |