Chân Không

Chân Không, born Cao Ngọc Phương in 1938, is a prominent Vietnamese Bhikkhunī (nun) and peace activist. She is widely recognized for her instrumental role in co-founding the Plum Village Tradition and her close collaboration with the revered Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh. Her work has been central to organizing spiritual retreats and promoting peace activism internationally.

Life and Work

Born in Bến Tre, French Indochina, Chân Không was the eighth of nine children in a middle-class family. Her father instilled in her and her siblings the values of work and humility. She pursued higher education, enrolling in the University of Saigon in 1958 to study biology, where she also became a student leader involved in social action, assisting the poor and sick.

Chân Không first met Thích Nhất Hạnh in 1959 and considered him her spiritual teacher. After completing her biology degree in Paris in 1964, she returned to Vietnam and joined Thích Nhất Hạnh in the founding of Van Hanh University. She played a pivotal role in establishing and operating the School of Youth and Social Service (SYSS), an organization that provided medical, educational, and agricultural support to rural Vietnam during the war, eventually involving over 10,000 young peace workers.

In 1966, Chân Không was ordained as one of the first six members of the Order of Interbeing, taking the name Sister Chân Không, meaning True Emptiness. This name reflects the Buddhist concept of interconnectedness and the absence of a separate self. From 1969 to 1972, she worked with Thích Nhất Hạnh in Paris, organizing the Buddhist Peace Delegation. She was instrumental in establishing the first Sweet Potato community near Paris, followed by the Plum Village Monastery in 1982. She has also organized significant relief efforts for those in need in Vietnam and has been actively involved in teaching and conducting mindfulness practices during retreats and visits to Vietnam.

Writings and Recognition

Chân Không authored her autobiography, "Learning True Love: How I Learned & Practiced Social Change in Vietnam," published in 1993. She has also co-authored several books with Thích Nhất Hạnh, including "Drops of Emptiness" and "The Present Moment."

In 2014, Chân Không represented Thích Nhất Hạnh at a historic meeting where religious leaders from various faiths signed a declaration against modern-day slavery. She continues to be an active participant in promoting peace and mindfulness through her teachings and writings.