Writing a love letter to your (perceived) enemy: Thích Nhất Hạnh and the rhetoric of nonviolence

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist Thích Nhất Hạnh has been a leading figure in the promotion of nonviolent practice throughout the world. We examine his concept of engaged Buddhism, theories of nonviolence, and intersections with rhetorical and communication studies. His approach takes nonviolence beyond the realm of refusing to use physical violence to the recognition that language itself can be violent. In order to understand this approach we detail the concepts of interbeing, loving speech, and deep listening. We examine the role of love in Nhất Hạnh’s theory of nonviolence, comparing it with approaches taken by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Examples are given from many of Nhất Hạnh’s speeches and writings with particular attention paid to a love letter he wrote to US President George W. Bush during the Iraq War. Thích Nhất Hạnh offers the practice of writing a love letter to one’s perceived enemy as a means to persuade for a turn to nonviolence.

Object Details

• Alternative title: L’écriture d’une lettre d’amour à votre ennemi (perçu): Thích Nhất Hạnh et la rhétorique de la non-violence
• ISSN: 1775-352X
• Extent: Seite(n): 73-90
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: ESSACHESS - Journal for Communication Studies, 10(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Publizistische Medien, Journalismus,Verlagswesen ; interpersonelle Kommunikation ; Vietnam ; Frieden ; Gewaltlosigkeit ; Rhetorik ; Buddhismus ; kognitive Faktoren ; Gewaltverzicht ; Konflikttheorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Phillips-Anderson, Michael ; Phillips-Anderson, Rachel
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Frankreich
• (when): 2017

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-52971-1
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST