I would like to present to you a form of Buddhism that […] is called the Tiep Hien Order […]. Tiep means to be in touch [ …] with oneself in order to find out the source of wisdom, understanding, and compassion in each of us. The second part of the meaning of Tiep is to continue. Hein means the present time. Hein also means to make real, to manifest realization. It is difficult to find English or French words which convey the meaning of Tiep Hien. There is the term from the Avatamsaka Sutra, interbeing, that conveys the spirit, so we have translated Tiep Hien as interbeing. In the sutra it is a compound term which means mutual and to be. […] We have talked about the many in the one, and the one containing the many. In one sheet of paper, we see everything else, the cloud, the forest, the logger. I am, therefore you are. You are, therefore I am. That is the meaning of the word interbeing. We interare.
from: Being Peace, Thich Nhat Hanh
Photo and accompanying personal statement were part of the faculty/staff portrait exhibit installed in Mooney Building in May 2010.
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