Sister Chan Khong Spoke for Thich Nhat Hanh

Pope Francis invited Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) to speak about the signing of the declaration against slavery. Since Thay is still sick in the hospital, Sister Chan Khong spoke for Thich Nhat Hanh from a prepared speech. The speech is available in its entirety on the Plum Village website.

Pope Francis invited spiritual leaders to visit the Vatican to speak out against modern slavery. The event was organized by the Global Freedom Network. In addition to Thay representing Buddhism, Amma, Rabbi Skorka, Grand Imam of Al Azhar and other spiritual leaders demonstrated to the world that all major faith traditions are united in declaring human trafficking, child labor, and other new forms of slavery “Crimes Against Humanity”.

Thich Nhat Hanh wrote,

“In this age of globalization, what happens to one of us, happens to us all. We are all interconnected, and we are all co-responsible. But even with the greatest good will, if we are swept away by our daily concerns for material needs or emotional comforts, we will be too busy to realize our common aspiration. Contemplation must go together with action. Without a spiritual practice we will abandon our dream.”

Thay’s stand has always been in favor of freedom. The evil of sex trafficking is a form of modern slavery. See, for example, Who Is Somaly Mam? and The Horrible Conditions Of Human Trafficking.

Sister Chan Khong has been Thay’s “leading lady’ [my opinion only] since 1960. She is his eldest disciple and has been at the forefront of Thay’s global efforts for social work and engaged Buddhism since the 1960’s. She was one of the original members of the Order of Interbeing, the four-fold community of monks, nuns, lay men, and lay women who agree to live by the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.

We need to take action against all forms of human slavery, especially sex trafficking and child labor. One way to help out is by donating to organizations like the Somaly Mam Foundation. What ideas do you have to contribute to freedom from modern slavery?