Thích Nhất Hạnh Way Co-Naming Ceremony in New York City

Hosted by Monastics of Blue Cliff and Deer Park Monasteries
Meeting Location: Corner of West 109th Street & Broadway, New York, NY

Honoring the Legacy of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh

Join us for a historic and deeply meaningful event as New York City officially co-names West 109th Street between Riverside and Broadway as “Thích Nhất Hạnh Way.” This special ceremony honors the life and teachings of Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh, a global spiritual leader, poet, peace activist, and the founder of the Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism.

Thích Nhất Hạnh lived at 306 West 109th Street in the early 1960s while studying and teaching at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University—a formative period in his life as a scholar, teacher, and activist. This street co-naming recognizes his profound contributions to mindfulness, peace, and social transformation worldwide.

This historic event will bring together city leaders, monastics from the international Plum Village community, and members of the New York City community to commemorate the life and work of one of the world’s most influential spiritual teachers.

Schedule of Events:

11:00 AM ET – Arrival of monastics from Blue Cliff and Deer Park Monasteries at W 109th Street and Broadway

11:30 AM ET – Co-Naming Ceremony:

• Remarks by City Council Member Shaun Abreu
• Unveiling of the “Thích Nhất Hạnh Way” sign
• Reflections from monastics and community leaders
• Closing chant

The event is free and open to the public. Community members are warmly encouraged to join in this day of mindful practice, gratitude, and celebration.

12:00 PM ET – Walking meditation from W 109th Street and Broadway to Union Theological Seminary (121st Street and Broadway)

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1:00 PM ET – Co-Naming Reception, Book & Calligraphy Exhibition @ UTS

Immediately following the Co-Naming Ceremony, monastics will lead walking meditation from 109th & Broadway to Union Theological Seminary, where Thay taught and studied in the 60s, to gather and enjoy Thay’s book and calligraphy exhibition.

RSVP is required to attend the reception in James Chapel, however the Burke Library is open to the public for this book and calligraphy exhibition.

Monastics from Blue Cliff and Deer Park Monasteries will offer chanting and vegan lunch. Vegan sandwiches will be available (with suggested donation) for an eating meditation in James Chapel of UTS, followed by chanting with the monastics and words from the Thích Nhất Hạnh Program for Engaged Buddhism program at UTS as well as readings from Thay’s poetry. 

We welcome you to join us for this gathering to honor our teacher and connect with sangha friends.

4:00 PM ET – Event concludes

Note that the book and calligraphy exhibition will be in the Burke Library, which is in the same building as James Chapel.  The address for Burke Library is 3041 Broadway and is open to the public. Advance RSVP is required to enter James Chapel.

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This momentous occasion not only celebrates Thích Nhất Hạnh’s legacy, but also invites participants to embody his teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and peace. The co-naming of “Thích Nhất Hạnh Way” recognizes his profound impact on the global mindfulness movement, as well as his advocacy for interfaith harmony and social transformation.

If you are unable to attend in person, the reception at James Chapel will be live-streamed on UTS YouTube page here.

Although we have sold out for the reception from 1-4pm, you are still welcome to join the street ceremony as no RSVP is required to join us at the Co-Naming Ceremony. The Burke Library will also be open to the public for the book and calligraphy exhibition following the street ceremony.

If you were unable to RSVP to the reception, we invite you to join the walking meditation from the Co-Naming Ceremony to UTS and only attend the Burke Library exhibition. If your name is not on the RSVP list, you will be required to enter the 3041 Broadway door just one short block further up the street (with valid ID).

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Founded in 1836, Union Theological Seminary is the oldest private, independent, non-denominational seminary in the U.S. Union has a program, The Thích Nhất Hạnh Program for Engaged Buddhism (TNHEB), which promotes academic and public education aimed at cultivating diverse Buddhist responses to pressing social issues. It seeks to generate innovative and informed discourse on topics, such as violence, climate change, racism, poverty and economic inequality, incarceration, gender and sexuality, religious pluralism, and the intersection of contemplative practice and social action.