Brother Minh Nhân

Brother Minh Nhân, also known Hermano Benevolencia or Brother Kindness (and sometimes Brother Onion), ordained as a Plum Village monastic in 2018 at the age of 24. He is one of the few monastics of Mexican descent in the tradition and has a deep love for practice, study, and play. His journey into monastic life is shaped by a blend of intellectual curiosity, spiritual seeking, and a deep aspiration to live a meaningful life in service to others.

Born to Mexican immigrant parents, Brother Minh Nhân grew up in Tucson, Arizona. His early spiritual journey began in high school when he stumbled upon Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse at a Goodwill store, intrigued by the image of the Buddha on the cover. This encounter, along with reading the Kālāma Sutta—a Buddhist teaching that encourages personal experience over blind belief—planted the seeds of inquiry in him. 

He also embraces play as an essential part of his practice. Whether through making music, riding bicycles, exploring the world of fungi, or playing volleyball, he sees joy and lightness as important counterbalances to intellectual pursuit. Play allows him to let go, stay present, and nourish his sense of wonder.

As one of the first monastics of Mexican heritage in Plum Village, he recognizes the significance of his presence in the community. Although he does not yet see himself as a trailblazer, he acknowledges the potential to bring the practice to Mexican and Latin American communities in the future. For now, he is focused on deepening his own training, knowing that when the time is right, he will be able to share the Dharma in a meaningful way.