This stunning commentary on the cultural and political background to the war in Vietnam was the first book published in the United States by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. As war raged in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh became a leading figure in the Buddhist peace movement, and with the help of friends such as Thomas Merton, he published this book in 1967 as his uncompromising and radical call for peace. Many years ahead of its time, Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire holds lessons for all seeking a way to safety through the flames of war. Book jacket.