The Raft Is Not The Shore by Daniel Berrigan, Thich Nhat Hanh

An Interfaith Dialogue on Nonviolence, Suffering, and Peace During the Vietnam War

First published in 1975, The Raft Is Not the Shore records a series of face-to-face conversations held in Paris between two iconic 20th-century peace activists: radical American Jesuit priest Daniel Berrigan and exiled Vietnamese Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, this interfaith dialogue bridges East and West in a shared commitment to human compassion and nonviolent action.

Rather than debating theological dogmas, Berrigan and Thich Nhat Hanh explore human and spiritual dilemmas born from active resistance to war. Their candid conversations cover a wide spectrum of themes, including the psychological weight of political exile, the meaning of martyrdom and self-immolation, suffering, memory, the nature of community, and the role of religious faith in challenging institutional oppression. The book's title draws from a famous Buddhist parable: teachings are merely a raft used to cross the river to enlightenment, not the ultimate shore itself—a reminder that spiritual practices must serve living truth rather than rigid dogma.

Why You'll Love This Book

Offering rare spiritual intimacy and moral clarity, The Raft Is Not the Shore remains a foundational text in interfaith dialogue and engaged spirituality. Readers interested in Zen Buddhism, Christian mysticism, peace activism, and works by Thomas Merton, Pema Chödrön, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Henri Nouwen, and Howard Thurman will find this classic inspiring.