Larry Ward, Dharma name “True Great Sound,” a senior teacher in the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, and co-founder of the Lotus Institute, died at his home in Rhode Island on 19 August. He had faced health challenges in recent years but continued to live and teach fully until his passing.
A statement from the Lotus Institute described Ward as “a lighthouse of love, laughter, and wisdom for countless people across generations, cultures and faiths.” (Larry Ward Facebook) The message highlighted his daily practice of the Five Remembrances, his “rebellious and accessible” teaching style that drew from Christianity, Buddhism, and beyond, and his gift for encouraging others to spend time outdoors and rest in the beauty of nature. The announcement noted that his wife, Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, “is being held in the loving care of family and friends,” and requested that the community keep her in their thoughts and prayers. (Larry Ward Facebook)
Ward’s spiritual path was shaped by the social upheavals of the 1960s in the United States, particularly the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. His life’s work was dedicated to non-violent change and healing collective trauma. He became a student of Thich Nhat Hanh in the early 1990s, was ordained as a lay minister in 1994, and became a Dharma teacher in 2000. He traveled and taught widely across the US and internationally, leading retreats, workshops, and trainings in more 20 countries.
Together with Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward, he co-founded the Lotus Institute in 1996 as a non-profit dedicated to personal, spiritual, and social transformation. The institute blended Buddhist practice with trauma-informed care, psychology, and neuroscience, offering training in mindfulness and community renewal. Ward held a doctorate in religious studies with a focus on Buddhism and neuroscience, reflecting his deep interest in bridging ancient wisdom and modern science.
Ward was also a published author whose works include America’s Racial Karma: An Invitation to Heal (Parallax Press 2020) and Love’s Garden: A Guide to Mindful Relationships (Parallax Press 2008), co-authored with Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward. His writing and teaching emphasized confronting racial suffering, transforming collective wounds, and cultivating compassionate action. He was known for addressing difficult social issues in ways that were both deeply spiritual and accessible to people of all backgrounds.
Friends and colleagues remember Ward for his radiant smile, joyful laughter, and his ability to make people feel safe and at home. His teaching often carried the reminder that “we are doing our best, and that we are enough, just as we are.” (Larry Ward Facebook) For many, he represented an authentic and practical expression of Thich Nhat Hanh’s vision of engaged Buddhism, carried forward in the face of global challenges.
Plans for a memorial gathering are underway, in which Ward will be remembered through music, poetry, stories, and laughter—elements that he loved and shared throughout his life. His passing marks the loss of a prominent voice in contemporary Buddhism, but his teachings and legacy continue to inspire communities dedicated to mindfulness, healing, and social justice.
See more
Larry Ward (Facebook)
Larry Ward (Barre Center for Buddhist Studies)
Dr. Larry Ward on America’s Racial Karma, the Fragrance of Wisdom, and Learning How To Suffer Less (Contemplify)
Dr. Larry Ward (Parallax Press)
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