Thich Nhat Hanh and the two stages of spiritual transformation

A monk’s job is to transform himself. If he succeeds in that, he can then give some thought to reforming the world. The great 19th-century Hindu saint Sri Ramakrishna once remarked that the world is like the curled tail of a dog: you may try to straighten it, but as soon as you let go, it will snap back into its original shape. One of his disciples agreed, but added that trying to straighten it is good exercise. For us ordinary mortals, trying to reform a world as big, complex and uncontrollable as this one is an exercise in hubris.  
By all accounts, Thich Nhat Hanh succeeded admirably in transforming himself and has made a good start towards reforming the world. For both, he deserves high praise. They gave him good exercise, and left him without even a trace of hubris.
Ye Olde Theologian