His many books included novels, poetry, story collections, spiritual guides and Buddhist texts. He applied Buddhist philosophical ideals to people’s everyday lives — “While you brush your teeth, Buddhism should be there” — and to serious geopolitical questions, including terrorism and climate change. His speeches sometimes drew thousands of listeners, and his 2012 book, “The Art of Mindfulness,” sold more than 200,000 copies in the United States alone. Oprah Winfrey interviewed him in 2010.
