June 03, 2018 | 21:10 (GMT+7)
Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc commemorated
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3 a ceremony to commemorate Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, who set himself on fire 55 years ago to protest against the repression of Buddhists by the American-supported Saigon government.
At the event, Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon reviewed the life of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, praising the great sacrifice and patriotism of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc.
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An art performance at a ceremony |
Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc was born as Lam Van Tuat in Van Ninh district, the central province of Khanh Hoa, in 1897.
He actively joined Buddhist movements for religious freedom and equality in the southern region. On June 11, 1963, when a procession of over 800 Buddhist monks, nuns and followers arrived at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung boulevard (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street) and Le Van Duyet Street (now Cach Mang Thang Tam Street) in Sai Gon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Thich Quang Duc soaked himself in petrol, struck a match and set himself on fire.
He was honoured as a Bodhisattva in 1964 after the unified VBS came into being.
Source: VNA