By the end of World War II (1939-1945), American goods and weapons were in great demand. The United States replaced the French in Indochina, turning South Vietnam into an anti-Communist outpost with the slogan  "To stop the expansion of communism in Southeast Asia" , but also to consume all commodities. and surplus gas. In order to carry out two key objectives at the same time in Vietnam, the US government will only accept a puppet government that is easy to wrong and obeys to the US, that is, a Catholic government. that is, in a country where their population is only 5% of the population. The 'minority minority' pro-  democracy activist, led by the indigenous inmates of the United States in Vietnam, has therefore was one of the reasons behind and far from the 1963 Buddhist struggle, and the Thich Quang Duc Torch and six other torches * in order to awaken the Ngo Dinh Diem government and to promote the human conscience of a reality. injustice and exploitation weigh on the fate of people Vietnam from French colonial rule extends to not only the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem, but also with the government, Nguyen Van Thieu, the authorities ' new bottle, but the wine intact' .

Briefly depicts some of the historical contexts so that the 1963 Buddhist struggle is not simply seen as the injustice between Buddhism and Christianity (CG and TL) but the whole The main thing is that, between the two religions, their policies are very different. On the one hand, in the opinion of Bishop Puginier, is the cousin  of the colonial crabs ** dictated by religious dictatorship Ngô Đình Diêm and preferred, on the other is  the death of religious beliefs live on the other. ups and downs of water transportationbeing persecuted by the Wu family. The 1963 Buddhist event is just a drop of water that overflows with water. Thus, the struggle initiated by Buddhism was a struggle not only for the entire South Vietnamese people but also for the struggle of those who love freedom, equality and social justice throughout the world.

With such a glimpse of history, we know the reason why this struggle has been supported by the people and the world with many leaders who do not have the same faith. With Vietnamese Buddhists and many nations despite the same political tendency with the Ngo Dinh Diem government. This trend of positive support is stronger after the Venerable Thich Quang Duc voluntarily brought himself as a torch to alert people.

He was born in 1897 in Ho Khanh village, Khanh Hoa province, where he was ordained at the age of 15, studied at Linh Mu Pagoda in Hue. Prior to self-immolation, he stayed at Quan The Am Temple, Saigon. After eight Buddhists were killed on the night of 8.5.1963 at Hue Radio Station, and five legitimate aspirations of Buddhism were not agreed upon by the Ngo Dinh Diem government, the first Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc After several weeks of meditation to increase inner strength, voluntarily sacrificed his life for the good of the Phan Dinh Phung-Le Van Duyet crossroads in Saigon on June 11, 1963.

Unlike the distortions of the advocates of the Wu family, the New York Times reporter David Halberstam reported in astonished and respected words:

"I saw the scene again, but only once was enough. Flames cover people; The body is dry, the head burns, the air smells foul meat, the body in the red fire amazing. Behind me, I could hear the cries of those who were pulling in. I was too touched to cry, I was so shocked to write or ask a few questions, too embarrassed to think ... drowned in the fire but he was still motionless, the vein did not budge, not a moan , body fell, people standing around crying. "

I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was smell of burning human flesh; human being burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confuse to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think... As he burned he never move a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him (quoted by Jollie Hicks): (http://www.uwec.edu/greider/BMRB/culture/student.work/hicksr/ ).

Malcolm Browne's narrative of Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation was sent to the United States by the Associated Press, and self-immolation photos were also posted on the front page of most newspapers around the world. . Since then, readers everywhere have started to curious about what is happening in Vietnam, a strange country in Southeast Asia.

' However, the status  of the mission  (information)  United States at the beginning is trying to reduce the intensity of a number of official sources often give the media. But this is not an easy job although the press office is tightly knit, there is a tight group, and a group of fears.Diem's ​​undercover police secretly intercepted journalists' conversations, followed the telegrams, tapped into offices, and ran along the streets. Nevertheless, through the use of visitors, aviation personnel, and even military sympathizers, the journalists were able to move away from the reports they witnessed. Due to the failure to control the source of the news, the Kennedy government had to put the work on a higher unit. '(A Reader, The American Experience in Vietnam, edited by Grace Savey, University of Oklahoma Pess, 1989 pp. 112 & 113).

But the whole mission of the United States and Vietnam has not been able to stop the news of the Buddhist struggle, especially after Quang Duc's self-immolation, so that the whole world be well informed about this great event.

a. Advertising on the New York Times and Washington Post ...: Photographer and photographer Malcolm W. Browne writes: 

" The pictures I took of HT's death. Quang Duc has become a possession that people send around the world. The pictures are meaningful according to the look and purpose of each person.

An acquaintance in Lisbon sent me a letter telling me that photos of Mr. Quang Duc's death were distributed by hawks all over the alley.An American celebrity clergyman also used one of these photographs to create  attention  for their advertisements on  New York Times  and the  Washington Post  with text.  " We also protest: We, too, protest .  "Their opposition was aimed at American support for the Diem regime. "  Malcolm W. Browne,  The New Face Of War, Revised Edition,  The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. Indianapolis-New York, 1968, p. 261-262. See also Christian G. Appy, Patriots The Vietnamese War Remembered From All Sides, tr. 60-65).

b. Chinese: " Quang Duc's self-immolation prints were printed millions of copies by the United States. One of those images was sent across Asia-Africa countries with the large inscription "A Buddhist monk sacrificed himself against American-Diem imperialism."

The self-immolation of HT. Quang Duc is also an impressive influence on the White House. I  (Browne)  learned that when Henry Cabot Lodge came to see the late President Kennedy on his appointment as ambassador to Vietnam, Kennedy also had a picture of himself set free.Quang Duc on the desk. Quang Duc's death may be one of the main factors for the State Department and White House in the end to oppose the Diem government, which is shifting Vietnamese history. "{... Quang Duc's death probably was one. of the factors that finally turned the State Department and White House against Diem, altering the course of English history to some extent} (Malcolm W. Browne,  The New Face of War,  p. 263).

c. Le Monde, France on June 13, 64 wrote :  "Before the act of suicide to fight, the most brutal must also stop." ( Minh No Vu Van Mau, Six Months of France 1963,  Ronéo 1984, p. 320)

d. La Gazette de lausanne in Switzerland:  Write very touching words about the self-immolation of Quang Duc HT as follows:

" The very agitated sacrifice of the living monk in Saigon forces people to respect. The sacrifices for his Fa-rectification made us think of the first Christians, and this association makes us feel very upset. " (Hoeng Linh Do Mau,  Viet Nam My Blood, Political Memorandum, United States of America 1986, p.640).

e. Journal de Genève:  Another influential Swiss newspaper in the world,

" One could argue that it was only a massacre of the hard-line majority that the government was a bundle of bundles that had been swollen and rigid. But the sacrifice of the Venerable Master Thich Quang Duc shows that Vietnamese Buddhism is protecting their way of life and thought  . "  (Do Mau, led book, p. 641). 

g. Government Ngo Dinh Diem:  After the self-inflicted scandal HT. Quang Duc, Ngo Dinh Diem really confused so he blamed others lack of base:

" Diem slander photographer Browne has bribed Buddhist monks to kill a fellow monk."

Diem’s reaction was to accuse Browne of bribing the Buddhist monks to murder their fellow monk. (Grace Sevy, sách đã dẫn, tr.112). 

Ms. Ngo Dinh Nhu:  When answering the interview with the US television station, journalist Mecklin wrote that Nhu said:

" All the things that Buddhism has contributed to the country have nothing but the burning of a monk" ... and "Thich Quang Duc was injected with drugs and burnt alive, but later Ms. Nhu sought to deny some of these irresponsible remarks. "

All that the Buddhists have done for the country is to barbecue the monk...She claimed that Thích Quảng Đức had been drugged and burned against his will. She later tried to deny having made some of her cynical comments. (Joseph Buttinger, Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled, Volum II Vietnam at War, Frederick A. Praeger, Publisher, New York, 1967, tr .1184). 

Nhu's later desire to correct her skeptic and thoughtless speeches, as Mr Buttinger said, is also worth admiring and loving. It also complies with the following  IMPORTANT NOTE: 

I (Bui Kha) acquainted in Orange County said that nearly twenty years ago, Ngô Đình Trac, son of Ngô Đình Nhu in France, along with poet Du Tu Le to Vietnam Temple Los Angeles , California at 2 am to meet the Most Venerable Thich Man. The Master welcomes him. After burning incense and Buddha, Ngô Đình Trac said, "May I present to you the Venerable Master and ask the Venerable Master again to the Buddhist church is mother and child and on behalf of the family please repent the words and work. Previously done for the Buddhist monks and nuns in Vietnam ... " Master Man Giac was very moved, admired Nhu's gesture, and comforted Mr. Ngo Dinh Trac that" she was young and not who advises ... "  (Thich Man Giac is currently living in Los Angles and poet Du Tu Le in Orange County, California).

Ngo Dinh Nhu:  " On August 15, another monk set himself on fire in Hue, three days later a nun killed himself in Ninh Hoa ( Khanh Hoa is probably right, BK). To support his wife, Ngo Dinh Nhu also ruthlessly pretends like nothing important:

" If Buddhism wants to have another barbeque, I'm happy to supply gas."

On August 15, another monk burned himself at Hue, followed three days later by a nun at Ninh Hoa. Not wishing to lag behind his wife in callousness, Ngo Dinh Nhu soon afterward stated that “if Buddhists want to have another barbecue, I will be glad to supply the gasoline”. (J. Buttinger, Ibid. p. 995).

The self-immolation awakened the world and shook the human conscience, but its meaning was often misunderstood and it was thought to be a suicide.  To clarify the meaning of the self-immolation of Buddhist monks and nuns in 1963, I quote the following two monks, a Buddhist Gospel to further clarify history.

* Pastor Donald Harrington in New York:  During a lecture at a New York auditorium on June 30, 1960, Pastor Harrington described sincerely and admired Quang Duc's self-immolation. That same lecture also speaks of the true meaning of self-immolation: 

" More than two weeks ago, on June 11.63, monk Thich Quang Duc sat in meditation style on a hot asphalt road. In his hand holding a chain of 54 seeds and began to recite the Buddha, while on his robes, he was wet with oil. All monks and nuns back, respectful, frightened.Pedestrians are aware of what is going on in the wild, so they all stop waiting.

With calm, calm on his face, Quang Duc grand thoughts: "Nam Moi Amitabha  Buddha". Then he flicked a match and the fire flared up to cover his body but he did not moan or shake. He sat up for ten minutes, his body in a red fire, and when the fire was over, he lay motionless.

One wonders what terrible and repentant anger can cause a person of the "Love" of "Peace", to commit self-immolation?

If utter despair and extreme despair have led to the suicide of human beings,  one of the highest ideals and the most passionate of life  has produced some courageous martyrs. most in history ...

Venerable Quang Duc sacrificed his life by self-immolation  to awaken President Diem's ​​conscience and noted for the whole world.

He suffered from the burning sparks of burning flesh but without a single cry. He sent his words to President Diem, and so far Mr. Diem has not yet heard or noticed. Anyhow voice that still  is  the voice of love, that deep voice of it contained the liberation of South Vietnam. He left a shadowy shadow on the splendor that Pope John brought to the Church of God. What did he do and what he must do, for every American to look for his soul and for the US government to know that unless the Saigon government exercises  religious equality for Buddhists and liberty The Vietnamese people , all US aid must stop immediately ...

The fire can be a ray of hope for those who have long been oppressed by foreigners or by their own people ... "  (Vu Van Mau, The Guidebook, pp. 322-324. see more in the book:  1963-2003 Fourteen Years Looking Back , Intersection 2003, pp.148-160).

* Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh:

"The press called it a suicide act, but it was not. Even that is not an act of protest. What the monks wrote in the letters that preceded the self-immolation was to alert, to transform the minds of the rulers, and to call upon the world to care for the constant anguish of Vietnamese people. The self-immolation was to show that the aspirations they mentioned were very important ... The Vietnamese burned themselves to say with all their might and determination that I could endure suffering. The most extreme way to protect my people ... To express one's aspiration by self-immolation, therefore, is not an act of destruction but an act of creation, that is, to suffering and death to others. Thus, self immolation is not an act of suicide. "

The press spoke then of suiside, but in the essence, it is not.It is not even a protest. What the monks said in the letters they left before burning themselves aimed only at alarming, at moving the hearts of the oppressors, and at calling the attention of the world to the suffering endured then by Vietnamese. To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance. The Vietnamese monk, by burning himself, says with all his strength and determination that he can endure the greatest of sufferings to protect his people. To express will by burning oneself, therefore, is not to commit an act of destruction but to perform an act of construction, that is, to suffer and to die for the sake of one’s people. This is not suicide.

Nhat Hanh went further to explain why Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation was not a suicide; it was against the teachings of the Buddha:

"Suicide is an act of self-destruction due to the following reasons: (1) lack of will to live and difficulties; (2) failure in life and despair; (3) do not want to live ... The monk self-immolation ( Thich Quang Duc)  does not lose energy, without hope; as well as not wanting to live. On the contrary, he is full of energy, full of hope and wish for something good for the future. He has no thoughts of self-destruction; I believe in the good fruits of self-sacrifice for others ... I firmly believe that all monks set themselves on fire do not want the rulers to die, but only to change their policies. Our enemies are not human. Our enemies are intolerance, fanaticism, dictatorship, attachment, hatred and discrimination, which are in the minds of people. "

      (Suicide is an act of self-destruction, having as causes the following: (1) lack of courage to live and cope with difficulties; (2) defeat by life and loss of all hope; (3) desire for non exsistence... The monk who burns himself has lost neither courage nor hope; nor does he desire nonexsistence. On the contrary, he is very courageous and hopeful and aspires for something good in the future. He does no think that he is destroying himself; he belives in the good fruition of his act of self-sacrifce for the sake of others ... I believe with all my heart that the monks who burned themselves did not aim at the death of their oppressors but only at a change in their policy. Their enemies are not man. They are intolerance, fanaticism, dictatorship, cupidity, hatred, and discrimination which lie within the heart of man.” (Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire. Hill and Wang, Inc. New York,1967, pp. 106 &107). 

After the raid of the temple and the night of 20.8 with the Ngo Dinh Diem government's plan, the world increasingly understood the legitimate aspirations of Buddhism in Vietnam. Thus, they have strongly supported Buddhism and criticized the Diem government's persecution of the rabbis.

In individuals, organizations and nations that support the struggle of Buddhism, we can be divided into three parts. Others believe in Buddhism, most Buddhist countries and technologically advanced countries. Here are some quotes.

1. LM. Le Quang Oanh ***:  From Than Tho Lake in Dalat on May 12, 1963, Rev. Le Quang Oanh, Representative of Dong Tam, Father Vo Quang Thieng and Ms Ngoc Lan Huong ... Letter to the Venerable Master of the Buddhist Association of Vietnam expressing sympathy for the struggle of Buddhism. The message is as follows:

"We condemn  " injustice "have killed innocent compatriots. It is brutal, barbaric, anti-democratic, antipathetic, anti-moral, humiliating for the nation of Vietnam, a civilized culture over four thousand years of history.

"The judge asserted:" The good will win . "

Vatican:  Pope Paul VI has also spoken out three times about Buddhism. On 30.8.63 the Pope read a message to the people of Vietnam, but this letter was also prohibited by the Ngo Dinh Diem government. A passage in this message the Pope wrote as follows:

"The Pope has expressed his deep concern and pain in observing the tragic events of the Vietnamese people and the growing concern of the pope ... The Pope prays for all who, in the relationship of tolerance and in the respect of genuine freedoms, unite to reconnect with each other and brotherhood. "

The Pope expresses his painful concern about the sad events that afflict the dear Vietnamese people, while the anxiety becomes day by day deeper and throbbing ... And he wishes that all, in a generous collaboration and in a mutual respect of legitimate liberties, united to restore reciprocal concord and fraternity ( Bốn Mươi Năm Nhìn Lại  tr.126.

3. Cambodian:  After the day of Quang Duc's self-immolation, Tran Van Duoc, head of the Overseas Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Cambodia, wrote letters condemning the Ngo Dinh Diem government and appealed to the United Nations Secretary-General Sihanouk. intervention. After the temples were attacked, monks and nuns were arrested at night at 20.8.63, the government of Cao Mien on 23.8.63 officially issued a statement expressly condemning the government of Vietnam. One paragraph in the statement read:

"The Royal Cambodian Government has received information that the Saigon Government has brutally suppressed the Buddhists ... The Royal Government of Cambodia fully supports Buddhist monks and nuns in Vietnam"  ( Forty Year of Looking Back , book led, p.133).

By 27.8.63, the Cambodian government sent letters to Vietnam with very heavy words:

"The whole Cambodian nation as well as all other peoples in the world are disgusted and disgusted with the brutal acts of repression of the Vietnamese Buddhism ..."  ( BMNNL , p. 134).

4. Sri Lanka:  The flame of compassion and the Buddhist retrograde in Thich Quang Duc has made Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the Sri Lankan prime minister, extremely moved. She called on Buddhist countries in Asia to support Sri Lanka in demanding that the United Nations intervene in the repression of Buddhism in Vietnam. On 26.8.63, the Sri Lankan Buddhist Conference asked Buddhist organizations nationwide to raise the flag to mourn Buddhists who sacrifice for their faith ( BMNNL, p.136  ).

5. Burma:  After the day the pagodas in Vietnam were raided, the Burmese government became more outrageous. Guandiantai newspaper in Rangoon, the capital of Burma, strongly condemns the tyranny of the Ngo Dinh Diem government. Newspaper wrote:

"It would be wrong for the United States to continue to support a reigning government on the tragic body of Vietnamese Buddhists who can keep intact diplomatic relations with nations in Southeast Asia " ( BMNNL,  p.138).

6. An-An:  Many Buddhist societies ask Prime Minister Néru to intervene. On 25.8.63, the Secretary General of National Party An was very angry at Ngô Đình Di0m's regime and felt the pain of Vietnamese Buddhists:

"The sudden release of Saigon from Saigon has stirred public opinion in India, the home of Buddhism. The cruelty that Vietnamese victims are victims of makes us resentful of the fact that Buddhism promotes nonviolence. "( BMNNL,  p. 138).

7. Thailand:  On 22.8.63, Sarit Thanarat, Prime Minister of Thailand, proposed to convene a preliminary conference of Buddhist countries before bringing the issue of Buddhism to the United Nations. Four days later, Colonel Mutukhan, deputy director of the Ministry of Education's Department of Religious Affairs, advised the Vietnamese government with harsh words and as a prophet:

"Because of the persecution of Vietnamese Buddhists, President Ngo Dinh Diem will suffer all kinds of calamities under Buddhist teachings, including death and hell ..."  ( BMNNL,  p.141).

8. Taiwan:  The Foreign Ministry in Taiwan has expressed its concern over the religious crisis in Vietnam and expects the Vietnamese government to take appropriate measures to end the crisis soon.

9. South Korea:  Venerable Kapchong, the head of the Buddhist General Assembly, sent a letter to the Vietnamese government asking to end the persecution of Buddhists. General Chang Chungshan, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council, sent a letter condemning the Vietnamese government's persecution of Buddhists in an inhumane manner.

10. Japan:  The foundation of Diem Nguyet Toi held a super-large celebration for HT. Quang Duc and Vietnamese Buddhists sacrifice for their faith. Although he was not able to wash, Deputy Foreign Minister Shigenobu Shima contacted the Vietnamese ambassador to Japan to express his concern about the events of Buddhism in Vietnam.

The media and public opinion of the Western countries are very enthusiastic and support the struggle of Buddhism in Vietnam.

11. Le Monde:  Viewed as reflecting the views of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The date of June 10.6.63 has attacked the Vietnamese government in the following vehement words:

"The incident in Hue took place due to the brutal suppression of the authorities, and was a good opportunity for the dissatisfaction of the people. This conflict has stripped the isolation and  unhappiness of a privileged Catholic minority " (BMNNL, p.144). 

12. La Croix:  An influential French Catholic newspaper that publishes anti-monopoly views on Ngo Dinh Diem's ​​regime and calls on Catholics to pray for Vietnamese Buddhists. (Hoanh Linh Do Mau, 640).

13. New York Times (New York Times):  August 8, 1963:

"...  The United States government has found every means to force Diem to solve the Buddhist problem. But it was astonishing to hear from Ngo Dinh Nhu, President Diem's ​​sister-in-law, slandering Buddhist leaders who were rebels, murderers, and Communist campaigners. It is reported that President Diem's ​​husband, Nhu's brother, could lead a coup that has worried the United States. It is widely believed that rumors of such a coup were part of the anti-Catholic psychological war, and also a threat to the United States. "(BMNNL,  p.147 ).

14. State Department statement: As  soon as the pagodas throughout the South were attacked, the US State Department published a manifesto, which reads as follows:

"Based on the reports from Sai Gon, it is clear that the government of Vietnam has taken stringent measures to crack down on Vietnamese Buddhist leaders. This action is a direct violation of the Vietnamese government's commitment to pursue a policy of reconciliation with Buddhists. The United States complains of this kind of repression. "

Text of Statement issued by Department of State, Washington, on August 21: On the basis of information from Saigon, it appears that the Government of the Republic of Vietnam has instituted serious repressive measures against Vietnamese Buddhist leaders. The action represents a direct violation by the Vietnamese Government of assurances that it was pursuing a policy of reconciliation with the Buddhists. The United State deplores repressive action of this nature. (Vũ Văn Mẫu, tr.333).

15. United Nations:  With images of Vietnamese Buddhists being persecuted, imprisoned, imprisoned, and slandered by the Ngo Dinh Diem government, they are posted on the front page of most newspapers around the world. The United Nations was unable to ignore, so on September 24, 1963 a special delegation was sent to Vietnam to investigate the case. Although the Ngô Đình Di0m administration did not allow the UN delegation to the necessary places to investigate, the delegation finally gathered enough evidence to conclude that ' Vietnamese Buddhists were under the control of the Ngo Dinh Diem discriminates against, persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, murdered and converted for many years. '

In conclusion, The 1963 Buddhist struggle was not limited to the demands for equality and religious freedom, but also for the demands of social justice and the right to peaceful life in a nation as many nations. other in the world. The ideological conflict that Vietnam is a battlefield to fight. The bombs, ammunition, and goods dumped after World War II, Vietnam is a good market for consumption. The Vietnamese became victims but were concealed by the great powers with beautiful words. Therefore, the Buddhist struggle was supported by the people, the whole army and the world. The heroic sacrifice of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc as well as the sacred fire followed later to the Ngo Dinh Diem government awareness and the world concerned.

The Sacred Flames and the events of 63 have created good conditions for Buddhism to revive and a new opportunity for the revolutionary process of the country, but it all depends on the country, international politics, in the will of the people and especially the people of conscience, intellect and strength of the leadership. END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.26/10/2018.