Commemorating the 62nd anniversary of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

Venerable Thich Tri Quang talks about the path of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc. (Photo: Linh Son/VNA)

On May 17 (April 20 of the lunar calendar) at Vietnam Quoc Tu (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City), the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City solemnly held a memorial service for the 62nd anniversary of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation (1963-2025).

Attending the ceremony were Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Most Venerable Thich Thien Phap, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council; Most Venerable Thich Minh Thong, Deputy Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Council of Patriarchs, along with monks, nuns, and Buddhists.

This is the memorial ceremony for Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, the first monk to self-immolate, when his heart relics were permanently placed at Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda after 62 years.

Previously, on the afternoon of May 5, the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc was invited to Vietnam National Pagoda after 34 years of being kept at the State Bank of Region II.

During the memorial service, Venerable Thich Tri Quang emotionally shared about the path of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc and the great lessons he left for monks and nuns.

Buddhist monks and followers respectfully pay homage to Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc. (Photo: Linh Son/VNA)

According to the great monk Thich Tri Quang, Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc spent much time chanting the Lotus Sutra during his retreat. When he understood the Lotus Sutra, he left the retreat and devoted himself to practicing the Dharma. Wherever there was difficulty, he went, wherever there was affinity, he stayed. The life of monk Thich Quang Duc saw and practiced according to the Lotus Sutra, so he became a Bodhisattva. The image of the monk sitting calmly and freely in the fire, burning himself, leaving an immortal heart for life, became a symbol of great compassion.

62 years ago, on the morning of April 20, Quy Mao year (June 11, 1963), Venerable Thich Quang Duc doused himself in gasoline and burned himself at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung-Le Van Duyet (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu-Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) to protest the Ngo Dinh Diem regime's religious discrimination and suppression of movements fighting for peace , democracy, and people's livelihood, setting an example of noble sacrifice and pure patriotism for compatriots, fellow believers, for the independence and unification of the country, freedom of belief, and equality among religions.

To this day, the act of self-immolation by Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc for the sake of the Dharma still retains its profound value. The transformation of his body into the light of the Dharma from his self-immolation did not ignite hatred, but lit the lamp of true faith, awakened people, and called for a more just and compassionate society. His immortal heart has become an eternal symbol of non-violence, sacrifice, and great heroism, great strength, and great compassion./.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tuong-niem-62-nam-bo-tat-thich-quang-duc-vi-phap-thieu-than-5047383.html