Drive to the Crossroads

“Remember it.”
~ Lâm Văn Tức

“Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of Buddha,
I respectfully plead with President Ngo Dinh Diem for compassion towards the people of the nation
and for implementing religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland for eternity.”
~ Thích Quảng Đức

This was no “fake news” or “made up” media, nor was it the “yellow journalism” of its time. There is also no drug, or medicine, on Great Gaia that will take away the pain of this act, without taking the practitioner of it too.

What I am writing of is Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk - Thích Quảng Đức, who made the choice to immolate on the crowded streets of Saigon on this date of June 11, … but 60 years ago in 1963. His completion of this ancient ritual ignited a chain reaction of energy that was felt, … and seen around the world.

He asked those around him to give the freedom to others of what they gave, and continue to give, to themselves.  To be more specific, “religious tolerance”, an important matter of years ago… and still is today.

This is now the 60th year anniversary of Thích Quảng Đức’s drive to the Crossroads of Life and Death.

The photograph that was snapped of this self-immolation practice is now one of the of the many photographs burned into the Consciousness of the world, and is now one of the most easily recognized.

CROSSING MOMENT
On June 11th 1963, sixty-seven-year-old Buddhist monk, Thích Quảng Đức, requested petroleum be poured over his entire mortal body. Chanting prayers to still his mind – only to moments later, strike a match and set himself ablaze.

He did this in protest against the persecution of Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist.

  HONOR FOR Đức

I honor him as a Teacher.

I honor him as a Craftsman of his Path. With him, over 30 Temples were completed for those who can freely choose to walk the Path with him.

I honor him for giving me confidence in my Knowledge on ceremonial rites, and sharing of ancient wisdom.

I honor him for being one of the leading spiritual figures, representing the Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist Path, with poise --held firm with confidence and dignity.

BACK STORY
In the beginning of the 1960s, religious tension in South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) had escalated to a boiling point. A lot of people from thousands of places around the world were about to be hurt, and hurt badly by the actions of a few. Some would never return home. Some would return only to find they were no longer welcome in the life they once lived. The rest had returned and assimilated as best they could. There was no other way. Vietnam was about to explode.

The air was static. You could feel its tangibility. It still happens today in tense places around the world. Crisis? You feel that. Disaster too. South Vietnam was boiling, literally and figuratively becoming more volatile.

It was known that this was a predominantly Buddhist country that was being ruled by an authoritative president who walked a Christian Path. I am referring to Ngo Dinh Diem (Ngô Đình Diệm in Vietnamese). There were rumors of rampant corruption mixed with actual rampant corruption. The terd was dirty. I heard stories growing up. Stories children of those in the military probably should not have heard, …but we did.

We were listening, we remember, and we know the Truth of a lot of things in this world.

Everyone had their hands in the jar.  All of this “system” conveniently gave itself to the Roman Catholic Church. (Tagalog did the same thing… erm, Philippines. You know, named after the king who was a member of another church.) This was across all of the public services, and often still is around the globe.

Disregard of the president from different Buddhist traditions had sparked street clashes everywhere. See, in Vietnam at the time, you could not have “free choice” as you can now in some places. Not everyone is treated equally. That went for political as well as spiritual.  Balance will come to all things, I say.

Regardless, protests began around Vietnam, especially in Saigon. The clashes were so brutal that it left 9, including children of my spiritual family, dead.  Dead after the violent crackdown that began occurring earlier in May of 1963.

TEMPLE DECISION
The Temple decided that it needed to enact an ancient ritual.

Cautiously, on the 10th of June, 1963, American journalists in Saigon were notified that something unspecified would be happening in front of the Embassy of Cambodia the next day. It is felt that the Elders chose this place because of the then tense relations that were occurring between Cambodia and South Vietnam, not just the intolerance and persecution of their chosen Paths. Everyone was going to see.

Since the Vietnamese Buddhists had already been protesting against the ruling regime of a president backed by the Roman Catholic church. For this reason, only a few journalists showed up.

Amongst them was David Halberstam, a correspondent from The New York Times. Another to also arrive was an Associated Press photographer named Malcolm W. Browne.

The story they were Witness to --unfolded before their curious eyes:

On the morning of June 11th, around 10 am local time, hundreds of Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monks departed the main pagoda in Saigon and began walking. They proceeded to march into a busy and crowded section of crossroads.

A blue sedan led the footslog of the monks.

At the Crossroads, Thích Quảng Đức stepped out of the vehicle accompanied by two other monks. One of them laid a cushion on the street for Đức to sit upon, as he did in the traditional Lotus position. The second monk removed a five-gallon container from the rear of the vehicle, walking it over to Đức. It had already been agreed what would happen next.

Stilling himself, Đức began reciting a short mantra used by Buddhists to calm and bring peace to their minds. He then struck a match and set himself on fire. Instantly the flames engulfed his accelerated body. The on-looking crowd chanted various slogans, some wailed and cried, some even bowed in respect to the burning monk.

10 or so minutes had passed and the lifeless body of the now empty vessel fell quietly to the road. After some commotion and yelling in microphones, the monks carried Đức’s remains away to be buried near the Temple.

The heart remains intact after both the immolation and re-cremation per tradition. It is now enshrined for all to see. Đức and his Eternal Heart both are now revered by Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhists as bodhisattva.

For them, he has achieved enlightenment for their Path.

Đức’S WORDS
Đức stressed in a final letter that he decided to immolate himself to impress upon President Diem the importance of establishing religious tolerance in Southern Vietnam. He went on to write that self-immolation is a sacrifice for Buddhists of all Paths, not just his.  Unfortunately, religious intolerance and further tensions did not defuse in the weeks to come with three additional monks completing this ancient ritual in August of 1963.

A monument now stands near the place of this final crossing.

HEART FOR ALL
It is on this day that I will now embrace silence … and peace in my heart, for those that give and have given their lives under coercion and oppression to something that should have been their inalienable right to choose.
~Reverend Richoz, RN