The Burning Monk | Devamitra

[@rajaiyer7429]

I remember seeing a photo of Quang Duc's immolation in the newspaper the day after it happened - I was only a child of 9 at that time in India, but it left a deep impression upon me. In recent years I have been practising Buddhism, and am now clearly able to see Quang Duc as a fearless Bodhisattva, and recognise his sacrifice anchored on a deep compassion that transcends worldly understanding. Sadhu sadhu, may you Devamitra be blessed for this very informative and wonderful talk.

[@C.E.Thomas1952]

I too was only 11 years old (and already mahatma Gandhi was my hero btw) and now in my meditation corner I have a picture of TQD to inspire me, which of course it does. Thank you for being part of the teaching of who he was and what he achieved. It is wonderful to think of 2 young people (children) from 2 different parts of the world so touched by TQD's compassion. May any merits accumulated by his action lead us all to awakening.

[@marcusfossa6695]

I'm happy that this story is being fully told and explained. In a time when people were getting carried away by greed, hatred, and delusion, Quang Duc gave his life for us--not to inspire political change, but to give us an urgent wake up call at a time when we most needed it.

[@MrYoungarmy]

Thanks for this. Beautifully explained. It’s such a powerful image that I’ve always wanted to know the story of.

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

Glad it was helpful!

[@petercurry6222]

A talk about a very heroic man who lived the Buddhist life, and not about Buddhism per se. And perhaps this is the reason why it is so interesting and well narrated. I know Buddhism bangs on about mental states, which are extremely elusive and abstract to quantify from one moment to the next, and I would conjecture that human beings and 'how we are' is greatly determined by 'how we feel' and 'All that Flows from The Heart' as a consequence of the conditions and predicaments we are perpetually exposed to. The world is an agonizing place and we certainly don't need Buddhism to tell us this. To all the Buddhist monks and nuns and lay people around the globe, your faith in, and for a better world, is truly courageous, even though it is difficult to grasp what is meant by a 'better world' which is eternally subject to conditions, forces and impermanence beyond the control of man. Would that I had such a faith. ☸️

[@monaa8713]

What a fantastic and insightful talk, Devamitra. Learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the journey you have been on. Thank you for sharing!

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

Hi Mona, so glad you liked it

[@pameladonofrio4798]

@Devamitra - Thank you so much for the very inspiring talk! I was very touched by your extensive research and your beautiful words Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!

[@TheScapegoat420]

Very beautifully told.

[@jamesehoey]

It kind of reminds me of the Buddhist version of the crucifixion of Christ

[@alexgarcia1251]

Thank you for creating this video and sharing it. I’ve been fascinated by the image of TQD’s self-immolation for years and am so glad that now I know these details now. I particularly enjoyed the thoughts behind the controversy of the act and it’s impact. I can hardly imagine what courage, resolve, and control it took for TQD to do this.

[@ratnaghosha7562]

Informative and inspiring. Thank you, Devamitra.

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

Glad you liked it Ratnaghosha!

[@AlanJames1987]

Great interview but what is the ringing in the audio caused by and how can the audio tech not remove it?

[@derekgantt6282]

Some Buddhist follow that line..as these thoughts reminded me of great revolutionary spiritual masters.. I liken them as liken to Equator invisible line around our earth...such a balance Expresses equilibrium souls fire..iqnited ..flames..speaks.my meditation great souls desires...supreme devotional Act...

[@DiHiongTan]

40:58 I question the validity of this recount. You can view the video of which was taken of the most venerable Thich Quang Duc’s final moments and it contradicts with what is being told here. There was no policeman that broke through. In fact, the police can been seen fencing off the sea of monks and nuns. The footage is easily viewed on KZbin btw if you want to see it for yourself though do be warned that it can be highly disturbing for some.

[@raggieful]

That's what I thought till I examined the footage and compared it with the photographs. That footage CANNOT be of Quang Duc! Compare the position of the jerry can (the jar of gasoline) in the pictures and the footage. In Quang Duc's famous immolation picture, the plastic gasoline jar is very close behind him to his right. It the subsequent pictures, one can see it gets shrivelled by the heat and falls down. However, in the footage (as opposed to the picture), the OTHER monk takes the jar with him and puts it very close to the car. The gasoline jar is nowhere close to the monk being immolated. Therefore, the footage being circulated as that of Quang Duc HAS to be of one of the subsequent immolations.

[@junakowicz]

The cover of the rock band "Rage against the machine"

[@Sangeetha__P]

Omg... I'm not even connected to Vietnam but this god like man monk came in my lucid dream. Whatever happened to the monk was true... 🙏

[@kalpnasingh6921]

Heartfelt thanks devamitra,such a fearlessness.

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

You're most welcome

[@WolfeTone66]

Thank you Devamitra & Alex for making this wonderful film. Like many people, I’ve found the image of the burning Monk photographed by Malcolm Brown extremely powerful along with the film reel of the event in 1963. It’s so good to have some quality background to the life of Thich Quang Duc, his motivation & ultimate sacrifice. Thank you again..💚

[@dabrupro]

Thank you!

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

You're welcome!

[@torreeric499]

So sad that some people need to die as a martyr just to be heard or be freed from oppression... 😞

[@GOUST3D]

idk if they need to, i think they want to... living in that society. fuck.

[@Shred_Town]

Rage Against The Machine brought me here.

[@tallskinnywith6shots1]

Thank you

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

You're welcome

[@alias40anon]

😊😊😊

[@grabble7605]

"Practicing Buddhism"? What's to practice?

[@londonbuddhistcentre]

Thanks for your comment! 💕 At the LBC, we believe that Buddhism offers a practical path of human growth, ultimately towards Enlightenment. This includes practices such as meditation, retreats, study, ritual and being in community. Find out more about how to practice with us here: www.londonbuddhistcentre.com/whats-on

[@KangaJack-ns9gd]

When it happened, I read that JFK said,'' Oh my GOD''...

[@shaileshdolas112]

🇻🇳🙏 Supreme most Self Sacrifice ever done by anyone by any beings or gods of any religion yet.

[@thesurfinsuricate]

Thanks so much for an excellent and interesting history lesson! Though I think its a bit odd when you state that his action led to better treatment of Buddhist in Vietnam and the release of those 200-300 under siege while in the next breath argue that he cant be hold responsible for all the copycats that followed. Many copycats that might just suffer from mental illness, depression or the delusion that their painful copy will have the same political impact as the one 1963 (in reality modern day immolations are in best case just a news flash or a shocking gif). These horrific copies that go on till these days have most likely far surpassed those 200-300 lives that Thich Quang Duc saved from the siege. The 'positive' consequences he had probably hoped for while the 'negative' consequences he might have overlooked. Anyway you cant make that kind of freaking gruesome political manifesto and not be responsible for both the positive and the negative consequences.

[@tanguyen9843]

Killing and suicide is forbidden in Buddhism idealogy. What you read and watch on this video is bad influence.

[@liamvandeth9055]

It’s actually not considered killing, as it’s an act of compassion! If you actually fact check and have a heart for the lowly you would reflect now!

[@ipreet6850]

It was not suicide but sacrifice. Sacrifice for Dhamma

[@FantsyPants]

"Been practising Buddhism nearly all my life" yet he only heard of this a few years ago lol. You'll see this guy selling incence and preaching in most weekend street markets.

[@tanguyen9843]

He was drugged up and burnt, not self immolation.

[@nganvo840]

Don't try to speak fake if u don't have any respect

[@nganvo840]

Dissapointing with those viet live in usa

[@liamvandeth9055]

@@nganvo840 your lack of faith in righteous behaviour is disheartening!

[@nganvo840]

@@liamvandeth9055 ok christian

[@liamvandeth9055]

@@nganvo840sorry I thought selected the other person not you. Wasn’t dismissing you but the other man. I love this monk. So hard to find people who appreciate his worth. Peace be upon you!!