The Stupa worship Most Ven.
Thich Quang Duc at moment in Saigon
The Most Venerable
Thich Quang Duc
The name of the Quang Duc Association is named after Most
Venerable Thich Quang Duc, a Vietnamese monk, who was known
throughout the world by his self-immolation at the age of sixty-seven in
central Saigon, in the lotus sitting position with full resolve whilst 4
metres flames consumed his body. This event happened at midday, on June
11, 1963, witnesed by thousands of Vietnamese people and through the
media, seen by millions more people overseas.
The Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc, whose lay name
was Lam Van Tuc, was born in 1897 in a small village of a province in
central Vietnam. At the age of seven, he entered into the religious life
and became a disciple of the Zen master Hoang Tham. At the age of twenty,
he was ordained as a full Buddhist monk (Bhikkhu). After ordination, he
spent many years practicing islolated and extremely demanding ascetic
purification practices in the Ninh Hoa Mountains, near Nha Trang City. In
1932 he started his Buddhist teaching career at Ninh Hoa. He then went to
a central Vietnam province to rebuild temples. By 1943, he had rebuilt
nearly 20 pagodas, and the same year, moved to Saigon, South Vietnam where
he lived in the Long Vinh temple finally taking permanent residence in the
Quan The Am temple.
In 1953, he was appointed Head of rituals Committee of
the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, a position that he held until
the time of his death.
In 1963, after four years of increased oppression by
the Diem government towards Buddhist priests and the Buddhist community
the Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc perfomed his heroic deed to highlight
Bhuddhist demands for religious equality in South Vietnam his act
literally flashed around the world by television. At midday, on June 11,
1963, he took a ride to the corner of Phan Dinh Phung and Le Van Duyet in
central Saigon (now Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam Street).
Pouring petrol over himself, he sat in the middle of the corner, struck a
match, and immolated himself.
His body was consumed, and all that remained was his
heart. Later when his later when the Buddhist community tried to cremate
his heart it remained intact. It was placed in the Reserve Bank of Vietnam
and became the symbol of the Holy Heart.
Millions all over the globe saw his self sacrifice, and
The Most Venerable Thich Quang Duc has become
world-famous figure. Before he passed away, he left a letter to the
government of the day, and through them, for the people of Vietnam. In
Vietnamese culture, this letter is now known as the letter of Heart Blood.
The core of his letter was a plea for all Buddhist believers, monks, nuns
and lay people, to unite and strive for the preservation of Buddhism. His
plan was to demonstrate to the world the injustice that was being
perpetrated on the Buddhist religion and community by a repressive regime
and it worked extremely well. Many nations worldwide brought pressure on
the South Vietnamese government to soften its attitude to the traditional
Vietnamese religion. The Saigon government complied.
Quang Duc Buddhist Monastery in
Australia
At present, the Quang Duc Buddhist Welfare Association
of Victoria is in the midst of construction of a two level hall. The first
level provides the venue for many activities, the second level being
solely dedicated to spiritual practices such as meditation & chanting.