Buddhist protester - warning, graphic picture

"Saigon, South Vietnam, 11 June 1963. Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc sets himself ablaze in protest against alleged religious persecution by the South Vietnamese government."




(worldpressphoto, 1963)


I'm just.. well.. out of words.. the way he is sitting there in that blazing fire.. it's just.. wow..

 

I remember this picture well from my Sociology class in school. Weirded me out then, still does to this day.

 

He's just sitting there... some monks can stand a lot of pain and stress, there are also examples of monks who spent the night in extreme cold temperatures with little or no clothing... I hope he could shut off the pain from the fire as well.

 

Yeah.. high levels of selfcontrol can be so amazing.. I don't know which people do it, but I've heard that some people have such a high level of control over their bodies that they can die whenever they want.. like.. when they are really badly injured they can just shut down their hearts and die (makes you wonder though why they don't just shut off the pain...)

Anyway.. for this kind of protest I have the utmost respect.. he isn't blowing up people in busses to get his point accros.. he is sacrifising only himself to a higher cause.

I wonder how that is done.. if it was his own idea or that a higher monk asked him to do it etc etc.. let's google his name!

 

Ok.. article from wikipedia:

 

see I agree that yes, this is not as bad as blowing up a bus, but I still find people that go to such an extreme to be somewhat sick in the head. Its just irrational if you ask me.

 

Here another large article about him, more pictures and the stuff he was protesting:

http://www.uwec.edu/greider/BMRB/culture/student.work/hicksr/

 

Hm.. I don't agree.. this is the ultimate way of drawing attention to a cause.. it shows how compassionate he is that he sacrifices himself in the hope that others will have a better future. I don't see anything irrational in standing up for your right in a way that is nonviolent (to others).

 

I am saddened by the taking of ones own life in protest, however I do have a great deal of respect for that man. However, this subject does get me angry--I remember that such persecution still exists based solely on one's religion. In Tibet (now officially part of China ) you can be arrested if you are found with pictures of the Dalai Lama. So many have been arrested, tortured, and killed on false charges. I admire anyone who can sustain a peaceful and calm mentality in the face of such adversity.

In love,

Diana

 

Perhaps, but that compassion might have been better used in life, helping change the situation. Maybe his sensational death was able to stir hearts to join the cause, but who can say what might have happened had he lived. I don't know enough about the situation to say.

I do greatly respect what he did though, and the self control he is said to have displayed while he burned. It simply amazes me.

Is it true he heart didn't burn?