A violent mob drove Buddhist monks and nuns from Bat Nha monastery in Vietnam over the weekend, according to several news stories. Agence France-Presse reports that more than 100 monks fled Bat Nha on Sunday when a mob armed with hammers and batons showed up and threatened then. About 200 nuns left Bat Nha earlier today.
The monks and nuns of Bat Nha are followers of the internationally revered Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh fell into the bad graces of the Vietnamese government last year when he told an Italian interviewer that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should be allowed to return to Tibet. The government of China then pressured Hanoi into punishing Thich Nhat Nanh's disciples living in Vietnam.
This is less about mixing religion and politics and more about well-respected religious leaders speaking out against brutality and ignorance. Many say that Buddhism is a docile and "removed" religion but its leaders will speak out when necessary and they do so honestly. But it should always be remembered that any "state-sanctioned" religion will lead to ignorance and intolerance even under the best of circumstances. Best of luck to those monks.
For more info:
- Plum Village - Bat Nha Needs Your Help
- Mob, police force nuns to leave Vietnam monastery - Associated Press -Vietnam Buddhist Standoff
- Vietnam Buddhists flee amid threats
- The Reformed Buddhist - Vietnam Govt Raid Buddhist Monastery
- The Buddhist Blog - Urgent Help Bat Nha Monastery Emergency Angry Asian Buddhist - [check for videos] tinh hinh cac thay co het suc kho khan
- The Buddha is my DJ - Bat Nha Monastery
- The Buddhist Blog - Vietnamese Bat Nha Monastery Raid Update
- The Budding Buddhist - Urgent Update: Bat Nha Monastery
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