The Trauma of South Vietnam's Buddhist Monks Post-Saigon
After the fall of Saigon in 1975, South Vietnam underwent a series of dramatic changes, initiating a new era of political and religious transition. The arrival of the communist government brought about a challenging time for South Vietnamrsquo;s Buddhist community, specifically for the numerous monks and nuns who were deeply involved in the society's fabric.
New Challenges for Buddhist Monks
One of my students, born soon after the fall of Saigon, recounted her fatherrsquo;s experience as a young novice monk. Her fatherrsquo;s temple was closed by the communists, and it was not unusual for younger monks to be forced into marriage, while older monks were faced with private suicide.
Another anecdote shared by refugees in Orange County, California, exemplifies the harsh realities of that period. In the 1990s, a Buddhist monk self-immolated, expressing his distress over family and friends. Although this was a significant event, it did not garner widespread media attention, highlighting the relatively low profile of such incidents.
Suppression of the Unified Buddhist Church
Post-unification, the Vietnamese government took a firm stance against religious organizations, particularly the Unified Buddhist Church (UBC). This campaign of suppression was evident through the detention of prominent monks Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do, who were arrested in 1994 and 1995, respectively. Their arrests were followed by the detention of other UBC leaders, representing a broader effort to control and diminish the influence of Buddhism in the country.
The Fate of Individual Monks
The experiences of individual monks paint a grim picture of the harsh realities faced by those who refused to conform to the new regime. Many were imprisoned or subjected to torture. A notable case was the monastic leader, Thich Thin Minh, who was detained and tortured but never seen alive again. This brutal treatment resulted in an unjust and unexplained death, adding to the laundry list of human rights abuses.
Education and Monastic Schools
Before the unification, South Vietnam had a significant Buddhist educational system, with numerous Bodhi schools (Buddhist monastic educational institutions) that contributed to the development of the country. According to historical records, the first Bodhi school was established in Hue in 1952, and by 1963, there were 163 such schools across the region. These institutions played a crucial role in the education and cultural development of the communities they served.
However, post-1975, the entire educational system was dismantled, and all private educational institutions were forced to shut down. The irony was that the leaders of the Unified Buddhist Church faced such stringent measures, despite the governmentrsquo;s previous support for educational initiatives, nominally aimed at fostering national development and Buddhist education.
Reflections and Conclusion
The fall of Saigon marked a transition from a pluralistic society to a more rigid ideological framework. For South Vietnamrsquo;s Buddhist community, this transition was not merely a political shift but a survival of faith. The suppression and persecution of individual monks and institutions revealed a deeper tension between state control and the autonomy of religious practices.
References:[2] Hu do Hi Tng, ldquo;Giam nhc h cung Thiacute;ch T?n Minh, phiacute; thiacute;ch thu h?ng tr?ng 29 ngagrave;nh 5 ngagrave;y 16 nam 1978rdquo;isin; ldquo;fn 2014rdquo;.
[3] Hu do Hi Tng, ldquo;fgs Thiacute;ch T?n Minh, taacute;c gi?, Cocirc;ng h?nh xu?t gia, tr??ng pm nên t#x1ef1; thiacute; 1970-1975rdquo; (Thiacute;ch Hocirc;ng Thi, 1989).
[4] H thng c t c trng phigrave;nh...