The most provocative image in history?
Vietnamese buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức protesting against the persecution of Buddhists. A man who believed in freedom so much that he died for it. I have so much respect for this man. If only I could be half the man he was. If only anyone could, or would, or try.
You may recognise this image from the cover of Rage Against the Machine's first album.
These were Thich's last words:
"Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of the Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngo Dinh Diem to take a mind of compassion towards the people of the nation and implement religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland eternally. I call the venerables, reverends, members of the Sangha and the lay Buddhists to organise in solidarity to make sacrifices to protect Buddhism"
2 comments:
Could you imagine...if only we all had such high morals and beliefs, what this world could truly achieve. Im no negative nancy by any means, I can see beauty and great feats being achieved and will give credit when credit is due to those people, but man, it has to be said taht I can also see all those that are self indulgant thinking and looking out for only themselves, the more people doin that, the more the world will turn into itself...and where my mind wanders from there scares me.
I am ashamed to say I had never seen or heard of this before, but it is a very powerful image...it should be spread like wildfire to everyone!
well said!
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