Uploaded November 2009 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
helpbatnha.org 379 young Vietnamese monks and nuns of Bat Nha Monastery, practicing in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, are facing religious persecution from the Vietnamese government. Previously welcomed, it seems the state now feels threatened by the rising popularity of Thich Nhat Hanh's form of engaged Buddhism in the country, and has cracked down. Having been evicted from their monastery they took refuge in a small temple in Bao Loc city. Police are trying to disband them and December has been given as the date when they must leave the temple. Other temples around the country, while willing, have been barred from accepting them. The state in effect wants to prevent these young monks and nuns from staying together as a community and further, it seems, aim to eradicate the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition within Vietnam. To learn more, visit: helpbatnha.org
PLEASE NOTE: Police confiscated all camera equipment on the day of the attack on the monastery in September 09. Hence photographs used are from an earlier attack, in June 09.
At 17 seconds Bat Nha is misspelled Bat Nah.
To read the Shambhala Sun article on Thich Nhat Hanhs visit to Vietnam, click on: tinyurl.com/yf84nbu
A Fierce Light Flash! Directed by award winning filmmaker Velcrow Ripper. Ripper's latest film, Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, features Thich Nhat Hanh. fiercelight.org
helpbatnha.org 379 young Vietnamese monks and nuns of Bat Nha Monastery, practicing in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, are facing religious persecution from the Vietnamese government. Previously welcomed, it seems the state now feels threatened by the rising popularity of Thich Nhat Hanh's form of engaged Buddhism in the country, and has cracked down. Having been evicted from their monastery they took refuge in a small temple in Bao Loc city. Police are trying to disband them and December has been given as the date when they must leave the temple. Other temples around the country, while willing, have been barred from accepting them. The state in effect wants to prevent these young monks and nuns from staying together as a community and further, it seems, aim to eradicate the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition within Vietnam. To learn more, visit: helpbatnha.org
PLEASE NOTE: Police confiscated all camera equipment on the day of the attack on the monastery in September 09. Hence photographs used are from an earlier attack, in June 09.
At 17 seconds Bat Nha is misspelled Bat Nah.
To read the Shambhala Sun article on Thich Nhat Hanhs visit to Vietnam, click on: tinyurl.com/yf84nbu
A Fierce Light Flash! Directed by award winning filmmaker Velcrow Ripper. Ripper's latest film, Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, features Thich Nhat Hanh. fiercelight.org
