Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

By Vo Thanh   January 28, 2022 | 10:41 pm PT
The coffin of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh left Tu Hieu Pagoda Saturday for the cremation ceremony, with thousands joining the procession, praying in silence.
Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the coffin of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was moved from the Full Moon Meditation Hall of Tu Hieu Pagoda in Hue Town to Eternal Park of Hue Garden of Eden in Thuy Bang Ward for the cremation ceremony.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

From early in the morning, thousands of monks and nuns, and Buddhist followers wearing the traditional gray color of Buddhist lay persons, gathered outside the pagoda to bid their final farewell to the Zen Master. Many people prayed with a white lotus in folded hands.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

On the way from the Full Moon Meditation Hall where his coffin was placed for a silent meditation course over the past seven days to the main gate of the pagoda, many Buddhists knelt down in prayer.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

More than a thousand monks and nuns in yellow and brown robes prayed in silence and walked behind the coffin of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

A Buddhist follower holds a photo of the Zen Master in the final procession.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

The coffin of Thich Nhat Hanh was brought to Le Ngo Cat Street and placed on a funeral car to the cremation site.

The distance from the pagoda to the cremation site is about 8 km, and the ride takes around 20 minutes.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

Thousands followed the coffin, praying in silence.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

At 9 a.m., the coffin of Thich Nhat Hanh was moved to the crematorium located in the center of the Eternal Park of the Garden of Eden in Hue.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

Monks and nuns meditated around the crematorium.

Mortal remains of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh consigned to flames

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thanh, head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Thua Thien-Hue Province, performed the cremation ceremony with other senior monks and nuns.

After his cremation, his remains will rest at the Tu Hieu Pagoda and other Plum Villages around the world.

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world's most influential Buddhist figures, passed away at the Tu Hieu Temple in his birthplace of Hue on January 22, aged 95.

 
 
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