Bát Nhã Temple

Bát Nhã Temple is a Buddhist monastery located in Bảo Lộc, Lâm Đồng Province, Vietnam. It gained significant attention following the 2005 return of the widely known Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh to Vietnam after 39 years in exile. His followers were invited by Abbot Duc Nghi, a member of the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam, to occupy Bát Nhã monastery and continue their practice there.

Background and Development

Following the invitation, Thich Nhat Hanh's followers invested approximately $1 million in developing Bát Nhã Temple. This included the construction of a meditation hall capable of accommodating 1,800 people. Initial government approval for their presence raised expectations for a relaxation of religious restrictions in Vietnam. However, the support provided is now believed by some to have been a strategic move by the Vietnamese government to improve its international standing, particularly concerning religious freedom and trade.

Escalating Tensions and Conflict

As Thich Nhat Hanh continued his visits and engaged in discussions regarding religious freedom and politics, tensions with Vietnamese authorities began to mount. In 2007, he suggested ending government control of religion to President Nguyen Minh Triet, which reportedly led to criticism from a provincial police officer. By 2008, statements made by Thich Nhat Hanh regarding the Dalai Lama were said to have upset Chinese officials, who then exerted pressure on the Vietnamese government. The chairman of Vietnam's national Committee on Religious Affairs sent a letter accusing Nhat Hanh's organization of publishing false information about Vietnam on its website, misrepresenting religious policies and potentially undermining national unity. The letter requested that Nhat Hanh's followers leave Bát Nhã, stating that Abbot Duc Nghi also wished them to depart.

Violent Incidents and Eviction

The situation at Bát Nhã Temple deteriorated significantly in late September 2009. On June 27, 2009, electricity was cut to the monastery, and in the following days, mobs reportedly attacked the site, threatening residents and damaging buildings. Despite official decisions to allow occupancy until September 2, Nhat Hanh's followers remained. A leaked memo in early September 2009 characterized the Plum Village association's activities as sabotage and opposition to the Buddhist Church of Vietnam. On September 21, 2009, a mob formed outside the monastery, followed by a search of monastic rooms. The situation culminated in violent confrontations on September 27, 2009. Mobs of police and villagers broke into the monastery, dragging out and beating approximately 150 monks and nuns, with reports of sexual assaults. Many were forced into vehicles and taken away, while others faced house arrest. Local police initially denied any incident occurred. The following morning, September 28, 2009, the remaining nuns fled to Phuoc Hue monastery, effectively leaving Bát Nhã empty and described by a follower as "completely destroyed."

Aftermath

Following the eviction, 376 monks and nuns sought refuge at nearby Phuoc Hue monastery with permission from the official Vietnamese Buddhist Church, though police maintained a constant guard. By the end of September 2009, some monks had left under police pressure, with tactics described as psychological warfare aimed at breaking them down individually. Local government officials remained unavailable for comment to the press.