Zen Buddhist leads thousands in Hanoi praying for dead on both sides of Vietnam War
HANOI -- Internationally renowned Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh on Friday led larger-than-expected crowds in a ceremony intended to heal wounds of the Vietnam war that ended 32 years ago this month.
In a sermon near Hanoi, Nhat Hanh advised thousands of monks and lay people to pray equally for those who fought and died on both sides, the communist north and the U.S.-backed south.
"We know that you fought courageously for our nation," said Nhat Hanh, a resident of France who gave similar sermons in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, in March and in the central city of Hue in early April.
"And we are proud of you. We will not distinguish between north and south or discriminate by race, religion, party or ideology," the 80-year-old told the crowds at the Non pagoda.
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In a sermon near Hanoi, Nhat Hanh advised thousands of monks and lay people to pray equally for those who fought and died on both sides, the communist north and the U.S.-backed south.
"We know that you fought courageously for our nation," said Nhat Hanh, a resident of France who gave similar sermons in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, in March and in the central city of Hue in early April.
"And we are proud of you. We will not distinguish between north and south or discriminate by race, religion, party or ideology," the 80-year-old told the crowds at the Non pagoda.