The undestroyed heart of Venerable Thích Quảng Đức will be on public display From May 3 to 10 at the Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple in HCM City. Photo giacngo.vn

HCM CITY – The undestroyed heart of Thích Quảng Đức, the Buddhist monk who self-immolated to protest against religious suppression in erstwhile South Việt Nam during the war against America, will be displayed from May 3 to 10 at HCM City's Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple.

It is part of the commemoration of the upcoming UN Day of Vesak Celebrations from May 6 to 8 at the city’s Việt Nam Buddhist University.

Following his immolation, Thích Quảng Đức’s body was cremated, but his heart remained intact.

The heart was then subjected to cremation at over 4,000 degrees for several hours, but it transformed into a solid, heart-shaped “sarira.”

In Buddhism, sarira refers to bead-shaped bodily relics, typically found within the cremated ashes of revered figures, particularly Buddhist masters. 

It is a remnant of a life well lived, reflecting the individual's piety and spiritual attainment. 

On May 3 the sarira will be escorted from the HCM City office of the State Bank of Việt Nam to the Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple.

Monks, Buddhist followers and the public can see the relic from 1:30pm on the same day. 

The exhibition will be open from 8am to 11am and 1:30pm to 5:30 pm, and entry will be free.

The exhibition will be temporarily closed to the public on May 5 to welcome international Buddhist delegates.

From May 11 the relic will be permanently preserved at Đa Bảo Tower at the Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple.

The organisers have called on the public not to make any offerings such as flowers or money.

Children under two, unwell people and those with inappropriate outfits will not be allowed into the venue.

Smartphones, cameras, food, drinks, and dangerous objects are prohibited.

The organisers encourage visitors to register in advance by sending information to the executive council of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha at 242-244, 3/2 Street, Ward 12, District 10, HCM City.

Beginning in 1963 the Buddhist crisis in erstwhile South Việt Nam was a period of political and religious tension that led to widespread protests sparked by Catholic President Ngô Đình Diệm’s perceived favouritism towards his religion and policies that marginalised Buddhists.

With Buddhism on the brink of eradication, Thích Quảng Đức self-immolated on a street in Saigon on June 11, 1963, witnessed by over 300 monks.

His act was neither intended to overthrow the government nor install Buddhists in the government, but solely to change the religious favouritism of Diệm’s regime.

It sparked a chain reaction in other countries that forever changed history.

The heart was preserved at Xá Lợi Pagoda and later moved to the Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple, and is currently being preserved at the State Bank of Việt Nam. – VNS