Thích Minh Tuệ

Thích Minh Tuệ (born 1981), birth name Lê Anh Tú is a Vietnamese Buddhist mendicant monk and Dhutanga practitioner. After briefly practicing at a pagoda after giving up his job as a land surveyor, Thich Minh Tue decided to "learn and follow the Buddha's teachings" by observing the 13 ascetic practices of Primitive Buddhism and walking for alms across the country for many years. His 2024 walking journey attracted the attention of the Vietnamese public, with thousands meeting him and at times up to hundreds following him, leading to many social and security disturbances, and turning him into an "unwilling" Internet celebrity. Although Thích Minh Tuệ does not see himself as a monk, his simple, ascetic lifestyle has led many to view him as one. Walking barefoot across Vietnam with few possessions, he embodies the spirit of renunciation and mindfulness. To his followers and many in the public, he represents a return to the core values of Buddhism—compassion, humility, and inner peace—challenging traditional definitions of monastic life. His legitimacy is also a widely discussed topic. The state-controlled Vietnam Buddhist Sangha does not accept calling him a "Buddhist monk", but the Unified Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam recognizes this and praises him for having the virtues to qualify for that title. Agreeing with calling Thich Minh Tue a monk, observers say that determining whether an individual is a monk or not does not depend on the consent of any organization.

In early June 2024, Vietnamese authorities forcibly dispersed Thích Minh Tuệ and his group of followers, who were practicing asceticism. Following this, Thích Minh Tuệ went into seclusion, and restrictions were imposed on others attempting to join or emulate his ascetic practices. These actions have sparked significant concerns among international human rights organizations regarding the state of religious freedom in Vietnam. Thich Minh Tue began his barefoot pilgrimage to India on December 12, 2024, walking with several mendicants through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India after consulting with individuals familiar with administrative procedures. Thích Minh Tuệ has been accompanied by a retired Vietnamese police officer, appointed by authorities as his "bodyguard", whose tight control over logistics and media, including restricting journalists’ access and questions, has sparked criticism for suppressing his influence. Provided by Wikipedia