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Our True Enemy is Not Other People
On May 11, 1966, I left Vietnam with the aspiration to call for an end to the war, intending to be away for only three months, but was prohibited from returning for 39 years. Upon arriving in the United States, I gave a three-day lecture at Cornell University on “Engaged Buddhism,” emphasizing the need to bring the energy of compassion, understanding, and love into the world through initiatives such as Van Hanh University and the School of Youth for Social Service, where hundreds of young people offered their service without receiving a salary.
When I arrived in Washington, D.C., I presented five points proposing an end to the Vietnam War at a Congressional press conference, including:
- Cease all bombing in both regions.
- Mutual ceasefire as a step toward a comprehensive truce.
- Withdraw American troops within a specific timeframe to demonstrate goodwill.
- Help the Vietnamese people establish a government that truly responds to their aspirations, without supporting any particular group.
- Commit to rebuilding the devastated country, not for political or ideological purposes.
Through these efforts, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was persuaded to publicly oppose the Vietnam War for the first time (June 1, 1966) and nominated me for the Nobel Peace Prize. I met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, extending our meeting from 15 to 45 minutes, contributing to his early resignation. After nearly a month in the United States, I traveled to Europe to continue my advocacy, began writing “Lotus in a Sea of Fire” in Paris, and from then on, ceaselessly worked to bring the voice of peace for Vietnam to the world.