March 16, 2007

'Burning for the Buddha: Self-Immolation in Chinese Buddhism'

By NINA C. AYOUB

In early 526, a Chinese emperor granted a personal audience to an elderly Buddhist monk. The monk, Daodu, explained to Emperor Liang Wudi that he had grown weary of "this physical frame." The body "is like a poisonous plant," he said. "It would really be right to burn it." The emperor, sensing the direction of the conversation, disagreed. Daodu would kill the parasites living in his body. It was better he die naturally and have his corpse be left for the nourishment of nature.

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