LETTER OF REQUEST

Seeking Monastic Shelter and Support for Minh Tue Pilgrimage Group.

*The pilgrimage group undertook a walking journey in Malaysia.*

April 24th, 2025

(Click here for Vietnamese Version)

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha

Dear Venerable Monastics,

Dear Respected Buddhist Temples and Organizations around the world,

*Devotees who revere the virtue and conduct of Venerable Minh Tue and his fellow monastics have come to pay their respects.*

We are a group of Vietnamese volunteers supporting a humble pilgrimage group of Vietnamese monastics who practice asceticism (dhutanga) based solely on the teachings of the Buddha. The group has no organizational structure, no leadership, and no affiliation with any religious or political institution. The monastics come together by their own free will and spiritual affinity.

Currently, the group is temporarily staying in Sri Lanka, after traveling on foot through several Southeast Asian countries. Through this letter, we wish to respectfully share details about their practice and humbly request spiritual and legal support so that the journey may continue in peace and safety.

1. About the Pilgrimage

Since 2018, a practitioner named Minh Tue began a solitary journey of practicing the 13 dhutanga austerities in Vietnam, following the early footsteps of the Buddha. From 2018 to 2024, he walked and meditated across the country multiple times, from south to north.
Over time, more monastics were inspired to voluntarily join him—without invitation or recruitment. By 2024, a group had naturally formed, with currently around 37 monastics and 11 volunteers supporting the pilgrimage.
Since December 2024, the group has walked from Vietnam through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, and is now in Sri Lanka. Their aspiration is to continue walking to India to pay respects to the sacred Buddhist sites and keep practicing in countries that allow such peaceful and simple lifestyle.

2. Way of Practice

The monks live strictly by the ancient ascetic code: no phones, no modern comforts, only three robes and one alms bowl, homemade robes sewn from discarded cloth, barefoot, bald-headed, and silently walking for alms once before noon each day.
They sleep sitting upright in public spaces, cemeteries, forests, or - if available - on the grounds of temples or gardens, without entering temple buildings or using facilities.

They do not use or carry money, never accept donations of cash or goods, and possess nothing beyond daily essentials*.

They do not preach, do not propagate doctrines, do not engage in politics, media, or organize events. They are not affiliated with any sect or organization. They simply walk, meditate, and live by the original teachings of the Buddha in silence and respect for all local laws and customs.

3. Current Situation

The group is currently facing restrictions in Sri Lanka due to misunderstandings and false accusations from certain individuals who reported them to authorities and Buddhist institutions.

As volunteers supporting their journey, we are working to clarify the truth, advocate for their peaceful presence, and request help from respected monastics and organizations who may understand and sympathize with this unique form of practice.
- Full Text of the “Denunciation Letter” by Venerable Thich Nhat Tu
- Minh Tue’s Response to the “Denunciation Letter”: Vietnamese Version / English Translation
- Letter from a California State Senator, USA
- Sri Lankan Media Coverage on Minh Tue and the Monastic Group
- Offcial statement from the volunteer group

4. Our Sincere Request

We humbly seek your compassion and support in the following ways:

A letter of legal/spiritual endorsement to help the group apply for visas or permissions to continue walking.
If possible, allow the group to rest overnight on the temple grounds, gardens, or safe public spaces, without entering indoor facilities.

The group does not require and will not accept any financial or material support.

Even a kind word or simple acknowledgment may be enough to sustain their noble journey toward peace and liberation.

5. Contact Information

Email: path.minhtue@gmail.com
Official website: www.MinhTuePath.org

We respectfully bow and offer our deepest gratitude to all who have read this letter and offered their attention. May peace and wisdom spread across all beings in accordance with the teachings of the Blessed One.

Namo Bodhisattva Ever-Diligent-in-Practice

Minh Tue Pilgrimage Group's images & videos

*Those who revere the virtues of Venerable Minh Tue and the monks have come to pay their respects in Malaysia.*

*The monks and Buddhists in Indonesia have gathered at the port to welcome Venerable Minh Tue and the monks.*

*Venerable Minh Tue and the monks were at a Chinese temple in Malaysia.*

Venerable Minh Tue and the monks paid homage to the Buddha at a temple that had supported their group in Malaysia.

Venerable Minh Tue and the monks paid homage to the Buddha at a temple that had supported their group in Indonesia.

Video and Images of Minh Tue and the Walking Monastic Group from 2018 to the Present.

Note:

All images, videos in this collection have been compiled from various sources, including Buddhist followers, YouTubers, and volunteers who documented and shared them online.
The group has now arrived in India and is visiting the sacred sites of the Buddha.

Trân trọng,

Admin Team

Email: Path.MinhTue@gmail.com

MINH TUE PATH

Cộng Đồng Đầu Đà Hướng Đến Trí Tuệ và An Lạc

(Những ai có ý kiến đóng góp vui lòng điền thông tin dưới chân trang nhé.)