The 5 little monks perform skits in a Vietnamese gameshow. Photo by 5 Chú Tiểu – Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ
In Vietnam, a group of children’s actions and words have touched the hearts of people around the world. The 5 Little Monks of Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ have been performing skits about Buddhist karma and morality on their YouTube channel since 2018. The channel has since gained over 2 million subscribers with its videos averaging at hundreds of thousands of views.
Vietnamese immigrant Tanya Nguyen-Do shared with the Herald Tribune how this group of little monks were able to provide her support and comfort as she underwent treatment for follicular lymphoma. Because of how moved she was, she offered to help teach the children English and transcribe English subtitles for one of their videos. This version of the little monks’ video was even submitted to the Sarasota Film Festival for consideration.
However, not all is at is seems. The 5 Little Monks are a part of a larger group called The Buddhist Group (TABBVT), which is currently facing backlash because the religion that the group practices is not sanctioned by the Vietnamese government. Reports have surfaced that TABBVT’s leader, 92-year-old grandmaster Le Tung Van, is profiting of the works of orphans and disabled children under the group’s care.
While Nguyen-Do classifies these as “fake news” made by the government to harass the group, recent reports have stated that Le Tung Van and three other monks from TABBVT have been arrested and taken away by local police officers.
As of now, there has been no reports about the current state and welfare of the children in TABBVT. This has led Nguyen-Do to reach out to media outlets, federal government agencies, and the United Nations in hopes to intercede regarding the situation that the children are currently facing.
Nguyen-Do’s appeal towards the United Nations revolved around the children’s need for religious freedom. At the same time, she has been networking with churches for support towards the children’s cause. Nguyen-Do’s hope is that the children will be able to seek asylum in the United States to hopefully address the children’s issue.
For more details about the 5 Little Monks, visit them at 5 Chú Tiểu – Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ on YouTube or at Chú Tiểu – Thiền Am Bên Bờ Vũ Trụ on Facebook.