Authorities have barred a Vietnamese Buddhist monk from continuing a barefoot pilgrimage through Sri Lanka so he\u2019s departing instead for his final destination, India, a source told Radio Free Asia.<\/p>\n
Thich Minh Tue, who departed on a multi-nation journey from Vietnam four months ago, was stopped in his tracks by Sri Lankan police last week who cited a letter from Vietnam\u2019s state-sanctioned Buddhist sangha \u2013 or Buddhist religious association \u2013 describing him as posing a threat to public order. <\/p>\n
His group, which also includes 10 volunteers, has since been provided temporary accommodation at a temple. They were given permission only to meet and receive food from visitors and well-wishers outside the temple, northeast of the capital Colombo, but were barred from continuing their hike, the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, told RFA.<\/p>\n
When it became clear that the group would not be allowed to continue their walk in Sri Lanka, the group decided to immediately leave for India instead, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t give us a green light to resume walking \u2026 on the road,\u201d said Phuoc Nghiem, a close associate of Thich Minh Tue, during a YouTube livestream on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The source said Thich Minh Tue is expected to arrive in India\u2019s capital New Delhi by flight from Sri Lanka at around 5:00 a.m. on Friday. From there, he is expected to fly to Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, and will continue his walk there.<\/p>\n Thich Minh Tue became an unlikely internet sensation<\/a> last year in Vietnam where his simple lifestyle has struck a chord. He undertook barefoot walks<\/a> that went viral and well-wishers came out in droves. But authorities treat him with some suspicion as he is not officially recognized as a monk.<\/p>\n![\"Vietnamese](\"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/IPDNG4JZ7BAM7FJMHABYS62QLU.jpg?auth=02f6373166f95aefd5b30ed019e698fe6e56fa1217ff109059a20f00d4404746&smart=true&width=1500\")