Self-immolation is not an ordinary suicide or self-destructive act, but has a religious dimension since one’s own body is seen as a gift for a greater cause. This article highlights the specific Buddhist ritual and textual heritage when analyzing the recent wave of self-immolations in Tibet, and incorporates the act in a wider Buddhist set of practices called ”gift of the body”. The first political sacrifices made in the 1960s intended to save Buddhism at a time when it was perceived as being threatened in South Vietnam, and later focus shifted towards bringing an end to the Vietnam War. As a result, their sacrifices were addressed to Vietnamese politicians and to the global community. Nearly fifty years later, a new wave of self-immolations have occurred in Tibet – with previously no tradition of self-immolation – and this time, the fiery suicides by Tibetan monks and former monks can be seen as an expression of the nationalist struggle for a free Tibet.

The Journal of Religion and Violence is a scholarly publication devoted to the interdisciplinary study of religion and violence. It publishes analyses of contemporary and historical religious groups involved in violent incidents, as well as original work on sacrifice, terrorism, inter- and intra-religious violence, mass suicide, war and religion, and religiously-legitimated violence against women. It was established in response to the interest in religion and violence that emerged after tragic events in recent decades.

The Philosophy Documentation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable and sustainable access to scholarly materials in philosophy, applied ethics, religious studies, classics, and related disciplines. Established in 1966, it publishes essential reference materials, peer-reviewed journals, book series, conference proceedings, and research databases. It hosts a large collection of electronic resources, and provides membership and authenticated online access services for professional organizations in several countries.