predicament?
Of the four, only Kinh Tam was able to see the way out and had been able to practice so as not to be overwhelmed by the grave injustices that occurred. Looking around, the novice saw that numerous other young people were also caught in conditions of suffering similar to the situation of these four. How many had been able, as the novice had been, to find a path to escape misery and be truly free?
Kinh Tamâs heart and spirit felt light and free thanks to this practice of looking deeply to bring forth the energies of loving-kindness and compassion from within, like freshwater springing up from deep inside the Earth. Looking at the other three, Thien Si, Mau, and little Thien Taiâs father, the novice saw each one had suffered; each was still struggling to navigate the boat of life over the turbulent seas of ignorance and desires, getting tossed around by the waves, and often going under. With this understanding, Kinh Tam was able to truly love these three people. Now filled with compassion, the noviceâs heart was free from hatred, resentment, and hurt. Kinh Tam knew that more practice would be necessary to one day help the three, and others, to find their own understanding and be released from their suffering.
The novice surmised, âHow heart-wrenching it is to see young people continuing to go down such painful paths. My father, my mother, my teacher, my elder novice brothers, and even little Thien Tai were also victims and had to bear some of the consequences, although none of them was responsible for any part of the suffering or misdeeds.â
S urely anyone who has lived on Earth has had to experience injustice of one kind or another. If we allow hatred and revenge to dictate our response, then our suffering will only go on and on. How do we find a way out? How can we free ourselves? A person who feels injured by another typically harbors thoughts of revenge, wanting to punish the offender. But the Buddha taught that hatred is never removed by adding more hatred. The only stream that can wash away the pain of unjust acts is the sweet water of loving-kindness and compassion. Without loving-kindness and compassion, hatred and vengeance will continue to accumulate from one year, and one lifetime, to the next.
It was while mindfully going about daily activities such as sitting and walking meditation, preparing vegetables or fetching water from the well that novice Kinh Tam had used the powerful sword of insight meditation to cut through afflictions, suffering, and grievances. The noviceâs mind and heart were now truly peaceful, happy, and free.
Months and years had passed. Thien Tai was now six years old. Aspirant Man was thirteen and had already officially taken the novice vows with the Dharma name Man Tam (âHeart of Fulfillmentâ). The previous year Brother Thanh Tam received the full ordination vows at a ceremony organized in the mountain district of Long Bien.
Novice Kinh Tam had asked to be permitted, after receiving the full vows, to visit home. Back at home, younger brother Chau was now twenty-five years old. He might already have finished studying at Dai Tap University, and might even have been selected for and taken one examination as well. Kinh Tam had been practicing at Dharma Cloud Temple for over eight years and during that time never had dared to write a single letter home.
Unfortunately, Kinh Tam fell ill before the full-vows ordination ceremony. Although very sick with pneumonia, the novice refused to allow any healers inside the thatched hut for diagnosis. For ten days straight, Kinh Tam was not able to swallow anything, not even rice broth. Little Tai, though still so very young, knew enough to worry about his father-teacherâs health.
Thien Tai was quite bright. He had memorized many sutras and gathas without having to formally study them. He already knew how to do sitting and walking meditation and could help novice Man Tam with cleaning tasks and