I’ve always felt that all religions are valuable as they guide people towards the light of goodness. However, I’ve never followed any particular religion myself. I simply put my faith in being a good human being and try to live without crossing that line. I thought we needed to derive our own philosophies from our own life experiences without anyone preaching to us. The only religion I’ve studied a bit more than others is Buddhism, since you know, it’s very popular in Vietnam with various pagodas.
But recently, there’s been a strange man who has profoundly impacted my mind.
For the first time in my life, I’ve felt a desire to become a Buddhist.
This man is the monk Thich Minh Tue.
Let me tell you a little about this ordinary yet quirky Vietnamese man. Previously sceptical of the Buddha’s teachings, he has now matured and wants to study and practise them to see if they can bring happiness and peace. When he decided to leave home and become a monk, he thought it through carefully before asking his parents for permission to depart.
Determined to follow the thirteen dhutanga ascetic practices, Thich Minh Tue collects discarded cloth from the streets or trash bins during his walking journeys, sewing it into robes to wear. He does not accept anything deliberately given. Each day he eats only one meal. While travelling, if someone kindly offered vegan food or water, he would consume just enough. He stops to bathe in rivers and streams. At night, he rests by caves in the mountains or in cemeteries, using petrol stations when needing the toilet. Now, he has practised for six years.
I wondered, how does living like that benefit society? Yes, in terms of social life, it probably doesn’t help much since monks who beg can’t really contribute, right? However, after studying further, I learned of a teaching from Buddha Shakyamuni. In the spiritual life, going on alms rounds is both a practice for the monks (helping shed ego, pride, and arrogance and cultivating patience) and an opportunity to create positive karmic affinity for others (when donating to monks, people create merit by giving up stinginess, greed, etc.).
Watching videos of him walking barefoot all day under the over 40°C Vietnamese sun, his feet cracked and blistered, made my throat constrict. In one video, when asked what he would do if snakes or ghosts appeared when sleeping in mountain caves or cemeteries, he said:
“Once a green snake came towards me, I told it: ‘Please stay here, I’ll go sleep elsewhere. Once you leave, I’ll return’. Three days later, when I came back, he was gone… Some ask if I see ghosts in cemeteries. I can’t say I don’t, as sometimes I see dark shadows passing by. But they don’t affect me, so whether I see them or not is the same.”
I used to be so afraid of snakes, but hearing him talk about that snake, suddenly it seemed quite lovely, and ghosts became less scary too! It seems when we can awaken compassion, all beings become endearing friends.
Until now, I’ve constantly sought to find the meaning of this life but could never find a convincing answer, no matter how hard I looked. Going through life’s sufferings and obstacles has left me weary. I started wishing I didn’t have to be reborn again. Praying for no more rebirths, no more reincarnation. No more creating karma and repaying it. However, witnessing Thich Minh Tue’s ascetic spiritual journey has led me to study the Buddha’s teachings more deeply. And I’ve learned that this desire of mine to “stop rebirth” is actually the initial driving force for many Buddhist monks and nuns. According to Buddhism, to escape the cycle of reincarnation, one must follow the path to enlightenment, which is to engage in spiritual practice. Once fully enlightened, we’re liberated from rebirth.
I think I’ve found a clue.
Okay, so life is a tough game, and my task is to “play” this round beautifully so I don’t have to play it again. Better yet, to help my soul soon break through this game, log out, and move on to a place without four universal sufferings – “birth, ageing, sickness and death.”
“For me, the walking journey holds no difficulties. When the mind is peaceful, happy and can overcome obstacles, there are no more hurdles ahead.”
– Thich Minh Tue
“My journey is to walk for life. The purpose is not to spread any message, as the Buddha already taught the Dharma. I only want to practise his teachings to perfect myself. While walking, I always wish for everyone’s happiness and a joyful family life”.
– Thich Minh Tue
His heart is truly pure.
Listening to him speak, watching him walk – six years of going barefoot through sun and rain, sleeping upright in snake and scorpion-infested caves and cemeteries, collecting discarded cloth to stitch robes, going hungry for days during Covid while begging, being beaten and cursed yet still wishing blessings on his attackers, not even reciting the Great Compassion Mantra to avoid harming evil spirits… Though just brief glimpses, they have inexplicably soothed the greed, hatred and delusion in my heart. He had a wealthy family and good job opportunities, yet renounced it all to choose this arduous spiritual path that few can follow. I’m deeply moved and full of admiration for his choice.
I secretly think that perhaps Thich Minh Tue’s footsteps will change the entire apparatus that has controlled Vietnamese Buddhism for decades. Those footsteps will dispel the darkness, the “fake monks”, and help Vietnamese Buddhists see the true path of practice.
As I’ve grown older, the number of people I truly admire has diminished. Most are too noisy. Talking about themselves too much. Putting on performances. Their boastful words are actually filled with insecurity and fear, like puppets. I don’t care much anymore. Only actions speak. Only actions earn my trust, love and respect.
Thank you, Thich Minh Tue, for appearing. Your ascetic journey is a signpost guiding me back towards goodness.
May the world soon be at peace, and may all beings find peace. No species intentionally or unintentionally kills any other. All living in harmonious joy, mutually assisting each other with compassion.
May anyone reading this find peace, be free from suffering and afflictions, and discover their own true path.
Jasmine.
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