Dao Hanh

In Ly dynasty, there had a monk lived in Lang village next to the capital. His name was Vinh Tu. He had studied invisibility and transfiguration. Though he had powerful magics, he didn’t think about helping people he used his magic to be content with sexual desire. He wandered around and pretended as if he was spreading Buddhism but in fact he wanted chances to be close to girls. Because he had magic and was smart, none could discovered what he had done.

Then Vinh Tu got passed Bach Lien contest which was organized by the recent king. The king ordained him to be a powerful mandarin. Meanwhile, there had a noble family in the capital there were Dien Thanh and his wives. Dien Thanh had a mansion by River Cot’s shore which was near Vinh Tu’s village. Dien Thanh had many wives and they all were young and beautiful and one of them had the beauty which none in the world could compare, the beauty made Vinh Tu desire. The masnsion was guarded carefully but it was nothing with Vinh Tu. He used to turn invisible sneaked into the mansion when Dien Thanh absented. He went toward the most beautiful wife’s room changed into Dien Thanh, went in the room and had sex with her. Next morning, he turned invisible and foud the way to escape the mansion. Though he had done times, none could discover that thing and even the wife who slept with him also thought that he was none but her husband.

One day, when Vinh Tu had just left, Dien Thanh went to his wife’s room. The wife was surprised and said loudly:

“Honey, why you come back?”

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Dien Thuong realized that something was wrong. He insisted his wife and heard whole story. He knew that the person was a powerful mage and none, normal mage, could catch him. Therefore, he found the way to meet Dai Dien, the monk who was the most powerful mage in the country.

When Dai Dien had heard Dien Thanh said, he gave him a five-color- thread and directed:

“Take this thread to home, give it to your wife and ask her to tie it around him at the next time he come. Besides, you have to spread ashes on ground next to the door of the room and ask some guards to hide themselves observe. Ask them that whenever they see footprints on ashes, they have to close the door and stuck talismans on doors and they have to let me know immediately. I will come and punish him at one”.

Dien Thanh came back his home and did as Dai Dien had said. Of course, that night Vinh Tu made his way to come. Two guards were waiting for him. They couldn’t saw any body but they saw the footprints on ashes. They closed doors silently and stuck talismans on them and one of them ran to inform Dai Dien at one. Vinh Tu had never thought that he was trapped so he approached to the bed without doubting. Therefore, only short time later the wife had tied the five-color-thread around his body.

Later, when guards had rounded the room and Dai Dien had come, Vinh Tu just discovered something was wrong. He immediately transformed into a cockroach found the way to escape but he could fly to the door. He couldn’t find any slit to go through all slits were filled by magic. Meantime, Dai Dien and guards broke in the room, Vinh Tu turned scared and immediately hid himself in a slit on wall, kept himself not to make any noise. They grabbed torches and searched everywhere but they seemed not to find any thing. Later, the five-color-thread emerged from the slit and because of that Dai Dien found out Vinh Tu. Vinh Tu could not escape when now he was in Dai Dien's hand, the most powerful mage that time and besides, he now was a cockroach. Therefore, Vinh Tu begged violently.

“Please, please let me go. I will never forget your kindness”.

“Who are you?”, aske Dai Dien.

“I am Vinh Tu and I had been a monk. Please, think about the thing we are fellows and forgive me. I will be grateful”.

When Dai Dien had heard his name, he thought:

“Vinh Tu was known as a powerful mage. If I let him go, I may be in danger latterly. Therefore, I had better kill him now” then, Dai Dien said sternly:

“You are also a person who lives a religion life but you have broken the rules of country and also rules of your religion. Therefore, your guilty is so serious that, I can not forgive you.”, “start again at next life”, Dai Dien shouted at the moment he clapped his hand strongly.

The cockroach was crushed in Dai Dien’s hands dropped on ground and transformed into Vinh Tu’s shape. Dai Dien kicked on the corpse and said:

“This life you have done many bad things so the next life you have to do good things for atonement”.

Dai Dien turned to Dien Thanh and said:

“I have killed lewd demon. You can be confident to ask your servants to throw him into river”.

Dien Thanh asked servants to give Dai Dien ten golden bars then brought him back temple.

But the next morning, when Dai Dien was chanting, a servant of Dien Thanh made his way sprinted to Dai Dien. The servant said in interrupted voice because of gaspe:

“He – the corpse – it doesn’t follow the water – still stand -- straightly on the water, at middle of river”, now the servant got again his breath, “He pointed and stared at my master’s home. He looked so ferocious. Sir, please follow me and punish him”.

Dai Dien followed the servant at one. He stood on the shore pointed at the corpses and said:

“Live and die are just a dream. A gentleman will forget enmity after a night”.

The corpse suddenly fell down followed the water and went away.

Vinh Tu had a son whoes name was Dao Hanh Tu. He had been 15 years old and he was a person who loved his father so much. At the night his father was killed, he dreamed that his father showed up and repeated the name, Dai Dien, many times and asked him to revenge. When he woke up, he sprinted to find his father and was painful as he saw his father’s body was following the water. He turned impatient and immediately grabbed an iron rod, found the way to follow the bald of Dai Dien. But when he raised his rod and nearly bangged it on the bald, a voice suddenly appeared in his head.

“Don’t. Keep your calm – till you can sure you can kill him”. The voice disappeared. Dao Hanh changed his direction and came home though his heart now was filled full by enmity. He thought about studying magic. Therefore, he set off and made his way to find a magical master. He swore he only came back till he had studied powerful magics.

Meanwhile, two people, Minh Khong Nguyen and Khong Lo Duong, were fishers but later they both decided to be monks. Though they had practiced for many years, the still could not reach Nirvana. One day, Minh Khong Nguyen talked to his fellow.

“There are some truths. If you want to look more distantly, you have to climb more higher – if you want to drink cool, sweet water – you had to arrive to the starting point of the water source and that is also another truth that if you want to be Bodhisattva – you -- have to arrive to The Buddha’s hometown”.

“I will go with you though many mountain needing to climb, large sea needing to get pass were waiting for us in future”, said Khong Lo Duong.

Then they set off with a monk who also wanted to be Bodhisattva but the craggy way leading to Thien Truc prevent him. Few days later, the monk changed his direction and come back his temple. Two young monks still continued their journey toward Thien Truc.

One day, they came to a highland and met a rain, then hurriedly went in a small temple pagoda standing by the road. That was the first time they met Dao Hanh Tu, a young man, who was heating by a flame. They made a conversation and were known Dao Hanh Tu also was on his way to find a person who can teach him magics which can help him revenge. Then that night they made friends with the others. Dao Hanh Tu was the oldest so he was big brother, the middle brother was Khong Lo Duong and the youngest brother was Minh Khong Lo.

Their journey had taken many years from them. They also couldn’t count how many mountains they had climbed, how many rivers, lakes they had waded through and how many forests they had gone through. Though diseases tortured them, they had never given up.

One day, they went crossed a area named Man Rang Vang, they met a ferryman on a boat in middle of river. They stopped to ask the ferryman which way lead to Thien Truc. The man said that they nearly came to The Buddha’s hometown and he was willing to lead to go. They was happy, went on the boat. Short time later, they arrived to The Buddha’s hometown.

The ferryman was not any one but Amitabha Buddha. The Buddha had heard about them people who had passed many dangers to come there. Therefore, the Buddha showed up to help them. But, the Buddha felt unsatisfied after he heard purpose of Dao Hanh Tu. When the boat landed, the Buddhad brought the others went and left Dao Hanh Tu stayed at the boat. The Buddha asked him to take care of the boat. Then the Buddha helped Minh Khong Nguyen and Khong Lo Duong be Bodhisattva and taught them powerful magics. After they had taught magics, the stood on knees and bowed their heads politely front the Buddha, said goodbye and find the way to come back their hometown.

Dao Hanh Tu felt worry as his fellows had not come back for long time. Incidentally, an old woman went toward him and asked him to help her cross the river. He was willing to help her. Then he asked her about his brothers.

“Did you see two men who went toward the direction”.

“They has followed the Buddha to Buddha land”, replied the old woman.

He immediately knew that the woman front his face was not normal. He stood on his knees and bowed his head and begged:

“Please, pity me. I have a feud and only if revenge helps me feel relieved”.

“That is the reason why you are not allowed to come Buddha land. You have too much cruelty in your heart”, replied the old woman.

He cried more violently and continued begging. He insisted her long time. At last, the woman turned to him and said:

“If you do bad things, you had to pay for you guilty but you also a person who had perseverance. There I will teach you magic”.

The woman was a Bodhisattva who followed Amitabha Buddha’s words to come there. The Bodhisattva taught him magics which could help him fight against his enemy. That was the magic forcing gods and devils to follow his words by muttering mantra.

From that time, Dao Hanh Tu knew some magics. So, he could know the time Khong Lo Duong and Minh Khong Nguyen went cross the place to bring him went with them. Before the came to the shore, they had to cross a forest, Dao Hanh Tu transformed into a gigantic tiger and planned to frighten them. But when he just emerged, they laughed. Because they were taught by none but Amitabha Buddha, they could know that the tiger was Dao Hanh Tu. Khong Minh Nguyen approached the tiger and said humbly:

“Next life, you yourself will be tiger so now you don’t need to joke us”.

Dao Hanh Tu turned to his shape and smiled.

“I plan to frighten you but it is only a joke to you. Therefore, I can sure that your magics were also not normal. I hope we can help the others get pass unfortunate things in lives”, he said.

Then they all made their way toward their country. That time, they went so fast. Only short time, they arrived to their country. They separated. Minh Khong Nguyen and Khong Lo Duong came to their hometown but Dao Hanh Tu didn’t. He wanted to practise more his magics. He went to Thach That, found a cave and went in. He sat on a rock and started t practise the way he chose to practise was practise his magics in long time till he could use fluently. Every day, he muttered mantra 18 thousand times.

Atfer three months and 10 day in had practising, the next day when he muttered, a devil with half red and blue face appeared. The devil said:

“What do you want me to do, master?”

Dao Hanh Tu knew that he could do his magics fluently and that was the time he could revenge.

“Send me to the capital immediately”, said Dao Hanh Tu to the devil.

Just a blink, Dao Hanh Tu had stayed at the north of capital. He threw his rod into River Cot. His rod went upstream toward Tay Duong bridge then stopped at there. He went on the bridge and turned invisible. He made his way went in DaI Dien’s home. He could easily go in Dai Dien’s house without his noticing. When he stood front of Dai Dien’s face, he showed up and said:

“Dai Dien, do you know me? I am Vinh Tu’s son who you have killed. Now, I come to revenge taking your life away. Be ready for our fighting, now”

Dai Dien knew that his enemy was not normal so he immediately forced him to be ready. But, his magics could not fight against Dao Hanh Tu’s rod. Short time later, the rod banged on Dai Dien’s head. Dai Dien fell down, he only could say some words.

“I will back for revenge”.

The recent king was old but he had not given birth to any child. Though, he had many wife, none had been pregnant. The king had gone to many temples and begged to have a son but there was nothing happen. All medicines and magics seemed to be useless with him. People rumored that he was punished by gods because his mother had done evil things.

The king felt disappointed and planned to adopt a son. One day, the king was reported a news that a fisher in Thanh Hoa had given birth to a strange son. The child could speak fluently when he was three years old. He called himself Giac Hoang and let others know that he could know everything in the world. Especially, he said that he was the king’s son.

The king immediately ordered servants to bring the child to castle. When he saw that the child was beautiful and intelligent, the king loved him as if he was his real son. He planned to adopt and ordain the child to be crown prince. But, some powerful mandarin prevented him.

“We fear people will not be satisfied if you do that. If the child was powerful. Why doesn’t he rebirth in royal family but in a normal family?”, said one of mandarin.

The king said the child the words. The child immediately replied. He said:

“My dear king, please help me build a wooden tower and ask monks to hold a 7-day-ceremony. I will have my way to rebirth in royal family”.

The king was happy he ordered mandarin to do as the child said at one.

The news came to Dao Hanh Tu. He knew that was none but Dai Dien who reborn to revenge. He found the way to meet his sister who was a wife of powerful mandarin. He asked his sister to go in capital at on and stuck four talismans on the tower the king was buiding in secret. And of course, three days later, Giac Hoang had illness and died. Before he died, he had reported to the king.

“Oh my king, my dear father, I will not to be your son as I have said because iron nets have rounded whole place. Now, I can be waiting for death. But, the last thing I want you to do for me that is punishing Dao Hanh Tu. He himself is the person who has destroyed your fortune”.

The king turned angry, very angry when Giac Hoang died. He ordered soldiers to searched everywhere and course, they found out four talismans which was ticked on the tower. The king hurriedly ordered soldiers to find and catch Dao Hanh Tu. Soldiers came to Dao Hanh Tu and escorted him to capital. Though he was powerful but he could not be against the king. They went to castle from the west and had to cross Sung Hien’s mansion who was the king’s brother. Sung Hien like the king didn’t have son. Dao Hanh Tu grabbed his chance, he insisted soldiers to meet Sung Hien. When he met Sung Hien, he asked Sung Hien to protect him and he will reborn in Sung Hien’s family to thank for his help. Sung Hien felt delight when he had heard the words. He went to castle at one and advocated Dao Hanh Tu.

“My king, my dear brother, you can not believe a child’s words to kill a virtue monk. And though Dao Hanh Tu has killed Giac Hoang, that also points that his magics are more powerful than Giac Hoang. So, you should think about the thing, he may be useful for you…

The king felt relieved as he heard the reasonable words. He released Dao Hanh Tu.

That day, Dao Hanh tu followed Sung Hien to his mansion. He asked Sung Hien to meet his wife but his wife was bathing.

“Oh, That is a good time. I will meet her at the moment”, said Dao Hanh Tu. Then, he found the way to bathroom. While the wife was in bathtub, a monk suddenly broke the door and went in. She still didn’t have time to scream, the monk had disappeared. Later, she saw a child’s shape on the water then also disappeared before she could understand what was going on. Dao Hanh Tu went out bathroom and directed Sung Hien.

“When your wife is going to bear, you have let me know at one”.

Dao Hanh Tu came back Thach That.

Sung Hien was happy as he knew his wife was pregnant. One day, his wife went into labor, Sung Hien immediately requested his servants to inform Dao Hanh Tu. That time, Dao Hanh was illustrating Buddhism to his followers. When he heard the news from Sung Hien’s servants, he turned to his followers and said:

“The time has come, I have to go, now”.

Then he crossed his legs then turned petrified.

At the same time Dao Hanh Tu died, Sung Hien’s wife gave birth to a child and named Duong Hoan. When Duong Hoan was 15 years old, the king adopted him. Later, because he was kindness and smart, the king ordained him to be crown prince. When Duong Hoan was 24 years old, he ascended the throne with title King Than Tong Ly.

King Than Tong Ly had strange disease after three years he was king. Firstly, he felt itchy whole body. Later, wherever he felt itchy, the places grew up furs. The more he scratched the more furs grew up. At last, whole his body grew up yellow fur with black stripes like a tiger. Something, he roared. The king spent whole day staying in a corner of his room and tore all clothes on his body. The country was chaotic. People worry. Doctors shook their heads when they examined him. At last, mother of king seemed to have no choice better, she had a notification that she would separate the country in two and give to the person who could cure the king a half. Then…

One day, a powerful mandarin had business went out capital. He heard children sing a song that meant only Minh Khong Nguyen monk could cure the king.

The mandarin felt both surprised and happy. He went to castle at one and report to royals. Royals immediately ordered a general brought soldiers went followed water to find Minh Khong Nguyen.

Minh Khong Nguyen, that time, was an abbot in at a temple in Ninh Binh province. He had helped many people by his magics. When soldiers found the way to go to him, Minh Khong Nguyen was chanting. General and soldier waited. When Minh Khong Nguyen had chanted he turned to them and said:

“You may felt hungry so we will treat you a meal before we set off”.

Then he turned to a young monk and asked him to cook. General and soldiers laughed as they saw the young monk only cooked a small pot of rice and slaughtered a sparrow.

“Monk, what you cook is not enough for a person but we are here over five hundreds people. We still have our food on ships so let us cook for ourselves”, said the general.

“Do not worry. We are poor but we will not let you to be hungry go out this temple”, said Minh Khong Nguyen, then he turned to cook a little time. Later, he asked soldiers to queue. Each soldier came to two small pots to have his serving and it was not strange when he felt surprised as he saw two pots was full immediately after they were empty before that. All of them got full later.

After eating, general and soldiers went on ships to have fast sleep but when they woke up they found out that they had been capital Minh Khong Nguyen followed the general went in castle. Meanwhile, many monks had come to castle. They were speaking mantras and stuck talismans everywhere. When they saw a shabby monk go in, they smirked and seemed to slight him.

Minh Khong Nguyen chose not to reply them. He bowed his head to greet others then he turned to a wooden pillar, took out an iron nail and nailed it deeply on the pillar. Later, he turned to others and said loudly:

“Who can take out this iron nail by hand, the person will cure the king”.

Monks sprinted to try but none could take out the nail by hand. At last, Minh Khong Nguyen approached and took out the nail easily by two fingers. Then, he went toward the king’s room. King Than Tong Ly was held tightly on bed. Dozens of soldiers were trying to hold his arms and his leg and kept him lie on bed.

Minh Khong Nguyen arrived when the king was waving violently to escape. He stared at the king and shouted:

“Remember me, your old friend? You have been king but you can not escape your fate, don’t you?”

After the king heard the words, he felt afraid. Therefore, he lied silently. Minh Khong Nguyen asked soldiers to give him a large pot. He poured oil and medicines into the pot then boil. When the liquid had boil, he used a jar to take out the liquid and started pouring it on the king’s body. Where the liquid went pass, furs fell down at the places. Then the king was cured turned back his shape.

Royals gave him praises and they planned to divided the country to give him but Minh Khong Nguyen refused, he said:

“I come here because of my promise but not any benefit”. Then, he turned back his temple.

THE END

"Translator: Hung Nguyen"

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