Less Talking, More Striving – Lessons from Thánh Gióng and the Golden Turtle God

**Summary:** A dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang on a youth retreat and the stories of Thánh Gióng and the Golden Turtle God, reminding us of the power of silence and the spirit of striving.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes a single word can carry more weight than a thousand speeches? In a recent dharma talk, Venerable Thích Chân Quang offered a fascinating perspective through the stories of Thánh Gióng and the Golden Turtle God – divine beings who silently protected the nation and its people.

**Saint Gióng – The Silent Child Whom the Whole Village Listened To**

In the time of the Ân invaders, in the village of Phù Đổng, there was a boy who did not speak for five years. People thought he was mute, but in truth, he understood everything and only reacted with his eyes. His gaze was sharp and powerful, so no one who met it dared to look down on him. He lived quietly, and his silence was like the rumble of thunder.

When the Ân invaders attacked, King Hùng sent messengers to find talented people. As the messenger was making the announcement, the boy suddenly spoke his first words: "Mother, please call the messenger in." The entire village was shocked. From this, we learn that the words of a quiet person always carry great weight.

"People see that if someone's mouth keeps chattering away, the value of their words gradually decreases. A quiet, reserved person – whenever they speak, everyone around them has to listen."

In modern life, we often talk too much. Our words become cheap, and our presence fades. Let us learn from Thánh Gióng: maintain inner stillness, and when necessary, speak a single sentence that makes everyone listen.

**The Power of Action in Silence**

The boy ate his fill, then stretched and transformed into a tall young man clad in iron armor, riding an iron horse and wielding an iron whip to go to battle. With extraordinary strength, he defeated the Ân invaders, then rode to Sóc Sơn Mountain and ascended to the heavens. The entire story unfolded in just a few days, yet it teaches us a great lesson: talk less, act more.

Saint Gióng did not take the stage to give a speech. The boy prepared quietly, ate quietly, and went to battle quietly. Silent striving is the invincible power. In life, if we only argue and declare, sometimes we only exhaust ourselves. Conversely, when we train quietly, our sincerity and effort will naturally shine forth.

**The Golden Turtle God – The Guardian Spirit in Vietnamese Spirituality**

It is not only Thánh Gióng; our nation has always had deities who silently watch over us. The Golden Turtle God appeared during the reign of An Dương Vương, helping Cao Lỗ build the Cổ Loa Citadel and craft the magical repeating crossbow. Later, during the time of Lê Lợi, the god reappeared to reclaim the sacred sword after the nation found peace.

"Our nation is protected by divine beings from above, by heavenly realms, and by the founding kings from the very beginning."

Venerable Thích Chân Quang recounted that during a trip to Hanoi, on the night before the youth retreat, he was taken to the Turtle Tower to offer incense. As he knelt before the lake, he prayed for the nation and for the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). Suddenly, the great turtle surfaced and swam back and forth for half an hour, as if to witness that heartfelt aspiration. It raised its claw high as if in salute, before diving back down.

"That great turtle has accompanied the length of our nation's history like this."

This gives us faith that sacred energies are always protecting us, provided we maintain a sincere heart and uphold justice.

**The Youth Retreat – A Place for Striving towards Happiness**

At the nationwide Buddhist youth training retreat in Sóc Sơn, the participants had no games, only study and rigorous training. Yet, the wonderful thing was that the entire retreat was filled with laughter and joy. Venerable Thích Chân Quang shared:

"They studied incredibly hard, but because the content was so beneficial, they were very happy, very enthusiastic. Despite the hardship, their spirit was truly joyful."

This is proof that happiness does not come from relaxation, but from meaningful striving. When we face challenges, when we transcend our own limits, joy becomes truly profound.

**Lessons for Modern Life**

From Thánh Gióng to the Golden Turtle God, from the retreat filled with so much effort, we realize three lessons:

**Speak less, speak with weight:** Maintain inner stillness, so that every word spoken carries value.

**Act instead of worrying:** Life is a battlefield, and victory belongs to those who turn striving into action.

**Trust in sacred protection:** When facing hardship, live with integrity, and believe that benevolent energies are always walking with you.

In each person's life, strive to be a Thánh Gióng – silent, yet strong when the need arises. Be like the Golden Turtle God – unseen but always present. And be like the youth at the retreat – engaged, trained, striving to find true happiness.

So, talk less. Start striving, and let your life be a story as beautiful as legend.