Washing Away a Nation's Shame: The Responsibility of the Youth

Have you ever wondered why a people who defeated two of the world's greatest empires still cannot produce their own car? Why, starting from a similar point with South Korea, they now surpass us in nearly every field? This question was posed by Thầy Thích Chân Quang in a retreat for young people, and He entrusted that very pain to today's generation.

**The Shame of a Heroic People**

In His talk, Thầy reminded us of the resilient tradition of the Vietnamese nation. We endured a thousand years of Chinese domination, two wars of resistance against France and the United States, and always rose to reclaim our independence. Yet today, the nation is losing a very great battle: nearly all high-tech products must be purchased from abroad. Thầy said:

"You must wash away this shame for the nation."

That statement was not an accusation, but a transfer of trust. The Vietnamese people are intelligent, but that intelligence has not yet been used to conquer technology. This is the shame that the young generation must carry upon its shoulders.

**Seven Steps to Becoming an Intelligent Nation**

Thầy presented seven steps to evaluate an intelligent nation, a successful person:

1. Study well. 2. Excel in examinations. 3. Work skillfully. 4. Create excellent products. 5. Sell skillfully. 6. Provide excellent after-sales service and warranty. 7. Recycle and reclaim products.

According to Thầy, most advanced nations only reach the sixth step. The seventh step – comprehensive recycling – is the civilization of the universe, where there is no waste. The Vietnamese people currently stop at the second step: studying well and excelling in exams.

**Where Are We Now?**

Thầy spoke of the first Bphone created by the Vietnamese. The inventor proudly claimed, "it is unbelievably good, unbelievably beautiful," but when it hit the market, its flaws were too numerous, and it sank immediately. Thầy said if the inventor had been humble, viewing it as a prototype, the Vietnamese people would have wholeheartedly supported it. But due to excessive confidence, the product failed, and that shame belongs to the entire nation.

"Do not think that his failure is just his own affair. He is Vietnamese, and we are Vietnamese, so we share in his shame."

Meanwhile, South Korea, separated from Japan by just a river, was once as poor as we are. But they felt the shame, they pondered deeply, and after forty years they can manufacture everything, from cars to electronic chips. That is a lesson in self-respect.

**Tàm Quý – The Motivation Taught by the Buddha**

In the Buddha's teachings, that sense of shame is called *tàm quý* – knowing shame before oneself and before others. It is not shame to surrender, but shame to rise higher. Thầy reminded us:

"That shame in Buddhism is called *tàm quý*, shame. The things where we are weak, where we are inferior, we must know shame."

When we have *tàm quý*, we will not stop at studying well and excelling in exams. We will be driven by the pain of having to create better products, sell more skillfully, and serve others better. And that is the path to building a prosperous, high-tech nation.

**A Message to the Young Generation**

Thầy Thích Chân Quang has entrusted the washing away of this shame to the young generation. But He did not only admonish; He showed the path:

"You must have direction, you must have the ambition to rise and elevate your nation to be on par with your peers."

Those seven steps are the map. Begin by studying well, excelling in exams, then working skillfully, gradually creating products bearing the Vietnamese name. And remember, if we cannot achieve it, we must pass the mission to the next generation. Every generation has its own calling.

The flame of self-respect has been placed in your hands by Thầy. Do not let it die out in complacency. Let it blaze, so that one day Vietnam will no longer feel shame when looking at the list of nations producing high technology. That is truly a beautiful way to live, a way to practice on the bodhisattva path – applying the Buddha's teachings to life and to the nation.