Saint Giong and the Turtle: Two Secrets of Silent Power

From the story of the silent Saint Giong to the Divine Turtle emerging on Sword Lake in the night, they all remind us: speak less so your words gain value, and believe in spiritual strength to witness the miraculous.

Have you ever heard a phrase that caused a whole village to stir? A child who remained silent for five years without uttering a single word, only gazing at people with deep, quiet eyes. Then one day, he spoke: "Summon the royal messenger to me." The entire village was overwhelmed. This is the story of Saint Giong, and also the first lesson that Venerable Thich Chan Quang shared in a recent dharma talk.

The Value of Words in Silence

Venerable Chan Quang explained that the child of Phu Dong was not mute, but simply "did not deign to speak." He understood everything, yet reacted only with his eyes. And when he did speak, each word held the weight of a thousand mountains. From this, the Venerable drew a profound lesson:

A person who constantly chatters in life will see the value of their words gradually diminish. The person who speaks a lot is common, but the one who is reserved and speaks little will find that every time they open their mouth, those around them must listen and pay attention.

In the age of social media, we all want to speak, to share, to express. But the more we talk, the easier it is to lose the weight of our words. Saint Giong teaches us: practice the virtue of speaking little, so that when we do speak, each word is like "thunder," capable of changing great matters.

Spiritual Strength Protecting the Nation

The teachings did not stop there. Venerable Chan Quang also told the story of the Divine Golden Turtle, a spirit who has followed the entire length of Vietnamese history. From helping Cao Lo build Co Loa Citadel to reclaiming the sacred sword during the time of Le Loi, the great turtle has always appeared at the nation's most pivotal moments. On a recent trip to Hanoi, the Venerable was arranged to light incense at Turtle Tower at night. While he was standing by the lake, a miraculous event occurred:

The turtle seemed to surface, waving and swimming in one place for about half an hour, right before the Venerable's eyes, as if to show itself. Then it tilted its body and raised a curved claw high above the water.

For the Venerable, this was a sign of witnessing and approval. The great turtle is not a distant mythological figure, but a living symbol of spiritual strength, of the divine protection bestowed upon this nation. Within the heart of every Vietnamese person, faith in such sacred values still endures.

When Legends Come Alive

Venerable Chan Quang also shared about a national Buddhist youth camp held in Nghe An. The special thing was that the camp had no games, only pure learning and training, yet the young people were incredibly joyful and enthusiastic. They studied intensely, yet their "spirit was very happy." He mentioned that even non-Buddhist youths came to attend, and there were even people from other religions. This proves that when we build a program of education that is structured, disciplined, and full of loving-kindness, sincerity can transcend all boundaries.

The stories of Saint Giong and the Divine Turtle, along with the success of the youth camp, all come together as a single message: the nation and the Buddha's teachings are still under protection. But this protection comes not only from the divine, but also from the efforts of human beings themselves—from people who know how to live quietly to preserve value, and who strive to contribute to their community.

A Lesson for Us Today

What can you and I learn from this story? Try once to live like Saint Giong—speak a little less, so that each word gains deeper significance. Have faith that the good things we do are never futile, even if the results are not yet visible before our eyes. And open your heart to what is sacred, for in this life, there are strengths that science cannot yet explain, but the human heart can perceive.

As Venerable Thich Chan Quang taught: "If one understands a profound point from one's own experience and recounts it, the young people will truly enjoy it." Let these spiritual values nourish your mind and heart, and become the motivation for each of us to live more meaningfully, more steadfastly, each day.