The Secret to National Strength

A small, impoverished nation triumphed over extraordinary wars. The secret lies in the tradition of filial piety – gratitude and absolute obedience cultivated within the family.

In the late afternoon, the final rays of sunlight cast a golden glow on the fluttering flags before the entrance of the martyrs’ cemetery. The scent of incense drifts gently in the wind, mingling with the fresh aroma of cut grass. A middle-aged man stops his vehicle by the roadside and steps out, carrying a bag of fruits and cakes along with a bundle of agarwood incense. His face displays deep reverence as his eyes gaze upon the long rows of clean, orderly graves.

This is one of hundreds of cemeteries across the country, the resting place for those who fell for their homeland. Every afternoon, people like him come here, not out of duty, but driven by a profound impulse from within their hearts.

Forty years have passed since peace was restored. Today’s generation, born after the war and raised in times of peace, only hears stories of hardship through the words of their parents and grandparents. They live in an independent, strong nation, yet few ask themselves: Why could a poor people, often lacking enough food or clothing, overcome so many storms and defeat powerful enemies?

This is a question that many researchers from various countries have posed. After fierce conflicts, they sent delegates to Vietnam. They studied, tried eating fermented fish sauce, morning glory vegetables, pickled eggplants, and traditional soy paste. They sought some hidden formula in daily meals or routines that might generate extraordinary strength. But they failed. They wrote thick reports concluding that no such secret existed. The Vietnamese, in every respect, are just like any other people in the world.

Yet the truth remains: this secret exists, quiet and powerful, passed down from generation to generation, rooted in the household way of life, in the "way of being a child."

Imagine a boy in a traditional Vietnamese family of old. He makes a mistake, his parents become angry, and the rattan cane begins to swing. In pain, he cries out loudly, but never does a spark of anger or resentment toward his parents arise in his heart. Even in pain, he still loves, respects, and obeys. The next day, when teachers scold or punish him at school, he reacts the same way. He loves his teachers, respects them, and holds no grudge.

An elder once shared a small memory that left a deep impression on him to this day. When he was a student, he once forgot to bring his English textbook to class. The teacher became furious, called him to stand up, and slapped him three times in front of the entire class. Humiliated and tearful, he walked out of the classroom and wandered into other classes to listen in. But the next day, when he met the teacher again, he politely greeted him. And he realized that in the teacher’s eyes, beyond strictness, there was also trust and love. That memory, though painful, stayed with him for life because it was part of the education that shaped who he became.

This is the foundation. In the military, discipline is strength. Discipline means absolute obedience, letting go of the ego and personal opinions to carry out orders. A soldier trained from childhood in a family with a solid "way of being a child" already possesses the quality of absolute obedience. When entering the military environment, they integrate naturally, forming an army with extraordinary collective power.

Conversely, in other places, children are pampered from a young age. Parents dare not scold them, fearing they will report to the police. Their egos grow large. When they enter a military environment requiring strict discipline, they face great difficulties. They resist and rebel internally; their minds are not pure, unable to obey absolutely. This is one of the fundamental reasons why their armies lack the collective strength needed to win.

The secret to national strength does not lie in food or physical constitution. It lies in educational traditions, in the method of shaping character from early childhood. This is why resistance wars are called "divine" – they surpass all ordinary predictions about the capabilities of a poor nation.

To preserve this strength, every family and every Vietnamese person must continue to nurture this beautiful tradition. Do not let external influences weaken the core moral foundation. Teach your children with both love and necessary strictness, so that each child grows up not only knowing how to love their family but also possessing the ability to respect discipline and obey collectively when needed for a greater cause.

Furthermore, strength comes from deep gratitude toward those who sacrificed. This gratitude creates a spiritual bond connecting the past and present, the living and the departed. It makes a nation strong not only physically and mentally but also spiritually, capable of enduring every challenge.

The Meaning of the Story

The strength of a nation comes not only from material wealth, a powerful army, or modern technology. It stems deeply from moral foundations, spirituality, and educational traditions. Within this, the "way of being a child" – filial piety and absolute obedience to parents and teachers from a young age – is a "national secret" that creates qualities of discipline and extraordinary collective power. It explains how a small, poor people could win wars considered impossible. Preserving and transmitting this quality is preserving the internal strength and future of the nation.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang