The Deer Painting and the Parting

The advice of a guest about a painting in the living room foretells the husband’s death, illustrating the power of intuition in reading omens.

Late in the afternoon, rain pattered steadily on the tin roof, creating a rhythmic and melancholy sound. In the cozy living room of Mr. Tuan’s home, a strange guest—an old friend of his father—sat sipping tea. On the wall, in the central spot, hung an expensive oil painting depicting a grand natural scene: a crystal-clear stream flowing through an ancient forest, and on its bank, a herd of deer bowed their heads to drink. The painting was beautiful, with harmonious colors that brought a sense of peace to anyone who gazed upon it.

The guest squinted at the painting for a long while, then suddenly sighed. Mr. Tuan, always hospitable, asked quickly, "Do you find this painting unattractive? I bought it from a famous artist. It's very valuable."

The guest shook his head, his voice deep and sorrowful. "It is beautiful, but I feel... a sense of unease. I advise you to replace it with a different one."

Mr. Tuan was surprised and laughed. "Why should I replace it? It makes our home more vibrant."

The guest pointed to the painting and explained slowly. "Look closely. That stream is what folk belief calls the 'golden stream,' the path for those who have passed away. See how the deer are clearly divided into two groups. The does and fawns gather on one bank, safe and united. But the single stag—the symbol of the family’s pillar, the husband—stands alone on the other side, gazing toward the rushing current. This is an omen of separation. The man of this household will soon 'return to the source,' leaving his wife and child stranded on this side."

Mr. Tuan merely smiled awkwardly, thinking his uncle was too superstitious and suspicious. He had no idea that the guest’s intuition had touched a deeper layer of reality, where symbolic images reflect the impending course of destiny. Time passed, and a few months later, Mr. Tuan succumbed to a sudden, severe illness and passed away. On the day of the funeral, his wife, Mrs. Lan, stood before the painting, looking at the scene of the lone stag by the stream’s bank, tears rolling down her cheeks. She recalled the old warning and understood that sometimes, small things—if we are mindful and sensitive enough—can tell us grand stories about fate.

**Meaning of the Story**

This story emphasizes that intuition is not a supernatural miracle, but the ability to discern laws and omens through forms and symbols. As Venerable Thích Chân Quang has taught, a person with strong intuition can look at very little information—a painting, a single pillar—and infer the complex unfolding of a life. This is a form of "knowing" that bypasses tedious data collection, an immediate insight. The moral lesson here is to live mindfully, to listen to the subtle signals in life, and to never disregard advice born of spiritual sensitivity, for such advice can help us better prepare for the events of impermanence.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang*