The Bridge and the Loss of Direction

The afternoon air on Chuong Duong Bridge was already stifling, filled with the blaring of car horns and the crushing weight of crowds. Yet amidst this noise, a deadly silence enveloped two figures standing face to face at the very center of the span. They were a young couple who should have been sharing dinner or strolling together like any other pair. Instead, their space held only harsh accusations. The young man’s face burned red as he gripped the cold iron railing, his voice trembling with anger. He shouted that her constant demands and childish behavior had exhausted him completely.

Tears welled in the young woman’s eyes as she replied with a choked but defiant voice. She accused him of being selfish and never understanding her pain. If he found her presence so burdensome, she challenged him to stop seeing her altogether. Their argument escalated step by step as they walked from one end of the bridge toward the middle. Each word felt like a knife cutting through the last fragile thread connecting them. Blinded by rage, the young man became stubbornly determined to prove he was right, refusing to listen or yield. Meanwhile, the young woman, overwhelmed by feelings of abandonment and hurt, lost all reason.

When they stopped at the highest point of the bridge, the wind grew stronger, carrying the freezing mist from the Red River below. In that moment of intense inner turmoil, where ego and pain merged into one, the young woman suddenly stepped backward. Without warning or clear thought, she let go of the railing and jumped into the rushing waters beneath. A piercing scream tore through the evening sky as the young man cried out for her. He lunged forward, but his hand grasped only empty air. He stood frozen, his heart seizing and his body shaking violently before the cruel reality that had just unfolded. Too terrified to jump after her, he could only wail in hopelessness. One life was lost, and a future shattered, all because of an argument that found no way out.

After such a heartbreaking incident, many ask why a small conflict led to such a great consequence. The answer lies in the fact that, in that moment of despair, the young woman had no "motivation to live." Her love was based on illusion; when that love distorted, she lost her direction and her reason for existence, choosing the most negative form of escape.

The profound moral lesson taught by Venerable Thich Chan Quang highlights the importance of clearly defining our motivation for living. When we live solely to satisfy personal needs or fleeting emotions, we are easily crushed by adversity. Conversely, if we determine our purpose is to live usefully for the world, we gain a steady spiritual strength to overcome all difficulties and struggles. An altruistic motivation helps us avoid selfish psychology and dead ends. It also reminds us to remain calm and avoid arguing in dangerous places, such as on bridges or near railway tracks, to protect the lives and happiness of ourselves and our loved ones.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang