The Blessings of Faith

On a steep mountain pass swept by strong winds, the black asphalt slipped beneath the wheels. Phan Van Bac, a truck driver well acquainted with these winding roads, was driving with intense focus. Ahead, the road continued to bend like a giant snake. Suddenly, in his rearview mirror, he saw something alarming: a large passenger bus was hurtling down at a terrifying speed, with someone from inside desperately waving a hand out the window.

His heart clenched. With decades of driving experience, he understood immediately: that bus had lost its brakes. On that vehicle, dozens of people were facing death. There was no time to think. He turned to look at the cargo owner sitting beside him, whose eyes were wide with fear.

“That bus has lost its brakes! I must save them!” he declared, his voice resolute. The owner nodded at once, without a moment’s hesitation. In that instant, between the howling wind and the roar of the engines, two compassionate hearts found a silent accord.

Mr. Bac steered his truck, positioning it close to the rear of the oncoming bus. Then he signaled, ready to brace for the impact. *Clang!* The sound of metal striking metal echoed across the empty pass. The truck shuddered violently, its rear section crumpled. But he did not flinch. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his shoulders set like stone, his feet firmly pressing the brakes. The friction between the two vehicles left a trail of sparks on the rocky road.

The remaining distance was only about five hundred meters, yet it felt immensely long. He held on, fighting to control the momentum. The bus behind kept pushing, its force terrifying. He could feel the immense weight bearing down on his smaller truck, which was now carrying the thrust of a much larger vehicle. As the descent steepened, the slope increased. Yet he persisted, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his determination unwavering.

Finally, after several treacherous curves, both vehicles emerged onto an open stretch of road. He relaxed his grip, and both machines came to a stop in a cloud of dust. On the bus, the passengers were stunned, their tears mingled with the fading terror. They had just escaped the grasp of death.

News of the heroic act of driver Phan Van Bac spread across the nation. People praised him, calling him a hero. But if one looks deeper, this story is not merely about a brave action in a single moment. It is the fruit of a lifetime spent *nurturing* goodness. The days spent visiting the temple, paying homage to the Buddha, reciting sutras, the days devoted to contemplating wholesome thoughts and practicing loving-kindness—all of it forged a compassionate heart, an instinct to help others.

Precisely because his mind had been cultivated in this way, when the opportunity to save lives presented itself, he did not need to wrestle with his thoughts or calculate personal gain. His heart was already prepared to respond rightly. Without that prior nurturing, in such a life-or-death moment, a person would typically only think of their own safety and would let the chance to do good slip away.

Opportunities to perform acts of kindness still arise in our daily lives, but most of us let them pass because our hearts are not prepared. Mr. Bac’s story reminds us: let us always live with a benevolent heart, so that when the moment comes, we can seize it and create something meaningful.

**Meaning of the Story**

The story shows that a righteous action in an instant is actually the result of a prolonged process of *nurturing* a kind heart. Only by regularly cultivating our spirit through practice, paying respect to the Buddha, and living with loving-kindness can we build the moral strength to act rightly when the chance to help others arises. A heart that has been prepared will not miss the opportunity to do good.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.*