The Gate of Heaven and the Hand that Pulls Your Robe

**Summary:** A painful yet humorous story about Vietnamese people's nature of jealousy, depicted through the image of a heavenly gate where once one person enters, those behind pull their robe to hold them back—contrary to the spirit of unity.

The afternoon sun cast sharp, slanting beams through the ancient trees in the temple grounds, weaving patterns of light and shadow across the old brick paths. The atmosphere during the dharma talk was hushed and solemn, everyone listening intently. The lecturer paused for a moment, gazing down at the hundreds of faces turned toward him, then began to tell a story. He said, "After hearing this, don't go telling it outside, because it hurts very deeply."

He described a surreal yet highly symbolic scene: High in the heavens, the great gate of paradise stood wide open. The Jade Emperor sat upon his throne, flanked by celestial soldiers guarding the entrance. Below on earth, tens of thousands of souls crowded together, yearning to step into that realm of eternal peace and joy. They pushed and shoved, their clamor echoing everywhere.

Suddenly, a Chinese man, nimble and quick, managed to slip through the crowd and touch the threshold. He turned back, spreading his arms to signal those from his homeland behind him: "Hurry! I got in! Let's pull each other in!" Immediately, dozens more surged forward, clasping onto one another to form a linked human chain. Together, they easily passed through the gateway. The Jade Emperor, seeing this, frowned and asked the gatekeeper:

"What nationality is that person?"

The gatekeeper replied:

"Your Majesty, they are Chinese."

The Jade Emperor shook his head, his tone stern:

"Do not let them in. If one gets through, they will pull the whole crowd in after them. This gate cannot bear the weight of such blind unity."

Thus, the man was turned away, and the crowd behind him dispersed. No one from that group entered.

A while later, it was the turn of a Vietnamese man, with a gentle appearance, who struggled to make his way forward. He was fortunate enough to place one foot across the threshold. But at that very instant, from behind, a rough hand grabbed the hem of his robe and yanked him back. Then another hand, and then many more. His compatriots standing behind did not support him; instead, filled with envy and jealousy, fearing that if he entered, he would be happier than them, they pulled him out. They cursed and criticized him, preventing him from going any further. In the end, he was pushed back into the chaotic crowd, weary and disappointed.

The Jade Emperor witnessed this scene, smiled sadly, and said to the gatekeeper:

"As for this person, he is Vietnamese. Just open the gate; there's no need to keep watch."

The gatekeeper asked in surprise:

"Why is that, Your Majesty?"

The Jade Emperor replied:

"Because their characteristic is that if one of them manages to get in, the ones behind grab his robe and pull him out, not letting him enter. They themselves will hold each other back, sabotage one another, and in the end, no one will reach heaven. Let us just sit and watch."

When the story ended, the hall sank into a heavy silence. A soft sigh came from a corner of the room. Many people bowed their heads, not daring to look each other in the eye. Although the story carried a humorous, satirical tone, it dug deep into a painful wound of the nation: the habit of envy, division, and lack of mutual support. The lecturer looked around, his voice dropping low:

"You see, if we keep holding onto this mind of 'pulling each other's robes,' our country will never develop, and the Dharma cannot spread. We must change. From now on, when you see someone succeed, be happy for them. Push them up, and let them pull you up along with them. That is true morality; that is true strength."

**The Meaning of the Story**

The story reflects a sad reality of envy and division within the Vietnamese community, where an individual's success is often hindered by those around them rather than supported. The moral lesson drawn is that a follower of the Buddha must transcend the selfish self, cultivate the mind of sympathetic joy (feeling glad when seeing others prosper), and build a spirit of unity and mutual support. Only when we learn to "push each other up" instead of "pull each other down" can we create collective strength, contributing to building a prosperous society and propagating the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.