The Solitary Pillar and the Omen of Separation

That afternoon, pale golden sunlight slanted through the window, casting a glow on the polished ceramic tiles of the newly built villa. The air inside was so still that one could clearly hear the ticking of the wall clock. Mr. Minh, the homeowner, sat drinking tea with a stranger—a renowned feng shui master recommended by an acquaintance. This guest carried no compass or complex measuring tools, only wearing an old traditional robe. He entered with a calm demeanor, yet his sharp eyes quickly scanned every corner of the house.

Mr. Minh invited the guest to sit at the precious wooden table, filled with expectation. He had recently purchased this land and built a spacious home to reunite with his wife and children after years of separation due to work. Everything seemed perfect: luxurious interiors, a lush garden, and an open, airy architectural design. However, when the master stepped into the living room, he suddenly paused. His gaze fixed immediately on the center of the room, where a single concrete pillar stood alone, supporting the horizontal beam above.

"Your house is beautiful," the master said in a warm, deep voice. But then his tone shifted, becoming heavy and slow. "But I see... sadness."

Mr. Minh was surprised. He set down his teacup and asked, "What do you mean, Master? My house is new, we have ample money, my husband and wife are harmonious, and our children are well-behaved. What is there to be sad about?"

The guest did not answer immediately. He stood up and walked around the pillar, running his hand over the cold concrete surface as if sensing some invisible pulse. Then he turned back, looked directly into Mr. Minh’s eyes, and spoke each word clearly.

"You see, normally a sturdy house has two symmetrical pillars on either side, symbolizing parents or a couple sharing the burden together. But here, there is only one solitary pillar in the middle. Structurally, the architect placed it there to support this large beam, which makes scientific sense. But spiritually and as an omen, it resembles a family with only one pillar left. The other will have to leave."

Mr. Minh laughed it off, thinking the master was joking or overly superstitious. "Master, that is merely a technical issue. My wife and I love each other deeply; we will never separate."

The master shook his head gently, his eyes revealing profound compassion. "I am not judging by ordinary logical reasoning. I am seeing with intuition. That lonely pillar emits an energy field of deficiency. It signals that although everything seems stable now, fate has predetermined a separation. One of the two will depart, either through life and death or because their karmic conditions (duyên) have run out. Please prepare your mind."

Years passed, and what initially seemed like a meaningless prophecy gradually became an obsession. At first, Mr. Minh lived happily with his wife. But then, unexpected events occurred. His company faced difficulties, and his wife’s health declined severely due to an undiagnosed latent illness. Despite Mr. Minh seeking treatment everywhere, she eventually passed away amidst her husband’s extreme pain. Standing before her portrait, looking again at the solitary pillar in the center of the house, Mr. Minh finally understood the warning from years ago. That pillar was not just building material; it was a visible sign of an invisible reality that intuition had timely grasped.

The Meaning of the Story

This story illustrates the concept of "intuition" found in the dharma talk (pháp thoại) by Venerable Thich Chan Quang. Unlike logical reasoning based on extensive data—such as analyzing the load-bearing structure of the pillar—intuition is the ability to recognize instantly. It requires little reference information and can penetrate the essence of a situation or predict the future through even a small detail, such as the form of the pillar. Intuition operates based on a "spiritual field," where practitioners or those with high sensitivity can "read" signals that the physical eye and rational brain overlook. The lesson we draw is that we must cherish and cultivate our intuition, for it is a form of profound wisdom (trí tuệ) that helps us see through the truth behind superficial phenomena.

Compiled from the dharma talk (pháp thoại) of Venerable Thich Chan Quang