The Shared Loincloth and the Auspicious Conditions from the Eastern Sea

The setting sun dyed the Red River golden, while wind rustled through the dense trees along the bank, whispering like the voice of heaven and earth. On a stretch of white sand, a young man with a gaunt frame and sun-bronzed skin carefully untangled small fish from his net. This was Chu Dong Tu, the only son of a farming family so impoverished that father and son shared a single loincloth.

Whenever his father went out, Chu Dong Tu had to stay home. If he needed to enter the river, he dared only wade in, keeping his chest above water while the current hid his lower body. This deprivation did not discourage him, but it etched deep into his mind a sense of inferiority amidst the vastness of life. He wondered, "Will I forever remain trapped in the shadow of this poverty?"

Suddenly, from upstream, a luxurious fleet of boats approached. Joyful laughter echoed, breaking the familiar silence of the countryside. It was Princess Tien Dung, daughter of the Eighteenth Hung King. Unlike court ladies who shyly hid behind curtains, Tien Dung possessed a heart craving freedom and understanding of real life beyond palace walls. She ordered her maids to set up a discreet silver screen for bathing at a secluded bend in the river.

Chu Dong Tu, diving for fish, unexpectedly witnessed this strange sight. His heart clenched, and his hands trembled violently. In a moment of extreme panic, he buried himself in the warm sand, covering his entire body except for his wide, fearful eyes. He thought, "If discovered, I will surely lose my life for the crime of peeking."

But destiny had already been arranged. When Tien Dung stepped out from behind the screen, her gaze fell upon an unusual mound of sand. Curious, she approached. Knowing he could not escape, Chu Dong Tu sat up, head bowed, stammering:

"Please... please forgive me, Princess! Your subject is merely too poor to have anything to cover himself, which is why I hid here. I did not intend to intrude!"

Tien Dung looked at the naked, dirty young man, yet saw bright eyes full of honesty and rare courage. Instead of anger, she felt a strange empathy. According to ancient beliefs, if a woman allowed a man to see her body, they were considered husband and wife. She smiled gently:

"Do not be afraid. If heaven has arranged for us to meet, then this is fate determined by past conditions. I will take you as my husband."

King Hung heard the news and flew into a rage, strictly forbidding their union. But the love between Tien Dung and Chu Dong Tu was more steadfast than power. They left the palace, choosing a simple life of small-scale trade at the river mouth. Here, they encountered many Indian merchants. One day, a merchant invited Chu Dong Tu to travel to India for trade. Before departing, he promised his wife he would return soon.

After months drifting on the sea, when the ship docked at a beautiful island, Chu Dong Tu was introduced to a monk named Phat Quang. The monk’s eyes radiated purity and wisdom that captivated him. He forgot all about trading, even forgetting his promise to return, wishing only to stay and learn the path. He sent money back with the merchants to buy goods for his wife, then remained to practice. Thanks to his inherent good roots, he quickly attained enlightenment, deeply understanding impermanence (anicca).

When he returned to Vietnam, Chu Dong Tu was no longer the impoverished youth of old. He brought the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) and taught them to Tien Dung. Together, they practiced, using spiritual powers and wisdom to help villagers, heal illnesses, and relieve hunger. Their reputation spread far, attracting many people to settle there, creating a prosperous and peaceful community.

However, this worried the royal court. King Hung suspected them of plotting rebellion and ordered troops to surround their residence. Facing sharp spears and swords, Tien Dung feared and gripped her husband’s hand tightly:

"What shall we do? The soldiers are numerous; can we possibly escape?"

Chu Dong Tu replied calmly:

"Do not fear. Remember the Buddha’s teachings. When our mind/heart is pure, all phenomena transform according to the mind/heart."

That night, the couple used their spiritual powers to alter the terrain. The next morning, when the soldiers arrived, they stood stunned before a magnificent citadel rising high in the middle of the empty plain. Unable to attack, they stopped to observe. Then, during another night, the entire citadel suddenly floated into the sky, leaving behind a vast void on the ground, later known as Nhat Da Trach (One Night Swamp).

The Meaning of the Story

The story of Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung clearly illustrates the meaning of "hearing the sutras from afar and seeking them out" found in the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Chapter. Even in distant places where the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) are not directly present, when sentient beings possess sufficient auspicious conditions (duyên) and a wholesome mind/heart, Buddhas and bodhisattvas always find ways to protect them and guide them toward mindfulness (chánh niệm) and the true Dharma. Enlightenment does not discriminate based on class or origin, but depends on one’s capacity and effort in practice. More importantly, when facing adversity, practitioners rely on meditative concentration (thiền định) and wisdom to overcome all obstacles, transforming unpredictably—like the citadel flying into the sky, symbolizing liberation from the cycle of samsara (luân hồi) and worldly entanglements.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang