The Angelic Face of Tran Binh Trong

On the ancient battlefield, smoke and fire obscured the sky. Thoat Hoan, the brutal general of the Mongol army, stood towering before a prisoner. That prisoner was Tran Binh Trong. History records that the Mongols were powerful due to their cavalry and sophisticated intelligence networks. However, few realize that what made them most terrifying was their ability to recruit internal spies—those who carried deceit and betrayal within their hearts.

Thoat Hoan looked at Tran Binh Trong, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. The face of this Vietnamese general showed no fear. Instead, it radiated a calm and extraordinary beauty. He thought to himself, "If you follow me, I will crown you King of An Nam."

This was an offer of ultimate fame and profit. For those prone to deceit, like Tran Ich Tac, who had already been bought by the Mongols, this was a chance for a new life. But Tran Binh Trong only smiled. His voice rang out, decisive as thunder:

"I would rather be a ghost of the South than a king of the North!"

These words were not born from calculating gain or loss. They were the instinct of a person who had accumulated virtue and loyalty over many lifetimes. Even Thoat Hoan, despite his brutality, hesitated before such spirit. He regretted that he could not win Tran Binh Trong’s allegiance. In the end, the order for execution was given.

Returning to the present, in this dharma talk, the teacher explains the context more deeply. We often hear this story simply, but if we understand it profoundly, we see the greatness of Tran Binh Trong. Why did the enemy try to tempt him? It was because his character and demeanor were too immense. He cast aside fame and profit in a blink, without hesitation. This is the manifestation of a holy soul, unattached to the pair of minds known as deceit and betrayal.

The teacher relates this to real life. In our daily existence, we have many relationships: family, teacher and student, friends. If someone carrying deceit appears among us—outwardly gentle but inwardly scheming, colluding with outsiders to destroy the organization—the consequences are immeasurable. It is like the Mongols using spies to collapse their enemies. Traitors often meet tragic ends, sometimes killed by those who hired them once they are no longer useful. Only righteous gentlemen like Tran Binh Trong can maintain their integrity, even at the cost of their lives.

"Ask yourself," the teacher reminds us, "Am I inadvertently becoming a deceiver in the eyes of my loved ones, my master, or my community? Or am I nurturing loyalty, sacrifice, and dedication?"

The Meaning of the Story

The story of Tran Binh Trong is a powerful testament to the strength of loyalty and integrity in the face of the temptation of power. It stands in complete opposition to the mind of deceit and betrayal—behaviors that involve lying and selling one’s conscience for personal gain. The moral lesson emphasizes that a person with firm ethics will never be subdued by fame or profit. Betrayal always leads to painful endings, while loyalty creates eternal value.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang