The King's Suffering and the Lesson on Responsibility

**Summary:** A historical account of King Tran Thai Tong's attempt to renounce the world, persuaded instead by National Teacher Phu Van to return and govern. It affirms that fleeing responsibility is not the path to ending suffering.

In the magnificent palace, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows upon the intricately carved pillars. King Tran Thai Tong sat in deep contemplation, his melancholic eyes gazing out the window into the dark night. The weight of the throne pressed heavily on his young shoulders. He felt life was full of deceit, power was a lonely burden, and all his relationships were riddled with calculations. A single thought echoed in his mind: "I must escape. Only by escaping can I end this suffering."

And so, in the dead of night, the king disguised himself and quietly left the imperial palace, heading straight for Yen Tu Mountain. He sought out Hoa Yen Pagoda, kneeling before National Teacher Phu Van, his voice filled with urgency:

"Reverend Teacher, I am weary of the worldly life. Please permit me to renounce the world, so that I may find true peace."

The National Teacher looked at the king, his eyes compassionate yet stern. He did not agree hastily, but simply asked:

"Does Your Majesty wish to become a Buddha, or to be a king?"

The king replied:

"I wish to become a Buddha. Being a king is too great a suffering."

At that moment, the thunderous sound of horses neighing rose from the base of the mountain. Tran Thu Do led his soldiers up to the very gates of the pagoda. He entered, knelt, but his voice was like steel:

"Your Majesty, wherever you are, there lies the capital. If you remain here, I shall command the people to clear the forests, fill the rivers, and build a new capital right here on Yen Tu to serve you."

The king, startled, leaped to his feet:

"If that is so, then I cannot practice anymore!"

Only then did National Teacher Phu Van speak, his voice deep and warm, yet saturated with profound truth:

"Your Majesty, a practitioner takes the hearts of all sentient beings as their own heart. You have been placed with the responsibility of governing the realm. If you flee, the people will fall into chaos, and the nation will decline. That is not liberation; that is selfishness. Return, live with the heart of the people, transform the suffering of the masses into your own, and use your wisdom to resolve it. That is the path of a bodhisattva."

King Tran Thai Tong was stunned. The Teacher's words were like a splash of cold water, waking him from his dream of escape. He realized that the suffering of a king cannot be solved by running away, but must be met by immersing oneself more deeply into responsibility. He bowed his head in repentance, returned to the capital, and began a prosperous reign, though he himself continued to face countless pressures.

Looking back later, the king understood that each time he overcame a great challenge and shouldered a heavier responsibility, his mind and heart became more steadfast and serene. The suffering did not disappear, but it was transformed into strength.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The story emphasizes that "letting go" is not the correct solution to escape suffering. Fleeing responsibility, as King Tran Thai Tong initially intended, is merely an illusion. According to the teachings of Venerable Thich Chan Quang, to end suffering, one must confront and take on greater, more complex responsibilities. Only when we accept "even greater hardship" for the common good do we truly conquer our own suffering and attain genuine peace.

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