The Sound of the Turtle's Claw and the Lesson of Cause and Effect (Karmic Law)

That night, the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake was unusually still. Night mist descended gently, draping a delicate veil over the trees along the shore. The Master and his disciples sat on a small iron boat, rowed by two elderly men toward the heart of the lake. Their purpose was to visit Turtle Tower, the sacred place that few are permitted to set foot in during the day. As the boat touched the landing, a solemn atmosphere enveloped everyone. The Master stepped up the cold stone stairs and lit a stick of agarwood incense before the altars of the Buddha and Uncle Ho in the tower's highest chamber. In his heart, he prayed only for peace for the nation and for the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) to flourish.

After completing the ceremony, the Master stood leaning against the southern railing, gazing out into the vast darkness of the night. Suddenly, about a dozen meters from where he stood, a dark figure slowly rose from the water. In the dim, hazy light, the Master held his breath and watched. The figure moved, swimming slowly yet with great majesty. It was not a fish, nor some lifeless floating object. It was the Great Turtle.

The Master cried out softly, his voice trembling with emotion: "There is the Great Turtle!" Everyone turned to look in the direction he pointed. The Turtle surfaced and dove again and again, wagging its tail, swimming back and forth for half an hour, as if deliberately wanting everyone to witness its presence. Under the faint moonlight, its enormous shell and ancient head occasionally appeared, creating a scene both mysterious and deeply moving. The Master pressed his palms together and bowed to the Turtle with utmost reverence.

As the Master prepared to leave, kneeling on the grass for one final ceremony, something miraculous happened. The Turtle tilted its body, raised one long, sharp, curved claw high into the air, and then slowly vanished into the depths of the lake. In that moment, the Master's heart tightened, and tears streamed down his face. The claw immediately recalled the legend of the Golden Turtle God who gave his claw to King An Duong Vuong to fashion a magical crossbow trigger to protect the nation. It was not only a symbol of power, but also a reminder of the silent protection that the divine beings offer to the Vietnamese people.

From this sacred story, the Master reflected on the strict law of cause and effect (karmic law) in daily life. One of his disciples had once worked as a hired hand in a restaurant, where his job was to smash fish heads and slaughter chickens. One day, while climbing a tall tree to repair some machinery, a branch broke and fell, springing back and striking him on the head. Blood poured from his ears, nose, and eyes. He was rushed to the emergency room in critical condition, with a concussion and a fractured skull. The doctors at Ba Ria Hospital shook their heads, saying that if he were transferred, he would die immediately. The entire temple lowered its incense and chanted the Buddha's name in prayer.

But a miracle occurred. Thanks to the merit he had accumulated over many years of vowing to eat a strictly vegetarian diet and joining groups that painted Buddha statues across the country, he recovered in a most extraordinary way. His open wounds healed on their own, and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid stopped without any surgery. After five days, he awoke, wept openly, and called his teacher, for he had remembered that he was a monastic. This is clear proof that wholesome karma can dissolve unwholesome karma.

In contrast, there was a relative of one of the Master's disciples who made his living slaughtering soft-shelled turtles. This man would smoke the turtles with hot coals to force their heads out, then grab them, cut their throats, and drink their blood at the table. One night, while he was sleeping soundly, his house suddenly caught fire. The door was locked from the outside, and the man could not escape. He only managed to poke his head out through the small ventilation hole meant for dogs and cats, then suffocated and died in the flames. His horrific death mirrored exactly how he had treated the turtles. Cause and effect (karmic law) never errs; sooner or later, every action leaves its own mark.

## The Meaning of the Story

The story emphasizes the fair and absolute law of cause and effect (karmic law). Wholesome actions, such as respecting life, making offerings, and creating images of the Buddha, can help dissolve calamities and illness. Conversely, cruel and violent acts of killing will bring corresponding retribution, sometimes within this very lifetime. The appearance of the Great Turtle also reminds us to be grateful to the spiritual forces that silently protect us and gently guide people toward goodness.

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