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A Zen Commentary on the Tale of Kieu
After 15 years of drifting, Thuy Kieu fell into a state of ultimate suffering called hitting the bottom and sought death, but was saved by Giac Duyen. Giac Duyen symbolizes the conditions of awakening; she is the one who gave birth to Kieu a second time, called rebirth. Although Kieu wished to commit her whole life to the Three Jewels and nature because she was accustomed to the monastic way of life, her family still forced her to return in the name of filial piety and love. Kieu offered three reasons to ask to stay:
- The happiness of reuniting with the family is already enough.
- She is being nourished by a way of life that is pure and liberated.
- The debt of gratitude for her rebirth owed to Elder Sister Giac Duyen is too great to leave behind.
Finally, Kieu accepted a wedding in form only, on the condition of maintaining her chastity. On the wedding night, she composed ten verses to express noble love (True love), advising Kim Trong to transform worldly affection into spiritual friendship. Kim Trong understood deeply, respected Kieu as a heroine, and both became soulmates. When the family sought Giac Duyen to express their gratitude, the Nun had departed like a drifting cloud or a crane, demonstrating the absolute freedom of a practitioner whom no money or fame can bind.
Inner transformation completely changed Kieu’s art. In the work, Kieu played the lute a total of four times:
- The first time for Kim Trong, the gut-wrenching sound caused pain to the listener.
- The second time at Hoan Thu’s house, the sound was like weeping and lamenting, making Thuc Sinh shed tears.
- The third time at Ho Ton Hien’s banquet, the sound was full of tragic winds and sorrowful rains, like blood dripping from the five fingertips.
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The last time for Kim Trong after the reunion, the sound became warm, joyful, and liberated.
Through this, listeners are advised to select wholesome music to water the seeds of happiness, avoiding those kinds of music that cause sorrow and gut-wrenching pain.