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The Tale of Kieu – Through the Eyes of Mindfulness, Talk 13
The reunion of the two sisters, Giac Duyen and Trac Tuyen, takes place right on the bank of the Tien Duong River, in a simple thatched hut beside a grass hermitage, marked by a life of simplicity and happiness:
- cool breeze and moonlight caress the face, salt and pickled vegetables nourish the heart
- vastness stretches in all directions, the tide rises morning and evening, clouds drift before and behind
- past calamities are completely washed away
These verses emphasize a simple lifestyle, a letting go of fame and gain, seeking happiness in the present moment, in harmony with nature and the wind and moon.
The life of Trach Sinh (Kim Trong) is a series of tragedies over 15 years of separation from Thuy Kieu:
- she attempted suicide and fled from the Ngung Bich Pavilion, was deceived by Ma Giam Sinh and sold into prostitution
- met Tu Hai, was able to take revenge, save her family, and reunite in marriage, but then Tu Hai was defeated in battle, Kieu sold herself to redeem her father, and later became a nun at the Chieu An hermitage
- Trach Sinh passed the imperial examination, became an official in Nam Binh and Phu Duong, yearning to find traces of Kieu for many weary years
- after being reassigned to a post near Hang Chau, he heard news that Kieu had died, and set up an altar by the river to pray for her soul
-
thanks to Giac Duyen’s guidance, Trach Sinh found Thuy Kieu again and the family was reunited:
- husband
- mother
- father
- younger sister
- sister-in-law
In that moment, the whole family gathered together, bowing before the Buddha altar—a symbol of rebirth—to give thanks to the nun who had saved Thuy Kieu from the realm of death.
