“When did you first leave home to become a temporary monk?”
“ I was very active and fearless as a boy. At age 18, I went swimming in the rough sea, arrogant of my youth and strength. When the waves turned tempestuous, they pulled me further out in spite of my effort to swim ashore. Exhausted, I thought I would die for sure. Just before passing out, I remembered what my mom taught me and could only think, “Please Kuan Yin, save me!” When I came to, I found myself lying on the beach, unharmed. At that time, I assumed I was just lucky, not thinking at all about spiritual cultivation. Besides, I didn’t know any Buddhist master to ask for guidance.
Then I came to the US and eventually got married. My wife often went to Master Hang Truong’s dharma lectures. She kept urging me to go with her. One day, I wanted to please her, so after taking our son to the dentist, I stopped by the place where Master was giving a lecture. Everyone was listening to Master attentively and appreciatively. However, it sounded all Greek to me. I couldn’t understand anything, but I stayed on.
Toward the end of the lecture, Khai Nghiem stood up to tell the story of dharma sister Lan Huong in OC. She was very ill, living alone, and in her condition, was unable to take care of her young child. So Khai Nghiem appealed to everyone to leave home temporarily and join the sangha to pray for her speedy recovery. At that moment, I looked at our son and thought, what would happen if I were in the same situation as Lan Huong? Suddenly my heart was filled with love for my wife and son, and also for Lan Huong, although I had never met her. I kept thinking about her situation. I tossed and turned all week long. Finally, I decided to ask my wife to let me become a temporary monk to pray for Lan Huong.
My wife was quite surprised, but very happy. After that, I had a talk with Master Hang Truong. I said, “Though I don’t understand your dharma lectures, I respectfully ask you to accept me to the sangha.” Master Hang Truong laughed and encouraged me. Since then, I’ve been closely connected with CSS, the Compassionate Service Society”
A story from dharma brother Thân Khai Thông Phát