Reminiscing Elder Brother Cao Chanh Huu
By Quảng Hải Phan Trung Kiên - Nguyễn Minh Tiến, Retold by Tâm Định
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Brother Cao Chanh Huu,
Great responsibility could only be fulfilled
by those with great personality. You are a perfect match! At times of facing
evil forces in power, or fulfilling the duties of a citizen, or standing in
front of those in need, you have always remained as a Buddhist role model with an
open heart, forgiveness, and your diligence to your responsibilities.
Within a few short minutes of conversation,
you were able to convey the message equivalent to one’s lifetime. Confined yet
completed, complicated yet coherent, your message captivates the listeners and allows
them to share your passion with direct correlation.
Your message was not simply to those who were
listening, but also for future generations. A quarter of a century later, your
message remains a beacon for Buddhists like ourselves to guide the way. You
have left but remained eternal in our hearts. We miss you, our great
brother!
You spoke of the smiles and I would know that
you wanted us to smile while facing difficulties, sorrow, or evil forces of
power.
You spoke of the singing voices of the
Gray-Shirt-Bearers and we would know you wanted us to summon that source of
energy to overcome challenges, to complete our responsibilities in life through
the most complete and meaningful way.
You spoke of the Eternal Happiness Realm and
we would know you wanted us to bring Buddhism into this life, to transform the
present moment into the moment of Eternal Happiness.
Lastly, your life in its entirety, is a story
of great forgiveness. During the time of physical distress, suffering, and
humiliation, you didn’t forget about humanity. You stretch out your hands
through your last breath to give it your all.
You, who once lived with such nobility. You
can smile with compassion and walk away peacefully from those who make you
suffer, humiliate you, and confine you. Oppositely, those who are living in
peace and freedom today could not crack a smile at those who they say they
love. They turn their backs on each other because they lack compassion,
forgiveness, and open-heartedness. In their minds, there’s nothing but
prejudgment and bigotry. Buddha said “prejudgment and bigotry turns families
into enemies instead of transforming enemies into families”.
Today, we are listening to your wise words and
reminders... We miss you even more, my Elder Brother Cao Chanh Huu.
Younger Brother Tam Dinh (San Diego)
Nhớ anh Cao Chánh Hựu
Quảng Hải Phan Trung Kiên - Nguyễn Minh Tiến
Anh là người Anh Cả luôn xứng đáng với trọng trách của mình. Trong trách nhiệm người công dân, trong thử thách trước bạo quyền cũng như khi đứng trước những con người cần giúp đỡ, anh vẫn luôn là tấm gương sáng nhất cho những người học Phật, luôn mở lòng bao dung, vị tha và tận tâm với chức trách của mình.
Chỉ mấy phút ngắn ngủi trao đổi với đàn em áo lam trong lần gặp mặt này, anh đã gửi gắm được tâm tình thao thức của cả một đời người. Ngắn gọn nhưng đầy đủ, khúc chiết nhưng mạch lạc, anh đã khiến người nghe như hiểu thấu ngay được tấm lòng anh.
Lời nhắn nhủ của anh không chỉ cho những người trực tiếp nghe anh nói, mà cho mãi đến hôm nay, sau một phần tư thế kỷ, vẫn còn là ngọn đuốc soi đường cho những Phật tử như chúng tôi. Anh đã ra đi, nhưng trong lòng chúng tôi anh vẫn luôn còn mãi. Chúng tôi nhớ anh, người anh áo lam vĩ đại của chúng tôi.
Anh đã nói về nụ cười, chúng tôi biết anh muốn chúng tôi hãy luôn nở nụ cười, hãy vui lên trong mọi hoàn cảnh, dù khó khăn, dù bất hạnh, và ngay cả khi phải đối mặt với bạo quyền.
Anh đã nói về tiếng hát của những người áo lam, và chúng tôi biết anh muốn chúng tôi hãy sử dụng nó như một nguồn động lực để vượt qua mọi thử thách, hoàn thành mọi trọng trách trong cuộc đời này một cách tốt đẹp và ý nghĩa nhất.
Anh đã nói về những phút giây an trú trong cảnh giới Cực Lạc, và chúng tôi biết anh kỳ vọng ở chúng tôi hãy đem Phật pháp vào cuộc đời này, biến mỗi phút giây trân quý của hôm nay thành những giây phút an lành nơi Cực Lạc.
Và cuối cùng, cả cuộc đời anh, câu chuyện của anh, là một tấm gương vị tha vĩ đại mà chúng tôi nguyện lòng mãi mãi noi theo. Ngay cả khi bản thân mình đang phải chịu đựng bao nhục nhằn khốn khổ nhưng anh vẫn không ngừng nghĩ đến tha nhân, vẫn cố thêm một chút hơi tàn để tiếp sức, giúp đỡ người khác.
Anh thật vĩ đại và cao quý biết bao! Anh có thể mỉm cười bao dung và bước đi thanh thản ngay trước mặt những kẻ đang ra sức hành hạ, đọa đày anh. Ngược lại, có những kẻ hôm nay được sống trong thanh bình và tự do nhưng không thể nhoẻn cười ngay cả với những người anh em thân thương của mình. Họ quay lưng với nhau vì thiếu sự bao dung, cao cả, vì trong lòng họ đầy dẫy những định kiến và cố chấp. Với định kiến và cố chấp, người ta sẽ biến anh em thành kẻ thù thay vì hóa giải xung đột và biến kẻ thù thành anh em như lời Phật dạy.
Và hôm nay, nghe lại những lời khuyên dạy, nhắc nhở của anh, chúng tôi càng thêm nhớ đến anh rất nhiều!
Reminiscing Elder Brother Cao Chanh Huu -
Quảng Hải Phan Trung Kiên - Nguyễn Minh Tiến
You are the Elder Brother who was a perfect match for your responsibility. Responsibility of a citizen, facing evil challenges, or in front of those in need, you always are a role model for Buddhist practitioner with open heart, forgiveness and dedication to your responsibility.
In within a few short minutes exchanging word with fellow brothers/sisters this time, you were able to convey the passion of a human lifetime. Short but complete, complicated yet clear, you captivated the listener and allow them to understand your passion with direct correlation.
Your message is not only for those who listening to you, but also for future generations, such that a quarter century later, remains as a beacon for Buddhist like ourself. You have left, but in our hearts, you are eternal. We miss you, my great brother!
You spoke of a smile. We know you wanted us to always smile, be happy under any circumstances regardless of difficulties, sorrow, or even facing the evil force of power.
You spoke about the voices of the Gray-Shirt-Bearer, and we know you wanted us to use it as a source of energy to overcome all challenges, complete all responsibilities in this life with the most complete and meaningful way.
You spoke about those moments in the Eternal Happiness World and we know you hoped that we will bring Buddha’s teachings into this life, transform each moment of today to become every second of the Eternal Happiness World.
And lastly, your life in its entirety, is a story of great forgiveness for us to follow. Even when your own life was enduring tremendous suffering and humiliation, you never forgot about others, still stretch out a little more to give all of your last breath in benefit of other people.
You are truly great with such nobility. You can smile with compassion and walk away peacefully in front of those who try their best to make you suffer, to humiliate you, to confine you. Oppositely, those who is currently living in peace and freedom but cannot smile with those who they say they once loved. They turn their backs with each other due to lack of compassion, forgiveness, open-heart because in their minds, they are full of prejudgment and bigotry. Prejudgment and bigotry transforms families into enemies instead of transform enemies into families according to Buddha’s words.
Today, listening to your words and reminders, we miss you even more.
Translated by Tâm Định
In within a few short minutes exchanging word with fellow brothers/sisters this time, you were able to convey the passion of a human lifetime. Short but complete, complicated yet clear, you captivated the listener and allow them to understand your passion with direct correlation.
Your message is not only for those who listening to you, but also for future generations, such that a quarter century later, remains as a beacon for Buddhist like ourself. You have left, but in our hearts, you are eternal. We miss you, my great brother!
You spoke of a smile. We know you wanted us to always smile, be happy under any circumstances regardless of difficulties, sorrow, or even facing the evil force of power.
You spoke about the voices of the Gray-Shirt-Bearer, and we know you wanted us to use it as a source of energy to overcome all challenges, complete all responsibilities in this life with the most complete and meaningful way.
You spoke about those moments in the Eternal Happiness World and we know you hoped that we will bring Buddha’s teachings into this life, transform each moment of today to become every second of the Eternal Happiness World.
And lastly, your life in its entirety, is a story of great forgiveness for us to follow. Even when your own life was enduring tremendous suffering and humiliation, you never forgot about others, still stretch out a little more to give all of your last breath in benefit of other people.
You are truly great with such nobility. You can smile with compassion and walk away peacefully in front of those who try their best to make you suffer, to humiliate you, to confine you. Oppositely, those who is currently living in peace and freedom but cannot smile with those who they say they once loved. They turn their backs with each other due to lack of compassion, forgiveness, open-heart because in their minds, they are full of prejudgment and bigotry. Prejudgment and bigotry transforms families into enemies instead of transform enemies into families according to Buddha’s words.
Today, listening to your words and reminders, we miss you even more.
Translated by Tâm Định
