Today’s Enlightening
Entertainment
will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish, and Thai.
Filmmaking
was introduced to
Âu Lạc (Vietnam)
at the end of 1890s.
It began to thrive in 1923
with the first movie
co-produced
by the French and
the Aulacese based
on the masterpiece
“The Tale of Kiều” by
literary great Nguyễn Du.
Embracing
the modern technology
of our world's civilization
and combining it
with a diverse artistic
foundation inherent in
the country's traditions,
Aulacese filmmaking
nowadays continues
to develop to
enhance the nation's
cultural landscape.
On Enlightening
Entertainment,
Supreme Master
Television is pleased
to introduce different
forms of arts
from Âu Lạc (Vietnam),
as well as from other
countries in the world,
in order to share the
beauty and cultures
of the peoples
on our planet.
The film
“The Light of Truth”
chronicles the holy life
of Shakyamuni Buddha,
an enlightened Master
in India in the
5th century BCE.
His profound and
sacred teachings, which
include Four Noble Truths,
Eightfold Noble Path,
and Tripitaka,
have brought salvation
for innumerable souls.
Buddhism,
now propagated
around the globe,
is one of the major
religions in the world.
We now invite you
to enjoy part 1 of the film
“The Light of Truth,”
screenplay written
by Võ Đình Cường,
directed by
Triệu Hoàng Quân,
and produced by
Diệu Giác Temple.
It will be presented
in four episodes,
with performances
by Công Hậu
as Prince Siddhartha,
Tuyết Lan as Queen Maya,
Việt Trinh as
Princess Yasodhara,
Hữu Nghĩa as
King Bimbisàra,
Nam Anh as
King Suddhodana,
Di Thảo as
Queen Mahaprajapati,
Thanh Tùng as Ananda,
Thạch Ngà as Devadatta,
Đồng Khởi as Chandaka,
Thành Tân as Kaundinya,
Vĩnh Lộc as Brahmin Yogi,
and other artists.
Thank you for watching
today’s
Enlightening Entertainment.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up is
Words of Wisdom.
We wish you peace and
joy in the eternal love
of Heaven and Buddha.
Farewell for now, and
we’ll see you next week.
Let us go to
the southern part of
the Himalaya mountain
where the Buddha was born.
Buddha was born
into the world to
deliver sentient beings.
O humanity, know you not
O humanity, know you not
An enlightened Master
has come.
He’s the Most
Compassionate,
the Most Wise.
He’s the bright light
shining in the world.
It’s incredible.
Look at the somersaults!
The somersaults
are awesome!
They’re really good!
Why are you people
holding a festival?
Because Queen Maya
has just given birth
to a prince. (Really?)
Greetings, Yogi.
Why are you celebrating?
Because Prince Siddhartha
has 32 blessed features.
Greetings, Elder.
Why are the people of
Kapilavastu celebrating?
Nine months ago,
Queen Maya had a dream...
What an unusual dream!
Where’s the royal maid?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Did you have
a good rest last night?
Thank you, dear.
I had an unusual dream
last night.
Go get a dream
interpreter here for me.
Yes, Your Majesty,
I’ll go right away.
Long live
Your Majesty the Queen!
This humble person
is honored to be
the interpreter of
your golden dreams.
Be at ease, respectful sir.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Last night I dreamt of a
six-tusked white elephant
that flew down
from the heavens
and entered my side.
This dream worries me
very much.
Can you tell what it means?
A hundred prostrations
to Heaven’s will!
Ten thousand bows
to Earth’s will!
Countless beings
will be delivered.
This is a sign of luck.
The law of
impermanence gives way
to the miraculous Truth.
A great, auspicious omen
has come.
The Queen will give birth
to a prince
whose talent and virtue
are unsurpassed.
Oh, is it true?
If so, I must inform
the King about this.
Trust my words,
Your Majesty.
Please ask other good
dream interpreters;
they will all tell
of the same revelation.
Praise the Almighty!
My prediction has come true.
Devisakha, do you know
what the sign is?
I wonder why
this strange light appears.
But if I’m not mistaken,
this is definitely
an auspicious sign.
Hear ye! Hear ye!
Today, the King ordered
a national celebration.
The entire Kapilavastu
will be decorated
with lights.
On the occasion of
Queen Maya’s giving
birth to a royal son,
the King grants
a general amnesty to all.
Hear ye! Hear ye!
Be at ease!
I’m grateful
to the Almighty for
bestowing upon me a son
to continue the lineage
and preserve our
royal ancestral legacy.
I also thank my beloved
queen for giving me
a beautiful son.
I’ve waited for this great
happiness all this time.
Your Majesty,
a yogi called Asita
from the East wishes
to present himself
on this occasion of
the Crown Prince’s birth.
Invite him in!
Order obeyed.
Respectful greetings,
Your Majesty!
This humble person,
Asita, from
the eastern Himalayas,
has come here
despite the long journey
upon learning that
an extraordinary person
has been born.
May I entreat Your
Majesty for a glimpse
of the Crown Prince?
All right. Bring
the Crown Prince here!
Alas, the one and only
in Heaven and on Earth
indeed!
Your Majesty,
the Crown Prince
is not an earthly man.
He’s the most precious
flower of humanity,
which only blossoms
once in tens of thousands
of years.
Why are you crying,
Yogi? Will calamity
befall the royal family?
Your Majesty,
I’m crying for my ill fate,
as I wasn’t born in his time.
Alas! I’m too old now
and will soon die.
I won’t be able to listen
to the jeweled words
of His Highness.
Is that so? Tell me
everything about it.
Didn’t you notice,
Your Majesty?
The Crown Prince’s
32 blessed features
foretell that he will be
a great king who
rules over the world.
Your Majesty,
the symbol on his chest
proclaims him the lord
of the three worlds,
a true guide for all beings.
What a great blessing
for the royal family!
But,
O Maya of great virtue!
You’ll leave this
mundane world in 7 days
to ascend to the
Trayastrimsàs Heaven
for your merits
are immense, and your
earthly debts are finished.
You’ll suffer no more.
Your Highness,
why don’t you
have your breakfast?
If you don’t eat,
how can you be healthy?
I may end up being
reprimanded by the King
for not taking
good care of you.
Respected Auntie,
this fruit dish that you
cooked with lamb meat,
I can’t eat it.
It’s difficult to understand
the Crown Prince.
Since the Queen
passed away 10 years ago,
I’ve always been
by his side.
As he grows up,
it becomes harder
to understand his actions
and thoughts.
Respected greetings,
Teacher.
Greetings, Your Highness.
I’m ready this morning
to receive your instruction.
Today, we continue
to learn about the things
a future king like you
needs to know.
Please instruct me.
Do you mean to teach
about the virtues of a king?
I’ve contemplated about
this through my role
as a Crown Prince.
Respected Teacher,
I’m very afraid to be of
talent but lacking virtue.
That’ll bring disaster.
Your Highness,
from now on, please
accept me as your student
because my knowledge
is limited, but your
intelligence is infinite.
I cannot teach you.
Once a phoenix
is fully grown,
no other birds
can soar higher than it.
But, O son of
the virtuous Maya,
I admire you not only
for your brilliance,
but also for your respect
for me.
O Teacher
that I have always loved
and esteemed,
please don’t be contrary
to the customs
such that I’ll be
a disrespectful student.
For the purity of my heart,
please come teach me
whatever you wish .
I promise never
to mention that again.
I still remember
your advice:
“Be contented to
preserve your dignity.
Talk less to avoid
making mistakes.
Watch your every word.
Guard your thoughts like
a soldier guards a citadel.”
Devadatta,
you defeated me in
the horse race yesterday.
Are you racing again
today?
I wouldn’t dare.
Have I ever won
a horse race over you?
Yesterday, you stopped
the horse by yourself,
perhaps because
your horse was unwell.
Now, I want to try
another type
of entertainment.
Devadatta! I know
what you intend to do.
Stop,
O the bloodthirsty one!
Your Highness,
this animal was shot by
royal cousin Devadatta.
He sent me here
to ask you to return her.
Although the royal
cousin shot this bird,
it’s I who rescued her.
Royal cousin Devadatta
is her enemy,
I’m her benefactor.
Therefore, I can’t
give her to Devadatta.
Go back and tell Devadatta:
If he wants
this animal back,
come see me. (Yes.)
Bring me the horse!
(Yes.)
This animal
is from the sky;
it doesn’t belong to anyone.
Now that I shot her,
she belongs to me.
No. I’ve said that
no one has the right to
inflict pain on an animal
to force him or her
into one’s possession.
This animal is mine
because I love her,
and she’s grown
fond of me.
If you don’t agree,
go see the royal officials.
We’ll ask them to judge.
Fine! Let’s see who’s
the reasonable one.
So you all understood
what I meant.
Court dismissed!
His Majesty’s decision is very wise!
We must think thoroughly
about this issue.
You’re right!
The officials are here;
let’s ask them
to help determine.
Please stand up!
We await your instructions.
That’s what happened.
So, what is your judgment?
Your Highness,
what the royal cousin
said was correct?
Yes, Devadatta
shot down this bird,
and I picked her up.
Birds in the sky,
fish in the water,
all belong to nature.
Whoever catches them
will enjoy them.
I agree with
the Crown Prince:
The bird befriends those
who love her,
not those who kill her.
You can’t speak
in such general terms.
Although animals
have intelligence, they
can’t communicate it;
they have emotion
but can’t express it.
We, as humans,
though small physically,
can conquer all beings.
Therefore,
whoever shoots the bird
owns the bird.
Respected officials,
if life is truly valuable,
then he who saves
an animal’s life deserves
to keep her more than
he who wants to kill her.
One is killing
and destroying,
the other is protecting
and building.
The bird should be given
to the Crown Prince.
Thank you for taking
your time to judge.
We’re taking leave now,
Your Highness.
O beloved bird,
it’s clear and sunny.
The wind blows
favorably this way.
Find your way
back to your flock.
Take flight, child!
Go quickly!
Get rid of the hungry,
the poor, and the sick!
Take them deep
into the forest.
Don’t let His Highness
see them, understand?
(Yes.)
Stop the carriage!
See that, son?
From the green fields
at the distant horizon
to this forest,
all belongs to us,
father and son.
Such a beautiful
and peaceful kingdom
will be yours later.
You should go and
check out everything.
Royal Father, after
roaming the whole day,
I’m so happy to see
that life is content and
peaceful everywhere.
Royal Father, actually,
it’s not as completely
restful as I thought.
I saw a struggle for survival.
Farmers’ hands are soiled
and their feet muddy
from making a living.
All their strength in life
is being exchanged
for a handful of rice.
And how fierce it is
the way living beings
destroy each other!
Is that life, Royal Father?
Siddhartha,
I personally accompany
you on this tour
so that you can gain
vast understanding,
but you’re not pleased.
What am I to do?
Let’s return to the court!
Attention,
citizens of Kapilavastu!
There is a beauty contest
tonight at the
King’s royal palace.
Beautiful women and
noble ladies everywhere
are welcome to attend
tonight’s contest to
receive the noblest prize.
Attention, everyone!
Do you remember
what Yogi Asita said
about the Crown Prince?
Yes, I remember very
clearly, Your Majesty.
I hope that his first
prophesy comes true,
that is the Crown Prince
will be a great king.
But watch closely,
it seems that
he wants to abandon
the precious throne,
so I’m very worried.
Your Majesty, please
don’t be concerned.
I think only the flame
of love can hold
His Highness captive.
A thousand copper wires
won’t be able to stop
his adventurous spirit.
but one strand of hair
from a beautiful woman
is sometimes stronger
than iron chains.
Welcome,
Princess of Kanadikiet
and Princess of Adana.
Welcome,
Princess of Kusinagara.
Welcome, Princess of
Sravastidhatha.
And finally, welcome,
Princess Yasodhara.
Do you have anything for me?
O the most beautiful
of all beauties!
All the precious gifts
were given away.
But will you accept this
as a replacement?
I’ve caught the bait.
Now we must find a way
to entice that phoenix
out of the layers
of blue clouds.
Your Majesty,
the envoy that went to
King Suppabuddha to ask
for his daughter’s hand
in marriage has returned.
Send them in to see me.
Order obeyed.
Long live Your Majesty.
Be at ease.
Tell me the outcome quickly.
Your Majesty,
King Suppabuddha very
much appreciated your
thoughtful consideration,
but he said:
“According
to Sakya’s custom,
anyone who wishes to
have the Princess’ hand
in marriage
must go through
martial arts contests,
and only the most
skillful candidate
may marry the Princess.”
This custom doesn’t
change even for my son,
the Crown Prince?
King Suppabuddha
stated very clearly:
There is no exception
even for His Highness
Siddhartha, although
he’s well aware that
His Highness is a talented
and virtuous man.
I’m deeply disappointed.
I know my son’s skills in
literature and philosophy
are unsurpassed,
but as for martial arts,
how can he compete
with the champions,
like the archery skill
of Devadatta
the horse-riding skill
of Anuttara,
and the swordmanship
of Nanda?
Your Majesty,
I know His Highness
is highly competent
in martial arts
because His Highness’s
teacher is my friend.
Your Majesty
need not worry.
His Highness
is just being humble.
Today is the contest’s day.
Why are you sad,
Princess?
Don’t you understand
how I feel?
I’m getting closer to
leaving my Royal Father,
without knowing who
among the contestants
will be my
lifelong companion.
I secretly wish that
the Almighty will bestow
upon me the man
I have dreamt of.
The first competition,
Heavenly Equestrian
Marathon, is among
Royal Highnesses
Devadatta, Nanda,
Anuttara, and
Crown Prince Siddhartha.
Bravo, Crown Prince!
Bravo, Crown Prince!
His Highness
is remarkable!
In the Heavenly Equestrian
Marathon contest,
the winner is
Crown Prince Siddhartha
and his horse Kanthaka.
Next is the archery
competition.
Welcome,
Royal Highnesses Nanda
and Anuttara to the arena!
Next, welcome,
Crown Prince and Royal
Highness Devadatta!
Crown Prince
and Royal Highness.
His Highness
is a great archer!
He’s a marksman!
Where is
Siddhartha’s arrow?
Is there a better bow for
His Highness Siddhartha
to use?
Your Majesty,
there is a very heavy bow
made of black copper
in the Ximbahanu Shrine.
I’m only afraid that
His Highness can’t pull it.
Guards! Go quickly
and bring back the bow
for His Highness!
Wait! Let me try it first!
Too heavy!
It’s very heavy!
Bravo!
Something
sounds like thunder!
That’s the Crown Prince
Siddhartha’s shooting
with the bow from
the Ximbahanu Shrine.
I saw two guards
carrying it here earlier.
It’s awesome!
Here is the outcome of
the archery competition:
The winner is
His Highness Siddhartha.
Bravo!