Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, 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 “A Tiger That Leaves the Mountain Faces Challenges” chronicles a young man’s experience on the path of spiritual practice for eternal liberation. The story also offers counsel for renunciates to build strength on the protective power of the spiritual community and the guidance of the respected master while on the noble journey of the soul.

We now invite you to enjoy part 3 of the film “A Tiger that Leaves the Mountain Faces Challenge,” written by the Venerable Thích Chân Tính and produced by Hoằng Pháp Temple, with performances by Bhiksu Tâm Khải as Head Monk, Bhiksu Tâm Hải as Discipline Monk, Thiên Bảo as Hùng, Thanh Điền as Hùng’s Uncle, Kinh Quốc as Brother Hai, Công Ninh as Foreman, Dương Cẩm Lynh as Hà, Hoàng Mập as Plump Novice, Hoài An as Thủy’s mother, Lý Nuôi as Skinny Novice, Bích Vân as Thủy, Châu Kha as Thúy, with the participation of respected monks in Hoằng Pháp Temple and other artists.

While Hùng was in the midst of wealth and success, his mother suddenly passed away. This made him realize that the world is ephemeral and full of suffering due to the cycle of life and death. After the funeral service, Hùng gave the tenant farmers all of his lands and fields. He also sold his family’s home, determined to become a monk to study Buddha’s teaching.

While at the temple, Hùng dedicated his time to meditation and neglected studying the teachings. He also believed that staying at the temple was not suitable for his ideal of entering monkhood. He finally left the temple and found a remote place to focus on the practice of meditation.

Thank you for watching today’s Enlightening Entertainment. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television. Up next is Words of Wisdom. We bid you farewell.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

O Brother! Why didn’t you stop when I called you?

Amitabha Buddha be praised. Because you kept calling “O Brother,” I didn’t know who you were calling. If you called me “Fat Brother,” I’d know right away. You’re looking for brother Nhất Tâm, aren’t you?

Yes. Do you know where he is?

I told you many times before. How do I know if you don’t?

Please show me where he is.

I must get to work now. My master is coming. Please ask him.

Yes, thank you.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Greetings, Your Venerable.

Buddha be praised.

May I ask you something?

What is your question, child?

Please have a seat, Master. Your Venerable, may I ask if you know why Nhất Tâm left the temple?

It’s a matter of affinity. If there’s no more affinity, he’d leave.

Could you tell me where brother Nhất Tâm is now?

He left on his own, so I don’t know his whereabouts.

It was probably because I came here and disturbed him so much that he left.

That is one of the many reasons.

I truly love him very much. He already left; I feel very sad.

You should sacrifice your selfish love to let him open his heart to all beings. Togetherness and separation are the nature of this world. Separation will come sooner or later. Ponder deeply on this to live in peace.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Your Venerable, I’ve just arrived.

Please come to the guest room.

Give more thought to what I’ve just said. When you feel sad, come to the temple, so I can help resolve your sorrowful entanglements.

Thank you very much, Master.

Buddha be praised.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Is this your first time here?

Yes, it’s our first time.

How do you know about this remote temple?

Your Venerable, on New Year, we’re committed to making offerings to 10 temples in remote areas. And the locals showed us here.

How many temples have you visited so far?

This temple is the 9th one.

One more temple will make it ten.

If you happen to know any temple, please show us so that we can make it ten.

Let me see. But there isn’t any other temple in this isolated area.

Please try to remember. Is there another temple around here?

Ah, I remember now. More than 1 kilometer from here, there is a young monk’s abode. We heard he was an architect before becoming a monk.

Is that right, Master?

That’s right. His name is Nhất Tâm. Before he stayed in an abode about 500 meters from here. Once in a while he went down to the populated area for alms. But the buffalo herder kids disturbed him so much that he left. Then he went deep into the forest to stay.

Is the road there difficult to travel, Master?

It’s quite difficult.

What do you think? Are we going there, Hà?

Let’s try.

The road going there is also dangerous and isolated.

The more difficult the task, the more merit one earns. Let’s try it.

Let’s go now; otherwise, it’s getting late.

Please come in to the temple for a vegetarian meal.

Master, we wish to go inside and make offerings to the temple. Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Please come inside.

Yes.

I see no temple at all!

It’s here though. His temple is just that thatched hut over there. I’m so happy! We made it, finally.

A true Truth seeker, indeed!

Keep it down.

Listen! (What?) He’s a real ascetic, isn’t he? Where can he find food at such a deserted place?

Someone must be making offerings to him or he wouldn’t survive.

I wonder why he sits eye-closed like that?

Who knows! He’s probably reciting the scripture.

If he’s reciting the scripture, when will he open his eyes? How about we take a stroll and sightsee for a while?

Let’s do that.

I wonder how much longer his scripture reciting will be? How about we just call him?

Can we do that?

It’s disrespectful, but what else can we do?

Just take the risk anyway.

Greetings, Master.

Greetings, Master.

Greetings, Master.

Greetings, Master.

I’m sorry. This is an isolated area. What is it that you come here for?

Yes, Master. We come to make offerings. Please forgive us for disturbing your spiritual practice.

How did you know that I’m here?

A nun showed us the way here.

I’m sorry. I have no tables or chairs here. I hope you can stand.

It’s all right, Master.

Master, how do you survive in such an isolated place?

I sometimes go down to people’s houses 2 kilometers from here for alms. Each time gives me enough food for a week.

Each time going for alms lasts you for a whole week?

I eat only once a day, so it doesn’t take much.

Please allow us to make offerings. Every week, we’ll bring rice and food here for you, so you won’t have to go beg for alms.

Thank you. Since I don’t want to bother anyone, I came to this remote place to practice spiritually. Please don’t be concerned about my situation.

Please allow us to sow some merit.

We’d like to make offerings to you.

I’m here for spiritual practice, not trading, so I don’t need money.

Please accept it so we can have some merit.

Please understand. I don’t spend money here. It’s only harmful for me to keep money here. Please understand.

The Master is right. It doesn’t help to keep money here. How about we buy things to make offerings? That’d be better.

When did you start going to temples?

We’ve just begun.

What is your purpose of going to the temple?

We go to the temple to pray for merits and benefits.

You should take refuge in the Three Jewels, and study the Buddha’s teaching to learn more about the purpose of going to the temple.

We’ll do that, Master. Please teach us more later on.

We’d like to take leave now. It’s a long way, we’re afraid it’s getting dark soon. We’ll be back here.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Goodbye, Master.

Goodbye.

We take leave now, Master.

You just got here? (Yes.) Come in, Thủy is inside. I’ll lock the door for you.

Thank you.

Come in, Hà.

I’m terribly thirsty.

Have some cake. Master Nhất Tâm is quite handsome, but he chose to be a monk. What a waste!

He’s not only handsome but also an architect.

I wonder why he chose to be a monk.

Who knows? He might have been lovelorn.

Stop talking nonsense. What are we to buy to make offerings to him tomorrow?

Buy anything he lacks or needs, such as rice, sugar, bean sauce, and dried fruits and vegetables for long time use. Then we’ll see what else he needs.

We should buy him a gas stove for convenient cooking.

That’s right. Let’s hurry off to go shop, so we can bring to him tomorrow.

Amitabha Buddha be praised. We’ve just arrived, Master.

Greetings, Master.

Amitabha Buddha be praised. Greetings to you both.

Today we bring rice, food, and some utensils here as offerings to you.

How troublesome it is for you!

No problem at all, Master.

Why, you bought so many things!

These are daily necessities.

Please take this gas stove back home. There’s a lot of firewood here that I use for cooking to save money.

It’s all right. We can manage. Feel free to use it, Master.

Next time, kindly don’t bring anything else. I’ve forsaken all material comfort to come here for spiritual practice to attain liberation. I don’t want to be entangled by anything anymore.

Yes.

Please rest, Master. Allow us to go in to prepare food.

Just rest, Master. We’ll help do the cooking.

You have to go home to take care of your family.

Don’t worry, Master. We’ve arranged everything already. We’re going now.

He’s very handsome, don’t you think?

No need to say. He’s both good-looking and intelligent.

Ouch!

What’s the matter?

My finger got cut.

Cutting your finger? What were you day-dreaming about?

Thinking of Buddha, of course!

Are you sure it was Buddha?

You’re terrible!

Are you done, Thủy? Let’s cook quickly; it’s getting late.

You go in first, Hà. Let me finish the cutting.

I’ll go cook the rice first, all right?

Thủy!

Yes, Mom.

Iron this set of clothes for me, dear.

Yes, give it to me, Mom.

You’ve gone out a lot lately.

I went to the temples, not going out for fun.

Before, when I asked you to take money to the temples as offerings, you refused to go. Why are you visiting temples so often now?

It’s thanks to the monk who teaches me Buddhism that I’ve become awakened.

What temple do you go to?

It’s very far away, deep in the forest.

Why such a distant temple instead of closer ones?

Because that temple is very poor.

Is the monk young or old?

He’s still young.

How many monks are there in that temple?

Just one monk.

He’s a young monk who practices alone, and you’re a young woman. Your frequenting there will bring on a bad reputation. I don’t want you to go there anymore. It’s far and unsafe.

I’ll be fine.

There are many closer temples, why don’t you go there?

Because that temple is poor, so I want to make offerings to help the monk.

That’s very good. But you’re a young woman. Traveling such a long distance is dangerous.

I go with Hà, not alone, Mom.

If you don’t listen to me, don’t blame me later on.

Too much crying or sorrow would not change anything. Who among us humans hasn’t shed tears? Stand up, wipe away your tears. Laugh to forget unhappy times.

I knit this scarf myself, sending all my heart to you. Wear it to be warmed by my faithful love. Our sweet memory will never fade.

Halo.

Halo, Hà? Are you free today?

I have to go visit my hometown. But, what is it, my good friend?

I was going to ask you to go visit the monk with me.

Next week then.

That’s fine. Okay, bye!

Greetings, Master.

Amitabha Buddha be praised.

Master, allow me to take a picture for souvenir. Thank you, Master.

Why do you come alone today?

Hà had to go back to her hometown.

The road is distant and isolated; it’s very unsafe to travel alone like that, especially since you’re a woman. What makes you come here in such a hurry?

It’s getting chilly lately. I’ve just finished knitting a sweater, a cap and a scarf, so I bring them here for you to wear.

Thank you, Miss. I’m used to the hot and cold weather.

I hope you will kindly accept them so I can be blessed.

Thank you, Miss.

The master is back there.

O Master!

O Master! Dũng, go help Master carry the water bucket.

Greetings, Master.

Amitabha Buddha be praised. Greetings, Miss.

Let me, Master.

Please.

Greetings, Master.

Last time, I told you don’t bring anything here anymore.

Please accept them, Master. Master, this is Dũng. He lives near my home. He wishes to be a monk, so I brought him here to be helped by you.

How old are you?

I’m 15 years old, Master.

What grade are you in at school?

I’m in the 10th grade.

Do you still have both parents?

Yes, I do.

Do they allow you to leave home to become a monk?

Yes, they do.

To be honest with you, I’ve been a monk for just over a year. I left my Master and the monk community too early, so now I don’t know much about Buddhist rituals. As for my seniority in spiritual practice, I’m not allowed to accept disciples. As for the ceremony to help lay Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels, I’m also in the dark, much less the protocol to receive a monk.

You’re just being humble. Please help Dũng, Master. He’s good-natured and longs to become a monk. If he can stay here to study with you, it’d be very good.

What you said makes me feel more ashamed. Knowing his wish, I also want to help him, but I myself don’t understand much, how can I possibly help? Only now do I realize my mistake in leaving my Master and the monk community too soon.

Please have compassion to help Dũng, Master.

I can only advise Dũng to go to my Master’s temple to become a monk. There, he will be taught and trained very thoroughly. To be honest with you, the set of wooden fish and bell you offered me, I don’t even know how to use them properly, so how can I teach anyone?

You’re so humble, Master.

It’s the truth. I’m not being humble at all. Listen to me, young brother. It’s best for you to be a monk at my Master’s temple.

Since Master already said so, we should go back to discuss it over.