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.
This week, we’d like
to introduce another
Aulacese folk tale
entitled “Not Yet
a Doctor of Letters.”
The story was adapted
to a film of
the same title about
a poor student who was
destined to become
a mandarin later.
Since he learned of
his future of wealth
and glory,
what changes took place
in the behavior of this
diligent and kind-hearted
student?
There is a saying
“Heaven’s will
cannot be disclosed.”
Thus, what happens
when God’s plan is
revealed to Earthlings?
We now invite you
to enjoy the film
“Not Yet
a Doctor of Letters,”
written by screenwriter
Nguyễn Đông Thức,
directed by
Nguyễn Minh Chung,
and produced by
Phương Nam Films,
with performances
by Huy Anh as Hải,
Trường Huy as Còi,
Đức Huỳnh as Giàu,
Lê Bình as Shrine Keeper,
Tiến Hòa as
Village Deity,
and other artists.
You’ve just enjoyed
the film
“Not Yet
a Doctor of Letters,”
written by screenwriter
Nguyễn Đông Thức,
directed by
Nguyễn Minh Chung,
and produced by
Phương Nam Films,
with performances
by Huy Anh as Hải,
Trường Huy as Còi,
Đức Huỳnh as Giàu,
Lê Bình as Shrine Keeper,
Tiến Hòa as
Village Deity,
and other artists.
The film “Not Yet
a Doctor of Letters”
illustrates the importance
of cause and effect.
Although our fate
is determined by Heaven,
if we do not uphold
virtue and humility,
and instead
behave unrighteously,
our future will change
according to
our present deeds.
While everything
is arranged by Heaven,
we are also granted
free will.
If we don’t use it
to make wise choices,
the most disadvantageous
consequence
will befall us.
In a public lecture
in London,
the United Kingdom,
on June 9, 1999,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
answered a question
about free will.
She also expounded
on how enlightenment
can affect free will.
God lets you do what you
want, but then you create
the bad consequence.
As the Bible says,
"As you sow,
so shall you reap."
So if our free will,
we use it
in indiscriminate way,
we do
all kind of bad things,
and when the bad
consequence comes to us,
at that time,
no more free will,
because we have to bow
under the burdens
of the consequence
of "As you sow,
so shall you reap."
So, there is a free will,
but we have to know
how to use it wisely.
When we are
enlightened,
we know how
to use free will better
because we can see
what is right, what is wrong.
Or, God teaches us
silently,
and we intuitively know
what is right,
what is wrong to do.
Before that, most of us
bow to destiny.
Thank you for your
presence on
Enlightening Entertainment,
Words of Wisdom
is coming up next.
Please tune in on
Supreme Master
Television
next Thursday for
the Aulacese modern
folk opera
“The Legend of Quan Yin’s
Bridge Building”
by playwright
Thanh Kim Huệ.
Farewell for now.
O Shrine Keeper!
Wake up! Wake up!
Respected Village Deity!
Please pardon my sin!
What sin have you
committed
that needs a pardon?
Oh, yeah!
I’ve committed no sin.
Then listen to me.
Yes, I’m listening.
Tomorrow,
a high-ranking mandarin
will pay a visit.
Yes.
You must clean up the
place to welcome him.
Yes.
Did you hear me clearly?
Yes, very clearly.
Then do you duty
properly or else
you’d offend
the great mandarin.
Yes, I will.
All right, I’m leaving.
What? I ascend.
Yes.
Thiên is Heaven,
địa is Earth.
Cử is to raise,
tồn is to keep.
Tử is children,
tôn is grandchildren.
Lục is six, tam is three.
Gia is family,
quốc is country.
Tiền is before,
hậu is after.
Ngưu is buffalo,
mã is horse.
Cự is spur, nha is tooth.
Vô is emptiness,
hữu is existence.
Khuyển is dog,
dương is goat.
Qui is to return,
tẩu is to run.
Bái is to bow,
quỵ is to kneel.
Khứ is to go,
lai is to come back.
Nữ is girl, nam is boy.
Đái is belt, quan is cap.
Túc is to have enough,
đa is to have a lot.
Ái is to love,
tăng is to hate.
Thức is to know,
tri is to perceive.
Mộc is tree, căn is root.
Dị is easy, nan is difficult.
Chỉ is delicious,
cam is sweet.
Trụ is pillar,
lương is beam.
Sàng is bed, tịch is mat.
Khiếm is lack,
dư is excess.
Sừ is to rake,
cúc is to plow.
Chúc is torch,
đăng is lantern.
Thăng is to ascend,
giáng is to descend.
Điền is paddy,
trạch is house.
Lão is elder, đồng is baby.
Tước is sparrow,
kê is fowl.
Ngã is self, tha is others.
Bá is uncle, di is aunt.
Diên is lead, tích is steel.
Dịch is work,
công is public.
Hàn is feather,
dực is wing.
Thánh is saint,
hiền is sage.
Tiên is fairy,
Phật is Buddha.
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What is it? So strange!
Try harder, Giàu!
Be quick!
Why are you chasing me
for nothing?
I’m not joking.
I’m not joking.
What are you doing?
I said I’m not joking.
Stay away, boy.
So you boys are using me
as the finishing line, right?
I’m telling you
in advance,
I’m not joking.
This place is not
a playground.
If you want to play,
go somewhere else.
Get out now!
1, 2, 3. Run in!
Where are you going?
Put the bunch of bananas
down. Return it to me.
Return the bananas here!
The banana is so good!
I didn’t know
Còi is that strong.
It’s probably because
brother Còi has been
carrying Giàu a lot,
so he’s strong like that.
I lost,
but I don’t feel bad at all.
Because I sit on
Còi’s back all the time,
so my legs are
getting lazy now.
Anyway, I still like to
sit on Còi’s back.
Còi! Carry me home!
I’m so exhausted today.
I won’t be able to
carry you.
You must,
even if you’re exhausted.
You must carry me until
your mother pays up
all her debt to my father.
Wait! I have this idea.
Còi has carried you
almost a month already,
but his mother hasn’t
paid your father a penny.
Are you going to make
him carry you all his life?
Of course!
You sit on his back
not even month yet
and you already
walk like a duck.
If you keep on this way,
next month your legs
will shrink like those
of a stunted duck.
Stunted duck!
Stunted duck!
You dare
making fun of me?
How can Còi and I dare
make fun of a mandarin’s
pampered son?
I’m just telling you,
so you can avoid it.
You want me to
set Còi free?
Correct!
But with one condition.
What condition?
You boys,
gather the water for me!
Here’s my water!
My water! There!
You must drink up
all this water.
O God!
That’s a lot to drink.
If I drink it all, then what?
I’ll set Còi free.
I won’t make him
carry me anymore.
What if I can’t?
You’ll have to kneel
on the jackfruit skin
for one day.
Hải, let me alone.
Don’t drink.
You can’t handle it.
Give it up! Give up now!
All right, I’ll drink.
Try harder! Try harder!
You lost!
I already told you.
Are you okay?
You lost!
Go to the Village Deity
shrine tomorrow
to accept your penalty,
understand?
O Shrine Keeper!
Why aren’t there
any fruits offered today?
You’ve snatched them
all,
now you’re asking me?
Go to another place!
What were you saying?
I’ve already told you!
Why do you still
stand there and
harp on the same thing?
What’s the matter?
Greetings, Deity.
What’s going on?
Please pardon me, Deity.
What makes you
so angry?
Respected Deity,
it’s nothing at all.
It’s just the kids coming
here to disturb the peace.
You scared me to death.
So?
How did you enjoy
seeing the mandarin
yesterday? Tell me.
Respected Deity,
there was no fun at all.
I waited the whole day
yesterday and saw
no mandarin whatsoever.
Why not?
There was no one, really.
Just a bunch of kids who
came and wreaked havoc.
There it is!
You mean...
Who else is there?
One of the kids is
the future first laureate.
First laureate?
Yes.
Can you tell me
that boy’s name?
Heaven’s will is not
to be disclosed.
Heaven’s secret,
I can’t let you know.
O Village Deity,
if I don’t know his name,
how can I receive
the first laureate properly?
Maybe, you just draw
a little something.
Will you?
Just a little bit only.
And I can figure out
from there. Is that okay?
It’s a secret,
how can I reveal it?
A secret?
You probably don’t know
the name of
that future first laureate,
right?
What did you say?
I myself don’t know?
I’m a deity and
I don’t know?
But I must keep
the secret.
Keeping a secret?
Now I feel even surer
that you don’t know
the name of
that future first laureate.
I do.
You don’t.
How frustrating!
Why don’t you
believe me?
If you want me to
believe you,
you must prove it.
Prove it?
Yes.
How do I prove it?
By telling me the name
of that boy. See?
What’s so difficult
about it?
Yes.
That’s not difficult at all.
Not at all!
All right, let me tell you,
so you’ll believe me.
Yes.
That first laureate is...
Who is it?
You want to trick me,
don’t you?
Don’t dream about it!
You sure don’t know
the name of that boy.
O how maddening!
What should I do
to make you believe me,
yet still keep
Heaven’s secret?
To keep Heaven’s secret...
Ah, I have a way.
What way?
Now, let’s just say
you don’t reveal
the boy’s name to me.
Don’t reveal his name.
And disclose nothing
to me at all.
Disclose nothing.
It’s like you and I
say nothing about it.
Say nothing about it.
The secret is
absolutely intact.
But how?
Here’s how.
Tomorrow,
when that mandarin
steps into the shrine,
you stand up.
When I see you
standing up,
I know right away, true?
My secret is guaranteed?
We don’t say anything,
how can the secret
be disclosed?
Are you sure?
Absolutely!
Good, good, good!
Clever, clever!
I think your way is fine.
Yes.
Tomorrow,
I’ll do as you said.
Yes.
All right, I’m leaving.
Farewell.
Remember that tomorrow
the future first laureate
will come, okay?
I ascend now.
So it’s you.
Why do you visit
the shrine so early today?
Please come in
for a cooling rest.
How come you are
so kind today?
Never mind.
Are you by yourself
this time?
They’ll come later.
No problem at all.
As long as
it makes you happy.
Please come in for a rest.
Please!
Please burn a few incense
sticks for the Deity.
What is that? Goodness!
When did you get here?
Late last night.
How could you get
through the closed door?
The dog hole.
Where do you live?
Why did you come here
to sleep?
His house
was dispossessed
by my dad last night.
How come?
His mother borrowed
200 quan (monetary unit)
from my dad.
200 quan?
They couldn’t pay,
so my dad must take
possession of their house.
Where’s Hải?
I don’t know.
He wants to
hide from me?
He never would.
He’s probably busy.
Don’t you worry.
If he doesn’t come,
I’ll kneel in his place.
You’ll kneel? Fine.
If you want to kneel,
I’ll let you. Kneel!
I’ll kneel.
What’s the big deal?
But I won’t kneel.
Yes, you must.
Wait. What’s the matter?
It’s none of your business.
Kneel!
Wait. Wait a bit.
O Deity! Please help me!
Who is he
among these two?
Otherwise
I’d be committing
a grave offense.
O Deity, please help me.
Don’t hold on
to your secret anymore.
Please!
Kneel down!
O Village Deity!
It’s so painful, help me!
Ouch! It hurts so much!
O Daddy, O Mommy!
You’re indeed
the future first laureate.
What are you guys doing
this morning instead of
going to school?
I’m practicing
to be a mandarin.
How can you become
a mandarin,
ditching school like that?
I’m destined to graduate
as first laureate and be
a high-ranking mandarin.
What’s the big deal to
stay out of school
for a few days?
My fate is like that;
I’ll be a mandarin,
studying or not.
Còi can be a mandarin
without studying.
But you guys aren’t fated
to be mandarins,
how come you don’t
go to school?
Why go to school
if you’re not fated
to be a mandarin?
It’s better that
they follow to serve me.
Later I’ll help them
to enjoy a better life
than others.
Isn’t that right, guys?
That’s right!
Don’t listen to him.
He’s crazy.
Hải! Have you seen
Giàu anywhere?
No.
If you see him, tell him to
come see me right away.
He must not dodge me
anymore.
Go find him yourself.
It’s not my business.
Let’s go, guys!
Why didn’t you go to
school this morning?
I’m afraid to
confront Còi.
You fear his revenge?
You deserve it, anyhow.
It’s because you relied on
your wealth to bully him.
Hải, will you help me?
You used to help him
before.
He probably feels
indebted to you.
Could you ask him
to forgive me now?
He probably will
listen to you.
He wouldn’t listen to
anyone now.
But don’t worry.
Just go to school
tomorrow for me.
He has the Village Deity
on his side.
I’m very afraid of him.
Why?
A deity would never
defend the wicked.
Yesterday, the Deity
beat you because
you were mean to him.
I admit that I have
wronged him and you.
Will you forgive me,
Hải?
Forget about that.
Just don’t drop
out of school.
I’m here, so
don’t be afraid of him.
All right, go home.
O brother Còi!
When you become
a mandarin,
what will you do first?
Let me see.
I’ll pay off my debt
to Giàu’s father
and redeem my house.
Then I’ll buy
a huge basket of potatoes
to treat you all
to your hearts’ content.
Oh, it’s Giàu!
Catch him for me!
Quickly! Hurry up, boys!
Capture him!
Guys, capture him!
Hải,
brother Còi calls you.
What is it he wants
to see me for?
Brother Còi is making
Giàu drink water
to revenge for you.
He calls you to
come see it. Hurry up!
Drink up this water jar
before I can
let you stand.
About your making me
carry you to school
almost a month,
I’ll see to it tomorrow.
Drink it up! Drink!
Còi, let Giàu go!
I don’t need you
to revenge for me.
Why are you so dense?
He made you drink
until you threw up
Aren’t you upset?
I volunteered to drink
to help you.
But he made me kneel
on the jackfruit skin.
It was because
you wanted to kneel
in my place.
But the Deity already
saved you, why do you
still take revenge?
But he made me
carry him to school
almost a month.
His father dispossessed
my mother’s house.
My mother had to
sleep on the street.
Didn’t you see that?
You’re siding with him?
Are you betraying me?
I’m not taking sides
with him.
I’m not betraying you
either.
But I don’t want you
to become like Giàu.
You’re Còi.
Now I’m not
the poor and hungry Còi
who was bullied
by the rich.
Heaven takes pity on me.
I fear no one.
Anyone who is
against me, I’ll punish.
I’m against you.
Beat me then. You dare?
All right, considering that
you saved me before,
I’ll let him go today.
But you should
remember that
it’s not because
I’m afraid of you.
It’s really calamitous now!
He was never like that
before.
He worked hard and
studied diligently.
It’s probably because
Giàu bullied him
too much, so he feels
bitter and acts as such.
But it’s not good that
he becomes like that
before he’s a mandarin.
Too naughty!
Too misbehaved!
It’s your fault that
Còi is naughty.
What? Why me?
Why did you tell him
about his future
as a mandarin?
That’s right.
Why did I tell him that
he will be a mandarin?
How sinful! Too sinful!
But yours is a minor sin,
that of the Village Deity
is grave.
O Heaven and Earth!
How dare you speak
like that
in front of the Deity?
Am I not correct?
The Village Deity
revealed Heaven’s secret.
If he didn’t, how would
you know, right?
That’s right.
If he didn’t,
how would I know?
Why didn’t you go to
school this morning?
Còi made us
bring him money.
Money for what?
He made each of us
hand him 10 quan.
I myself had to give him
30 quan.
My God!
He borrowed
that much money,
how can he pay back?
He said when
he’s a mandarin,
he’ll pay double.
And those who don’t
lend him money
he’ll make them do
labor work until they die.
What a woe!
O Hải!
I mistreated you,
but you still help me.
Còi is fated to be
a mandarin, but
you don’t side with him.
I respect you a lot,
but I’m afraid of Còi.
Hải! Today I have
a lot of money.
I’ll split half of it with you.
What kind of game
is this?
Just take this much
for now.
When I’m a mandarin,
I’ll repay your favor
properly.
You guys just take
the money home.
From now on,
don’t give Còi money
anymore.
I’ll be responsible.
Hải, don’t meddle
in my affairs!
You think you’re fated
to be a mandarin,
then you can do anything
you want?
You’re not there yet
but you already
dropped out of school
and even influenced them
to do bad things.
Now you even
extort money?
I don’t extort money,
I just borrow
their money.
When I’m a mandarin,
I’ll pay them double.
I don’t borrow
your money,
so don’t interfere.
Watch out!
You’re threatening me?
I’ve done nothing wrong,
so I’m afraid of no one.
Even if you’re a king
I’m not afraid of you
either.
And you guys,
go back to school.
We’re not fated to be
mandarins, why study?
A mandarin will respect
a civilian who is
more talented than him.
People will revere
a mandarin
who is wiser than them.
Hải!
If you’re a hero, come to
the Village Deity shrine
to fight with me.
You dare?
You want
the Village Deity to
help you beat me?
Even the king
you’re not afraid of,
let alone deities.
Is that right?
What’s the condition?
If I win, you must follow
to serve me,
be my bodyguard
and adviser.
If you win, later when
I become a mandarin,
I won’t make you
do labor work
and will reduce tax
for your family
for a hundred years.
I don’t need
that special treatment.
I just need you to
go back to school
and drop your play of
mimicking a mandarin.
All right?
All right, I accept.
You’d better
keep your word.
What are you planning
to do today?
Greetings, Shrine Keeper!
Today, please let me
borrow the shrine
for a little while.
This shrine is yours.
You’re free to use.
But what do you
need it for?
You’ll know pretty soon.
For now,
please stand there,
don’t ask questions,
don’t intervene.
You hear?
Yes, I hear you.
Respected Village Deity,
if you help Còi
to beat me,
I won’t come here to
clean your altar anymore.
Village Deity,
please help me beat Hải.
When I become
a mandarin, I’ll
make people pay taxes
to build you a big shrine,
bigger than this one even.
Fight! Fight now!
My God!
What’s going on?
Are you in for a fight?
O God!
Don’t fight anymore!
Why do you come to
the shrine to fight
all of a sudden?
O you two!
Let go of each other.
Let off!
O God, what’s the matter?
Why do you get in a fight
all of a sudden? Let off!
O God! Woe to me!
Enough, let go
of each other, please!
Don’t fight anymore.
Listen to me!
My nose is bleeding here,
O Deity!
O Village Deity!
Please intervene,
O Deity!
Why did they come to
the shrine to fight
all of a sudden?
Do you give up now?
I do! I do!
He’s defeated!
Why didn’t you help me,
Village Deity?
Fine, remember this.
When I’m a mandarin,
I’ll demolish your shrine.
Help me! Help me!
What does that mean,
Shrine Keeper?
It means Heaven has
crossed him off the list
as a mandarin.
Therefore,
the Village Deity
needs not stand to
wait on him anymore.
That’s the way it goes.
He hasn’t become
a doctor of letters,
yet was quick to
threaten his fellows.
Most of the Aulacese
folk tales
offer moral lessons.
Stories often engage
people’s attention more
than any ordinary advice;
therefore, ethical values,
through these legends,
would easily be absorbed
by the children’s
pure minds and
help shape a person’s
characters since childhood.
But folk tales
are not only
fascinating to youth,
there are countless stories
that are loved by all ages
and social backgrounds.
They have been adapted
into many works of arts
such as films,
modern folk operas,
chèo traditional operas,
and classical theater operas.
In the past,
Supreme Master
Television has had
the honor to broadcast
a number of these
popular ancient tales,
including “Offering Gold
for Star Fruits,”
“Thạch Sanh Lý Thông,”
“What Belongs to Heaven
is Returned to Earth,”
“Tấm Cám,”
“Lưu Bình and Dương Lễ,”
“Thoại Khanh
and Châu Tuấn,”
“The Legend
of Betel and Areca,”
“A Good Wife
Makes a Good Husband,”
“Vạn Lịch Coins,”
“The Poor Student
and Jade Emperor,”
“Phạm Công and Cúc Hoa,”
“Lâm Sanh
and Xuân Nương,”
“Trương Chi Mỵ Nương ,”
“Quan Yin Thị Kính
Bodhisattva,”
“A Thumbelina
in the Bamboo Tube,”
“Quan Yin Diệu Thiện,”
“Mountain Deity
and Water Deity ,”
“Tiên Dung and
Chữ Đồng Tử,”
“A King Named Pig,”
and “A Woman’s Wits.”
Is there such a thing
as genuine free will?
Or are all our lives
pre-determined?
There are
genuine free will and
pre-determined. Yes, yes!
Genuine free will is
when you are really free.
After enlightenment,
you can use
your free will better.
Before enlightenment,
we can only bow
to fate and destiny.
Sometimes our strong
will wakes up in some
emergency situation, and
we turn things around.
But rarely people have
such a strong will.
Therefore, free will is
that God lets you do
what you want.
Oh, poor villagers!
What shall I do to help them?
Lạc Dương River is vast
and the water flows
swiftly.
How can a small,
frail boat survive
when tempests rise?
What should I do
to help the villagers
escape mishaps and
cross the river safely?
Seeing
unfortunate plights,
I couldn’t be at ease.
How can I stand by idly
at such
a frustrating situation?
Doesn’t Heaven have
any pity for the poor,
decent people?
O God and Buddha,
please save us.
Bless us through miracles.
Help me find a way
to save people
from dangers.
Brother Tấn Hỉ,
please help me
think of a way to
put an end to the perils
so that villagers may
cross the river safely.
You’re really good,
I must admit.
I stood behind you,
but still you knew.
I’m also thinking
but couldn’t figure out
anything.
I think about it
from night to morning,
from inside my house
to out the door,
from the third to the
fifth watch at night,
but nothing comes out
of my head.
I think back and forth,
be it wise or foolish,
good or bad,
yet I end up giving up.