Buddhist Van Dung realized the right dharma, abandoned superstition and chanted mantras

Awakening After Just One Dharma Talk That Night - STOP ALL CHANTING MANTRAS, Happy Family.

Mr Duong Van Dung, from Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, who shares his journey to the Right Dharma of Venerable Master Thich Thong Lac, highlighting the transformative impact it had on his life and family.

Introduction and Encountering the Right Dharma

Duong Van Dung first learned about the Right Dharma of Venerable Master Thich Thong Lac in 2017. Previously, he followed the Mahayana tradition, engaging in extensive chanting of sutras and mantras. One night, while listening to the Venerable Master's teaching "An unperturbed mind helps people escape suffering," he experienced a profound awakening. This led him to abandon all previous chanting practices and embrace the Venerable Master's teachings.

Impressions of the Right Dharma and Life Changes

What impressed Dung most about the Right Dharma was its practical approach to alleviating suffering, offering immediate and effective results. Before discovering the Right Dharma, his and his family's lives were fraught with instability and illness. He lived a conventional life, visiting pagodas to pray, consuming meat, and drinking alcohol. After embracing the Right Dharma, everything changed dramatically: his entire family adopted a vegetarian diet, minor illnesses were overcome, and his family became more peaceful and happy.

First Visit to Chan Nhu Monastery and Abbot Thich Mat Hanh's Teachings

Although Dung learned about the Right Dharma in 2017, it wasn't until 2020 that he first visited Chan Nhu Monastery and met Abbot Thich Mat Hanh. He was deeply moved by the Abbot's Dharma teachings, which awakened him further. The Abbot advised, "from now on, when you leave the monastery, practice strict vegetarianism," a teaching that Dung's entire family has followed since 2020.

Venerable Master Thich Thong Lac's Most Cherished Teaching

The Venerable Master's teaching that resonated most with Dung was: "An unperturbed mind is serene, peaceful, and unburdened." This teaching has profoundly helped him and his family members overcome illnesses and much suffering, leading to a joyful life.

Experience Overcoming Illness with an "Unperturbed Mind"

Mr Dung shared how he overcame minor ailments like runny nose, headaches, back pain, and limb pain. Whenever he fell ill, he would mentally affirm an unperturbed mind and mentally command the illness to leave by naming it (e.g., "this headache, leave, and may my mind be unperturbed, serene, peaceful, and unburdened"). By maintaining an unperturbed mind, the illness gradually subsided within 10-15 minutes. An "unperturbed mind" is a state where the mind does not wander outwardly, silently and calmly observing a specific point or position, maintaining this state even in pain.

Moment of Realizing the Miraculousness of Buddhist Dharma

Mr Dung recounted a night when he had a very high fever. He walked almost all night. After about 1-2 hours, he broke into a sweat, woke up, and his fever was gone. Through this experience, he realized the profound and practical miraculousness of Buddhist Dharma, exactly as the Venerable Master had said: "My Dharma has no time to come and see; if you practice it, you will achieve liberation immediately."

Upholding the Five Precepts and the Most Difficult Precept

Currently, Dung's entire family upholds the five precepts for human beings. The most challenging precept for him to observe is not lying. Sometimes, due to old karmic habits, if he accidentally lies, he feels uneasy and self-reproaches, reminding himself not to repeat it.

Spreading the Right Dharma to Others

Beyond his immediate family, Dung has spread the Right Dharma to his in-laws and other relatives. Notably, his mother, after listening to the teachings and practicing daily walking meditation, has been able to overcome a 20-year history of sinusitis, no longer needing medication.

Act of Helping Animals and Feeling Serene

Dung shared an experience of saving ants that had fallen into a cup of water by creating a path for them to climb out. When helping a struggling living being, he immediately felt a state of serenity emerge in his mind, bringing him great joy.

Advice for Those Who Know the Right Dharma but are Negligent

He advises everyone to thoroughly study and listen to the shared experiences of those who have applied the Right Dharma and found liberation for themselves and their families. He believes that a lack of thorough understanding prevents people from applying and practicing it, thus hindering them from escaping suffering. To escape suffering, one needs to research thoroughly, understand deeply, practice it oneself, and personally experience liberation. This will build faith and commitment to the Right Dharma.

Aspiration to Spread the Right Dharma in the Future

Dung's greatest aspiration is, if he has the financial means, to produce a film about the "Ethics Curriculum" to reach more children and friends, thereby spreading the Right Dharma more widely.