Apr 20, 2021
Posted by Admin in BUDDHISM IN OTHER LANGUAGES, SONG NGỮ ANH VIỆT | 1 Comment
DEAR GURU, I HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE! ( Thầy ơi, con đã mua nhà rồi!)
Spring has finally come. As I drove home across the town this afternoon, cherry and pear flowers bloomed in front of my eyes with beautiful colors. I felt happy living in this new city.
One year ago, when I was still living in Southern California, if someone told me that I should buy a house in 2021, I would disagree. Even when I heard this from the Guru, I was more worried than happy. To me, a new graduate, buying a home in that expensive area was unimaginable.
Following the Guru’s guidance, I have moved to a new state. Only then could I afford to rent a room for my own for the first time. I have always slept in my parents’ living room because we couldn’t afford a better rental unit. Now, every morning, I wake up in peaceful silence instead of the irritating noises of the past. To me, that’s alone is enough — “live in modesty to retain the Dharma path” is enough. I didn’t want to ask for a better place.
However, as my family started to settle down in this new city, buying a home became more and more reasonable. Our family income has doubled while houses are much (much) more affordable here. Thinking as such, we start touring homes at the beginning of March.
By the end of March, we found our home and got our offer accepted with a closing day — May 14th. If everything goes smoothly, we should move to our new home in about a month. It will be the most spacious home we have ever lived in. I love looking out from the back porch over the lawn and the trees in the distance. The favorite space of my mom, Cao Dieu Bich Lien, is the spacious kitchen and the breakfast table looking over a small garden in the front. The house’s location is also convenient, only 0.5 miles away from my parents’ workplace and 15 minutes away from our favorite hiking trails of the Shenandoah national park.
In this current real estate market, interest rates are at historic lows, and people are bidding to buy houses, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars over the asking price. Fortunately, the seller accepts the offer very quickly. We didn’t have to enter a bidding war. Moreover, he left us beautiful furniture because he lives in a different state. If I have to furnish the house, I will go basic and economical; the interior wouldn’t be as lovely.
Through the experience, I realize that effort alone doesn’t equate to success. Often time, good karma helps me a lot. Without the Guru’s teaching or the Blessing of the Yidam, I’m sure the results for me will not be as good.
For example, when I was looking for a house to rent, I only looked for two-bedroom units to save money, which means I’ll have to share a room with my younger brother. As I have seen in the house plan and the virtual tour, the apartment was indeed a two-bedroom unit. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised on the check-in day — there is an extra room that I can make into a “non-conforming bedroom” and have a room for myself. That was the first time I have my own room ever!
Another example is my mother’s (Cao Dieu Bich Lien) current job. Once, she decided to quit a well-suiting position because of the relatively challenging commute for her driving skill. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to find her a better one. A few days later, her employee asked my mom to return to work because 4 of her coworkers suddenly stop showing up to work. They also agree to train my dad, who didn’t have a stable job at the time, to replace the ones who left. In the end, Cao Dieu Bich Lien is no longer has to drive as my dad is now her driver, and my parents’ income is virtually double.The last example is our move to Virginia. When we couldn’t decide if we should leave our relatives in California and started a new life somewhere else on our own, the Guru has told us that we should. If we didn’t listen, there would be no way we could move anywhere last year, especially during this Covid time. If we didn’t move, our income would likely stay relatively the same, and we won’t be able to have a home by now.
Therefore, to me, the greatest happiness from this buying-home experience isn’t the fact that we bought a home. It’s more pleasing to me to realize that Dharma is true, and it can benefit anyone. My belief in the Three Jewels and my pride as a Buddhist practitioner have grown. Thanks to the Guru’s guidance and the Yidam blessing, I’m becoming a better person and having a better life every day.
At the age of 25, there are still problems ahead that I have to solve. And even though everyone makes mistakes and bad decisions, there is one I would never make. Master Gampopa has taught: “If, after having been born a human being, one gives no heed to the Holy Doctrine, one resembles a man who returns empty-handed from a land rich in precious gems; and this is a grievous failure.” I won’t return from this life empty-handed.
Dear Holy Guru,
Thank you for your guidance on every step of my journey. I often feel that I always home because I have found true refuge in the Guru and the Three Jewels no matter where I go. I pray for the Guru’s good health and longevity for the benefit of all sentient beings. May all sentient beings attain the happiness of Buddha’s nature. May the Covid-19 pandemic will soon be over.
Om Mani Padme Hum.
Disciple Cao Dieu Nhat Nguyen
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Vietnamese version: Thư Mỹ quốc: THẦY ƠI, CON ĐÃ MUA NHÀ RỒI!
Dear Guru thanks for sharing this article.
I rejoice in happiness of Cao Dieu Nhat Nugyen for bringing in new in a foreign land. It’s truly the result of Guru devotion and Avlokiteshwara blessings. Otherwise it’s very difficult to imagine buying a home in USA. Hope they may utilise one separate room for practicing meditation every day in their life. Entire family members of Cao Dieu Nhat Nguyen follows Guru and prays to Avlokiteshwara that’s truly amazing and they are lucky to find Guru. They are blessed even in this COVID pandemic, it shows the compassion of Avlokiteshwara on them. Hope all Dharma brother’s stay safe and protected from this COVID pandemic.
May Guru live long to uphold Dharma.
May all beings be free from suffering and get enlightened.
May this COVID 19 pandemic end soon.
Om Mani Padme Hum!