Each person takes one. Who dare close the door and leave me outside again? (Oh, Master! Oh, Master!) Who dare lock the door and leave me outside like this? (Push the button.) (It is the same thing when I pushed the button.) My goodness! I’m locked out, you see that? They locked me out. They locked me out, see this? Who is that behind there? Who is it? Phượng Vũ, right? (Yes.) Come here. Why are you all the way out there, I couldn’t see you. (Dear Master, Ngọc Nôi is also here.) Ngọc Nôi, too? My God, come in, come in. I am about to leave. If you don’t come in here, I will leave. I am so shy! That group, come in here. Come here. Clear the way, so they can come in. Make way, make way. Why are you so shy and hiding in the back or something? (I’m shy!) I am even more shy than you guys!
Are your relatives here or only you two? (Yes, Ngọc Nôi and my wife.) Tell her to come in. Oh man, his wife is so beautiful, no wonder he left me! No wonder Ngọc Nôi left me! Now, we know, right? OK. Come over here. Come here to make up with each other, so you won’t say I’m jealous anymore. Come, come here. Here. Have some mangoes! So delicious! Come here, come here. Sorry, we don’t have chairs. Come here, come here. Phượng Vũ, you are not shy, right? Your wife is here. You have such a gentle and beautiful wife, what else would you ask for. Did you hear what I said earlier? At home, you must be kind to your wife, OK? Must be “filial” to your wife. When do you marry her? (Not yet.) Married yet? (No, not yet.) You should marry her right away! You don’t seduce her and then leave her. If he doesn’t marry you, tell me, OK? (Yes.) Geez, you’re already getting old – why aren’t you getting married? Later, if she goes with another man, then you will cry. I can’t guarantee. Women here are very valuable. Plenty of men have to go back to Âu Lạc (Vietnam) to get married. (Yes, I know.) Don’t pamper him too much, he will be spoiled.
Is there anyone else? (I am sorry, Master, we were a little bit slow.) You just came? (Yes, we just got here.) Really? (And I apologize to all the brothers and sisters here.) It’s nothing; why do you keep apologizing? (We came here late and bothered Master.) No. You didn’t bother me. Everyone here is happy. (Thank You, Master.) Because Phượng Vũ came, that’s why I stayed behind. I sat here another two or three minutes. (Yes.) It’s OK. (I am sorry, Master. Because I came late so You had to come out again.) No problem. (Yes.) No problem. (By the way, we brought You a gift.) What gift? Let me see. (Please let me go out to the car and get it. Please wait a second, Master.) Really? Make me sit here again? (Yes.) Just say sorry once, and make me sit here longer.
So, are you doing well? (Yes. Thank You, Master.) How about Ngọc Nôi? (I am doing fine, Master.) What are you doing nowadays? What? (We are working as usual, Master.) What do you do? (We are making enough.) Play the flute? Do you play flute? (Yes, I also play the flute.) You play flute, but also do extra work? (Yes.) How about your wife? (She is a manicurist, dear Master.) Doing well? Doing well? (Yes, just so-so.) But it’s tiring, hah? (Yes. Tiring.) Nowadays, many people are doing nails? (Yes.) My goodness, so tired. How about we...
(Dear Master,) What? (Phi Loan is also a famous poetry reciter in Southern California.) Really? (And today, she would like to recite Your poem to offer to You.) OK. She wants to do it or you force her? (No, no, it is from her heart...) Is it true? Not that I gave you a mango and force you to sing. OK. OK. Welcome. (Yes.) But did you bring your flute? (Yes, I did.) Oh, my goodness, you prepare so well. My God, these people will love it. They love to listen to music. But we don’t have chairs, so how can they sit? Do we have chairs? If we have some chairs, then bring out three or four of them. OK, you all sit down. You dressed so beautifully! Yeah, here also. You want this? (Here is OK.) Have a seat, have a seat. Phượng Vũ and Ngọc Nôi, tell the beauties to sit here.
(Dear Master, dear brothers and sisters, I feel very honored to be with Master and the initiates again. I am deeply honored, because I wholeheartedly cherish Master, and I am very happy to be standing here with all initiates. Today, I will bring back the flute sounds you’ve heard on recordings, and I’m truly honored to be close to Master and to record poetry recitations for Master.) Oh, where did the beautiful lady go? (She went out to get the poems.) Ah, is that so? (Yes.) (One person forgot the book of poems, and the other forgot the gifts.) Forgot the book of poems? (One person forgot the book, and the other forgot the gifts.) It is OK. No problem. Even my poems, I can’t remember them, how can I expect others to remember? (We have just practiced, Master.)
OK. Sit down, Phượng Vũ. (Master, I will sit down here.) You guys wear beautiful clothes; I am worried that if you sit [down there]... (No problem.) No problem. (The youngest brother came in late, so should be sitting down there, not here in the front.) OK. No problem, no problem. (No, I don’t dare to sit on the chair.) OK. These people are also very artistic, no problem. (Yes, Master. I’ll just sit how everyone else is sitting.) It’s OK. No problem. No problem. OK. (Master, please sit on that chair with the back-rest.) What? Sitting there is the same. Sitting there, I feel I am so big! Sitting here, I feel more normal. (Yes.) I sit a little higher so that you can see me; otherwise, I hate to sit up high. “Sit higher, fall harder!” OK. If you want to sit, then do so.
(Dear Master, dear brothers and sisters, I’m truly honored to be standing before Master and all of you. This is my first time meeting Master in person, and it is truly an honor, because a woman from Âu Lạc [Vietnam] has created what can truly be called a phenomenon in world history.) Oh, my goodness! (And I am very honored to present to everyone the poem “A Great Master” which was composed by Master Herself.)
Once I turned my back Much affection still lingered! Wonder why I always remember Your name! Like tonight in this remote foreign land You’re the North Star that shines on my pilgrim heart.
You’re as noble as the pure Moon I know not where to find golden stars To illuminate the Earthly realm To decorate the Universe and invite You to the throne!
Only if I can be a grain of dust Adorning Your each and every lotus footprint! This impure body contains but ignorance, What can I earn in merits, worth an offering?
Are You from the Western Paradise, Or did You from the South Sea appear? You’ve made this poet abandon all her follies On this impassioned journey!
(And the next one is when Master returned to Her true Self, She still had some trouble and uneasy feelings. I invite you to listen to the poem “Passing by Your House.”) This one is your favorite.
I came by your house, The shadows falling under evening lights, Autumn rain drenched the rosy clouds. I wanted to come in, but feared the stone-cold heart; Disappeared in an instant was our eternal love.
Half a lifetime, searching in illusory dreams, For an image precious as gold and gems Lovelorn through the long months and years I adored you on the silken pedestal of love.
Then awakened suddenly, one glorious dawn, Rays of life illuminated the dark recesses of my soul. The fruit of sadness had ripened, falling away. But then night came, clutching a blanket, I feel lonely!
I’ve had enough of life’s bittersweet; Hanging up the oars, I care not to cross the river anymore. But in the evening, on a quiet harbor, My wistful heart longs for the waves of yore.
On this eve I wandered toward the old path; The flickering lamp stood ever so lonely. I wanted to come in, but feared the stone-cold heart; Our eternal love died so long ago!
(After listening to Master’s heartfelt sharing, we feel even more love for Master, don’t we?)
Photo Caption: “Who Weaved The Details of This Artistic Elegance!”
