You and me

The general sound of the great bell sometimes rises in the middle of the evening meridian. The ever-present quiet space at the temple is also awakened by the steady sound of the muzzle, the master's voice humming. Immersed in that space, my heart suddenly tightened when I saw my brother's feet toddling steps slowly disappearing in the night.

Today, he knew that I was going to the temple, so he visited and bought me a motor to water flowers for the upcoming Tet holiday. I was busy with work outside, so he had to wait for me for a long time. I still happily said: "You can come back anyway, I'm free". I also took advantage to soon return to visit my brother that I have not seen for a long time. The two brothers met in the parking lot of the temple; my leg hurt because I fell from the car a few days ago. Fortunately, it was okay, just a scratch on the skin. I helped him carry the motor to the temple and put some money in her pocket: "I'll send it back to you, consider it as a blessing from the temple. Don't think too much." I decided not to accept: "You take it home and use it, there are a lot of things in my shop. Can’t I give them to you? I only accept a few hundred for your fortune." I kept saying but he refused to accept. Finally, I used a psychological attack: "You still take care of our mother, take it home and buy me something to nourish my mother". I reluctantly took it, but maybe in my heart I was not very happy. Next, the two brothers went to the living room to talk.

After two busy days in the retreat at the temple, now free, I sipped hot tea and recalled the image of yesterday, he brought me things. I remembered the story that fourteen years ago he also sent money to me, but that time he did not give it.

At that time, I was a student, and he had just started working for the first month. He went to Saigon prior to me to study a trade. Should I talk about life experience or life experience, then he was much better than me. When the two children were young, they didn't fight for a day, didn't eat the whip from their mother, maybe they didn't eat well that day. Once, he called home to visit me, and called me "brother". I was startled and almost dropped the phone, because he never called from there to me like that, always saying "you - me". Perhaps due to being away from home very early, having to work hard in life makes me appreciate the brotherly love in the family even more. Since then, the two brothers have also become closer to each other.

When I decided to become a monk, he didn't say anything - just being sad. When I got to the temple, my father passed away, and he went back home to take care of my mother. He loves a Christian. He asked me for some ideas. I told him: "Don't affect your happiness because of me. As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Just love and marry who you love." But maybe because our mother prevented him, so he stopped. I knew he was sad, I loved him very much!

Once, when I went to visit my mother, I heard that when he got his first salary, I was still studying abroad. He saved that little money and brought it down to me to pay for my hard-studying. But instead of giving me the money, he changed his mind. Because, on that meeting day, I confided that I would become a monk. Looking at him, I didn't know if he was angry with me? He was silent for a long time and then asked me to go buy something for my parents. He said: “The first month of salary, I want to spend it on the most meaningful things”. I took him to buy new shoes for dad, and gave our mother a new pair of sandals. His happy moments made me happy too.

This afternoon, it suddenly pours rain in Saigon. I sat under the eaves and watched the raindrops fall and thought of the many memories between us. I wish he would always be happy, successful in work, forever a solid fulcrum for your small family and a good youngest sister of our big family!

Loving him.

Tâm Lực

Translated into English by Le Thien An