Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.

Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a nation that has a long-standing traditional culture. Aulacese music is very rich; since ancient times, there have been many musical instruments that move the soul with a wide variety of sounds like those of the copper drum, gong, lithophone, bamboo xylophone, cymbals and panpipe. In 2003, Elegant Music, a form of Huế royal music, was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an intangible cultural heritage of the world.

Âu Lạc’s music represents the unique features of each region, for example, Quan Họ folksongs in the North, Huế tunes in the Central, and cải lương (modern folk opera) in the South. In addition, there are many other forms of music, including hò (work songs), lý (village songs), ceremonial songs, Aulacese classical opera, chèo traditional opera, Hồ Quảng opera, and so on.

Indeed, music has been deeply instilled in the hearts of people in this beautiful country, and has been cultivated until this day. Northern Âu Lạc has a folk art called xẩm singing that is very popular in the northern plains and midland. This genre, in the old time, was performed by minstrel bands.

In a gathering with a small group of our Association members some years past, Supreme Master Ching Hai was inspired to spontaneously compose and sing in the xẩm style a poem she had written in her late 20s in Germany. The poem was originally written in English which the poet herself translated into Aulacese. We now invite you to enjoy an excerpt of the xẩm singing “We Don't Live More Than One Hundred Years!” composed and sung by Supreme Master Ching Hai.

I mean tonight I was nuts! But so what: Aren’t the rest of us!... Otherwise how could we carry on living, For life isn’t worth a thing!?

You know that I am still in love with you! But that has nothing to do... I cannot please everybody, So I will please me! That doesn’t mean you are not right; We all have only one life!

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.

Chèo traditional opera is a folk theater art which originated from the regions near the mountains and from the plains of northern Âu Lạc. There are varied opinions about the beginning of chèo traditional opera: the earliest time is believed to be in 4th century BCE and the most recent is 14th century, at the end of the Trần dynasty. Chèo is a narrative genre of folk theater, recounting stories through a combination of music, singing and dance.

One of the unique features of chèo is a skillful portrayal of subtle gestures and movements. During festivals, people in the plains of northern Âu Lạc often look forward to watching chèo traditional opera. The lyrics are infused with folk poetry and proverbs; tragedies are usually counter-balanced with satires. Chèo is replete with the pure simplicity of the common folk, yet equally profound in meaning.

“The Third Princess” is an Aulacese chèo traditional opera based on the legend of the One-thousand-Eye One-Thousand-Hand Mother Buddha in the treasure of Buddhist folklore. “The Third Princess” recounts the merit and virtue of King Trang Vương’s Third Princess, who exhibited piety, compassion, and a boundless spirit of sacrifice. This tale is also a wakening bell about the dire retribution of actions that harm virtuous and true spiritual practitioners.

King Trang Vương and his queen had three princesses, but only Diệu Thiện, also known as the Third Princess, was still single. On his birthday, King Trang Vương decided to marry the Third Princess to General Ngưu Mã, a man with perfect talents in both literature and martial arts, in order to have a successor to the throne.

At the royal court, the Third Princess expressed her wish to become a renunciate, and if she must be married, she would like to marry someone who knew how to save people's lives, namely, physician Triệu Chấn. Enraged, the King dismissed Triệu Chấn from his post and expelled the Third Princess from the royal palace. The Third Princes went to Bạch Tước Pagoda to practice spiritually with the Abbot, but the King sent General Ngưu Mã there to force her to return to secular life.

We now invite you to enjoy part 2 of the Aulacese chèo traditional opera titled “The Third Princess” by playwright Trần Trí Trắc,
with performances by Ms. Vân Quyền as Third Princess, Mr. Hải Điệp as King, Ms. Hồng Minh as Queen, Mr. Quốc Anh as General Ngưu Mã, Mr. Ngọc Kình as Physician Triệu Chấn, Ms. Huyền Thanh as Princess Diệu Âm, Ms. Thanh Mạn as Princess Diệu Thanh, Mr. Vũ Ngọc as Clown, Mr. Đoàn Vinh as First Prince Consort, Mr. Trần Hải as Second Prince Consort, Mr. Xuân Vượng as Abbot, Ms. Thu Biên as Elder Nun, and other artists.

Please tune in for the conclusion next Thursday on Supreme Master Television. Thank you for watching today’s Enlightening Entertainment. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television. Coming up is Words of Wisdom. We bid you farewell.

Amitabha Buddha be praised! May I see the royal decree, Your Excellency?

Abbot, you’re really hardheaded! All right, I will please you. All kneel down to receive the royal decree! “I, Trang Vương, ruler of the kingdom, hereby order that all be informed: The youngest princess, called Third Princess, evaded her parents to practice spiritually at Bạch Tước Pagoda. She is not to take refuge in the Buddha and must return to the court right away. If the temple hides her, have it demolished.”

Amitabha Buddha be praised! Bạch Tước Pagoda is a remote place in a poor village. We lead a pure and simple life of true spiritual practitioners. Why should a high-class young lady come to this temple for us to hide her?

Soldiers! (Yes.) Tie up the Abbot!

Buddha be praised!

Amitabha Buddha be praised! Please take pity on us spiritual practitioners who would never report falsely. If he must be put to the torture from ill retribution, let us bear it for him.

We wish to take the punishment on his behalf.

All brethrens, please stand up! I’m guilty, so I alone must take on the charge. Why should I get the renunciates involved? Buddha taught: “Saving a person’s life procures infinite merit.” I vow to firmly follow Buddha’s teaching.

So you said, “Saving a person’s life is of infinite merit,” meaning you intend to hide the Third Princess. Just give him a hundred whips, he’ll tell all.

Soldiers! (Yes.) Thrash him!

Hold it! The compassionate Buddha’s gate won’t tolerate vicious acts. O fellow practitioners, listen to me! If the Third Princess indeed comes to this temple to practice spiritually, that’s an honor for Buddhist renunciates. Let’s burn the incense, praying to Buddha: We live and die for the Truth. O fellow practitioners, use your blood to cleanse earthly stains.

Are you striving against me, me, Abbot? Soldiers! (Yes.) Set the temple on fire so the Third Princess has no more place to hide.

Set it on fire!

We offer a prayer to Heaven.

We offer ourselves to You.

O Buddha, I’m choked with tears, looking at my brethrens.

May Buddha witness our sincerity.

A body made of dust will return to dust. I turn my gaze toward the infinite realm.

May I depart from this suffering world.

In calamities, the noble deeds of spiritual practitioners are seen. May I offer my respect to immortal souls.

We use our physical bodies to repay your kindness. Amitabha Buddha be praised! Amitabha Buddha!

O God! Bạch Tước Pagoda! Bạch Tước Pagoda is immersed in red flames. Third Princess! Where are you? O Third Princess!

Go to the underworld to find the Third Princess!

Ngưu Mã! Third Princess! Third Princess!

My God! How come? Who burned down my temple? Who? Who harmed my fellow practitioners? O God! Master! O Master! You were ruined because of me. In great anguish, my tears pour. Master lay here; your tranquil soul has left the body, just like in contemplation during worship. Could that be the honorable Triệu Chấn over there? You lay motionless in an eternal death. A wound on your body is still trickling blood. Amitabha Buddha be praised! The world is still replete with pain. Mundane dust can’t fill up the sea of suffering. O Buddha, I pray to you to save the renunciates whose souls are now confined in the underworld. Where have their souls taken refuge amid the silver cloud?

O Third Princess! Wickedness spreads like the dark night, while goodness still awaits worldly people. I’ll take you beyond the physical realm to the underworld to save the souls of those that met untimely death.

Since we left the mountain pagoda, since that tearful, unjust death, since the tragedy that burnt down Bạch Tước Pagoda, our spirits of unjust death departed the physical realm. How heart-rending it is already for us to be in the black cloud to further endure the torture!

Whose voice is that? Is that the voice of my brethrens’ spirits being tortured in Hades?

O God! Are these they? Skeletons in the yellow monk robes. My brethrens died because of me. Oh! I feel as if aloewood scent is wafting about; the sounds of Bạch Tước Pagoda’s bell and scripture recitals are reverberating. This form here, is it of the pure, upright and gentle Triệu Chấn? He’s still serene like a precious medicinal plant. O beloved Triệu Chấn! My heart is still deeply pained for humankind. For whom do sentient beings quietly bear the ordeals? Tears of torment shed in pitying for others. O high Heaven, know You not? Is human existence nothing but misery? Palms together, I pray to the miraculous Buddha. Where are the souls of my brethrens? Listen to the sound of scripture reciting for your liberation.

Respectful greetings, Third Princess!

My respectful greetings, Warden of Hades! Please take pity on the beings that perished in wrongful deaths. It’s my king father’s unkindness that brought about the temple’s ruin. Spirits of the renunciates are still lost. Please allow them to return to the physical world.

O virtuous Third Princess! The law of Hades can’t be bypassed easily. You must take on the physical torture for your fellow beings to be released. You must endure the burning of skin and flesh. O demon officials! (Yes.) Bring the cauldron of oil here for me!

Amitabha Buddha be praised. In sympathy with sentient beings suffering hardship, hunger, poverty and endless wars, I, Third Princess, wish to bear the physical torture so that the spirits of wrongful deaths may return to the blessed realm. Though I must bear great pain of crushed bone and flesh, I’ll gladly accept it out of compassion.

If you wish Buddha to accept your request, there is the cauldron of oil, step into it!

Now, step into it!

O Third Princess! Your great virtue and great compassion have moved the heart of the wise Buddha. You didn’t mind the red flames under your feet. I, King of Hades, also admire you deeply.

Respected greetings, King of Hades.

I now agree for physician Triệu Chấn to return to the physical realm to find cures to save sentient beings. Since he’s not a true spiritual practitioner, he’ll be transformed to be a 90-year-old man living in a remote thatched hut. As for your Buddhist brethrens who died unjustly, they’ll return to their spiritual path.

Buddha be praised.

According to Buddha’s order, they’ll stay at Hương Tích Temple.

I’m grateful to Buddha.

My king suddenly contracts a serious ailment and is tormented by pain day and night. The throne is deserted, the palace gloomy, the royal veranda desolate. The two daughters don’t bother to feel sad but indulge in pleasure with Ngưu Mã. They party, sing and dance morning and night and even cuckold the King’s two sons-in-law. So it is said in Buddhist scriptures about the law of cause and effect. In this world, one reaps what one sows. The King is awake and senseless by turn, while in the palace, some are playing around, worry-free.

Why am I in so much pain like this? Everyone has left me? Where is the Queen? Where are my daughters?

Your Majesty! The court officials are afraid of getting infected with your leprosy, so all hide away. Only the Queen is weeping all day long. Your two princesses follow General Ngưu Mã to party all day.

So the officials are scared of getting infected with my leprosy. And the girls are rejoicing because their father is soon to die.

Your Majesty! O God!

O Clown! (Yes.) I only feel sorry for the Queen. She has suffered her entire life because of me.

Oh, no! Your Majesty! Where are the First and Second Prince consorts? Come in here to entertain His Majesty!

O Clown, what’s the matter?

What’s going on?

His Majesty is in pain. Please come in to entertain him. Come in! Come! You don’t want to come in? All right, I’ll report to the princesses.

Wait, wait, Clown! I’ll come in.

Then come in! Come on!

Respected Royal Father, we’re always by your side. My wife is busy having fun, so I must come here on her behalf to take care of you.

Beloved Royal Father, so am I. My wife is a very filial daughter. She’s delegated me the important task of always staying by your side and keeping you in good spirit. I must always find a way to entertain you.

And now, Royal Father, we’ll sing for you a poem about the woe of an old goat. The woe of an old goat. The young goats must suck milk from the old goat. Wherefrom does the old goat get the sweet milk to satisfy the young goats? After eating, the young goats still crave for food. O goats, after eating, you still crave for food. They suck non-stop. The old goat feels aches and pains. How funny the young goats are! After eating, the young goats still crave for food.

Enough! You didn’t come to entertain me. Your wives aren’t my filial daughters. Get out!

Respected Royal Father!

Get out, all of you!

Respected Royal Father!

There you are, sweetheart!

Oh, darling!

Sweetheart, I’ve demonstrated all my skills but our Royal Father still isn’t pleased.

Darling, I sang so beautifully but was still driven away by our Royal Father.

You just think you have much talent!

Well, you two go home now. Come only when instructed, you hear?

Going home? (Go!)

Respected Royal Father, I’ve really done you wrong I’ve been busy boat sailing on Kim Lăng. Forgive me for returning late.

O Royal Father! Please take your medicine to recover quickly. Any day you’re still ill, that day we can’t eat or sleep well.

Get out, both of you! I’d rather die.

O God! Royal Father! How come you talked so strange? If you pass away, what for do we continue living? Whom will we rely on? O Royal Father, please don’t die!

Other people have children and grandchildren, while you gave birth to only two daughters.

Why don’t you love and cherish us? Instead, you have the heart to abandon us. O Royal Father!

O Your Majesty! Try to swallow the soap nut as if sweet and stomach the hot pepper. Don’t you see at all? That bamboo leaf-shaped knife is about to slit your throat.

Clown! O Royal Father! O Your Majesty!

Enough! I’m not dead yet; why are you wailing like that?

We love you so much. Don’t die, Royal Father.

Children, you love me so much, how can I have the heart to leave you? I just regret that my gold throne... I haven’t decided to whom to pass it on. I still want to reserve it for General Ngưu Mã.

I think that’s very appropriate because my husband isn’t worthy of your trust.

Respected Royal Father, my husband is also talentless, so he wouldn’t dare compete for a powerful position.

It’s the first time I hear my daughters speaking from the hearts.

O God! O Your Majesty! You’re in pain again. O goodness! Your Majesty!

O Clown! Help my Royal Father to his chamber! O Clown!

Diệu Thanh! So our Royal Father still intends to pass the throne to Ngưu Mã.

I’m so mad at our good-for-nothing husbands! They couldn’t do a thing to help us.

O Diệu Thanh, General Ngưu Mã seems to like you very much.

I also find that he’s very interested in you.

Men are greedy, anyhow. The river will never have enough water.

Or, perhaps he likes both of us?

Possibly so! Oh! Later when he becomes an emperor, what else could our fate be?

We sisters shouldn’t be divided into ranks. What’s the loss if one is a little above the other. Diệu Âm!

Diệu Thanh!

One is short, the other tall. Let’s make us even on the scale. One is short, the other tall. From now on, power falls into our hands.

Greetings, Princesses! What are you so elated about? His Majesty is seriously ill; don’t you feel any pain?

Your Excellency, I’m in great anguish.

O General, I’m so sad.

You’re lying! You can’t fool my eyes. Deep inside, you just wish him dead soon so that the throne will go to one of the Prince Consorts, your husband. Am I not right?

What you said is only half correct.

Why?

Wishing for the old man’s early death is true. As for that throne how can our two good- for-nothing husbands possibly sit on it?

So that means...

That throne only befits General Ngưu Mã.

Is that true, O Princesses?

Why not? The King himself said that just now.

His Majesty still intends to pass the throne to me? Oh, the golden throne! Every night, I dream of it and the one and only majestic emperor’s staff. What about the two Prince Consorts, your husbands?

We’re so fed up with those two geezers anyway. We only wish to humbly wait by the royal court to meet the magnanimous one. If you will confer on us noble titles and protect us, we’ll be forever indebted to you.

King Trang Vương has two charming princesses. The golden palace is permeated with hyacinth fragrance. Should something go topsy-turvy later, O Princesses, depend on me, the master of fencing.

So what should we do?

Must that be done?

Put poison in the King’s medicine, then let the two Prince Consorts offer it up?

Only then shall you two be free.

Oh! We’re so scared!

What’s there to fear? The old man will die sooner or later. If those two Prince Consorts are still here, they’ll hinder our work. Well, think carefully about it. If you need my protection, carry out the clever scheme.

General, please proceed with your ingenious scheme.

Look! Beautiful Princesses! This time, the golden palanquin, purple parasol and royal palace are ours to relish. I’ll have two thrones on both sides. In East and West palaces, you will enjoy lasting happiness. Your offspring will be conferred rank and title.

We’re grateful to you, dear one. You know, a flower so fragrant can’t be left to wither away!

My life’s dream shines brilliantly now, and by my sides are the two princesses.

That golden throne is still unoccupied; as for us, we offer ourselves to you. O General!

Princesses! It’s time to use the potion. Please go inside to carry out the wonderful plot. Go! Go!

O Your Majesty! I’d never expect this to happen. God and Buddha have punished us. We can’t pass on to our offspring any blessing. O Diệu Thiện, my child! Your father has done you wrong. I wasn’t able to save you. While you cultivate your heart and do good deeds to help the world, your father committed sinful acts. As a result, he suffers a pitiful plight. Diệu Thiện, O child! If you’re still living and have already attained full enlightenment, please come back to save your father, a king who languishes in illness. The kingdom is about to collapse.

O God! Your Majesty! Please stay calm. Don’t risk your life like that. I believe that our youngest daughter is still alive. My child’s charitable spirit will be able to save her king father. Palms together, I pray to Amitabha Buddha. I now repent and turn toward goodness. Please witness my sincerity. Oh, jewel and gold palace! Oh, splendid and luxurious castle! The bell of retribution still resounds in my ears, reminding me of my pain, O child.

Respected Royal Mother, it’s time for Father to take medicine.

Please allow the two Prince Consorts to personally offer the medicine to him.

Respected Royal Father and Mother! This medicine bowl contains all 100 types of ginseng from two remote islands. I’ve brought it here to present it to Royal Father. May you quickly recover.

Respected Royal Father! And this is a bowl of tonic for a better spleen, lungs, and all limbs. I’ve traveled night and day, crossing forests and streams to bring it here for you.

May Royal Father live long!

May Royal Father live long!

Your Majesty, your children are offering the medicine. Please take it to make them happy.

Please take the medicine, Royal Father!

Hold it! Your Majesty, don’t hasten to take it!

Why?

The two Prince Consorts plan to assassinate the King.

How is such a thing possible, Mr. Ngưu Mã?

That’s impossible!

Your Majesty! There’s poison in the medicine bowls.

Mr. Ngưu Mã, you have no right to suspect us like that.

Mr. Ngưu Mã, you have no right to suspect us like that.

If you claim there’s no poison in the medicine bowls, will you please drink first?

Respected Royal Father!

O darling!

Why hesitate to take the ginseng tonic? Drink, honey!

Your Majesty! Only then can they prove the purity in the King-subject relation.

You may drink.

Yes. For that reason, we’ll drink it.

O Second Prince Consort, I’m poisoned!

O First Prince Consort, we were tricked.

You’re a wicked woman!

Ungrateful betrayer!

O Royal Father, we’re wrongly accused.

What does this mean? Children! You intended to kill me, didn’t you?

Royal Father!

I understand now. Deep inside, you all want me to die soon so you can freely indulge in pleasures. O my young goats!

Soldiers, carry these two corpses inside!

Your Majesty! O God! You’ve really lost your mind!

No. I haven’t. O General Ngưu Mã, thank you for stopping the assassins in time. O General Ngưu Mã, I thank you.

Enough! O old man sick with leprosy! Get up! Stand up and listen to what I have to say. From this moment on, I’ll replace you to govern the kingdom.

No. When did I pass the throne over to you?

Then you’re going to do that now. Here, the agreement to pass on the throne. It just needs your fingerprint.

Ngưu Mã, now I know what kind of person you are. No. I’ll never pass the throne to a dishonest and ruthless person. No, never.

An old man sick with leprosy! What physical strength and power do you have left to dare talk to me like that? Here, the agreement to pass the throne. Sign it with your fingerprint.

No.

Sign it! Sign it here.

Sign here, Father.