Sóc Trăng, Vietnam – October 16, 2010, on the trip back to Vietnam, Ven. Chúc Độ who is resident at Dong Hung Temple in Virginia Beach had charity work done at Wat Pich temple, Vĩnh Phước ward, Vĩnh Châu district, Sóc Trăng province.  

Over $ 3500 was donated by Ven. Chúc Độ and some special Buddhist followers. This money was specifically used to dig 15 wells for 15 families and to buy 300kg of rice and instant noodles for certain poor families at Wat Pich.

Digging these wells was Thầy Chúc Độ’s desire a long time ago. In 2001 when he was a student he had a chance to come to Wat Pich Temple for a one month long field study. He witnessed the poor quality of the fresh water for these residents, all of whom belong to Wat Pich temple. His vow to help these poor people has been born. After 9 years, one of his many vows became accomplished. Actually the needs of the people are many to this day, but his job of digging 15 wells met the need for the most difficult families.

This was a charity trip with many good memories. Departing from Sai Gon at 9:00 PM we slept as good as possible on the way there and arrived at Wat Pich Temple at 8:30 AM the next morning. When we were at the Temple everyone showed up so we went straight forward to do our work. We greeted each other and looked over the names of the families who would be given a well under the witness of the Master Monk and the seniors of Wat Pich Temple. Then, Ven. Chúc Độ gave the signs of “Compassioned Well” for the Buddhist followers and gave the money for digging wells to Mr. Sơn Pum (He is the one who oversaw the process of digging the wells). They finally went to visit the families who have had the wells started for them.

Another issue happened that was not in the agenda. The group decided to give 300kg of rice and instant noodles to 15 families who received the wells and other families with financial difficulties. Therefore, after lunch time, we carried out “gifts” to give to the Buddhist families. We thought that we couldn’t do everything on time but because of the help given by Khmer Buddhists everything turned out wonderful!

The helpful work done by the group of sponsored Buddhist followers was a great predestined affinity. We were very happy when we received a gift from an unknown Buddhist follower who lives in Texas that donated 6 wells when she learned that we didn’t have enough money for the charity work. Another giving person, Mr. Đỗ Hoàng Nhân offered 300kg of rice when he witnessed the situation.

Mr. Sơn Pum must ne mentioned. He was a Master Monk at Wat Pich temple. Searching with zeal, he listed all the needy families. Mr. Son Pum also contacted the well company and oversaw the process of digging the wells. Thầy Chúc Độ and his friends were totally amazed to find out that Mr. Son Pum already took care of a great amount of this charity work! When we came to this scene the first well was done. On the first day the basic foundations of three wells were finished and the monks came to observe this process.

While observing the digging process we witnessed another problem which broke all of our hearts. The family of Mr.&Mrs. Kim Si Nê  raised a pig directly in front their Buddha alter! We learned that they were so poor that they didn’t have enough money to make a proper home for the pig. They had to let the pig live with them in the house. None of us have ever seen or heard of anything like this in the past. Their tiny makeshift style house was built out of bamboo poles and water coconut leaves. When everyone saw the poor living conditions of this family there was much sorrow in the air. The pig had a short rope tied around his neck in the front of Buddha alter where he dug up the ground around a pole of their “leaf house”. We and Đỗ Hoàng Nhân made our decision to give them a “pig cage” so that the family would have a much cleaner place to live. Mrs. Lâm Thị Nên who is Nê’s wife couldn’t keep her tears from flowing when we gave her money to make a pig cage.

Our trip was only two days long but it gave us a different viewpoint about life and a realistic lesson about sharing with others and the spirit of giving in Buddhism. Mr. Được our driver made his vow to save money in order to help others later. Our minds are joyful with thoughts of our purposeful charity.

Truthfully speaking, this charity work is too small to be mentioned but as Buddhists who would like to share with others we hope that the people who received the wells live with a compassionate spirit. Thầy Chúc Độ offered these words on the subject of sharing to the Buddhist followers: “giving compassioned wells means sharing a drop of compassionate water to everyone with the hope that all of us always be showered with compassionate spirit in Buddhism”.

Phap Trung

Translated into English by Chúc Thanh

(Click to see photos)