My mom’s mystical experiences

CHUYỆN HUYỀN BÍ CỦA MẸ CON by Namlinhchi – translated by Bluesky – edited by Horangi. Updated 3/20/24

It didn’t dawn on me until recently that my mother had been receiving assistance from a spiritual guide, unbeknownst to her. Growing up, both of my parents identified as atheists, and as their children, we were raised with that worldview.

I vividly recall my mother confiding in me about her struggles with pregnancy and her attempts at abortion, all of which were thwarted by various unforeseen circumstances.

One particular incident stands out in my memory: as she was preparing to leave on her bike one day, I solemnly told her, “You will die if you give up my younger sister!” Her reaction was one of astonishment, as she had not shared her plans with anyone. This left us both questioning: how could a six-year-old child possibly know about her intentions?

Regardless, she brushed off my warning and pushed her bike out to the gate. I called out again, with even greater urgency, “I’m telling you once more, you will die if you give up my little sister!” Yet, despite my impassioned plea, she merely glanced at me and carried on cycling to the hospital.

Upon arrival, she was met with an unexpected obstacle: the hospital was plunged into darkness due to a sudden power outage. Despite waiting until noon, the power showed no signs of returning.

On her journey back home, my mother found herself pondering over my words. Eventually, she had a change of heart and decided to continue with her pregnancy. And so, we joyfully welcomed our little sister into the family.

Supporting a family of eight was no small feat. My parents, along with my paternal grandmother, devoted themselves tirelessly to this task. My father, a retired soldier since 1976 with a modest pension, and my mother, whose health had been compromised after giving birth to my youngest sister, frequently grappled with financial hardships.

On one occasion, as my mother recounted, we found ourselves in dire financial straits. Not a single penny was left in the house for food or to cover my tuition fees. In desperation, while walking along the road, my mother fervently wished for just 20,000 VND (equivalent to less than a US dollar at the time).

Miraculously, just a short distance ahead, she spotted pieces of paper on the other side of the road that resembled money. Crossing over to investigate, she discovered that they were indeed real banknotes. She picked them up, and upon returning home, she counted the amount – it was exactly 20,000 VND.

To supplement our income, my parents took to cultivating a small garden on a cleared piece of hillside. One day, as we were all there, diligently weeding with just one old and dull hoe, my mother expressed a wish for two more to ease our labor.

Remarkably, the very next day at 5 am, as she made her way up the hill past a tea garden, she stumbled upon two nearly new hoes that someone had seemingly left behind. After waiting for a day, and then a week, to see if anyone would claim them, she eventually decided to take them and put them to good use, though filled with puzzling questions about their unexpected appearance.

Similar occurrences happened repeatedly, though my mother couldn’t recall them all in detail.

Despite not adhering to any specific religious practices, such as worshipping God or Buddha, my parents faithfully burn incense at the ancestor altar during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) and live their lives guided by the principle that “Good deeds do bring reward.”

Respectfully submitted