Story 6 – Deity Le Van Duyet 

Câu chuyện số 6 – Thần Lê Văn Duyệt by ThầyGià on 12 November 2018 – translated by NgocXuan – edited by Horangi

When I was 36 years old, I traveled to different places to preach about religion. Two men had heard about me and asked a friend to arrange a meeting so they could receive my teachings. One man was a Buddhist named General Le Quang Luong, who served as a paratrooper commander in the South Vietnamese Army. The other was a Catholic regular infantry General named Tran van Nhut. During the initiation process, the Buddhist prayed to Buddha Amitabha, while the Catholic recited prayers in the name of the Father.

General Luong described feeling an electric current running from the top of his head down to his back, which brought him great comfort.Subsequently, deeply affected by this mysterious sensation, he confided in me and shared his previous experiences, experiences he had struggled to share with others while seeking confirmation.

He mentioned that during that time, he resided near the imperial tomb of Lê Văn Duyệt, also known as the Lang Ong Ba Chieu or Lan Ong Temple. This site is revered by many who worship Lê Văn Duyệt as a deity. He recalled how he had always held great admiration for Lê Văn Duyệt, and one day, he turned towards the Lang Ong Temple and earnestly prayed to the deity for protection in his military endeavors. That very night, he experienced a vivid dream where an elderly man with white hair and beard, leaning on a staff, appeared and spoke to him. The man conveyed, “My child, while leading this battalion, you will face defeat, and the battalion will disband. However, with the next battalion you command, victory will be yours in every battle.” Upon awakening, he was stunned by the clarity and realism of the dream.

He later assumed command of a parachute battalion. As foretold by the Deity, within less than a month, the battalion was decimated, with only six survivors, including himself, who sustained injuries.

Amidst the raging war, the South Vietnamese government deployed numerous additional military forces into combat. General Luong volunteered to lead a new battalion. When questioned by his superiors about his recent injuries, he affirmed his readiness for battle. Assuming command, he led his battalion to victory over a regiment of the North Vietnamese army at Long An and earned a battlefield promotion. Remarkably, his battalion suffered minimal losses.

He recounted another unforgettable battle experience, one where his battalion faced overwhelming odds against the North Vietnamese army, which outnumbered them five to one. Throughout the harrowing night, relentless attacks occurred every 30 minutes. By the fifth attack, his battalion sustained numerous casualties, with many soldiers killed or wounded, and their ammunition was running dangerously low. Feeling utterly hopeless, he looked skyward and implored: “Supreme God, please help me! I have no skill to save myself. If you don’t intervene, I will surely perish.” Bracing for what seemed like the final assault, he even prepared his pistol for suicide. However, to his astonishment, the expected attack never materialized. He had miraculously survived.

General Luong passed away approximately a year ago. It has been about 20 years since he shared that story with me, and unfortunately, we never had the chance to meet again. I only learned of his passing through an obituary published by his family in the newspapers. As for my disciples, there are some whom I’ve met only once, others a few times, and some who have only heard of me but never had the opportunity to meet me in person.

Until next time…
Old_Guru 18-08-08