Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ

Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ (慧中上士; 1230- 1291) was born at Tức Mặc, Thiên Trường, Nam Định Provinve nowadays.  His name was Trần Tung (or Trần Quốc Tung).  He was a member of the royal family, with the title Hưng Ninh Vương, and also a Thiền master.  He guided King Trần Nhân Tông to Thiền, and had a great influence on the Founder King of  Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Thiền School.
He was the eldest son of An Sinh vương Trần Liễu (some historical books use the name "An Ninh vương"), and an elder brother of Hưng Đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn and Queen Nguyên Thánh Thiên Cảm (named  Trần thị Thiều), King Trần Thánh Tông's wife.  He participated in both the second war against the Mongol-Yuan aggressors (1285) and the third one (1287-1288).  On June 10, 1285, together with his younger brother Hưng Đạo Vương, he led 20,000 soldiers to drive away a Yuan general named Lưu Thế Anh, and chased another named Thoát Hoan to the Như Nguyệt River (Cầu River).  In the third war, he played an important diplomatic role and came to their barracks, as if his purpose was to surrender, but taking advantage of their negligence, he ordered his troops to attack.  After the war, he was appointed the Landlord of Thái Bình.  However, he soon resigned and returned to Tịnh Bang Hamlet (Vĩnh Bảo, in the surburbs of  Hải Phòng nowadays) and established a Thiền farm called Dưỡng Chân trang.  In 1291 he passed away at the age of 61.

A Thiền Master
When he was young, he disliked fame and titles, but developed a great interest in studying Thiền.  Later he learned the Dharma with Thiền master Tiêu Dao, and practised mind training as a layperson and a public servant assuming tasks the royal court assigned him.  King Trần Thánh Tông highly respected him, and considered him the King's brother in the Dharma.  He composed many poems, some of which were collected and published in his famous work --"Thượng sĩ ngữ lục" (Thượng Sĩ's Works).

Ideas

Because he was born into a family with many disputes and controversies, and at an early age learned the Dharma with thiền master Tiêu Dao, then after that got involved in the wars against foreign aggressors, Tuệ Trung realized the true nature in life, and chose to live in harmony and peace.  When King Trần Nhân Tông asked him about the fundamental of thiền, he replied, " It is self examination, not looking outwards and asking from others."

 His Poems

Forty nine poems of his were found and arranged in Thượng sĩ ngữ lục (Thượng Sĩ's Works).  The following three are from  that work:

養真 (Dưỡng Chân, Nuôi dưỡng chân tính) Nurturing the True Nature 衰 颯 形 骸 豈 足 云 非 關 老 鶴 避 雞 群 千 青 萬 翠 迷 鄉 國 海 角 天 頭 是 養 真 Suy táp hình hài khởi túc vân, Phi quan lão hạc tị kê quần; Thiên thanh vạn thuý mê hương quốc, Hải giác thiên đầu thị dưỡng chân. (Chinese Vietnamese) Thân xác hao gầy há đáng than, Phải đâu hạc cả lánh gà đàn; Nghìn xanh muôn thuý mờ non nước, Góc biển lưng trời: nơi dưỡng chân. (Vietnamese) It is not worth lamenting about the worn out body, It is not a big crane hiding from a flock of chickens; Beyond the deep blue sky lies the homeland, Amidst the sea and the sky rests the true nature. 澗底松 (Giản để tùng, Cây tùng ở đáy khe) The Cedar by the Creek 最 愛 青 松 種 幾 年 休 嗟 地 勢 所 居 偏 棟 樑 未 用 人 休 怪 野 草 閑 花 滿 目 前 Tối ái thanh tùng chủng kỉ niên, Hưu ta địa thế sở cư thiên; Đống lương vị dụng nhân hưu quái, Dã thảo nhàn hoa mãn mục tiền. Thương cội tùng xanh tuổi bấy niên, Đừng than thế mọc lệch cùng xiên; Cột rường chưa dụng người thôi lạ, Cỏ dại hoa hèn trước mắt chen.  O green cedar of many years, Never complain over your slanting position; Strangers do not know your value, Among the crowds of weeds and wild flowers. 照身/瞾身 (Chiếu thân, Soi mình) 焦 頭 爛 額 被 金 袍 五 七 年 間 是 廠 槽 縱 也 超 群 兼 拔 萃 一 回 放 下 一 回 高 Tiêu đầu lạn ngạch bị kim bào, Ngũ thất niên gian thị xưởng tào; Túng dã siêu quần kiêm bạt tụy, Nhất hồi phóng hạ nhất hồi cao. Sém đầu giập trán vận kim bào, Ta bấy năm nay: chốn xưởng tào; Hễ đã hơn người và vượt bậc, Vẻ vang rồi lại đến lao đao. The sword almost cut the head, and the forehead got bruised when I was wearing the royal cape, I have been there for fifty seven years; Doing better than others, and excelling all, Rising up gloriously then tumbling into hardship.

A Legend  
One day the Mother Queen Nguyên Thánh Thiên Cảm hosted a banquet in the royal palace.  On the dining table there were both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.  Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ ate without distinguishing the two kinds of foods.  The Mother Queen asked: “You practice meditation, but you ate fish and meat.  How could you attain Buddhahood?”   He laughed and replied: “Buddhas are Buddhas; I am myself.  I do not need to attain Buddhahood, and Buddhas need not become me.  Haven't you heard this saying from ancient sages: 'Manjusri is Manjusri (Văn Thù); liberation is liberation'?” At the banquet was King Trần Nhân Tông, who had some doubts about this issue, and could not understand the implication in  Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ's answer, but did not raise any question yet.

Source:
http://vi.wikipedia.org