life's affairs are matters of reincarnation

there is birth, growth, old age, then the netherworld

no birth, no death, no karmic bond

there is birth, there is death, illusion and truth

that water, though it flows away

evaporates and gathers, becoming like clouds in the sky

if hot and cold stir the bond

it turns into that water, returning to the old water

the morsel to eat, the place to live, lacking and sparse

there is cause, there is effect, old tales teach life

therefore cultivate virtue, oh everyone!

Heaven loves, blessings harvested, a whole life warm and full!

Full of rice, warm of clothes, thanks to whom?

Tall house, wide door, who helped us?

Goods and shopping obtained aplenty

Thanks to whose help, it turns out easy

Country at peace, people prosperous, secure

Thanks to whom is this so, does the village know?

No need to ask sister Hằng (the moon)

That's the citizenry, speak and keep one's word

The merit of birth, the merit of nurture like the open sea

Add merit and karmic beginning, only then will it come to be

Wanting to live steadfastly

Give thanks to all, the higher powers receive it!

People calmly enjoy themselves

we are refugees, playing around isn't proper

Far from home, hold on to our roots

Work hard and endure, the bond stays firm to this day

Help relatives, today

Help friends, this day and months later

Regard one another like squash and gourd

deep affection, old ties, before and after only then endure

The Buddha's path from of old still is tolerant

Sheltering the people, so their hearts are warmed

Even if one must go anywhere further

Still stay at peace of mind, dwell truly within

Amitabha Buddha, the one who has eyes

Hopes to lead one straight ahead, don't go in circles

The path of liberation is best

The Buddha delivers the people, fulfilling their wish!

Gentle words cost no money to buy

Weigh your words, soften your voice, easy to please each other

If one raises one's voice, frowns at each other

Easy to breed ill will, sooner or later hurt feelings

A calm voice, speech that's clear too

Easily builds affection, within moments

A loud voice is self-torment

a big voice is tying oneself with rope

A person is born, but the voice is not born

So it self-binds, ending affection with one another

Wanting to avoid headaches

One should lower the voice, choose phrases and words

Don't raise the voice casually

loud voice, big tone, the world scorns

Learn to eat, learn to speak, the long day

If the voice is big, correct it at once

Correcting costs no money at all

a voice that is gentle, surely people will love.

Conduct is the art of diplomacy

Words spoken, entering and leaving, etiquette

hands and feet, posture, avoid crudeness

Gentle speech, what could be more precious

Please don't be irritable, don't speak harshly

Also don't nag, speak curtly, speak crooked

[?] brings resentment right away

Contempt, loss of face, mad talk at once

One should be polite as appropriate

Respect others, others respect you, nothing strange

However you act, put affection first

If one is sharp and rude, how can affection last

Those who are older, our elders

The more one should be careful, only then it lasts long

If one behaves carelessly

then it shatters, no affection left at all

Far from homeland, far from scenery, also far from home

Only wish, together hope, a bit of forgiveness

Of the fairy lineage, and of natives

Makes the heart flutter, in moments near and far

Loving one another, no mind for east west north

Bonded by news, in old age

Fellowship, together, earnestly keep

That is the happiness of our life

Don't take liquor and tobacco, oh everyone!

Avoiding sexual misconduct, happiest in life

Deception is not right, for it loses trust

In this life, stealing, better repent soon

A mind that kills breeds enmity

So avoid such deeds, foul deeds indeed!

Nurturing nature, cultivating the mind, is best

Sit in meditation, keep the precepts, then peace and calm!

What are the Three Jewels, easy to know

Completely enlightened, the Buddha

The advice the Buddha teaches, named the Dharma

the monks who cultivate, who have left home

Believe and trust in those Three Jewels

Compassionate charitable heart, avoid evil

The future comes, Heaven helps

So be single-minded, recite the Buddha's name!

Leaving home, leaving belongings, resolved to depart

Strange land, foreign country, what joy is there

But wish and hope Heaven will deliver us

To pass the time of misfortune, in sorrow

Fortunately America made efforts to help

Supported for ten years, enough to spend

Fortunate to retire, money temporarily enough

Grace of Heaven, bounty of America, lessening the sorrow

When young and going, we tell the children to return

when old and going, no words given, will one return again?

From here far apart from friends

whom to take as friend, conversation lacking people

Wishing to meet a bright turn of life

hoping to meet fortune, a smiling mouth grows young

Pray that dwelling young, we don't grow old

Day and night happiness, the whole family shares together

The teacher's merit fills the sea, and the western sky

heedless of the long road, comes to this province

To help the common folk, the heart fulfilled

Whether remaining or gone, still at peace

The Saha world, pain along with illness

The teacher present here, warms our faces

Wish for Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva to save

So the people suffer less, how satisfying!

Playing tam cúc is to relieve boredom

Gathering together, to be merry

It's cards high and low, no need to mind

Money won or lost, just let it be

Therefore one needs discipline

Choose words to speak, saying to those here

Playing while keeping a harmonious spirit

Only then it's worth playing, to relieve boredom

A hundred years, this year, the teacher is weak now

surely it seems, nearly arriving, the time to return

In any case, has cultivated and built up

Society, family, both paternal and maternal fostered

No shame later on, even if one dies

Compassion, joy, equanimity, my true heart

Pray for all, love and cherish

Charity with a true heart, standing or sitting.

seldom do we meet each other again

some with grey hair, others still young-headed

young men, young women, all vigorous

little children laugh happily, chatting back and forth

whatever is cooked here, a strange flavor

after eating, dessert, colorful cakes

whose effort organized this, so well

showing clearly deep affection, cherishing one another!