Lesson 2: Fanatical "leaders"

Through meetings and conversations with the "leaders", the development method of this cult is similar to the activities of multi-level marketing companies. That is, those who have "converted" are encouraged to spread propaganda and attract others. This method is called "the first person to welcome the next person". And, up to now, after about 6 years (since 2007), in Nghe An, the Hoang Thien Long cult has been present in Vinh City and 3 districts of Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong and Tan Ky. The districts of Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu and Cua Lo Town also have "converted" people, but the number is still small.

"Miss" Nguyet - the "leader" in Vinh City talked about "teacher" Dien's pilgrimage to the temple:

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The "leader" in Vinh City is Nguyet. According to Nguyet, she is a retired military officer working in Military Region 4, residing in Hung Loc Commune. After we said that "Miss" Thuy in Yen Thanh introduced us to meet her to ask for her old mother to go to Hoang Thien Long Temple to "convert" to the religion, she happily said: "The Vinh group will leave at 9:00 p.m. on July 24 (AL), just arrive at Ho Chi Minh Square a few dozen minutes before and get in the car." Like "Miss" Thuy, this woman gave very specific instructions on how to set up an altar and how to recite the "broken heart" sutra to make it effective. According to Nguyet, in Vinh City there are many people following Hoang Thien Long religion and after "conversion", everyone practices at home. Every year, several times they go on a pilgrimage to "Master" Dien's temple to give thanks. As for the pilgrimage to Kim Lien, the Vinh group does not participate, anyone who wants to go can go on their own. Nguyet said: "You guys should let your "grandfather" go to Kim Lien so he/she knows. Every year, on July 21 (lunar calendar), people from Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong, Tan Ky... all go to Kim Lien to celebrate."

At 8:30 a.m. on July 21 (lunar calendar), at Uncle Ho's maternal hometown, we joined the pilgrimage group as true believers. There were about 130 people from Yen Thanh, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong districts participating and all the rituals were guided by "Miss" Thuy. Most of these people were elderly women, a few were men and their children. Talking, we learned that most of them were in difficult circumstances, had long-term illnesses, or lived alone, and some saw that their recent business was favorable, so they clung to the Hoang Thien Long religion in the hope of being protected by Uncle Ho's "spirit".

After passing through a few places, the group gathered to pay their respects at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House. Despite the discomfort of the visitors, the followers of the Hoang Thien Long cult, led by "Miss" Thuy, knelt down, filling the entire Memorial House, murmuring prayers and raising their arms above their heads as if waiting for blessings. Everything only ended when the staff of the Kim Lien Relic Site Management Board reminded them to make way and make room for the groups of visitors. One staff member was annoyed: "For the past few years, every time this day comes, people from everywhere come to pray, to be possessed, some even dance and cry. We come to suffer with them...".

"Miss" Thuy and the followers of the Hoang Thien Long cult knelt before the altar of Uncle Ho Memorial House (Kim Lien).

Thanks to the small number of men, we quickly became acquainted with two men dressed in military uniforms. It turned out that they were the ones "in charge" of monitoring the activities of the believers in the area. They were Mr. Lieu, the "leader" of Thanh Chuong district, residing in block 9, Dung town, and Mr. Hung, residing in block 3, Lat town, the "leader" of Tan Ky district. Both men were veterans and did business at their houses on the street. These "leaders" were also very happy and "welcomed" when they saw us studying to practice the "Ho Chi Minh Spirituality" religion. Not only that, they also invited us to their private homes to visit and witness Uncle Ho's "appearance" at their home. Mr. Lieu also "boasted": We sincerely practiced Uncle Ho's "religion" so we were blessed by Uncle Ho. The picture of Uncle Ho on my family's altar has bloomed beautifully, behind his picture there are clusters of blooming flowers. Above his head are also blooming flowers like a halo. You guys should go to Thanh Chuong and see...

Mr. Lieu talks about heresy:

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At his home in Dung Town, Mr. Lieu said he is a veteran and was Secretary of the Party Cell of Block 9 for 16 consecutive years. He is still participating in party activities but "has asked to retire from the Party Cell Secretary position to focus on practicing". He also said that Uncle Ho's spirit is a double-edged sword, those who are sincere will be protected by Uncle Ho, but those who do evil will not be spared by Uncle Ho's spirit. For example, in Ha Tinh, there was a person who had his neck broken by the "spirit" after destroying the Hoang Thien Long altar. Mr. Lieu is proud that in Thanh Chuong, there are hundreds of people following the religion and that he himself is about to achieve "enlightenment". By that day, he will be able to capture evil spirits. And now, when he walks on the street, he can detect "how the spirits "stick" to him"... And because of his "great achievements", he was entrusted by "teacher" Dien to be an advisor to "Miss" Thuy.

Mr. Lieu said: Don't look down on Thuy because she's so small, she's very skilled... Question: Why do you call "Miss" Thuy "it"? Mr. Lieu was delighted: Ho Chi Minh's spiritual path doesn't need to be complicated with formalities. Except for Mrs. Dien, everyone is the same. Taking us upstairs where the altar is located, Mr. Lieu pointed at the picture of Uncle Ho and said: there, the picture of Uncle Ho is blooming. Look closely and you'll see the halos of flowers "radiating". Do you see that? I kept looking at my glasses but couldn't see anything, so I had to say tactfully: my eyesight is bad so I can't see clearly...

Going back to Tan Ky and telling the story of Mr. Lieu's house to the "leader" Hung, Mr. Hung objected: "Mr. Lieu is bragging, but there is no such thing as a "righteous" cultivation. Even Thuy wouldn't dare say that. But he is not an "advisor"...". According to Mr. Hung, in Tan Ky there used to be about 160 people following the religion of "Master" Dien, but now there are about 80 people. When asked why, Mr. Hung said that the religion is very spiritual but one must be "single-minded"; those who "cannot endure hardship" usually follow it for a while and then quit. The person in charge of Tan Ky used to be a woman, but because of the ambiguity of money between fellow believers, she gave up. In block 2, there was also a man following the religion, recently this man was elected as block leader, afraid that if people knew, he would lose his position and it would be boring. As if afraid that we would be distracted, he said: "Master" Dien was inspired by Uncle Ho, so rest assured and follow him. "Master" said that the day of "liberation" is coming soon. On July 24 (AL), he will send a telegram to explain everything...

On the afternoon of July 24 (AL), we contacted "Miss" Nguyet again and were told: "Doan Vinh will go by car and everyone will gather at Ho Chi Minh Square at 8:30". As scheduled, we were directed to the edge of Quan Lau market to wait for the car. There were nearly 150 people waiting there for the Hoang Thien Long religion, most of them elderly women. At 9:00 p.m., four vans came to pick everyone up and then rolled to the front of the Cua Bac fountain garden, where dozens more people continued to board the car to make the pilgrimage to the North. There were 53 people on the car we were traveling in, so it was very cramped and hot, but no one dared to complain.

A man complained that "in this day and age, if you walk like this", he was immediately reminded, "following Uncle Ho, you have to endure hardships. The "teacher" said, the revolutionary path is arduous". Seeing this strange situation, he asked an old woman over 70 years old living near Tria Temple, Hung Loc Commune, Vinh City, and she "advised" him: traveling is difficult, which is normal. Every trip is packed with people like this, if you want to recover from your illness, you have to accept it...".

At 10:30 p.m., "Miss" Nguyet took the microphone and said: "Please ask everyone to sing the song "Like having Uncle Ho on the great victory day" so that we can recite the sutras." At this time, on the bus, people were awake, people were sleeping, some had both legs on the back of the chair, it was very chaotic, but "Miss" Nguyet still maintained the singing and reciting program until almost midnight. And even though when reciting the sutras, she called out the names of the main and assistant drivers and their license plates to pray for peace, one of the convoy's vehicles was still detained by the police and the whole convoy had to stop and wait for nearly an hour.

After 9 hours of driving, at nearly 6 am, our miserable journey with the new believers reached Phu Du village, Hong Quang commune, Ung Hoa district. This is the "origin" and also the place where "teacher" Dien established the Dai Phuc Phuc shrine. At this time, the "pilgrim" group from Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Yen Thanh districts also arrived, bringing the total number of people from Nghe An attending the ceremony to nearly 300. Just by looking at them, we can see that most of them are poor people.

(To be continued)

Nhat Lan - Viet Long