Cô Ký Giỏi

Miss Ky Giói, whose real name was Triệu Thị Vạng, was born in 1897 (Đinh Dậu). She was the second child of Mr. Triệu Vạng Tượng (born 1863, died 1925), a Vietnamese of Chinese descent in Bạc Liêu. She had a tall stature and elegant long limbs. Her husband was Mr. Võ Văn Giỏi, a former secretary of the Nam Kỳ Soái phủ in Châu Thành, Bạc Liêu, so she was often called Mrs. Ky Giói or Miss Ky Giói. After her father had a dream instructing her to seek refuge in Buddhism, she traveled from Bạc Liêu to Tổ Đình Hòa Hảo in 1939 to take refuge with Đức Thầy. Later, Đức Thầy gave her the special nickname Diệu Giác. She passed away on October 27, 1987 (Đinh Mão), at the age of 96.

1/. The reason Đức Thầy stayed at Mrs. Ky Giói’s house:

In Sa Đéc, after a period of questioning and being impressed by Đức Thầy’s virtue, Cò Ba-Zin said: “Now there’s an order from the Lang-Sa government prohibiting Ông Tư Truyền Đạo and also not allowing him to return to the Hòa Hảo sanctuary, so he must find a familiar place to stay in Cần-Thơ province.”

On the morning of April 18 in the year of Canh-Thìn, Mr. Hồ Viết Long took his Renault car with license plate CL 609 painted in the color dark red, take Master Đức to Mr. Hương-Bộ Võ-Mậu-Thạnh’s house (In Rạch Sua-Đủa, Xà-No canal…Cần-Thơ).

After being there for over two months, the authorities in Can Tho demanded his presence. Upon arrival, he was detained and sent to the Can Tho Hospital for examination on June 29th, 1940 (the year of Canh Thin). 

To test his abilities, the director of the Can Tho hospital (Dr. Favot) asked him to speak about Taoism. The Master then explained fluently for about half an hour. It’s unclear how Doctor Chi (an Indochinese stream physician working there) interpreted it, but later, when meeting Mr. Do Van Vien (a veterinarian in Can Tho, now residing in Chau Doc), the Master said: “Doctor Chi… interpretation is incorrect!” 

With the intention of keeping him under house arrest, on July 4th, 1940 (the year of the Dragon), they took the Master directly from Can Tho to Cho Quan Hospital (Saigon) to “treat his mental illness.” This was the largest hospital in Saigon during the French colonial period, specializing in infectious diseases, leprosy, and mental disorders. 

Initially, they assigned guards to strictly watch over him and forbade visits. Later, lawyer Mai Van Dau, through his connections, found a way to visit the Master. During that time, Mr. Dau tried every means to secure the Master’s release from the hospital. Because the French authorities believed he was gathering people to oppose the French government, they required anyone who wanted to bail him out to declare their property and sign a commitment stating that if he escaped or caused any violence, their property would be confiscated. Mr. Mai Van Dau completed all the necessary procedures, but they still refused to release the Master.

At that time, Mr. Dậu tried every way to secure the release of Đức Thầy from the hospital. The French authorities, believing that He was gathering people against the Lang Sa government, required anyone who wanted to guarantee His release to declare their property and make a written commitment that if He escaped or caused any disturbance, their assets would be confiscated. Mr. Mai Văn Dậu completed all the procedures, but they still hesitated to release Đức Thầy.

Later, because of the respect for Đức Thầy’s virtue, Dr. Trần Văn Tâm – the director of Chợ Quán Hospital at the time – loosened the controls, so followers and relatives were then able to visit Đức Thầy.

After nearly 10 months and 7 days, through many trials (giving Him acid, injecting poison), seeing that He showed no unusual symptoms and coupled with Dr. Tâm’s positive reports, on May 11 in the year Tân Tỵ (1941), the French authorities summoned those who had made the guarantee (including Mr. Mai Văn Dậu) to complete the procedure to release Đức Thầy.

During the procedure, they asked Đức Thầy where He intended to stay.

He replied that He would go to Mr. H’s house at Bac Lieu.

They immediately forced Councilor Điều to make a pledge just like Mr. Mai Văn Dậu did (declaring property and making a guarantee form), so Councilor Điều was too scared to act as a guarantor.

At that time, Mr. Võ Văn Giỏi immediately spoke up and agreed to carry out the pledge procedures to guarantee Đức Thầy lodging at his house (by then he had retired after working as a secretary for the Nam Kỳ Governor’s office).

After completing all the procedures, the French authorities took Ngài to the French Police station (Catina station) for an additional 8 days of investigation before finally releasing Him.

On May 19th, the year Tân Tỵ (1941), Đức Thầy was escorted home to Ms. Ký Giỏi by the followers. Đức Thầy stayed at Ms. Ký Giỏi’s house for about 485 days (i.e., 1 year, 2 months, and 11 days). Ms. Ký had become a disciple of Đức Thầy when He was still in Hòa Hảo village, so when Đức Thầy stayed at her house, she was very happy to be close to Him to further learn about morality. Naturally, the concern and help she provided for Đức Thầy were very important to her.

During the time Master stayed at Mr. Ky Giai’s house, the French authorities guarded very strictly, not allowing anyone to visit Master, and every beginning of the week, soldiers would come to summon Him to report in, rain or shine. 

Impressed by Master’s virtue and after witnessing Master extinguishing a fire at a gas station kilometers away and making an electric fan spin automatically, Mr. Ky Giai and three Western-educated friends asked to be initiated in the refuge ceremony with Master. 

Mr. Ky Gioi was a devoted follower, believing that ‘taking refuge means following properly,’ and from then on diligently practiced the faith. He created a private room in the house where he maintained silence to cultivate his mind and character. He rarely left the room, and because he practiced regularly, he always wore a long robe; even when unexpected visitors came, he was solemnly dressed in his religious attire. When Amitabha Buddha appeared to him and confirmed his rebirth in the Pure Land, he shared the news with his family to follow. While his health was very good, showing no signs of illness, on the afternoon of the 5th day of the 9th month of the Quý Tỵ year, 1953, he bathed and cleaned himself, and by the night of the 26th, Amitabha Buddha welcomed him to the Western Pure Land. He lived to 61 years old. 

In 1953, Mr. Ký passed away, being a root ancestor, he was buried in the spacious family grave of the Triệu clan. In this area, right next to his grave, there is a square plot built with a fence ready, waiting for Mrs. Ký to come here to rest at her hundredth year. The family had prepared a place for her next to her husband, but she did not follow this plan and passed away in 1987 at the age of 90; her grave is now in Bình Dương province! 

2/. The poem “For Cô Ký Giỏi” 

On September 2nd, 1942 (the Year of the Nhâm-Ngũ), the French authorities decided to send Đức Thầy to Laos. Some loyal followers, upon hearing the news, organized a surprise to bring Him back to Saigon, to Lefebvre Street – Nguyễn Công Trứ, escaping the control of the French authorities. 

On one occasion, some landowners (in Bạc Liêu), friends of Cô Ký Giỏi, were chatting with each other (around 1944 – after Đức Thầy had returned to Saigon). They discussed that they had vast estates, never knowing when their end time would come, afraid that when the end time comes, dying and leaving behind much wealth would be a waste. Cô Ký then promised she would go to Saigon to ask Đức Thầy when the tend time would be as according to her, only the Master could answer this question.

Later, she visited Đức Thầy… and even though she stayed for 7 days, she still didn’t get a chance to ask him. It was time to leave for Bạc Liêu, and she didn’t know how to answer her friends since she had promised to tell them. Understanding her feelings, Đức Thầy gifted her the poem “For Cô Ký Giỏi” as we know. During the time Đức Thầy stayed at 168, 150, 38 Lefèbre Street, office number 8 at the corner of Sohier-Miche Street, Saigon (moving around frequently), Cô Ký often came and went, handling meals and taking care of Đức Thầy and the disciples from the Mekong Delta who stayed with him at the office.

In 1946, Đức Thầy went to the Eastern war zone and by April 7, 1947, he traveled by boat from Phú Thành village, Chợ Mời district, Long Xuyên province (now Thanh Bình district, Đồng Tháp province). He borrowed the house of the head of the Ministry to set up an office, and Cô Ký always stayed by Đức Thầy’s side. 

On the afternoon of the 23rd day of the second lunar month in the year of Đinh Hợi (April 16, 1947), Đức Thầy and some disciples planning to board the boat, traveling along the Ba Răng rivulet toward An Phong to attend the conference on the invitation of Mr. Trần Văn Nguyên. Followers at the Phú Thành office went down to the pier to see off Đức Thầy, including Mr. Nguyễn-Giác-Ngộ, Mr. Mai-Văn-Dậu, Miss Ký Giỏi, and a few others. 

Miss Ký said, ‘Master, let me go with You.’ Đức Thầy smiled and said, ‘Miss Diệu, what good would it do for you to follow me! I didn’t give birth to you just to return you to Mr. Ký.’ Mr. Dậu saw she was reluctant, so he took her hand and helped her up onto the shore. 

3/. Đức Thầy instructed Miss Nguyễn Thị Nhạn to assist Miss Ký Giỏi: 

When Đức Thầy was moved by the French to live at Mrs. Ký Giỏi’s house, Miss Nguyễn Thị Nhạn from Saigon sneaked into Mrs. Ký Giỏi’s house to pay respects to Đức Thầy. After the visit, she asked about learning the teachings from Đức Thầy. Later, Đức Thầy told Miss Nhạn, ‘In the future, I’ll rely on you to take care of and help Mrs. Ký.’

“I know about that,” the Master affirmed to Ms. Sau.

The Master didn’t explain, but in the mystical sense, His words to Mrs. Sau Nhan were a command that had to be carried out. Indeed, later on, Mrs. Ky Gioi, in her final years, had to depend on Mrs. Sau Nhan for care, and she passed away there.

After April 1975, Mr. and Mrs. Vo Van Gioi’s house was taken over by the authorities and set up as the Bac Lieu Provincial Library (now, Bac Lieu province has built a new library, so this house is arranged as a tourist spot in the Western Street area of Bac Lieu), and their children fled abroad and became scattered.

Mrs. Ky had to live a homeless life, but while she was still able to walk steadily, she went around spreading kindness. When she became sick, all the heavenly forces worked to bring her to the place the Master had predetermined, allowing Mrs. Sau Nhan to carry out the Master’s command correctly.

The Master’s prophecy instructed Ms. Sau Nhan to help and care for Mrs. Ky. Even though Mrs. Sau Nhan didn’t believe it was true at first, in the final years, with Mrs. Ky old and sick and no longer able to serve the faith, she went to live with Mrs. Sau in Binh Duong because there was a command to take care of Mrs. Ký from above, Aunt Six had to wait until Mrs. Ký had been blessed for four years and her grave was properly cared for before Aunt Six could find peace on April 22, 1991. 

At the grave, on the tablet holding her portrait, on both sides are four lines of poetry from the poem 

“For Aunt Ký Who Lived Well in Bạc Liêu” as follows:

“Second aunt, you have gone away, 

Yet why is the mind full of worries? 

How to untangle these sorrows, 

For the Teacher, for friends, and for oneself.”