The Story of the Two Brothers and the Magic Tree

Long ago, in a prosperous village nestled between rolling hills and fertile farmland in central Vietnam, there lived two brothers whose contrasting characters would become the subject of a tale told for generations. The elder brother, named Tham, was known throughout the village for his selfishness and greed, while the younger brother, named Duc, was beloved for his generous heart and kind nature.

Both brothers had inherited equal portions of their parents’ wealth when they passed away, including fertile rice fields, a comfortable house, and sufficient savings to live well. However, their different approaches to life quickly led them down very different paths. Tham constantly schemed to increase his wealth and possessions, often at the expense of others, while Duc freely shared what he had with those in need.

Tham was never satisfied with what he possessed. He would charge high interest rates when lending money to struggling neighbors, demand excessive rent from tenants who worked his land, and always looked for ways to take advantage of others’ misfortunes. His house was filled with hoarded goods and treasures, but his heart remained empty and his relationships with others grew increasingly strained.

Duc, on the other hand, lived simply and generously. He would lend money without interest to those who needed it, often forgetting to ask for repayment entirely. He shared his harvests with poor families, offered free labor to elderly neighbors, and opened his home to travelers who needed shelter. While his material possessions were modest, he was rich in friendship and respected throughout the community.

One day, both brothers decided to travel to a distant market town to buy goods for trade. They planned to take different routes and meet again upon their return, each hoping to find profitable opportunities during their journey. Their contrasting approaches to this simple business trip would lead to extraordinary consequences that would change their lives forever.

Tham chose what he believed was the most direct and profitable route, avoiding any detours that might delay his business or require him to spend money on others. He packed light, bringing only the minimum food and water needed for himself, and set out early in the morning with his mind focused solely on the potential profits awaiting him.

Duc took a longer, more scenic route that passed through several small villages where he knew people might need help or companionship. He packed extra food and supplies, planning to share with anyone he might encounter along the way. His journey was not just about business but about the connections he could make and the assistance he could provide to others.

On the second day of his journey, Duc came upon an unusual sight in a forest clearing. An enormous tree unlike any he had ever seen stood majestically in the center of the open space. Its trunk was wider than a house, its branches reached impossibly high into the sky, and its leaves shimmered with an otherworldly golden light that seemed to pulse gently like a heartbeat.

As Duc approached the magnificent tree in wonder, he discovered a very old man sitting in its massive shade. The elderly stranger appeared to be a traveler who had stopped to rest, but there was something extraordinary about him. His eyes held ancient wisdom, his weathered face radiated kindness, and despite his simple clothing, he possessed an aura of profound dignity and power.

“Good afternoon, grandfather,” Duc said respectfully, using the traditional Vietnamese term of respect for elderly people. “Are you resting well? Do you need any food or water? I have extra supplies and would be happy to share them with you.”

The old man smiled warmly at Duc’s offer. “You are very kind, young man. I am indeed hungry and thirsty from my travels, and I would be grateful for your generosity.” Duc immediately unpacked his food and water, sharing the best of what he had with the stranger and insisting that the old man eat his fill before taking anything for himself.

As they shared the meal, the old man asked Duc about his life, his family, and his reasons for traveling. Duc spoke honestly about his business trip but also mentioned his hope of helping others along the way and his concern for his brother, whose greedy nature had caused increasing problems in their village.

“You have a good heart,” the old man observed. “It is rare to meet someone who thinks first of others’ needs before his own. Tell me, what do you think of this remarkable tree under which we sit?”

Duc looked up at the golden-leafed giant with admiration. “It is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen,” he said honestly. “There seems to be something magical about it. I feel peaceful and happy just being in its presence, as if it radiates goodness and blessing to all who come near it.”

The old man nodded approvingly. “Your perception is correct. This is indeed a magical tree, placed here by the celestial powers to test the hearts of mortals and reward those who prove worthy. Because you have shown kindness to a stranger and demonstrated the generous spirit that lives within you, I will share the tree’s secret with you.”

He explained that the tree possessed the power to grant wishes, but only to those who approached it with pure hearts and unselfish intentions. “If you make a wish while touching the trunk of this tree,” the old man said, “it will be granted. But remember, the tree knows the true nature of your heart. It will only fulfill wishes that come from genuine need or the desire to help others, not from greed or selfish ambition.”

Duc was amazed by this revelation but also thoughtful. After considering carefully, he placed his hand on the tree’s golden bark and made his wish: “I wish for enough prosperity to take care of my family’s needs and to have resources to help the poor and needy in my village. I don’t need great wealth, just enough to live comfortably and share generously with others.”

The moment he finished speaking, Duc felt a warm sensation flowing through his hand from the tree. The old man smiled and told him that his wish had been granted, though the results might not be immediately apparent. He advised Duc to continue his journey with confidence and to trust that the tree’s magic would unfold in the most beneficial way.

Duc thanked the mysterious old man, completed his business in the market town successfully, and began his journey home. Along the way, he discovered that every business transaction he attempted turned out remarkably well. Goods that he had expected to buy at regular prices were offered to him at significant discounts. Items he had planned to sell found eager buyers willing to pay premium prices. By the time he reached home, his modest trading venture had generated surprising profits.

More importantly, Duc found that his increased prosperity allowed him to help others in ways he had never been able to before. He could lend money to struggling farmers without worrying about repayment, donate generously to families facing hardship, and support community projects that benefited everyone in the village.

Meanwhile, Tham had returned from his own journey frustrated and angry. Despite his careful planning and single-minded focus on profit, his business dealings had gone poorly. He had encountered unexpected expenses, been cheated by dishonest merchants, and faced delays that cost him both time and money. His greed and lack of consideration for others had created a negative energy that seemed to attract misfortune.

When Tham learned of his brother’s success and the magical tree, his reaction was immediate and predictable. He demanded that Duc tell him exactly where to find this miraculous source of wishes, convinced that he could use it to gain the vast wealth he had always craved.

Duc tried to warn his brother about the tree’s requirement for pure intentions, explaining that it only granted wishes to those with generous hearts and unselfish motives. But Tham dismissed these warnings as superstition, believing that he could outsmart any magical conditions through cleverness and determination.

Against his better judgment, Duc provided directions to the magical tree, hoping that perhaps encountering its power might somehow change his brother’s heart for the better. Tham immediately set out on the journey, his mind filled with grand plans for the wealth and power he would soon possess.

When Tham reached the forest clearing, he found the same magnificent tree that his brother had described, its golden leaves shimmering in the sunlight. However, he saw no sign of the mysterious old man. Impatient and focused only on his goal, Tham rushed directly to the tree without pause or reflection.

Placing both hands on the trunk, Tham made his wish with greedy enthusiasm: “I wish to be the richest man in all of Vietnam! I want vast estates, countless servants, chests full of gold and precious gems, and power over everyone in my region. I want so much wealth that I never have to work again and can spend my life in luxury and comfort!”

The moment he finished speaking, Tham felt a different sensation from what his brother had experienced. Instead of the warm, comforting energy that had flowed through Duc, Tham felt a cold, unsettling force that seemed to drain something essential from his being. The tree’s leaves rustled ominously, and the golden light seemed to dim in his presence.

Suddenly, the mysterious old man appeared before Tham, but now his appearance was stern and his eyes held disappointment rather than kindness. “Young man,” he said in a voice that carried the weight of celestial authority, “you have approached this sacred tree with a heart full of greed and selfishness. The magic you seek to exploit is not meant for personal gain but for the betterment of all beings.”

Before Tham could respond, the old man continued: “Since you wish for wealth above all else, and since your heart values material possessions more than human relationships, you shall have your desire, but not in the way you imagine. You will indeed become the richest creature in your domain, but your wealth will be of a kind that reflects your true nature.”

With those words, the old man and the magical tree began to fade from view, and Tham found himself transformed. Instead of gaining human wealth and power, he had been changed into a large, sleek rat with an insatiable appetite for hoarding. As a rat, he was indeed the richest of his kind in terms of the food and small objects he could gather and store, but he had lost his humanity and the ability to enjoy the wealth he had so desperately craved.

Tham the rat found himself driven by an uncontrollable urge to collect and hoard everything he could find. He would steal grain from farmers, gather shiny objects from houses, and create vast underground stores of goods that he could never truly enjoy. His life became a endless cycle of acquisition without satisfaction, exactly reflecting the spiritual poverty that had characterized his human existence.

Meanwhile, Duc continued to prosper in meaningful ways. His business ventures succeeded consistently, allowing him to expand his ability to help others. He built schools for poor children, supported elderly people who had no families, and created opportunities for young people to learn trades and improve their lives. His wealth grew, but so did his positive impact on his community.

The contrast between the brothers became a powerful lesson for everyone in their village. Duc’s generosity and pure heart had attracted genuine blessings that benefited not only himself but countless others. His prosperity created ripples of positive change that spread throughout the region, improving life for many families and communities.

Tham’s transformation, while tragic, served as a warning about the ultimate consequences of greed and selfishness. His fate reminded people that the pursuit of wealth without regard for others leads not to happiness but to a kind of spiritual poverty that can consume one’s entire being.

The story of the two brothers and the magic tree became one of Vietnam’s most beloved moral tales, passed down through generations as a teaching tool for children and adults alike. It illustrated the fundamental principle that our character and intentions determine the quality of our lives far more than our external circumstances or material possessions.

Parents would tell this story to help their children understand the importance of generosity, kindness, and consideration for others. The tale demonstrated that while material success might seem desirable, true prosperity comes from the relationships we build, the good we do for others, and the purity of heart we maintain throughout our lives.

The magic tree in the story came to symbolize the universe’s tendency to respond to our deepest intentions and character. Like the tree, life itself seems to reward those who approach it with generous hearts and punish those who seek only selfish gain. The story teaches that the magic we seek in the world is often a reflection of the magic we carry within ourselves through our choices and actions.