Buddhist Philosophy in the Play “The Fateful Ferry Crossing”

The Buddha affirmed that all people are equal in suffering and that each individual can walk their own path toward liberation from it; no deity can offer help other than one's own continuous cultivation of faith, morality, and wisdom on the journey to enlightenment.The play Đến bờ bên kia was adapted by writer Nguyễn Huy Thiệp from his short story Sang sông.It was premiered by Thiên Đăng Theatre on September 12, 2024, under the title Chuyến đò định mệnh, directed by People's Artist Trần Minh Ngọc.The Fateful Ferry Crossing is a profoundly humanistic story reflecting the innate goodness of humankind.The play embodies Buddhist philosophy through the image of a ferry crossing from the murky shore to the clear one -an allegory of life and death, reminding us that death is inevitable: to live is to die.Humanity, from its origins in ignorance, journeys through impermanence and non-self to find personal enlightenment.The ferry serves as a powerful artistic symbol -representing a miniature society filled with various human fates, encompassing all social classes and ages, both good and evil -on their journey to "the other shore", a concept deeply rooted in the Buddhist philosophy of Dào bǐ àn (crossing to the shore of enlightenment).This article analyzes the play's script and performance in comparison with selected Buddhist sources, clarifying the message conveyed by the author through its three acts: Boarding the Ferry -Causality, On the Ferry -Human Nature, and Disembarking -Form and Emptiness.The Fateful Ferry Crossing, as a metaphorical passage across the river, offers an insightful reflection on life and humanity through the lens of Buddhist philosophy.