Visiting the Temple at the Start of the Year: What Journey for a Human Life?

**Summary:** Visiting the temple at the start of the year: it’s not just about paying respects to the Buddha or admiring flowers, but also an opportunity to bring joy to others, to choose a path of service, and to find peace for the entire year.

There is a Vietnamese saying: "Whatever you do at the start of the year, you will encounter throughout the year." So if we step through the temple gate at the start of the year, what do we receive? A statue of the Buddha to pay respect to, flowers to admire, vegetarian food to enjoy, and the joyful chance to gather together. But have we ever asked ourselves: Where is this life heading? And on that journey, should we go fast or slow?

**Life is a Journey**

We are born into the stream of life and must then walk forward. No one can stand still. Whether we want to or not, each person is on a journey. Venerable Thích Chân Quang reminds us:

Living is a trip, life is a journey. From the moment we are born into this world, we are compelled, forced, and placed upon the stream of life where we must walk. No one can remain still.

Therefore, what matters is not that we move, but which path we choose. Do not let life push you to the edge of a cliff. Choose the path that leads to sunlight, happiness, and joy.

**Two Bright Paths for a Lifetime**

According to the Venerable, there are only two meaningful paths: one is to live in service, dedicating oneself to bringing joy, happiness, and benefit to everyone; the other is to live to bring morality, spirituality, and enlightenment to all beings. The second path is for those with deeper affinities, requiring self-cultivation first. As for the first path, anyone can begin practicing it right away.

The fascinating thing is that when we choose the path of service, we receive unexpected karmic rewards. He tells the story of a student studying psychology abroad in the United States, a very difficult field. This student always helped classmates who were better than him, sharing materials without competing. When applying for a doctoral program where only five were chosen from two hundred and fifty applicants, he maintained his wish to help others. Then:

Because I followed my teacher’s advice, throughout my studies I always sought ways to help my classmates do better than me. Whatever I knew, I shared completely. Even though the competition was fierce, I just wanted to help my friends succeed more than me. And most wonderfully, as the oral exam approached, some extremely challenging questions appeared in my mind. When the exam began, the professors asked exactly those questions. Thus, I answered with confidence and was accepted with a full scholarship.

He concluded: I wanted others to be better, but in the end, I was the one who succeeded. This is the absolute law of cause and effect.

**To Go Fast or to Go Slow?**

Everyone wants to succeed and contribute greatly. But why can’t we always do grand things? The Venerable explains: to make great merit, we must have merit. To go fast, we need a vehicle—that is, merit. So, we should go slowly and first make small merits.

You cannot go fast. Why? Because you don’t have the vehicle. What does that mean? It means you lack merit. We want to go fast, but we cannot because we do not have enough merit. Therefore, we must proceed slowly, step by step.

Going slowly does not mean being lazy. Going slowly means we do our utmost with our current ability. For example, if you wish to donate ten billion to a temple but haven’t won the lottery, then contribute a little each day: fifty thousand to buy two kilograms of rice. Gradually, you will have a bag of rice, then a cartload. The important thing is not to be impatient, not to create debt and then flee. Be patient, walk steadily, and when you have the capacity, you can go faster.

**The Start of the Year: Bringing Joy to One Another**

During the New Year, tradition compels us to be happy. We contribute to the collective joy with fine clothes, a kind attitude, and a smile. The Venerable shares about people who serve quietly: an overseas Vietnamese couple serving rice, a television actor washing dishes. They do this because:

It is to bring joy to others. They have jobs and status abroad, but when they return, they just enjoy carrying and serving. And that famous actor just dives into the kitchen to wash dishes from morning until night. The act of humbly lowering oneself to serve everyone and bring joy to others is what is truly meaningful in this life.

**Connecting with the Temple: Faith in Cause and Effect**

Visiting the temple at the start of the year to pay respect to the Buddha creates a connection with the divine and receives blessings. The Venerable says: when we go to what we cherish most at the start of the year, the karmic effect is greater than on ordinary days. Therefore, recite the Buddha’s name before starting your car, so that your entire journey may be peaceful.

I require all disciples: for example, when you get in the car, before turning the ignition key, you must recite the Buddha’s name first. When we remember the Buddha at the beginning, then throughout that journey, we will be at peace. And this life is precisely such a journey.

Each day, we walk on our own journey. Remember the Buddha at the start of the trip, so peace will be with you until the end of the road.

**Conclusion: Choose the Path of Love**

At the start of the year, take a moment to reflect on your life. Where are you going? Going fast or slow? Alone or with everyone? Choose the path of service, bring joy to others, and do not forget to recite the Buddha’s name for peace. As the Venerable teaches:

What is the purpose of living? To bring joy and happiness to everyone. Remind yourself of this daily in your mind, in your thoughts, and the Buddha will give you the opportunity to realize it.

Wishing you all peace and blessings at the beginning of the new year, with steady steps on the journey of enlightenment and love.