What Good Is a Fool? Goat Skin Does Not Make a Monk

Venerable Thich Chan Quang teaches about false practitioners who use threats to exploit others. He highlights the difference between genuine and fake spiritual practice, offering advice on living with detachment and cultivating quietly.

There is a story from the city of Vesali about a man who claimed to be an ascetic. He hung himself upside down from a tree branch all day to impress people. But when he stopped hanging, he would roam around, staring at others and threatening them. He said, "You are about to have an accident," or "Your house will burn down," or "Your husband will leave you." He warned that if they did not make offerings or listen to his prayers, disaster would strike. The people were afraid and gave him money, but deep inside, they only felt hatred. They feared him but did not respect him; they hated him but dared not speak out.

The Buddha heard the bhikkhus recount this story and taught:

"What good is a fool? Sick hair and goat skin. Inside, there are afflictions (kleshas), yet outside, one puts on a serious face."

We might think this is an ancient tale, but it is happening right around us today. A person wears the robes of a monk, performs miracles, and boasts of their virtue, yet inside they are filled with greed and calculation. They use fear to extract money from Buddhists. The Buddha calls such a person a fool.

Eat According to Need, Not According to Merit

No one can avoid the basic needs of eating, wearing clothes, and finding shelter. These needs are equal for everyone, whether rich or poor. However, many mistakenly believe that more merit means they should eat more and eat better. They forget that the body requires only a certain amount of food.

Eat according to the body’s needs, not according to your own merit.

Master Chan Quang tells the story of a high-ranking official who immediately refused a suitcase full of dollars. He said, "In a day, you only eat three meals. Giving me too much money will only spoil my children. I do not need it; I have no desire for it. Whether I take much or little, I still eat three meals. If I take nothing, I am still not hungry." Those with true understanding know that wealth beyond basic needs only increases sin and disturbs the mind/heart.

Needed Yet Detached: The Quality of a True Practitioner

A practitioner also needs food, clothing, and a temple to worship the Buddha. But the key lies in their attitude. Master Chan Quang points out a very simple standard:

"Everyone needs to eat, but a true practitioner is one who has needs yet remains detached. A fake practitioner is one who has needs but is greedy."

When a person needs food and clothing but does not cling to them, accepting offerings with a peaceful mind, we can trust they are a true practitioner. When someone uses their needs as a pretext to calculate, demand, or display power for personal gain, we must be cautious. The teacher shares a story of two masters conducting a meal offering ceremony. One master helped calculate costs for the Buddhists so the event could succeed. The other quoted a price of thirty million, including a ten-million profit margin. The first was still essentially begging; the second had turned into a service provider. By looking at their faces, one can instantly tell who is a true practitioner and who is a fake.

Repeating Cause and Effect and the Trap of Love

This dharma talk also reveals a law of cause and effect (karmic law): humans tend to repeat what they have done in the past. That ascetic who hung from the tree had been an ascetic in many previous lives, using threats to get money. Therefore, if we do not awaken, we may "rebirth" into our old karma. This explains why some people feel familiar upon meeting for the first time, fall deeply in love, and then face endless arguments.

"Who is truly worthy of being loved with all your heart? Only those who have attained the stage of Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna) or higher."

Those who have not attained enlightenment, even if they have a charming smile or shy demeanor, will reveal their aggressive, selfish, and greedy nature when tested. Sentient beings meet and love each other, but in reality, they only gather suffering (dukkha). So, when you see someone beautiful and captivating, do not rush to give them your whole heart. Quietly recognize that they are not yet saints. If you have karma that binds you together, accept the karma. If you can escape, return to your practice.

Rising Silently Amidst the World

The Buddha taught that amidst a world full of sorrow, fools, and evil people, we cannot live peacefully without protecting our own minds. We must practice silently, live ethically, bow to the Buddha, and try to guide others toward the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). Only when the number of holy people increases will life become happier for us and everyone else.

Amidst a selfish world, strive to love. Amidst a world obsessed with pleasure, strive to practice. Do not let goat skin or any external appearance deceive you. Live with a pure mind/heart.