The Successful Person: Two Paths, One Secret from the Buddha

Have you ever asked yourself what true success really is? Is it a university degree, a beautiful house, a luxury car, or high status in society? If so, then both you and I may be holding onto a concept that will exhaust us for an entire lifetime. In his dharma talk titled "The Successful Person," Venerable Thich Chan Quang touched upon the very root of this issue.

"Success has two meanings. So I am sharing them with you so that you may choose. The first meaning is this: to become wealthy, living in mansions with fine cars, possessing power and titles. That is the first definition. The second meaning of success is that you are able to help many people."

## Two Meanings of Success

At first glance, the first meaning seems to be what everyone desires. However, Venerable Chan Quang shared that the first path—always centered on the ego—can only bring fleeting happiness. The second path, which places its focus on helping others, leads to sustainable success.

He opened up an interesting question: "To help many people, do we need to be rich and have high status?" The answer given by his students in Quang Binh deeply moved him. They chose the second path—the beautiful path. But here is the crucial point: to help others, one does not necessarily need wealth or high rank.

## Engineers and Workers: Who is Superior?

Venerable Chan Quang offered a very everyday example. Imagine a construction site where there are seventy engineers but only one worker. Can the project be completed? Certainly not. Each person plays a role, and all are necessary. Therefore, from a social perspective, the engineer earns a higher salary and holds more authority. But from a moral perspective, every effort of dedication is equal.

"From the aspect of morality, the act of dedication is completely equal among all, without distinction."

The lesson here is clear: fulfill your responsibilities in whatever position you hold. Do not harbor dreams that exceed your capabilities, because what Americans call "climbing to a position beyond one's competence" will only bring suffering and failure.

## Four Elements of a Successful Person

So, what do we truly need to achieve real success? Venerable Chan Quang distilled a simple yet profound formula:

"To have success, we must possess four things. First, merit; second, wisdom; third, health; and fourth, ethics."

If even one of these four elements is missing, it becomes difficult to sustain a stable career.

## What is Merit and Where Does It Come From?

Among the four elements, merit seems the most mysterious. Venerable Chan Quang explained:

"Merit is something secret and invisible, yet it naturally brings us luck. It opens paths for us so that we may make free choices."

Merit is the energy source that helps us encounter unexpected good fortune and provides many options in life. Without merit, we cannot freely buy the car we like or choose the path we desire. So, where does merit come from? He answered: "To have merit, we must create it. How do we create it? By helping everyone... without expecting anything in return."

He also summarized an interesting law: "If you do not love work, you will not have work." If we avoid assigned tasks since childhood, we will face difficulties finding employment as adults. This is cause and effect (karmic law). The secret to resolving this is to learn to love labor and voluntarily help others, whether through making offerings at the temple or assisting neighbors.

## The Journey of Perfection

Success is not a final destination, but a journey of perfection. Let us begin today: build merit by actively helping others, nurture wisdom, maintain health, and cultivate ethics. When we do this, no matter what position we hold, we will be truly successful people.