The Joy of the Noble and the Joy of the Ordinary: Which Are You Choosing?

This article distinguishes between two types of joy: the pleasure of ordinary beings and the peace of noble ones. It helps each person recognize which choice brings lasting happiness and deep merit.

Have you ever felt a surge of satisfaction when scolding someone, or joy because you endured patience before an angry person? Although both feelings are called joy, their natures are completely different. One type agitates the mind, fuels pride, and creates more karma. The other brings tranquility, lightens the ego, and increases merit.

Two Types of Joy: Pleasure and Peace

In his teachings, Venerable Thich Chan Quang offers a very everyday example. A person comes home boasting that they just scolded someone badly, even slapping them a few times without receiving any retaliation back. That feeling is thrilling and pleasurable. But another person might recount how they were wrongly scolded by an elder, yet remained patient, apologizing repeatedly until the other person’s anger subsided. Both experiences involve joy, but the latter is the joy of one who knows how to practice.

"The second joy is the joy of the noble ones. The second joy is the joy of those who know how to cultivate."

When we see someone in anger, if we practice patience and awaken compassion, helping their anger subside, we create merit. This is true peace—a type of joy that does not depend on external circumstances but arises from within our own compassion and endurance.

When Building a House: Is It Yours or the Buddha's?

Venerable Thich Chan Quang shares his feelings when building meditation halls. Anyone with a new house likes to touch every wall and pillar. However, the teacher thinks differently: "This house belongs to the Buddha, to the donors, to the Sangha, and to the nation of Vietnam." On paper, he is the name holder, but in truth, he is merely a temporary resident managing it for proper use.

"This house belongs to the Buddha and to the generous donors."

When we see ourselves only as temporary managers, our mind no longer clings. The joy at such moments is gentle, unattached to possessions. This is the joy of the noble ones. If we keep thinking, "This is mine," our mind becomes agitated. Soon after, when we lose it, we suffer.

Facing Praise: Ordinary Joy or Noble Joy?

If we feel happy immediately when praised, without pausing to reflect, that is the joy of ordinary beings. We mistakenly believe the goodness belongs solely to us. But when hearing praise, if we immediately think of relying on the Buddha’s teachings, our teachers, countless good conditions, and the support of others, we find joy in offering that praise back.

"If the master rejoices immediately, the master has been deceived."

Teacher Chan Quang says that when someone praises his singing, he does not rush to believe it, knowing his voice is poor. Instead, he thanks the praiser for exerting great effort to be polite. When we view our achievements as results of many causes and conditions, we no longer cling to the self. The joy then is peace, the joy of the noble ones.

Rich or Poor: Where Does True Happiness Lie?

Ordinary people fear poverty and crave wealth. But noble ones prefer poverty. Why? Because noble ones have eradicated desire. We suffer because we want what we do not have. We become rich so we can get whatever we want. But noble ones want nothing, so they are always complete.

"A noble one does not seek to destroy desire, but abandons it."

Teacher Chan Quang admits he is the poorest person in the world because he still desires too much—building temples in Nghe An, constructing meditation halls, and wanting many other places. Wanting much while lacking means being poor. Noble ones, having abandoned all cravings, are rich even living simply. Poverty is not suffering; it is a type of happiness when we know contentment.

Sharing and Loving: Joy That Spreads

In life, enjoying money and possessions solely for oneself is the pleasure of ordinary beings. But using resources wisely to benefit many people transforms that joy into spreading peace. The teacher tells of a husband who used money to buy a delicious feast, eating alone while his wife was away. That joy was confined to the ego and led to divorce. When we learn to share, that joy becomes merit.

The most wonderful thing is loving many people. Loving a few is ordinary happiness. Loving boundlessly, infinitely many, is the happiness of noble ones. To achieve this, we must long cultivate a heart of compassion.

"We must practice until, whenever there is a large festival like this, standing among everyone, our heart truly and sincerely loves all people."

Standing amidst the crowd, we feel connection, loving all without discrimination. At that moment, our heart carries the flame of compassion. When parting, we take that flame home, to work, loving those around us.

Living with the Joy of the Noble Ones

Each day, ask yourself: What type of joy did I experience today? When we realize everything belongs to the Buddha and to all, when we let go of claiming credit, when we choose simplicity to eliminate greed, and when we love widely—that is when we step into the stream of noble peace. Begin today, gently, step by step, so that this joy becomes the essence of your soul.