Why Are Some People Loved and Respected Wherever They Go?

Have you ever wondered why some people are loved and respected wherever they go? They are no wealthier than anyone else, yet they always receive affection and appreciation from others. Could it simply be good luck? The Buddha gave the answer through a short verse in the Dhammapada.

A Short Verse, A Profound Lesson

While speaking with his disciples, the Buddha once taught:

"The Buddha said there is a verse teaching that one who has moral discipline, a pure heart, and sufficient reputation and wealth will be respected wherever they go."

A person with moral discipline, a pure heart, and sufficient reputation and wealth will be respected wherever they go. But wealth here does not only mean material possessions—it is the richness of the heart, the blessings from merit accumulated over many lifetimes.

The Story of the Wealthy Man Chita: Cause and Effect (Karmic Law) Born from a Kind Heart

This verse was spoken by the Buddha after the story of the wealthy man Chita. He was a rich man who was warmly welcomed wherever he went. But few knew that in a previous life he had been a hunter. One day, while in the forest, he was caught in the rain and saw a monk meditating in a rocky cave. Thinking the monk might be hungry, he braved the rain, returned to his village to find food offerings, and brought them back for making offerings. This small act, arising from a sincere heart that spared no difficulty, allowed merit to accumulate thickly over many lifetimes. Because of this, when he was reborn, he became a wealthy man loved by all, and eventually he met the Buddha and attained the fruit of sainthood.

"Because the merit he accumulated was so thick, over so many lifetimes, when he died he was reborn in the heavenly realms."

The Law of Cause and Effect (Karmic Law) Never Fails

Some people think that doing good brings no blessings from merit, and doing evil brings no fault. But the Buddha taught that the law of cause and effect (karmic law) is like a fair ledger—when the fruit ripens, it will be repaid with precision. Conversely, in an old Persian story, a young man had the habit of warmly welcoming travelers, only to drive them away the next morning. Due to his accumulated merit, he became king for a day, but the evil in his heart also brought him suffering. The law of cause and effect (karmic law) operates bit by bit, and nothing escapes it.

"All the joy we bring to others will later return into our own lives, bit by bit, without fail, without slipping away in the slightest."

Living for Others Is Living for Ourselves

In daily life, we can apply this teaching by always putting ourselves in the position of others, caring about their joys and sorrows. Master Chân Quang shared: "In life, whenever someone comes to us, welcome them warmly. Always be concerned that they may not yet feel at ease." When we have such a heart, blessings from merit naturally increase. He told of a young man who wanted so desperately to become a famous singer that he suffered a psychological crisis. The master advised him to sing in order to bring love into the world, not to become famous. When our goal is selfless, we will find true happiness.

"In this life, let us always try to put ourselves in the position of those around us—asking whether they are satisfied, whether they are happy, whether they have become more virtuous—rather than thinking only of ourselves."

Each of Us Can Create Something Wonderful

In the middle of the talk, the master also mentioned a great joy: Vietnam being chosen as the host of the International Vesak Celebration in two thousand and eight. This was not only an honor for Vietnamese Buddhism but also an opportunity for every Buddhist to express their devotion through concrete actions: lending a hand, attending the ceremony, and helping maintain its solemnity. As the master said, "Whether the ceremony is solemn depends on many people attending with reverence." When many people gather, each with a sincere heart, that itself is the most noble form of making offerings.

The Buddha taught that if we know how to live with such a heart, merit will gradually accumulate, and we will become people who are loved and respected by all, like the wealthy man Chita. Let us begin today, with the smallest things—a smile, a kind word, a sincere act of help—so that we ourselves may become a Buddha in the making, bringing joy to the world.