Three Bars of Gold from Father

During the Lunar New Year, a son returned to his hometown to visit his father. He had assumed that he would be the one caring for his aging parent, but he was surprised when his father pulled out a small cloth bag containing three glittering bars of gold. "This is a gift for you," his father said gently, his eyes full of kindness.

The son stood stunned. Holding the heavy gold in his hands, his first reaction was an overwhelming surge of joy. When money comes into one’s pocket, everyone feels happy. This is a common psychological response, and it represents the most superficial state of mind.

However, this feeling was quickly submerged by a much heavier emotion. The son thought about his father’s sweat. Each grain of gold was soaked with countless drops of perspiration and years of hard labor. His father had raised him to adulthood; now it should have been the son’s turn to care for his father. Yet, his father still thought only of his child, saving throughout his entire life just to give this gift.

He remembered a teaching from his master about two types of people who receive money from their parents. The first type is shallow, seeing only happiness because they have gained wealth. The second type possesses virtue and filial piety; they feel compassion and a heavy heart, knowing that the money represents the blood and sweat of their parents. Which category did he belong to now?

The master also spoke about how enlightened beings react when receiving offerings. A holy person does not rejoice, because they see it as a heavy responsibility. They perceive the cause and effect (karmic law) from past lives and worry about how to use the money truly beneficially for many people, creating lasting blessings from merit for both the giver and themselves.

The son realized that although it was the same gift, the same money, its meaning changed entirely depending on each person's perspective. The view of a holy being is more noble because they transcend selfish instincts and overcome the illusions of fame and profit.

Looking down at the three bars of gold in his hands, tears began to roll down his cheeks. It was not out of joy, nor out of pain, but because he started to see the distance between himself and the perspective of a holy being. He knew then that he needed to change.

The Meaning of the Story

When the same event occurs, the way we perceive and think about it differs completely based on our soul and morality. An ordinary, selfish person sees only personal pleasure. A virtuous person considers the debt of gratitude and feels compassion. A holy being sees the deep workings of cause and effect (karmic law) and bears a heavy sense of responsibility. To progress on the path of practice, we must let go of our fixed views, humbly acknowledge our limitations, and direct our minds toward higher ideals.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang