Three Types of People and the Lesson on Jealousy

On a quiet weekend afternoon, hundreds of Buddhists sat in silence within a large hall. The atmosphere was still, broken only by the warm, deep voice of the teacher. Each word seemed to penetrate the heart of every listener.

The teacher looked around, smiling gently, and asked, “Among us, who dares to raise their hand and say they will ascend to heaven when the earth ends?” The hall remained completely silent. Not a single arm went up. “Who thinks they will become an arhat?” Again, there was silence. “Who thinks they will fall into hell?” No one answered. “What about the realm of hungry ghosts?” A light laugh rippled through the crowd, yet no one raised their hand. The teacher sighed softly. “It seems most of us will become hungry ghosts. But there is something more important: people have three attitudes when they see others who are more skilled than themselves.”

A middle-aged man named Minh, sitting in the third row, leaned forward slightly. He had once been a talented engineer, but for many years, he felt uncomfortable whenever his colleagues were praised. He often spoke ill of them behind their backs and even tried to undermine them. Today, however, the teacher’s words pierced his heart.

The teacher continued, “These three types of people are: first, those who admire and learn from those who are better. Second, those who engage in healthy competition to improve themselves. Third, those who seek to harm, slander, or eliminate those who are superior. And this third type makes up the majority in this world.”

Minh felt his heart tighten. He realized that he was exactly the third type. Memories flooded back of times he had badmouthed his former boss and set traps for colleagues to win projects. A wave of guilt crashed over him.

A young Buddhist named Hung, sitting beside Minh, spoke up. “Teacher, I also feel jealousy toward my friends. But I do not know how to escape it.”

The teacher looked at Hung with a gentle tone. “You must ask the Buddha each day: ‘May everyone be better than me. May I love, cherish, and support those who are more skilled than me.’ Kneel down and pray like this, and the mind of jealousy will gradually dissolve.”

Minh fell silent. He had never considered praying for others to be better than himself. In his mind, there was only one thought: “I must be the best.” Yet the teacher’s words shone like a ray of light into the darkness of his soul.

The teacher shared another story. “In ancient times, different religious traditions argued fiercely. The king organized a debate. The Taoist tradition sent representatives, the Confucian tradition did not participate, and the Buddhist tradition sent a monk named Tri Huyen. The result was that Buddhism won, with solid reasoning in every field. However, fearing rebellion from other traditions, the king suppressed them all. Buddhism was controlled because it was too excellent.”

Minh suddenly understood. Jealousy does not only harm others; it also hinders one’s own progress and that of society. He looked back on his life: years of envy, missed opportunities, and broken relationships. All of it stemmed from that small-minded attitude.

“If you do not overcome this third psychological state,” the teacher said, “you will remain ignorant for many lifetimes. But if you break free from it, the path of talent will open for you.”

Minh took a deep breath. He decided to change. From that day on, every morning he knelt before the Buddha altar and prayed sincerely: “May I love those who are better than me. May I know how to support and learn from them.”

At first, it was incredibly difficult. Whenever he saw a colleague being praised, his heart would ache. But he persisted. He began to actively praise them and help them when needed. Gradually, he realized he was learning many new things. His work improved, and his relationships became much better.

One year later, Minh received a promotion. But the most important achievement was not the title; it was the peace in his heart. He no longer felt envy, nor did he lose sleep worrying that others might surpass him. He had learned to rejoice in the success of others.

During another dharma talk, Minh stood up to share his experience. “Teacher, I used to be the most jealous person. But thanks to your teachings, I have changed. I feel wiser and happier. Thank you, Teacher.”

The teacher smiled. “That is the path. When you overcome the mind of jealousy, you help not only yourself but also allow this world to progress.”

### The Meaning of the Story

This lesson explores the three human attitudes when encountering someone more skilled: admiration and learning, healthy competition, and harmful jealousy. The mind of jealousy harms others and stifles one’s own growth. To overcome it, we must sincerely pray for others to excel, loving and supporting them. This is the key to developing both talent and virtue, helping the world move forward.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang