Thirty Young Lords and the Missing Girl

On a moonless night in an ancient city, within an opulent mansion, the flickering light of oil lamps fell upon wooden tables laden with wine and meat. Cacophonous laughter and the pungent smell of alcohol filled the air. Thirty young men of wealthy lineage, their faces flushed red, were drinking endlessly with a few girls they had brought for entertainment.

The cause was that these young lords had lived lives of reckless indulgence, day after day squandering their fortunes on liquor and lust. That night, they hosted a party lasting until dawn. After the revelry, belongings lay scattered, and the drunkards collapsed onto sleeping mats as if dead.

Among the girls, one was exceptionally beautiful with keen eyes. When everyone was deep in slumber, she quietly sat up, her heart pounding. Looking around, she saw the gold and silver of the thirty young men lying unguarded. She gathered all the valuables into the folds of her robe, her feet touching the ground without a sound.

"What are you doing? Give that back!" one young lord suddenly woke with a start, his eyes widening as he saw her silhouette.

She did not reply but hurriedly opened the door and stepped out. The creaking sound echoed as the young man rushed over: "She has taken everything from us! Wake up!" He shook the others beside him, his voice panicked. Another sat up, rubbing his eyes: "What's all this noise? Where is my gold?"

This was the turning point: the girl had vanished into the darkness, leaving the thirty debauched men naked in shock. They stood staring at each other, their purses empty, their intoxication fading, leaving only the shame and a lesson on illusory desires.

After that night, the story spread as public mockery, yet it also served as an illustration of the Buddha's verse: the wise, even for a moment in the company of a wise teacher, learn the Dharma like the tongue knows food. But the deluded, immersed in lust, even near the wise, are like a spoon that tastes nothing.

The Meaning of the Story

The Buddha taught: the wise, even for a moment near a wise teacher, comprehend the Dharma like the tongue tasting food; the foolish, even a lifetime near the wise, are like a spoon that scoops food without knowing its flavor. Chasing sensual pleasures only leads to loss; awakening is the path to true clarity.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.