The Mantra Trap and the Thirty Percent

A Buddhist told this story with a face full of indignation. He had been invited to a private conversation by a friend, a Vietnamese man who had returned from America. In an elegant living room, the friend smiled mysteriously and spoke with great pride:

"We follow a special lineage in America. Our master is an extraordinary being with boundless supernatural powers. Seeing that you are a person of spiritual capacity, I invited you here to bestow upon you a mantra."

The Buddhist sat quietly, not yet understanding what was happening. His friend continued:

"When you recite this mantra, wealth will naturally come to you. But you must remember: when the wealth arrives, you must set aside thirty percent to offer back to our master. We will send it to him in America."

The Buddhist frowned and asked:

"But how would I know that the money came from the mantra? What if it comes from my ordinary business work?"

His friend scoffed and replied:

"It is money that comes not from a salary. Unexpected money, lottery winnings, money given to you, money from a sudden windfall in business. All of it comes from the mantra."

The Buddhist shook his head, his voice calm but firm:

"I have never lived on a salary. How could I tell which money came from the mantra and which came from my own effort? And if I cannot tell the difference, then I would be paying you a tax forever."

His friend froze, caught off guard by the challenge. Flustered, he changed his tone:

"Fine then, if you don't believe it, so be it. But… in the coming months, if wealth comes your way, you'll owe us fifty percent."

The Buddhist stood up, thanked him, and left. He knew he had just escaped a subtle trap. Behind the honeyed words about mantras and fortune lay nothing but a brazen scam, exploiting human greed to squeeze out money.

The Meaning of the Story

Buddhists must be vigilant against cults that exploit the name of Vajrayana or supernatural powers for personal gain. True Buddhism does not use supernatural powers to seek wealth; it teaches people to live in accordance with cause and effect (karmic law), compassion, and wisdom. Anyone who promises quick riches through mantras or charms is a fraud, and should be avoided at all costs.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang