The Secret of Deep Roots

**Summary:** A story about the difference between precious herbal remedies and common plants, illustrating the yin-yang principle: what is hidden deep within is the true, enduring essence.

In a quiet small garden in the late afternoon, pale golden sunlight slanted through the leaves, creating dancing specks of light on the ground. An old farmer rested his back on an old bamboo chair, holding a sweet potato he had just dug up from the moist earth. He looked at it calmly, then turned his gaze to the Polygonum multiflorum vines in the distance, their shoots stretching out a lush green.

"Master," a young man, full of zeal but still full of doubts, approached and asked. "Why do people say that things hidden deep underground, like roots or tubers, are more precious than the fresh, green leaves and stems visible above? They look ordinary, even dirty."

The farmer smiled and placed the sweet potato on the ground. He pointed at it, his warm, deep voice resonating in the still space.

"Look, child, this sweet potato grows sideways, spreading out. It is easy to see and easy to get, but its power is shallow. It is like empty boasting—a flashy exterior but hollow inside. Now, look at that Polygonum multiflorum over there."

The young man looked up following his finger. The lush green vines curled around the base of an ancient tree, completely obscuring the roots below.

"That part which shows itself above is called Yang," the farmer explained further. "It is what everyone sees and praises. But the part submerged deep in the ground, the Root, is the Yin. This Yin is not showy; it patiently absorbs nutrients, accumulating energy over many years. Precisely because it is 'out of sight,' hard to see, it holds the essence. It can cure severe illness. It is the truly valuable medicine."

The young man pondered, recalling his own times of hastily judging others by their outward appearance. He wondered if he had been underestimating the quiet things, the unnamed efforts that others undertake silently.

"So, if you want to become a capable and resilient person," the farmer stood up, dusting off his clothes, "do not only tend to the 'top'—meaning fame, your social media image, or flowery words. Learn to make your 'roots' deep. Hide your arrogance, accumulate knowledge in silence, and cultivate your inner self where no one is watching. For life is always fair: the harder something is to see, the deeper it is hidden, the greater and more enduring its value."

The young man nodded, his eyes becoming clearer. He realized that a lasting career does not come from the biggest, fleeting explosion of fame, but from a solid foundation built in the shadow, in a place where only he and his perseverance confront each other.

**Meaning of the Story**

According to Venerable Thích Chân Quang, the yin-yang principle teaches: What is easily seen (Yang) is often less important than what is hard to see, hidden deep within (Yin). In life, external appearance, speech, or reputation are merely the surface. True resilience, wisdom, virtue, and blessings from merit lie within the mind-heart, in silent actions and discreet practice. The wise person knows how to "conceal" their goodness to let it grow sustainably, rather than revealing it all at once, causing it to deplete quickly. Long-term success depends on cultivating the "root" within, not on adorning the "outer leaves."

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.