The Secret Within the Eyes

One afternoon at an ancient temple in Vinh Long, a solemn atmosphere settled over the grounds as the distant chime of bells echoed through the air. Beneath the shade of an old bodhi tree, lines of Buddhist devotees filed into the prayer hall for a ceremony wishing peace and prosperity for the nation. The rhythmic chanting sounded like the heartbeat of heaven and earth, calming the minds of all present. Amidst this crowd stood Minh, a young man leaning quietly against a stone pillar, his eyes scanning the faces around him with a mix of curiosity and judgment.

Minh was a university student, intelligent but often arrogant. He watched elderly women trembling as they counted their prayer beads and small children held by their parents’ hands. A subtle yet calculating thought arose in his mind: "They are only here to get a free vegetarian meal; there is no true spiritual practice." This fleeting idea remained unspoken, heard by no one. Yet, in that very moment, when he judged others’ motives through the lens of his own selfishness, a seed of karma was silently planted.

Three years later, strange signs began to appear in Minh’s life. One day, while sitting in the university library, his mind suddenly became foggy, and his logical thoughts fractured. He felt inexplicable fear, his heart raced, and distorted images appeared before his eyes. Doctors diagnosed him with stress-induced mental disorder, leaving his family deeply confused because he had previously been healthy and academically successful.

In his panic, Minh’s mother took him to see a revered teacher she believed could help her son find peace again. The teacher looked at Minh intently, not asking about his illness, but rather about his past thoughts. In his dazed state, Minh recounted times he had criticized others and misunderstood their charitable acts, especially the incident at the temple three years prior.

The teacher sighed softly, his voice warm yet sharp as a blade cutting to the core. "My child, the law of cause and effect (karmic law) is extremely strict. Do you think that thoughts kept inside your head vanish if left unsaid? No. Every evil intention, however secret, transforms into karmic force. It accumulates until it becomes heavy enough to collapse your mind. Three years ago, when you harbored contempt for those coming to the temple, you created a transgression. That sin did not disappear; it lay dormant in your subconscious, waiting for the right time to rise."

Minh was stunned, tears rolling down his cheeks. He recalled nights spent dreaming of being lost in a dense forest, devoid of human presence, where only wild beasts growled. These were manifestations of karmic force dominating both his sleep and his waking life.

The teacher continued, offering another example to clarify the subtlety of merit and demerit. "Look into people’s eyes. If you meet someone who smiles warmly and whose gaze radiates kindness, that is the blessing from merit (phước báu) from their past lives. Conversely, if their eyes are dry, cold, or sharp with hidden malice, these are signs of karmic obstacles. How you treat the eyes and smiles of others determines your future."

Minh lifted his head and looked into the teacher’s eyes. There was no judgment there, only deep compassion. He realized that for so many years, he had lived hastily and judged recklessly, forgetting that every breath and every glance was a moral test. He began to change. Instead of criticizing, he practiced observing and rejoicing in the goodness of others. When seeing someone do good deeds, he no longer thought them hypocritical, but instead told himself, "I need to learn from them."

Over time, thanks to persistent repentance and the practice of mindfulness, Minh’s mental health gradually stabilized. His episodes of irrational panic ceased. One day, passing by a road under repair, he saw a mason sweating profusely as he filled a pothole. Minh did not make sarcastic remarks. Instead, he stopped, bought a bottle of cool water for the worker, and smiled with a nod of greeting. This small act, combined with the sympathetic look he shared, generated a positive energy that spread outward. From then on, his life became lighter, and his social relationships improved. He understood that the equation of merit and demerit is not abstract; it exists in every second, every blink, and every hidden thought.

The Meaning of the Story

This story illustrates the profound philosophy of the "Equation of Merit and Demerit" in human life, as taught by Venerable Thich Chan Quang. First, the law of cause and effect (karmic law) operates with extreme subtlety and strictness; even evil thoughts that remain unspoken accumulate into karmic force, causing serious consequences for mental health and daily life, as seen in Minh’s case. Second, the highest goal for a person possessing wisdom is not personal enjoyment, but carefully considering every action, word, and thought to create merit and avoid demerit. Finally, friendly eyes and attitudes toward others are expressions of blessings from merit (phước báu) and serve as the key to resolving the karmic equation, bringing humans closer to enlightenment and freedom from suffering (dukkha).

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang