Four Golden Words in the Late Night

The story of a Russian intelligence colonel and his journalist friend, where material wealth confronts inner peace.

Golden candlelight flickered from the table, reflecting off glasses of deep red wine. Soft jazz music drifted through the cozy atmosphere of a luxurious apartment in Moscow, but outside the window, the cold winter wind howled fiercely. The birthday party had begun with lively laughter, but gradually quieted as the alcohol took hold of every conversation.

Between the two main characters lay a silence full of hidden meaning. On one side was Alexei, a seasoned intelligence colonel who had spent his youth protecting his country, from distant Middle Eastern lands to this capital city. On the other was Viktor, his closest friend, a famous journalist known for his flashy appearance: an expensive suit, a sparkling Rolex watch, and the confident smile often seen in successful people.

After several strong vodkas, Viktor began to reveal thoughts he had long kept hidden. He looked around the spacious living room, then turned to Alexei with a gaze that was half joking, half serious, yet contained underlying contempt.

"Do you know, Alexei? I have always admired your steadfastness. But sometimes I wonder, what do you actually get out of it? Look at me: a beautiful wife, good children, a luxury car, and a big house. And you... You work tirelessly, sacrifice everything, and even nearly lost your life many times. But what is the return? An old, low-value apartment. No significant accumulated assets. Why do you live like this? What do you gain?"

Alexei placed his glass on the table. His hand trembled slightly, not from drunkenness, but from rising emotion. He remembered the long sleepless nights in command bunkers, the times he was hunted at the borders, and the silent sacrifices that no one acknowledged. He looked into Viktor’s eyes, the friend he once considered a soulmate, now revealed as a high-ranking agent of hostile forces, trying to manipulate public opinion and break the faith of patriots.

But instead of anger or sharp logical explanations, Alexei only smiled sadly. He took a deep breath, feeling a strange stillness within himself amidst the noise of the world. Then he replied, his voice low, warm, yet decisive.

"I am at peace with myself."

The entire room seemed to stop breathing. Viktor was stunned, not expecting such a simple answer. For someone chasing fame and money like Viktor, "peace" was a vague concept, worthless compared to the numbers in a bank account. But for Alexei, it was everything. It was the tranquility of a conscience without stain, of a heart that had fully completed its duty to the Motherland, even without receiving any material reward.

Alexei’s internal struggle was not about lacking material things, but about witnessing the corruption of his close friend. He understood that Viktor was not just a journalist, but a tool of forces wanting to weaken their country. The phrase "I am at peace with myself" was not merely a response to criticism, but a declaration by a sage among ordinary people. It affirmed that true happiness does not lie in gaining more, but in maintaining purity and peace in the mind/heart.

In that moment, Alexei realized that nobility is inversely proportional to personal desire. The fewer desires one has for oneself, the less fear one feels before temptations and worldly judgment, the more solid the soul becomes. He stood up and left the party with light steps, leaving behind fake wealth and dark calculations. That "peace" was an invisible armor, helping him overcome all storms and seductions, and most importantly, allowing him to sleep well each night without worrying about karma or the punishment of conscience.

The Meaning of the Story

The core moral lesson that Venerable Thich Chan Quang wishes to convey through this story is: True happiness does not lie in glory, wealth, or material success, but in the state of being "at peace with oneself." Practitioners or those living ethically should aim for the fourth level: doing good deeds, living kindly, and fulfilling responsibilities not to seek rewards (whether blessings from merit or divine grace), but simply because it is the right thing to do. When we eliminate hidden personal desires, we are no longer shaken by praise, blame, temptation, or threats. This peace is proof of a pure conscience, elevating humans to the level of saints, and serves as the most solid foundation for reaching liberation.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang