A Morning in Vesali

Golden morning sunlight draped across the rooftops of the great city of Vesali. The atmosphere was lively from before dawn, with the sounds of drums, cymbals, and laughter echoing through the streets. Today was a grand festival day, and people had come from all places, each dressed in their finest clothes. Amidst the bustling crowd, a young woman appeared. She was so beautiful that several young noblemen out for a stroll suddenly stopped in their tracks. They looked at one another and then all moved towards her.

The initial flirtations were polite, but soon rivalry turned words into a heated exchange. One man said, "I spoke with her first, don't you dare interfere." The other sneered, "Who do you think you are? Looking at your face, you dare to court a woman?" Just that single sentence suddenly tightened the atmosphere like a taut bowstring. One group surged forward, and the other was no pushover. They were all sons of wealthy families, trained in martial arts, so once the first blow was struck, no one held back. In an instant, the lively street became a battlefield. Blood was spilled, bodies fell, and screams echoed everywhere. What began as a joyful morning had, by noon, turned into devastation.

At that very moment, the Buddha, along with the monastic community, was returning from almsround. He surveyed the scene of wreckage, the injured lying scattered about, and simply shook his head. He spoke to the monks:

"Joy and attachment give rise to sorrow; joy and attachment give rise to fear. Who can be free of joy and attachment feels neither fear nor sorrow."

The monks listened, but did not yet fully grasp the profound meaning. One asked, "Blessed One, please explain this for us to understand clearly."

The Buddha looked around and said gently, "You see, it is only because of a fleeting moment of joy, a momentary desire, that people can harm each other so greatly. The delight, the happiness when things go our way, excites us, but it is also the root of all sorrow and fear."

He paused, then continued, "When you succeed, you are happy. When you are superior to others, you are happy. But that happiness harbors ego, leading you to jealousy and envy, and ultimately to suffering. However, when you see another's success and you feel truly happy for them, that is when your mind has become pure, having stepped into the domain of the noble ones."

Another monk said, "Blessed One, I still feel happy when I surpass others. I know it is wrong, but I find it difficult to let go."

The Buddha smiled. "You must cultivate this practice day by day. When you see others succeed, train yourself to feel joy for them. When you feel superior to others, remind yourself that it is all but an illusion. Joy rooted in ego leads to fear and sorrow. Joy rooted in the well-being of others leads to peace and tranquility."

From then on, the monks deeply absorbed the teaching. They no longer let their minds be swept away by fleeting joys, but constantly maintained a mind of purity, rejoicing in the success of others. Their lives became serene, free from anxiety and fear. And that verse was passed down through the ages, as a reminder for all who seek peace amidst life's constant changes.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The lesson that Venerable Thích Chân Quang wishes to convey: Joy and elation are the driving forces of life, but if controlled by ego, they become the source of sorrow, fear, contention, and hatred. Let us train our minds to feel joy for the success of others, to let go of comparisons of superiority and inferiority, so that we may attain true peace and tranquility.

*Compiled from a Dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang*