The Price of Uselessness

The fluorescent lights in the meeting room cast a cold, white glare on Minh’s pale face. The air was thick and heavy, so oppressive that he could hear the clock ticking on the wall like hammer blows against his chest. Before him sat the human resources director, a middle-aged man with thick glasses, flipping through files with an expressionless face.

Minh clenched his hands under the table, trying to suppress his trembling. He had been with this company for over a year. He had never arrived late, nor had he ever refused any assigned task. In his mind still echoed the promise made when he first started: "Just do your job well, and the company will never betray a dedicated employee."

The HR director looked up, his tone calm but sharp. "Mr. Minh, I have carefully reviewed your performance over the past twelve months. Regarding discipline and adherence to procedures, you fully meet the requirements. You have done your duty correctly."

Minh sighed with relief, a distorted smile briefly appearing on his lips. But that smile vanished instantly as the director continued, each word falling like a stone. "However, when calculating the cost of salary, insurance, and other benefits the company has invested in your position, compared to the actual profit value you bring... the gap is too large. To put it plainly, you are consuming more than you contribute. Therefore, we must part ways. Thank you for your service."

The final sentence felt like a bucket of ice water thrown directly into his face. He stood up, his legs threatening to buckle. He could not understand why diligence and hard work had become a sin. Why was "doing one's duty" not enough to keep a livelihood? As he walked out of the office, the eyes of those around him held curiosity, pity, and indifference mixed together. Life outside the company gates suddenly seemed harsh, a place where every breath must be paid for with concrete benefit.

But the most heartbreaking story did not end there. It haunted him even more when he recalled the image of an old monk, hair white as snow, huddled in the corner of a small temple during the days leading up to Tet. That monk had spent his entire life practicing, living in seclusion, and keeping pure precepts, believing that simply living quietly without competing with anyone was enough. Yet, when old age arrived and health declined, blessings from merit dwindled, leaving him lonely amidst the crowd.

The monk recounted his story with reddened eyes and a choked voice. "For three days of Tet, no one visited my hut. No one lit an incense stick for me. I thought I was about to die, and no one would know. Today, I risked coming here to ask the teacher for some rice and money to survive the day."

The sight of the trembling old monk extending his bony hand at the temple gate deeply moved Venerable Thich Chan Quang. He realized that whether one is a monastic or a layperson, the law of cause and effect operates strictly. If we do not create blessings from merit, if we do not bring benefit to the community and society, sooner or later, life will push us aside. Those who suffer poverty and loneliness are not victims of random fate; rather, they lack merit—lacking practical actions to support themselves and others.

After being laid off, Minh completely changed his mindset. He no longer asked, "What do I get?" or "How much is my salary?" Instead, each morning upon waking, he began to question himself: "Today, what benefit can I bring to this life?" He started learning how to create real value, helping colleagues, improving processes, and most importantly, nurturing compassion by willingly sharing knowledge with newcomers. Gradually, he saw that he was no longer a burden, but became an indispensable part, a source of positive energy for the organization.

The Meaning of the Story

This story emphasizes the core lesson regarding the law of cause and effect and the value of human existence. To avoid being discarded by life, whether in work or spiritual practice, everyone must constantly ask themselves: "What benefit am I bringing to this world?" Increasing blessings from merit is not an abstract concept; it begins with practical actions that bring benefit to others. A person possessing wisdom and morality transforms their ideals into altruistic goals, thereby making their existence valuable, warm, and sustainable in this world.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang