The Sweet Temptation Greater Than Pain

The monsoon wind of the Central Highlands howled through thatched temple roofs, bringing a biting cold. In a small temple by the village, an old monk sat in meditation by a warm hearth, his eyes closed, his expression serene despite the surrounding scarcity. This was the image of monastics in ancient times, when the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) were declining and material life was profoundly difficult.

The story sets up an interesting hypothetical scenario, often used to test human resolve. Imagine two monks training together. The first encounters extreme adversity: famine, illness, and the scorn and contempt of people. His life is a long series of days enduring physical and mental suffering. Many might think that if he left monastic life, it would be because he lacked the strength to bear hardship. In reality, many do abandon the path because the suffering is too great. If this monk remains seated, still chanting sutras each morning and evening, it is a demonstration of willpower to overcome adversity.

The second monk finds himself in a completely different situation. He is not suffering at all. On the contrary, he is respected and pampered by everyone. One day, the wealthiest man in the village, with grand houses and abundant wealth, comes to the temple. He looks at the monk with an appreciative gaze and offers a tempting proposition:

"Venerable Sir, why do you endure such hardship in your practice? You eat bland meals of rice and pickled vegetables and wear patched robes. I find you handsome, well-spoken, and exceptionally wise. I have three daughters, each beautiful and virtuous. Please choose whichever one you like, and I will give her to you in marriage. Come be my son-in-law, and I will share half my estate with you. You would no longer need to practice; you could simply stay home and enjoy happiness and comfort for the rest of your life."

This proposition was like a golden door being opened. With just a nod, the monk would step from poverty to the pinnacle of wealth, power, and worldly happiness. No more sitting in painful meditation, no more bland vegetarian meals, no more loneliness in the deep night. Instead, a beautiful wife, worthy children, and endless wealth. This was a sweet, gentle temptation, one that did not cause pain like hardship, but rather promised immediate joy.

Many people often praise the first monk for fighting against pain. But few notice that the second monk is the one with truly extraordinary willpower. This is because overcoming suffering is difficult, but overcoming pleasure, comfort, and the temptations of wealth and beauty is doubly so. Suffering pushes us away, while pleasure pulls us in. When all conditions are favorable, when happiness seems within easy reach, the human heart can easily let go, forgetting the distant goal of enlightenment.

In the history of Vietnamese Buddhism, especially before and during the French colonial period, there were times when the Dharma was "diverted" by these very temptations. There were rural temples devoid of monks, and monks without the support of the Sangha or strict precepts. A painful reality emerged when many villagers, wanting to keep the temple tended, would actively "offer" their daughters to monks, making them "village sons-in-law." This situation persisted, creating lineages where monks having wives and children was tacitly accepted, even acknowledged, for if monks were not allowed to marry, they would leave, leaving the temple empty with no one to chant for the deceased.

Some monks who later revived Buddhism came from these "sensitive" circumstances themselves. They upheld strict precepts, raised their children—if any—to either ordain or live as exemplary laypeople, but did so with absolute discretion. The story of a monk who formed a brotherhood with an elder, only for everyone to discover after the elder's passing that he had a son who also ordained, is a testament to the complexity of the times. Yet the common thread among those with willpower is that they always strive toward what is right and pure, even if their starting point may not have been perfect.

Returning to the two monks in the example: the second monk, upon hearing the rich man's proposal, gracefully declined. He smiled, bowed his head in gratitude for the layperson's kindness, but kept his simple brown robe and remained sitting by the warm hearth. He chose the path of liberation, even though it was far more lonely and arduous than the path of silk and luxury. This refusal was not loud or dramatic, but it required tremendous inner strength—the strength to conquer one's own deepest desires.

The Meaning of the Story

The story emphasizes that willpower is not merely the ability to endure suffering, but also the strength to overcome the world's sweet temptations. Wealth and beauty are two of the most dangerous weapons because they do not cause pain; instead, they lull the intellect to sleep and blind the practitioner. The person with true willpower is one who knows how to reject "temporary joys" to remain steadfast on the lofty spiritual path. Overcoming adversity is commendable, but overcoming favorable circumstances and temptation is the pinnacle of fortitude.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.