The Shadow of Success

This is the story of a lecturer from the Mekong Delta region. Once a poor student, he gained wisdom through diligent meritorious service and blessings from merit, which helped him become a successful Dharma teacher.

On an afternoon at a small temple in the Mekong Delta, golden sunlight stretched across the brick courtyard. The gentle sound of a temple bell rang in the breeze. A visitor from afar sat in the guest room, gazing out at the cool, green garden. The temple’s abbot, a middle-aged lecturer, walked in slowly with a kind smile. The two looked at each other, feeling nostalgic after so many years apart.

The visitor spoke in a warm, deep voice. "In the old days, no one thought you could give Dharma talks. When we lived in the sangha, you were a very poor student." The abbot smiled, his eyes shining with humility. "Yes, I was dull by nature. But thanks to the Three Jewels and the blessings from my meritorious service, I have reached this day."

The visitor was a teacher of the same age, who had been in the same class with the abbot when they lived in the community. Back then, the future abbot was a young monk with little education, but he was incredibly diligent. While his fellow monks focused on studying the sutras, he would roll up his sleeves to mend robes, repair roads, and pump water to irrigate the plants. Seeing this, his friend often advised, "Dear teacher, you should spend time studying. How will you ever understand the Dharma if you keep doing such hard labor?" He would only smile and reply, "Each person has their own conditions. I feel that working for the community is also practice, also learning."

His friend cared for him and bought him a beautiful notebook and a fine pen, encouraging him to study. But he continued his work, never refusing any task. As time passed, they went their separate ways. The friend left, and later heard that he too had departed from the community. He went to study in a lecturer training program for several years and then settled at a temple in the Mekong Delta. The local people made offerings to him with respect, and he began to give Dharma talks. The wonderful thing was that everyone admired him and praised his excellent talks. Many who had been more talented students in the past still could not lecture successfully, yet he had succeeded.

Sitting across from him, his friend was still full of wonder. "What is your secret? I still don’t understand." The abbot was thoughtful, then spoke slowly. "It was merit itself that became wisdom. When one diligently does meritorious service for the community, blessings from merit accumulate gradually. Through these blessings, wisdom opens. If one only studies but does not serve, then one may have intellect but lacks merit, and when one speaks, no one will listen."

His friend suddenly understood and nodded. "So success does not come from natural talent, but from the blessings one sows with one’s own hands. I remember now, you once said: ‘Humility is the foundation of all virtues.’ Today I truly grasp its meaning."

From then on, his friend also began to live with humility, serving diligently, speaking less and doing more. A few years later, he too became a lecturer respected and loved by many. They often reminded each other, "Never let success make you arrogant, for that is when failure prepares to strike."

The Meaning of the Story

Humility is the root of all virtues. Success easily breeds arrogance, and arrogance will destroy all merit, leading to failure. Always maintain a humble heart, know to respect and serve others, and both blessings from merit and wisdom will naturally grow.

Compiled from a Dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.