The Chair and Its Story

**Summary:** A visiting teacher points out to a wealthy Buddhist follower that his business failures stemmed from an uncomfortable chair, drawing a lesson about creating a comfortable environment for spiritual practice.

That evening, Venerable Tu Tri was invited to dinner at the home of a wealthy Buddhist follower. The large, luxurious house stood on a major city street. This follower had recently endured a business failure that left him deeply disheartened. He had invited the teacher partly to confide and seek comfort.

As Venerable Tu Tri entered, his perceptive, monastic eyes quietly scanned the furnishings. Everything appeared outwardly luxurious and perfect. But when it was time to eat, the follower invited the teacher to sit at the table.

The moment the teacher sat down in the exquisitely carved dining chair, a subtle sense of unease arose. The chair was modern in design, but its back was rather firm, and crucially, the seat's surface felt slippery. This forced the person sitting to constantly lean slightly forward, making it impossible to truly relax.

The teacher sat slowly for a moment, paying close attention. Then he turned to the follower, his voice gentle but firm: "You failed because of this chair."

The follower was startled, his eyes wide. "Venerable sir, my business failure was so significant, yet you say it was because of... a chair?"

"Yes," Venerable Tu Tri nodded, his gaze kind yet serious. "When your important guests come to your home and sit at this table, they feel the discomfort from this chair. They don't want to stay seated long; they wish to get up quickly. Subconsciously, they also don't want to return to your house. They may not know the true reason, but the feeling of 'not wanting to stay' is very clear. Over time, business relationships gradually thin out. All because of an uncomfortable chair."

The follower fell silent, looking thoughtfully at the chair, then at the teacher. It was as if a veil had lifted. He began to recall that indeed, many important guests after dining at his home seemed to leave rather hastily, and subsequently, proposals for cooperation had slowly dried up.

Venerable Tu Tri continued, his voice deepening with philosophical weight: "If you create a chair where, once someone sits down, they don't want to get up, then they will love coming to your home forever. This principle applies profoundly to life, and especially to establishing a temple."

He paused, looking at the follower as if to ensure the lesson was deeply ingrained. "Running a temple is the same. When Buddhist followers come to the temple, they need to feel comfortable. The food should be pleasant, the restrooms clean and fragrant, and there must be space to walk, sit, and relax. When they feel more comfortable than at home, they will love coming to the temple. Only then can the process of learning and practice begin. A temple that attracts followers for practice must first be a warm, comfortable 'second home' for them."

The meal ended in contemplative silence. On the way back to the temple, Venerable Tu Tri continued to reflect on that chair. It was not just a piece of furniture; it was a symbol of a lack of attentiveness, a lack of concern for others' feelings. He decided to pass this lesson on to his disciples, who would continue to preserve and manage temples in the future: always put yourself in the followers' shoes, create for them a space where they feel welcomed, valued, and truly able to relax.

**Meaning of the Story:**

This story emphasizes the importance of creating a comfortable, friendly environment to attract and retain Buddhist followers for temple practice. A responsible abbot must understand that before teaching the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), one must meet the fundamental emotional needs of followers when they come to the temple: warmth and comfort, as if returning to a second home. Small details like a comfortable chair, clean restrooms, good food, and relaxing space hold immense power in building goodwill and trust. They form the foundation for followers to develop an affinity and progress on the path of practice. This is both the art and the responsibility of a temple's abbot.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.