The title is "A Lay Buddhist Woman and the Saying: 'Those Who Bow Do Not Know.'"

One afternoon, at a small temple in the Long Khanh practice center, the gentle ringing of bells mingled with the warm scent of incense spreading throughout the room. A laywoman in her forties entered, clutching a cloth bag tightly, her face heavy with worry. She wore simple brown robes, yet her eyes reflected an indescribable anxiety. The teacher sat on a grassy platform, smiling warmly as he said, "If you have something to ask, please speak freely."

She bowed her head, pressing her palms together, her voice trembling slightly. "Teacher, for two years I have not performed prostrations to the Buddha. I heard a teacher say, 'Those who bow do not know; those who know do not bow.' I feared that my prostrations were wrong, lacking in wisdom."

The teacher sighed softly, looking at her with both compassion and seriousness. "That saying sounds like it came from Mars. Here on Earth, we must perform prostrations to build foundational merit. The merit of bowing to the Buddha is the root of all other merit. Through this practice, we cultivate good qualities and create opportunities to receive blessings from merit."

She looked up, her eyes reddening. "But I thought that wise people did not need to bow; understanding the Dharma was enough."

The teacher shook his head gently. "My dear, wisdom does not come from arrogance. Prostrating to the Buddha is about lowering the ego and creating merit. Without merit, no matter how much scripture one understands, it remains mere intellectual knowledge. Look at the Buddha himself: He practiced extreme asceticism but eventually realized the Middle Way. Similarly, prostration is a skillful means for us to become humble and open our minds."

She fell silent for a long time, tears rolling down her cheeks. She remembered her early days in the path, when she bowed to the Buddha with sincere reverence and felt a profound peace. But after hearing that saying, she had abandoned everything, and her mind had become dry and rigid, prone to judging others.

"I understand now, Teacher," she said. "I will return to daily prostrations, not out of fear, but out of love for myself and all sentient beings."

The teacher nodded and smiled. "Very good. Remember, prostration is not just a physical action, but an expression of sincerity. Only with merit can you progress far on the path of cultivation."

From that day on, the laywoman diligently performed prostrations every morning. Her heart became light and filled with unusual joy. She found herself no longer looking down on others or clinging to intellectual concepts. She realized that sometimes, the simplest practices are the most solid foundations.

The Meaning of the Story

Prostration to the Buddha is the foundational merit for all other merits. Do not abandon basic practices because of lofty teachings. True wisdom belongs to those who know humility and who create merit before seeking liberation.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang