The Secret Formula for Finding a Job

The neon light in the rented room hummed with a steady buzz. Tuan sank onto the plastic chair, his back drenched with sweat after another day of job hunting. On the table, a recruitment newspaper was crumpled into a ball, and several application forms were wrinkled and worn. For three months since graduating from university, he still hadn't found a decent job.

He picked up his old phone and read a message from his mother: "Dear, I'll send you an extra 500,000 dong this month. Don't worry too much; everything comes in its own time." Tuan's nose stung with tears after reading it. At twenty-five, with a good degree, he was now sitting in a tiny rental room, knowing his mother was scraping together every bit from her meager salary for him.

"Why do others find jobs so easily?" Tuan wondered, filled with despair. Often, he felt like a sinking boat adrift in a sea of people, with no hope left.

One Sunday afternoon, while wandering the streets, he stumbled upon a group of people in blue shirts distributing free rice to the poor. One of them saw him and offered a gentle smile: "Would you like to come and get some rice?" Tuan shook his head, but a strange thought suddenly arose. He walked over, accepted a portion of rice, and returned home in silence.

That evening, after eating the rice, Tuan opened his laptop to research the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). By chance, he came across an article by Venerable Thich Chan Quang, which discussed a "karmic formula for finding a job." Tuan read each word carefully, his heart beginning to beat faster. The article stated: If you want to find a job while unemployed, make a vow before the Buddha, promising to dedicate a portion of your future income to doing good deeds.

"But I don't have a job yet; where would I get the money to dedicate a percentage?" Tuan questioned. He read on: "Some people vow even up to 100% of their salary for merit, and then go home to ask their parents for support as they did before." Tuan sat still, a wave of heat seeming to rush to his head.

The next morning, Tuan woke early, put on his cleanest clothes, and went to the pagoda. Before the Buddha statue, he knelt with sincere devotion: "I vow that if I find a job, I will dedicate thirty percent of my income to create blessings from merit." After speaking, he felt a sense of relief. But a month passed, and nothing changed.

Tuan returned to the pagoda, this time with a stronger resolve: "I vow to dedicate fifty percent of my income to create blessings from merit. I am willing to live in poverty, as long as I have a job." He felt his heart being purified; though the future was still unclear, he knew he was on the right path.

Then, a miracle happened. Two weeks after his second vow, a company called him for an interview. Tuan felt his heart would leap from his chest. He prepared meticulously, arrived on time, and finally was hired as a staff member in the business department.

But when he received his first month's salary, Tuan suddenly remembered his vow. He sat down to calculate carefully: "If I dedicate thirty or fifty percent, living will be very difficult." He thought of his mother, of the hard life in the city. Yet, he recalled his teacher's words: "If you keep your promise, blessings from merit will gradually increase." Tuan decided to dedicate thirty percent of his income to create blessings from merit, even though that month he was left with only a small amount.

Every month, Tuan set aside a part of his salary to help those more disadvantaged. He joined a charitable group, distributing rice to the homeless and helping underprivileged children. Despite still having many lacks in life, his heart was always joyful.

Step by step, Tuan's work became more stable. After a year, he was promoted, and his income increased. He then began to allocate a smaller portion for his living expenses but continued his merit-making activities. Tuan understood that without patiently accumulating blessings from merit, opportunities would not come easily.

One evening, sitting in his room listening to the chorus of cicadas outside, Tuan smiled. He knew his life had changed since he understood the cause and effect (karmic law). He no longer feared unemployment, because he knew that with diligent merit-making and living within one's means, good fortune would naturally arrive.

**Meaning of the Story**

The story shows that when we lack sufficient blessings from merit to obtain what we desire, we must be willing to exchange and pay a price. The best way is to proactively vow to make offerings and dedicate a portion of one's income to help others and benefit the world. According to the principle of cause and effect, if we patiently accumulate merit and live humbly within the bounds of our merit, opportunities will come and life will gradually become stable.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang*