The Broken Road and the Heart of a Buddhist

A small road, severely damaged, became a source of daily frustration. The village chairman joked that he would need to paddle a boat to work, until the temple on the mountain decided to repair it with their own funds.

The stretch of road, about two kilometers long between two hamlets in a small commune, had become an obsession for every resident. The asphalt surface had cracked long ago. What began as small potholes had widened into true "elephant holes," deep and broad enough that even a normal motorbike could barely pass without tilting dangerously.

The village chairman lived right near this section of the road and had to travel through it every day to reach his office. One afternoon, he stood by the roadside, looking down at a pit nearly a meter deep, shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"This year, I think I must buy a boat and row to work. If I keep riding my motorbike, they will surely flip over."

His joke reflected a harsh reality: the road had been broken for too long, yet no one stepped forward to fix it. This area was not remote or isolated, but everyone seemed to think, "That is someone else’s job."

This changed when the Master Temple – a small pagoda perched on the distant mountain peak – heard the story.

One Sunday morning, a group of Buddhists along with several monks descended from the temple. They carried bags of cement, stones, sand, and an old concrete mixer. The engine roared loudly, breaking the silence of the peaceful Sunday morning.

Villagers gathered around, watching with skepticism. Some whispered among themselves.

"The temple from the mountain is coming to fix the road? Does the temple have money?"

"The abbot must be very rich to afford such work."

But the truth was different. The abbot, who stood behind this decision, had persuaded the temple management committee to allocate a small fund reserved for charity, combined with contributions from a few modest benefactors. The amount was not large, just enough to purchase basic materials.

What mattered most was not the money, but the action.

Monks and lay Buddhists wearing blue robes carried shovels and hauled bags, poured cement, mixed concrete, and used their hands to smooth out each pothole one by one. The sun beat down fiercely, soaking their backs with sweat, yet no one complained.

An elderly man living nearby, who witnessed the deteriorating road daily, watched the volunteer group. Suddenly, he turned back into his house and brought out a small bucket of iced lemonade. "Uncles, children, please drink! It is so hot!" he called out.

Thus, what started as "the temple’s business" became a shared responsibility of the entire community. Seeing this, some young men from the village also brought out tools to help. By that afternoon, the first fifty meters of the road were filled, the surface flat, clean, and beautiful.

The entire two-kilometer stretch was completed within a few days. Joyful voices saying "thank you" rang out as the volunteers packed up their belongings to leave. But the deeper lesson, which the teacher wished everyone to understand, was not merely about a new road.

"If there is a hole in front of your house and you do not fill it immediately, letting it persist for too long, it shows a lack of responsibility," the teacher explained. "As Buddhists, we must be diligent in doing good deeds. Whatever helps others and benefits society, we should do without sparing our effort or strength."

The road was repaired, but the lesson about the "Buddhist heart" extends much further. According to the teacher, a genuine Buddhist does not only focus on personal spiritual practice. Instead, one must recognize the "potholes" in life – both material and spiritual – and proactively fill them, without waiting for calls to action or requests for help.

The Meaning of the Story

The tale of the broken road and the temple’s initiative to repair it illustrates the spirit of merit-making among true Buddhists. Buddhism is not solely about seeking enlightenment for oneself; it is about living with a sense of responsibility, recognizing the needs of the community, and taking positive action to help others. Each small deed – like filling a pothole – is a precious act of merit, because it ensures safe passage for people and prevents accidents. A Buddhist must be vigorous in doing good, sparing no effort, for life is short, and we must seize the opportunity to sow many seeds of goodness.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang