The Burden of Authority

The appointment letter lay on the desk, its formal script illuminated by the office light. He had been promoted. A natural joy surged within him, an instinct as powerful as hunger demanding food or thirst demanding water. Power, a prestigious title – this was the deserved reward for years of dedication, a form of recognition, a glory.

But then, the words of his teacher suddenly echoed in his mind: "The sages do not dream of authority or status. To them, such positions are but a burden, a responsibility."

He felt his mind become restless. An ordinary person naturally craves promotion and admiration. It is a primal instinct, a secret urge. But the wise are different. They serve and contribute while extinguishing that hidden desire for recognition. The two are completely different.

He remembered his teacher, a Dharma speaker who often sat before hundreds of watchful eyes. If he were an ordinary person, the teacher would have seen that as glory. But his teacher had said he only felt a sense of concern and responsibility. If he spoke a single word deviating from the righteous path, he would incur a debt to life itself, a debt to all who gave their time and energy to listen.

The feeling of glory is an illusion, belonging to the worldly mind. The feeling of burden and responsibility is that of the sages. He realized he himself was still very much an ordinary person, still chasing after that illusion of glory.

He reached out to pick up the letter of appointment. This time, his heart felt heavy. The joyful surge was gone, replaced by a profound awareness of the responsibility ahead. He vowed to strive to overcome his worldly instincts, to live and work not for glory, but for the benefit of many.

From that day on, his life took a new direction. It was no longer about endless advancement on the ladder of prestige, but about advancement in the heart and mind, taking each step closer to the perspective of the sages.

**Meaning of the Story**

Authority and status are secret instincts, longings of most worldly beings. We often see them as glory and recognition. But the sages have transcended this illusion, viewing positions of power only as a burden and an opportunity to do more good. To progress, we must recognize and resist that secret urge, living with greater peace and nobility.

*Compiled from a Dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang*