The Two Thieves and the Verse of the Fool Who Knows He Is a Fool

In the warmth of an afternoon, in the Jetavana grove, the sound of a bell rang out gently. The spacious monastery slowly filled with people. They had come to hear the Buddha teach the Dharma, and every face glowed with joy and reverence.

Among the crowd, two strangers quietly slipped in. Their eyes never rose to the Dharma seat; instead, they darted across the pockets and bags of those listening so attentively. They were two pickpockets who had heard that great crowds often gathered here, and they had come in search of an easy haul.

They had worked this trade for many years, practiced in every flick of the wrist, every stolen wallet. But that day, as the Buddha began to teach about the deeper truths of life, one of the two thieves suddenly froze. The Buddha's words seemed to seep into every cell of his being, and he forgot his original purpose. He sat still, eyes fixed on the Dharma seat, taking in each word, each syllable.

The more he listened, the more he was startled to realize how wrongly he had lived all those years: deceitful and greedy, cheating and swindling to take what belonged to others. He saw clearly the restlessness and tension that had clung to him for so long, and the pain he had brought to so many people. Tears fell quietly down his cheeks, not from remorse or fear, but from a deep awakening.

Meanwhile, the other thief was still busily picking pockets. He pulled out a wallet full of money and smiled with smug pride. When the dharma talk ended, he walked out gleefully and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "What a big catch today! Everyone was so absorbed in the teaching that picking pockets was all too easy!"

But his friend only shook his head, his gaze distant, saying nothing. "Why didn't you pick any pockets?" the first thief pressed. "To waste such a good opportunity, you really are a fool!" His friend stayed silent, knowing that any words would be useless. He had seen clearly the difference between them: one still sunk in delusion, the other already awake.

That night, the awakened thief could not sleep. He thought about the Buddha's words and about his life of stealing. He saw the injustice he had caused and the suffering (dukkha) of those he had harmed.

The next morning, he resolved to give up stealing for good. He brought his wife and children to the monastery and asked to see the Buddha. Kneeling down, he recounted his entire life of wrongdoing and asked to take refuge. The Buddha listened with eyes full of compassion, then spoke:

"A fool who knows that he is a fool is, for that very reason, wise. But a fool who believes himself wise is truly the greater fool."

Two thieves, two different paths. One recognized his own foolishness, began to correct his mistakes, and turned toward the light. The other still thought himself clever, went on deceiving others, and sank forever into the darkness of delusion.

The Meaning of the Story

The lesson Abbot Thích Chân Quang wished to convey is this: a fool is one who does not recognize his own mistakes and always believes himself to be right, while a wise person is one who knows how to look inward, see his own faults, and correct them. Knowing one's own foolishness is the very first step of wisdom. Do not be complacent with what you have; always remain humble, willing to learn and to practice repentance, for only when we see our own shortcomings can we become better.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Abbot Thích Chân Quang.