Two Thieves and the Temple

**Summary:** A story of two thieves setting out to steal, one of whom stops to bow to the Buddha at a temple while the other goes straight ahead. Most Venerable Thích Chân Quang uses this story to teach about the value of practice, even when one is not yet perfected.

Late one night, two thieves crept into a small village. They had been scouting for days, identifying homes with riches. On their way, they passed an ancient temple, the faint light from within spilling out.

One thief stopped and said to his companion, "Wait for me at the gate. I'm going into the temple to pay my respects to the Buddha first, then we'll go."

The other frowned impatiently. "Are you mad? Bowing to the Buddha at this hour? Hurry up, or we'll miss our chance."

The first thief said nothing, quickly entered the temple, knelt before the Buddha statue, pressed his palms together reverently, bowed three times, and only then rejoined his friend. The other spat on the ground, shaking his head in contempt, and the two continued on their way.

They broke into a wealthy home and stole a great deal. Unfortunately, the homeowner discovered them and raised the alarm. The villagers rushed out, caught both men, and brought them before the authorities. Both were found guilty and sentenced to exile.

Many years later, the thief who had bowed to the Buddha was pardoned and returned to the village. He remembered the old temple, walked inside, and met an elderly monk. He recounted the story, and the monk smiled gently.

"Through your reverence for the Buddha, you planted a seed of good conditions. Though you still made mistakes, that wholesome seed will sprout and lead you onto the path of practice."

Hearing this, the thief felt a surge of emotion. He took refuge and vowed to reform himself. As for the other thief, having no such wholesome roots, he died in prison and fell into a realm of suffering.

Most Venerable Thích Chân Quang told this story during a dharma talk to answer a question about whether laypeople should practice meditation. He said, "Two thieves went out to steal. One bowed to the Buddha, the other did not. The one who bowed later still had the karmic cause for practice, while the other lost everything. So even if we are not yet perfected, having some practice is still better than having none."

**Meaning of the story:** Even though humans are full of faults, as long as there is a little bit of good intention, a little turning toward the Buddha's teachings, that wholesome seed will bear fruit in the future. Never give up on practice, even if we are not perfect. Every small virtuous act holds immense value.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Most Venerable Thích Chân Quang*