The Two Speeds of Life

At dawn in the temple, the air still carried a chill, and dewdrops clung to the leaves. The temple bell rang from afar, mingling with the cheerful chirping of birds. In the guest hall, an elderly monk sat drinking tea, his gaze contemplative as he looked out upon the spacious courtyard. Outside, lay Buddhists were bustling about, preparing for the Vu Lan festival. They moved swiftly—some carried tables and chairs, others bore trays of fruit, and some swept the grounds. The old monk smiled, thinking about what he would share with everyone during the dharma talk that day.

He recalled the years of his youth. As a sixteen-year-old boy, he was the only son in his family, shouldering heavy responsibilities. With only his father as the man in the house, alongside his mother and several sisters, he was frail and thin by nature. Yet, out of duty, he had to work very quickly. Each morning, he took a hoe to the fields, digging the soil rapidly so his sisters could follow behind sowing seeds. He alone dug the holes while four or five people scattered seeds after him, forcing him to work in constant motion. Gradually, that swiftness became a habit, his very nature. He realized that when he worked slowly, he felt uneasy, as if he were being lazy and irresponsible. But when he worked briskly, he felt more useful, more virtuous.

The old monk took a sip of tea, remembering a story about a soldier he once met. The soldier recounted that one night, he had wandered outside the barracks. Passing a bush, he saw a white figure hovering, its long hair loose and without legs. Knowing it was a ghost, he was terrified and fled. While running, he leaped over a two-meter-high fence without even realizing it. The next morning, he returned to look and could not understand how he had managed to jump so high. It was the extreme urgency and fear that had stimulated his hidden potential. The old monk thought, humans possess much potential, but only when pushed into difficult or dangerous circumstances do we fully realize it.

He looked out at the courtyard, where young people were slowly carrying bags of rice and vegetables from a truck, each person taking one bag and walking leisurely towards the kitchen. The old monk suddenly thought, this was an opportunity to practice agility, yet they did not realize it. He recalled witnessing foreign experts working on an oil rig. They worked from morning until afternoon without a sip of water, without eating or drinking, working continuously until the task was done. In contrast, Vietnamese workers would take a break after a short while—to drink water or smoke a cigarette. He felt ashamed of this. He knew that the labor productivity of Vietnamese people was very low compared to the world, and that was why the country still had not developed.

The old monk remembered his own teachings from previous dharma talks: "Living fast means living productively, working urgently, and making use of time. Living slow means living relaxed, nurturing the mind, but only after fulfilling one's duties to life." He wanted to convey to everyone that each person needs to cultivate the habit of working briskly and responsibly to contribute more to society. But at the same time, one must also know how to slow down for meditative concentration, to cultivate the soul, and to seek true happiness.

He saw a young man sitting and playing on his phone, not helping. He sighed, thinking that today's generation lives too slowly, wasting time on unwholesome pleasures. He hoped that through today's dharma talk, they would understand the importance of practicing agility so as not to fall behind the rest of the world.

When the dharma talk began, the old monk stood up, looked around the hall, and then spoke slowly: "Today, I want to talk to you about two speeds of life: living fast and living slow. Living fast means accomplishing many things within a unit of time. Living slow means accomplishing fewer things. So, which is more beneficial?"

A young man raised his hand: "Dear teacher, I think living fast is more beneficial because you get more things done."

The old monk smiled: "True, but not complete. Living fast is not just about getting more things done, but also about working productively and with quality. If we work fast but carelessly, it is also pointless. As for living slow, if we live slowly to indulge in pleasure or laziness, that is a fault. But if we live slowly for meditative concentration and to cultivate the mind, that is essential."

He paused for a moment, then continued: "Do you know why our country still cannot manufacture car engines, while others have gone to Mars? It is not because we are stupid, but because we work too slowly. We are not focused, not urgent. Others work at high speed, while we are always casual and unhurried. That is why we fall behind them."

A Buddhist asked: "Dear teacher, how can we cultivate this agility?"

The old monk replied: "Seize every opportunity. Whenever there is something to do, no matter how small, do it quickly and efficiently. For example, when carrying ceremonial items into the temple, walk swiftly, arrange things neatly, and then go back to get something else. Do not stroll leisurely or dawdle. Train yourself in the habit of working urgently. In at least three years, it will become your nature."

He looked around, then added: "But do not forget to live slowly. After working wholeheartedly, set aside time to sit in meditation and calm the mind. That is how we find peace and wisdom. Do not let life sweep you away; learn to pause at the right time."

The dharma talk concluded, and everyone left with new thoughts. The old monk watched them go, hoping they would apply his teachings to their lives.

Meaning of the Story

This story reminds us of the importance of cultivating agility and urgency in our work to contribute to society, while also knowing how to slow down to cultivate our souls and seek true happiness. Living fast does not mean being hasty, but being productive and responsible. Living slow does not mean being lazy, but dedicating time to meditative concentration and inner purity. Only by balancing these two speeds can we achieve lasting success and happiness.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.