The Tale of Dai Phu and the Lesson on Conditioned Merit

On a morning in the city of Varanasi, golden sunlight stretched across the dirt path leading into Isipatana Forest, home to the Deer Park. The air was still, broken only by the wind rustling through the leaves and the occasional song of birds. In this serene setting, two beggars sat by the roadside, their appearance strikingly pitiful. The husband was gaunt, with unkempt hair and beard, his eyes hollow as he stared into the distance. His wife huddled beside him, wearing tattered clothes and disheveled hair. They extended their hands with exhaustion, devoid of any hope in their gaze.

Few knew that less than twenty years prior, these two had been owners of a fortune rivaling that of an entire nation. Their name was Dai Phu, a renowned wealthy man in Varanasi. He had chosen a similarly affluent family for his son’s marriage. Both families believed their children would enjoy lifelong happiness. Yet, it was precisely this excessive wealth that marked the beginning of their tragedy.

Because they were so rich, neither family taught their children how to work, cultivate themselves, or generate merit. They assumed the inheritance would last for generations. When the parents passed away, the young couple inherited the massive estate. They began living a life of luxury and indulgence, never thinking about tomorrow.

As the old saying goes, "Even sitting idle, one can deplete a mountain." Despite the vastness of their fortune, it drained away daily like water slipping through fingers. They gambled, partied, and spent gold coins without hesitation. Within less than twenty years, the couple was left with nothing. They sold their last house and had nowhere to turn. Former friends, once generously supported by them, turned their backs upon seeing their poverty. Eventually, the couple wandered together, begging for food day by day.

One morning, when the Buddha went for alms rounds in that area, He stopped and smiled. Venerable Ananda saw this and clasped his hands, asking respectfully:

"World-Honored One, what is the reason for Your smile?"

The Buddha pointed toward the two beggars sitting by the road and replied:

"Ananda, do you see those two beggars over there? They are actually the wealthiest people in this city of Varanasi. Their inherited fortune was limitless, yet in less than twenty years, they have become destitute."

Venerable Ananda looked again, filled with compassion. The Buddha continued:

"Their blessings from merit were immense. If they had used that merit to ordain and practice from the start, they could have attained the fruit of Arhatship. If they had practiced while remaining laypeople, they could have attained the fruit of Non-Returner. Even if they lived in the world for a time before generating the mind to practice, they could have attained the fruits of Once-Returner or Stream-Enterer. But because they did not know how to practice, they exhausted all their merit. Now, both conditioned merit and unconditioned merit are gone, leaving them as beggars."

Then the Buddha spoke this verse:

"When young, one does not live the holy life nor seek wealth; like an old heron by a stagnant pond, sad and unable to catch fish."

The once-wealthy couple now remained only as faded shadows by the road, incapable of action, much like an old heron standing by the bank, watching life drift by in lethargy and helplessness.

### The Meaning of the Story

The tale of Dai Phu reminds us that merit is not fixed as either conditioned or unconditioned; it depends on the direction of each person's mind. Conditioned merit refers to worldly blessings such as money, beauty, fame, and power. These are finite, will eventually run out, and often inflate the ego, leading to wrong actions and negative karma. Unconditioned merit is infinite, arising when we direct our minds toward enlightenment and liberation. Therefore, if we possess merit, we should skillfully use it for practice and good deeds, aiming for spiritual awakening rather than squandering it on temporary worldly pleasures.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang