The Advice on the Mountain and the Secret of Reverence

The air atop the mountain that afternoon was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the city below. The wind whistled through the ancient trees, creating a somber symphony, as if wishing to cleanse all the world's noise. In that serene landscape, the figures of four young monastics appeared, their steps heavy yet their eyes burning with a thirst for answers.

They had traveled from Binh Duong, a long journey to the mountain, not for sightseeing or rest, but bearing an unceasing anxiety in their hearts. A new era was knocking on the doors of every temple, and they—young men draped in the monastic robes—felt they were standing before an invisible abyss. When they met their revered teacher, all four knelt and bowed with utmost sincerity. The space seemed to freeze in that moment.

The teacher looked into the face of each disciple. He needed no questions; with the sharp intuition of a long-practitioner, he read their hearts completely. Beneath their simple brown robes were troubled hearts, filled with worldly afflictions. Wrong thoughts were creeping in, base desires were eroding their virtue. Gazing upon his disciples' faces, the teacher clearly saw the fierce inner struggle. They were at war with themselves, and it seemed the side of worldly temptation was gaining the upper hand.

Time was short, and this was not the occasion for lofty theories or long dharma talks. The teacher took a deep breath, and his warm yet resolute voice echoed through the mountain forest:

"That is enough. You should return. Make an effort to pay reverence to the Buddha."

The four monastics raised their heads, their expressions momentarily marked by surprise and disappointment. This advice seemed too simple, too ordinary for the complex problems they were facing. One of them was about to ask for more, but meeting his teacher's stern yet compassionate gaze, he silently bowed his head.

The teacher continued, his voice slower, as if pouring each word into their ears:

"Do you understand? Paying reverence here is not the ritual bowing during evening sutra recitations, where you follow a routine just to complete a task. That is merely form. The true substance is to pay homage to the Buddha with absolute reverence."

He paused, letting the words sink into the disciples' minds, then explained in detail:

"When you hold profound reverence for the Buddha, naturally, you will accumulate blessings from merit. And the first, most important blessing is that no wrong thoughts arise in the mind. That reverence acts like a protective shield, helping you to clearly recognize a malicious thought the moment it emerges and to immediately be free from it. Conversely, if you lack that reverence, you lose that blessing. Wrong thoughts will stealthily arise, drag you along, causing you to become deluded, to wander, and you may even commit wrongful acts without being aware of it."

This story recalls another occasion when the teacher received a message on social media from a stranger. The person asked: "Why are there so many cases of sexual assault and child rape these days?" The teacher's reply was concise yet profound: "Because of disrespecting the sacred." He explained that those who commit such heinous crimes have, in the past or present, shown disrespect toward worthy figures. It is this absence of reverence that blinds them, leading to acts that violate the law, bring shame upon themselves and their families, and may even result in prosecution.

Looking back at the four young monastics, the teacher saw that the future of Buddhism rested precisely in their ability to uphold moral integrity. In an era where the line between monastics and laypeople grows ever thinner, where technology and materialism captivate people, "paying reverence to the Buddha" is no longer an empty ritual. It is the anchor that steadies the soul before life's storms. It is the key that opens the door to inner purity, ensuring that each step on the path of practice is not lost to fleeting illusions.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The core lesson that Venerable Thích Chân Quang wishes to convey is the power of reverence for the Three Jewels, especially the Buddha. In the new age, as material and technological values gradually replace traditional spiritual needs, monastics face moral challenges a hundredfold more intense than in the past. "Paying reverence to the Buddha" with absolute sincerity is not merely a ritual, but the most effective remedy to prevent wrong thoughts and maintain pure virtue. Only when one possesses the blessings born from reverence does a practitioner have the clarity of mind to overcome temptations, avoid wrongful actions, and thus stand firm in the world, worthy of being a lighthouse illuminating humanity.

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