The Oath in the Garden

In the spring garden, flowers bloomed in a riot of red and purple under the golden sun. Yet the princess sat by her window, her eyes distant as she gazed across the vast fields, her heart heavy with an unnamed sorrow. She possessed everything: a magnificent palace, splendid robes, and a glittering crown. Still, her heart remained empty, like a precious vase holding nothing within.

People called her the happiest princess in the kingdom, but only she knew that she had never truly felt happy. Her sadness lingered quietly, persistent as the drizzle at the end of winter, seeping into her very bones. She tried every method to find joy: lavish banquets, luxurious gifts from faraway lands, and journeys to exotic places. But all these were merely paper flowers—beautiful to look at, yet devoid of fragrance.

One day, a young prince, handsome and wealthy, came to propose marriage. He brought countless treasures, gold, jewels, and silks—gifts that any woman would dream of receiving. With great confidence, he spoke to her: "Follow me, and I will give you everything you desire. You shall be the happiest person in the world."

The princess looked at him, then at the chests of gold and silver piled high in the courtyard, but her heart grew even darker. She shook her head gently, her voice filled with sadness. "My lord, I do not need jewels. I only seek happiness. But what is happiness? I have searched for it endlessly, yet I cannot find it."

The prince was stunned. He had never been refused before. He tried to persuade her, making all manner of promises, but she continued to shake her head. In the end, he departed in disappointment, unable to understand why a girl who had everything could not be joyful.

The princess remained seated there, in the spring garden, wrapped in infinite sorrow. She did not yet realize that happiness does not lie in what we receive, but in what we give. She had never done anything for others, nor sacrificed for anyone, so her heart had never known warmth.

The Meaning of the Story

Happiness is not about enjoyment or material possessions; it arises when we do something beneficial for others. A life spent only taking remains forever empty. Only when we learn to give, when we learn to sacrifice, do we discover true joy.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang