The Vow Before the Buddha's Image

The gentle afternoon sunlight filtered through the ancient trees, casting a warm golden glow over the temple courtyard. A solemn, sacred atmosphere enveloped everything as hundreds of people knelt before the majestic Buddha statue. This was not an ordinary ceremony, but a moment of commitment for the Buddha's children in the face of the era's dizzying transformations.

Venerable Thích Chân Quang stood on the lecture platform, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a stern yet deeply affectionate expression. He slowly analyzed humanity's sixth great leap: artificial intelligence. He emphasized that if people do not adapt in time, if they do not learn to "communicate" with machines through programming, they will become obsolete, marginalized from society, and even lose their opportunities for spiritual cultivation due to a lack of merit to contribute.

"Do you want to become obsolete? Do you want to be completely replaced by machines?" the Venerable asked, his voice echoing.

A heavy silence descended. Everyone bowed their heads, a real anxiety rising within them. They realized that even with a will to live usefully, without the capabilities suited to the age, that will would remain a mere empty dream.

He gave an instruction: All must rise, join their palms, and vow before the Three Jewels to study computer programming diligently. The vow was not for show, but to uphold a promise to themselves and to the Dharma.

One by one, they stood. Brown robes, blue ceremonial garments—all adjusted and neat. Hands joined before their chests, eyes closed tightly, lips moving in unison with the master's leading words:

"I vow before the Buddha... to learn computer programming well... in order to continue being a useful person... for life, for the country, for humanity, for the Buddha's teachings."

The collective recitation began hesitantly, then grew firm and strong. There were elderly devotees with silver hair, trembling yet striving to pronounce each word clearly. There were young people, their eyes shining with conviction. In that moment, the boundaries of age and profession seemed to dissolve, leaving only a shared aspiration: to be useful, to contribute, to cultivate oneself in a modern world.

After the vow, the Venerable smiled, offering further reminders about caring for one's health during late-night meditation, advising everyone to acquire neck scarves to stay warm and avoid illness. This was meticulous, practical concern, intertwined with daily life, not detached from reality.

**Meaning of the Story**

The story reflects the philosophy of "What is life for?" taught by Venerable Thích Chân Quang: Life is for service and contribution. However, to contribute effectively in the new era, people cannot rely solely on good intentions; they must also equip themselves with relevant knowledge and skills, such as programming. Taking a vow to learn is not merely a personal action but a communal responsibility, ensuring that everyone maintains their self-worth, avoids being discarded, and continues to sow blessings from merit by helping others. It teaches us that spiritual practice is not separate from practical reality, and wisdom must walk hand in hand with technology to serve humanity.

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