A Mouthful of Food and Human Dignity

One afternoon at the Bach Dang wharf, a gentle breeze drifted in from the river. I was still a small child, sitting on the embankment with my friend. Before us stood two glasses of sugarcane juice, cold and refreshing, with crushed ice sparkling under the sunlight. Occasionally, the distant whistle of a train blended with the sound of waves lapping against the boats. We were laughing and chatting happily, unaware that just minutes later, a single image would remain etched in my memory for the rest of my life.

At that time, I was merely a boy who often played by the river with friends. My family was not wealthy, but we never lacked food, so I had no understanding of what it meant to be driven to desperation by hunger. That changed until I witnessed it firsthand.

As my friend and I sipped our sugarcane juice, a man approached us. He wore tattered clothes, his hair was disheveled, his face gaunt, and his eyes seemed half-awake, half-delirious. He stopped a few steps away, muttering to himself, his hands trembling as if he wanted to ask for something. Being young and unafraid, I simply watched him with curiosity. But before I could understand his intent, he snatched my glass of sugarcane juice, tilted his head back, and drank every last drop in one gulp. Then he walked away without saying a word. Terrified, my friend and I jumped up and ran off.

His action haunted me for a long time. Even a poor man should possess some self-respect. Yet he acted like a robber, or even worse than a beggar. It was only when I grew older that I understood how fiercely hunger tears at a person’s soul. When starvation lasts day after day, the mind holds only one thought: how to get a mouthful of food. All other values, such as character and self-esteem, are pushed aside completely.

People often say, "Poverty breeds thieves." When hunger becomes too great, people may do anything. I have heard stories of intellectuals and wealthy individuals who lived in luxury. Yet when imprisoned and starved, they lost their dignity entirely, fighting over scraps of sugar and spoonfuls of rice. Such scenes were so tragic that no one could imagine them. Hunger transformed them into beasts seeking only prey.

I suddenly thought of wild birds. Many people look at birds soaring in the sky and wish, "How wonderful it would be to be a bird in the next life, free from all worries!" But if one tried being a bird for a lifetime, they would understand its suffering. Birds must flap their wings all day searching for food, hunting for fallen grains or insects hidden in leaves. They have no moments of rest, no music, no films, and no spiritual pursuits. Their only concern is survival through food. Humans are fortunate; we have leisure time to enjoy spiritual values, listen to music, read books, visit temples, and exchange New Year greetings. Animals do not have this privilege.

This shows how profoundly material conditions affect the spirit. When lacking food and clothing, humans easily become degraded, losing their character. However, there are those who maintain their dignity despite poverty. They would rather starve than steal or beg shamelessly. These are rare individuals with strong spirits. Among ten hungry people, perhaps only one possesses such strength.

The Meaning of the Story

This story reminds us that matter and spirit are inseparable. Material conditions can dominate and crush the human spirit, yet a strong spirit can help one overcome material hardships. Therefore, we must cherish and cultivate both aspects. Above all, we must uphold our character and dignity, regardless of the circumstances.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang