The Purpose of Life

The lights in the hall dimmed softly. The murmuring of over a hundred people fell silent as the teacher stepped onto the stage. Below, young leaders sat with crisp suits and sharp eyes, accustomed to making decisions. In the front row, a representative from South Korea sat upright, looking very formal.

"Hello everyone. First, I have a question," the teacher said, his voice deep yet resonant. "What is the purpose of living?"

A moment of silence followed. Then some exchanged glances, others shrugged, and a few smiled shyly. The question was too big, too sudden, amidst a session on leadership skills.

"There are two choices," the teacher continued, not letting the silence linger. "One: Live to find happiness for yourself. Two: Live to find happiness for everyone."

In the hall, almost everyone chose the second option. Who would dare admit before a crowd that they live only for themselves? But the teacher smiled, his gaze piercing. "When no one is around, when you lie alone on a swinging hammock, or sit in a dark corner reading a book... which option truly belongs to your heart then?"

An indescribable feeling crept into many hearts. Indeed, in the dead of night, when it is just you and yourself, which choice is truly made?

If we choose to seek happiness only for ourselves, we plant a seed in life. Later, it will blossom and bear fruit... and whoever consumes it will face risk. But if we choose to seek happiness for all, accepting a harder, more sacrificial life, that seed will bloom... and those who partake will feel healthy and at ease.

This is where it begins. The story of life’s purpose, the teacher explained, will guide us throughout our lives, until the very end. Some spend their whole lives chasing money and status, ultimately seeking only a form of personal happiness. If the initial purpose is wrong, every subsequent step will be misdirected. In work, selfishness seeps in, damaging the entire team.

"And when life’s purpose is correct," the teacher said, "it becomes the quality of a true leader."

Here, the teacher emphasized that this quality does not arise naturally. It must be nurtured, like a sapling. From childhood, it is established: Living for the happiness of all. As we grow, it must be watered with right thinking, good relationships, and wise books. We must also guard against those who try to "chop down" that tree. Some come to persuade: "Be harsh, be aggressive, compete fiercely—that is wisdom!" At such moments, the weak-hearted may believe them, and the tree of ideals breaks and falls.

"In life, there are four types of people," the teacher said. "Wise but cruel, wise but kind, naive but kind, and kind yet wise. The ideal type is kind yet wise. Kind so that people trust you, but wise so that you can get things done."

A Samsung executive raised his hand. "Teacher, how can a large enterprise like ours maintain that ideal at every level, from leadership to workers?"

The teacher nodded. That is why we are here today. The ethics of a leader stem from their life ideal. And that ideal must become the guiding direction for the entire organization. Like Samsung," the teacher looked at the Korean representative, "why are they successful? Because there are no 'individual heroes.' They collaborate, listen to customers, and help one another. No single leader’s name is known, because success belongs to the collective. This is the spirit of 'living for everyone.'"

The teacher’s voice softened, as if telling another story. "Business is the same. Some companies, when starting out, serve for free, giving without expectation. For example, Google. They gave the whole world free access to search tools. Then the whole world felt indebted to them and voluntarily followed. This is cause and effect (karmic law). Give first, receive later. Do not calculate selfishly at the beginning."

The hall was silent. Everyone was reflecting on cause and effect (karmic law) in business, something rarely mentioned in management textbooks.

"And," the teacher said, "this is also how to preserve ethics in work. When we remember that our life purpose is 'for everyone,' we prioritize the collective benefit over personal gain in our tasks. Even as a small employee, we help colleagues before thinking about our own achievements."

The sharing session lasted more than three hours. When the hall lights came back on, many stood up, their eyes still thoughtful. The Korean representative shook hands with the teacher, saying something in his native language, then translating: "He says this is what Samsung always tries to do, but sometimes forgets. Thank you, Teacher."

A young female leader walked outside and paused in the corridor. She looked up at the night sky, the question still echoing in her mind: "What is the purpose of living?" This time, she knew the answer was no longer just for herself.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The story "The Purpose of Life" reminds us that all success in career and life stems from a correct life purpose: living to find happiness for everyone, rather than only for oneself. When the initial purpose is "correct," it becomes the ethical foundation, shaping the qualities of a true leader—one who is "kind yet wise." From there, in work and business, they know how to place collective benefits first, practicing "serve first, receive later" according to the law of cause and effect (karmic law), leading the team toward sustainable success.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang