The Unlucky Day of the Old Man at the Tavern

As dusk settled over a small roadside tavern, cigarette smoke drifted lazily through the air. Dim yellow lights cast shadows on the weary faces of the idle patrons. In a corner table near the window sat an old man, perfectly still. Before him stood a full glass of wine, yet he did not drink. His eyes were dull and vacant, staring into the bottom of the glass as if searching for an answer to his life’s struggles.

A young man with a lively spirit entered the tavern. Seeing the old man sitting in such sadness, he approached out of curiosity. He patted the elder on the shoulder and swiftly grabbed the glass, tilting his head back to drain it in one gulp.

"Hey! Why did you drink my wine?" the young man asked jokingly, intending to tease further.

But instead of reacting with anger, the old man suddenly burst into loud sobs. His crying echoed strangely amidst the noise of the tavern, causing everyone to turn and look. Panicked, the young man hurriedly apologized, stammering repeatedly.

"I am sorry, sir! I am so sorry! I did not know... Let me buy you another glass!"

The old man waved the boy away, tears streaming down his face, his voice choked with emotion.

"It is not about the wine, my dear. Today has been the unluckiest day of my life. This morning, I woke up late and arrived at work behind schedule, so my boss fired me. As I wandered home in despair, I discovered that my car had been stolen. I had to take a taxi back. When I arrived, I realized I had left my wallet and identification papers in that taxi. It was already gone. I opened my front door only to find my wife having an affair. Overwhelmed by suffering, I decided to end my life with poison. That glass contained the poison. If you had not drunk it for me, I would likely be dead by now."

The young man stood frozen, cold sweat breaking out on his skin. While the story seemed humorous, it hid a bitter truth about cascading disasters. Many people wonder: Why does a kind and virtuous person face such continuous bad luck? Is heaven unjust?

According to the teachings of the Venerable Thich Chan Quang, we cannot understand this if we look only with ordinary eyes. These sudden accidents are not random; they are the result of karmic causes planted in many past lives. Just as a seed grows after being watered for a long time, it eventually sprouts when the season arrives. Some negative karma accumulates from the past, and when the conditions (dependent origination) are fully met, it erupts all at once. This creates a chain of tragic events that those living in the moment find difficult to explain.

Therefore, do not rush to judge the fate of others. Do not waver in your faith in cause and effect (karmic law) when you see good people suffer. Our perspective is far too limited compared to the endless flow of karmic force across countless lifetimes.

The Meaning of the Story

This tale illustrates the complex principle of karma: events happening in the present may be the result of many causes from the past. It reminds us not to lose patience or faith in cause and effect (karmic law) when facing adversity. We must cultivate a deeper, more compassionate view toward the suffering (dukkha) of others.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang