The Small Temple Within the Soul

On the afternoon of the third day of the Lunar New Year, the faint scent of incense still lingered in the air. The yellow chrysanthemums had begun to wilt slightly, yet the laughter of devotees visiting the temple echoed through every corridor. The abbot sat on an old wooden chair, gazing out at the courtyard where children played and ran about joyfully.

Having just finished a dharma talk on the meaning of gathering together, the teacher paused in the silence. He then began to share a story from his past.

"One year, also during the New Year season, a monk from another region came to my temple asking for rice," he recalled. "He arrived with a deeply sorrowful face, speaking almost as if weeping. 'Please give me some rice to take home,' he said. 'It has been three days since the New Year began, yet not a single person has come to my quiet retreat to light even one stick of incense.'"

The teacher stopped, his gaze drifting into the distance. That monk lived alone in a small, secluded hermitage. Usually, during the New Year, local people would visit various retreats and huts, lighting incense and making offerings, even if it was just a handful of rice or a bunch of bananas. But that year, his hermitage remained completely empty.

The abbot continued, his voice lowering. "Hearing this broke my heart; I felt profound compassion. Yet truly, everything follows the law of cause and effect (karmic law)."

"Cause and effect (karmic law) means that in the past, we may have betrayed the sincerity of others. When people approached us, we showed indifference, so later no one came anymore. Or perhaps when people visited, we harbored silent resentment in our minds without speaking it aloud. Eventually, the karmic result manifests, and no one comes to us again."

The teacher spoke further, his tone steady but heavy with meaning. "Conversely, there are temples bustling with devotees. Why? Because the monks and nuns there cultivate wholesome states of mind. They cherish each person who arrives, valuing every footstep regardless of wealth or poverty."

He offered a relatable example. "When you see someone approaching the temple from afar, merely glimpsing them brings joy. Often, that person’s clothes might be stained, appearing poor or humble. Yet the monastics love them dearly. Such a temple is guaranteed to become crowded with devotees, leaving no room for more, because they loved every individual who came."

"But there are those," the teacher added, "who upon seeing visitors immediately say, 'Who is coming? Probably just another woman here to beg for money. Tell her to leave.' Such a temple will eventually find itself empty, because we fail to honor the human beings who arrive. We do not realize that sometimes Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva may appear in disguise. It could be an elderly poor woman holding a cane and wearing a straw hat, testing whether our hearts truly cherish all sentient beings."

The teacher sighed deeply. "Often, we have practiced for many years yet cannot extend love to the poor. Why? Because only the wealthy come to make offerings, while the poor come to ask for help, which feels burdensome. If we desire only the rich and reject the poor, eventually even the rich will abandon us. But if we welcome the poor with love and respect, the wealthy will naturally follow. This is cause and effect (karmic law)."

Looking around at the chatting and laughing devotees, he reflected, "Life is similar. Sometimes good people enter our lives, sometimes difficult ones. Sometimes prosperous individuals approach us, sometimes those in hardship. Yet our mind/heart engages in discrimination and selection. We think, 'Being friends with this person offers no benefit. They are too poor; helping them will cost me money. I should avoid them. But this other person is well-off and wealthy; being friends with them is advantageous if trouble arises.'"

He emphasized, "Even if these thoughts remain secret within your mind, unseen by others, loneliness will eventually follow. Why? Because we did not love everyone equally. Our interactions were driven by exploitation and calculation. Thus, the karmic result returns as isolation."

Pausing, he looked at the listeners. "Do we suffer from this? Certainly, very often. This is why our lives contain moments of solitude and loneliness—due to these hidden mental habits."

"Only those with moral integrity, following the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), extending compassion to all sentient beings, can transcend such discrimination. Whether meeting a poor person or a rich one, we hold them both dear. Such individuals will gather large communities of relatives and friends, much like the assemblies of bodhisattvas and Buddhas, comprising countless millions of beings. This occurs because their minds are free from discrimination, radiating love to all."

The teacher concluded gently but firmly. "We have not yet attained the realm of Buddhas or bodhisattvas, but starting now, we must practice this. Seeing everyone in life, whether high or low status, we must generate a little affection for them. Remember this."

Smiling with kind eyes, he said, "Each of us should consider ourselves children of the Buddha. We are also a small temple within our own soul. The Buddha resides within our mind/heart. Wherever the Buddha is present, there is a temple. Therefore, each of us is a spiritual sanctuary. If our inner self is a temple, we must act as its abbot. What is the duty of an abbot? To cherish and respect every person who steps inside."

"So," the teacher asked, "can we learn to cherish and respect anyone who enters our lives?"

Eyes turned toward him; some nodded, others smiled. In the festive afternoon atmosphere, the lesson on love and communication from the soul seemed to permeate every heart.

### The Meaning of the Story

This narrative highlights that community and connection are essential human needs, fostering brain development, shaping character, and bringing joy. However, to sustain this harmony, each person must apply right intention: cultivating love and respect for others internally, even if they are unaware. Words and actions must stem from genuine care, not calculation or discrimination based on wealth or status. If our interactions are motivated solely by self-interest or contain hidden contempt, the karmic result will be loneliness, despite outward politeness. Conversely, unconditional love and respect attract supportive communities and favorable conditions. Let us view our souls as small temples and ourselves as their abbots, treating everyone with love and dignity.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang