The Man in the Re-education Camp and the Saying 'Life and Death Are Fated'

During a dharma talk, the Venerable Teacher spoke of a friend—a writer who had been sent to a re-education camp after nineteen seventy-five. The camp was located deep in the ancient forest, where poisoned water, mosquitoes, and the constant torment of hunger and cold afflicted everyone. The writer later recounted to the Teacher, his voice heavy with sorrow: "Many people died because the conditions were so wretched. Yet, I remained healthy and was able to return."

The Teacher asked, "How were you able to endure all that?"

The writer smiled gently, his gaze distant: "Life and death are fated, Venerable Sir. I believe in the law of cause and effect. If my karma is not yet exhausted, then no matter how great the suffering, I will not die."

The Teacher nodded, looking at him with affectionate eyes: "You are correct. It was the same for the Buddha. He practiced extreme asceticism, tormenting his body to an unparalleled degree, yet he did not die. His conditions (dependent origination) were not complete. And precisely because of this, he realized that the path of severe austerities does not lead to enlightenment."

The writer continued: "Inside the camp, I saw many people fall into despair and give up. But I kept thinking that each day of life was a day to learn another lesson. There were nights lying in the forest, hearing the growls of wild beasts, and I would remember the Buddha's teachings on impermanence. I felt how small I was, yet I also felt fortunate to still have faith."

The Teacher said softly: "It was precisely that faith and the merit from many lifetimes that helped you overcome it. Like the Buddha, who after abandoning extreme asceticism, sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree and attained the Way. That path requires the power of meditative concentration, but above all, it requires blessings from merit."

The writer bowed his head, his eyes glistening with tears: "I thank you, Teacher. I understand now that no matter what the circumstances, one should not despair. Just live well, do good, and all things will be arranged accordingly."

The story concludes, but its resonance lingers. The writer later became a devout Buddhist, living a simple and serene life. He often reminded others: "Do not fear suffering; fear the loss of faith. For while life and death are fated, how we choose to live is what truly matters."

The Meaning of the Story

Severe asceticism is not the main path of the Buddha's teachings. What is important is to live simply, maintain ethics, and hold firm to one's faith in cause and effect (karmic law). Life and death may be fated, but how we face adversity is what determines our blessings in the future.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.