The Suffering of Those Who Flee the World

In the sweltering heat of midsummer, cicadas droned relentlessly throughout the ancient forest. A man sat huddled in a simple thatched hut, his hands trembling as he held a bowl of cold rice. It had been three months since he decided to leave the noisy city behind. He abandoned his job, his friends, and complex relationships, seeking what he believed was liberation.

Before leaving, his thinking was simplistic. He felt life was too exhausting, marked by jealous colleagues, suspicious bosses, and family turning away. He believed that if he lived alone in the wilderness, undisturbed by others, he would surely find inner peace and happiness. He trusted that the absence of social problems would bring internal tranquility.

However, reality proved harsher than he imagined. This morning, just as he opened the door of his hut, a cobra slithered across his path. He recoiled in shock, his heart pounding wildly. He realized that while there were no colleagues here to envy him, there were dangerous animals threatening his life. There was no boss to criticize him, but hunger and illness lurked constantly nearby.

He recalled the words of a master who had spoken to him before his departure. The teacher said that if one has little merit, living alone may be possible for a short time. Blessings from merit might protect one from major accidents. But when merit runs out, thieves will enter, and sickness will attack. Only then does one understand that artificial purity is not safe at all.

As evening fell, heavy rain poured down on the forest. Water leaked through the thatched roof onto his sleeping mat. He lay curled up, shivering as malaria began to torment him. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, and his lips turned blue. In his delirium, he desperately craved a caring hand, a cup of warm water, or a kind word. These were the very things he had scorned and discarded when he was still in the city. He recognized that human beings are inherently social creatures. We cannot exist completely independently from the world.

When the fever subsided, he sat up and looked out into the white curtain of rain. He no longer wished to run away. He understood that suffering does not lie in crowds or solitude, but in how we handle our relationships and responsibilities. Hiding deep in the forest was merely a temporary avoidance, not an ultimate solution. Life, however bitter and difficult, remains the only place where we can practice and transform karma and conditions.

The Meaning of the Story

This narrative reflects the perspective of Venerable Thich Chan Quang regarding the common misconception that liberation requires separating oneself from the world. Many believe they must flee to mountains or remote places to avoid dealing with life's challenges. The teacher emphasizes that without sufficient blessings from merit, living alone in the wild is fraught with risks such as theft, disease, and natural disasters, offering no true safety. Furthermore, one cannot escape the karma and conditions woven into this life. Although the world is complex and dangerous, it serves as an essential school. Instead of fleeing, we must learn to address practical issues with mindfulness and accumulated merit, transforming trials into opportunities for spiritual cultivation.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang