The Future Moves of Chess

A horn blared loudly at a crowded intersection. Two motorbikes skidded to a sudden halt after a minor collision. The man driving the rear vehicle jumped off, his face flushed red, gripping his handlebars as if ready to fight. He shouted aggressively:

"What kind of way are you riding? Where were your eyes?"

The other man, remaining calm, raised both hands. His voice was gentle yet firm:

"Please do not react hastily. Let us call the traffic police to handle this properly. Do not let momentary emotions ruin the situation."

Those words acted like a bucket of cold water extinguishing a raging fire. The aggressive man paused, exhaled sharply, and quietly pulled out his phone to report the incident. In that moment, the calm man demonstrated true wisdom. He did not merely see the immediate event—the collision—but foresaw three or four subsequent steps in the chain of events. If they argued, the police would arrive late; the incident would drag on; and the legal consequences would become far more complicated. The other man saw only one step: being hit, feeling anger, and wanting to retaliate.

Venerable Thich Chan Quang uses this example to explain that a person with wisdom is one who can see very far ahead. This ability does not arise naturally unless one has undergone specialized training or possesses innate talent; rather, it requires practice. It is similar to a chess master. Most of us can calculate only a few moves ahead, but a grandmaster like Mac Dinh Chi could foresee seventeen moves, accurately predicting the outcome of the game.

This far-sighted vision applies not only to traffic incidents but also to the flow of socio-economic trends. Venerable Chan Quang recounts the shifting dynamics of power:

"In the past, whoever produced goods was king. For instance, if I manufactured electric fans, you had to come to me to use them. I held the power."

However, several decades later, power shifted to those who distributed the goods. As manufacturers multiplied and competition intensified, the winner became whoever could sell the products. Then came the current era, where power resides with retail systems and supermarkets—places that interact directly with consumers.

Now, a new force is rising, threatening all established players: online sellers. An individual needs no large capital, no physical storefront, and simply sits typing advertisements on social media, yet can defeat traditional giants. Power is becoming increasingly dispersed and unpredictable.

Venerable Chan Quang poses an open question:

"So, in the future, who will hold the power? Whoever can predict this will choose the right position for themselves, avoiding unemployment and seizing opportunities ahead of time."

For practitioners, the purpose of seeing far ahead is not to become wealthier, but to find the most suitable position for service aligned with social trends, thereby contributing more effectively.

The Meaning of the Story

Wisdom is the capacity to look far ahead, anticipating developments and the consequences of events. Cultivating this ability helps us make clear-headed decisions, avoid impulsive emotional reactions, and choose the correct path in life. For those studying the Dharma, seeing far ahead is also a means to discover practical and sustainable opportunities to serve society.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang