Elder Brother Robo And The Relocated Flower Pots

Early in the morning, dew still clung to the leaves in the temple courtyard, and the cool air brushed the faces of those just stepping out of the meditation hall. The pale young sunlight fell on rows of ornamental flower pots lined along the veranda, casting dappled shadows on the brick floor. The cheerful songs of birds blended with the soft swishing of sandals as the monks walked in meditation. In a corner of the courtyard, an elderly senior monk stood with his arms crossed, like someone surveying a battlefield.

In those days, the community at the temple consisted of monks who were mature in life and steady in the Dharma, each with his own opinions. This elderly senior monk had a habit of ordering disciples to move flower pots from place to place for no apparent reason, which people found amusing. Yet among the community there was one monk nicknamed "Robo," because he always obeyed without condition. The other brothers would avoid the task, and only those who did not know better were assigned to it. As for the young monks, like the author at that time, they stood apart, scoffing, considering themselves sharper than the rest.

One day, the elderly senior monk walked over and pointed at the first flower pot: "Here, carry this pot over to the other side of the courtyard." A young monk standing nearby stepped back, forcing an awkward smile: "Yes, teacher, let me just stand here and talk. I'm not touching those pots." The senior monk frowned: "Why won't you carry it? I told you to move it quickly." The young monk shook his head, his voice gentle but stubborn: "Teacher, it looks fine where it is. Why keep moving it and wasting effort?" The senior monk shook his head and walked away, while the young monk thought to himself: "That Robo fellow will surely go carry it. I'm not touching anything." A feeling of unwillingness arose in his heart, a refusal to be compliant.

Meanwhile, the elderly senior monk turned and called out: "Robo, move that pot back to its old place. I gave you the wrong direction earlier." Robo, who was sweeping the courtyard, put down his broom and calmly picked up the pot: "Yes, teacher." The senior monk said again: "Over there too, bring the pot from the porch into this corner." Robo continued: "Yes." The young monk watched from a distance as Robo went back and forth several times, and called out teasingly: "Robo, you just do whatever the teacher says. Aren't you tired?" Robo smiled: "When the teacher asks, I do it. Why argue and trouble the heart?" Hearing this, the elderly senior monk nodded approvingly: "There, that is how a practitioner opens the way to spiritual attainment."

The turning point came when that young monk fell ill and lay resting in his room. The elderly senior monk came in and said: "Here, get up and carry that flower pot for me. I need to arrange the courtyard." The young monk shook his head: "I'm tired. I can't do it." The senior monk sighed and left, then called for Robo. Later on, the senior monk entrusted all the temple's tasks to Robo, while the young monk was gradually excluded from useful work. It was at that moment that the young monk realized: his stubbornness had cost him the opportunity to accumulate merit, while Robo, through his mastery of the practice of obedience, was entrusted with many wholesome tasks.

From that day on, the young monk tried to change. Whenever he saw the senior monk assign a task, he did it immediately, without silent criticism. Gradually, the teacher also began to give him work, and he felt he had a place in monastic life. Robo remained a role model, and later all the brothers came to respect his obedience, which helped keep the temple stable, even though no one rewarded or punished anyone.

As monastic life went on, whoever cultivated the practice of compliance like Robo found the heart light and work flowing smoothly. The temple did not need strict discipline, but because each person obeyed willingly, the strength of the practice grew ever firmer. The young monk of those years now understands: the Robo way is a fairly high level of practice, helping to gradually break through attachment to the self.

The Meaning of the Story

Obedience without condition, like "Robo," is the perfected practice of compliance, which helps practitioners release attachment to the self and opens the door to countless blessings from merit. In contrast, arguing and stubbornness diminish one's blessings from merit, causing teachers to hesitate to entrust us with work, and thereby weakening our own practice.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang