Blessings Born of a Selfless Heart

This story tells of a Vietnamese Buddhist student studying in the United States. Amid fierce competition, she wholeheartedly helped her classmates. Through this selflessness, she achieved a miraculous full scholarship.

The winter wind blew bitterly through the bare trees on the campus of a prestigious university in Boston. Inside the library, the glow from computer screens reflected on tense and weary faces. This was the decisive phase of the doctoral program in Psychology, one of the most difficult fields. Out of two hundred and fifty outstanding candidates, only five spots were available for selection. The heat of competition made the air feel stifling. Every page turned quickly, and every note written in haste carried heavy pressure.

Amidst that crowd was Lan, a petite Vietnamese girl whose eyes always shone with gentleness. She was carefully photocopying precious research materials. Instead of keeping them to herself for an advantage, she stacked them neatly into piles, preparing to send them to her classmates. A male friend, who was very capable but extremely anxious, approached her and asked:

"Lan, are you crazy? These documents are extremely rare. If I use them to answer the oral exam, your chances will decrease. Why do you share everything with everyone?"

Lan smiled and handed the stack of papers to her friend. "I study to understand, not to compete or win. If my friends become better, the academic environment will improve. Moreover, I believe in cause and effect (karmic law). When I open my heart to help others, blessings from merit will naturally come to me."

Her friend was surprised but nodded in gratitude. In the days that followed, Lan maintained this habit. She did not just share materials; she also dedicated time to thoroughly explain complex concepts to anyone who needed help, even those she had never met before. While many other candidates chose isolation and hid their knowledge, Lan lived fully with the altruistic spirit of Buddhism.

Finally, the day of the last oral examination arrived. The examination room was freezing cold. Three stern, elderly professors sat behind a long table. Candidates entered one by one. Many, despite being excellent master’s graduates, remained confused and trembling before the tricky, non-linear questions posed by the professors. They tried to recall textbooks, but the questions demanded deep critical thinking and flexible improvisation, leaving them bewildered.

It was Lan’s turn. She walked in and took a deep breath. Strangely, her mind suddenly became crystal clear with extremely difficult questions and complex clinical situations. She had inadvertently reflected on these while helping her friends review. One week prior, while explaining a case study to a group of friends, those streams of thought had automatically organized themselves and deepened within her subconscious. Now, hearing the professors’ questions, Lan felt no panic. Calmly and confidently, she answered each question with tight logic, rich evidence, and full persuasion.

The presiding professor nodded, exchanging astonished glances with his two colleagues. The results were announced immediately after: Lan not only passed but ranked first on the list. She received a four-year full scholarship, including living expenses. This amount equated to a massive savings sum, opening the door to a brilliant future for her.

Holding the acceptance letter, Lan did not rejoice excessively. She remembered her teacher’s words: "When we pray for the greater good, we forget ourselves, and cause and effect (karmic law) will take care of us." Helping friends amidst fierce competition did not cost her opportunities. On the contrary, it accumulated wisdom and blessings from merit, turning challenges into stepping stones that lifted her higher.

### The Meaning of the Story

This story affirms the wondrous law of cause and effect (karmic law). When we live altruistically, opening our hearts to help others even in harsh competitive circumstances, we suffer no loss. Conversely, we receive worthy compensation. Blessings from merit do not come from selfish accumulation. They arise from an open heart, ready to share and wishing for others to succeed together. Faith in cause and effect (karmic law) and steadfastness in altruistic ethics are the golden keys that unlock unexpected lucky opportunities in life.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang