A Selfless Heart Amidst Fierce Competition

The winter wind howled through the university corridors in America, carrying a biting cold that pierced to the bone. Yet inside the library, the atmosphere was heated by the intense pressure of examinations. This was the doctoral selection process for Psychology, one of the most difficult and fiercely competitive fields. From two hundred and fifty outstanding applications, the judges selected only five recipients for full scholarships. This scarcity made every candidate feel suffocated, with each step taken weighed down by the fear of exclusion.

Amidst the crowd of tense faces sat a young Vietnamese woman, a devoted Buddhist student, reading attentively. Although she herself was in the final sprint of preparation, she did not hide her materials or study methods. On the contrary, she proactively approached classmates who were struggling with complex assignments.

"Hey, do you need me to share this summary file on theory? I found it quite useful," the girl smiled, handing a USB drive to a male classmate who was grimacing from a headache.

The boy looked surprised, even suspicious. "Aren't you afraid I will become better than you and take your spot? There are only five places available."

She shook her head, her gaze gentle yet firm. "I study according to the spirit of Buddhism. Wishing for my friends to be better than me is not a loss, but blessings from merit. If we progress together, knowledge spreads, and opportunities open wider for everyone."

In the days that followed, the girl dedicated time to guide many others, answering questions and sharing exam preparation experiences. Even when some had not yet asked for help, she found ways to send them valuable resources. These actions might seem naive in such a ruthless competitive environment, but they stemmed from a selfless heart, free from selfishness or calculation.

Finally, the day of the last oral examination arrived. The American professors, known for their style of digging deep into practical situations and tricky theories, left most candidates flustered. Many sweated, stammered, and could not answer completely. The air in the examination room became stifling, with pressure weighing heavily on each applicant's shoulders.

When it was the girl's turn to enter, she felt an unusual calm. About a week prior, during meditative concentration and reflection, extremely difficult questions had suddenly appeared clearly in her mind. She had spent the entire week researching and finding the most detailed and logical answers. When she entered the room and heard the professors ask exactly those questions that had "reminded" her earlier, she was not confused at all. Instead, she answered fluently, coherently, and thoroughly, with the confidence of someone prepared not just in knowledge, but in mindset.

The results were announced: The girl not only passed but ranked first in the cohort, receiving a four-year full scholarship including housing and meals. The professors highly valued not only her wisdom but also her calm and profound demeanor. This miracle was not accidental. The law of cause and effect (karmic law) operated perfectly: When she opened her heart to help others, forgetting personal selfishness, the universe responded with luck and exceptional success.

**The Meaning of the Story**

This story illustrates the law of cause and effect (karmic law) in Buddhism. When we live selflessly, opening our hearts to help others even amidst fierce competition, we do not lose opportunities. On the contrary, blessings from merit and good fortune naturally come to us. Wishing for others to be better than ourselves, and sharing knowledge rather than hoarding it, is a way to elevate moral character and generate positive energy. As a result, those with expansive minds encounter favorable conditions (dependent origination) and achieve more sustainable success than those who only seek gain for themselves. This is a lesson on the power of altruism and faith in the law of cause and effect (karmic law).

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang