There was once a young monk who cultivated alongside his guru deep in the mountains. One day, he asked his guru, “Dear Master, how can I bring forth my inner wisdom?” His guru’s answer was simple: “Light up the candle in your heart—bring forth the brightness of that candle’s glow!” Mystified, the young monk pondered over his guru’s words and tried to decipher their meaning.
Not long after, his guru passed on and the young monk gradually grew up. He built up a spiritual cultivation community and led many disciples onto the path of the Buddha’s teachings. In the prayer hall of his community grounds, there was a corner in which a lighted lamp would be added to the existing ones every day. As the days passed, the number of lamps increased and the hall too, would shine with the brilliance of yet another lamp.
When the monk was in his seventies and nearing the end of his lifespan, the question from many years ago still lingered in his mind. Involuntarily, his eyes opened as he pondered: “My Master advised me to light up the candle within my heart. I have filled up the hall with bright lamps, but how much inner clarity have I gained?”
Just as he was about to take his last breath, he opened his eyes and took in the sight of the numerous burning lamps. This time, a slight smile played on his lips as he told his disciples: “The brightness in the external environment is a reflection of the light of inner clarity in our hearts. Oh, my disciples! If every one of you goes forth to spread the light of the teachings, darkness will be banished and the world will be so much brighter. Dear disciples! Follow in my footsteps and do not underestimate the light from even just a lone lamp!”
Hopefully, all of us can not only keep the light in our hearts shining but also pass the flame on to those whom we meet. In this way, the brightness of Tzu Chi’s world can spread to every corner of the world and fill it up with limitless brilliance!
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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