RIGHT THINKING, TRANSFORMED LIFE

In the book Liaofan’s Four Lessons, the author wrote, “Destiny is created by oneself, blessings are sought by oneself.” Those words echo through centuries, reminding us that life is not entirely shaped by external circumstances. A noble birth does not guarantee blessings, wealth does not ensure happiness, and effort in the wrong direction is nothing but wasted energy. A sound mindset, like a compass amidst a vast ocean, guides one through storms toward safe harbors.

In Buddhism, the Buddha taught: “All phenomena arise from the mind.” Every action, choice, speech, and lifestyle originates from thought. When the mind is calm, the world becomes gentle. When the mind is chaotic, heaven and earth seem turbulent. The wise see hardship as a lesson for growth; the ignorant see difficulty as an insurmountable wall. The difference lies only in one thought.

Mindset shapes destiny

Modern psychology shows that human behavior is often guided by the subconscious, even when we are unaware. Freud compared the subconscious to the submerged portion of an iceberg, determining movement while the small visible part deceives perception. Many call this “fate,” but in truth, fate is formed through long-term habits of thought.

There is a story in Zen teachings. A woodcutter worked tirelessly, waking early and returning home late, yet remained poor. He asked a Zen master why. The master took him up the mountain and pointed to large trees he never touched. The woodcutter said the path to them was long and tiring, while smaller trees nearby were easier. The master smiled, “You believe you suffer because you are poor, but in truth, you are poor because your mind avoids difficulty.” Realizing this, the woodcutter began cutting bigger trees. Soon, his life completely changed.

The ancients said: “Wealth may come from heaven, but success comes from man.” Heaven determines the ground on which we stand; our choices pave the road. Vietnamese sage Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm once advised, “To understand the times is to be extraordinary.” The far-sighted thrive even in adversity; the narrow-minded are trapped even under clear skies.

When thought is blocked, the world narrows

Buddhism teaches, “When the mind arises, all dharmas arise; when the mind ceases, all dharmas cease.” A tangled mind sees knots everywhere; an open mind sees roads. Troubles arise as projections of the heart.

In Vietnamese industrial history, growth often came from shifts in thinking. Industrialist Mũ Ô Đê, during a time of outdated production, did not blame markets. Instead, he traveled to learn modern management systems and boldly implemented reforms. Workers resisted at first, but productivity increased and his products became benchmarks. Difficulty was never the true obstacle—rigid thinking was.

Buddhism calls ignorance avidyā—blindness of wisdom. When people blame the world, they are trapped in ignorance. Cause and effect teaches: we reap what we sow. Nguyễn Công Trứ wrote, “Since we live under heaven and earth, we must accomplish something.” Those who understand responsibility never wait for luck.

A narrow thinker traps himself in blame. Blame relieves short-term pressure but locks long-term opportunity. Real growth begins when one looks inward.

Change thought, change life

In the Platform Sutra, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng said, “One thought of ignorance extinguishes wisdom; one thought of enlightenment gives rise to wisdom.” A single shift can alter fate.

In The Pursuit of Happyness, the protagonist slept in public restrooms with his son but never surrendered. Seeing successful brokers, he applied for an unpaid internship. Homeless, he still wore suits to work and finished tasks early to secure shelter. In Buddhist spirit, this is “non-heedlessness”—not letting the mind fall into despair. Eventually, he was hired and later founded his own firm. He transitioned from victim-thinking to creator-thinking.

Right mindset is not blind optimism. It is accurate recognition, courageous responsibility, and wise response. The Buddha taught, “Be a lamp unto yourself.” No one saves us except ourselves.

Vietnamese folk wisdom says, “In hardship, wisdom emerges.” Circumstances do not create strong thinking; strong thinking transforms circumstances.

Compassion and wisdom together

Buddhism praises the unity of compassion, wisdom, and courage. Lacking any one creates imbalance: courage alone breeds recklessness; wisdom without courage results in stagnation; wisdom and courage without compassion lead to isolation.

Nguyễn Du wrote, “The root of goodness lies in the heart; the word ‘heart’ surpasses ‘talent.’” Talent alone is insufficient; purity of mind elevates destiny.

Freeing oneself from mental prison

Some prisons have no iron bars—they are built from fear, arrogance, and outdated beliefs. Like the young elephant tied to a peg, after repeated failure it eventually stops resisting even when grown strong enough to break free. People behave the same.

Ancient Vietnamese wisdom states, “Deep rivers run silent; ripe rice bows low.” Correct thinking is humble, always learning. When the heart widens, the world widens.

A new lens on life

In the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, the Buddha said, “The mind is a skilled painter.” It paints our world. Pessimists see danger everywhere; optimists see possibility. Doubt closes doors; faith opens them.

Scholar Phạm Lãi taught, “Advance when the time is right, withdraw when necessary.” Flexibility is mastery.

Cultivating inner awareness

Thought is cultivated—through reading, observation, experience, and listening. In Zen, awareness is the inner lamp illuminating thoughts. Once the mind drifts, awareness guides it back.

Nguyễn Trãi urged, “Use humaneness to overcome cruelty.” Wisdom is not force, but understanding.

Age is no barrier. Buddhism teaches impermanence—everything can change. Small improvements compound into transformation.

Conclusion

Wealth is not as precious as a mind capable of creating wealth. When life feels stuck, shift perspective. Birth sets the starting line, money supports the journey, diligence maintains progress, but mindset decides the destination.

The ancients taught, “To go far, first step beyond yourself.” Rise above old thinking. With a higher vantage point, walls become pathways.

Do not wait for fortune—plant seeds. Do not blame fate—cultivate mind. As Liaofan’s Four Lessons reminds: blessings and misfortunes arise within thought.

When thinking is correct, life unfolds smoothly. One thought can shape destiny; one transformation can change fate.