The Power of Silence

The Buddha taught that each person is a world, and that world is created by their own soul. Beneath the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, where One Pillar Pagoda is still veiled in mist, lived an erudite Zen master and a mischievous, clever young novice monk named Chan Khong. The novice Chan Khong had big, round eyes that were always sparkling with curiosity, and his head was constantly spinning with questions about the world.

One autumn morning, with a gentle breeze blowing, Chan Khong approached the Zen master and asked in his innocent voice, “Master, what is the greatest value in life?”

The Zen master did not answer right away. He just smiled kindly and said, “Go to the garden out back, find the biggest stone you can, and tomorrow, take it to the vegetable market to sell. Remember, if anyone asks for the price, you may only hold up two fingers. If they haggle, you must not sell it under any circumstances. Then you will understand for yourself what the greatest value in life is.”

The next morning, Chan Khong eagerly embraced the large, heavy stone and headed to the vegetable market. After walking a short distance, he felt his stomach rumbling, so he stopped at a stall and ate a serving of sticky rice dyed with gấc fruit to redden his lips and cheeks. With his belly full, he continued his journey, occasionally stroking the stone like a friend and saying, “Hey, we have to sell for a high price!”

At the market, Chan Khong’s large stone immediately attracted attention. A housewife with a heavy carrying pole passed by and asked out of curiosity, “Little monk, how much is this stone?”

Chan Khong remembered his master’s instructions and said nothing, just holding up two fingers. The housewife looked up, calculated, and exclaimed, “Two silver taels? Please sell it to me so I can go home and press my pickled mustard greens. This stone is big; it’s perfect for pressing vegetables!”

Hearing the housewife offer two silver taels, Chan Khong was secretly overjoyed, his round eyes shining brightly. He thought to himself, “Oh my, a lifeless, inanimate stone is worth a whole month’s worth of my vegetarian meals!” But then he remembered his master’s instruction not to sell, so he hugged the stone and returned to the pagoda.

Upon returning, the young monk excitedly ran to his master and said gleefully, “Master, today a housewife offered two silver taels for the stone. Can you tell me what the greatest value in life is now?”

The Zen master patted the young monk’s head and smiled. “Don’t be in such a hurry. Tomorrow morning, take this stone to the museum at O Quan Chuong Gate. The same rules apply: if someone asks, just hold up two fingers, but you must not sell it. When you return this time, I will tell you.”

The next morning, Chan Khong embraced the large stone and stopped at the sticky rice stall again, but today he also had a bowl of mung bean sweet soup to cool his stomach. After he was full, he continued on to the museum. Inside the museum, a group of people were whispering, “What’s the value of such an ordinary stone?” The little monk heard this, pouted, and caressed the stone, whispering, “You’re not an ordinary stone, my friend!”

Just then, a solemn-faced official in brocade robes approached and asked, “Young monk, how much are you selling this stone for?”

Chan Khong said nothing, only held up two fingers. The official pondered for a moment and then said, “Two hundred silver taels?” The young monk shook his head. The official immediately spoke loudly, “Then two hundred silver taels is the final price. I want to use it to carve a statue of a deity!” Chan Khong was stunned to hear two hundred silver taels, but he remembered his master’s instructions and tried to carry the stone back to the pagoda.

When he arrived, he ran straight to the Zen master, panting as he spoke: “Master, today someone offered two hundred silver taels for my stone. This time you have to tell me what the greatest value in life is!”

The Zen master laughed heartily. “You have one more chance. Tomorrow, take this stone to a large antique shop on Hang Bac Street. The same rules apply: you must not sell it. Then you will know.”

On the third day, Chan Khong carried the large stone to the antique shop. This time, he didn’t stop for sticky rice, but instead bought a piece of malt candy to eat on the way. He walked and unwrapped the candy, his round eyes curiously taking in the bustling streets.

At the antique shop, the owner’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw the stone. He carefully picked it up, examined it, and discussed with his staff, “What kind of stone is this? Where was it excavated? Which dynasty does it belong to?” Finally, he came over and asked Chan Khong, “Little master, how much is your stone?”

The young monk remained silent, holding up two fingers. “Two hundred silver taels?” the owner asked in surprise, then shook his head and said, “No, it can’t be that low. This must be a rare gemstone. I’ll offer two thousand silver taels!” Chan Khong was astonished, his mouth agape, but he still said nothing. The owner, seeing this, thought his price was still too low and said, “Then twenty thousand silver taels! This is the final price!”

Chan Khong was dumbfounded. He quickly embraced the stone and ran back to the pagoda as if flying, his feet feeling weightless. When he arrived, he ran straight to the Zen master’s room, his voice trembling with emotion: “Master, today someone offered twenty thousand silver taels for our stone! Can you please give me the answer now?”

The Zen master stroked the young monk’s head, his eyes kind and affectionate. “My child, the greatest value in life is like this stone. When you placed yourself in the vegetable market, you were only worth two silver taels. When you were in the museum, you were worth two hundred silver taels. But when you placed yourself in the antique shop, you were worth twenty thousand silver taels. Different foundations, different positions—the value of life will be completely different.”

The story of the young monk Chan Khong is just like the life of each of us. How will you position your life? What kind of auction will you place yourself in?

Your value cannot be determined by others. We cannot choose where or in what circumstances we are born. But we can completely change where we are positioned and how valuable we make ourselves.

A person who refuses to learn will never succeed, no matter how many jobs they change. A person who doesn’t know how to cherish love will still be lonely, no matter how many people they meet. For a person who doesn’t take care of their health, no amount of medicine will solve their problems.

We ourselves are the root of everything. To change your circumstances, you must first change yourself! Learning is the foundation for self-change. When we change, everything around us will also change.

Remember, your worldview is created by you. If you are optimistic, cheerful, constantly striving, and learning to adapt, your life will reach new heights. Conversely, if you only know how to complain, criticize, blame, and resent every day, your life will be nothing short of hell.