It had been a long week at the ad agency.
Liam sat slouched at his desk, eyes locked on his second Red Bull of the morning. Around him, his team buzzed with noise—clicking keyboards, gossip, ringing phones. His phone vibrated again. Another ad campaign rejected.
He opened Instagram. A coworker had just posted beach photos from Bali—again. His ex had liked them. Rage flickered behind his eyes.
He muttered, “Must be nice to have nothing better to do.”
Ten minutes later, Liam was in the breakroom, scooping instant noodles, his third snack since 10am. He stared blankly at the microwave, ignoring his slumped posture and the rising fog of frustration he was drowning in.
Then the new guy walked in.
Caleb. Barely said a word since joining. Always early. Always focused. Always calm.
“Hey,” Liam mumbled.
Caleb nodded, poured hot water over oats, and took a seat.
They sat in silence until Liam asked, “You always this quiet?”
Caleb smiled. “I try to be steady.”
Liam scoffed. “Steady? I’ve had three meetings blown up this week, and my manager thinks Canva is ‘real design software’. I’m losing it.”
Caleb stirred his oats. “Sounds like the wind is strong today.”
“What?” Liam blinked.
“I read a verse once,” Caleb said. “One who lives with senses unguarded, eats without moderation, and drifts through life lazily—he’s like a weak tree in the wind. Easy to topple.’”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “You calling me a weak tree?”
Caleb grinned. “I’m saying I’ve been one. Still am sometimes. But I’m learning. Watching thoughts. Guarding my time. Eating clean. No social media before noon. Little stuff.”
Liam said nothing for a while. The microwave beeped.
Liam sat across from Caleb in the breakroom, the smell of artificial chicken broth still lingering between them. For a few seconds, he watched Caleb stir his oatmeal with the same relaxed rhythm he’d seen him walk into the office with every morning.
“You really don’t use Instagram?” Liam asked.
Caleb smiled. “I logged off last year. It was just fueling comparison. Constant noise. I wanted to hear myself again.”
“Hear yourself?”
“Yeah. Not the ego voice, not the craving voice. The one underneath.”
Liam leaned back, letting the words sit. “I can’t remember the last time I heard anything in my head except deadlines and doubt.”
Caleb looked up. “That’s where the quiet helps.”
They sat in stillness. No buzz of texts, no scroll. Just the hum of a fridge and an oddly comforting silence.
Finally, Liam asked, “You said you read a verse. Where was it from?”
“Dhammapada,” Caleb replied. “Verse 7 and 8. One guy is swept by his cravings, his laziness, his senses. The other stands firm—because he trains. He’s mindful. He knows what he’s feeding.”
Liam blinked. “That’s intense. And kind of true.”
Caleb looked him in the eye. “You’re not weak, Liam. But maybe you’re like that first guy—living like the wind won’t come. It always does. Emails, bosses, rejection… thoughts.”
Liam gave a short laugh. “And what am I supposed to do? Meditate in the elevator?”
“Maybe just start by guarding the first moment,” Caleb said.
“The first what?”
“The first click. The first bite. The first reaction. It’s the one that decides the next ten.”
Liam returned to his desk. His phone buzzed: It was a notification about someone posting an Instagram story.
He stared at it. Then set the phone aside.
Instead, he opened a blank document. Typed out a quick, clean draft of the campaign idea that had been sitting in his head all week—drowned beneath noise.
He skipped the third coffee. Took a short walk outside. Ate an actual lunch.
Something felt different. Not big. Just… clearer. Like dust settling after a long day of wind.
That evening, before leaving, he walked by Caleb’s desk.
“Hey,” he said.
Caleb looked up.
“I think I’d like to read that Dhamma-whatever book.”
“Dhammapada,” Caleb said, smiling. “You’d like it. It’s short—but it stays with you.”
Dhammapada Verses inspired this Chapter
Yamaka Vagga (The Pairs) Verses 7 and 8 – Story of Brothers Mahakala and Chulakala
The Dhammapada
The Dhammapada is the most widely read Buddhist scripture in existence, enjoyed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: the first is attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); the second goal is the achievement of spiritual liberation, freedom, absolute peace. Many of the key themes of the verses are presented in dichotomies or pairs, for example, grief and suffering versus joy; developing the mind instead of being negligent about one’s mental attitude and conduct; virtuous action versus misconduct; and being truthful versus being deceitful. The purpose of these contrasts is, very simply, to describe the difference between what leads to desirable outcomes and what does not.
