The Monk's Candy
By: Michelle Dano
There’s that magical moment when a place you’ve dreamed of visiting turns out to be even better than you imagined.
That was Fo Guang Shan for me.
Fo Guang Big Buddha, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Of all the places in Taiwan, Fo Guang Shan was the one I couldn’t wait to visit. My heart made a little dance when I first glimpsed Buddha’s head as I approached the 100-hectare sacred place. That tiny preview of what was waiting ahead made me tear up in excitement – I was finally here!
Walking around inside was even better. The place wasn’t crowded, just a few other visitors here and there, making it feel extra peaceful. And that massive Buddha sitting right in the center of everything was just amazing. Simply breathtaking.
You know how sometimes places look hyped on social media, but then you get there and you feel kind of meh, and say a quick ‘okay let’s go’? This wasn’t like that at all for me. Fo Guang Shan was everything I hoped for and more.
What made this visit truly unforgettable was a small encounter with a monk, involving nothing more than a piece of candy. It left such a mark on me that when I got back home, I got my first tattoo.
Fo Guang Big Buddha with the 4 stupas: Wisdom, Compassion, Vow, and Practice.
I was inside one of the stupas when a monk came up to me with a smile. She had this incredibly calm aura about her. Everything about her whole presence was so gentle and peaceful. She was talking to me calmly in Chinese, always smiling, and even though I couldn’t understand what she was saying, I just kept nodding and smiling back at her because I found our situation cute. Then she gave me a piece of candy. It seemed like such a small gesture, but as soon as I walked away and looked at the candy, I became emotional.
Tears suddenly came out of nowhere! T_T
I stopped and just stood off to the side, lowkey weeping while looking at the candy and the whole place in front of me. I didn’t understand what she was saying, but somehow, her calm voice, her gentle presence, and the candy she gave me felt like exactly what I needed. I couldn’t explain it. Maybe it’s because of my hormones that I was so emotional that day. But just standing near her for those few minutes, watching her smile as she handed me that candy, it felt like her serenity had somehow rubbed off on me. Like peace was something that could spread from one person to another.
But more than that, I also felt like her gentle presence was sent to me as a comforting reminder that everything would be okay, and that I am exactly where I am meant to be.
Lately, the constant self-doubt and whether I was making the right career moves – it was all becoming too much. I kept wondering if I should be doing something else, if I was good enough, if this was really what I was meant to do. But in that moment, looking at the candy and realizing where I was standing – there I was, confident and free in this beautiful place, miles away from home – something shifted. My worries suddenly felt smaller.
To make this story a little more dramatic, I was actually standing at a corner with this view. ↑
Such a simple thing, but as I held the candy in my hand, a profound sonder also washed over me. Here was this monk, with her own life story I’d never know, crossing paths with a worried remote worker at exactly the right moment. It felt like the universe had arranged this whole meeting, this tiny exchange that somehow made all my fears feel lighter.
My hands were shaking a bit as I unwrapped and ate the candy, still lowkey crying and smiling at the same time while I continued walking down to get on the next bus, back to the city center. Something about that simple moment had cracked open something inside me.
This wasn’t my first spiritual gut punch.
I made a wish at Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong – one that actually ‘almost’ came true the very next day, and I’m still amazed thinking about it! I had wished for higher monthly earnings, and just like that, the next morning, I woke up to an email offering me a $25 per hour project. Funny enough, that’s exactly what someone has also been teasing me about, saying that must be my current rate, when in reality, I’m nowhere near that amount.
What’s wild is that I had applied to this company way back in May 2024 and pretty much forgotten about it. But I didn’t take the offer. They wanted me to work full-time, night shift, and attend multiple meetings throughout the week. I felt like the role would demand so much from me, and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy or experience the small freedom I have right now. And if you guys know me, you know that I avoid virtual meetings.
I’m still happy to know that someone out there thought I was worth that much. After my previous corporate job, where I felt so small, so worthless sometimes, this felt like the universe giving me a gentle nudge, saying “Hey, you’re worth more than you think.” Sure, $25 might not be much for some people, but it was huge for me. A reminder that what I am doing has value.
After Fo Guang Shan, more good news just keeps flowing in too. It’s like a domino effect of small good things started happening. Small wins that felt like whispers saying I’m going the right way!
Life’s weird like that, isn’t it? The answers sometimes come from the most unexpected places. A random job offer, a piece of candy from a monk, a wish made at a temple. And somehow, they all add up to something that feels a lot like being right where you’re supposed to be. When I doubt my path again, I will think back to those moments. Maybe they’re all just coincidences, but they came exactly when I needed them most.
The candy wrapper.
That candy moment meant so much that I got my first tattoo when I got home in the Philippines. Some might think I’m OA (yes, I am), finding so much meaning in a piece of candy, but sometimes the simplest things carry the strongest messages. And I guess that’s the thing about wisdom: what’s common sense to you might be a life-changing revelation to someone else.
The tattoo, a Buddhist flower, is now my daily reminder of the message that was sent to me. A gentle reminder that stays with me, guiding me forward when I need it most.
End.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for letting me share this small moment with you. ♡
OA ra kaayo ba. May pa story2 pang nalalaman, gusto ra gud na i-flex ang tattoo. HAHAHA!
Lowkey being emotional while reading your story. Rejoicing with you Michay. Keep on writing.
sarah janeeeeee! ♡ karun pa ko nakabantay sa imo comment kay karun pa ko kaopen balik T_T Thank you sa support sar og kanunayng pagsabot sugod pa sauna. Also rooting for you! Whatever path you choose, make it yours. ♡