Part 3 of 3 · The Principle of Light series
The first two parts gave us two ideas: when you light a lamp, darkness withdraws on its own; and a human life has four areas, like the four parts of a house. This final part invites you to draw the House of Seven Lamps, to see clearly where the seven forms of complete wealth live, why all seven need to be lit, and which lamp to begin with.
Drawing the house
Take a pen and draw along with me:
- Draw a house with a foundation, two pillars on either side and a roof. The foundation is inner life, the left pillar is health, the right pillar is relationships, and the roof is finances.
- In the very center of the house, draw a hexagon. This is the lamp of virtue.
- From the six corners of the hexagon, draw lines out to the four corners of the house and to the two side walls, dividing the house into six sections.
- The bottom section is wisdom. The two lower sections are state of mind (left) and character (right). The two upper sections are physical health (left) and ability (right). The top section is material means.
- In each section, draw a lamp.
You have just drawn a map of the seven forms of complete wealth. The four areas are the house; the seven lamps are the light inside it.
Why seven lamps, not one
The ancients said that it is always dark beneath the lamp. However bright a lamp may be, it leaves a patch of darkness right at its own base. If a house has only one lamp, no one lights that patch.
When there are seven lamps in seven places, each lamp lights the base of another. Ability lights the dark patch of material means, state of mind lights the dark patch of ability, and wisdom lights them all. The whole house becomes fully bright, with no hidden corners.
One lamp leaves darkness at its base. Seven lamps light one another, and the house is fully bright.
Begin with the lamp of wisdom
Among the seven lamps, wisdom has a special place. Wisdom is the lamp that can give rise to all the others: understanding rightly brings peace of mind (state of mind); knowing what to do makes character steady; seeing value increases ability; understanding the body leads to healthy living; understanding the laws of money brings material sufficiency.
So if you are not sure where to begin, light the lamp of wisdom first: read, learn, observe and reflect. That is also why wisdom sits in the bottom section, closest to the foundation of inner life.
The non-material and the material
The seven lamps fall into two groups:
- Non-material: wisdom, state of mind, character and virtue. They cannot be held, but they decide who we are.
- Material: ability, physical health and material means. They can be seen, measured and held.
These two groups nourish each other in two directions:
- Dematerializing the material makes its value grow. An ordinary bowl, when it carries the memory of a grandmother and a family meal together, becomes a family treasure.
- Materializing the non-material makes the invisible easy to see and to give. A grateful heart becomes a meal cooked for loved ones; an understanding becomes a book given to a child.
The lamps I chose to light
Of the seven lamps, I used to feel that ability shone brightest in my life. I found it easy to learn, imitate and do things well. From school to work, people always considered me capable. Yet when I received this knowledge and sat down to look back, I realized that my life had not yet reached what I wished for — not because I was not capable enough, but because I lacked the diligence to see things through to the end.
So I followed the guidance I was given and returned to lighting the lamps of wisdom, state of mind, character and virtue. I remember once, when my child told me something untrue about something they had done that was not right, instead of analyzing everything that was wrong, I chose to stay quiet. Once the moment had passed, I sat down with my child and we looked back together at the lesson in that situation. And my child said something that moved me deeply: “Thank you, Mom, for accepting me.” From then on, our relationship became more open, and my child dared to share what they were thinking.
When my child received their first month’s earnings, they folded an envelope for me out of paper, decorated it with many colors, and placed a banknote inside. My child said, “Thank you, Mom, for always walking beside me.” The gift was small in material value but immense in non-material value, and deeply precious.
Practice for today
- Draw the House of Seven Lamps on paper, following the steps above.
- Shade in boldly the lamp you feel is shining brightest, and lightly the lamp that is only flickering.
- Choose one flickering lamp and one small action to light it this week. If you are unsure, choose wisdom.
Reflection question: Which lamp in my house is waiting to be lit?
Frequently asked questions
What are the seven forms of complete wealth?
Wisdom, state of mind, character, virtue, ability, physical health and material means. The first four are non-material; the last three are material.
Why is virtue at the center of the house?
Virtue is the set of good qualities that connects every lamp. Ability with virtue is trusted; material means with virtue are used in the right places.
Do all seven lamps need to be lit at once?
No. Light them one at a time, beginning with wisdom, and keep the ones already lit burning. Gradually, the lamps will light one another.
What is it like to live in a fully lit house?
It is living at ease — standing above life’s challenges rather than being swept away by them — and being the master of your own life.
The Principle of Light series
- Part 1: Light a Lamp Instead of Chasing the Darkness
- Part 2: The Four Areas of Human Life
- Part 3: The House of Seven Lamps (you are reading)
This essay is an English rendering of the original Vietnamese article on Chuyện Bên Mâm Cơm.