The Profundity of Body, Speech And Mind
Spoken By The Supreme Master Ching Hai,
At The Hsihu Center, Formosa, On Oct. 10, 1994
(Originally in Chinese)
You think that body, speech and mind are separate from each other, don't you? In fact, body, speech and mind are different forms of the same material. Therefore, our thoughts are the same as our actions. That is why we have to examine our thoughts, actions and words. Sometimes we feel that it does not matter when we merely think of something, which we will not actually do. Of course it is better this way. However, we have in fact violated the precepts. Do you understand what I mean? It is because our actions originate from our thoughts. Isn't it so?
For example, sometimes you go to buy vegetables, because in your mind you want to do so. Of course there is a difference between the thought and the act of buying vegetables. Nonetheless, the thought can still work. That is why there is so much trouble in our world! Too many people have bad thoughts, and then the atmosphere becomes not too good. So as we practice spiritually, we must be frank with ourselves. It is not that when nobody knows what we do, it will be fine. We ourselves know. We ourselves are one of the beings linking the whole universe. We and the creation are one. Therefore, if we know, the creation knows. (Master and everybody laugh.) It's terrible, isn't it? (Audience: "Yes.")
Let's not talk about creation, since that is not so easy to prove, but some people have magical powers, the ability to see beyond the physical world, or read people's minds. They know, they look at us and then they know what is on our minds. Those with supernatural vision can take a look at us and know whom we love. When two people are sitting next to each other, although there is a space between them, if they are in love, their energy will merge. (Laughter) Anyone can see it clearly. It's like there are invisible hands, which stretch out and hold each other. (Laughter) Then everybody can tell. Therefore, we cannot say that our thoughts do not matter.
Of course, we have only started our spiritual practice, and we cannot completely control our actions, speech and thoughts as much as we want to. However, when a bad thought enters our mind, we immediately cut it out. Then it is not so bad. We know at once that this is wrong, and we stop it. We use other ways to control it, to suppress it. We recite the Buddha's name or use our willpower to chase it away. This is also a form of spiritual practice. It is the spirit of striving to become better. However, it is not that there is a difference between our thoughts and actions. There is no difference! Body, speech and mind are one. Do not think that body and mind are different. Everything comes from the mind. It is because of our strong desire that we have this body. If we did not have such a strong desire, we would not have this body. That is why many people who practice to control their mind can make their bodies invisible. Even though they are in front of us, we cannot see them.
Sometimes our physical bodies don't exist, it's not that we truly don't exist! You go and ask someone who has lost his arm or leg about how he feels. He feels that he still has his arm. It's just that he can't use it. If we can see from a different level, we can still see the shape of an arm, an obscure form seems to be there. That is why people feel that their bodies still exist after they die. Some souls of the dead people still run around, being confused, and making trouble. It's because to him, his body still exists. Therefore, all is created by the mind. What is in our minds affects our bodies or our actions.
In fact, there really is no body. If there were bodies, spiritual practitioners would not be able to make themselves invisible. Do you understand? They cannot make their bodies disappear, or become invisible. You know, some people who practice yoga can bury themselves in the ground or in a coffin for one or two months without any problem. Their rates of respiration become very low, just like there isn't any. The cells in their bodies, the pores in their skin can breathe, so they can live on. In fact, our bodies are also controlled by a kind of subconsciousness. Like the heart, some people can control it and make it stop beating, and they won't die. Don't think that we will die when our hearts stop beating. Many people lay on their deathbeds in the hospital and their hearts stop beating. Doctors may announce that they are dead, but then a few days or a few hours later, they came back to life again. They then tell stories about heaven. Right? Some talk about hell, but not too many people describe that. (Master laughs.) Perhaps they are too frightened that they dare not talk about it when they returned. (Master laughs.)
These stories kind of console us. They let us know that truly we do not need this body to live. We can continue to live without this body. However, our souls have to understand, to be educated, to be shown the direction, before we die. Otherwise, when we lose this body later, our souls would still be puzzled and run around everywhere. They still feel that they have a body -- the astral body still exists. We still want to grow vegetables, to eat a meal, to look for a wife..., but we can not find one, and we can not do anything. Then we do not feel satisfied, and suffer greatly in our minds. This is how ghosts and devils come about. If we already understand clearly when we are still living in this world, and we cut off all those desires, then when we die we will know immediately as Master comes. We will go together, having no confused concepts, having nothing to relish, having nothing to be scared of, and having no question at all. At that time we understand everything, because we already understood when we are alive.
That is why I said yesterday that practicing magical powers is useless. Still you often ask, "Why can't we practice to gain magical powers? Why can't we cure people's illnesses, and on and on?" Sure you can! But magical power is not the ultimate way. Do you understand? If you use magical powers, you will forget to find inwardly the Truth. Many people cure others' illnesses, and then they are well liked by people. However, those who cure people's illnesses cannot give them the gift of eternal liberation. Curing an illness makes a physical body well, and that is all. Do you understand? Then everybody relies on that person, saying, "Oh! I'll see him next time when I am ill." Whatever illness he has, he can get cured this way. He never thinks to look within because he was not tested or taught a lesson. Some people only look within and find God when they are suffering from illnesses.
The Enigma Of Jesus'
Recorded By Resident Disciple In Hsihu Center, Formosa
One day, Master came back to Hsihu, and with Her infinite love for disciples, She had specially ordered many vegetarian cakes from Taipei. That night She invited the resident disciples to Her kitchen to enjoy the cakes. Unfortunately, the cakes didn't taste good enough and one particular cake was really too hard to even cut into with a knife. Because of this, Master and disciples looked at one another shaking their heads.
In the meantime, one of Master's attendants, Tong X said, "Today because of this vegetarian cake, we unveil the solution to a Biblical enigma which dates back a few thousand years." Master then added, "Right! If we didn't have this vegetarian cake today, the Biblical enigma could not have been solved. Jesus Christ once multiplied fish to provide for five hundred or five thousand people only. We have more than five thousand people here. Aiya! Not so bad, we have solved the puzzle at last, and starting from today no one should exaggerate any more about how Jesus multiplied bread.... Master is more powerful! (All laugh.) Moreover, it is not done by Master but by fellow initiates only and it is already so powerful. I guarantee that no matter how many people present here, they cannot (eat) finish this piece of vegetarian cake which has been blessed by Master. (All laugh.) If each one takes a glance at it and passes it to the next person in turn, then it will be passed around the whole ashram. Then even if thousands or ten thousand people come tomorrow they could probably not finish it. Is that right?"
"It doesn't matter if we cannot finish it, we may save it as a souvenir. There is one kind of very powerful preservative which can be sprayed on the cake preserving it for a long time." Attendant Tong X said, "We can place it in the Treasure Pavilion." (All laugh.) Master said, "Right! Treat it as an antique. Five thousand years later people can still study it and say, "What happened to this vegetarian cake, even ten thousand people were not able to finish it? She must have miracle power!" (All laugh.) Then, certainly, they will say Master is so humble that She never exaggerates Her miracle power. All of you have seen it today."