How to Become A Millionaire | | Quan Yin Practitioners are Gates to Heaven | Spiritual Practice Brings Abundance | Follow Master's Perfect Example | Manage Wisely to Become a Millionaire | Looking Good on Both the Inside and Outside | Master's Churches | | Aphorisms | Angels | | Q: What do You think about the angels? | Q: You focus on the direct connection with God. How do You see the great cosmic hierarchy with potential mediators, such as angels, archangels, cherubims, seraphims, etc.? | The Guardian God of the Heavens -- Master Drawing by sister initiate Kim Min Young (age nine) Taegu, Korea | |
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
New Zealand, April 27, 2000 (Originally in English)
When you practice spiritually, you have everything, for example, you have
more friends now than you ever dreamed of, you have maybe more kids and
work harder than before, and have more money, some of you, and better jobs.
Or even if you have the same amount of money, you know how to manage it
better, and so you have more than before. You travel more than you ever
did before with the same money, because you know how to do things better,
and therefore you're just happier. You have more than before, even though
maybe your income is the same.
I read an article in a magazine, "How to Become a Millionaire."
Do you want to hear about it? (Yes.) It is very logical. We give a lot
of money away, not a lot, but for us, it is a lot. Actually, it is also
a lot. Millions of dollars is not a little bit of money in this world.
Even though we can't compare ourselves to Bill Gates (founder and chairman
of Microsoft Corp., one of the richest men in the world, who gives away
a lot of money). We are different "gates", but we are also gates.
[Laughter] "Quan Yin Fa Mun" means "the gate to heaven,
the gate to the world of God." We also contribute a lot of money,
for our capacity. Other people also think it's a lot! It's not a lot compared
to many other people or the World Bank, but it's a lot for what we earn,
for the ordinary actions of people. Most people don't give like that.
So I do give, and a lot of people think that I'm very rich. I am, also,
but I'm not as rich as they think I am, which is good. But if they came
to us, suppose if they were me and had that kind of money, they wouldn't
look that rich; they wouldn't be able to give that much, not because they
don't want to. It's just that they don't know how to manage so that it
will just stretch out like that.
So when I read the article, I thought it was cool. I had done it all already
-- "How to Become a Millionaire". I knew it all already. But
when I read the article, it looked like I had written it myself. Because
it's just natural -- some people have it naturally. But it is also because
we are enlightened. We practice the enlightened way and the way of love,
and we have very few wants in this world.
Just like the way you are now -- before, you had a lot, but you still thought
that you didn't have enough, but now, however much you have, you can manage.
You still can come to New Zealand, Thailand, or whatever retreat, provided
that you have a holiday. You can always manage, and that's a wonder. And
you feel that it's always enough. And you always feel loved. I'm only one
person, but all of you feel that I love you alone, that I have enough love
for everyone. It is because we practice the way of love.
We just know how to have enough, just like knowing how to save money to
become richer. It's not necessarily because you earn more money, but you
save more and you want less of the unnecessary things, and then you save
more money! So when you save one dollar, it's just like you earn one more
dollar. And it's even better than earning one more dollar, because when
you save one dollar, you don't need to go to work for that. You just cut
out some unnecessary things. Before, you went out to buy everything, but
now you have to think carefully. Before, you went out and bought everything,
but now you go straight to the tofu. You save money, time, and thinking.
Before, you cooked all kinds of things, but now just tofu and chop choy,
and tomorrow, chop choy and tofu. It's a simple life. Before, you went
everywhere, and maybe you needed to book a hotel for yourself and your
husband, and spent a lot of money. And now, you just pack a tent and camp
out there in the fresh air; it's natural. Oxygen -- there's a lot around
you, because you camp under the trees and on the grass. You feel good,
light, and economical, also.
We live together, and we're happy. We don't need to stay in a big hotel
to be happy. In fact, we're happier than when we stay in a big hotel because
we have common ideas and interests, we love each other, and we just feel
so good. And the air, the food, and healthy atmosphere make us feel so
good.
You don't have to earn more money; you just have to know how to live your
life, because you have only one life, this life. Whether I speak the truth
or not, whether you have heaven or not, or you have reincarnation or not,
this life is all you know. If you don't manage well, you cannot live freely
and you cannot feel happy about it. You have to do what you really want,
and what is good for you.
Of course, you will tell me that then you can do anything you want, but
it's not true. What's good for you is what you should do. A vegetarian
diet is healthy, and meditation calms your nerves, makes you brighter,
more clever and more loving. That's good for you. It's not that you just
do anything you want. Of course, we can do anything we want. But what's
good for us -- that's what the clever people do. Saving money is better
than earning money. Anything you save is like you earn it, except that
you don't have to go out and work for it, or even pay taxes on it. Anything
you earn is yours. And you can do anything you want. You can give yourself
something you like, or give to needy people. That's what we do all the
time. I do it also. What I tell you, I do.
I don't always do it so that it's written about in the News magazine. Most
of the things I do are not written about in the magazine. It may be written
about because certain people happen to be there and know about it, and
write reports about it, or it is official, like a concert, and everyone
has to know. That's how it is. Otherwise, I do it every day, all the time,
every chance I get.
One time, one of the attendants laughed and said, "Master, how come
McDonald's meals are so expensive? It's the most expensive restaurant that
I have ever seen!" You know why? Because when we went there, we saw
some homeless people looking for garbage, and I gave them about $500. So,
that's why he said, "Oh, my God, just eating some french fries and
two colas cost $500. [Laughter] We always share, whenever we can. Most
of the time, we see homeless people hanging around there or looking for
garbage, and I cannot bear it, so I give them something. I give them what
I have on hand. So he makes jokes: "I didn't know McDonald's was the
most expensive restaurant in town. He says, "We eat only two orders
of french fries, and drink two medium colas, and we even have to serve
ourselves and even stand in line, and it's so expensive." Because
in a first class restaurant, you sit there, you have napkins and everything,
and the waiter comes and serves you like a king. Then you pay maybe two,
three or five hundred dollars, it depends. But for only two people, two
or three hundred is already expensive. But he says he can't imagine that
McDonald's is more expensive. He just makes jokes.
So these things we do because we love other people, because they are us,
anyway. So there is nothing to talk about. But sometimes, of course, we
write about it in the News magazine, because other disciples also need
to learn from the example. Also, most of the things that I do are open,
so people can know about them. It's just so that we know about the things
we do, just like you tell me about what you do, and the News reports to
you what I do. So, we keep in touch, like we know each other's ways of
life. It's like knowing each other. It's not because we want to boast for
everyone else to know.
If we wanted to boast so that everyone would know about it, we would put
it in "Reuters," or another big news company, and not just write
about it in our small magazine. But this is a way of life that we live
all the time. It should be the way of life. Everyone should do it. I'm
very proud of you that you do it all the time. I know you do it individually,
and still you have enough money to spare to come here, to go to retreats,
to come to see me whenever possible. You see, has your life become richer
or not? (Yes!) [Applause]
I give all the time, and I still have a lot. I mean, for me it's a lot.
What do I need? When I come to see you, of course, I wear this; this is
my own design, so, it's just for fun. When I'm not with you, I just throw
it off quickly, because it's heavy and I don't really like it. And I eat
maybe once or twice a day, whatever is leftover or whatever is new. If
it's new, I eat it. If it's leftover, I eat it. What do I need? That's
why I still have a lot of money, because I don't spend, not because I earn
more. Just like you, you earn just like before, and you might even have
more kids now than before, but you still have more money. You still feel
life is richer for you than before, and you feel more satisfied that you
have more than enough, right? That's the trick.
A lot of people are millionaires, and no one knows about it. Everyone thinks
becoming a millionaire is difficult, but it's not. And especially people
who are already millionaires, they keep themselves that way because they
are very natural; they are frugal. They don't even drive expensive new
cars. They just buy secondhand cars so they don't have to pay luxury taxes,
for example. They just drive normal cars. Most millionaires don't drive
expensive cars. They drive reasonable, safe cars, a Ford or Jeep even.
So they drive anything that's safe. They don't really live the way we think
millionaires should. Otherwise, your money goes fast even if you are a
millionaire. So they save a lot! They look for ways to save, like they
drive the kinds of cars that use less petrol, and they stay in neighborhoods
and houses they can afford, so they don't drain their savings. In a lot
of ways, they just save here and there, and then their money is always
stable.
And some people who don't earn a lot but spend a lot and drive fast cars
and all that really have a lot, but also a lot of credit, a lot of mortgages
and debts. And the millionaire people drive normal cars, because they know
how to organize their lives so that they don't go into debt. A lot of millionaires
live next door to you, and you don't know it, because they don't flash
their money around. They know what they are doing. They know the value
of money. They don't overspend. They are just naturally that way. That's
why they become rich. They are naturally rich; they naturally know how
to handle money.
And sometimes they also win the lotto, of course. [Laughter] But they also
invest money; for example, if they earn $40,000 per year, they put fifteen
or twenty percent aside to invest in whatever bank. So perhaps in ten or
twenty years' time, they will have hundreds of thousands of dollars out
of just five or ten thousand dollars they invested each month, they put
in the bank. They know how to organize their money. They don't spend all
their earnings. They leave some for investment.
And then in no time, you become rich. For example, if you put away $10,000
today, ten years later, it becomes $50,000 after investing in some bank,
but that is slow. Otherwise, the rich can start their own businesses. That's
how they become rich more quickly. It's more risky, but that's life. Either
you take risks or you just live an ordinary, very slow, day-to-day life,
and earn not much money. But still, if you can manage well, you will be
okay, because life is simpler now. Tofu is cheaper than beefsteak, just
a little different, a piece of tofu instead of that piece of meat. We're
healthy; we're okay. Look at me!
All of you look good, too. I'm proud of you. You are proud of yourselves,
and come out and say, "I'm vegetarian. Look at me." That's good.
You are very beautiful. You just haven't put on makeup now, so you look
less beautiful, but already you are too beautiful. If you put on makeup,
everyone will die. [Laughter] All your husbands are dying already. You're
getting too beautiful, and they don't want to leave you. That's why some
of them are so afraid. You got initiation, and they got so afraid you might
become a nun or something; they love you too much. You look so beautiful,
more and more every day.
Some husband had already left his wife, and after she got initiation, he
came back and said, "Wow, how come you're so beautiful?" and
moved back in. It's the same with some wives, who had left their husbands
already and didn't want them. But after initiation, they came back and
said, "Oh, my God, he's changed! He's a new man," and they moved
back in again, no problem. They left young boyfriends or new boyfriends,
or whatever, and went back to their husbands because they are more spiritually
beautiful now.
Once you are beautiful inside, people see you are beautiful outside as
well. That is normally the case. So, try to fight off all these Romeos,
but continue with your practice. Your life is getting better and better;
I need not tell you. I'm just saying this so in case someone doesn't know
it yet, they can verify it with you. Your life is an example of love and
spiritual blessings. There is no need to even preach to anyone. They can
just look at your life, the way you walk in your life, the way you present
yourself to the world. That's better than thousands of books talking about
spiritual issues. You are the book. You are the best example, the best
doctrine, the best religious theory ever presented to anyone.
There was a story in Mexico about a Master, a long time ago. He was very
famous -- Quetzalcoatl. He told this story to his disciples: There were
two men in the same group, and one was very diligent; it looked like he
was very religious. He went to church every Sunday and he was the first
one in line at any holy activity, and the last one to leave. He never missed
any opportunity to go to church, but he never did anything else. And another
guy never went to church, but he went to work every day. He did whatever
was his duty. And whatever he earned, he used to take care of his family,
and also gave away to poor people. He even gave to the church, too, to
repair the church.
So, Quetzalcoatl said that the man who never went to church was holy and
was already a "church" himself. But the guy who went to church
every day just went there. Everyone respected the guy who went to church
very much, thinking he was very holy, and spoke lowly about the guy who
never went to church. But actually, he was going out to take care of all
the "churches" in his area.
Whatever he could do, he did, sometimes working extra so that he could
earn a little more money to give to whomever. That's what he did every
day. So the Master said the first one who went to church was all right,
but the second one was the church himself. So, we can be "churchgoers",
or "churches" ourselves. It's up to us. I think all of you are
churches. I have no need to build any churches.
Some people ask me why I don't have any churches or temples, and I say
"I have no need; I have millions of them running around." [Applause]
I say, "Nowadays is the modern time, with fast technology. Everything
is mobile: mobile phones, mobile homes, mobile cars, mobile temples."
You are my mobile temples. We can communicate anytime, go anywhere; we're
very flexible. A brick building is only fixed in one place, but we run
around; we are "run-around temples". That's very cool!
Talking, anyone can do, but living what you talk is harder. You can do
all that; you can talk, and you can do, as well. That's what is great about
you. I told you that I came to make you great. Whether I am great or not
is of no consequence. I'm only one. A great Master, a great teacher, is
not one who makes himself great, but one who makes everyone else great.
If your students are good, it means you are good. Otherwise, it is no good.
So, whether I am great or not doesn't matter. As long as you are great,
that's fine. And by your grace, I'm also great. Then, "thank you very
much". I like that, too. But to tell you honestly, if all the world
were enlightened, no one would even want me. I'd be happy just being a
private citizen.
Every time, it's very difficult to leave you. I want you to know that.
I want you to know it, because you think only you don't want to leave.
I also don't want to leave, but I have to do my work, and so I put my personal
feelings aside. That's all. Otherwise, I could stay with you forever. Believe
me, you are the best people. Where else should I go? You like to stay with
good friends. Everyone does -- me too. But it's fine. We stay here [Master
points to Her heart] together. Thank you. I love you.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa
August 13, 1989 (Originally in Chinese)
By practicing the Quan Yin Method, our vibrations become very fast and
we feel more energetic, just like young people. We become more alert, able
to figure out problems easily,
and smart like young people. Therefore, we can say that we become rejuvenated.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Tainan, Formosa March 15, 1990 (Originally in Chinese)
The person who enjoys the greatest freedom is the one who is most responsible;
because he is responsible, he is free.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, CA, USA May 25, 1989 (Originally in English)
A self-realized soul emits a kind of Godly fragrance and supra-mundane
Virtue that everyone loves to be near, and everyone feels naturally comfortable
with.
Selected Questions and Answers
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Brazil June 18, 1989 (Originally in English)
Q: Are spirits born or do a predetermined number already exist?
M: There are some old; there are some new, but mostly old. The old are those
who are born as humans and have never done many things wrong; they keep
coming back as humans again.
The new are those from the mineral kingdom, from the flora kingdom, trom
the animal kingdom. They evolve and become men. These are a little bit
dull in spirit, a little bit slow in reactions, or maybe even fierce. If
he was from the stone and now became man, then he will look like a stone
-- cold, blank, stupid, stubborn. If he was a tree last life, then he will
be cooler, nicer, but also dumb, a little bit low in intelligence. These
need many reincarnations to learn perfection.
And some are from the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of God, but the
kingdom of heaven --like angels, like some of the devas or heavenly spirits.
They descend on Earth and become men, because they want to practice perfection.
They want to look for a Master and get liberation from birth and death.
They want to become a Master themselves. So these are the different kinds
of spirits, old and new.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Dublin, Ireland June 7, 1999 (Originally
in English)
Q: Master, do angels and spiritual guides exist? How important are they in
our spiritual evolution? Is it easier to communicate with them than with
God?
M: They do exist; they exist everywhere. It's just that our spiritual eyes
are not open, so we don't see them. When we are enlightened, we can see
them. Some people, who are not even deliberately doing any meditation but
have some previous experience of being blessed by another Master, by chance,
also see angels and spiritual guides.
They will help us to certain extent, but only God can help us all the way
through. So in the beginning, the angels and the spiritual guides probably
just stand by and help us a little bit through the basic requirements.
Later, we will become our own master, and then God is our only guide. But
the angels are around all the time. They will serve us and will be our
helpers.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Amsterdam, Netherlands May 9, 1999 (Originally
in English)
M: They are my friends. [Applause] They do anything I want; they are very
helpful people. The Father sends them to help me. After you are initiated,
I will also ask Hirm to supply some angels for you as personal assistants,
at least five for each of you. Is that enough? [Applause]
You can see them in meditation; you can request their help. Sometimes you
can see them with your eyes open.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Portugal May 7, 1999 (Originally in
English)
M: They are our friends. No problem! They all stand by while you are going
up. I will teach you how to say hello to them and pass by them quickly.
It is true that if you don't know how, and if you are not introduced to
them by a teacher, they might make trouble sometimes. But we will introduce
you to them and tell them to take care of you.
The angels are our servants, sometimes. The higher you go, the more they
worship you. Sometimes you go to a higher dimension, and all the angels,
all the beings on that planet, line up to worship you. They are so happy
to serve you, they call themselves your servants.