uSelected Questions and Answers
What are SoulMates? / Is It Necessary to Contact One's SoulMate? / How to Meet a SoulMate? / Becoming Omnipresent Means Not Needing to Find a SoulMate
| | The Quan Yin Celestial Throne - a Multifunctional Meditation Seat | Reconnecting with God Brings the Blessings of Heaven to Earth | Good News or Bad? | Who Got the Message? | Newspaper Ad | The Detached Heart of an Enlightened Person | | Wisdom in Happiness, Anger, Sorrow and Joy | Magical Power Boosts the Ego | | Using Brain Power for Analysis and Action | The Soul Group | Stories of Recent Saints | | A Purification of the Planet | Edification and Love from Master | Lessons from a Birdhouse | Stories of Master with Animals | The Miraculously Felled Tree | Love for a Humble Cactus | | What are Soul Mates? | Is It Necessary to Contact One's Soul Mate? | How to Meet a Soul Mate? | Becoming Omnipresent Means Not Needing to Find a Soul Mate | Only Spiritual Practice Can Erase All Illness and Suffering | A Truly Happy Person |
Thanks to this new thoughtful, loving design by Master, meditation can become more relaxing and comfortable than ever!
The Quan Yin Celestial Throne consists of a chair and small stool. The chair features an ingeniously designed foam-padded armrest, suitable for use by people of different body sizes to meditate comfortably on the Sound. Another superb feature of the seat is its small stool. In addition to being usable as a footrest, the stool can be pulled out from beneath the chair and used separately as a cushion for meditating on the Light with crossed legs, and when not in use, pushed under the chair!
God has given us and our planet greatly progressive procedures and timing. And we have to update ourselves, with Hiers grace so we live according to the times on this progressive Earth.
Every day I feel that God's grace keeps pouring out more and more, and people are realizing more and more of this Godly grace. And I am just so excited and so happy that I don't know how to explain it to you. Sometimes I feel that I'm out of patience because I work too slowly for Hiers commands. Hes wants to move faster. But the body has limits, and a human's mind sometimes has limits about understanding something that's almost like new such as God's grace, even though it's not new at all.
If God says we're Hiers children, if the Buddha says we all have the same Buddha Nature, why can we not become like them? We must live a life of glory, a life of wisdom, a life of happiness, a life of intelligence, a life of positive power. We must because we are the children of God and we can do that. (Applause) Of course, I will show you how. And it will cost us nothing now, later, between and after, never cost you anything at all. Because the Kingdom of God is yours. It's not that I give it to you so I cannot charge you for the things you already have. And there's nothing you want that Hes will not give to you. Hes will take care of the minor details of your life, including waking you up when you're late. Really! During this hectic schedule, Hes takes care of me in such detail that I sometimes cry. I always go into a strange country almost for the first time, and don't know how to go anywhere; Hes always puts me in a good hotel and puts me next to a Chinese restaurant, Aulacese restaurant, shop or whatever so that I have everything I need. Otherwise I would probably go hungry.
Every day, miracles happen in our lives once we reconnect ourselves with God. All we have to do is just sit there and try to listen to what Hes says. That's all we have to do. That's why we call it meditation, silent praying in the closet or contemplating on God -- whatever you want to call it. It's just a silent communication with God so that we know what to do with our lives. After that, we never worry about anything because we know that God takes care of us in every way. Before that, even when things all go smoothly, we still worry that they might go wrong afterwards.
But when something goes wrong now, we wait and see because we know that later God will bring us somewhere else we're supposed to be, and we know that's why things went wrong in the first place. So we live in peace, in security and in the immense love of God every second of our lives, awake or asleep. Because we have made the choice to leave this coarse, gross or rough level of energy behind us and we have made the choice to ascend to a higher level of life that exists at the same time, and to take the goodness from that higher level.
Before now, if we were not connected with God, our only choice was this material energy of existence. That's why even though we try our best every day, we often fail in our endeavors, and we often feel unhappy. Because the material energy on this planet is heavy and always gives us pressure. But after the reconnection, we can go higher and higher, and then we can be clearer. We know the wisdom of God, and we can take care of things better when we come back down again. That's why the Bible mentions that Heaven is within you. It means that when we quiet down and disconnect ourselves from this material world for a while, we can find something else that exists within us.
That doesn't mean within our body; it's just another world within this material world, which is much better and much happier. We can always go up and come down. We can live in this world and also enjoy Heaven at the same time, or at least sometimes during the day and then later continuously when we're more adept. That's how we become holy because we have everything, and then we won't want anything. Then we will know that The Lord is my shepherd; I shall never want. Because there is great contentment, great peace and great blessing after we're reconnected with our Father.
At that time we may have money but we're not attached to money. We have everything that God gives us for comfort, but we can even throw that away if necessary. But God would not want us to do that. God wants us to enjoy this material life as well as the Heavenly life at the same time. We have both worlds in our hands.
When I began to seek God and then began to know Hirm, I renounced everything because I didn't feel I needed anything anymore except our Father. I was so happy to have Hirm that I didn't want anything else! But then God wanted to give me so many things - everything that I ever wanted, or didn't even want. And so I said, "Why? I don't need them."
I said, "My Lord, I can go without food, I can go without drink and I can go without any comfort. If I can only see You every day, what else could I want?" At that time I ate only one meal a day and had only three pairs of clothes and a sleeping bag to take wherever I went. But God said to me, "No. You have to change. You have to show the world that I give you everything. You have to set an example of the glory in Heaven as well as on Earth; so the people who see you will see that I am a generous Father and that I am the Father who takes care of all my children so they will have everything."
I was a little reluctant, but of course I said, "OK, Father, all right. Whatever you say, I will do it." So Hes has been giving and giving and blessing me in abundance ever since. I can not even use up all the things Hes gives to me. I'm so happy that I can share with other people whatever I have. And I think our Father is right: I should have money. Nowadays everything is very progressed and scientific. Suppose I wanted to come to see you, I would need to buy a ticket, but I wouldn't want to ask for it from you. I should buy it myself; that's very good.
God has given us and our planet greatly progressive procedures and timing. And we have to update ourselves, with Hiers grace so we live according to the times on this progressive Earth. To be able to use all of these new inventions and comforts that God has bestowed upon us, we also need sufficient material. Then we can make use of all the new scientific discoveries to relay God's message to our brothers and sisters.
There was a millionaire who was having a heart attack, and he was taken to a hospital emergency room. After he was admitted to the hospital his three sons and four daughters walked up and down the corridor, waiting, pacing the floor. When the doctor came out of their father's room, everyone jumped on him and asked, "Good news? Any good news?" The doctor shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, bad news!" And everyone said, "Bad news?" And the doctor replied, "Yes. He's going to live for a very long time."
There was a couple who had invited a friend to their home for dinner, but they were in short supply of one of their favorite foods. So the wife said to the husband, "After your friend has finished two pieces, don't ask him to have anymore, OK?" And the husband said, "OK." But when the friend finished the two pieces of their favorite food, the husband forgot, and as usual said, "Oh, please, have some more. I'll go bring some from the kitchen."
So the wife looked very, very stressed. And then the friend said, "No, no, no." But the husband still insisted, and the wife looked even more stressed. Then the guest refused even more firmly, and in a hurry said, "No, no, no!" So later when the guest had gone home, the wife was very mad at the husband and scolded him, saying, "How could you do that? How could you do that? I told you already after two pieces you should not have offered him any more, but you kept asking him. You should have told him there was no more left." And the husband said, "I'm sorry, I really forgot about it." And the wife replied, "Forgot about it! But I kicked you under the table. You should have known!" And the husband said, "No, it wasn't me you kicked. It was our poor friend!"
MONDAY: For sale: R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Phone 948-0707 after 7 PM. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him cheap.
TUESDAY Notice: We regret having erred in R.D. Jones' ad yesterday. It should have read "One sewing machine for sale cheap. Phone 948-0707 and ask for Mrs. Kelly, who lives with him after 7 PM."
WEDNESDAY Notice: R.D. Jones has informed us that he has received several annoying telephone calls because of the error we made in the classified ad yesterday. The ad stands corrected as follows: "For sale - R.D. Jones has one sewing machine for sale. Cheap. Phone 948-0707 after 7 P.M. and ask for Mrs. Kelly who lives with him."
THURSDAY Notice: I, R.D. Jones, have no sewing machine for sale. I smashed it. Don't call 948-0707 as I have had the phone disconnected. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Kelly. Until yesterday she was my housekeeper but she quit!
Please visit the following web sites to enjoy the original video versions of these jokes, and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/eng/news/145/jk1.htm (USA)
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/145/jk1.htm (Formosa)
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/145/jk1.htm (USA)
Do you know why I tell you not to use magical power? Even if you have magical power, you must not use it. Why? (Someone answers: It interferes with the cycle of cause and retribution.) That's not cause for much concern. What else? (Someone answers: The ego.) Correct! This is very important! Spiritual practitioners can't afford to have this kind of ego, which prevents liberation from the three realms of suffering because the "individual" still exists and is separated from the universe. It's because we have this "individualistic" concept that we transmigrate between birth and death. We have "individual" bodies, which is why we have "individual" problems, "individual" karma and "individual" retribution.
If we don't have this concept of separation, then we are one with the universe, one with all of Creation. This is the highest level. Perhaps you still don't understand this level so let me explain it to you briefly. A spiritual practitioner of the highest level doesn't care about any situation; he's not attached to any situation. When he falls ill, he's ill; when he's soaked in the rain, he's soaked; when the wind blows at him, he's blown at. He's not afraid when there's a gale; he doesn't mind when it rains; because all these are merely natural phenomena.
For example, we might not enjoy a gale, but there are places that need wind; we might not be happy when it rains, but farmers need rain for cultivation. Suppose we pray for rain to stay away because it's better for us, but if rain is precisely what the farmers need at some particular place and in certain seasons, then what should happen? Therefore, God can't fulfill all our prayers at the same time; some people pray for rain; some pray for sunshine; some prefer strong wind and some love snow. Some people think that it's beautiful when it snows, though there are people who hate it because it's very cold. They can't grow vegetables, they can't earn a living, or it may be bad for their health. If even God cannot fulfill the wishes of every sentient being, why then should we care too much about it?
There was a king in ancient China. One day, warmly clad in a beautiful, thick fur coat, he sat in his palace looking out from the balcony, and exclaimed, "Wow! It's so beautiful and enchanting when it snows!" He loved it so he kept praying to God to send more snow, while he sat there enjoying the sight. Later, his officials reported to him that many of his subjects had died of cold and hunger, but the king could not understand. He lived in a palace and thought that snow was absolutely beautiful! Most probably, there were heating facilities in the palace, and he was wearing a splendid, heavy fur coat. Of course, he wouldn't understand!
All the happiness, anger, sorrow and joy in this world are lessons for us to learn. Without going through all these emotions, we can't understand the feelings of sentient beings. You see, it rained only last night, but you already find it uncomfortable living in your tents. Already you've begun to panic, pity yourselves and complain a lot. Even though you can see me here, you still complain just because it's a bit uncomfortable and inconvenient on rainy days. Although you can see me, you're still not happy enough to forget the rain. (Master laughs.) Even worse are those people who live in bitterness all their lives, without the least bit of happiness to compensate them or any situation that can make them laugh.
When we're in misery, we should be grateful to God for giving us a chance to develop our compassion. If, even when we're miserable, our compassion still fails to emerge, then we ought to have pity on ourselves. We should introspect on why we're as rigid as stones! When we're happy, our compassion should also emerge, and our thoughts should be with those miserable people. When we're in misery, we should be more compassionate and think about the people who are as miserable as, or more miserable than, we are every day. This is being "always with God in whatever we do in daily life." Our compassion is "God" and our love is "God." If we lose our love and compassion, then we're very far away from God. That's what God is; God doesn't have a fixed appearance.
When we meditate, we should observe the inner Light and contemplate the inner Sound, because this Light and Sound contain the supreme compassion and love within. The more we communicate with Them, the more compassionate we become. We don't look at the Light because it's very beautiful, or listen to the Sound because it's very attractive. No, no! It's because the compassion and universal Love that They contain are a kind of medication that can cure our symptoms of selfishness, arrogance and malevolence. Without this superior medication, there's no cure for our illnesses of greed, anger and ignorance.
However, there are times when we fail to devote sufficient effort to meditation and spiritual cultivation, and God has to send us illnesses, disasters or suffering to compel us to learn faster. Since we don't take the superior medication to cure ourselves, we can only take the inferior medication at such times. For instance, some patients don't like Chinese herbs, so we have to prescribe western medicine for them. And if they don't like western medicine either, and they're seriously ill, then we can only "cut" or perform surgery on them. Therefore, when a patient isn't very seriously ill, he can take Chinese herbs to recover slowly. But if his condition is grave, sometimes we have to quickly give him western medicine or an injection, which hurts a bit but is more effective. If the illness is really critical, then he will need an operation. Or, he may just die, get rid of this body completely and assume another body.
Therefore, we shouldn't fear suffering; rather, we should worry about not having the stamina to withstand suffering. We should pray that God gives us greater endurance. What's endurance? Endurance is the highest level, which doesn't only call for tolerance without complaint, but also heartfelt gratitude. When we're more elevated, we're not bothered by any situation. Whatever the situation is, we just let it be; it doesn't concern us. At that time, we're absolutely detached from the world. We're not attached to happiness, anger, sorrow or joy, nor are we scared. Just like people of the world, we can also be happy, angry, sad or joyous. But then we do it like spectators, standing on the sidelines observing another person being happy, angry, sad or joyous, instead of merging ourselves in these emotions. We can see it anytime we want, and if we don't want to see it, we can just ignore it. It's similar to watching television - we push the button when we want to watch TV, and when we don't, we turn it off. It's also similar to listening to audiotapes. When we want to listen to melancholy music, we play that kind of tape. And when we have had enough of it, we can quickly play another tape.
If we can behave in this way when we're in this world, then all the happiness, anger, sorrow and joy will bring wisdom to us. In this world, we live with other people. Thus, it's impossible to avoid happiness, anger, sorrow and joy, because we have to interact with them. It's just like a mirror that cannot speak. If you're ugly, it shows your ugly appearance; if you're pretty, it shows your pretty face. If you have two horns on your head, it will show you the two horns. If you have long fangs, it surely will reflect them truthfully. It won't put on makeup for you, conceal your fangs or get rid of your horns. It's merely a mirror that always reflects clearly and honestly. It's the same with spiritual practitioners. While living in this world, we will also have happiness, anger, sorrow and joy just like every one else in the world because they are reflections of the situations we experience.
Thus, even though an enlightened being appears externally to have the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow and happiness, in reality, he does not. He's able to change his emotions very quickly. If he wants to laugh, he can do so immediately, or if he wants to, he can cry at once. He's able to switch from weeping to laughing immediately. We don't know if he's upset or happy, because just a short while ago he may have been in tears scolding people, yet at this moment he may be laughing. So he's very much at ease with his joy, anger, sorrow and happiness. He's not controlled by these emotions, and sometimes he may fake them in order to coordinate with others.
We have heard about the living Saint Jigong (an enlightened and unconstrained Buddhist monk who was widely worshipped as a saint after he died) and his great miraculous powers. He was known to be completely at ease inside. However, many people considered him insane and called him "crazy Ji." But actually he was faking craziness. Some people seemed to see him eating meat and drinking wine. But the truth is that he was also faking this. That's because basically he had no need to eat or drink, not to mention eating meat and drinking wine! Some people wanted to find proof and snatched the bone he was gnawing, but it turned out to be his bottle gourd. Sometimes he was seen to be sitting and eating meat. But when he turned around, one could only see him reciting the sutras. (Master laughs) There was no sight of any meat!
Because we sentient beings can't see through the actions of great Practitioners and make casual judgments, we transmigrate life after life. Great Masters come; we see nothing special in them. Minor masters come; we also can't differentiate. Some people have followed me for a long time. They have also lived with me for some time. Yet they say that my teachings are the same as those of other people. Those people don't practice and appear to be like me, but in fact there are many differences.
Therefore, the conclusion is that we may not use magical power. Where there's magical power, there will definitely be the ego. If we were able to control this universe, the ego would be there. If I said now, "There shall be no rain. Stop raining!" and the rain stopped immediately, would you not all be very happy, clapping your hands and cheering? From then on, you would come all day long to beg me, "Master, let it not rain!" Those who like rain would then say, "Master, let there be rain so it will be more romantic! (Audience laughs) It will be nice to sit inside listening to the pit-a-pat of the rain. It will be cooler this way." Then I'd be busy day in and day out dealing with those thoughts in your minds: asking for the sun one moment, and asking for rain the next. It would be very troublesome. And I myself would also feel very proud. If every time you requested something, I immediately accomplished it right in front of you, my ego would unavoidably grow bigger and bigger.
For a real Master, the ego has completely disappeared. There's no way to bring it back. Therefore, he would not perform those little magical tricks for you. Even though you may lose your faith in him because of that, he wouldn't mind. It's because he wouldn't use those little magical tricks to attract you. He uses great truth instead, great logic to make you understand clearly and know the reason for believing. He won't use those ways like a "hula-hoop" to entice sentient beings. Many magicians and witches can perform these tricks. You can see them at a circus. Even now in India, some people can do these things. Anything you want to eat, they can materialize out of thin air for you. Those things are like real. For example, one can get oranges even in the Himalayas. When he recites the mantra "hula-hoop," an orange materializes for you. Anything you want, he can make appear. However, after seeing this for a while, we will be fed up with it. Knowing that it's nothing, we will become bored.
To materialize those things requires a lot of energy and makes our ego grow so that we can't be liberated; it also wastes our power. Thus, we can't go up to higher realms. That's why we shouldn't use magical power. It's the same with using spiritual power to heal illnesses. Those people waste a lot of energy in order to treat others' illnesses. Their energy is all spent in this mundane world and they can't transcend the three realms. Take, for example, an aircraft. Its fuel capacity and cruising range have all been pre-arranged. But if it doesn't take off, and only moves along the runway, or if it just gets airborne to a low altitude and then cruises around as in an aerial performance, then after a while, it will fall when it runs out of fuel. It won't be able to reach its destination.
It's the same with our lives. The amount of time and the number of breaths for each human are pre-destined. How much time we can use to practice to become a saint is also pre-destined. If we don't make good use of that time and energy to practice diligently to become a saint, then all will be finished for us. As our time is very limited, we have to make haste in our practice. It won't do to say that we can practice at leisure. Slowness just won't do! That's because we don't know how much more fuel we've got. It's better in the case of the aircraft, where the fuel situation can be known. So right now, make haste and fly as far as you can. Don't hang around wasting time. After a while, it will be dark and the road will become invisible. There will be no more fuel. Then we'll be in great danger. At that time, it will be too late for remorse!
It's because of this that I say we may not use magical power. We shouldn't waste our fuel in a performance for others. After a while when we fall down somewhere, no one will look at us. Take, for example, the case of a fallen aircraft. Who would spend a day standing there and looking at it? It's the same with us. When our fuel has been exhausted and our time has come, this corpse of ours will be just lying there, swollen with patches of white and black. At that time no one will want to look at you. Even your most beloved husband will not be there to hug you the whole day. Or your most beloved wife will also quickly bury your corpse; otherwise, it will stink. Even if in life, you could perform a million magical deeds, like bringing forth the wind and rain, and flying on the clouds and fog, no one would be interested in looking at you after you die!
You should understand why I don't encourage you to use magical power. It's because we wish to be liberated from life and death, never to return to this world again. So we shouldn't play with magical power here. Whoever you hear is using magical power, that person is being most senseless! You'd better stay away from him; otherwise, you might be affected. Then you might play with "hula-hoops" and forget about the Holy Names. Your time and energy will then be wasted meaninglessly.
We have to concentrate our attention on the wisdom eye, to allow the soul to fly up quickly. The quicker the better! If it can't be accomplished today, try again tomorrow. If it's still not possible tomorrow, then try again the day after. Try it every day, just like the newborn birdie, which is not yet able to fly and falls down after trying a little bit. But it keeps practicing every day. After a while, it will be able to fly. It's the same with the giant roc (a legendary bird of ancient China, Arabia, etc.). It can't fly immediately after birth, but can eventually fly because it trains itself every day. If a birdie is placed in a cage, it won't be able to fly in the future because it doesn't understand what "flying" means. Similarly, our soul has the power to fly, but no one has taught us how to do so. Now I've taught you so you have to try every day. You have to practice flying every day. When you practice until you're able to fly, then your soul will be free.
If we want to progress in our spiritual cultivation, the best way to do so is to introspect on ourselves more. We should find out our shortcomings and anything illogical in our actions. We must analyze and review ourselves daily. If there's anything that we've handled improperly, we should find out the reason. Was it because we didn't utilize our brains properly or didn't analyze the situation carefully when we acted? Or was it because we didn't give careful consideration to our options? We must be careful to remind ourselves! Otherwise, we're all "refugees." Whatever people say, we agree with; whatever people teach us, we accept. Then, we become garbage bins!
We have very good brains. Each person's brain is more or less the same. But why is it that Shakyamuni Buddha could use His intelligence to good advantage while we can't use it properly but waste it instead? Thus, we must remain vigilant. Whatever the situation may be, we should always analyze it and check thoroughly to see whether or not it's correct. Shakyamuni Buddha said that, even regarding what He said, His disciples should analyze it clearly before they believed it. We shouldn't blindly believe anything that people say, but believe only when it's logical. He elaborated on this very clearly and even cited His own words as an example to educate His disciples. Thus, we ought to be cautious. Any ideas, either new or old, if they're illogical, unsuitable, too troublesome, too complicated, and do not benefit us or others, then we shouldn't act on them.
Do you know why you're so good? Because you are me. (Applause) We get on fabulously well because we're one.
The nature of the soul is not that I am here and I have one soul in here. It's not like that. My soul is bigger than just in here. It might be all over here. (Master makes a gesture encompassing the area of the room.) It might be all me, but it looks different. It's not like God is one and everyone is one with God. It's not in that sense. It's in the sense that one individual can have a great soul that encompasses many so-called bodies. So we can happen to identify just like we are each other.
Just like sometimes there are two persons, but they think exactly the same thing at the same moment. That's because that is one soul, not because they are one with God or they are one with each other. But they are one soul, just like twins or Soul Mates. A Soul Mate doesn't mean only one; it can mean a lot. Because some great souls encompass many other beings for their own purpose. Therefore, we feel like brothers and sisters; we feel like one. Sometimes you feel very good with your sister or your brother, your mother or your father because that's you! You make it become family, but it's only one: one soul and many individuals. (Applause)
That's why sometimes we say, "I have affinity with that person." Or, "She's my Soul Mate; he's my Soul Mate." Because it's you; it's really you. I mean that's your individual soul group, in one soul. Apart from being one with God and one with everyone else, we also have the individual soul, which can house many big groups of people as just one soul. But it looks different.
Thus sometimes we feel so good with a group of people. And the more we're with them, the more we feel strengthened because we're at home with ourselves. We're together, and we're at peace together. It's no wonder; no wonder we work so well! Can you imagine you are me? (Laughter)
The beginning of 2003 was a time of great change for the planet. As war broke out in the Middle East, the world was going through a spiritual purification on a much grander scale due to the grace of a great spiritual Master. This purification began with the 2002 Christmas retreat, during which 2000 initiates meditated in silence for five days, and Master explained that She was "cleaning up our group." At the end of the retreat, She disclosed that one initiate had reached a very high level of enlightenment.
Even while Master was attending to disciples during the retreat, She began the laborious task of overseeing the repair and relocation of several buildings at the Florida Center. Master supervised everything down to the types of screws and nails we used. The work continued until late at night on some of the coldest nights of the year. This was the time when Master was supposed to be resting, to cleanse the karma collected during the retreat. For a period of weeks, construction also took place in the room adjoining Her bedroom so Master was never able to rest properly. She would often meditate in the morning amid the noise of hammers, drills and circular saws. It was like a construction site where workers passed through Her bedroom, and could even see Her clothes stacked neatly in the corner. She never complained about the situation but walked around calmly, as if nothing were happening.
Then on February 20, 2003 Master announced that four days earlier She had achieved another great level of realization in Her spiritual practice, explaining that there were levels of enlightenment that could not be described in worldly language. At 2:00 AM on February 24, Master called the Hsihu Center with the wonderful news that many of our Quan Yin Family members, including some resident disciples, had achieved the non-regressing state of consciousness. During the phone call, Master kept leafing through a pile of papers, explaining that over the last few weeks She had been keeping count and that the information would come at any time. Thus She had to write it down wherever She could. After finishing Her call to the Hsihu Center, Master was in a state of great excitement and continued to drink tea with us until 5:00 AM. Then She suggested we immediately go to the meditation hall without sleeping although none of us had slept since the previous night.
After we had meditated, Master called us again and told us that this was a good day, and we should go to a certain place at 2:00 PM. and meditate until 9:00 PM. This was unusual, and we would never have expected what happened next. She called us after about four hours and said we had meditated enough. Upon returning to our rooms, we noticed that something was different. One of the senior monks came out and asked what was going on - someone seemed to have taken a shower in his bathroom. We then realized that what had actually occurred was that Master had come and cleaned all of our bathrooms!
Three days later a mysterious notice appeared in the kitchen, stating that it was not necessary for the day's cooking team to prepare the meal. When we came for lunch we found that someone had prepared a pot of the most delicious noodles, large enough to last until the next day. For the next three days, Master came secretly each morning and prepared the meals for the entire resident group. Master thus completely turned the tables on the residents. In two hours, She would prepare more than enough food for the whole group, without making a big fuss or using many utensils, and they were the most satisfying meals we had ever eaten! She prepared just one dish per day - one day it was noodles, another day curry with bread - containing both protein and vegetables, blended together harmoniously. It was such a joy to eat in this simple way that we decided to follow Her example with our regular cooking teams in the future.
Master also encouraged us to live a balanced life, checking each person's daily schedule, making sure that we all balanced our indoor work with doing outdoor labor and cleaning the environment. She jokingly said that otherwise our muscles would sag to the floor and we might step on them! Master was even concerned about what kinds of soaps, shampoos and similar items that we used, telling us which brands to buy - generally the milder and more natural varieties. Another excellent suggestion Master gave us was to put little signs that said 'Remember God' at various places around the Center. It is amazing what a positive effect these two simple words have!
Another new instruction was to use the title "saint" instead of our first names, or perhaps our "Tong" names; however no one was given extra respect. Beginning with the first saints, as each new saint was elevated we would refer to him as saint so-and-so. This created a very elevated atmosphere at the Center, similar to when we look at each other's wisdom eyes. This also encouraged those who had not yet been elevated to practice harder.
Master once asked one of the saints how she had progressed so quickly. The resident replied that she had been very happy for a long time. Master explained that when we are happy and relaxed, it is easier for Her to pull us up. Perhaps this is why She let us celebrate so much at that time, often inviting us for tea and telling jokes. One time She laughed for a whole hour at a single joke, which She told and retold in many versions. (Please see the "Newspaper Ad" below.) Master also watched films with us although She sent those who needed to meditate off to do so; as She knew immediately who needed to practice more. When one brother had to take a retreat, Master personally sent a resident disciple to bring him blessed food every day.
Master was especially generous to the first saints, even lending them Her car when they went out, and supervising the renovation of four small houses for their personal use. The climax came when Master sent members of the resident group shopping for two days to buy whatever they liked, such as clothes, books and movies. One resident did not want to go out in order to finish some work, but Master told her later that sentient beings have been suffering for thousands of years so we should not think our work is so important that we cannot celebrate. When we returned from shopping, we found that Master had prepared sandwiches and fruit salad for us and placed them in a beautiful concentric arrangement.
A few days later, Master came to dinner and gave a final gift to everyone who had helped construct the house for Her birds. She rewarded us with red envelopes containing cash! Master truly takes nothing from this world. After She handed us the presents, She apologized and said that She had to leave to take care of some business. While we were out enjoying ourselves, Master had been on retreat. She stayed in a remote part of the Center the whole time, and was so quiet that we were unaware that She was still in the area. She did not ask us to bring Her food or anything else, doing everything Herself. Sometimes, however, residents would see Her late at night going out to check on the animals.
On April 24, we received news that millions and then billions of sentient beings had reached sainthood since the last retreat. This was a great surprise to us - while Master was training the residents personally, She was also blessing the whole world. This period was a great test for the Florida residents. We were thus very joyful when Master called at 5:00 AM on May 15 to inform us that everyone who had stayed at the Center through this period had reached a high plane of consciousness - except one - a 'bad boy' who had gone even higher and was the first resident to reach the Fifth Level! Although no one had told Her, we were just finishing a two-day retreat, Master could tell. As we huddled around the cell phone outside the meditation hall, we could all hear Master's cheerful voice like a songbird heralding the new day!
We will all forever cherish this amazing time, a great turning point in the evolution of the planet. Whether or not we have been blessed with Her physical presence, Master has elevated us all. Thank You, Master! Thank You, God!
Master recently designed a beautiful and innovative house for birds. She explained that domesticated birds depend on humans for everything. However, since they do not have to hunt for survival like wild birds, they can attain a high level of consciousness. Every day, Master visits each of Her birds individually and talks to them as if they are human beings. There are many amazing stories to tell. For example, Master can understand from Her birds what happens during the day, what they are given to eat, and so on. She even warms a spoon before feeding them by hand because She knows cold metal is uncomfortable for them to eat from. If the sunlight is too strong or not strong enough, She moves all of their cages to the other side of the room, twice or more times per day.
When we built the birdhouse, Master told us to use clear plastic instead of glass - specifically, plastic that was not wavy. However, we built the whole house out of wavy plastic, thinking that it was the same. As soon as Master saw it, she asked us, "What's the use? Would you like to look through something like that?" She said that we have no love. How could we not think of what it would be like for the birds to look out through this distorted plastic all day long? Could we bear every day to look through this wavy plastic? We ourselves could not bear it so how could we do this to the birds? Master also noticed immediately that the silicone sealant we had used on the house was toxic and would thus harm the birds' delicate throats.
Master later explained that many of us want to help Her and She has no doubt that we love Her, but without wisdom our help is useless. She stressed that wisdom must accompany love. Because we had not even considered the birds' point of view, we had to reconstruct the house from the foundation.
Only when it was completed did we realize Master's inspiration. It's the most beautiful birdhouse in the world. During the day, the walls are transparent and full of light. At night, accordion-style doors unfold to cover everything. The ceiling has a row of thin, elegant skylights, with a graceful transparent canopy over the window. Master designed everything on the spot, based on the materials we had available. She even tried to think of possible uses for some leftover PVC pipes. One of Master's most practical and innovative ideas was to paint the outside of several roofs at the Center sky blue. Most houses have dark colored shingle roofs, and no matter how colorful the walls are, no one thinks of painting their shingles. However the sky blue color of these roofs gives the whole Center a cooler atmosphere.
Once the birdhouse was finished, Master conceived a revolutionary design for birdcages. Actually, it is a very simple idea from the birds' point of view, but only Master realized it. Birds are normally confined in small metal cages. However Master's cages are more spacious and have clear plastic walls. The ceilings and floors have metal grills so that air can flow through. Master worked until late at night for several weeks to complete the cages, kneeling on the floor with Her hair tied back in a pony tail, and hammering and drilling along with the residents. She joked that She no longer needed a blanket at night because She had become so used to the freezing cold during this time.
While the cages were being constructed, Master often consulted with Her birds. On one humorous occasion, She asked a bird to try out a ladder. So the bird walked over to the ladder, went up a few steps, turned around as if to say "OK," and then walked away as though it had more important business to attend to! Master made sure that every detail of the cages' construction met with the birds' approval. She went to many pet stores looking for a proper eating bowl, but felt that none of the available designs showed any consideration for the birds' convenience. Thus, She ended up taking parts from four different bowls in order to make one bowl.
The night on which the birds moved into their new home was very cold, and they had to wait outside in their cages while the room was being prepared. Thus Master was very concerned about them, holding all the birds individually and touching their feet, saying, "Oh my God, his/her feet are cold!" For many nights, She stayed up late arranging space heaters and blankets for the birds. She once called a resident after midnight, apologizing for waking him up, and telling him that the heaters' electrical power cords were extremely hot. The resident did not know what to do, short of rewiring the house, but while he was getting supplies, Master figured out a way to run all four heaters without overheating the cords.
Master takes care of all animals, even those that are not Her pets. For instance, when She saw a moth fly into a halogen working light and die, She immediately changed all the outdoor lights to low-heat-emitting bulbs. On another touching occasion, when Master was shopping, She passed a pet store and said that for some reason She had to go in. Inside, She found that the store happened to be having a sale on puppies. Master knelt down and talked to each puppy for a long time, assuring them that they would definitely find a good home. When the resident accompanying Master heard Her speak to the puppies in such a loving tone, he almost burst into tears in the middle of the store.
One story the residents will never forget involves a stray dog that wandered into the Center four years ago. After Master left the Center, She continued to care for him and once called to send him a special bed, which She had seen while traveling. Unfortunately, however, the dog had been given away and gotten lost. Master never turns Her back on such adopted pets. Even four years later, when Master met with the Florida Center residents She cried for a long time when discussing this event. She often thinks of this dog and said he has reached a very high level.
Master always puts Her dogs' comfort before Her own. For example, recently, Her smallest dog got a painful bruise, which no one else but Master could detect, and She immediately knew he was suffering. She then sent someone to buy painkillers, but he forgot to bring them to the dog. Master said, 'If you forget to bring me food, I'll forgive you, but if you don't bring the dog's medicine I cannot forgive you!' Later, when the weather became hot, Master slept in the heat and directed Her own air conditioning unit into Her dogs' room rather than let them suffer.
Master has long been famous at the local vet's office because of Her concern for Her animals. Several months ago, She called the vet in the middle of the night to care for a wounded possum She had found on the road even though possums are rodents that most people exterminate. Later, when one of the vet's clients wanted to give away four birds that she had kept for fourteen years, the vet referred her to Master. Master then sent someone on a long trip to another state to pick up the birds, along with special toys and cages for their long journey back. However, after having the person try to talk to the birds many times, Master did not feel that they wanted to leave. So She persuaded the woman not to abandon her pets - only after paying to have the woman's garage apartment converted into a birdhouse!
Another dramatic instance of Master's love and wisdom occurred when we cut down a huge 40-foot tree at the Florida Center. The tree was alive but was leaning dangerously over a house. Master told us to explain the situation to the tree, thank it for all it had done, and then wait for two days before cutting it down. She said we should finish by 10:00 PM so as not to awaken the neighbors. However we somehow managed to mix up the message so that two days later, at precisely 10:00 PM, we began to cut down the tree without even a chainsaw. We would have been there all night, had Master not called at 2:00 AM. After sincerely repenting, we resumed work the following afternoon.
But there was one problem. The entire group of residents - four of whom had engineering degrees - tried to maneuver the tree for six hours using all sorts of cables and anchors, but no one could agree on how to direct the tree so that it would avoid falling directly through the roof of the house. Just as we were reaching the critical moment when the tree was to fall, a brother informed us that Master was inside the house! We immediately informed Her that any minute the roof might collapse on Her, but She was not in the least bit afraid and walked casually outside to see what we were doing. She immediately told us to pull the tree in the opposite direction. Just in time, we moved a tractor with a cable in that direction; the tree began to fall, and as we pulled with the tractor, the tree descended approximately one centimeter past the corner of the roof! Master thus had to come and save us despite all our engineering degrees!
One day in March 2003, Master had the idea to go and look for some small pine trees in the forest at the far end of the Florida Center. She called a few of us who were planting trees to come with Her and we walked slowly together through the untouched pine grove. Master said that this area was very pure as people never went there. Master walked slowly and carefully on the forest floor, which was sprinkled with pine needles, reminding those who followed Her to be mindful as there were many small cacti growing among the trees. She saw a wild rabbit and spoke to her, telling her not to be afraid and apologizing for the fact that we had disturbed her home. Next Master picked out a few small pine trees, explained that they would be suitable to move, and told us to mark them or make a note of their location. As we were leaving the pine grove, Master stopped because She saw in front of Her a small cactus that had been squashed and was now growing flat. She was delighted to see a small fruit growing from the cactus, and told us that if we were in the desert and hungry we could eat such cactus fruit to survive. Master then thanked the cactus, and the gratitude in Her voice made me feel that the purpose of the cactus' existence was to grow just for Her. Next She said, "Ah, he's trying so hard even though he's flattened like a pancake! Thank you, honey." This was one of those precious glimpses of God's love for all beings revealed through a living Master.
Q: Please explain twin souls and the male and female aspects of oneself.
M: There's no such thing as twin souls. We're all separate. But sometimes
we encounter someone who's very compatible with us, and we call that person
a Soul Mate.
If we've been working, living with and loving that soul for a long time before, in different incarnations, then when we meet this so-called soul reincarnated again in a different body, we feel a sense of familiarity. Because we did things together all the time before, everything is easy; everything is compatible; everything is harmonious.
So that's what we call a "Soul Mate." We encounter it all the time. And people who have encountered this so-called Soul Mate are happily married to each other, or they become a very good sister and brother together, or a good parent and child together. The relationship is very good. This is what is meant by a Soul Mate.
Q: Is there such a phenomenon as Soul Mates in this world? If so, what is its spiritual significance for the people involved?
M: A Soul Mate is someone that when you meet him or her, you feel a very great attraction to each other and you both will be able to complement each other in life and especially in the spiritual process. That's what's called Soul Mates. But in the world of non-duality, there's no soul, there are no mates; it's just the terminology of this world. So whoever you feel is very attractive to you and very helpful to your daily life activities as well as spiritual endeavors, then that's your Soul Mate while we're here, if you need a mate at all.
Q: I want to ask you about Soul Mates. Is it necessary to contact one's Soul Mate, and if so, what happens?
M: In this life, if it's necessary, then it's necessary. If it's not necessary,
then it's not necessary. You'll know. We have plenty of Soul Mates really, not just one. It's just that our paths don't always cross because
it's not necessary.
Q: As a single person, I think I speak for anyone else who is still single:
What's the best way to meet your Soul Mate?
M: I also don't know if there's such a thing as a Soul Mate because sometimes you have this but not that. If you really want to know,
you should pray. Picture yourself having a Soul Mate and that the Soul Mate you want will be of such-and-such beauty or virtue, and that she should
have this and that kind of quality. List the names of the qualities. List
all of the qualities, one by one, clearly, that you want in a Soul Mate. And one day when you meet her, you'll know.
You have to picture it: Write it down. Or if you see a woman who you think might look like your Soul Mate, at least in physical appearance, or if you like the way she looks, you should draw that. Or take someone's picture who looks like her, and then, that's it! You have to visualize it, and one day it will come true.
Q: Does everyone have a Soul Mate? And if so, do you have to find your soul mate before you can be liberated?
M: The so-called Soul Mate: It could be. Then again, some Soul Mates are already liberated, so you don't have one to find here. But some Soul Mates are still around so then you have to wait.
Actually, this is some of the theory: If you have no more longing and no more desire in your heart, then even if your Soul Mate is in Heaven or hell, it doesn't matter to you. You have to arise and arrive at a level of desirelessness. Then the Soul Mate is everywhere and nowhere because you are omnipresent. There's no need for a Soul Mate when you're omnipresent.
When we practice well spirituality, our karma will be erased, and we'll naturally recover from our illnesses. That's long-lasting magical power. I've also taught you about virtues, precepts and the vegetarian diet, and that's even more everlasting magical power, which will better and forever protect the body and spirit, and we'll not have to suffer many illnesses. So I hope you'll erase your own karma through your spiritual endeavor, and then many of your obstacles and ailments will diminish naturally!
This is a folk story passed down by the Jewish people. There was a very rich man who had plenty of property. One day, he suddenly fell seriously ill and couldn't recover. Since he was very rich, his family invited many famous doctors from places around the country to cure him, but none succeeded.
The man's health deteriorated and he seemed to have no hope of getting healed. Just when his family was in utter desperation, a spiritual practitioner who came from afar passed by and told them, "If you can find a very happy person, take his clothes and let your father wear them, then he'll be cured."
Upon hearing this, the rich man's family set off in all directions looking for a happy person. However, after searching high and low, they could not find a truly happy person. The so-called happy people they found weren't perfectly happy in every way so they couldn't be regarded as truly happy people. The family carried on searching until they finally gave up. Nevertheless, one of the rich man's sons was extremely filial. Unable to bear separation from his father, he was determined to see his father healed. Thus he left his hometown and went to faraway places, with his mind set on finding a truly happy person.
One day, the rich man's son became exhausted by his tedious journey. Dusk was falling so he tried to find a resting place and came upon a cave where he decided to spend the night. As he approached the mouth of the cave, he heard a resounding voice from within saying, "Oh! I'm such a happy man! I had such a wonderful day today. I'm happy every day! Everything is fine with me. I'm delighted and happy with everything! I'm the happiest person in the world! I'm a truly happy man!" These words were repeated over and over, accompanied by joyful laughter. Finally, the voice said, "Oh! I'm sleepy now. I'm going to sleep in happiness. Even if I were to die now, I would still be very happy!" (Master and everyone laugh.)
The rich man's son rejoiced to hear this and thought, "I've found the cure for my father's illness!" He then quickly slipped into the cave, hoping to find the person and take his clothes from him. But when he went inside, he found that the man was completely naked! (Master and everyone laugh.) He wasn't wearing anything! The son stood there stunned, not knowing what to do.
Seeing his disappointment and frustration, the happy man asked, "What's wrong?" And the rich man's son replied, "I failed to find something that I'm looking for." So the happy man asked, "What are you looking for?" The rich man's son replied, "My father is critically ill, and a spiritual practitioner told us that if we could find a truly happy person, we should take off his clothes and let my father wear them, then he'd be cured. That's why I'm here to take your clothes. I never dreamt that you wouldn't be wearing anything!" The happy man said, "Sigh! If I were wearing something, I wouldn't be so happy now!" (Master and everyone laugh. Everyone applauds.)
What he meant was that if he possessed any property, he would be burdened and wouldn't be so happy. Precisely because he had nothing, he was free of any pressure, not having to worry about losing anything, about his things being stolen or destroyed. He also didn't have to worry about what to do should he not have a certain thing the next day. Since he had nothing to compare with others, he didn't have to worry about other people having something better. Therefore, he was free of worries. He didn't have to worry about anything, such as people stealing his things or hurting him. That's why he was so happy.
This story is quite relevant to spiritual practice. It doesn't mean that we'll be happy if we don't have any property; it also doesn't mean that we'll have worries or be happy if we have a lot of wealth. Whether we're happy or unhappy can't be measured by our wealth. It mainly depends on our heart. If we have some wealth, but we don't cling to it and we use it in the right place, then we can say we possess no wealth and aren't attached to it. Suppose we have no wealth and can't earn money, but then we say that the grapes are sour because we have no grapes to eat (Master and everyone laugh), then we're not truly happy people.
The man in this story most probably was a truly happy person. We can tell from the way he talked. In fact, true happiness at heart is not to be derived from wealth or poverty. However, for most people, excessive wealth can easily lead to bondage. Even if they hate to be bound, sometimes, they will still be bound unknowingly. They have to take care of their wealth, develop and manage it. Besides, they worry that others may take possession of their wealth, that they may arouse jealousy, or that their wealth may be squandered by their children; many conditions worry them. It's not that we're being greedy. However, if we do have some property, we have to manage it. If we don't have anything, then we don't need to bother.