| | Transcend Good and Evil, Focus Inwardly to Reach Great Enlightenment | | The God Nature is Great and Infinite | Transcend Gossip and Rise to Great Heights | Don't be Hooked by a Tiny Thorn | Dissolve Anger to Benefit Yourselves and Others | | Together We Can Make the World a Paradise | We Can Help the World Only through Diligent Practice | Renounce Everything and Be Happy | A Scientific Look at Meditation | The Criterion for Gauging Spiritual Development | Develop Your Inner Healing Energy | The Mirror of Mirrors | Remain Focused and Detached during Retreats | Postscript: | The Farmer and the Snake | Become Liberated While Living | A Doctor's Wise Investment | Psychic Mailman Needed | Too Bad about God's Dollar! | | Supreme Kitchen Volume One, Second Edition now available! (In English and Chinese) | 512 <In Chinese + subtitles in 23 languages> | 716 <In English + subtitles in 23 languages> | 705 <In English with Korean Oral Translation + subtitles in 25 languages > | |
Our God Nature is great and infinite.We ought to develop and recognize It every day instead of just being content with a little enlightenment. This is absolutely not enough!
You must meditate more! Otherwise, not only will you do things poorly, but you will also feel mentally uncomfortable. If you've meditated a lot, you look at everything cheerfully and you're mentally relaxed. Isn't that right? (Yes!)
Meditation doesn't mean just sitting there cross-legged. You also have to focus inwardly with sincerity and concentrate inside, ignoring worldly matters. If we can remain in this state for twenty-four hours a day, our aura will become very comfortable. We'll look at everything lightheartedly, and won't keep it in our minds for a long time.
Don't think that it's enough to be enlightened. Take Shakyamuni Buddha for example. After He was enlightened, He continued to meditate daily to make Himself more enlightened. Our God Nature is not that limited. So, don't be overjoyed at just seeing a star or the moon. Don't think that it's enough to be able to see the inner Light, or the Amitabha's World, or the Heavenly realms every day. Our God Nature is great and infinite, and we ought to develop and recognize It each day instead of just being content with a little enlightenment. This is absolutely not enough!
Some spiritual practitioners aren't cultivated enough, or don't even meditate at all, but then they complain that their lives aren't comfortable. When our lives aren't comfortable, we should meditate more! Only through meditation can our lives become a little more pleasant. Otherwise, we're engulfed by the bad atmosphere of the world. How can we find ease under such circumstances?
Thus, you had better ignore these senseless, trivial matters. The less you know about the things of the world, the better it is for you. Don't care about too many trivialities. You ought to transcend and ascend. Only then can you practice with tranquility, attain greater enlightenment, experience results in meditation and have motivation. Otherwise, caring about these trifles all day long will make it very difficult for you to meditate with concentration. If you just sit there wrestling with the chaotic, distracting thoughts that constantly emerge, how can you possibly sit still?
The best way for us is to soar high and ascend, transcending all the gossip in this world. That's why I'm always changing in this aspect or that aspect, just to let you learn this lesson. You have to learn faster, and not confine yourselves in these petty, useless and worthless corners of your life.
Each time we're angry or critical, our hearts become narrower and can't accommodate all. It's like when your clothes are hooked by a little thorn on a tree, and you can't free yourself unless you pull out the thorn, however tiny it is. So, we shouldn't mind our neighbors or our Master, or the good or bad in anyone. Only then can we meditate wholeheartedly. If there's any garbage in our hearts, we'll be stuck there; we'll be hindered.
Why have you progressed so quickly in your spiritual practice? It's because I change a lot, and you can never "catch" me in time. (Master and everyone laugh.) You're not fast enough to get attached, to praise or to cling to any form. All you have to do is follow my teachings to practice, and you'll benefit and progress, and then be happy, joyful and cheerful. However I act is my own personal matter. It has nothing to do with you. It's the Master's Power, the universal power, and not I, this person, who is helping you. Therefore, don't mind what I do, and especially don't care about the rights and wrongs of your neighbors and fellow practitioners. Of course, if you feel that they've done something wrong, and you can't stand it anymore, then you may talk to them. If they don't listen, forget it. Don't keep it in your mind for long.
Sometimes, when we're angry with someone, do we meditate badly? (Yes.) The more you try to forget him, the more his disgusting face appears before you, (laughter) just like watching television. However, a television is easy to turn off, but his image is out of control and keeps appearing right in front of your wisdom eye. It's truly intolerable!
Thus, try not to mind about the good and bad aspects of other people. Let the big ones become small, and the small ones turn into nothing. Try your best to forgive and understand others. The more we forgive and understand, the better it will be. Don't be angry with people. When we're angry for a long time, cancer may develop in the body. You all know that anger is the most harmful emotion to the body.
When you're very angry, try your best to reduce your anger; if it's only a small anger, try your best to reduce it to nothing. Later, just laugh and forget about it. This is better for us. We can control our emotions; it's not that we can't. If we can control them, then it's very good for us.
I've tried this. Just as we adjust the sound volume higher or lower, we can also adjust our anger. It's up to us. If we turn our anger higher, we'll be in a bad mood the whole day, and it's also harmful for other people. If we turn down our anger a little, later it will seem as if nothing has happened. It's good for us and for everyone else as well.
I don't know if we can help much. We can only do what we can, what our ability and time allow. The world is really big, and the suffering is so great, but even if we can only do a little bit of something, it's better than nothing. And if every one of the world's people does a little bit, like we do, then the world will really become a paradise. No one will be hungry at all.
So we should not wait for the whole world to do it. We should do it first, and if other people do it, then it's even better. It's very easy! Our group is very small. If such a small group as ours can do things like that and everyone in the bigger group does it and the whole world does it, then it's no problem, really. We'll have no fear and no need to go to Heaven.
Meditation is like refueling and recharging a car to keep it running; or it's like having to eat to gain energy to keep working. Since we have to eat as much as we can every day to remain healthy and be able to go on working, we should also recharge our souls with energy so that we can do great things. Why do we want to do great things? It's not because we want fame or regard ourselves as a big deal, but because we see too much injustice in this world. Some people suffer too much. Some people can't enjoy human values or even the basic dignity of being human. People treat each other like savages. That's why we want to help the world. In order to help the world, we have to cultivate ourselves first, practice diligently and be strict on ourselves, then we'll know how to do it. Otherwise, we won't be able to do it even if we wish to.
When we're in the higher dimensions, we see everything in the innumerable worlds emerge and disappear in a fraction of a moment, just like bubbles! We can't even say it takes place in a moment. Things disappear almost as soon as they emerge. It's the same with all the illusory worlds we see in the higher dimensions.
We seem to go through long periods of suffering because of our ignorance. We're trapped in the cage of time and space; that's why it seems to be a long time. In reality, it's not that long. To God, it's even shorter than a second or a fraction of a moment. It can't be considered time. It passes really quickly! But since you're trapped in a corner, you can't see the whole and you think that you're just there. This isn't true! You're omnipresent. You're just stuck there and can't fly out. Then you consider yourself to be there, and you're just that one or this one.
Sometimes little birds or insects get stuck on our windows. Since the windowpane is transparent and the room is lighted, they don't realize that there's a window and they crash into the pane. Their heads become swollen and their eyes blinded, and in a short while they unconsciously fall on the floor. They don't enter through an open space, but fly right into the windowpane.
We do the same! We should renounce everything, even our happiness, and then we'll be fine. We shouldn't even ask for peace, health, success, reputation, riches or family. We should ask for nothing at all. Then we won't suffer! It's just that we ask for too much so we get stuck here and there, with our nose caught in there, too. And then we cry out for help.
To Quan Yin practitioners, practicing meditation is as natural as eating or sleeping, and to Asians and many other non-Westerners, it is also a time-honored tradition associated with spiritual devotion and elevation. In the West, however, meditation has long been regarded as a somewhat exotic or even fad-related activity reserved for adherents of Eastern religions or New Age philosophies.
But according to a report in the August 4, 2003 issue of Time magazine entitled "The Science of Meditation," "Ten million American adults now say they practice some form of meditation regularly, twice as many as a decade ago." This piece, comprised of several articles, focuses on various aspects of meditative practice. One article describes the history of meditation in Western culture, calling it a contemplative practice that disappeared for literally centuries but has recently been revived. Another, written by a journalist who describes his attempt to meditate, represents the voice of a skeptic but also someone who cannot help but note the apparent value of meditation. Yet another article describes research findings that provide confirmation of the physical and emotional benefits of meditative practice.
While no consistent link between meditation and God is established in the report, the spiritual aspects of meditation are frequently mentioned. For example, in a discussion of the history of meditation in Western culture, one article acknowledges that "strikingly similar disciplines (to meditation) have been part of Western culture for centuries." Also, nearly all of the research for the report was conducted with practitioners who meditate within a specific spiritual tradition, including Indian yogis, Japanese Zen practitioners, and meditating Buddhists and Sikhs.
Inward concentration and focus are mentioned as key elements of a successful meditation practice. One article even provides basic steps in teaching oneself how to meditate, which include finding a quiet place to eliminate distractions and thus enhance concentration, closing the eyes so the brain can stop actively processing information from the senses, and repeating a soothing "sound," in this case a meaningful word or phrase to help one focus.
Overall, the report views meditation as having a highly positive influence on one's health, happiness and sense of well-being. As Hollywood actress Heather Graham states, "It's easy to spend a lot of time worrying and obsessing, but meditation puts me in a blissful place." "The Science of Meditation" also provides an encouraging and upbeat picture of the direction of spirituality in America today by pointing out meditation's benefits for body, mind and spirit.
For more details please refer to:
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030804/
Q: I'd like to know if the things that happen in our life have meaning:
good things, bad things, natural disasters and so on. And is it good to
be aware of the hidden significance behind these events?
M: Well, they happen for our spiritual development even though sometimes
during a crisis or event we might not be able to understand it. But everything
has some purpose. If you can be aware of the hidden meaning, it's fine.
If you can't, just let it be. Things happen; it doesn't matter how they
happen. It's not what happens but how we react to the event that's important.
The event is there so that we can reflect on ourselves and our development.
Then we know how far we've grown up, to what height.
I'll give an example so it's easier for you to understand. Some journalists write some things about us that aren't true. Some people get upset, and they tell me. They cry and all that, thinking that because of the journalists, I get my name blackened, and they're upset for me. But I say there's no need. The journalists write what they write. I am what I am. How I react to them is what's important, not what they write about me.
If they write something good about me, if I'm proud or very excited, happy and feel very arrogant, then that's bad for me. So it's not that writing good things about me is good, but whether my attitude toward it is good or bad. It's for me alone. And then if they write bad things about me and I get really upset, I feel bad for a long time, I hate them or I want to make revenge, and that's also no good for me. It means I'm not truly so developed as to have my peace at every moment, in every situation. So, if you look at the situation like this, then how you feel, how you react and how you solve a problem, that's the lesson. That's the tool to help us remember who we are, how great we are, how tolerant, how loving and how understanding.
I also feel upset sometimes for a very short while because the situation should not have happened that way. It should have happened in a more beautiful way. That's just my expectation. But I'm not upset because of bad people who write bad things about me, nor do I expect them to write good things about me. They write bad things because they don't know me. Even you don't know me so how can outside people know me? That's a very obvious reason; they don't know me. And I'm not going to go out into the world and tell all the journalists how good I am. Even if I tell them, whether they believe me or not is another question. Why should they believe me?
Even you, so-called disciples, came here by yourself voluntarily, and you really love God so much that you can even humble yourself to ask questions and learn from me. But sometimes you doubt me. You think bad things about me. You look at my appearance and my actions in a distorted way and then criticize me and leave the path. You look at my personality instead of my teachings. I was born the way I am. God made me the way I am. I can't 'wig-wag' myself to please everyone the way you think. I am what I am and I'm perfect: finished. You're also perfect: finished. If you don't know you're perfect, then you have to know.
You have to learn how to accept yourself as perfect. Anything that's not perfect according to your opinion you can change if you want. I think I'm perfect. (Applause) I don't mean that sometimes I don't make a mistake according to your opinion, but that's all right. I accept my mistake, too, as long as I don't stick there all the time thinking it's good. But maybe it is good! (Master laughs) Maybe my mistake is necessary for someone else. It looks like a mistake, but it might not be. It might not be a mistake.
Say for example, there's a man who's crying in distress and emotion. Maybe he looks handsome and good-looking. And I might hug him or comfort him. In your opinion, maybe I shouldn't do that. Maybe I should refrain from hugging him because I'm a woman and he's such a good-looking young guy. But I care not about what you think. So maybe in that instance, you think I make a mistake. But maybe my mistake was necessary for that man. He needed my mistake. Maybe I shouldn't have done it in order to keep my reputation more flawless and to keep your respect. But I don't care. Why should I care about everyone's opinion? His or her opinion might not always be correct. I just do what I feel is correct at that moment according to my understanding. And I always stand for what I believe in and what I feel at that moment only. For anything else, I'm not responsible. That's the way it is. (Applause)
So that's one thing. If all the newspapers or people outside talk bad about me and I feel very hateful toward them, it means I don't understand. It means that I still have to practice harder, I have to control myself and try to look into the situation better, with more intelligence. That's my job. Their job is to write what they want. They're responsible for their actions and I have to be responsible for my actions. So I look at it this way: They don't know me. They can't understand me and that's fine. They write according to their beliefs, their understanding and their opinions. And that's all right with me. If I can, I'll explain it to them. If I can't, then I just forget it.
I have to tell you that even though we're spiritual practitioners, we don't always immediately have understanding about every situation that we encounter in our lives. We may not always understand, but at least because we practice, after a few minutes of anger and immediate reaction, we reflect and say, "What is this here?"
So don't blame yourself if in some moment of natural reaction if you feel angry or you feel you want revenge. But afterwards, after it subsides, you think, 'This is not the way I should react to this situation. How should I react? What should I do in this situation that's the most beneficial for me and for the opponent?' And that's the way it is. It's not that you don't get angry sometimes, but that you don't overdo it. You don't overdo it and you don't let the anger override you for a long time so as to affect your health, your spirit and your situation. It's not that you don't get angry sometimes. It's good to be angry sometimes. It's healthy. But what you do with the anger, that's another thing. Don't let it destroy you. So for any event that happens in our life, it's up to us to measure how we've grown already in our spiritual development. If you can look at it that way, it's fine. And try to know how to react to it in the best way for yourself.
Q: I have the need to become more spiritual toward life. How do I react
to the negativity around me?
M: If we have spiritual tendencies, we're more tolerant toward all things,
including negative influences and any negative outlooks on life. We're
more tolerant and more understanding. Also, our positive Self radiates
a healing energy, which will somewhat correct the negative atmosphere.
So we don't need to do anything, really. If we're truly spiritual, things will better themselves to some degree. And should anyone come to us for advice or want to become better also, we'll be in a position to suggest what to do.
Q: Recently I told Master in my meditation that when I check out of here,
I would like to go straight to the Fifth Level. (Laughter) I really don't
want to come back here.
M: You don't ask for much. (Laughter) Well, it shall be done. (Q: I don't
care what it takes.) It shall be done; don't worry. (Q: This time, I've
had enough.) Don't worry, you'll change.
Q: So, do you think it's possible?
M: Yes, it's possible. If that's all you want, that's all you'll get. It's
no problem. If you keep that idea in your mind all the time, until the
time you die, then you're there.
Q: If I work to reach the Fifth Level even before I die, I'll be able to
help Master better here.
M: Oh, sure, sure. (Q: If that's possible) It could be possible, too. But
I don't know if it's possible with you. It depends on you. (Q: I'll do
anything) No one needs you to do anything. You have to control your brain.
It's not that you need to do anything. It's not like you die a hundred
times and then you become a Buddha, or you offer anything and become a
Buddha. It's not that. It's just the determination of the soul inside,
whether he wants it in this lifetime or not.
Q: Does he have to prepare for that before he comes? How spiritual he wants
to... ?
M: It depends. Everyone wants to prepare for this. But when they come down,
it's just that they sway around a little bit. And then, because Maya, the
king of illusion, is there, waiting for you, saying, "Ah, hah! Welcome
home, baby. Let's see how strong you are. Here's a beautiful girl, here's
a presidential position and here's a big company with big money."
And then you work yourself to death, you serve the girl, and you're so
tired that even if you wanted to go find the Master, you wouldn't know
where. You lose your energy, you get sick and then you die. And then you
say, "OK, it's my time to go now. Next time, I'll try again."
Q: The director says, "Cut!"
M: Yes, "Cut." But it doesn't really matter. You're determined
to find God, anyway. Before we come down here, that's what we're going
to do. We want to know ourselves as God by being "not God." You
want to find a mirror so you can see your face. Although the mirror is
an illusion, you need it. The one inside there is not you, but you need
it to see yourself. You look into it, and you recognize yourself. How else
would you see yourself? Should I stand here and look at myself, or stand
where? The mirror is an illusion. The one who looks inside is you, yet
it's not you. So this world is full of God, yet it's not God. God is inside
looking at the God outside here.
Q: It's a bad reflection of the real thing, right?
M: Well, it's a good reflection. It's just that we look into the mirror
and we get confused because this mirror of Maya is different. It's a magic
mirror, a "mirror on the wall.*" It's not the mirror, but the
mirror of the mirror. So we get confused here, and we see all things reflected
together in the mirror. And then we say, "Oh, what's that there? What's
that over there? And what's that?"
You even forget to look at your own picture, the mirror is so big. It reflects everything in it, and you get lost in that illusion. You chase one thing after another. "Oh my God, this looks good. That looks good." And you get lost in your mirror. You forget. The time it takes you to realize it's a mirror is maybe a fraction of a second. But the time we take to realize Buddhahood is also a fraction of a second in universal time.
* "Mirror, mirror on the wall" is a line from a fairy tale called "Snow White," in which the step-mother believes that the reflection from the mirror on the wall is real.
To the ones who have progressed: congratulations. You've done your best. You've put down many things. That's how you've progressed. For the ones who have not progressed: You have progressed, but too little.
In order to progress quickly, the way you always want and the way you always ask me, "Master, how do I progress quickly?" I tell you, "Put down, put down, put down everything," but you don't. You come here with a lot of friends, relatives, sons and daughters. I tell you, you have them all day long, all life long and you have only five days here for God! But no, that Guy comes second. That's why you don't progress.
The only secret is to put it down. God takes care of everything. We can't do anything! If God's Grace isn't there, we can't do anything. Of course, you come here and ask me to intervene in your destiny. Sometimes I could ask God to do it. But it's not my problem. I could intervene; I could do anything for you. But it's your problem. Because if you come here with that intention, that's all you get. Maybe your son gets better or your daughter has a good marriage, but that's all you get. The whole treasure, you leave behind. And that's a pity for you.
That's why I'm not bothered if you ask me any questions, even mundane or petty questions; I can answer them for you. I can help you with anything. But I just feel bad for you. You came here for only five days, and you can't even remember God.
Just for once, you should come here just for Hirm, just for God! But no, you always come here and try to make excuses, asking for all kinds of favors. All these kinds of favors you could ask for at home. I tell you truly: Anytime you pray to God or the Master Power, it's heard. We're not deaf! I hope you don't think so. (Audience applauds.)
And I hope you don't think that "I" am here (Master indicates the physical body) -- that I am sick, I am ill, I am weak, I am small, I am big, I am this and that. No, no, no! It's not me; it's not this person. We're not deaf, we're not dumb, we're not blind and we're not stupid. So there's no need to come here whining about your family and friends or your problems and misfortunes. You can; you can talk to me about anything you want. Of course, if you want to take me as a mother, as a friend, as a shoulder to cry on, that's fine also. But remember, these are only secondary.
And whenever a retreat comes, you should take advantage of the time, of no disturbances, no demands from family and friends, no business, no work, no boss, no colleagues, no husband or wife - we separate for you - no quarrels, no kids. You should concentrate. Treasure this time as if, after this, you'll die. You'd have no more chance then to even worry about your family, who would be left behind! Will you have a chance to worry about them when you die? No! And you don't know if I'll be alive again the next day, much less after five days if I'll still be here to conduct another retreat. So you're really silly.
The ones who don't progress are really silly. Every time you come to a retreat, we remind you to concentrate on one Guy only: one Husband, one Wife. That's true faithfulness. It's not about you being loyal to your spouse on this planet. But you have to be loyal to the Spouse in Heaven; this is most important because the spouse here can leave you at any time. If you become ugly, sick, old, or he meets someone better, like the karma loosens and he meets someone from a past life he feels better with, then you're doomed. But the Spouse in Heaven will never, ever leave us. And we're very unfaithful; that's bad news. Nevertheless, I hope you learned your lesson this time, those of you who haven't progressed. Whenever or if we have a next time again, take your chance then, OK? (Applause)
I'm not angry with you; I'm not frustrated with you; I'm nothing. I just do whatever I have to do, at that moment only. So whatever poison you feel, give it back to me now. You can go home and you're free. You're good, you're perfect again, and you're the person you are. When you're here, I have to correct you, I have to cleanse you, and the process is sometimes very painful for both of us. But it's OK. It's done, and you're free. After the five days, whatever's bad here or good here, it's gone. (Applause)
So you're perfect, you're loved and you're wanted, as usual, and during the retreat, too. But other kinds of treatment might make you feel that you're unwanted or unloved. It's not true. It's just that administering medicine was necessary at that time. So whatever you don't need, give it back; put it back right here and go home free. You're perfect as usual, even if you haven't progressed. You've just learned another lesson, at your own expense. I mean, money-wise, also. (Master laughs.) You spend a lot of money, coming here and going back for nothing.
It's not my fault; I sell everything! Everyone has the same sale. I don't reserve anything for anyone special; everyone can have the same merchandise. If you want to buy it, everyone has a chance.
Now, for the ones who have progressed, you should be happy and proud of yourselves. I don't have any reward or certificate to give you, but you know you're rewarded. You have your own certificate. You should be happy. (Applause) And for the ones who have not progressed at all or maybe just a little bit, since you can't help but progress a little - I hope there will be a next time for you, so that you can undo your mistakes. Next time, if we have any time, if you have any more chances to come ever again for such a retreat, please be one-pointed as if you're dead. If you're dead, no one can do anything to you. Put the word "Dead" on your forehead before you go out the door. Take it off and say, "I'm alive again!" when you get out of this retreat. That's really what it is. (Applause)
Because if you're not dead to the world, you can't be alive with God. It says the same thing in the Bible: "You can't worship both God and mammon." So we have to be one-pointed. Whatever I did during this retreat was to guard you or herd you into this one-pointedness. Be it loving, be it petting, hugging or scolding, it's all to help you during these five days only. So don't think that you're more special if I give you more tenderness, and don't think that you're terrible if I give you a scolding. You're all equal, equal, equally loved in my heart. (With tears in Her eyes) I love you so much! (Extended applause)
Because even though sometimes you do things I don't like you to do because I know they're not good for your practice, or you have something in your heart that's not good for your practice, I know it's not your fault. It's just the circumstances that made you this way. It's this terrible world that pushes you into these situations.
I have nothing but love for you. I don't want to give you any harsh words or anything, but I have to. It's for your own good, but I just want you to know that I love you through all that. It's just like sometimes you scold your children, but you never stop loving them. And maybe if some of your children aren't well, you put them in the hospital. It's a terrible treatment for them, but you want them to be well. So you put them in the mental ward, because you want their mind to be sharper, you hope, in the future. That's all there is to this treatment, but treatment is never pleasant. Just try to meditate more so you don't have to have this kind of treatment anymore.
Some of you were more enlightened in Heaven before you came here, but you wanted to be even more enlightened than that. For example, when you were 80% enlightened in Heaven, it means you were in the Fourth World or something. But you came down looking for me because you knew I'd be here. And when you came down, your enlightenment became less than when you were in Heaven. And you suffered and suffered here, and forgot everything that was on the path and in Heaven for you. You've suffered more here because you've forgotten.
So I'm trying in every way to make you remember, to reach back there and above it, above the level you were on before you came down. So anything that's possible, I'll do for you. But you also have to try to remember your real Self. Otherwise, the less we remember, the more we suffer. Anyway, I just want you to know that you're very much loved and very much respected because you're good. It's not because you were bad that you're good. It's because the situation makes you so bad, yet you're still trying to be good. That's why you're good. (Applause)
You have so much pressure from home, society, friends, colleagues, jobs, boss, husband, wife and so on. And you still try your best to meditate at home, go to group meditation and also come here on retreat. Even if you come on an airplane, it's easy and all that, but it's not all that easy. So for that, I really love you. I know you try your best, and God will know. So anything you want, you should just pray for at home. The next time you go to a retreat, just desire to know God: For just five days, be dead to the world. (Applause)
A Humorous Event that Occurred after the Lecture
After attending a group meditation at the retreat during which Master gave the talk presented above, a brother returned to the Florida Center's kitchen to carry out his duties as cook, and a fellow brother who had to stay behind to clean up the kitchen asked him, "What was the main point of Master's talk today? The returning brother thought quickly and responded, "Remember God and you're dead!"
This story is called "The Farmer and the Snake." Every day, a farmer went to the city to sell his flowers and farm produce and then went home after selling all his things. One day, he left home very early, so early that when he arrived at the city, the gate was still closed. So he lay down to take a nap, when he awoke he found that the storage bin containing his farm produce had become empty except that there was a gold coin inside. Although all the things in the bin had vanished, the gold was much more valuable so he was still very happy. He thought most probably someone had taken his things and left the payment there, and went home happily with the money.
The next day, the farmer again went out to sell his things but again arrived too early so he slept outside the city gate just like he had done the day before. And the incident repeated itself. All the produce that the farmer had brought disappeared, and there was a gold coin in the bin! At that time, gold was very valuable. One gold coin had a value many times higher than the farmer's produce.
Then one day some time later, the farmer's father asked him, "Where have you gotten so many gold coins lately? Where did the money come from?" So the farmer revealed to his father what had happened. After listening to his story, the father thought, "One day I'll follow my son as he goes out, and see who's been consuming his things and leaving the money in the bin."
So one day, when the farmer went out to do business, his father quietly followed him. While the farmer was sleeping near the city gate, his father saw a snake crawl up to his bin and eat his produce. Having finished eating, the snake once again spat a gold coin into the bin as payment to the farmer before leaving. Seeing this, the farmer's father thought, "If I kill the snake, I'll be able to seize all its gold coins!" He then picked up a stone and cut the snake into two parts.
At that time, the head and trunk of the snake were already in its den, and only the tail was outside. The father thought that there must be a big treasure in the den so he told his son to reach inside for it. But unexpectedly, when the farmer reached his hand into the den, the snake bit and killed him! Even though it had been cut into two, the snake could still bite! I understand how this could have happened because that was how I got bitten when I was small. At that time, I saw a centipede that had been beaten and squashed by someone, leaving only the head intact. I thought it was dead, and to make sure, I poked it with my foot. It bit me hard and I cried for three days. (Laughter) I was really dumb! Remember! Don't play with a centipede even if it looks dead. Sometimes it just fakes death; it's not really dead.
Perhaps that was what happened to the snake in the story. Its head wasn't dead yet. Thus, it bit the farmer, who subsequently died. Seeing his son killed, the farmer's father cried brokenheartedly next to the son's dead body and asked the snake, "You snake! Why did you kill my son? Why did you bite my son and kill him?" Instead of answering him, the snake asked, "Why did you break my back with the stone? There was no animosity between us. I had never done anything bad to you, nor had I done you any harm. If you had been more patient and waited, I would have given the entire treasure here to you. However, because you struck me, I bit and killed your son. Had I killed you instead, you would not be in such deep sorrow. I killed your son so that you'd live the rest of your life in agony." This snake was venomously wise! Instead of biting the man who tried to kill it, it bit his son so that the father would be in agony for the rest of his life. It was truly amazing!
We can also learn something from this story. Sometimes you may ask me, "Why don't You take me to the Fifth Realm immediately? As such I'll be liberated from suffering and promptly become a Buddha. Wouldn't it be better? Why do You tell me to meditate for two and a half hours each day, and observe the Five Precepts and a vegetarian diet? This is too slow, way too slow!" Actually, this isn't slow! You can digest it only in this way. If I gave you too much at one time, you'd be filled to death! Because you're too greedy, in the end you get nothing at all.
Sometimes we spiritual practitioners have no obstacles. We understand very well why we're pursuing this spiritual path. Every day we meditate diligently without any doubts and never create obstacles for ourselves. However, when Maya can't hinder us from practicing spirituality, it annoys our relatives, using them to obstruct us and cause us harm. Shakyamuni Buddha once said that when Maya couldn't attack the Buddha, it would attack His disciples. So when the disciples sometimes encounter many troubles, the Master is also involved and affected. It's because the Master can't look on without doing anything when the disciples are in danger. This is like when parents see something happen to their children. They don't have the heart to just stand there watching so they're definitely affected.
In the course of spiritual practice, it's inevitable that you'll sometimes have friction with relatives and friends. We all have such experiences. Just try your best to endure, explain to them, neglect them, leave them, ignore them or be as cordial as you can. We should react depending on the situation. Each person has different situations; there's no way that I can set an exact example for you. You have to apply your wisdom to handle problems to reach a satisfactory result as best you can. Nonetheless, you mustn't give in too much and sacrifice your spiritual progress.
The most important things in this life, in our principles of spiritual practice, are loving others, loving ourselves and being liberated from all hatred, prejudice, criticizing attitudes and negative thinking. And once you're already liberated in this lifetime, you'll surely go to a higher level. Because these are the negative things, the burdens that bind us to this physical world or within the Three Worlds. If we have none of that, we're liberated while living. That's most important, not visions or sounds. These are only the food to support our well-being.
There was an art exposition, and the artist who painted the pictures for the exposition asked the gallery owner whether anyone had been interested in his paintings. So the owner said, "I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that there was a gentleman interested in your paintings and he asked me whether your artwork would increase in value after your death, just like that of many other artists. So I said, yes, of course, it would. According to your potential, your paintings will, of course, increase in value after your death. So he bought fifteen of them altogether. That's the good news." Then the artist asked, "What about the bad news?" And the gallery owner replied, "The guy who bought the paintings is your doctor."
There was an idiotic guy who wrote a letter and put a stamp on it and everything. Outside the envelope he wrote, "To my Brother, the Engineer in Saigon." When his friend looked at the envelope, he said, "My God, why did you address the envelope like that! How will anyone be able to find your brother?" So the first guy said, "You idiot, I only have one brother who's an engineer!"
A mother gave her kid two dollars and said, "One is for you to do with as you want, and one is to put in the box in church for God."
So the kid went around and was playing with the dollars, and then one of them went into the river. She couldn't find it so she said, "Sorry, God! Your dollar's gone!"
Non-Regressing Bodhisattvas
Videoconference between Master and Hsihu Residents, February 23, 2003
Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Books
We are all perfect beings from Heaven. However, since we are constantly affected by a myriad of environmental factors, we often fail to see our original Self clearly, and are thus trapped in the ocean of worldly suffering. Only by finding our true Self within and recognizing our great Self-nature can we attain liberation. The invaluable spiritual text, I Have Come to Take You Home, is a compilation of excerpts from Supreme Master Ching Hai's lectures given in various parts of the world that can help you in this quest. Her words of wisdom, like radiant beacons, illuminate the path back Home for sentient beings craving liberation from the illusory world.
This exquisite cookbook featuring international vegetarian cuisine contains beautifully printed texts and pictures that reveal the cooking secrets of fellow practitioners from around the world. What makes this volume even more invaluable are its many wonderful recipes personally imparted by Supreme Master Ching Hai. The recipes cover a wide variety of exotic Western and Asian dishes. Even if you are not adept in the culinary arts, with the step-by-step guidance of this book, you can prepare many delectable vegetarian dishes with little effort! These recipes bestowed on us by God are best shared with friends and relatives!
Each Soul is the Master
Group Meditation at the Raising Center, Cambodia, July 22, 1996
What is the mission and purpose of each soul that comes into the world? How does the soul choose its own path? Why do some souls lead free and easy lives while others choose to suffer and go through countless predicaments? When souls come into this world, it's very easy for them to forget their Heavenly glory. Why is this so? How should we treat the souls who still don't want to return to the Heavenly Kingdom? In this DVD, Master gives explicit discourses on these topics.
Elevating the World through Spiritual Practice
Master's videoconferences with disciples, Hsihu, Formosa, Hong Kong and
China, August 4, August 11 and September 15, 2002
This DVD covers three of Master's videoconferences with disciples. Fellow initiates raise many questions concerning spiritual practice, such as: How can one overcome persistent distracting thoughts during meditation? In a time when there are many false masters, how can we protect our aspiration for the Truth? How can one simultaneously attend to spiritual development and participate in the local center's work? Master's patient response to each question posed by disciples provides valuable insights for all of us.
How to Practice in a Complex Society
Group Meditation in Hsihu, Formosa, November 5, 1995
On this DVD, Master gives us much valuable inspiration by presenting the story of Guan Zhong, a great politician of ancient China. For the benefit of his country and the Chinese people, Guan Zhong (prime minister of the state of Qi during the Warring States Period) forsook his own reputation and selfish interests to act in tactful ways. Though deeply immersed in the political whirlpool of his time, he was able to remain vigilant and properly manage the country.
A Natural Way to Love God
Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., June 8, 2001
Why do some fellow initiates feel that they have made no progress since the time they were initiated? What is the solution to this problem? People engaged in certain careers may find it hard to concentrate in meditation. Why? How can they overcome this difficulty? In addition to questions and answers between Master and fellow disciples, this DVD is also full of Master's loving reminders. Attentively watching this DVD will help us to remember our saintly status, and remind us to always act in the noble, magnificent and holy manner of a saint.
Waking up from the Dream
Group meditation in Seoul, Korea, May 17, 2000
On this DVD, Master states that She wrote many of Her poems before embarking on the spiritual path and later recited them. Subsequently, the recitations were broadcast on radio and received a warm response. What's the mysterious reason for this effect? Most Asian countries practice the custom of ancestor worship. How should Quan Yin Practitioners view this tradition? What is the vital key to seeing the Light in meditation? What is Master's opinion on human cloning? After the demise of the enlightened Master, will half-initiated children still be under Her care and guidance? You can find the answers to all of these fascinating questions on this DVD.
The Invisible Work of a Living Master
Spoken at Wanhua Dist., Taipei, Formosa, on June 30, 1986
What are the various jobs that the physical body and transformation form of an enlightened Master have to do? How does Master handle the demonic karmic hindrances of disciples, and convert the demons to practice spiritually under Her? Do you know how Master goes through the jungle of swords in hell on behalf of five generations of Her disciples' families? Master stresses that no matter what path we practice and what level we have reached, all is futile if we do not have true compassion. Do you know why? This lecture CD is the first of a series of Master's discourses spoken in the early years before She began preaching openly in Formosa, and is an audio publication worth treasuring!