On second thought, it is no big deal to practice this method. Sitting there in the rain for days – that’s nothing either. Because when I think about it, wasn’t our military service just as tough as this? Sometimes, serving in the army was even tougher than this, right? (Yes.) Sometimes no water to drink for many days, and have to drink water from the fields, water that had pesticides sprayed in it, with who knows what… powders, chemicals. But it doesn’t matter, you’re too thirsty. You have to drink something, right? Sometimes there’s nothing to eat. You have to carry heavy stuff on your back, some guys in the artillery, heavy artillery, carrying heavy ammunition, carrying those cannons. If you displeased your captain, he’ll give you this “blessing,” carrying that… carrying that big, heavy artillery on the back to protect the country. That is much harder than practicing asceticism. (Yes.) And you cannot complain, because the more you complain, the heavier it gets. Your captain will give you another “blessing.” Originally, it’s one heavy artillery, if he added one more, you’d be finished. Or he’d order you to do… (Push-ups.) Push-ups. Right? (Yes.) That is also amazing. I could only do ten and already… I already what? (Lie flat.) I’m already “fixed” there. I’ve never been able to do more than ten. Before, I still had to practice fitness. I used to exercise, but now I’m out of form. Can’t help it.
Then, I thought about it. He (a practitioner) practiced asceticism, sometimes walking for many days without food or only drinking. But sick people are also the same. Sometimes they cannot eat and only drink (vegan) milk. Or there’re many poor people in the world who don’t have anything to eat, sometimes starving for days. This I have seen myself, and we have also seen that on TV. So what’s so special about that? Understand what I mean? (Understand.) Maybe their fate is not good and they are supposed to starve. We say those people have bad karma. Maybe in previous lives they didn’t give alms, or treated others badly, or were too greedy. I don’t know what kind of situation. According to the law of karma, it’s stated like that. I didn’t say it. Then we say that they starve because of bad karma. (Yes, we know.) Or, some people… they’re destined to have nothing to eat. What’s that saying – “two snakes lock the mouth,” or something like that. Meaning they can’t eat much. Probably it’s their own destiny. It has nothing to do with enlightenment. Even if God doesn’t give us disasters or starvation, we still punish ourselves in this way; that is not merit. (Understand.) Maybe his destiny is not good, since he has to practice so hard to have Light. Our fellow practitioners don’t starve even for one day. They eat so much that they’re chubby and shiny, but still have Light. In comparison, he had a losing deal. He might as well enjoyed worldly pleasures. On one hand, he endured hardship; and on the other hand, he felt comfortable and practiced spiritually, isn’t that good? (Yes, yes.)
Why did he have to punish himself? This body is the temple of God; how could we not treasure it? (Yes.) So, don’t think that I went there to practice asceticism. No! I just love that quiet place. And sometimes you don’t know that I see things differently from you do. I see that there’s nothing wrong with the world. People keep pushing me to give lectures in order to save sentient beings. I feel that it is very funny. Sometimes it’s like this. Having reached the stage of seeing there’s nothing wrong with the world, I want to leave. I wonder what kind of play am I acting out here. Everyone is alright. That’s how it is. I see that there’s no work to do. “Who are you to teach people?” “Who are you, and who are you teaching?” “What can you teach people?” That’s how I see myself.
I did not go there to practice asceticism or to get any high attainment, which is silly. What more do I want to attain? What would I get it for? What would I use it for? (Yes.) How much weight will I gain after becoming a Buddha? It’s all the same. I am originally in it. Once it’s found, it’s found. It can’t run away, so why be nervous? Like our old Taoist priest before. Do you remember? You don’t know. Probably he told us. After he became a renunciate, people asked him, “Previously you knew already Master is very great, very powerful. Why did you still wait so long before coming to get initiation?” Smilingly, he said, “I’ve already seen Master. I already knew Her. She often came to visit me. Her light body came to see me, which means She cannot escape. Why should I be anxious?” He said that I couldn’t escape and so he was not anxious. He was so cute, so cute. That’s what I mean.
But sometimes you’re so noisy that my heart will be stirred and my level pulled down. Or… I can’t say it is pulled down, you just drag me to your level. I don’t know whether I’ve come down or gone up. You keep pulling me into your hearts. When you suffer, I feel it. Or when you want something, I feel it too, as if I need it as well. If I could escape, then I know that there’s no need. Sometimes I’m just bound inside and cannot escape. Therefore, you’re so noisy that I even have to come and take a look, or sometimes you disturb my heart that I’m moved to come out. Otherwise, my heart is still. Just like when you read the “Amitābha Buddha Sutra,” which says that in the realm of Amitābha Buddha, the realm of Infinite Light, beings there do not even know the word “suffering,” let alone experience it. It means that, when a spiritual practitioner reaches the realm of Infinite Light, sometimes he’ll see that there’s nothing wrong with the world. That’s why Lao Tzu escaped and didn’t want to save sentient beings. He was confined by His disciples, forcing Him to write a scripture before letting Him go. Otherwise, they wouldn’t open the gate. Disciples are terrifying.
Or just like in the previous 7-day retreat, I told you a story about the Maharaj-ji or something. I’ve forgotten his name. Ah? Baba what? (Baba Ji, Ali Baba.) Ah? Karoli Baba, yes, yes. He sometimes was locked up by his disciples. Locked inside the house. They worried that he’d escape. They didn’t know how, but he managed to disappear; he just left. The house was still locked, but he just left. It’s all like that. Disciples are terrifying. But confined in the room is nothing; confined in the heart is the trouble. Yes. Love relationships do bind people. For example, you love a person or someone loves you; that already makes it very difficult for you to escape. Isn’t that so? (Yes.) That’s why after you have a family, a husband, a wife, one or two wives, and a child, you also cannot get away. Oh, no. One or two children, and one wife. It’s not easy to get away, no? Because of the affection of love. More so when I’m locked in the hearts of thousands of people? It’s really terrible. It’s terrible when I think about it.
Now I’m thinking about how to dissolve this… this group of love. Previously I didn’t know it was so terrifying. If I knew, I wouldn’t have dared go out. I was cheated previously. I was rather simple, rather naïve. When people talked about suffering, I believed that there’s really suffering. When someone was in need, I truly thought that he was in need. Only now do I see that I was deceived. No one needs me. (We do.)
You yourself have to find your own inner Self. I just point out the way, and then you have to walk it. No need to bother me every time. What for? I have explained so many sutras. You can bring them home to listen to or watch. You still need to have your own understanding. If I tell you everything, where would you have room to develop yourself? Wouldn’t that be a pity? (Yes.) Sooner or later, you’ll find what I want to talk about, or you originally have thought about it, just that the idea was not yet clear. Once I’ve pointed it out, you’ll understand. If you try harder, you can also make yourself understand. Sometimes you’ll also realize something. It’s fun, isn’t it? (Yes.) You can also enlighten yourself. (Yes.) So, it’s best that I don’t talk so much and let you awaken yourself. Do you agree? Understand? (Understand.) (Understand.)
Now I’m afraid of going to Costa Rica, which takes more than 20 hours by plane. (Then stay, Master.) It’s also simple if I stay. Just I would feel uneasy, because I already promised them. Since I was young, whenever I promised someone something, I would do it. If I don’t, I can’t stand it. I still have that kind of “attachment.” But this is easy to explain, simple to handle. If I don’t make any more promises, then it’s alright. This is the last promise. Therefore, 20 more hours. Once I made the promise, it’s 20 more hours of traveling by car and plane, crossing mountains and rivers, sparing time to go there, really exhausting. This is all Confucius’ fault. I’ve been brainwashed since childhood. “A gentleman’s word is his bond.” A gentleman’s word is his bond. If I hadn’t read that when I was young, everything would’ve been fine. It’s all you Chinese people’s fault.
Alright then. Everyone, we should disperse now, otherwise it’ll be too late. Thank you. (Thank You, Master.) (Master, please come back soon.) Do you have any more requests? (Master, please come back soon.) Come back soon. I’ll hold a retreat right after coming back. (OK.) Is that OK? (OK.) Then, stop bugging me. (OK.) Don’t always ask me to come out so you can see me. (OK.) Really? (Really.) I come out whenever I want. (OK.) From time to time, I’ll come back to Miaoli for group meditation. (OK.) “The Senior fellow practitioner.” I didn’t claim this title. Since they said it, I just use it. One day I was talking to Tong or other monks and nuns, saying, “I really like to stay there for retreat now. Once in a while, I’ll come back to Miaoli to have group meditation with them, just like everyone, joining the group meditation with fellow practitioners. I’m also a fellow practitioner.” Then Tong laughed and said, “Yes, the most Senior fellow practitioner.” He said it humorously. It’s not fun when I say it now. Then he often uses this, he uses this title often. He’s a playful person and is good at joking. When he first came, wow, he was so stern. His head was so hard and his face without any smile. And now he laughs at the slightest thing.
One day, I was very sick, and it just happened at that time, I didn’t want to use the nuns, because they made me mad for a few days. I didn’t drink tea with them. Then I used the monks. That day I was sick and complained a little bit. I said something… and Tong and Tong happened to be around. I said, “Yeah. When fellow practitioners are sick, people go to visit them, meditating near them and reciting the Five Holy Names, buying flowers, fruits and other things like (vegan) cookies and candies, for them to eat and comfort them. But each time I’m sick, I hide myself, not wanting others to see me.” Because I was sick already, and if I see them, I have to comfort them with a smile. When people come to visit you, you should stand up and wave your hands or feet. “So, when I’m sick, I hide myself, not daring to see people and no one comes to visit me. I’m also a fellow practitioner. I’m also a fellow practitioner, why isn’t anyone treating me nicely?” Then he also laughed very loud and said, “Yeah. You’re the most Senior fellow practitioner.” He said it very humorously.
Yeah. I’m really your fellow practitioner, though not the same. When I die, I wonder if anyone would come to meditate and recite the Five Holy Names next to my coffin. Because at that time, I can’t stand up to wave my hand. Everyone just… It’s useless to come, so probably no one would come. Most of you come to see me, to shake hands with me, and listen to stories, waving hands and feet. Therefore, I always hide myself when I’m sick, because I can’t receive people, can’t receive guests. That’s why when I am sick, I don’t even see the nuns and monks. Why should I see them? They’d be just standing there with very long faces. Oh, I can’t even move. They say that when I’m sick, no one can see me. Then everyone says that I don’t want to see them. It’s not like that. I just can’t receive guests. We should be in a happy mood when we receive guests. Entertaining them, interacting with them, and making them happy. How can you lie there when receiving guests? My face is swollen and so long, with ears so big, holding a bag here and a pillow there. In front of me is a cup of medicine, and behind me is a hammer for pounding. We use that to… how do you say it? (Massage stick.) For pounding. (Massage stick.) Massaging.
Alright, is that enough? (OK.) Everyone goes home happily. (Thank You, Master.) You sit down. Sit down. If you all stand, you can’t see me. Is there anyone who hasn’t seen me? (Yes.) (Not initiated yet.) Not initiated. Must be joking. Who is the one asking? (My question, Master. You’ll be flying abroad. What if we want to get initiation?) I don’t know. (I’m very worried. I’m not initiated yet. Luckily, this is my first time seeing You; I’m so happy.) Many people are not initiated. (Yes. I’m so worried that You’re flying away.) Where to? (I don’t know either.) I’m going to Costa Rica for the 7-day retreat. (Costa Rica.) I might come back. (When will You come back?) I don’t know. (That’s right. That’s why I’m very worried.) Worried about what? The whole world is not initiated. (Please, Master, have mercy.) You must be joking. (I’ve come here many times and see You for the first time. I’m so happy.) I’m also very happy to see you. It’s better than not seeing me at all. Do you know how many billions of people in the world who can’t see Master? Just you, one person, is nothing.
(Please save me, who is walking on the edge of hell. I beg for Your mercy.) Recite the Buddha’s Name. (I do.) Do you know how? Namo Amitābha Buddha. (But after I saw You, I began to recite Namo Supreme Master Ching Hai and do not want to recite Namo Amitābha Buddha anymore. He’s too far away from me.) You recite whatever you want. It’s your freedom. Freely express yourself. (Just like You, I’m also very shy. This is the first time I’ve mustered up the courage to talk to Master.) He’s not that shy. You register your name with them. And then, we’ll notify you if there is any news. (OK. Thank You, Master.) You must be vegan. (Thank You, Master, for Your mercy.) (Hallo, Master. Thank You, Master.) There are children over there. (Hallo, Master.) Here. Share with everyone. (For everyone to eat.) (Hallo, Master.) (Take care. Master.) (Please go early and come back early.) Who are you giving that to? Give it to her. Give it to her. (Thank You.) Be careful. That might cut your hand. (Goodbye, Master.) Give it to whoever you want. (Goodbye, Master.) (Take care, Master. Bye-bye.) I’m leaving tomorrow. (OK.) (Master, come back soon.)
Photo Caption: Reflecting Heaven with Your Bright Eyes
