(In Your disciples’ spiritual path as they follow You… During that course, Master plays a very important role. Master, aside from teaching them about the Buddha, the Tao, and spiritual principles, do You also recommend any specific books or scriptures for them to read? Could You talk about a few important scriptures?) It’s up to them.
For example, many religions have excellent scriptures that we can study. (Yes.) Sometimes, other sects or religions also have good scriptures, and we can explore those too. I don’t forbid my disciples from reading any book. For example, in Buddhism, there are many great scriptures. (Yes.) If they understand them, they can read them. If they understand the Bible, they can read it. But usually, they don’t really understand them. It’s only after enlightenment that they understand better. If there’s something they don’t understand, they’ll come and ask me. (Yes.)
(Master, may I ask one more question? People often claim that the method or religion they believe in is the true Dharma, and that others are “outside the Tao” (heresy). What’s Your view on how “outside the Tao” (heresy) should be defined?) OK. “The Tao” means the Truth. (Yes.) It refers to our Self-Nature, our own great Supreme Master. If we are not in It yet, then we are “outside.” When we’re already in It, then we are “inside.” (Inside Your Tao?) Inside the realm of our own Self-Nature – where we understand ourselves. At that time, it is said that you are inside, and you are enlightened. If you haven’t realized who you are, (Yes.) and are still groping about outside, then you are outside the Tao. It’s not that this religion is heretical, or that person is a heretic. Anyone who hasn’t realized themselves, and is not in contact with God or their own Supreme Master, is outside the Tao – regardless of which religion or sect he believes in. Do you understand what I mean? (Yes.) That is “outside the Tao.”
(Now You have many disciples in Taiwan (Formosa) and around the world.) I do have some. (Among Your disciples, how many have the ability to save and deliver sentient beings like You do? Capable of transmitting the Tao and deliver sentient beings.) Many of them can, to some extent. (To some extent?) Yes, very quickly. But of course, there’s still some difference. (Is that so?) Just a bit of difference. But they all have some abilities – different kinds of abilities. (Different ones.) They all can help others understand and believe, and have that longing to find their true selves. (Thank You, Master. Thank You.) You’re welcome. If anything’s unclear, feel free to ask. It’s alright. Or if you disagree with anything, you can say it.
Do you want to ask anything? What about others? You are all here for fun, huh? OK. You can ask if you want. OK. (Pass the microphone.)
(Hallo Master.) Hallo. (I’d like to ask about the phrase “Affliction is Bodhi.” We’ve heard about this.) Yes. (But afflictions are very painful in the heart, whereas Bodhi refers to realization.) Yes. (Then, how can these two things be equal?) I’ve already explained this before.
It’s like that because people have translated it wrongly. Sometimes it’s mistranslated as “affliction,” but in Sanskrit, it actually refers to “illusion.” Maya, Maya. And Maya means something unreal, a shadow. For example, we may look a certain way, tall and big, but our shadow can appear distorted, short, black and flat. That’s also from us, but it’s not real – you can’t grab it. Without sunlight, without light, the shadow doesn’t even exist. Understand what I mean? Some people pay too much attention to that shadow and fail to see their true Self. For example, let’s say I’m hiding in the back, and my shadow is before me. He looks at the shadow and judges me based on that – saying my nose is too long, or my head is too big, and so on. But in reality, my true self is very symmetrical, very proportionate. So likewise, when we look at this world, there are troubles, sufferings, and a lot of silly stuff, and we think the world is like that. In fact, it is not. Actually the world is just a shadow. The real life, the real Realm, we have to see with our wisdom. Then you’ll understand, “Oh! So this world also comes from the Real World.” But that real realm is not so painful as we think. At that time, you can say, “Illusion also comes from the Truth.” rather than “Affliction is Bodhi.” Understand what I’m saying?
(So, “Affliction is not Bodhi (Enlightenment)?”) It is, too. (Affliction is illusion… something illusory?) But it’s also an illusory shadow. An illusory shadow from Bodhi. Because we don’t see the Truth, we only see the shadow, so we think, “Woah! It’s all afflictions, afflictions, and afflictions.” In fact, it is all from Bodhi. Bodhi is real and beautiful. (So, Bodhi is Wisdom, which can see that something is fake.) Yes.
In Sanskrit, it’s “Bodhi,” which means Enlightenment, meaning “awakening.” We all have that Bodhi, the power of Enlightenment. After we become enlightened, after we attain bodhi, we then see afflictions differently... Because we’re seeing from the perspective of the host. Before, we were seeing from the perspective of a guest.
(Then, if sometimes I feel deep suffering, and then suddenly a feeling of happiness comes – is that also enlightenment? Is that also Bodhi? Or, is that also a kind of illusion.) It depends – not always. (Not always. How can I tell?) Yes. You should see… Like for example… After enlightenment, the happiness you feel is permanent and very balanced. The happiness from the outside isn’t quite the same – it’s more shallow, not deep. For example, someone loves you today and you’re happy. But if tomorrow, he gets angry with you, you’re not happy anymore. That kind of happiness is very unstable and is very dependent on external factors to exist. For the enlightened people, sometimes the world is unstable, the world out there is chaotic, sometimes others don’t treat you well, yet you are still balanced and happy. Understand what I mean? (Thank You.) But you’ll still recognize it. If someone treats you badly today, you might feel a bit unhappy about the situation and say, “Ah, my situation is not good today. It was better yesterday.” But that won’t affect your deep, steady happiness inside. Understand what I mean? At that point, you know that your happiness after enlightenment is not ordinary happiness. OK? (Thank You.) You’re welcome. (Master, I’d like to ask something more, though You’ve answered so much already...) It seems your microphone is not on. (I turned it off earlier.) OK, go ahead.
(What is the main method that You transmit to Your disciples? What I mean is…) Understand. (Your method… Could You summarize Your Method in just a few simple sentences?) OK. I understand. All that I say in words is just theory. When I introduce to you the real thing… For example, I tell you I have vegan cookies at home, the most delicious British cookies, which are very sweet and fragrant, and so on. That is just theory and introduction. The real cookies are at home. When you eventually eat them, there’s no need to explain anymore. So, what I say is just theory and introduction. Once you accept it and want it, I don’t have to say anything. When I stop talking, you just sit there quietly and get enlightened. How can we tell if we’re enlightened? In Chinese, the characters for “enlightenment” are written using the characters for “Sun” and “Moon,” right? It means light or brightness. That is “enlightenment.” Is it not so? The character consists of the Moon and the Sun, denoting there is light. Similarly, in English it’s also like that. “Enlightenment” means there is light. Therefore, when you are enlightened, you’ll see (inner Heavenly) Light – this is a sign. Understand what I mean? Like when you get married, your husband will give you a ring. The ring is not the marriage itself, but a symbol that you are married and he loves you.
So, you’ll see the (inner Heavenly) Light, which is our own Self Nature, the Power of Supreme Master – beginning to work. And you’ll also hear the (inner Heavenly) Sound. This Sound is not like the sound of our spoken language. It’s the Buddha’s Sound – the Voice of God – a way Hes communicates with us. A very special language like music, which will make us feel more and more comfortable, make us wiser, more loving, and gives us greater clarity about life.
(May I ask Master – In some other religions, such as I-Kuan Tao in Taiwan (Formosa), which also teaches people to meditate – through meditation they also see light – some followers say that they also hear sounds.) OK. (After seeing light, they didn’t really attain enlightenment. Some of them feel that they haven’t become enlightened.) Understand. (So, is enlightenment something very abstract or what?) Understand. There are many kinds of light. Some are low and some are high. It’s like when we go to school, there are elementary school and high school. And in elementary school, there are first grade, second grade, first year, second year. Same with college. And so the ordinary light, very simple light is like the light from the First Level. For example, the light of the First Level is easy to see. Sometimes when you sleep you can also see it. However, you still need a lot of cultivation and Master’s guidance to know which kind of light is really higher and better, how to nurture this light, and how to progress to higher levels. Otherwise, you may just catch a glimpse, but then you might fail to maintain your moral discipline, and your mind may not be pure enough. No one’s guiding you on how to cultivate it. That’s why I also teach them to keep the precepts, keep the vegan diet, meditate diligently, and do good deeds. All these practices together help us to cultivate our great Self Nature. And then gradually we’ll realize it’s not good enough to just see a little bit of light.
(OK. You’ve just talked about doing good deeds, keeping the precepts, and the vegan diet.) Yes. (Earlier You said that seeing the (inner Heavenly) Light means enlightenment. Generally, for Your disciples, what exactly do they realize when they attain enlightenment? What is their enlightenment about?) OK, I’ve already explained this before. When you become enlightened, let’s say, you have never seen any Light, or you never knew anything, or you’ve also never really believed, you didn’t have anything at all – no experience, no meditation, nothing. But after studying with me, you’ll immediately have the experience. Some people need to meditate for a long time before seeing the (inner Heavenly) Light But if you follow me, you can see it right away. That’s why it’s called “Immediate Enlightenment.” That first enlightenment experience is just the beginning. That’s just the first day. After that, I teach you how to continue developing that enlightenment, to explore further, and to know your Self more and more. It’s not just a one-time thing. It’s like learning English, there’s a lot to learn. If all you can say is “How are you?”, that still counts as English. That means you know some English. But is it enough?
(Could You please, describe in the simplest words Your day-to-day enlightenment – what kind of Truth have You realized? Could You give us a hint?) Where am I, right? I am in the infinite state. (The infinite state?) Yes. However, using our human language to describe it is kind of boring. It’s really hard to describe. It’s infinite and boundless, but then it is also not infinite and boundless. Because originally, we had everything, so however much you want to use, that much comes out. If you don’t use it, it just stays dormant. So you cannot say that you don’t have the infinite and boundless state. You do have. It’s just because you don’t use it, then you forget about it. So, if there is a Master, Who teaches you how to use your wisdom, then you’d feel, “Oh! I do have it!” I come not to give you enlightenment. I come to guide you how to rediscover that brilliant and magnificent part of your own Self. Do you understand what I mean? I cannot give you anything because you already have everything. You just don’t know how to reclaim it. You’ve been busy, too busy, busy writing things, busy earning money, busy chasing boyfriends and girlfriends, busy with all sorts of things. And then forget your greatest Treasure inside. Something like that. OK?
Photo Caption: The Moon at Our Old Home The Moon That Would Here Come Neither Is From Our True Home
