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Sometimes you have to understand, you take what's necessary, and in different situations, you have to do it right. Don't always do everything that Master says. What I say is what I know. You yourself have to be flexible and learn your own way and do your own thing, so that each one of you retains your own individuality, without everyone becoming a Ching Hai copy. It's very boring. I don't like copies. I like you to develop the way you are, just like a rose next to a lily. So not everyone becomes half-rose, half-lily. I don't even know what kind of flower that is!
It's better if you are what you are. Because you are unique. And that's
what makes us special, what makes the world beautiful. That's what God
wants. Creation has to be different, has to be very colorful. Don't just
copy what I say or what I do. You have to know what is good, what is right.
Different country, different custom. Before, for example, one time I highlighted
my hair, and then the next week also everyone highlighted their hair --
the monks even! (Master and disciples laugh), some of them. And then, I
remember I shaved my hair, and a lot of people shaved theirs. And then
I leave my hair long, and everyone leaves their hair long, even men. And
then when I cut my hair, people cut their hair, too. It's so funny. Don't
do that, okay? You don't follow a master because of their way of life.
Everyone is different. You follow the teaching, so that you can develop
your own wisdom.
Anyway, do what you want. If you feel fine with that, it's okay, too. It
just looks funny. It's like some people learn with Japanese monks, and
then they change their houses all into Japanese stuff. And people learn
with an Indian monk or Indian master, and they change their houses into
all Indian. You know, they wear Indian clothes, decorate their houses like
Indians, and eat Indian food, (Master and audience laugh) Too bad, just
to become like the master. But it's not from outside. So sometimes, in
everything, if you follow to the extreme, it's no fun. You have to know
freedom of expression, freedom to grow, freedom to be yourself. I want
you to be yourself, a better self only, not a copy of me. Because I do
things that look good on me. But when you do it, it doesn't look good on
you, because you are different. I cannot copy you and still look good.
And you cannot copy me and still look good.
You have to be yourself, completely free of all kinds of prejudice, preconceived
ideas, all kinds of tradition or anything that is not good for you. You
have to always think: "In this situation, what shall I do? Or what
would the Master do?" It is different! So, learn the method, have
the same wisdom, but use it in different ways. It's just like electricity.
It is the same, but you use it in different ways. It's not that just because
we have electricity we light here, and then you light everywhere. The fridge
and the cooker, we also have to use. God makes different personalities
for different reasons, and you are fine. You just refine yourselves, but
don't change to copy exactly like everyone else.
Two thousand years ago, a great being was born among us. He is so great that we have no words to praise Him. Only God knows His greatness. We mortals cannot understand. We can understand only when we become as great as He is.
Now we often ask ourselves, "Why is it that Jesus had to die so quickly when He had just reached the peak of glory in his mission, that is, to spread the message of God?" If He had not left the earth in such a short time and in such a tragic way, probably, His name would have been forgotten by now. God sacrificed Him in this way so that the whole world would remember, so that we would treasure a messenger of God, by whichever name he came.
Since ancient times, our world has always been in trouble. People always err and forget God. So, God always has to send messengers to remind us. But Jesus was one of the most remembered because of His greatness, and also because of His very short stay with us, and the way He left us and was resurrected. Now we say, "The great Son of God, He had such great power and did so many miracles. Why didn't He change His own destiny? Why did He have to die in such a tragic way?" But He had to do it, otherwise we would not be shocked out of our sleep. We would think the world is forever or the Master is forever.
There were also some other Masters before Jesus, but now people do not remember them as much as we remember Jesus. When we remember Jesus, we remember God, and we derive some blessing because Jesus was the Son of God. In other words, Jesus was God personified on earth. He had to leave us very early. He had his purpose. He wanted to shock us out of our slumber.
Many thousands of years later, we are still shocked, if we remember this story, because of the ephemeral nature of our existence on earth. Even the Son of God had to die! Everyone must go, eventually. If even a man as great as Jesus cannot preserve this ephemeral body and also cannot be protected from the violence and ignorance of the people of this world, how can we feel safe? That is why He submitted Himself to the punishment which He did not deserve. He suffered for the sake of everyone!
If we say Jesus used His blood to wash away our sins, it is not exaggerating. It is the truth, because each time we think of Jesus, we learn something. At least we remember the ephemeral nature of our world and our body, or at least we learn humility, because such a great one had to suffer in such a way. He was so humble that He surrendered Himself to God and said, "Whatever God wills must be done!" Otherwise, He could have escaped. We know that He had a lot of magical power, including the power to be invisible, but He chose to obey God's arrangement. So when we think of Him, we can say, "Who are we to be proud, to forget God's will and not to surrender?" But these lessons are hard to learn. If all people can learn these lessons well, then Jesus' sacrifice was worthwhile and we are worthy to be His followers and worshippers.
Don't forget Jesus. He also worked very hard two thousand years ago, so that today we can enjoy a very, very special festival to remember God. Even though He doesn't teach us anything right now, He did. He sowed the seeds of spiritual cultivation and reminded us of the way Home. And now we follow in His footsteps. So to remember a great teacher like this is a proper way. We should sit and pray to God, and realize our Self, and to be one with Jesus again, be one with Christ. This is the best Christmas. That is, the proper ... the most proper Christmas celebration, and it should be for everyone on this planet. Really, they should all do it like this. We can also enjoy a very beautiful Christmas with no blood on the table.
At Christmas time, we make use of this opportunity to thank God, Jesus Christ and all the saints for bestowing upon us so many superior teachings, which make the people on Earth become better and better. At the same time, we also pray to the Supreme Power to bless the people on Earth, let there be world peace, and let everyone become very benevolent and virtuous. Finally, we will reduce all the dynamite to firecrackers, so that on festive occasions we can set off fireworks and firecrackers to warm up the atmosphere, and carry everyone to heaven.
Regarding all the things in the world, there is originally no good or bad; it only depends on how we use them. Take dynamite, for example; it can be used to make fireworks or firecrackers for children to play with, and for us to enjoy. If the world is in peace, we can set off firecrackers every day that sound very much like bombs, but which bring us tremendous fun and joy. But if we put the dynamite in bombs, though they sound more or less the same, they are extremely terrible! They are too much for our body and mind to stand, and also endanger our lives.
Spiritual practitioners and non-spiritual practitioners use the same material, same mind, same body and intelligence, but spiritual practitioners bring us happiness, bring peace to the world and stability to the family. However, the same mind can also be used to destroy the world, devastate the planet, or terrorize the whole of humankind. That is why there is nothing truly good or bad in the universe. It is bad when we use it wrongly, and it is good when we use it in the right way.
Many people just give gifts without even liking to give. They just give because Christmas is coming, because it is the New Year, or because she is my mother, because she is my daughter, because he is my friend, because he is my husband, etc. And people just buy any kind of thing sometimes. And that's very burdensome, for the buyer as well as the receiver. Because you only receive like a skeleton, without any soul, without any affection in it. And we all know this. And it's bad! It's not a good habit to exchange gifts, even though it is Christmas or New Year's, if we have no love in it, if we don't do it with sincere well wishing, or sincere affection. Mostly, people don't do it with love. They are too busy to have affection. They are too busy to think about whether they should put in affection or not. The affection has gone out the window. When Christmas comes, most affection's gone.
It is a very good custom to express our feelings through gifts. But sometimes, if we have our full heart in it, even one rose is enough. Otherwise, people just want to show off their generosity, and buy a big bouquet, and still it doesn't mean anything. Therefore, sometimes, I often hear people outside say, "Ah! Christmas is coming; it's a terrible time. I haven't bought this for that person. I haven't bought that for this person." It looks like a burden. It's not a feast of love. And it's not an occasion to celebrate our bonds of friendship. But it's a burdensome time. It's a very tiresome period of the year.
People do it just to discharge their obligations toward each other. But
they do not really understand the significance of the season, and of the
actions and gifts. That's why it makes such a boring job, to go shopping
at Christmas or New Year's. All rush, rush! So many things to do, so many
cars to drive or ride in, so many gifts to wrap, and all kinds of things.
It's very difficult to have affection in such a rush. Therefore, you know,
at Christmas time, people just stuff each other's houses with all kinds
of nonsense, all kinds of unnecessary toys and stuff that normally we would
not even think of buying for ourselves. And sometimes, people make a joke,
or maybe it's a true story, that sometimes you find your own gift coming
back, returning back to you after a circle of friendship. And you just
have a good laugh. And sometimes, this gift is the very thing that you
wanted to get rid of, and it came back to you full circle.
So, maybe sometimes some of you are disappointed that at Christmas I don't
write you any cards. Or when a beautiful cute daughter is born, I never
buy you anything, or give you any presents. But I really can not think
of these things any more. I don't know what to buy for you. And I don't
really know if you need it. Now, if I ask you, "Do you need it or
not?" you will say, "No! No! Master, I don't need it." And
I know it's true, too. Because you cannot fool me about these things. So,
why should I bother to go to the department store and run up and down many
staircases looking for a cute little thing. And maybe you don't like that
color for your daughter. But just because I gave it to you, and it's your
Master's, you have to wear it on her, to show off. And maybe the button
is too tight over here, or too large over there, and you force the child
to suffocate inside the dress, just because Master gave it to you, for
a lot of blessing, or something, I don't know what kind of nonsense, and
then it's just burdensome for you. But I don't do this kind of thing. That's
all. Not because I don't love you or your daughter. I just think you can
take care of yourself. If you needed it, you would come to me and ask.
Except in an emergency, if you came here, and you had nothing to wear,
or you were cold and there were no shops around, and it was too late, or
something, I'd probably give you my clothes to wear, but that doesn't mean
it's an obligation. It's full of love. There are no expectations. With
anything I give you, you can be sure that I have no expectations. Not receiving
gifts from people just denotes that we should be always content with our
lot, and never expect people to run after us with their attention, showering
on us their material substances. We have to always be content with what
God assigns to us. That is the meaning of not receiving gifts. It doesn't
mean that you should refuse anything that people give you with love, or
from your mother or your relatives, or such things. Just be natural. Just
use your discrimination!
Jesus was born at Christmas so that you give each other something each year at Christmas. You can do it any day, or make an excuse even. Or your birthday, instead of asking people to buy presents for you, buy presents for the poor people that you know. At Christmas, instead of waiting to get presents, buy presents for people that you know, on the street even, or people you don't know, also. If you go out and seek out the homeless, give them presents. That's the best Christmas.
That's why people buy gifts for Christmas to celebrate the love that Christ
has imparted to us, to celebrate the unconditional way He sacrificed for
mankind. So we can do that on any occasion to remind ourselves of the loving-kindness
within us.
Hug your colleague! Tell her she is good, she is okay, because she sometimes
has an inferiority complex; has a problem of her own. Forgive the one who
always hates you and picks on you - buy her a present, compliment her on
her dress, make her feel happy as a human being. They can hate you, they
can make trouble for you, but you have to always be kind and loving. Their
way is hatred and revenge; your way is kindness and love. We have to choose
our own way despite the situation.
There was a father who endeavored to make his child understand what harm drinking might be to one's health. He brought two cups, one of which he filled with water and the other with wine. Next, he got two roundworms and into each cup he put one roundworm. The roundworm in the water not only stayed alive but also swam here and there in the cup. But the roundworm in the wine passed away in no time. The father said to his child, "Just look! Have you figured out the result of drinking wine?" "Yes, now I see, Dad." " What did you learn ?" "Drink, and no roundworms can live in the stomach," replied the child.
Please come the following web sites to enjoy the original audio versions of all the jokes and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you as well.
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org/video/joke/118
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/light_sound/jokes/118
A man had a beautiful garden and flower beds, and all kinds of nice things that he planted in his garden. But there was one problem. His neighbor always let his chickens loose, and they ran over to reach the garden to dig out the roots and eat the flowers and make a mess everywhere. And he told his neighbor to keep the hens within his fence. But the neighbor said, "I don't believe in this kind of restriction, imprisonment. I believe chickens are also the creation of God, and they have the right to go wherever they want." And so he just let his chickens run all over. And the chickens loved the flowers and the corn and all the things that the neighbor planted. And so they would visit his garden often.
But then one day one of his friends came back, and saw that the man had all the flowers and everything that he planted still in order! So the friend was very surprised: "How did you do that? How did you convince the neighbor to keep the chickens out of your yard?" He said, "Oh, that's easy. I just hid a dozen eggs in my flower bed, and one day I let my neighbor see that I was collecting them." After that the neighbor kept his chickens to himself.
There was an airplane that was having trouble. So the pilot radioed to the tower at the airport and said, "Pilot to tower, pilot to tower. Mayday! Mayday! I am 300 miles from land, 600 feet over water. I am running out of fuel. Also, my engine is on fire; my instruments are having trouble, and my copilot is having a heart attack. Please instruct me about what to do." So the tower said to the pilot, "Tower to pilot, tower to pilot, repeat after me: Our Father Who are in Heaven..."
There was a customer who came and asked a waiter in a cafeteria: "Oh, tell me, Susan, how do you keep all the flies out of your coffee shop?" So she said: "I just let the flies taste the stuff."
Disciple: I was initiated last Sunday at the Hsihu Center. After I received the Holy
Names, I started to practice the Quan Yin Method. When I heard the Inner
Sound, I was so surprised that I told others. Since then, even if I try
to concentrate on the Sound, I can't hear anything. So, since that time,
I hear nothing at all, because I was so excited that I talked about it.
Master: You told people?
D: Yes, there was a sister beside me...
M: Oh, yeah?
D: So I spoke about it to her. She said you shouldn't say anything. So I was
to blame.
M: Congratulations! (Master and audience laugh) Yeah, now you have to work
very hard.
D: Is it going to take time before I...?
M: Yeah, it is going to take time.
D: Yeah?
M: Yeah, so that you learn to keep your mouth closed. But I don't blame you
guys, because it's so new. The first day of initiation, sometimes it looks
like your whole head is full of thunder, or the whole ocean is contained
in there. It's never happened like that before in your whole life. Anything
that you hear is so new and so loud. And of course you feel very excited.
But you should learn. I told you, everything I tell you is good for you,
not because I forbid you, or anything. So next time, whomever, before they
get initiated, tell them, "Please, please keep your mouth shut."
Otherwise, they might lose the experience, lose the thought transference,
because they leak it out.
Even the Holy Names, the reason I tell you not to recite them at random or not to give them to people is because you should not leak them out. During initiation, they are protected. All the guardian angels stay outside, so the negative force cannot get near. They love to hear the Holy Names! So if you recite them out loud anywhere, or tell people, you attract the negative enemies. They love it. It is fine, they love to come near, but when they come near, they don't observe also, and they trouble you. They are attracted to you, and you are not strong enough to withstand them. Sometimes, you have a little trouble. And even if I just recite them out loud to you only sometimes; I don't do it all day long. This world is like that. The positive attracts the negative; not attracts it, but they like to go near. So whatever is good for you, you should keep it. Keep it for yourself. The quieter you keep, the stronger your experience. If you say it when in front of the Master and when you are protected, it is different. But if you talk at random sometimes, it is not good for you.
Because this method we learn is from Heaven; it is not from earth. The power is from God and is meant to take us Home. But this world, although it's also a creation of God, is only a reflection of God's creation. It is the world of maya, of a different domain, different control. So we are like spies here. We are like in the "Enemies of the State" (a movie's title). So we have to keep ourselves, our identity and everything, quiet. Like we are all the same, but when we walk out on the street, people don't know. That's the best. If they know you, some of them will make trouble for you. And they have made trouble for all the masters, in the past and present, because they know they are masters. They have the motive to make trouble for them. But because they don't know who you are, they don't make trouble. That's why we keep quiet. Since ancient times, many masters, many openly teaching teachers, all have had trouble. But as a practitioner, if you keep quiet, you are okay. It's the same for you. If they know too much about you, they can make trouble, too.
But because you just say you speak for the master, they don't really take you seriously. If they know all your experiences and everything else, then they know you are highly developed, and they can make trouble, too. You know the maya force, so we keep quiet. Everything from Heaven belongs there, belongs inside; everything outside, belongs outside. Just like if you go into the enemy's country to work for your government, if you reveal your identity and your power from that government, like you are the trusted secretary of the president, or a secret agent of the FBI, to go into a different country to do research for something, if you reveal your identity, you're in trouble. All the spies, the powerful spies, work quietly. They have all the information that could change the world in a second. But they don't ever let anyone know, not even their wives. You read sometimes in the newspaper that some of the spies have been discovered, but their wives do not even know anything! This is true. They don't tell their wives. They don't tell anyone. They work alone. Sometimes, the same agents work together, but they do not even know each other, because they are so secretive. And that is the way it is for us; we are in this world like that. We have to work quietly.