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| Undulation Energy and the Health Revolution
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| Applications in Food Testing
| Applications in Water Testing
| Applications in Medical Science
| The Innate Undulation Machine
| Spiritual Practice Is a Meta-science
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| The Way to Balance Yin and Yang
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| The Positive Aspects of the Negative Power
| An Enlightened Master Is Like a Plumber or Electrician
| Spiritual Practice Is Not a Losing Business
| The Magnetic Field of a Spiritual Practitioner
| The Inner Sound
| Opening the Positive Power
| The Negative Power Can Also Benefit People
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| Honoring Our Promises
| Master Tells Jokes
| The More We Work, the More Enlightened We Become
| Mindfulness
| You Are Masters Yourselves
| The Light and Sound Are Our Essence
| The Power of Crystal and Spiritual Practice
| Create a Positive Halo of Energy
| Letters Between Master and Spiritual Practitioners
|
Introductory Book Notes
By brother initiate Lin Ming-chao, Nantou, Formosa
(Brother Lin is a doctor of Chinese medicine serving at Nantou Hospital,
Formosa.) Issues No. 114 and 127 of
the News magazine featured articles on a Magnetic Resonance Tester invented
by a Korean scientist to check food quality as well as human health conditions
and consciousness levels. This advanced apparatus, which can reveal information
imperceptible to the physical eyes, is not in a class by itself. Similar
machines, such as Quantum, Meridian Regulatory Acupuncture (MRA), the Life
Field Transmitter (LFT), and the Electro Acupuncture of Dr. Voll machine
(EAV, a device for measuring the conductance of acupuncture meridians),
are also available in several developed countries. In his book Undulation
Energy and the Health Revolution, Mr. Fukano Kazuyuki, a Japanese expert
with a doctorate in engineering sciences, explains in everyday language
the workings and applications of such equipment, which he classifies as
"undulation machines."
Mr. Fukano Kazuyuki believes that the "essence of the universe"
lies in a realm that is indiscernible to the physical eye. It is composed
of super-molecules known as "cosmic energy" that moves in spiral
waveforms detectable by these machines.
The author observes that the Earth's present civilization recognizes only
that "the universe is the physical world" and that "humankind
has only the physical body." On the contrary, however, the universe
is actually composed of both a "material world" and an "invisible
world." Apart from the physical body, human beings also have an "invisible
body" (the original life form, which is our spiritual body). But the
mainstream sciences are still unable to detect the invisible world and
invisible body, and are thus incapable of perceiving many truths about
the universe and humankind. In recent years, undulation machines have become
the pioneering equipment guiding human civilization toward understanding
the invisible world, and are also powerful tools for exploring the existence
of cosmic energy.
With the invention of undulation machines, food and potable water are no
longer tested by chemical analysis or analyzed to identify their constitution
with respect to the "five main nutritional elements." Chemical
analysis alone cannot determine the influence of food and water on health!
Undulation machines produce a more accurate and comprehensive analysis.
High undulation indexes indicate that the food being tested is more beneficial
to health, while lower indexes mean that it is detrimental to health and
may even induce illness.
Tests using undulation machines have shown that meat products or those
containing eggs have little undulation energy and are harmful to health.
Farm produce grown with the generous use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers,
and foods with numerous additives contain little undulation energy as well.
Such foods cause a breakdown of the body's mineral balance and impair its
self-healing ability. Therefore, they are considered unfavorable to human
health. Generally speaking, vegetables, fruits, and seaweed, which are
usually high in undulation energy, are regarded as healthy foods. A small
percentage of foods in this category is pushed down the index level, most
probably because of the excessive pesticides and chemical fertilizers used
during cultivation.
Water, by nature, easily absorbs cosmic energy. Test findings show a low
level of undulation energy in polluted water and tap water in metropolises.
By contrast, natural spring water from the mountains contains more undulation
energy, because it has been significantly purified by minerals in the soil.
Moreover, undulation indexes show that "holy water" does exist!
To a certain extent, such water can heal patients suffering from "spiritual
ailments."
In recent years, a new school of medical science has emerged involving
the experimental use of undulation machines and research on the energy
of the invisible world. This school of "energy medical science"
or "quantum medical science" employs therapeutic methods including
"sound therapy," "light therapy," and "space therapy."
Some people even use undulation machines to produce "energy water"
for the treatment of disease in lieu of traditional pharmaceutical therapy.
The level of human consciousness determines the advancement of material
civilization. The higher the level of consciousness, the more exquisite
and convenient tools can human beings develop. Undulation machines represent
a new dimension in human technology, indicating that human consciousness
has become elevated to some degree. However, if scientists do not seek
spiritual advancement to upgrade their level of consciousness and go beyond
existing concepts, technological development will remain limited! A mechanical
invention, however advanced, cannot transcend the physical dimension.
Human beings are blessed with a flawless undulation machine - the human
body. Unfortunately, however, most people do not know how to make use of
it. A sophisticated machine can operate correctly only when manipulated
by a professional technician. In the same sense, the flawless undulation
machine of the human body needs an even more advanced "super expert"
who knows the universe's secret tricks, and can open for us the door to
cosmic energy and teach us to use this energy effectively.
Master once said, "In our body, there are about seven chakras (energy
centers) that can draw in energy from the universe. They are just like
a battery automatically charged by universal power. That's why we can run
our machine all the time. And when we meditate, this power is in even greater
abundance. So the more we give, the more it comes in. It will never stop.
So we don't need to worry about karma, and helping people and taking karma
and all that. If people need help, you should help." (Spoken by Supreme
Master Ching Hai in English at a group meditation session in Bangkok, Thailand,
September 14, 1994. Videotape No. 446)
The new concepts and medical therapies discussed above have proven that
spiritual practice is a "meta-science" rather than being "anti-science."
These ideas are not new to members of the Quan Yin family, for during daily
meditation, we simultaneously enjoy "light therapy," "sound
therapy," and even "space therapy." We are cared for in
every aspect of body, mind and spirit. So, we cannot help but marvel at
how privileged and blessed the initiated children of God are! Hopefully,
with greater scientific support and more advanced inventions, more and
more brothers and sisters around the world will practice the Quan Yin Method
and, once and for all, undertake this spiritual path that brings only benefits.¡@¡@
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Costa Rica, June 3, 1989
(Originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 80
A reporter came to interview me today. "Where does this power of Maya,
or the negative power, come from?" he asked.
"It comes from God," I replied.
"How can that be?"
"The Bible says, 'God created the universe and everything. There is
nothing that is not created by God.' So, if God didn't create this power
of Maya, who did?"
"You are right. But why did God create this negative power?"
I told him that the negative power is very useful to us, when we learn
how to transform it into a useful force. For example, electricity is also
very dangerous. We get shocked and might even get killed if it flows through
us, or if we come too close to a high voltage point. However, if we have
learned how to make use of electricity, we will have no problem. Money,
for example, also induces many people to break the law, violate the precepts,
and commit evil acts. However, if we have learned how to make use of money
instead of being enslaved by it, it is very useful to us as well. Instead
of being controlled by money, we manipulate it and become its master. If
it is the other way around, then we cannot survive without money. Some
people are very greedy for money and would steal it, or kill or resort
to evil ways to acquire it. At this time, money becomes a negative thing.
If we know how to make use of it, however, it becomes positive.
Let's take electricity, for instance. It is bipolar; only when the negative
and positive poles are connected will electric current be generated. Likewise,
there are two kinds of power in the world. On the positive side is God's
power, which encompasses compassion, love, care and benedictory power.
On the negative side is the power of Maya, which confines people to this
world, and tests their greed, anger, infatuation, wisdom and strength in
surmounting obstacles. By its origin, this power is neither good nor bad,
but it becomes good or bad, depending on how we use it. The negative power
helps us learn how to overcome and transform it into something useful.
All the Enlightened Masters -- Shakymuni Buddha, Jesus Christ, Mohammed,
Socrates, and Plato, among others, descended to this world to teach human
beings how to overcome the negative power, the power from the left, and
how to integrate it with the positive power. We Chinese call it the "integration
of Yin and Yang." It is better to have both Yin and Yang. Why? Do
we humans lack Yin or Yang? No, but most probably we have too much Yin
and too little Yang. We are not balanced and easily become like leaves
waving in the wind without self-determination. If we follow the ways of
the world, and follow our greed, anger, infatuation, and desires, then
we are following the way of the Yin, the negative power. At such times,
the Enlightened Master will advise us to take some Yang supplements. Otherwise,
we will be too inclined toward the left; we will have too much Yin and
be forever bound by this Yin.
What is "Yang"? It is the positive power, the power of compassion
and love, which is enlightening, radiant, blissful, and charged with blessing
power. It comes from "above," while the Yin power comes from
the world, or from "below." The former pulls us up while the
latter drags us down. In Heaven, or the abode of the angels, there is plenty
of Yang, so the heavenly beings have no idea what pain and suffering are,
much less can they sympathize with suffering people. In this world, we
have too much pain and anguish. Suffering is on our minds all the time.
We think very little about happiness. We have very little idea what happiness
is, for we have very few moments of joy, while we have plenty of painful
times. Let me cite an example: We work
for more than eight or ten hours a day. When we are home, we enjoy only
a few bowls of rice. Our moment of joy is mealtime, but we have to work
ten hours in exchange for it. When we are happy being with our spouse,
we say we are in Heaven, but we forget how many obligations are attached
to this happiness. For twenty, thirty, or forty years after marriage, we
have obligations toward that person and our children. From dawn till dusk,
we work hard to earn money for our food and clothing and to take care of
our children until they are twenty, twenty-five, or even thirty. And it
does not end here. Later, when they are married and have children, they
bring their kids for us to take care of. Therefore, in this world, heavenly
moments or happy times are very rare. We have to exert a lot of physical
and mental effort before we can earn a little happiness. (Applause)
Why do we seek the Yang? How can we find It? We are unhappy because we
have too little Yang; we are exhausted by work and have very few joyful
moments. At the time of initiation, I help you to turn on the resource
of Yang. We can compare this to two water taps, one for cold water and
the other for hot water. The cold water tap is the negative power and the
hot water tap is the positive power. Once the two taps are turned on, and
the cold and hot water flow together, we can take a comfortable and delightful
bath without catching a cold. We will have fewer physical ailments and
will have the energy and spirit to face the future, as well as all the
worldly vexations, work, and obligations. If we are healthy, it may be
all right to take a cold bath every day; otherwise, our life could be in
danger.
We have suffered too much pain and vexation in this world. Just like having
taken cold water baths for too long, we yearn very much for a warm bath.
This is why I come to tell you that there is another tap that brings you
hot water. Turn it on along with your cold water tap and you will feel
much more comfortable. You won't fall ill so easily. If you are ill, you
will feel much better, rather than worse. However, the tap is now blocked.
The tap is there and the water is in the pipe, but the tap is blocked.
Just allow me to fix it and you will have water immediately. At the time
of initiation, I am like a plumber or electrician. I connect the wires
for you and you have electricity. I repair the tap for you and you have
water. I am worried that you might fall sick and become incurable after
taking too many cold baths every day.
Some people might object, "No, no! It is more economical to take cold
water baths." Well, I agree, but you may end up paying much more to
the doctor or pharmacy later! Some people may say, "I don't want to
be initiated by You. Transmigration is okay with me. I can endure the agonies
of this deluding world. I don't want to go to Heaven, because to do so
I have to become a vegetarian, which is troublesome! I cannot quit eating
meat because it is really delicious."
Or they may say, "Not killing, not stealing, and no sexual misconduct!
Oh, it is very difficult! There are too many complicated and troublesome
precepts. The price I have to pay for initiation is too high; I don't want
it!" However, you should know that it will be even more painful when
they roast you in hell! It will be more agonizing than observing the precepts
and giving up meat and fish now.
Others may complain, "I won't be able to get initiated and meditate
for two hours! It is better to spend these two hours indulging in worldly
pleasures. I care only about the present. Who can tell the future?"
We can tell the future! It will be too late to repent when we die. No one
will come to accompany us. Those moments of pleasure only give us more
trouble. For instance, all the meat, fish, and alcohol that we enjoy will
bring physical discomfort later. Hospitals are full of meat-eating and
alcohol-drinking people; vegetarians seldom fall ill. And when we die,
all our karma will go with us; no one else, not even our relatives or friends,
can go with us.
If we practice spiritually with an Enlightened Master, get initiated, and
practice the Quan Yin Method with our spouse, not only will we enjoy family
bliss in this life but we will also be together in the eternal life. We
sacrifice an hour or two to meditate together and then we will enjoy each
other's company forever. Won't that be much more worthwhile? (Applause)
This is definitely not a losing business! By practicing spiritually with
me, you only gain profit; you won't lose anything.
The law of Yin and Yang is such that if we have too much Yin, we will be
trapped in this Yin dimension. This is causation. We have planted Yin,
so we will have Yin. If we have planted Yang, we will go to Heaven. However,
if we nurture both, balancing between Yin and Yang and integrating positive
with negative, we will become a well-balanced being - a Saint. A Saint
is not all Yang, but is comprised of both Yin and Yang. We can see this
from the symbol of Taoism, which is half Yin and half Yang, yet with a
dot of Yin in the Yang, and a dot of Yang in the Yin. This is what it means.
A Taoist, a being who has attained the Truth, should possess both Yin and
Yang, instead of being all Yang or all Yin. If he were completely Yang,
he would not realize the Yin qualities of sentient beings. He would not
be able to tolerate sentient beings and understand their hearts. He would
not be able to communicate with them and ease their suffering. If he were
too much inclined toward the Yin, then he would be just like us, eating,
drinking, indulging in pleasures, ignorant, unenlightened, and powerless;
he would not be able to help us.
The positive power or life-saving power is within us. This is the meaning
of the "original benevolent nature." Now we are stuck here, shrouded
by karmic hindrances and unable to see beyond them. If there is someone
who can release the Yang energy and repair it for us, then we will be benefited.
Such is initiation; the Master helps the fellow practitioners or disciples
discover their compassion and love, and then this merciful power of love
takes care of them every day. We Catholics call this "God"; knowing
this merciful love power is knowing God.
If we do not pursue spiritual practice, where will we go after death? Does
hell exist? Does Heaven exist? The answer is yes! What is hell? It is created
by our own karma, our dark thinking, and our wrong actions; these generate
a kind of magnetic field or atmosphere. Nothing vanishes; everything is
conserved in this universe. The words we speak do not disappear; the thoughts
we think do not fade away. There is a special thing that registers our
actions, speech, and thoughts. Whether they are right or wrong, our actions,
speech, and thoughts turn into a special kind of sphere that surrounds
us and follows us wherever we go. It envelops us when we are alive, and
the scientists call it the magnetic field of a person. After we die, this
magnetic field takes another form and continues to hang around our astral
body. It is not easy to dissolve this magnetic field. Only a very great
and powerful spiritual practitioner can accomplish that. It takes several
hundred years for this magnetic field to slowly dissipate and shift to
another dimension, or be absorbed by some situation or beings, and then
fade away.
Suppose we have a large factory where a lot of cooking is done. Lots of
fumes will be generated and a thick dark cloud will form. This dark cloud
will not dissipate immediately. In places where there are many factories,
the sky is filled with dark clouds, which is detrimental to human health.
There are many such places on earth that are engulfed by dark clouds, and
because there is insufficient oxygen, both adults and children have to
use oxygen masks.
Similarly, our inner atmosphere also generates fumes that create a delightful
or unpleasant aura, making people feel comfortable or uncomfortable. We
are the first ones to be affected by this aura and other people will feel
the impact as well, just like smoking causes harm to a person and brings
discomfort to those who inhale the fumes around him. We spiritual practitioners
are most helpful to others. We take good care of our actions, speech, and
thoughts, and refrain from doing or speaking bad things to harm ourselves
and others. Meanwhile, we absorb the Yang energy from above; we absorb
God's power, which blesses us and makes us wiser and more capable of using
the intangible miraculous power to help others and ourselves. This power
to which I am referring is not the kind of "hula hoop" miraculous
power used to flaunt ourselves. I am referring to the Supreme miraculous
power of the Buddha and Jesus Christ. We spontaneously help people even
without knowing it. Yet, we can feel it distinctly. Sometimes we are conscious
of it, though not deliberately. It is like a flower that is naturally fragrant,
but which does not purposefully emit fragrance.
As the actions, speech, and thoughts of we spiritual practitioners become
purer, we have greater wisdom and power. Anything we do benefits us and
others as well. We then become greater and greater, and naturally radiate
a very pleasant and serene aura that benefits others, instead of radiating
a dark and tiring atmosphere, which reflects the carrying of heavy karma,
as we did before.
When Jesus Christ was alive, many people knew about His great power. Once,
a critically ill woman stealthily touched His robe, and was cured of her
illness. We cannot say that Jesus Christ used miraculous power to save
her. He didn't! He didn't know who had just taken some of His power. So
He looked around and asked, "Who touched my robe just now?" The
woman was afraid, so she stood out and repented, "I just touched Your
robe and now I am cured. Thank You very much! Please forgive me!"
To this, Jesus Christ responded, "Good! It¡¦s your faith that has
healed you." This is real miraculous power. Jesus didn't do anything
deliberately. He Himself was the miraculous power! Anyone who was related
to Him or had contact with Him would benefit.
We have also heard the story of how Jesus Christ helped a deaf man regain
his hearing, but it might not have been the same as physical hearing. As
I understand it, this "hearing" was the "hearing within."
I have disciples with hearing impairments, yet they can hear the inner
Sound of Heaven and God. Ordinary people have normal ears but they cannot
hear this Sound; they hear only the sound of the world rather than the
sound of God; they are deaf. Although those deaf people who come and become
my disciples can not hear the disputes of this world, they can hear the
best Sound, the most beautiful, pleasant, wise, helpful, and life-saving
Sound. Listening to this Sound is better than listening to external disputes!
It is no big deal being able to hear the sounds of the outside world. It
is more important to hear the inner Sound!
We don't need ears to hear this inner Sound. If we can hear it by ourselves,
then it is fine. If not, then we should find a Master who can open this
hearing faculty for us, and seek His help so that we can hear the inner
Sound. However, even if we can hear it by ourselves, it may not be from
a superior dimension. Sometimes, we have already heard the Sound or seen
the Light, but we still need to find an Enlightened Master to confirm our
experience and level. The Master can use His power to help us go beyond
this limitation and elevate our level. Some of us may have practiced spiritually
in our previous lives; therefore, we are able to hear the Sound and see
the Light in this life. But without an Enlightened Master, we cannot attain
the ultimate level. The Enlightened Master comes from the ultimate dimension,
so He knows the path and can lead us to this realm.
Q: Master, I can understand Your explanation
of the positive power, but could You elaborate on the circumstances under
which this positive power can help us? You have given us many examples,
but could You please cite another example?
Master: The positive power is doing a lot of work in this world. We may
not feel it, but it is actually helping us. When we have opened and used
this positive power, we will always feel very happy. Suppose you see a
poor, sick and lonely man, and your sympathies are suddenly aroused. You
give him some money and take care of him for a while. For that, you feel
very comfortable. That is the positive power helping that person and you.
It is not just a superficial action or feeling. Later, if you fall sick,
people will give you much help, much more than what you have given. Suppose
you have helped someone with a hundred dollars; later, when you are sick,
people might help you with ten thousand dollars. Or if you often help sick
people when you are in good health, then you may never become ill in the
future. This is how the positive power helps us.
However, we seldom use this positive power because we are too weak and
are usually dominated by the negative power. This is why we need a living
Master to help us turn on the tap of positive and almighty power. It is
not working well now; we can only get a few drops from it every day. Once
the Master has repaired it and we turn it on, more water will flow out
than we can ever use. It will supply us with lots of water, and no more
repairs will be necessary. We won't have to wait for it drop by drop, collecting
only a tiny bit after a whole day. Any time we turn on the tap, the water
will gush out very fast.
The positive power is within us. For instance, every day after initiation,
we communicate with God, the Self Nature, and the Saints. We see Jesus
Christ, the Buddha, or the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, face to face and can make
any request. Our prayers are realized immediately. We are connected to
the almighty power and have more things than we will ever need. This is
the true positive power. From then on, It will take care of our soul. In
this world, It will take care of our daily life, and we will be fine in
every aspect! The Quan Yin Method can heal all illnesses, including those
arising from vexation, ignorance, greed, anger, and infatuation. It can
cure the illnesses of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. The only way open
to us will be to Heaven, the Pure Land. We will not go to hell or come
back to suffer the pains of the human world. Of course, we can come back
as a human if we want to. If we want to help others, we can come back and
reincarnate as a human. However, this will be voluntary, and different
from cases of people being dragged down by karma to suffer transmigration,
pain, and ignorance.
The positive power is inconceivable. Before it is opened, we are in great
pain and loneliness. But once it is opened, we can feel ourselves grow
greater and more powerful. We become happier and more contented, and freer
of needs and attachments to the material world. Then we can easily renounce
the world. Now that your positive power is not yet opened, despite the
fact that I have been talking for a long time, you still cannot fully understand.
When it is opened at the time of initiation, you will understand and know
how this positive power can help us every day. What can we say when it
is not opened? It is just like not knowing what to buy when we have no
money. But when we have money, we know we can buy some bread, bean curd,
or gluten. (Laughter) We can even get married.
Q: Master, just now You introduced
the positive power. Could You explain how the negative power can help us?
Master: If we can control the negative power, then it can also help us.
For instance, people say that money is a source of temptation. It makes
us kill, causes divorce, forces brothers and sisters apart, disrupts the
family, lures people to accept bribes and become corrupt officers, and
turns good people bad. However, if we know how to make good use of money,
the more money we have, the better. If more money is given to those who
are greedy or bewitched by money, they will only crave more. But people
who can make use of money instead of only possessing it will spend generously.
It is good for them to have lots of money, so that they can help the poor,
the orphaned, and the widowed, or build hospitals for the sick. In this
way, money is not evil.
The negative power is just like an electric pole that is negatively charged.
Without a negative pole, the lamp cannot shine. Therefore, the negative
power and positive power are actually the same power doing different tasks.
It becomes bad only when we do not know how to use it. Therefore, we need
an Enlightened Master to tell us how to use the negative power to benefit
ourselves. Once we practice the Quan Yin Method, we will realize that there
is actually no good or bad, no positive or negative. We see it differently
only because we do not understand. To an unenlightened person, even the
positive power may not do him any good. Not knowing how to use it, he might
use it to do evil things. For instance, if an unenlightened person notices
that another person is very kind, he may take advantage of the benevolence
of that person and borrow money for drinking and gambling purposes. On
the other hand, an enlightened person can turn even negative power into
something beneficial.photo: ms1-1-132
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, January 22, 1995
?/span>(Originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 466
The following story reminds us to always honor our promises. Should we
fail to do so, we will create a lot of trouble for ourselves. Sometimes,
when we have vowed to do this or that, we should do it precisely. Otherwise,
our faith will weaken, our prayers will receive no response, and we will
not be able to accomplish anything we do.
There are times when we might cheat God. We promise that we will do certain
things, but never do them. Thinking that no one hears us, or God does not
need it, we ignore it and fail to keep our promise. I have told you several
times, for instance, about when some refugees were escaping on the sea,
they vowed to the Quan Yin Bodhisattva (the Goddess of Mercy): "If
we can reach a third country smoothly, we will definitely keep a vegetarian
diet for two years." But, they didn't fulfill their promise afterwards
and postponed the two-year vegetarian diet for a very long time. They should
have eaten vegetarian every day for two years, but later they could not
do it or just forgot about it. Therefore, they said, "Oh! Never mind.
I will eat vegetarian once a week or once a month." In the end, the
two-year duration was extended to last very long.
This is a similar story. One day, a child had a high fever. He was seriously
ill and his parent was anxious. After seeing the child, the doctor declared
that his illness was incurable. Therefore, the parent prayed to a goddess
named Durga (the first manifestation of goddess-energy in the Indian pantheon,
her main task being to punish the wicked). She is a very famous goddess
in India, and many people pray to her for help. Perhaps she was an Enlightened
Master in the past.
Indian people worship many deities, who must have been Enlightened Masters
and who were famous in different places in the past. Perhaps they were
very efficacious when they were alive, so everyone worshipped them. Therefore,
when we say that Indian people worship many gods, it is both correct and
incorrect. Actually, they are worshipping past Masters. Similarly, the
goddess that the Chinese call "Matsu" was most probably a famous
Master in ancient times. At that time, anyone who prayed to her received
a response, so everyone did that and it became a tradition that is still
practiced today. It doesn't matter that she may not be efficacious, because
it has become a custom to pray to her.
The Quan Yin Bodhisattva was also a living Master in the past. When she
was alive, anyone praying to her would get a response. Suppose her disciples
kept praying like this and the neighbors of the disciples also did the
same and also got a response. Later, their children prayed, and people
continue to do so today. The Quan Yin Bodhisattva departed a long time
ago, yet people are still praying to her because it has become a custom.
They do not know that it is more efficacious to pray to a living aster.
Well, in this story, the man went to pray at a temple of the goddess Durga.
Most probably, at that time, this goddess had not left the world for long,
so she was still efficacious. His prayer was: "My child is sick. Can
you save him? If he is cured, I will bring him here to worship you. I will
also make an offering of a hundred rupees to you." Perhaps a hundred
rupees was a lot of money then, perhaps equivalent to a hundred or even
a thousand U.S. dollars today. Money was more valuable at that time.
The goddess Durga was really efficacious, and the child recovered naturally
from an illness that even doctors could not cure. Obviously, the goddess
had blessed and helped him. His father remembered his promise of making
an offering of a hundred rupees. But then he started to think, "Good
grief! I have already spent a lot of money buying medicine for the child.
Now that the doctor has prescribed lots of tonics for him, I have to spend
more. My financial situation is now rather difficult. Perhaps I can just
offer fifty rupees to the goddess. I am sure Durga will know my situation;
she will understand." He thought the goddess would understand, but
still, he didn't act immediately.
Several weeks passed and he came up with another idea: "No matter
how, surely the goddess Durga cannot eat fifty rupees worth of food all
by herself. Since she is a goddess, how can she consume so much food? Besides,
I have read in the scriptures: 'If we make an offering to God with sincerity,
the quantity of the offering is unimportant. God will be delighted with
even a small offering, provided we are sincere.' God will not demand material
offerings; our sincerity will be sufficient. All the scriptures say the
same thing. This goddess also definitely knows that. Therefore, I think
it will be good enough for me to go to the temple, piously do some very
special worship, and then give an offering of five rupees." These
thoughts went through his mind, but still he didn't take any action.
Then one day, he heard the temple bell chime. When people worshipped at
the temple, they would sound the bell. It reminded him of the offering
that he had promised the goddess. He quickly went out, hoping to find a
five-rupee item as an offering. He met a friend, who asked where he was
going. He told his friend the whole story, and that he was going to buy
a five-rupee item as an offering to the goddess. His friend said, "Come
on! Don't be so silly! Why would a goddess eat an offering of five rupees?
You are so stupid! Let me tell you, it will be fine enough for you to worship
her piously in the temple. Just buy a coconut worth about a rupee, and
it will be okay! The importance lies in your sincerity, not the quantity,
understand?"
This sounded very reasonable, and since the man was a very thrifty person,
he went to the coconut stall to buy a coconut for one rupee. The coconut
vendor told him, "Fifty paise for a coconut." One rupee was equal
to one hundred paise. The man said, "What? How could it so expensive?
Sell me one for forty paise, okay?" The vendor said, "If you
expect such a low price, you have to go to the wholesale market."
The man then walked a long way to the wholesale market. The coconuts there
were really forty paise each. Yet he bargained with the seller at the market:
"I have walked such a long way here. If you are still selling a coconut
for forty paise, then it is not much cheaper! You'd better give me a bargain
at twenty paise each." The seller laughed and said, "If you really
want to get one for twenty paise, then you have to go to the plantation.
It is cheap only at that place." Hearing that, the man decided to
make his purchase at the plantation.
Again, he walked very far before he came to the coconut plantation. The
coconut farmer there said, "Okay! I can sell one to you for twenty
paise." Again the man bargained, "I have walked so far to come
here. You should sell me one for ten paise instead of twenty. Twenty paise
a coconut is not much cheaper. Why would I have spent all the effort to
come here?" The farmer said, "If you want one for ten paise,
you have to climb the tree yourself to get the coconut."
Very stingy by nature, he wanted to save the money and really climbed the
tree. He climbed all the way up, but because he was inexperienced, he slipped
and almost fell from the tree. He could barely hang on to a branch and
yelled for help. At that time, the spirit of the goddess Durga spoke through
the coconut farmer, demanding a hundred rupees to save him. (Laughter)
To save his own life, the man agreed to pay a hundred rupees. After he
was saved and had climbed down the tree, he took the coconut farmer home
and paid him a hundred rupees. There was no room for any bargain. At that
time, he understood. The next day, he went to the temple and cried. He
realized that all this had happened because he had failed to honor his
promise of making a one-hundred-rupee offering to the goddess.
A Belated LawsuitSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A. June 9, 2001 (Originally
in English)
There was a joke about a guy who sued another guy for calling him a gorilla.
And the judge asked him, "How long ago was that? When did your friend
call you a gorilla?" The guy said, "It was ten years ago."
And the judge said, "Why didn't you sue him ten years ago? Why are
you suing him today?" The guy said, "Because I just went to the
zoo yesterday, and saw a gorilla for the first time!" Who's Driving the Wrong Way?Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., June 13, 2001,
(Originally in English)
There was an old man, who was driving his car home on the highway. And
suddenly the phone in his car rang. It was his wife calling him, and she
said,. "Hey John, I'm sorry to disturb your driving, but you know
what? A report on the radio said there was a crazy man driving the wrong
way on the highway. So please be careful, okay?" And the husband said,
"Oh, yeah! But it's not just one person; there are hundreds of them!"
No Vision, No FearSpoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., June 13, 2001
(Originally in English)
There was a lady who was learning to drive, and she was very, very nervous.
Whenever she saw a car coming from the opposite direction toward her, she
began to panic; she would sweat and drive badly. Especially when it was
only a two-lane road, she became very scared.
But then after a few days, she became very calm. Whenever she saw a car
coming from the opposite direction, she didn't panic or tremble anymore.
So the instructor, praising her driving, said, "Oh, you've improved!
That's good; you don't panic anymore when you see another car coming."
And the lady said, "Yes, now I've learned. Every time I see another
car coming from the opposite direction, I just close my eyes and don't
see anything!" Please visit the following web sites to enjoy
the original video versions of these jokes, and you may share the joy of
Master's humor with those around you as well. http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/eng/news/132/jk1.htm?(USA)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/132/jk1.htm?(Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/132/jk1.htm?(USA)
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa,
April 25, 1992 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 243
We work for ourselves, because only when we work frequently will our minds
react quickly, and when we encounter problems, we will manage to overcome
them. This becomes a habit, and later when we encounter difficulties or
problems, we can deal with them promptly and solve them quickly. People
who do not work very often respond slowly. They may have good intentions,
but they cannot work quickly because they lack common sense regarding work.
They are not used to reacting promptly, and are thus not very careful when
doing their jobs.
We need to work more often in order to become more mindful. The more we
work, the more careful we become through experience. Knowledge and intelligence
come from experience, not just from studying. It is the same when we do
any kind of work. The more we work, the faster we react naturally and the
more capable we become. We can train ourselves to cultivate this habit.
My quick reactions and ability to perform all types of jobs did not come
only after I was enlightened. I have been this way since childhood, because
I like to do things. When I was about eight or nine and still studying
in primary school, we had three or four servants at home. However, I fetched
water for myself, and collected and chopped firewood. Occasionally, I cooked
for my parents, brewed tea for my father, and heated bath water for him.
I washed my own clothes, ironed them, took care of myself, and refused
to have the servants wait on me. That was in primary school. I took care
of myself starting from grade two. That was how I trained myself to react
quickly. I didn't descend from Heaven to become a Saint, and tell you to
do this and that. You can see that I can do anything, like cement work
and carpentry. I can do everything myself, and do it better than professionals.
Since our fellow practitioners are used to transplanting trees, they now
do it better than the professionals. They dug up and planted all the trees
on our hills. Even the professionals were amazed by the way they did it,
and exclaimed, "Wow! We have never seen anyone do such a good job
of transplanting trees!" To move a tree, they not only dig it up but
also bind its roots with rope. They really do a beautiful job with the
rope. Even the professionals do not tie it this way, because they don't
have the enthusiasm. Besides, they want to save time, finish the work quickly,
and go home early. They only care about the money and lack the spirit of
commitment. Even if they have this spirit, no one binds the roots so painstakingly
in beautiful layers.
The soil attached to the roots can only be preserved when it is wrapped
in the way our fellow practitioners do it. Otherwise, the soil falls off.
So, all the trees are growing tall. Most of them have continued to grow
after being planted. Only a few have fallen leaves, perhaps because the
trunks or branches are too weak, or the soil came off during the planting
process. But mostly they were beautifully bound in neat layers. Trees purchased
from outside are not wrapped so nicely. Nevertheless, you do not cherish
all this. I know it because I saw it. I don't mean to praise our fellow
practitioners. This is how it should have been done, so there is nothing
to praise. It is just that people outside are doing it incorrectly, and
our fellow practitioners are doing it right.
Our fellow practitioners are doing it the real professional way, because
they are adept. They also realize that we badly need trees here. One more
tree planted is one more source of joy for us, and one more piece of beauty
added to the Center. Tens of thousands of people coming here will enjoy
the benefits, and I will also be happier. That's why the initiates do it
so painstakingly. They do it so well because they do it with devotion.
Outside people only aim at earning money. They only want to finish the
work quickly, so that they can do more jobs. That is where they differ.
We should use our intelligence to figure out ways to do things. For instance,
the other day, I told the fellow practitioners to use wooden boards to
move the trees, because it was better, faster, and less strenuous. When
we are used to doing things, we naturally react quickly. My brain is the
same as yours, so why can't you do what I do? By dissecting our brains
for analysis and comparison, you will find that the brain in each one of
you is the same as mine, containing the same material inside. You can't
say that my brain is better than yours in any way. Since you have the same
brain as I do, why don't you use it? Isn't it a great pity not to use it?
If you want to spoil yourself, to sink lower, and continue to decay, and
be lazy and slovenly, it is your own choice. You can't blame God; you can't
blame it on karma or anything. It is all because you don't utilize your
brain and let it function. My brain has the same quality as yours. To be
more precise, my brain is even smaller than yours, and lighter in weight,
so you ought to be smarter than I am! If we make a serious calculation,
I am at a disadvantage. How can you still be looking for excuses?
So make your own choice. Should you be willing to use your brain and force
it to work, and be strict with yourself, then I don't have to be strict
with you. When you demand of yourself strictly, it shows that you love
me, because you save a lot of my vitality. I don't need to reproach you
and feel sad. Many unhappy moments can be avoided, and the relationship
between us, Master and disciples, will not be impaired. Much time can be
saved for doing better work, and for me to enjoy tea with you, to share
some important wisdom in the universe.
Don't think that you are great when you help me! Neither should you generate
a kind of very busy or exciting atmosphere, just because you are doing
some work or contributing a little effort. This will only make things worse,
because people will think that we have accomplished it, and so there is
no need to help. Whereas others can't do our work, each one has his own
work to do. God gives us this talent precisely because Hes wants us to
do this job, and not another job. It is also all right to do the other
job, but then we have to come back again to finish the job that we have
left undone. This is because that job was specifically given to us to learn
a lesson.
Every job is only a means for us to learn and grow. Actually, we do not
do any work. You should not complain and think that you are working too
hard. It is only a means for us to learn. God uses this method to educate
us, let us become enlightened, and give us a chance to develop our talents,
cultivate our personality, beautify our demeanor, and develop our mindfulness.
Every job is the same, because we can only learn other things through this
method.
If we are truly mindful in our work, we can learn something from doing
any task. It is like following an example that will lead us to realize
other things. Therefore, sometimes when we work, we suddenly realize many
truths. Work is a way to temper ourselves, helping us to measure our personality,
stamina, talents, and level of enlightenment. So, you shouldn't be afraid
to work. Fear of work is also a kind of phobia. The more we work, the more
enlightened we will become.
Selected Questions and Answers
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Three-day International Retreat,Los
Angeles, USA, December 16-18, 1998 (Originally in English) Videotape No.
639 Q: Do you consider it important
in our daily lives to do things very carefully, with attention to detail,
with mindfulness and awareness, and with full attention, like in the Buddhist
tradition? Or is it mostly just important to do the practice for two and
a half hours a day and keep the Precepts, and that's enough, and not to
worry much about mindfulness? M: I
think you should also practice mindfulness. If you drive a car, I advise
you to use all the mindfulness you can. If you operate a machine with full
running power in a factory, I advise you to use Buddhist mindfulness.
It's just a way of speaking. Actually, we are mindful every day. We have
to be. If you work at the computer, tell me you are not mindful of the
computer, or the e-mail or the Internet. If you are not mindful, how can
you get things right? You have to direct your finger so that the arrow
will point where you want, and then you have to read the information. So
we use mindfulness all the time; we just don't mention it.
But I do also say briefly that in everyday life, whatever you do, do it
with your heart and with the utmost concentration. Give your best to it.
That's a kind of mindfulness. Otherwise, reciting the Holy Names gives
you concentration also, and that's mindfulness. Your mindfulness is why
you don't take lives; you take care that your diet is pure vegetarian.
Your mindfulness is why you are responsible for your family and job. Your
mindfulness is why you don't commit something against the law or hurt people.
All these are mindfulness, all the time. I just don't specify too many
different methods and give them names. Buddha liked names; he liked numbers,
also. He was a man. I have more common sense. (Audience laughs, applauds)
He gave names to a lot of things. But when you have to learn it all by
heart, you forget to practice. There are the Four Sufferings, the Four
Noble Truths, the Five Noble Ways, the Eight-Fold Path, the Twelve Links,
the Twenty-Eight whatever, the Fifty Maya methods, the Hundred and Eight,
etc., etc. He loved numbers. And he named them all: the Four Noble Truths,
the Eight-Fold Suffering, and the Seven Ways to Enlightenment. Even when
he just was born, he walked seven steps, can you believe it! (Master and
audience laugh)
I just teach you simply. We have only the Five Precepts, and you have difficulty
keeping them already. We are in the modern age. We don't have time for
an Eight-Fold Path, Four-Fold Suffering, Twelve-Fold whatever, and name
the mindfulness and all that kind of thing. There's no need. I tell you:
Just do exactly what I have told you, and you'll get it. I promise! It's
simple. (Audience applauds.)
Q: And as we move into the Golden
Age, won't that mean that a lot of our initiates will start sort of "popping
up" to the fifth level and becoming masters? If that's the case, then
I would like to ask to be brought to the fifth level, because I am tired
of being down here. M: You are as high
as you want to be. So you just have to want to be that. Everyone is tired.
But I think you are already a master. If you wait until the Golden Age
to pop up and become more of a master, then I don't know where I will go.
You are already a master of yourself in terms of your destiny; you have
everything you want. There's no need to number "fifth" or "fourth"
again. That's the Buddha's stuff. We don't care.
We have to be happy and then be confident, be positive. Every time you
think that you are at a lower level, throw that idea away. Every time you
feel you are depressed or beaten up, throw that idea away! It's tough,
but that's how you beat the blues. That's how you become higher. You cannot
want to be at the fifth level and be thinking at the same time that you
are lowly, beaten up by karma and being negative. I can't help you. You
are the one who decides at which level you want to be, not me. I can't
bless you; you bless yourself. Suppose I say, "Okay, go to the fifth
level; I bless you." But your mind is still used to thinking negatively
and being depressed and pessimistic. You have to train your mind. Tell
it that you are the master; tell it what to think, what to do, what to
feel, and which level you command. When you can do that, you know you are
the master. You are already a master; it's just that you have a hard time
convincing yourself. You have to work with yourself.
Q: Please, I would like to know why the practice of the Light and Sound
is the best way to get enlightened?
M: Because it's the best. No explanation is needed.
Q: You can't explain a little more about it?
M: The more I explain, the more it sounds like garbage to me. Actually,
how can you explain the sun? It just is. Because it's ourselves; the Light
and the Sound are our essence. You go back to yourself. What else can make
you feel better than if you are yourself? What else can make the fish feel
better than if he is in the water? Why does he feel better in the water?
Because he is a fish. Ask me to explain: I don't know.
If you feel good, you know this already. If you don't feel good, go find
something else and then run back. It's only the best; that's all I know.
And if you look for references, we can see them in the Bible, like Saint
John hearing the trumpet, and God coming with the voice of thunder. "In
the beginning was the Word; from the Word comes our being." That's
the Sound. So if we are in our element, it must be the best; that's what
it is. In the Buddhist sutras, it says the same thing. In the Koran, it
always mentions Light and Sound; that this is the essence of our being.
And now you know that scientifically speaking we are Light and Sound; we
are energy. So what else can make us feel the best, if not ourselves? Going
back into our element and realizing ourselves - that's the best, and that's
all there is.
Q: So it's seeing our own light and hearing our own sound?
M: It's not seeing your own light; you are the Light. It's not hearing
your own sound; you are the Sound. You are the vibration that creates the
whole universe. You are that. You are the Commander in Chief of this cosmos.
The more you realize that you are that, the more power you have, and the
freer you become. Instead of realizing that you are this flesh, you are
this fingernail, you are this and that, you realize, "No, no, no,
I am the Creator. I am the Light; I am the Sound; I am that absolute thing."
Q: Good evening, Master. I have met during the last couple of days a lot
of beautiful and wonderful people. And one person happened to know a lot
about crystals and the energy of crystals. I happen to wear crystals myself,
but I don't profess to have any power with them. But this particular person
has some knowledge and wisdom about the use of crystal energy. And I think
it was mentioned on the little initiation form that some powers ought not
to be used. I think that he was of the understanding that perhaps he should
not pursue that, if he is practicing the Quan Yin Method. And I kind of
had a hard time accepting that myself. If he is full of love, and wanting
to help someone, why would that be bad? Is it bad? And should he not do
that?
M: Try.
Q: It's not a bad thing?
M: No.
Q: Very good. I did not think so. And I just want to make it clear. So
he wouldn't think so, too.
M: But crystal is crystal. It is not God power, though. It's probably for
temporary use, just like medicine or herbs. So it's additional perhaps,
but it's not the ultimate power, that's all. And if people are clinging
too much to those external things only, then it's no good. Because we have
already been clinging too much to a reliance on things external - like
we rely on the doctor, we rely on medicine, we rely on the crystal, we
rely on magical powers, etc. So now when you come to me, I say, "It's
time. Come in. You'll get a bigger crystal in there. Use it; it's eternal,
it's everlasting, and it costs no money. You don't have to wear it; you
don't have to shine it, and you don't have to worry about losing it."
So it's up to you to cut it off with those small toys. But you can still
wear them, and if you feel they are helpful, it's fine with me. But don't
cling to that, that's all. And do not preach to people that crystal can
heal you and all that. Because there is a greater power than crystal. Try
to remind people of that. It will be more lasting and healing.
Q: Is it possible after you do the Quan Quang (meditate on the Light),
on the second day when you return to your house and go to the room where
you were doing the Quan Quang, that you can hear the Sounds, the vibration?
M: Yes, of course! Even the walls vibrate, and the ceiling vibrates. That's
the way it should be, that anywhere you meditate, the energy stays in that
place.
That's why you should do good things all the time, to surround yourself
with good energy. Even talking about meditation, talking about God, talking
about the Master power, and talking about positive and good things - also
create good energy. So when you meditate, of course it creates good energy,
and it stays there. And the more you meditate in that place, the thicker
the energy becomes. The more you talk about positive things, the thicker
the wall of energy you're surrounding yourself with. And then like attracts
like, and you extract more good energy from different directions. So wherever
you go, you carry this so-called "pocket" of energy, a halo of
good energy. And the more good energy you carry, the better you feel. And
the better you feel, the more you talk about positive and good things.
The more positive and good things you talk about and the more positive
things you do, the more good energies you create. The more good energies
you create, the better you feel, and you do better things, and it never
ends.
So never, ever sink into a negative cycle. Just stay positive. I know it's
hard. Because sometimes people drag you down. But be aware. Just be aware.
Always try to stay positive. Say positive things and do positive things
as much as you can. Protect yourself, and then you create a wonderful house,
a movable house, so that everywhere you go, you take Light, good energy,
good vibrations. And the more of that you take with you, the more you attract,
and the more you attract, the more powerful and more positive you are.
Newly Released Books?
Volume III Now Available in Chinese
Following the recent release of the English edition of the Letters between
Master and Spiritual Practitioners, Volume I, a brand new collection of
letters between Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her disciples and other spiritual
practitioners has been compiled in Volume III of the Chinese edition. Each
letter is spiritually enlightening, and Master's penetrating responses
provide illuminating answers to your inner questions, oversights, and clarify
confusion in your spiritual practice. Its rich and extensive contents cover
all the details of practice, from attaining serenity of mind to creating
harmonious relationships. Master's wisdom is an illuminating lighthouse
leading us in the right direction on the spiritual path.
The meticulous concern and Infinite Grace given by Supreme Master to Her
disciples are clearly evident in the exchange of correspondence between
them. The many true stories in this volume are moving testimonials to Master's
unfathomable love and omnipresent power. A steady stream of love between
Master and disciples shines through in these letters, and will touch your
heart, strengthen your faith, and increase your courage in facing the challenges
of daily activities and spiritual life.Relevant website:
http://www.smchbooks.com/eng/books/books.htm?(Formosa; English) Just Released -- the Aulacese Edition ofI Have Come to Take You Home (second edition)
I Have Come to Take You Home includes quotes by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
meticulously selected from lectures given throughout the world, from interviews,
and from informal conversations. In this book, Supreme Master Ching Hai
incisively elaborates on various spiritual topics. Since the beginning
of time, riddles about life and death have distressed sentient beings.
For sincere Truth-aspirants, the ultimate goal is to realize the Truth
of the universe, and return to our eternal Homeland. Today, we can find
answers to all our doubts and longings in this book.
Supreme Master Ching Hai has said, "Our way Home was paved inside
us long ago. Should we forget this lifesaving map, we will be forever trapped
in the cycle of life and death." With this book as your guide, you
will soon find your way Home, and easily transcend the maze of life.Relevant
website: http://www.godsdirectcontact.org/aulac/publication/ Besides the Aulacese edition, I Have Come to Take You Home is also
available in English and other languages. For further information, please
contact: Fax: 949-738-9992 (U.S.A.)
E-mail: la_bookstore@yahoo.com
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