The first dance is called "Thep Ban Thoeng" dance. The second dance is called "Sri Wi-chai" dance. So, this is the great occasion that we would like to welcome Master Ching Hai to give her lecture. Please welcome Master Ching Hai.

 

We would like to introduce our fellow initiate to tell some of her experiences.

 

Good evening. I am one of Master Ching Hai's initiates. I have been initiated and practiced the Quan Yin Method for two years. My first inner experience just happened during this past April. On that day, I got up from bed to meditate as usual.

 

When I was about to go into samadhi I heard a loud sound inside. It was a big concert in which a lot of instruments were playing off-key. At the same time, there was a bright spot at my wisdom eye and also a kind of energy with a great vibration pulling my spirit to that bright spot at a high speed.

 

It was like I was in an imaginary train running through a tunnel. My spirit ran through the wisdom eye to the outside which was another dimension that had a nice atmosphere and clear sky. I looked back at myself and did not find my body - only my spirit and my mind floating in the sky. My spirit finally floated to a paradise.

 

 When I got inside that place, I found Master and my dear friend, who is also an initiate. Master selected some jewelry and gave one diamond necklace to my friend and one to me. Then Master invited us to go and play around outside.

 

After this experience, I always had similar experiences during my meditation, at least once a month. However, the sound that I heard and the dimension and atmosphere were different. Even though the experiences that I obtained were not extremely great, I feel most convinced that Master Ching Hai can certainly guide us to liberation and enlightenment; however, we have to be sincere and serious in seeking liberation. I would like to thank Master for having compassion for all of us.

 

So right now is the time that we all are waiting for, so please welcome Master Ching Hai. The Supreme Master Ching Hai.

 

How are you?

How is everyone feeling? Is it all right? Thai people are very shy. That doesn't help me; I am even more shy. So, we are both shy together and just sit here, do nothing. That's the trouble with our world.

 

Everyone is so humble and so shy and does not try to express our feelings and does not try hard to achieve what we want to do. I was also a very shy person. I still am, but I don't let my shyness overcome the goal in my life. Our shyness and fear sometimes inhibits us and lets us get stuck in our daily routine despite our eagerness to find some new solution or some new meaning to our life.

 

And that's also the reason why I think many of us cannot attain enlightenment, even though the Buddha has promised that every one of us will become Buddha. He is the one who became the Buddha, but we will become Buddha. He said all of us have Buddha Nature. The Buddha's teaching or any other great master's teaching are very similar; to tell us that the Kingdom of God, the Buddha's land, is within our heart.

 

But why is it that many of us cannot see, cannot understand, cannot realize the Buddha Nature, even though the Buddha says we are the Buddha? If we have the Buddha Nature inside, that means we are potential Buddhas. At least, we have the seed of the Buddha. Why ca we not see, why ca we not find it?

 

For the ones who have found it, they found it is very easy. For the ones who have not found it, they have found it is so difficult. When the Buddha found his own Buddhahood and Buddha Nature, he was surprised.

 

The Buddha said, "I and the sentient beings are no different. How come they don't realize it?" It happens to any beings who happen to find their enlightenment. They would feel the same thing, and they will find that they are very ordinary; it's not much different than before, but the wisdom has opened. Something inside them has awakened. That's the only difference.

 

And the one who attains enlightenment would find it's difficult to convince other people that it is very easy to find their treasure. Mostly because our nature is very introvert, shy, and I can say maybe humble also, very humble, and we have a lot of illusions about what a Buddha is like or what enlightenment is like, and how very difficult it is, how impossible it is to attain enlightenment in this very lifetime, in this very, very mundane situation that we are living in.

 

That's why I ran to the Himalayas, because I thought only in a mysterious place and a faraway place, with nobody there and no contamination, no pollution, then I would attain enlightenment. And then I went through a lot of hardships - eating once a day, etc., didn't sleep at night; just sitting all night long, etc., etc. -

 

I thought all this hard work would earn me Buddhahood. Only after a long time, feeling hungry for a long time, and sometimes cold and miserable, and then after some time, I realized that it is not necessary, all these things, because the Buddha is very merciful; doesn't want us to suffer like that.

 

Then, after I began to share my experience with other people, and then I realized more that they could just sit in their house, driving their Mercedes, eating their beautiful noodles in the first-class restaurant and still have enlightenment.

 

Some of our fellow practitioners in the same Quan Yin Method, their level of spiritual awakening is very high, and they have never been to the Himalayas and they have never eaten once a day or never had to meditate all night through; and every one of them can testify to that.

 

So, the only thing we need is the correct way of practice and a friend, or a teacher or a guide, who knows already the way to practice and to share that experience with us, and then we can just do it anywhere. Of course, we don't have to change our way of life and our mode of living, also our place of inhabitance, to reach enlightenment.

 

We can do, if we want to. If we feel it is more conducive to our spiritual practice and gives us more peace of mind and more help in our spiritual endeavor, then we may do, we may do. We may change to a saffron robe, we may go to the temple, we may go to the forest, or we may change our job to a more quiet environment, etc., etc., when all these really give us a better feeling of wellbeing, so that we can practice better.

 

We may do that. But not all persons have the luxury of choice that he can do what he wants because most of us are responsible persons who have families, who have parents, children, wife, husband, and social duties to fulfill. If we all run into the forest then the city is empty. I don't think I would suggest that.

 

So, when the Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, was still alive, he had a multitude of disciples from different walks of life: different backgrounds, different positions, different intellectual talents and different religious beliefs also.

 

After the Buddha entered Nirvana, the successor had been bestowed upon mostly the monks. Because many of his monks had attained enough awakening to carry on his noble teachings. And also because the monks are more free in their obligation. They have nothing to worry about: they don't have to stay with the family, they don't have to provide food for family, etc. They're free to travel anywhere and to meet the demand of the devotees, to teach them the way to practice.

 

But that doesn't mean that he has no enlightened householder disciples. One of his foremost disciples was Vimalakirti and he was a householder, rich person. He had never left home, never shaved his head, never became a monk.

 

But all the monks of the Buddha were afraid of him because he was very, very highly awakened, almost near to the Buddha - Buddhahood. So, whenever the monks or anyone visited Vimalakirti, they were very respectful and very, very aware of his spiritual power. Also, like the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, she has never appeared as a monk or nun, and many other saints in Buddhism. I think you know.

 

So, after studying all these messages from the ancient practitioners, I thought, “Only by becoming a monk and nun can you attain Buddhahood,” but afterward, I realized it's not necessary.

 

Similarly, now most of us have become grown up, in the middle age of our life, and we sometimes think it's too late to get enlightenment, or we're too tied-up with worldly duties; but it's not too late, and it's not difficult.

 

We also have monks and nuns, monastic fellow practitioners - even from different religious backgrounds, not only Buddhism. We have also Catholic nuns and priests and they also practice with us. But most of our fellow practitioners are ordinary householders who work, earn a living, take care of their family and meditate in the night.

 

We can use our spare time to meditate before we sleep after we have finished with our household duties, and/or we can wake up one hour or half an hour early in the morning to meditate while everyone is still asleep. And because we have very little time to meditate like that due to our very busy schedule of a householder, we have more longing in our heart, and that will add extra blessing to our spiritual practice.

 

That's why I have found out that many of our so-called householder practitioners, they progress very, very fast from one level to the next. Very, very fast. Because meditation means you concentrate on one subject or one thing. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to cross your legs and sit there, fixed, locked in one position for hours on end. Spiritual practice concerns the mind, not the body.

 

After the mind is controlled, the body is controlled. That's why sometimes if you already practice some kind of meditation, you will find out that sometimes if your mind is very turbulent and in trouble, you hardly can sit.

 

That's why we do not emphasize to people that they have to practice the position first, but we emphasize that we will help you to unlock the extra controlling power, so that at the beginning of your practice you can immediately calm your mind and have an immediate result of enlightenment so that you can be encouraged and continue further with your practice.

 

We help you to unlock your controlling power from the highest source of the Buddha Nature, or what we call the Kingdom of God in different religions. There is a way to do everything in this world and in Heaven. The secret is we know the way. That's why once we know the secret, we can do it easily. If we don't know the secret, it doesn't matter how hard we try, how sincere we are, we will not have results, as we wanted. It is like everything else - very logical and very easy to learn if we want to.

 

Enlightenment is the easiest thing to do in this world. If you want to become president or prime minister of Thailand, I cannot promise that. But if you want to become enlightened, okay. Because it's so easy. You can ask all of our fellow practitioners. They can guarantee you that it's very easy. That's why we call it “immediate enlightenment.”

 

Of course, when I talk, I am not instructing you for enlightenment; but if you give the instruction, you get it. Right now, I am only advertising, but if you want it, we can give you the cake right away; it's no problem. And enlightenment doesn't interfere with our daily life, doesn't make us feel a stranger to this place.

 

Doesn't mean we have to run away from the family or do anything strange. Just carry on living as usual except our wisdom is open. We can use it to help the society, help our families, liberate our attachment and become more helpful, more intelligent, more efficient in our daily work.

It is the correct way of life. Not that the Buddha cares what we eat, but because after enlightenment, we realize that we and all beings are the same, and we have compassion. We don't want to cause further suffering if we can help it, if we can control it. And that, we can.

 

In the Nirvana Sutra, the Buddha advises the disciples that when the monks go out for alms, if the people give food with some meat in it, then they should just wash away the meat part and then eat. But that was in India.

 

It's easier because most of the Indian people are vegetarian. I know a group of practitioners, they are all vegetarian. They're also monks and nuns; they also come out for alms. But I think they tell the people that they are vegetarian so they also get vegetarian food. I know one group. I have visited their ashram; it's near Bangkok. So I think it's also no problem.

 

Difficult maybe, but not impossible. Anyhow, some of our practitioners thought that they could, even, never give up meat because they are so used to it and they cannot imagine without meat, “how can they grow？” But there is possibility. It's no problem. If you want, I can introduce you to some giant disciples, who eat vegetarian since they were in their mother's womb, and no problem.

 

Or maybe you go to the zoo and look at the elephant and compare it to the tiger. Elephant, tiger. So, you do not worry. Anyhow, this is just introducing to you our way of teaching, our way of Buddha, not to force you or to try to offend you. You are free to choose the way you live your life.

 

But since you come here, we, of course, have a duty to introduce to you what we are here for and what we'd like to share with you. So, these are just some small things actually. Some people also have enlightenment, even though they do not change to vegetarian diet - it happens also - but mostly we will reach a certain level of enlightenment only.

 

 I do not know if they can go beyond that to go into the higher dimension of consciousness with a non-vegetarian diet, with a very heavy meat diet. But according to what I study and I know, most of the great teachers emphasize vegetarian diet, including Jesus. And even Muhammad, the Prophet.

 

If we study more carefully into the Qur'an and the scriptures, it's always emphasized that don't eat the meat, don't drink wine. And of course, in Buddhism, there are so many sutras that emphasize vegetarianism so I do not need to repeat too much here. Anyhow, we have two kinds of practice to suit different people. One is very serious.

 

 If you would like to pursue it seriously to the end, then we must clear our speech, body, and mind of all the obstruction, including the meat diet. And we have found out that without the meat karma (retribution), we progress faster and have less obstruction, and less sickness,less mental struggle,and less bodily weakness.

 

So the vegetarian diet, from ancient times, is truly a recommended must for the serious spiritual practitioners.  There is another way for those who like to relax and take what they can; this is what we call “convenient practitioners.” They eat vegetarian whenever is convenient for them and as much as they can, and they practice also some kind of lighter meditation technique.

 

They will get blessing, enlightenment also, to some degree. And the first one is more powerful for themselves as well as for the people who contact them. They will have more power to bless people, not to talk about their deceased relatives, five, six, seven, ten above generations.

 

They will liberate them by the mere merit of their practice and enlightenment - for the first, serious, people. And their power is vast and limitless - even before they attain Buddhahood. Because they're very connected with the Buddha Nature and the Buddha Nature is mighty./And because of the direction, the conception that they choose to live their lives.

 

They want to liberate themselves, liberate the sentient beings, and they sacrifice everything, including their diet, to get this merit, to get this power. That's why they get it. Of course you get what you want and what you work for, right？ And the other, the second degree, half-serious people or relaxingly-serious people, can get half of the power, can liberate themselves or a few acquaintances and a few close loved ones.

 

That's also not bad. It is still better than drowning in the sea of transmigration life after life, and cannot help themselves and cannot help others. Now I have to clear something: it's not the diet, it's not the vegetarian, it's not the conception alone that give us the power of liberation and blessing. Otherwise, we'd just sit at home wanting and that's enough. Or the elephant, or the buffalo would have become a Buddha a long time before we talked about this. So now, we must also know where the door is - the door to Buddha's land, the invisible eye of wisdom - we must know where it is and we must know how to open it. Because the soul, the Self, the true Self, the Buddha Nature is encaged and the door is locked and that's why we suffer, that's why we are imprisoned in this physical body and in the physical illusion of this world.

 

Otherwise, there is no creation, no world, no suffering. But it's all right to have creation, to have world. It's also fun; just like watching movies.Only after enlightenment, we can realize that this is movies. 

Otherwise, we sink deep in the sorrow of the theater and we cannot even leave it. That's the problem. So, as I have mentioned before, most of us are very shy and reserved and have not too much self-confidence. That's why we do not get enlightenment; otherwise, enlightenment is already there. It's our own treasure, our own Nature, and it's not too late.

We can always have it now. Right now, after this lecture. Before you go home, you'll become a Buddha. Well, or at least 10% Buddha, then you'll develop more every day. Ten percent is better than nothing, no？ So because enlightenment has many degrees, you see, so I cannot tell you that you'll become Buddha right away, but you'll get enlightenment.

Because, of course, you can become Buddha right away. It's just our preconceived ideas cannot allow it so we cling to our ignorant state and we can't believe it. So, the Master takes time, just a little bit at a time, so we don't feel too overwhelmed, too powerful for us and we cannot bear, the body and mind cannot bear.

That's why we say about 10%, 20%, 50%, 60%; but there is no percentage in Buddhahood, really. Some of the newly initiated, they go right to the Third, or the Fifth Level of Heaven. It is not rare, not impossible. The more simple, the more pure, the more faith in the heart, the higher the level. ] Not because purity symbolizes the high level, it is that the purity allows us to understand our high level better than the complicated mind. Why？ Because we are originally Buddhas.

 

 We are the children of God. Every religion tells us that. Unless the Buddha told lies, Jesus told lies, or Muhammad told jokes, then I cannot be responsible. But I have practiced hard and I realize that they told the truth. We are really Buddhas; but some are stupid Buddhas. The stupid brain obstructs the Buddha Nature. So now we have to open cut through, the intellect, cut through the mind-thinking process, go directly to the source of wisdom that is our Buddha Nature. That's the process of initiation, of enlightenment, so-called awakening, immediate awakening.

 

Most of us identify ourselves with the mind, with the computer brain inside that “I like smoking,” “I like drinking,” “I am bad tempered,” “I am good,” “I am this, I am that.” It is only mind talking. All this "I am" is just a habit, just a collection of a way of living in this world, of our brain-computer analyzing things. It is not the true "I am". It's not the true Self.

 

And because we identify ourselves with all this habit and the brain working, we think we are that person, this person - bad, or good, or charitable, or angry, etc., etc. This is not the real Self. Our real Self is beyond that. It is the Buddha. Without opening the door and cutting through the mind to get in contact with the real source, we will forever be identifying ourselves with our habits, with the things that we collect from our neighbors and society, with the things that we learn in this world.

 

We never know our great, true, glorious Self which is the Buddha, and then we will forever have an inferiority complex. We will feel that we will never become a Buddha, that the Buddha is something that only happens once in millions of years

To worship a Buddha is very good;

but it's not all that good. It has side-effects, like everything else. Because we alienate ourselves with the Buddha; we differentiate, we separate ourselves from the Buddha, when the Buddha already mentioned that “I and sentient beings are one.” No difference.

 

And we make Buddhahood something farfetched, something just to look at or to dream about. We never can dare to think that we might reach Buddhahood ourselves. And that is the side-effect of worshipping, too much, a Buddha. We heard that the Buddha may be different from us when he was born, but we were not there, we're not sure whether it's true.

 

For example, when the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps, and then he put his thumb up and down and said, "From Heaven and Earth, I am the greatest." And we cling to this story, and we think because he is so special - he walked when he was born - so he became Buddha. It could have happened, but I am not sure.

 

Otherwise, all I studied about Buddha's life is just that he is like one of us. He eats, he sleeps, he studies, he meditates until he gets enlightenment. And before that he eats and drinks, makes merry, has hundreds of wives and a luxurious life. So, here you are. All I know about his life is since his birth he lived in luxury. He never paid tax, he never worked; he only enjoyed , and then he walked out and became Buddha. So, why not us？

 

The Buddha has 84,000 methods to teach the disciples. I think I'll make use of every one of them. Anything that can help sentient beings to realize their true nature and leave aside the attachment at the end, it is a good method, it's a good way. It is the same way of learning, just a more charming, more attractive way of learning. For example, if the children sometimes don't like to learn,

 

it's difficult for them to remember ABC and things like that, and the teacher makes a song out of it. I heard a little girl singing A,B,C,D,E,F,G... something like that. She sings all day long and then she feels that it's fun. It's a song. It's not homework so she learned quicker.

 

Because all of us have a different mentality. Some of us put things down quickly, some of us put them down slowly. It doesn't matter. Why be in a hurry？ Besides, our world needs to be beautified. It's already miserable and doesn't look good. Why don't we beautify the world by every means we can？ If everyone all wear a monk's robe then also doesn't look good.

 

Just a way of putting color into this miserable situation and trying to make the best out of our lives while we are waiting for our final liberation from the physical prison. But it's very difficult, very difficult, I know.

 

Most of us are too shy, too reserved or too serious to enjoy it. We have to break through and be natural. But it is very difficult. We make a Buddha out of any teacher that we think is enlightened, and make a miserable Buddha out of him or her.

 

That's what stops us from becoming a Buddha. Because we limit ourselves; we put a wall in front of us, between us and the Buddha. That's the terrifying effect of conception, rules, regulation, people, brainwashing into our mind. It freezes your life, freezes your spirit, makes you become useless.

 

I thought you have to fight for what you want. If you love the girl, you're willing to have a duel with anybody and risk your life for her, why not a Buddha or enlightenment？ That's what stops us from becoming a Buddha and enlightened, nothing else: fear.

 

So, this is what's wrong with us. We have too many wrong conceptions, like what the Buddha should be; how we should act towards a Buddha; how the Buddha should talk to people; sitting cross-legged, but not lying down, like a lying Buddha is no Buddha. But I remember going to see a very famous Bangkok temple, there is a lying Buddha. All the people come and bow to him.

 

So, what's wrong with us？ Fear, wrong conception, limited ideas about ourselves. So, let's set free. Let's become Buddha. No, not become Buddha, let's remember that we are the Buddha.  And if you still don't remember, let me help you through initiation. Thank you.

 

Why would it be detrimental to our spiritual progress to use spiritual power to cure others' illness as is stated in the initiation registration form？ I am a Reiki practitioner and very interested in further spiritual progress.

 

It is because we are leaking our power instead of preserving it until we reach Buddhahood, and then we can heal without healing, heal without hands, without having to lay hands on people; heal without even people have to tell you about their illness; heal without even knowing that you heal people. And that's the highest healing.

 

You can heal if you want to waste your power before you attain it. But if you want to attain the Buddhahood, attain the state of “healing without healing,” then you must conserve it first. A Quan Yin practitioner, after some time of practice, can heal people who have an affinity with him, even thousands of miles away, even if they don't even know each other. No need to lay hands on them or do anything. So, it's not that I forbid you to use spiritual power to heal people, I just want to show you a greater way of healing.

 

The next question is in Thai. There are three questions in total.
The first is: What is Quan Yin Method？ The second is: Where do we go after we die？ And the third is: What is the state of Buddha？

 

Quan Yin Method is the way to open your own Buddha wisdom and recognize yourself as a Buddha, as you originally were before you have this illusionary birth in this world. And // where you go after you die depends on what you do before you die.  If you do virtuous things and if you practice spiritual enlightenment, then you go to a very high level of Heaven or Buddha's land. If not, then you have to come back to this world or do some other things another time and in other places.

 

They ask: What is wrong sexual action？ ( Sexual misconduct.) Right. (Okay.) Why don't we inhibit sexual action absolutely？ (Altogether？) Absolutely.

Then the Buddha can never be born in this world again.
The “sexual misconduct” means you have already one wife or one husband and you better not hurt your partner by having another one.  We don't have to inhibit sexual activities altogether because this is not so urgent a necessity for spiritual practice.

 

Because the body chemistry has been working in this way for a long time and if suddenly you break it right away, it will break. It will have serious side-effects and mental consequences. This is not conducive for spiritual tranquility. And after you practice spiritually for a long time, this will reduce by itself. That is better.

 

They would like to know: Which one is the real husband and wife, in your opinion？ The first is the one that is registered according to the law; the other one is they were in the religious rite and have acceptance from the relatives; and the third one is they have a responsibility to each other. Or they have to have the three of them？ Which one is the real husband and wife in your meaning？

 

Why so complicated？ (I don't know.) Why don't you have one wife and have these three conditions together and be finished with it？ According to our worldly tradition, a wife is the one who gets married with the husband, registered, relatives recognized and are also responsible with each other. Is that not so？

 

Why must there be three persons？ Mostly they are also religiously married, like most Catholics, they go to the church, so that should be done, once. Unless the person who asked is a Muslim or something, then I can explain further. Is that right？ Is that from a Muslim？ Okay, it happens in this country that a man can marry many times. Is that right？

 

This morning I went out because I could not go out with my chauffeur, I took a taxi. I went out just to go to see the region, and the taxi driver happened to be a Muslim, and he talked about having many wives in his religious tradition, so by the way I can make use of that for you now.

 

And he asked me about many wives and things like that, so I said: “Well, originally the Prophet Muhammad allowed men in the Muslim religion to have many wives because there was a very necessary reason at that time.” At that time, the Muslim religion was persecuted and many disciples were killed. And they virtually had a war with the government at that time and many disciples were killed, the men were killed.

 

And, of course, all the widows and children were left behind, so, the Prophet allowed his disciples to take care of the wives and children of his deceased spiritual brothers. And that is the correct way to do so; they must do so. They must do it, because at that time the women were not able to take care of themselves.

 

They were not allowed to work or go out and things like that, so they totally depended on the men, and if her man died, she was done. So, the other brothers who were left behind had to take care of these widows, whether with children or without children. It's not necessarily physically sexual contact or things like that. It might be just to protect them.

 

And this is love and compassion and brotherly concern. That is correct. It could be a true marriage also, but then with the consent of the first wife. And also, the Prophet had emphasized that the man must be able to provide each wife equally the same care and attention. That's why, because of the situation.

 

He also had to consider for the first family, not that everybody would just take the whole…all the family neighbors in and then everybody goes hungry. That was a great tradition which came from love and brotherhood. But, nowadays, many people make wrong use of it for their own, maybe selfish, enjoyment and sometimes cause pain in the immediate family.

 

So, by the way, I think without enlightenment, it's easy for us to misunderstand religious scriptures and the intention of the great masters of the past. That's why we see so many religious wars still going on in our world today, at the near 21st century. It's a very, very sad situation.

 

Maybe not exactly killing with knives but killing with words and killing with criticism, killing with black-naming and damaging reputations in the press and anywhere. So, let's pray that these situations will become better and no more of this quarreling among brothers, at least from the same religious belief.

 

We all love poetry, songs, and expressions of emotions. For example, when we were young, we loved our parents, our pets, and our classmates, and so on. When we grow up, we love our partner. Then, when we get even older, we start to miss God, who represents our best quality. Every one of us likes that kind of romantic quality.. Why is that？

 

Join us on Supreme Master Television on Saturday, March 26, for our program, “Supreme Master Ching Hai's Book Premiere: `The Love of Centuries,' Chinese Edition,” on Words of Wisdom.

 

Tune in to Supreme Master Television today for our program, “Supreme Master Ching Hai's Book Premiere: `The Love of Centuries,' Chinese Edition,” on Words of Wisdom.

Q; We would like to invite you to come back to Hat Yai, Songkhla again every year or every two years. Is it possible?



;Thank you for your invitation. I cannot promise. But if I can, I will, yes. So many invitations around the world, the invitations pile up so long, I cannot promise. I am not very good at going into the public and giving lectures. I must admit to you, I am very shy and I have to really, really make an effort to force myself to do it.



Sometimes a nation, a country, or a place invites me four, five times before I nod my head. But never mind, keep inviting and then finally maybe I'd say yes. Or sometimes the Buddha kicks me out. "Go out! Work!" Then I have to do. Otherwise, there is another solution, better, that you become Buddha and then you do it for me. Because maybe you have a better personality, you like the public better or you're more outgoing;



I am more reserved. I sometimes complain to the Buddha. I'd say, “They picked the wrong guy!” And the Buddha said to me, “But nobody else wants to do it.” The Buddha said, "It's okay, you are usable, you're not bad. It's okay. Better than no one."



Q; After we get initiated, what kind of advice would the Master say to the disciple and how do we know what is the real wisdom eye, what is illusion?



Yes, of course, there are instructions for you verbally, before and after enlightenment. And even if you have any more questions, you can always write to me or ask the older disciples. So, no problem; we stay in contact. Besides, you can also ask inside. As soon as you ask the question, the answer's there. Communicate inside, not outside.



And you get information during meditation, during sleep, during rest hour or during bus rides. You can meditate on the bus, meditate on the airplane, anywhere, and get information from inside. Yes, sometimes you can see the Master in your house also and ask directly, no problem. But, the Master won't stay very long, don't worry. Just maybe a few seconds or minutes, not stay for lunch or dinner, sleep in your house. It's just the transformation body.



Looks like, but not the same. Sometimes can touch, most of the time cannot. So, no cost, transportation, or meal or drinks - nothing.



Q; Could you please describe briefly the process of initiation?



The initiation is comprised of two parts. The first part is the verbal instruction, like how you sit so that you can relax, or you sit in any position you like, or where you concentrate or what you should do during the meditation, so that you can do it every day without a teacher beside you; and also how you can distinguish between illusion and a real vision, between a Buddha's land and maya's tricks, things like that.



And the second part, more important, is the silent transmission - because the real transmission doesn't need language - and then you will be awakened. Your spiritual wisdom opens and you might see the Light and hear the Self Nature. Like the Buddha said, "Listen inward, listen to your Self Nature." Or, like in the Bible, it says, "the Word of God".




These Lights from Heaven or from Buddha's land and the melodious teaching from Heaven or from Buddha's land, it is our own Self Nature, and that will make us wiser and freer each day.// And then, more and more we will rely on our Self Nature and our Self Master inside, and the outside Master is only standing by and helping. That's why the Buddha said, "Rely on your Self and only your Self." But first we must know where to find that "Self" and then rely on it every day.



Q; Dear Master, can we use creative visualization to achieve what we want in life, even if we are a Quan Yin practitioner?



Sure, sure, sure. Can combine. But the Quan Yin power, the power of enlightenment, is the real power that supports our imagination. Otherwise, if we just imagine, nothing will happen. First, we must have the substance, then we can create out of that. For example, first you must have a bank account and then you can fancy, “Oh, today I want a new dress, I want new jewelry. I'll go and get the money and buy exactly the diamond that I want, so big.”



That is your imagination; how big the diamond, how much it costs, is your imagination. But the money must be there. So, after enlightenment, we can imagine that, "Oh, today, Master, please take me to the Second Level, please take me to the Amitaba Buddha." We can imagine that and we can pray for that, we can visualize that, but the Master power must be there to take us to where we want to go.



Q; Dear Master, I have read your book, your sample book and love your teaching very much and would like very much to be initiated. But the question is that, after initiation can I still talk or chat with my girlfriend or boyfriend? If my boyfriend or girlfriend got initiation, or we practice together, will we still be close to each other as normal lovers?



Oh, my God. Did I ever forbid you?

Please carry on your normal activities and relationship. Don't make a bad reputation of my teaching by being strange -not talking to boyfriends and girlfriends. I told you already, people have families, have kids, and carry on their normal loving relationship with each other; everything that is done with true love is sacred.



We only advise people that sex without love is an abusing physical action and that will leave you feeling empty and dry. So, it is better to love each other, to have a loving relationship, or marriage, when you have physical enjoyment with each other. That is more sacred. Love will purify everything and will make you feel fulfilled and clean. Otherwise, it will make you feel guilty and feel bad and feel depleted.



Q; Dear Master, we seek your enlightenment on the following questions: First, there are many tapes on sale in the market where the recitation of certain sutras, the mantras, or the names of certain Buddhas, like Amitabha Buddha or the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, were recorded and sold. When we play these tapes at home or at any place, would these attract other beings and spirits to listen to the tapes? And if so, would the playing of such tapes in the temple, at home, or at a funeral, bless the said beings and spirits?




It would bless the deceased people if those who chant these tapes are spiritually elevated and highly awakened beings. It will not do any good if the person who chants them has no spiritual power. Because the tape recorders cannot bless any beings. It's not the words, it's not the teaching; it's the spiritual power behind the teaching.



Q; They ask why are there rules and regulations for the initiation process. We have a lot of that and it's very difficult for normal people to practice.



A lot? Only five. First: don't kill.

Is that a rule? It's normal. Is that not normal? Okay, second: don't tell lies./Or you want to tell lies? You want to follow the Truth or you want to follow falsehood? If we want to follow the Truth, we have to begin with speech, action, and thinking. If you want to go south, you have to head south; otherwise, you go further from the Truth if you do the opposite thing.




The third: don't steal things from people. Or you want people to steal things from you? Is that normal? You know what stealing costs? Not only damages our life and reputation, it damages the whole country sometimes, and damages the whole economical system of a country, especially the Saudi Arabian gems lately.




Just for a few stones, doesn't matter how precious, it's only stones, and the whole nation is in shame. The whole government is busy, the whole head of policemen are in prisons, and many families out of work. The country lost billions of dollars, and international reputation. Think about it. Many people are murdered, many innocent people are blackened and it could cause war between countries. Is it worth it?



Now the fourth:no sexual misconduct, no adultery.  Well, if you don't believe me, take a few more wives and then see how you make war for your life. Then see where you sleep. You end up with no wife, maybe sleeping on the street. How can you have peace in your heart if you have so many wars in your house? And how can you meditate if you don't have peace? It's only to protect your peace so that you can advance quickly in your Buddha career.



The fifth: don't gamble, drink alcohol and drugs. Or do you want?



These are good for you. Or you want to get addicted on drugs and alcohol or lose all your life and earnings in gambling? You want it? After you're drunk, you don't know who is your wife, who is your neighbors anymore, and then you make trouble, too. And how many people die while drunk driving?




You'll become a dead Buddha in no time. So now, tell me what is not normal about my rules and regulations, and tell me what normal people don't want to keep these rules and regulations. Just your fear. Yes, think about it. Nothing to fear. Very simple, no?




Q; They ask about the Chinese people's belief about their ancestors, and they ask whether the spirit is real, whether the spirit really exists.




Because, these people, if they are not liberated, they cling to their habit-forming pattern of life, and after they lose this body, they still don't know it. Some of them don't know that they are dead. Because they have another body exactly like this one, even though other people cannot touch and see it, the dead people see the same, so they continue like when they were alive until they know that they are dead.



But because their conception did not change, they were not liberated while they were alive; therefore,
when they are dead, they are also not liberated.They continue for some time until they are fed up and their time is up, then they change the pattern.



Even this physical body, also illusion, never mind the dead body. Even while we are alive, we still cling to this illusion, so how can we let go when we're dead? That's why the Buddha emphasized that you have to be liberated while you are alive.



Because this physical body exists only because our conception of material existence exists. That's why sometimes during meditation we don't see our body anymore: all gone; only light, nothing more.  That's why sometimes people practice also magical power.They can disintegrate their body through the walls or disappear so we don't see. That's the proof of the illusion of the body.



But to the ghosts, they don't know that. That's why they are truly deceased spirits. Sometimes they attach to the physical life and make trouble for the living. If we are not enlightened in this life, maybe we will join them very soon. So, make the choice now: join the Buddha or join the ghosts.




Q; I have to be in a Buddhist temple and I have to pray some mantra for the dead bodies. After initiation, can I still work like this?




Yes, I don't think that's a bad job. There are worse jobs in Thailand, no? But it depends on how you do it. If we do it as a job, as a duty assigned to us, then it's all right. If we believe that without spiritual power we can liberate these souls by empty words, then we are wrong.



Because we must liberate ourselves and have spiritual power. Then whatever we do, we benefit sentient beings whether alive or dead.




Q; Master, if I am not initiated but if I'm always diligent and sincere, will you communicate with me?




Then why don't you get initiated? Otherwise, what are you diligent on? What are you sincere about? There are two ways you can join: the Convenient Method, or get initiation.  Convenient Method is for the people who do not yet seriously want to commit or don't know if they can commit so, and initiation is for the serious people who want to go through.



There are also many people who don't get Convenient Method and also not initiated, they stay home and pray for the so-called “Master Ching Hai,” they also get a response, but I am not sure whether you are one of them. You can try, and tell me whether it works. Because I don't pray to “Master Ching Hai,” so I don't know.




Q; What do we do to attain the real Spirit, the Self of ourselves, the real Spirit of ourselves?



Get initiation and meditate every day. Keep the precepts, eat vegetarian diet.





Q; If we follow the Quan Yin Method, how long do we need in order to be liberated as a Buddha? And after we are liberated, what will it be like? How will it be?




After initiation, you get liberation right away. Actually, you are already liberated, just you don't know. So, you need clearing, with the initiation and the meditation process, to clear your vision. Not only you are liberated, your deceased relatives, many generations, will also derive from your merit and be liberated as well. That's guaranteed. But to become a Buddha, it takes maybe longer. //Because you have forgotten that you are a Buddha for a long time now, it takes a long time to remember again. That's why we need to meditate every day.




Because maybe today we remember, tomorrow we forget because it is eons of lifetimes that we have forgotten already. So it takes a long time to remember that we are Buddha, not that we become a Buddha. But you become liberated in this lifetime and after you leave this world whether you have reached the Buddha stage or not reached the Buddha stage, because the teacher is responsible for your liberation and will take you out of the transmigration after you leave this world.  Otherwise, no need a teacher, or that teacher is not worth it. Thank you for your loving attention.



Thank you, Master. Thank you very much.



I wish you a good night's sleep and a relaxing feeling and early Buddhahood.




Why is it so important to have complete devotion to one's spiritual teacher or master? Discover the wisdom of the sages and prophets by joining us on Thursday, March 31, on Words of Wisdom.