Rediscover Our Supreme Wisdom

Supreme Master Ching Hai
A Master from the Himalayas

Three-time invited lecturer for the United Nations
Recipient of the World Peace Award and the World Spiritual Leadership Award
Rediscover Our Supreme Wisdom

– 1993 World Lecture Tour –
A collection of spiritual teachings by
Supreme Master Ching Hai
I do not belong to Buddhism or Catholicism. I belong Only if we find God will we find true happiness, true peace,
to the Truth and I preach the Truth. You may call it everlasting bliss, even in this life and the life after.
Buddhism, Catholicism, Taoism, or whatever you like.
I welcome all! Since the ancient time there is always a There’s only one religion: The religion of God, of love and of
way to go back to the kingdom of God, there is always understanding. There’s only one church, one temple: The
a way to see God. temple of enlightenment. Come to that temple; then we’ll
know all religions of the world.
The most important thing in this world, regardless of
our mission, is to love one another. You have to have I dream that all the world will become peaceful. I dream that
a mighty determination, like a lion. You have to have a all the killing will stop. I dream that all the children will walk
very loving heart, so soft like a feather, that every little in peace and harmony. I dream that all the nations shake
thing moves it. hands with each other, protect each other and help each
other. I dream that our beautiful planet will not be
We have to be like an audience. We have to be wise destroyed. It takes billions, billions, trillions of years to
enough, enlightened enough to watch all the games of produce this planet and it’s so beautiful, so wonderful. I
the universe, and get out of the suffering. dream that it will continue, but in peace, beauty and love.
Contents and original words in this book are permeated with

grace and blessings of Supreme Master Ching Hai
The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
Offices in all major cities and countries around the world
Headquarters: PO Box 730247, San Jose, CA 95173-0247, U.S.A.
P.O. Box 9 Hsihu Hsiang, Miaoli Hsien, Formosa (Taiwan 36899)
Copyright @ 2010
Supreme Master Ching Hai – Rediscover Our Supreme Wisdom 2
Contents
Page
Preface 4
Introduction 6
The heavenly cardinal Supreme Master Ching Hai 7
A biography of Supreme Master Ching Hai 9
Rediscover our supreme wisdom – 1993 world lecture tour

The Far East
1. What makes a country great – Singapore, March 8 13
2. Back to the Golden Era – Singapore, March 9 33
Australia
3. To be one with God is to do without doing – Melbourne, March 14 49
4. How suffering can lead us to happiness – Sydney, March 16 68
5. Seek you first the kingdom of God – Sydney, March 17 82
6. You are the Supreme Master – Brisbane, March 20 97
7. It is you who bless yourself – Brisbane, March 21 111
Hawaii and Mexico
8. Be practical and spiritual – Honolulu, March 27 127
9. We are the Supreme Master – Honolulu, March 28 148
10. The communication with God, all of us can attain – Mexico, April 1 159
The United States of America and Canada
11. We must find our real self – California, April 3 169
12. Master power brings enlightenment – Washington D.C., April 7 185
13. To appreciate life, start with enlightenment – Colorado, April 10 203
14. Enlightenment is the tool for everything – Washington D.C., May 14 223
15. Turn inward and listen to the heavenly teachings – Quebec, April 17 240
Europe
16. Let God serve through us – Switzerland, April 20 249
17. Perceive the Truth by inner wisdom – Switzerland, April 21 255
18. Rediscover the Truth, goodness, and beauty – France, April 24 269
19. For a happy life, go in my direction – Austria, April 27 280
20. Retrieve the language of God – Austria, April 27 285
21. God gives the most beautiful gift to the people of the world – Belgium, April 29 293
22. Escape the vicious cycle of reincarnation – Germany, April 30 307
23. The true meaning of initiation – Germany, May 1 317
24. Bring heaven into our lives – Germany, May 4 334
The Quan Yin Method – The Key of Immediate Enlightenment and Eternal Liberation
Asia
25. The spirit that dwells within – South Korea, May 8 344
26. Above the intellect – South Korea, May 15 353
27. Live a balanced life in this world and heaven – Japan, May 22 362
28. Rediscover the supreme power within yourself – Hong Kong, May 28 371
29. Enlightenment: The way to get out of the life and death cycle – Malaysia, June 4 386
30. The heavenly melodious teaching – Thailand, June 12 402
Initiation into the Quan Yin method of meditation 411
The Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings on line 413
How to contact us 414
Introduction to our publications 415
Beautiful gifts for yourselves and your loved ones 418
Veganism in religions 421
Benefits of a vegan diet and harms of meat consumption 422
Alternative living 423
Supreme Master Television 424
A little message:
In speaking of God, or the supreme spirit, Master instructs us to use original non-sexist
terms to avoid the argument about whether God is a She or a He.
She + He = Hes (as in Bless).
Her + Him = Hirm (as in Firm).
Hers + His = Hiers (as in Dear).
Example: When God wants, Hes makes things happen according to Hiers will to suit
Hirmself.
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As a creator of artistic designs as well as a spiritual Teacher, Supreme Master Ching Hai
loves all expressions of inner beauty. It is for this reason that She refers to Vietnam as ‘Au
Lac’ and Taiwan as ‘Formosa’. Au Lac is the ancient name of Vietnam and means
‘happiness’. And the name Formosa reflects more completely the beauty of the island and
its people. Master feels that using these names brings spiritual elevation and luck to the
land and its inhabitants.
--------
The logo’s characters, SM, stand for Supreme Master, signifying the Supreme Master
power within everyone. The logo is an interweaving of red and gold colors. Red
symbolizes the physical body, while gold represents the radiant Buddha nature or kingdom
of God within.
--------
Abbreviations - ‘Q’: Question; ‘M’: Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Preface
This book is a compilation of original public lectures and interviews given by Supreme Master
Ching Hai during Her 1993 world lecture tour. With the help of many fellow disciples who
transcribed and translated dozens of lectures, a book began to take form. Through dedicated
patience, devotional love, help from fellow disciples and the grace of the Master, this work is now
presented to you. The entire contents of this book are the original words of the Master, recorded
verbatim. Editing has been done only on the order of quotes, and on the grammar and punctuation
of the transcriptions themselves.
Through the spoken words, a living Master can bring ancient wisdom to life. To experience these
discourses in person, the seeker is affected on all levels of understanding, beyond space and time,
far beyond any mental concept. These types of Masters, having become fully conscious of their
supreme nature within, offer a perfect mirror of the most noble and divine qualities within each of
us, a reflection of our own potential for self-mastery. As one comes into contact with this perfect
image, one’s life begins to turn away from fear and self-doubt and to move toward more tolerance
and compassion, more hope and joy.
Such is the experience that countless hundreds, thousands, millions of people have had in the
presence of Supreme Master Ching Hai. She speaks above and beyond general philosophy and
theology, echoing the Truth, which lies directly in the hearts of all seekers. This kind of experience
is beyond the words alone, but rather an invisible connection all of us share with the infinite.
Through Her words, Her eyes and Her voice, one can obtain limitless blessing and inspiration. With
Her help and the practice of the Quan Yin method of meditation, one can quickly progress along
the path to full enlightenment.
Supreme Master Ching Hai is world-renowned for Her great wisdom, sense of humor, humility and
deep compassion. She has traveled to all parts of the world dedicating Herself and Her time in
order to teach others that the Truth we all seek is not far away. Her multi-cultural background (She
is fluent in five languages English, German, Chinese, French and Aulacese) allows Her to express
one ageless Truth in a multitude of ways, so that each individual receives his or her own answer,
according to his or her own needs.
Through daily practice of a non-denominational meditation technique call the Quan Yin method
(contemplation of the inner Sound stream); we can all attain understanding of the great joy,
compassion and heavenly bliss described within religious and spiritual scriptures around the world.
More than just a simple meditation technique, this living teaching brings to anyone who sincerely
desires it the ability to carry the meditative state into all parts of their lives. It offers each of us a
way to have true love and understanding for our fellow beings, to play our part in society while still
keeping our mind clear of worry and attachment, and a way to find freedom here and beyond this
world.
All of this, Master Ching Hai offers free of charge and conditions to anyone seeking the Truth. She
does not personally accept any donations, all of Her public lectures are offered free of charge, and
initiation into the Quan Yin method of meditation is given to anyone who is truly dedicated to their
own spiritual development. Master says that a spiritual Teacher should never charge the student
for what they already own. She simply opens the door to our own inner wisdom and then guides
and protects us until we have fully realized our own treasure inside.
May the Truth guide you along the path to your own great awakening.
Introduction
Every human being has, at one time or another, wondered about the deeper meaning of his or her
life. We witness on a daily basis the suffering caused by our ignorance, often feeling helpless to
change it. But, we are also blessed with brief glimpses of deep insight and joy, which bring
temporary comfort and hope to our lost souls. Regardless of the tides and turns of our lives, the
recurring questions still remain, ‘Where do I come from? What is the purpose of my life? What am I
here for? And where am I going after I die?’ Should we search for answers to these questions, we
would open the door to a multitude of philosophies and practices, some safer than others, some
quicker than others, yet not an easy choice for anyone to make.
Searching alone may seem like wandering in a maze, not knowing what turn to take next.
Countless road signs may seem to point in different directions, leaving us confused and constantly
searching outside of ourselves. We seek relief from an undefined longing, a void which lays buried
behind the distractions of our lives. But, the day we find ourselves in the presence of a true spiritual
Master, we know that the search has come to an end, for this living Teacher proves to us that
complete liberation and self-mastery is possible in this lifetime and we only need to claim it, for it is
ours.
When we take away all that divides us from the world around us, we find that only love remains,
and this is our true essence. Once a living Master introduces us to our own divinity, all of our
previous illusions of self-identity begin to fall away and instead of having to learn more, we begin to
unlearn, to let go of useless, negative habits and ways of thinking. Our path is now set before us on
our journey back Home. When a traveler is lost, he must find a higher vantage point in order to
obtain a better view. The higher he goes, the wider and clearer his vision becomes. Soon, the
ominous dark shadows that once petrified him are discovered to be only mere shrubs in the
wilderness! Likewise, the higher we go on our inward journey, the more our fears and false
limitations are revealed to us. We learn to see them for what they are and let go of them just as we
would discard an old worn-out garment. As we shed the outer appearance of ourselves, we no
longer see separation and we feel united with everyone. The color of our skin and the language we
speak may vary, but our innermost fears and aspirations are identical. So as we get to know our
true selves, we gain comfort and understanding both within and far beyond ourselves.
If you feel that you are ready to embark upon such a journey, this book should provide you with
priceless guidance and blessings, much needed in our present times. Supreme Master Ching Hai
addresses in a very specific way some of the most frequently asked questions posed by seekers
around the world. She clarifies often-misunderstood concepts without oversimplifying them.
This collection of Her teachings is very much like a practical guide to your own treasure hunt. It will
provide you with an overall map, warning you of obstacles ahead, teaching you how to prepare
yourself. With Master Ching Hai by your side, you will surely find your way Home.
The heavenly cardinal Supreme Master Ching Hai
Throughout the ages, mankind has been visited by rare individuals whose sole purpose is the
spiritual upliftment of humanity. Jesus Christ was one of these visitors, as were Shakyamuni
Buddha and Muhammad. These three are well known, but there are many others whose names we
do not know; some taught publicly, and were known by a few, and others remained anonymous.
These individuals were called by different names, at different times, in different countries. They
have been referred to as Master, avatar, enlightened one, savior, messiah, divine mother,
messenger, guru, living saint, and the like. They came to offer what has been called enlightenment,
salvation, realization, liberation, or awakening. The words used may be different, but in essence
they all mean the same thing. Visitors from the same divine source, with the same spiritual
greatness, moral purity, and power to uplift humanity as the holy ones from the past are here with
us today, yet few know of their presence. One of them is Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Master Ching Hai is an unlikely candidate to be widely recognized as a living saint. She is a
woman, and many Buddhists and others believe the myth that a woman can not become a
Buddha. She is of Asian descent, and many western people expect that the savior will come from
their own culture. However, those of us, from all over the world, and from many different religious
backgrounds, who have gotten to know Her, and who follow Her teachings, know who and what
She is. For you to come to know this will take a measure of openness of mind and sincerity of
heart. It will also take your time and attention, but nothing else.
People spend most of their time earning a living and taking care of material needs. We work in
order to make our lives, and those of our loved ones, as comfortable as possible. When time
permits, we give away our attention to such things as politics, sports, television, or the latest
scandals. Those of us who have experienced the loving power of direct inner contact with the
divine know there is more to life than this. We feel it is a pity that the good news is not more widely
known. The solution to all of the struggles of life is sitting quietly inside, waiting. We know that
heaven is just a breath away. Forgive us when we err on the side of over enthusiasm and say
things that may offend your rational mind. It is difficult for us to remain quiet, seeing what we have
seen, and knowing what we know.
We who consider ourselves disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai, and fellow practitioners of
Her method (the Quan Yin method of meditation), offer this book to you with the hope that it will
help bring you closer to your own personal experience of divine fulfillment, whether it be through
our Master or any other.
Master Ching Hai teaches the importance of the practice of meditation, inner contemplation, and
prayer. She explains that we must discover our own inner divine presence, if we want to be truly
happy in this life. She teaches that enlightenment is not esoteric and out of reach, attainable only
by those who retreat from society. Her job is to awaken the divine presence within, while we lead
normal lives. She states, ‘It is like this. We all know the Truth. It’s just that we forgot it. So
sometimes, someone has to come and remind us of the purpose of our life, why we must find the
Truth, why we must practice meditation, and why we must believe in God.’ She asks no one to
follow Her. She simply offers Her own enlightenment as an example, so that others may gain their
own ultimate liberation.
This book is the original verbal teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Please note that the
lectures, comments, and quotes by Master Ching Hai contained herein were spoken by Her,
recorded, transcribed, sometimes translated from other languages, and then edited for publication.
We recommend that you listen to or watch the original audio or video tapes. You will get a much
richer experience of Her presence from these sources than from the written words. Of course, the
most complete experience is to see Her in person.
For some, Master Ching Hai is their mother, for some She is their father, and for others She is their
beloved. At the least, She is the very best friend you could ever have in this world. She is here to
give to you, not to take. She takes no payment of any kind for Her teachings, help or initiation. The
only thing She will take from you is your suffering, your sorrow and pain, but only if you want this!
A biography of Supreme Master Ching Hai

Master Ching Hai was born in Aulac. Her father was a highly reputed naturopath. He loved to study
world literature and was especially interested in philosophy. Among his favorites were the writings
of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, and these were available to Master Ching Hai as a young child. She
read these and other Buddhist texts before She entered primary school.
Although Her parents are Catholic, they were open to Buddhist thoughts. Her grandmother was a
Buddhist. Master loved to spend time with Her grandmother, and she taught Her the scriptures and
Buddhist worship. Master Ching Hai developed a very open attitude toward religions due to this
background. She would attend a Catholic church in the mornings, a Buddhist temple in the
afternoons, and in the evenings would listen to lectures on the holy teachings. This left Her with
many spiritual questions, such as ‘Where did we come from? What is life after death? Why are
people so different?’
At one time, there was a shortage of doctors and nurses in Her town, so Master helped in the
hospital after classes. She washed patients, emptied bedpans and did errands in Her efforts to
ease people’s suffering.
Master has always had a soft spot for animals, and would often take a wounded animal home, care
for it and release it. When She saw an animal slaughtered, She would cry, wishing that She could
prevent such unnecessary suffering. She has been a vegetarian, and has always been repulsed by
the sight of killing or of meat, all Her life.
She worked for a time in Germany as a translator for the Red Cross. She translated between the
Aulacese language, German and English, and also volunteered to work long hours in the service of
Aulacese refugees. She did so at the expense of Her own health and comfort. Her work with the
Red Cross put Master Ching Hai in contact with refugees from many countries. She was
continuously faced with the suffering and turmoil brought on by wars and natural disasters. Master
suffered a great deal trying to alleviate the pain She saw, and She realized how impossible it was
for any one person to stop the suffering of humanity. This drove Her more strongly toward finding
enlightenment, as She realized that only this could help alleviate mankind’s pain. With this as Her
goal, She practiced meditation even more seriously. She sought out new teachers, read everything
She could find, and tested many different methods. She felt, however, that these efforts were not
working, and that She was not experiencing the spiritual phenomena She read about in the
scriptures, nor was She reaching the enlightened state. This was extremely frustrating for Her at
the time.
While in Germany, Master Ching Hai was happily married to a German scientist, with doctorates in
two fields. He was a kind, attentive and supportive husband. He became a vegetarian, traveled
with his Wife on pilgrimages and was very supportive of Her charitable works. Eventually, Master
felt that She needed to leave Her marriage in order to pursue Her spiritual goals. She discussed
this at great length with Her husband, and their separation was with his agreement. This was an
extremely difficult decision for both of them, but Master felt very strongly that this was the right
decision. She needed to devote Her undivided attention to the pursuit of enlightenment.
After leaving Her marriage, Master sought to find the perfect method, which could lead one to
attain liberation in one lifetime. In the Surangama sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha said that the Quan
Yin method is the highest of all methods. None of Master’s teachers knew it, so She traveled and
searched everywhere for the right Master. Finally, after many years, She found a Himalayan
Master who initiated Her into the Quan Yin method, and gave Her the divine transmission that She
had sought for so many years. After a brief period of Quan Yin practice, She became fully
enlightened. She continued practicing and improving Her understanding, and remained in retreat in
the Himalayas for some time.
Eventually, Master Ching Hai traveled to Formosa. One evening, during a typhoon with heavy rain,
as She meditated in a room behind a small temple, a group of people knocked at Her door. Master
asked them why they had come, and they answered, ‘Quan Yin Bodhisattva (The Goddess of
Mercy) replied to our prayers and told us about You, saying that You are the great Master and we
should pray to You for the method to reach liberation.’ Master tried to send them away but they
would not go. Finally, Master, touched by their sincerity and devotion, agreed to initiate them, but
only after several months of purification and their agreement to adhere to a vegetarian diet.
Shy by nature, Master Ching Hai did not seek out students to teach. In fact, She ran away from
people who sought Her initiation. This happened in India, and in the United States where She was
living the unassuming life of a Buddhist Nun. When She was ‘discovered’ for the third time in
Formosa, She realized that She must not run away from the inevitable tasks that lie ahead. She
began sharing with all who wished to hear Her message of Truth, and She began initiating sincere
students into the Quan Yin method.
Master Ching Hai’s work has spread by word of mouth from this first small group in Formosa to
many millions of people around the world. She has traveled and taught throughout Africa, Latin
America, the United States, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Many people from all walks of life, and
from many different religious backgrounds, have made great spiritual progress with Her help.
Grateful friends and disciples are to be found all over the world, ready and willing to help others
learn from their beloved Supreme Master.
In addition to helping countless numbers of people through Her spiritual teachings and initiations,
Master Ching Hai has used Her boundless love and energy to assist those who are suffering or in
need. In recent years, Her humanitarian efforts have touched the hearts and lives of millions of
people all over the world. Master does not discriminate between suffering caused by spiritual
ignorance, material privation, or circumstantial events. Wherever there is suffering, She will help.
Some of Master Ching Hai’s humanitarian activities in the past few years include aid to: The
homeless throughout the United States; victims of fire in southern California; victims of many floods
in the Midwest United States, central and eastern Mainland China, India, Malaysia, Aulac, Holland,
Belgium and France; disadvantaged elderly in Brazil; those displaced by the eruption of Mt
Pinatubo in the Philippines; disaster victims in northern Thailand; destitute families in Formosa and
Singapore; lepers in Molokai, Hawaii; spiritual communities in India, Germany and Uganda;
families of mentally retarded children in Hawaii; victims of the 9-11 tragedy in New York and victims
of the Los Angeles, Turkey and Formosa earthquake; veterans of the United States; orphanages in
Aulac; institutions of medical research on AIDS and cancer in the United States; and many, many
others. Of course, we must also mention Master Ching Hai’s never-ending and tireless efforts to
help the Aulacese refugees, those both inside and out of refugee camps.
Although She does not seek acknowledgement of any kind, in recognition of Her selfless
assistance, Supreme Master Ching Hai has been given awards worldwide by government officials
and private organizations on numerous occasions. They include the World Peace Award, the World
Spiritual Leadership Award, Award for Promotion of Human Rights, World Citizen Humanitarian
Award, Award for Outstanding Public Service to Mankind, 2006 Gusi Peace Prize, Los Angeles
Music Week Certificate of Commendation, 2006 First Place Silver for the 27th Annual Telly Awards,
and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award from the 43rd President of the United States, George W.
Bush. In addition, October 25th and February 22nd have been proclaimed as the Supreme Master
Ching Hai Day in the United States. Congratulatory messages were sent to the Chicago ceremony
by many government officials worldwide, including Presidents Clinton, Bush and Reagan.
To commend virtuous actions and encourage others to be inspired by their examples, Supreme
Master Ching Hai has created a series of Shining World Awards. Through these prestigious
awards, She has recognized deserving humans and animals for their exceptional heroism,
compassion, leadership, bravery, or intelligence.
Supreme Master Ching Hai is also the source of inspiration to Supreme Master Television, a global
station which airs constructive programs with subtitles in over 40 languages. The station
encourages harmony, greater understanding and compassion for all beings. It also promotes an
organic vegan lifestyle as the most effective and fastest solution to climate change.
Through Her tireless dedication to improve the lives of all beings on Earth, Supreme Master Ching
Hai has set a true example of love in action. Supreme Master Ching Hai is one of the truly
dedicated people of this era helping others find and create a beautiful vision of our future. Many
great people in history have had a dream, and in Her own words, so does Supreme Master Ching
Hai: ‘I dream that all the world will become peaceful. I dream that all the killing will stop. I dream
that all the children will walk in peace and harmony. I dream that all the nations shake hands with
each other, protect each other and help each other. I dream that our beautiful planet will not be
destroyed. It takes billions, billions, trillions of years to produce this planet and it’s so beautiful, so
wonderful. I dream that it will continue, but in peace, beauty and love.’
In recent years, Master Ching Hai has also devoted Herself to creative expression of the beauty
She enjoys within. Her creative works include paintings, decorated fans, lamps, dress and jewelry
designs, and songs. Many of these items are made available for purposes of fundraising.
Master Ching Hai has told us that She is not always enlightened. She lives a normal worldly life,
and knows from experience about our problems, our heartaches, passions, desires and doubts.
She also knows the heavenly realms of kingdom of God, and how to get there from here. Her sole
function at this point in Her life is to help us with our journey from the suffering and confusion of the
un-awakened state to the bliss and absolute clarity of total divine realization. If you are ready, She
is here to take you Home. Master Ching Hai takes an unusually broad view of all religions. She has
studied and taught the words of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Lao Tzu and many others. She
always emphasizes the similarities among the great teachings, and lets us see through Her eyes
how all the great Masters are preaching the same Truth. She often explains how different religious
opinions have arisen, due only to the difference in opinions of different people in different countries
at different times. Master Ching Hai gives initiation and a variety of lectures to interested students
and people, according to their backgrounds and cultures, including Christians, Moslems,
Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Taoists, or atheists, et cetera. She speaks fluently in English, German,
Chinese, French and Aulacese languages. Those who wish to learn and practice the Quan Yin
method with Master Ching Hai are welcomed to receive Her initiation.
Rediscover our supreme wisdom

– 1993 world lecture tour –
WHAT MAKES A COUNTRY GREAT 1

Thank you for your love and welcome. I like Singapore. I think the people in Singapore are already
in heaven, [Master laughs.] so what do I have to teach you that you want to hear so much? This
trip was originally canceled because I was not in very fit condition at that time. Also, I thought that
since I came to Singapore last year already, I wouldn’t want to make trouble again so soon!
[Master and audience laugh.] But due to repeated pressure from enlightened people, here I am.
I’m very happy to see Singapore develop better and better each day. I love to be in Singapore. In
fact, this morning I thought that maybe I would stay here, but I don’t think that I have the fortune
like you to stay in Singapore all the time and enjoy this luxurious surrounding. I have learned so
much from your country, which is so much like most of our meditation centers. We plant trees, big
ones with leaves, roots, branches and everything, and then we manage the space so that everyone
doesn’t feel so cramped even though we have a lot of people.
Yes, I feel very much in common with the Singapore system; therefore, I like it very much. I hope
the world is learning many things from you – the Singapore people and the Singapore
governmental system. And now also, I have learned that your government is a very clean
government and that pleases me most. Without clean government, we cannot really serve the
people. So I’m happy that you have your paradise on earth. Also I have heard many good things
about Singapore, but you know it already, so I don’t need to repeat it.
But sometimes we take things for granted, and we don’t appreciate the beauty that other people
take the effort to create. For example, yesterday, a disciple said to me that he got initiation and
practiced a little bit, he appreciated more the ex-prime minister Le Kuan Yew. Because I talked to
him about how wise he was, and how he had made Singapore become one of the top leaders
economically and safety-wise in the world. He said that, yes, now he appreciates it more than
before. Before, he didn’t know much about how difficult it is for the government and so on. And
then one of the other disciples said that before he practiced the Quan Yin method, or before
enlightenment, he didn’t even appreciate that the government planted trees for them, or made the
roads and the surroundings become so clean and orderly. Only after he became a practitioner of
the Quan Yin method and he became more enlightened, did he appreciate more the environment
and the service that he gets from this country. So actually, at the mundane level, it is also good to
be enlightened.
1. Public lecture, Singapore Conference Hall, Shenton Way, Singapore, March 8, 1993 (Originally in English).
Suppose I came here maybe ten years ago, I wouldn’t have appreciated that much your country. I
did come here before, in 1972, a long time ago. How long ago – twenty years? Yes, twenty years
ago, I came here once as a tourist from Au Lac. At that time the war had not ended. I came here as
a tourist, but I didn’t have such a wonderful feeling that I have now toward your country and your
people. I just looked around without even seeing. You look but you don’t see. The trees might grow
in front of you, but you don’t know they exist, and the people were so nice to you, but you do not
have rapport with them. You just hang around on the street. You buy fruit and stuff yourself with
everything that you get when you are hungry, and then you just run around aimlessly sometimes.
Maybe you see this and that spot when you’re sightseeing, but you do not appreciate that much the
true beauty of the land. And the last time I came here was only for a few days, and this time also a
few days, but I do appreciate more than I ever have before. It is probably due to the inner opening
of love that I had after the initiation, after the practicing of the inner wisdom. Therefore, from my
own experience, I can say to you, confidently, that it doesn’t matter in what position we are, we
should also try to get back our wisdom, to rediscover our own greatness.
There are many kinds of consciousness, many levels of understanding. We may be very shrewd,
and then, we might be intelligent, but we must be wise because wisdom is the highest point in the
universe and in human life. If we are intelligent, then we may have some very valuable degrees in
the society or have a high position in the country or among the people on earth, but if we have
wisdom, we can attain heaven even while on earth.
To develop appreciation, get enlightenment
I was surprised to hear that some of the Singaporeans, like my disciples, didn’t appreciate the work
that the government did on the roads. They have only appreciated it recently. And I thought, ‘Even I
appreciate it,’ but then, I remember twenty yeas ago when I first came here to your land, I didn’t
appreciate that much. I was here, but it was just like I wasn’t here. I still felt like a stranger in your
land. But this time or last time I came, I feel I’m part of your land. I feel very much in common with
the people. I appreciate the beauty and the organizational talent of your people and the discipline
of the whole country, also the loving enthusiasm of people toward higher values of life such as
spirituality, discipline, virtue, and the more inner values like our own self, our own wisdom, which
we really wish to discover.
So actually, after all, we need enlightenment. We need to get deep down into our own greatest
resource in order to appreciate everything, in order to live a truly good human life, to be a good
guest on earth and then to be at home in heaven. We are here only as guests. Everyone knows
that, but even as guests, we should enjoy the hospitality of the host on earth. Therefore, if we are
too busy searching for happiness in the material world, we will forget the happiness within. If we
are too busy searching for happiness outside, we will not truly appreciate the inner beauty of all
things if we are not in possession of true wisdom.
Since ancient times, many sages, saints, enlightened Buddhas, and Christ, have graced our earth
and have taught us the same message: That we look within for all the answers and happiness that
we ever imagine or crave to have. Truly, it is only since I have been somewhat in touch with my
own inner resource that I appreciate life more, that I understand things deeper than before, and so
do many of the disciples on our path.
It is because of this very deep, unimaginable power of penetration that we have after we get in
touch with our inner self that we have the opportunity to see each other today. It is just because my
fellow practitioners believe that what they got, you should also have, or that you may get to know,
at least, about it. And then you might think about it: Whether you want it or do not want it.
Therefore, they arranged this meeting today. I have to thank them, specially the Singaporean
practitioners, for all their loving care and the time that they spent to make this grand gathering
come true. It took a lot of work. And also I especially thank the government, the police department,
or whoever was concerned, that gave us permission very fast, with no bureaucratic ‘turtle’ delay.
[Master and audience laugh.] Therefore, we got permission this morning and we started tonight. In
some other countries, it probably would have taken longer or maybe we would not even get it.
Therefore, it’s not that we don’t want to share with you the highest happiness and power on earth;
it’s just that sometimes we are not allowed to do so.
People of spiritual consciousness make a country great
To the Singapore people, I feel very close and grateful. I’m grateful to you and grateful to the
almighty power that blesses our country. I do not feel a stranger in your land; I never feel for one
moment to be a stranger. I’m very much at home because of the cleanliness, the beauty of the
land, the many trees, and the people who live a safe life, and are not very much nervous or
anxious about the future and their living standard. It takes good government and people to work
together, but it is maybe because the consciousness of your land is higher than other somewhat
less developed countries. I have been in some places other than Singapore around the world, and I
have noticed that the mentality of the land, the spiritual consciousness of the people, goes very
much with the way the country looks. I don’t mean poverty. I don’t mean that poverty makes people
have a lower consciousness. It’s not true; it’s not that. For example, India is not a so-called very
rich land, but their spiritual consciousness is high. What I mean is the mentality of the people of
that land: Whether they are open, they are easy, they are disciplined, and they are eager for higher
values of life; not materialistic, no, no, no.
There is a difference between a materialistic country and a high consciousness country. For
example, in Singapore, I feel a very high consciousness. You just enter, and you know it. This is
not something that I can put to you in black and white. You just feel it and know it. But anyhow,
that’s why the country is more open and you can come in; you didn’t need a visa. You can stay for
two weeks doing whatever is necessary or seeing the land without much trouble waiting in the
queues or begging for a visa for many days for nothing. Sometimes you want to come in only for
one week, but you have to wait four, five days for a visa. And in some countries, if you want to go
from one part of the country to the next, you have to obtain permission in the same country. And
even in that country, they give you maybe one week or two weeks maximum stay, but then you
have to wait one week almost for another visa to go to a different part of that country. This I have
experienced. Some other countries are more difficult.
What I mean is that is the total appearance, the total mentality, of the land. Of course, there will be
some exceptions – the minority of the people. But then, most of the people, like in Singapore, are
very open and very eager for higher spiritual values. And that you can feel also from the
administration, not only from the people, but also from the government itself. You also see the
surroundings, how they keep their houses and their streets in perfect order and things like that. But
these are outer values that we can learn. For example, other countries may come to Singapore and
see that your house is very clean, your street is clean, and you plant trees, very big trees, you
organize, et cetera. They may learn from you to do these things, but the inherent quality of the
people is difficult to learn – that we must have or we don’t have. This inherent quality is the
wisdom, or the higher consciousness inside. This, we can also learn, but it takes inner discipline,
inner awareness to learn this, not the outer discipline like planting trees, making roads, or keeping
things nice and in order. Some other countries also keep things in order and clean, and they keep
their environment green, but they might not have that higher consciousness.
Just exactly what makes a country in a higher consciousness than another country? First, the
government must be wise; they let other good influences come to their land, and they’re willing to
learn and to sacrifice for the people. They show the people an example. And they will learn more
from wiser people and develop more their own wisdom. Therefore, since ancient times, great kings
are worshiped by people and beloved by all for many, many thousands of years. Their names will
be engraved in the heart of the universe. And if the governmental system is good, then the people
will feel more free and at ease. They will look for a higher value of life because their material side is
satisfied; their life security is being looked after.
It takes more to be wise than just looking after people materially, yes, but that is one of the starting
points. Then when we are open to all kinds of good influences, wisdom will come to our land;
blessings will flow forth into our country. We will feel better and better because the people are
united and in one heart to develop the country and also to bless the nation. In some countries, the
policy is too restrictive and even wise people or good people can hardly enter. Because they fear
criminals and so on, they also make restrictions on wise and good or saintly people. Then, even
though our country is much developed materially, we hardly can keep it very long because we lack
the blessing from God.
But I feel Singaporean people have this blessing. I know so many religious groups exist here, and
all religions grow together in harmony. Nothing is forbidden in this land as long as it is good, moral,
clean, and uplifting for the people at large. And this is truly a very wise system. I’m not coming here
to praise you. I am just talking in general, maybe for the people of the whole world, that they should
know how to make their countrymen happier; how to protect their land without having to use armed
forces and spend much money on guns; how to be in harmony with the neighboring countries and
all the countries of the world, not having to go into conflict with them by giving them freedom to
come and go, but still at the same time, protecting their own country’s interests and keeping order
in the land. If every country were just like your country, then it would be nice. Our world would be
nicer.
I hope one day Singapore will develop even in a higher value – better, more inner discipline and
more virtuous, to enhance your already stable and high civilization standard, because we still have
more to take from heaven. We still have more to receive from God, or from the Almighty, from
heaven, from Buddha power, from our own inner resource, because our inner self is connected
with heaven. That’s why Lao Tzu said, ‘Ten thousand things are one.’ And if we reach that
oneness, that greatness within us, then there is nothing we cannot do. We will have all kinds of
miraculous powers. We will be able to solve all kinds of situations in life. We will be able to
understand all kinds of religious scriptures without anyone having to preach to us. We will keep all
kinds of virtuous disciplines without anyone having to impose them on us. We will be loving with
each other without anyone having to teach us to do so. We will have peace within our hearts, and
then peace will radiate outside and help more to make peace on earth.
Talking about miraculous power, I think you Singaporean people have already a lot of miraculous
power – ‘Yi San Tao Hai.’ You cut down the hills and put it in the sea. I think you have miraculous
power. You cut the hills and leveled the sea. This is great power, which we call, ‘Yi San Tao Hai.’
Move the mountains and level the sea. That’s great miracle power. I haven’t been able to do that.
[Master and audience laugh.] And you move trees so big! Overnight you make the whole park
green, for example. These are miraculous powers, but if we practice the Quan Yin method, we will
have even more than that.
I feel very much in sympathy with Singaporeans. You know why? It’s because of your miraculous
power. I love a green environment, cleanliness, but natural; not like every tree is cut like a monk.
All the leaves are cut off like a monk, and then the plant over there has to sit just there, and the
other one has to be a little bit higher, the other one shorter. Too much order is also no good. But in
Singapore, they plant trees that look like they have stood there for many hundreds of years, and
look very natural. Clean, orderly but not artificial and that’s what I like. And you know why I like it?
Because we do the same in our meditation centers around the world. Where there are no trees, we
will plant trees, and we plant big trees overnight, the same as you do. So we have miraculous
power in common. [Master and audience laugh.]
That’s why I liked it when I heard about the Singaporean people, how they plant trees and they
look after the trees. I feel I like it so much! I love it! And every month, I will give them an injection:
‘Take care of trees like people.’ Really, you have a loving nature. That’s why many Singaporeans
say that when they go out, they appreciate the country more. They don’t want to stay outside; they
want to come back because the air is clean. The trees and all this greenery make the air fresh,
absorb all the toxins and give fresh and nutritious air for the people. And even here you have a lot
of high buildings but it doesn’t feel oppressive because you planted trees in front. It looks just
spread out and we don’t feel very oppressed. It’s very good.
Midnight strolls on the beach
And also the security system is very tight, very good. Last night, I went to the beach about eleven
or twelve o’clock at night. I know in the daytime there will be many people, and if I go out, people
will look at me. I am very shy. Of course, when I have to see you, then I see you, but if I can avoid
it sometimes, then I would feel better alone. I very much like to be alone, but God plays jokes on
me. Since I was a child, I loved to be alone, but God plays jokes on me. Hes makes me do this job
where I see thousands of people all the time, but never mind. If we can sacrifice anything at all for
the good of other people, we have to do it, even if you can call that a sacrifice. For me it is, just
because I have this obstinate nature – I want to be alone! For you, probably it’s not worth to be
called a sacrifice. It’s just for me, my selfish person that it looks like a sacrifice. But never mind. I
am happy to see you. Don’t feel that I don’t want to see you. It’s not true! It’s just that I love to be
alone whenever possible. So even I love your beach and I love to have fresh air, but I chose
midnight to go out. Then I just sat. I thought I would be left completely alone.
I have three guards, the three guys; one is driving, and the other two are just standing around, in
case I have to protect them. [Laughter] They are supposed to protect me, but that is good way of
looking at it. I thought I would be alone because at midnight no one would be there. And I sat there,
enjoying the ocean air and the expanse of the water. In fact, I wanted to swim because no one was
there, and your ocean is so calm, so calm, no waves – just a little bit. I wanted so much to swim but
I forgot to bring my suit. So I didn’t, although I was very much tempted. If I were completely alone, I
would have done it! But then there were two, three guys around. You know what it’s like being a
woman! [Master and audience laugh.] I didn’t swim, and I sat there and meditated for a while. And
then, boom, boom, boom – here come the policemen. They wanted to know what we were doing
there. They didn’t believe that I’m the Master, and that the three guys are my guards. [Laughter]
We had to answer their formal questions and all that. But still, I feel that they were just doing their
duty. They worried that maybe something is happening to me that I am alone with the three guys,
and they didn’t look very handsome or maybe they didn’t look very peaceful. [Laughter]
Some of my so-called disciples are very protective with me. They know it’s very valuable for me to
be alone sometimes – a very valuable time, and I recuperate during the tour and hectic times when
I am alone. They know the value, so they protect me very much. They even stopped the police car.
They said, ‘You can not come in here!’ [Laughter] I was so scared! I was not scared of the police; I
was scared that the police might misunderstand that we are some kind of gangsters or something
that we dare try to stop the police car. [Laughter] I sat on the beach, and the police had a
motorcycle, so they could drive up to where I was. But my guard stopped them and said, ‘You don’t
come near! You don’t come near! You stop here. You turn off your car.’ And they were startled!
They didn’t know who the police were. The police were very surprised! They wondered just who
are the police here. I was so afraid we might cause trouble, so I immediately stoop up. I was afraid
they might cause trouble.
I said, ‘Please don’t stop them!’ But I could not. I had no time then. It was too late. I said, ‘Don’t
stop them! Let them do what they want because we are only guests here.’ But they became the
hosts. That sometimes will cause trouble. I immediately stoop up, and said, ‘We are leaving
anyhow. We are just taking the fresh air. Please, it’s all right. Everything is all right.’
So by the way, I learned that your system of security is also very, very, very good. Of course, we
cannot avoid some trouble sometimes, but even then, consider that it is a very good security
system.
One good thing about this meditation system is that you can meditate anywhere, except when the
police come, and you have to answer to them why you are meditating here. [Laughter] It was too
late; that’s why the police came. If I had come earlier, it wouldn’t have been that way, but I didn’t
want to be among people.
So actually, in this world, even though we have a good system, it’s also never good enough. If we
want to be alone, then we will see the police, and if we see the people, also we are not alone.
Anyhow, with this meditation, we can sit in the park to do it even with people around us. For you,
no problem, but for me, just because most of the time I see people, I love to be alone, and
therefore, I choose some of the lonely times.
If every day I have to sit in my room, the air conditioned room, I feel, sometimes, it’s very lacking of
some freedom. Therefore, I love to be in the natural air. But when I go around the world, it’s not
possible to always be in the natural surroundings like in Formosa or in other meditation centers.
But for ordinary people, if we study this meditation method, we can do it anytime, anywhere, even
while standing waiting for the bus, or sitting on the bus, or sitting on the airplane, sitting in the
office, waiting for work, or anywhere while we have time. Five minutes even, or ten minutes,
sometimes really gives us refreshing power and clearness of mind so that we can continue to solve
the next question, next problem, or to serve in the next job, next work.
The meditation method or the practitioners of meditation, since ancient times were sometimes
misunderstood. Some people would think meditators are just sitting in the Himalayas or in a cave
somewhere or in a monastery and doing nothing. It’s not necessarily so, especially for Singapore
people. You have to take care of your land. And for everyone as well, we have duties to perform. I
was in the Himalayas, it is correct, but I didn’t stay there all the time. I didn’t have to stay there.
Also it was maybe my destiny that I should be there for a while, but you don’t have the same
destiny like me. So you can sit anywhere: At your home, at your office, on the train, on the bus, if
you want to get in touch with your inner greatest power, which we call ‘kingdom of God within’ or
the ‘Buddha nature,’ inside each sentient being.
We have heard so much about the inner kingdom of God – the almighty power, the God that lives
within you, or the Buddha that is in your heart. But we don’t experience it. Therefore, if we practice
the Quan Yin method, get the initiation, then we will realize that the kingdom of God is truly within
us; the God-Father, the Father, is really within ourselves; that the Buddha nature, really we
possess. That is the purpose of studying the Quan Yin method. And this kind of experience, we
can almost immediately know at the time of initiation. That’s why we call it ‘immediate
enlightenment.’ We get some taste of this kingdom of God or the power of God or the Buddha
nature. Each day we practice, we get more and more, and then finally, we will become one with
God. We and God are one. ‘I and my Father are one.’ We will see that all sentient beings are truly
Buddha, truly have Buddha nature, whether they discover it or not yet discover it.
I think because you are so many in number, I will be short in my speech and let you have time for
questions so that I can be leisurely answering you, and you can be leisurely listening to your own
queries. Thank you for your attention. [Applause]
By the way, it is good that you Singaporean people all know English. It is very international and
very useful for business or any kind of transactions. I like that! I think many countries should learn
the same; choose one language to be international and your own language also at the same time.
Like this, there would be less wars in the world. We can communicate with each other better.
Q. Master, is the Quan Yin method of meditation similar to that of kundalini yoga or raja yoga?
M. It is different. It is different because with the Quan Yin method, we will teach you how to get in
touch with your own nature, and the highest one, instead of relying on a lower power and then
developing further up, like in the kundalini system.
Q. Master, must one have a living guru?
M. Yes, sure. You must have a living teacher to learn English or anything else. It’s the same if
you want access to the kingdom within. You have to find someone who also has access to the
kingdom within and who has experience in this direction to guide you. We need a living
Master, a living wife, a living husband; everything must be living because we are living.
[Master and audience laugh.]
Q. I heard from a video speech that spiritual power is better than money power. Kindly let me
understand what spiritual power is, and how I can gain or achieve it.
M. Spiritual power is the same as God power, Christ power, or the kingdom of God within, or the
Buddha nature within. If we have someone who already knows how to get in touch with that
and we learn with that person, then we immediately know how. At the time of initiation, I will
show you how, and you will know it immediately. It’s very easy, very easy because we already
have it. For example, I have my fan here. Is it easy for me to take it? If I have eyes, I see
where it is and I take it. It’s the same if we open your wisdom eye, you will know where your
spiritual power lies and then you will know it. Like this [Master waves a fan.] [Applause]
Q. Master, what is immediate enlightenment? Can You kindly elaborate on the Quan Yin
meditation?
M. It is that we can contemplate on our own nature. Our own nature is without form, without
sound, but it is the inner form and the inner Sound that are invisible to the eyes and inaudible
to the ears. When we get initiation, we get in touch with that inner power; then we may see
our own true self, which is manifested as great Light and heavenly Sound like music, but you
cannot hear it with the ears and you cannot see it with the eyes.
It’s similar to what Jesus said in the bible, ‘Seeing you see but you do not perceive. Hearing
you hear but you do not understand.’ And Lao Tzu also said that the Tao cannot be touched
and you cannot get hold of it. You don’t have to use the eyes but you can see it; you don’t
have to use the ears, but you can hear it. It is the same in the Buddhist scriptures which also
mention that when you open your inner wisdom, you can hear all kinds of heavenly Sounds
inside and you can see all kinds of Lights, all kinds of Buddha’s lands inside. Most of the great
religions of the world mention the same thing. We have to experience this inner essence of
religion, not just study the experiences of the people from the past.
Attaining peace of mind through the Quan Yin method
Q. Could You please help me or teach me how to have more peace of mind, to forget and
remove my miseries and painful personal suffering? I am now trying to practice Buddhism but
get frustrated because I am unable to achieve peace because of all these disturbances.
M. We cannot get peace of mind unless we get in touch with the source of peacefulness inside
us. Peace, you have within you, and if you look outside, you can never find it. It doesn’t matter
how great the temple, how big the church, if you cannot get in touch with your own church and
your temple inside also, then the outer church and temple cannot help you much. They can,
maybe to a little degree, help to calm you for the time being, but then you have to get in touch
with your super power inside, your super peacefulness inside, in order to draw the eternal
peace from that. That is everlasting. If we look outside, everything is ephemeral, even the
body, even the church, even the temple, even the bible. They are all ephemeral. We have to
look within for the kingdom of God inside and for the Buddha nature inside.
We have to do what our prophets have told us. Just like Jesus said, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Or the Buddha said, ‘I have come to
teach you to be a Buddha because all beings have Buddha within.’ He did not tell you
anything else, but just to look inside and find it. Then you will have peace, you will have
intelligence, and you will have satisfaction without even having to have anything of this world.
That’s why many sages of old have forsaken their kingdoms, they have forsaken their wealth,
they have forsaken their whole nation – just because they are satisfied inside, like
Shakyamuni Buddha, like Jesus Christ, like Lao Tzu, who was offered so many positions but
He never wanted them. They didn’t need anything of this world because they had arrived at
the depth of peacefulness; they had peace within. They were satisfied with everything.
Similarly, you have to do like that in order to call yourself a true Buddhist, a true Christian, or a
true Hindu, or whatever religion that you so much love to follow and believe.
Q. Master, since we have many bad karmas, is it possible to be enlightened in this life or
immediately? How do we know if we are enlightened already?
M. If you don’t know, that means you are not enlightened. [Master and audience laugh.]
And no one has so bad karma as not to be able to know his self, because the self is ‘karma-
less’. There is no one who has karma at all; everything is illusion. So, please, come to the
Truth and forget the illusion. But even if I tell you so, it’s difficult for you to do. You don’t know
the Truth, so you cannot forsake illusion. First you have to know the Truth, get enlightenment,
and then the darkness will automatically leave you. The illusion, the so-called karma, the
burdens of this cheating, will leave you. It’s just like when you turn on the light, it doesn’t
matter how many days it is dark in here, how many years it’s dark in here, when you turn on
the light even once, all darkness will disappear completely. Actually, karma is only illusionary
but you don’t know it until you switch on the Light, and all illusions will depart.
Q. Master, may I know if God and Buddha are of the same status in this universe?
M. You still ask this question by now? Okay, for your information, I think both of them never have
any competition about their position in the universe. [Master and audience laugh.] They are
both very satisfied with each other. Whether they are two or one, they would not care.
Q. Master, can You talk about Amitabha's western paradise? Is it actually the kingdom of God
that is heaven?
M. Yes, it’s one of the heavens, one of the mansions in the kingdom of God. On Amitabha
Buddha’s land, you can get information from Shakyamuni Buddha. He has spoken about it
and people have printed it in a book that is called the Amitabha Buddha sutra. You may get it
in any temple. But for your information, I would suggest that it is better if you see it yourself
because this is only a kind of menu, no food. You can read the menu but you can never taste
the food.
In our Quan Yin method of immediate enlightenment, we offer you the food and you may see
the Amitabha Buddha’s land one day yourself. You may see it at the time of initiation or you
may see it some other time, according to your sincerity and level of consciousness. Some of
our disciples have seen Amitabha Buddha’s land exactly the way Shakyamuni Buddha
described, and they are very happy. Sometimes they drive cars and they see it also. After you
practice meditation for a long time, you become automatically tuned in with the inner kingdom
or with the inner Buddha nature and then you don’t have to sit quietly in order to see. That’s
why people say, ‘See heaven on earth,’ or ‘The Buddha’s land is in front of you or in any
corner.’ Sometimes the Zen people speak like that. It is true. The land exists, and there are
more, much more wonderful lands, even more wonderful than Amitabha Buddha’s land. I
invite you to join our group and see it for yourself.
Q. Dear Master, how do I request urgent spiritual aid, help, protection, grace, love, mercy from
You, Master Ching Hai?
M. Whenever you need it, then you request inside you. If the request comes, it must be
spontaneous and sincere, and then you will be granted it. I will ask God to help you
immediately. I, myself, don’t have any power, but I will ask God to help you. Hes granted me
that any request from me, Hes will grant, so I will give it to you. Secondhand is better than
nothing. [Master and audience laugh.]
That’s why I have invited you to come and meditate. Join in the initiation, have meditation
practice, and get in touch directly with Hirm and ask Hirm, and you don’t have to go through
me, the third-person-agent. It’s better to know your own power and bless yourself and do
everything in the blessing of your self, of your Godself, of the kingdom of God within you, then
you don’t have to even rely on me. Whether you believe me or not, I am exactly the same as
you. It’s just that you don’t know how to use your power, so you become like a beggar. If you
know it, you are just like God because you and God are one; at least you are the children of
God. You are entitled to have most of God’s power, at least. Why don’t you claim it?
Q. Dearest Master Ching Hai, I am fourteen years old. I am a student and my mother is an
initiate. I’m really looking forward to getting initiation from Master. Will Master allow me to get
initiation?
M. Sure, sure, welcome. From twelve years old, if you have your parents’ approval, you may get
initiation completely. From six years old, if you have your parents’ approval and you have
parents who are also initiated, then you may also get initiation – 50 percent.
Q. Master, what is Buddha nature?
M. The Buddha is this. [Master waves a fan.] You see it? You see Buddha nature? No? The
Buddha nature is the one that makes you sit here and listen to me. The Buddha nature is the
one who makes you eat when you’re hungry. The Buddha nature is the one who makes you
love one person and not the other. The Buddha nature is the one who seeks enlightenment.
The Buddha nature is the one that seeks the Buddha nature itself. It’s very confusing but
that’s the best I can explain to you. [Applause]
Q. Master, does the Quan Yin method involve chi as in chi kung?
M. No, it doesn’t involve chi but then all of your chi will open.
Q. Master, can You teach me how to meditate correctly?
M. The meditation itself is a part of the whole process of self improvement or wisdom-opening or
wisdom-rediscovery. And then accompanying meditation, we should have moral discipline and
we should have a high ideal for life; therefore, meditation alone is not very sufficient. I would
suggest that you also keep to a very good standard of ethical living; like you try to avoid
harming sentient beings, you try to avoid too much meat and liquor which dull your
intelligence and your higher power of spirituality; also, you should try many other virtuous
deeds. Then when you meditate you should concentrate on the inner wisdom or on Amitabha
Buddha or Jesus or Mohammed or whomever you worship and believe the most.
But those are just general guidelines. When we initiate people, we teach more deeply and in
more detail and then you will know how to meditate better. And also I will look after you daily
until you fully grow up and develop yourself. Sometimes just to teach you to meditate at
random and later if you lose touch, you may feel a little bit confused and it might not be very
good for you. If you truly want to learn some kind of convenient method without having to be
fully vegetarian or fully initiated, you may get in touch with our practitioners in Singapore. And
like this, we are in touch with you in case you have more questions in the future, or you
develop some more intelligence or some other questions, then we have to take care of you.
Getting initiation is the best, then I can look after you, inside and outside. It’s safer. [Applause]
Q. How do we achieve power through meditation?
M. After you meditate, you will achieve the power. It’s not a question of how. It will come
automatically because the super power, the Supreme Master power inside already exists. We
just kind of dig into it, rediscover it, and use it partially or wholly according to our need and
position in life
Q. You mentioned that the Buddha nature and the kingdom of God are all within us. Are there an
external God and an internal God?
M. No! No, no, no. Yes and no. The external Gods are the ones who sit in front of me and the
internal God is the one you find within each one of you. But actually, the external God and the
internal God are one, the same. The internal God makes the external God. Hes just maybe
multiplied so that the internal God can see the outer God, just maybe for fun. Actually, it is the
same, only one, only one.
Q. Dear Master, I am a convenient method meditation member. During meditation, once I saw a
bright yellow Light and another time I saw a bright white Light. Can You please explain these?
M. What else can I explain? If you saw the Light, that means you saw your own nature. Even if I
just teach you the convenient method, meaning not the complete initiation, you still have the
taste of the kingdom of God within. The more we see the Light, the more intelligent we
become, and the more loving we will be. That is the result of meditation. Not that we see the
Light or not that we hear the Sound that it is good. It is good because of the result of it. Just
like when the food is tasty, it is fine, but then our bodies also derive nourishment from it. That
is the best part of eating food – that we have nourishment apart from good taste. Similarly, the
inner food, if we taste it, it not only uplifts our spirit, makes us feel happy and charged with
energetic power, but also opens our inner wisdom. It makes us see things in a better Light,
makes us endure hardships in a better way, and we can solve problems in a quicker way and
in better Light. We understand everything better than before, and we become more loving and
tolerant with other people.
Q. Dear Master, is it true that it is easier to meditate in the U.S.A.? Some authors claim that the
energy is higher there? [Master and audience laugh.]
M. Why do you look down upon the Singaporean people after I have praised you so much?
[Applause]
This is a problem of complexity. That’s the problem with looking outside and not looking
inside. If you look inside, the Buddha is here right now. The Buddha’s land is in you, and in
Singapore, also in America, also anywhere, even in your toilet, excuse me.
Yes, some of our disciples, sometimes they have to do their duty as citizens and they have to
go into the army. In the army they have to sleep all together, and sometimes it’s noisy and
there’s smoking, and they cannot be quiet to meditate, so they go into the toilet, lock
themselves in there, and meditate for a while. They see everything they want to see, Buddhas
and all. Buddhas never feel that they should not come into the bathroom. [Master and
audience laugh.] Only we discriminate. Singapore is all right. I would like to stay here. Don’t
dream about another land. Singapore is the best land for you. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, one day when I was walking up the stairs to my room, I suddenly wanted to cry.
When I reached the room, there were tears in my eyes. Why? I’m sorry if You think I’m silly,
but there is something inside me which I don’t understand; there’s a force.
M. And they want a silly answer. [Master and audience laugh.] If you don’t know why you cry,
how should I know? Never mind! We don’t need to know every silly thing. If you cry, have a
good cry. If you want to laugh, have a good laugh and forget about it.
Q. What happens during meditation and what do you hear and see?
M. It depends on your level of consciousness. If you are in the elementary level, you probably will
hear some different Sounds and see a little bit dimmer Light or see some different scenery, et
cetera. If you are on a higher level, you will hear different Sounds, higher pitched or more
beautiful, more selective, more exquisite, more exclusive. You will see a brighter Light or
higher civilizations in the universe, a higher plane of existence.
There are many levels, could be up to many long levels, but we will bring you up to the fifth
level and then there you will be on your feet. You will become Buddha, all knowing, all
pervading, omnipotent, omnipresent. Then we will leave you, and you will study further
yourself. There is more to explore in the universe.
Q. What is the highest nature? Is it a state of being or feeling?
M. Actually, human language is not adequate to describe the highest nature of ourselves. The
best way is to know it ourselves, but then at that time, we don’t know anything. First we don’t
know anything and then we have to learn to become enlightened, and later on we know
everything, but it seems like we don’t know anything. So now if you tell me to explain the
highest state of the universe, I am speechless. I just know it, but I cannot explain it to you, so
please, excuse me very much.
Q. Is the Quan Yin method the same as Zen?
M. It used to be the same as Zen, but nowadays most of the Zen is not like the olden Zen;
therefore, I can say yes and also no. Yes before in ancient times, no in modern times.
Q. Master, what does one experience after death?
M. Oh, you can’t wait? I don’t know yet. After I die, maybe I will come and tell you if I have a
chance. Please give me your address and telephone number in case. [Master and audience
laugh.]
Q. Master, are UFOs true? Who are these people?
M. UFOs are true. These people who belong to UFOs are those people who are from other
planets. Some of them are more civilized than ours are; some are also peopled like our earth.
Some of them are more invisible to the human eye, but they are very civilized. They are more
technically civilized so they can invent many machines and many flying objects, which our
earth has not yet been capable of making. That is all. They are true. There are numerous
planets in the universe. We can explore them when we come inside.
Q. Master, is the method of meditation the same one as practiced by the Quan Yin Bodhisattva in
the Surangama sutra spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha?
M. Yes, exactly the same.
Q. Can You please explain the process of initiation?
M. There is nothing actually to explain to you because when I transmit to you the so-called
initiation, I don’t speak at all. We will sit in silence and perceive the Tao. But before that, some
of my disciples will explain to you the way to keep the precepts so that it will be better for you
in some way, how to sit so that you will be more comfortable, and where to concentrate so
that your thoughts will not stray, et cetera. But I cannot explain it here.
Q. I am a follower of Mahikari and I have been a vegetarian for eight years. I like meditation. Can
I be initiated?
M. Sure, welcome, please.
Q. Master, how do you get to know your inner self and how do we reach that supreme power?
M. Through initiation and sincerity. I will show you how because I know the way.
Q. Is our present life related to our past life?
M. Don’t you think so? Is your today related to yesterday? Yes, sure! It’s the same. Our present
life is related to our past life.
Q. I was a sailor. Once Jesus came to my side in order to solve the problems on board the ship. I
was so truly happy that for three days I went without food or sleep; I only drank water. But that
happiness is fading day by day since five years ago. How can I get that happiness back?
M. Get initiation! You will see Him again. [Applause]
Inner food nourishes body and soul
Q. Master, if one day we see the western paradise through the Quan Yin method, how do we
know it is not just an illusion due to our wish to see it?
M. Visions, of course, are of two kinds: Illusion or Truth. If you see hallucinations or illusions, you
will feel very tired and exhausted afterward. You don’t feel fulfilled or any enjoyment. But like
the sailor just mentioned, he saw Jesus truly appear to him; therefore, he was happy for three
days. He didn’t even need food, but that is a short-lived experience. If we practice meditation
according to the instructions of an experienced Teacher, we will preserve this every day.
Maybe less, maybe more, but somehow you preserve some part of this joyfulness in life, and
then you can do everything in this joyful mood. That’s why we have to ‘Seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’
We have to see face to face with Jesus; we have to see God face to face. We have to know
our own kingdom and then we will be always joyful. We will offer service without any
complaints, and we will be more intelligent, more efficient, more loving in every way. Our lives
will be completely fulfilled, without material possessions, even. It’s truly like that. Because
you’re happy, you don’t need them.
I can tell by my own experience that even though I have a lot of work and my physical body is
not very strong. I’m smaller than most of you and lighter, even. I can work a lot and am happy.
Even though I have pressure from the karma of the different people and different mentalities
and demands, but still, inside, I am very stable and happy. And you don’t need much food;
therefore, the more you practice, the more economical it is. I ate only once today, and even
that made me feel tired. But I have to put some fuel into this car so that it runs. After I ate, I
just felt so tired – same with you.
Therefore, the inner food is very good for you. You can eat once or twice a day, completely
enough and you work very hard but you don’t feel so tired. I’m only tired when I eat the food.
After I eat the food, I feel tired. Even only once today, but I feel tired afterwards. I had to rest
from eating. From eating, not from working, mind you. And I ate very little then, for the whole
day, for twenty-four hours. I can understand the sailor who said that he didn’t eat for three
days. That is true.
Just like when Confucius heard the music, they say music, but it must have been the inner
heavenly music because in Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu and Con Tzu, they often mention the
heavenly music, when he heard that, he didn’t know the taste of food for three months. That’s
what it is; three days, three months, or three weeks; it’s according to the strength of the
samadhi, of the joy that we receive from heaven. It’s according to our inner discipline and our
outer discipline that we can keep that state of mind for a very long time or short time. That’s
why when we teach our fellow practitioners the Quan Yin method, we teach them also moral
discipline and also how to protect themselves every day from the so-called influences of this
world, of the non-practitioners, and also how to keep our inner happiness, to make it last
longer.
But then you don’t even need to keep it because if you meditate today, you get it. You get
joyful today, and if you meditate tomorrow, you get it again. It’s just adding more and more all
the time. It’s just like when you earn so much money and you don’t know how to spend it. You
will leak it out into the worldly environment and help uplift the consciousness of the whole
world and then the whole universe also. We are all linked together in the universe; therefore,
many other planetary people came to our world in UFOs in order to try maybe to connect with
us so that we can develop together. If our earth is underdeveloped, it affects also other
planets. We cannot work together; we cannot cooperate. It’s just like in Singapore. If the
citizens of Singapore do not cooperate with the government in the higher positions, then also
it’s difficult for the government to work. [Applause]
Q. I practice spiritual healing as an act of mercy for the salvation of beings. Must I refrain from
getting initiated?
M. No, not actually. You don’t need to, but then you waste all your energy on healing; therefore,
your meditational practice might not improve very fast. Whatever we do with the ego will sap
our inner strength because we do it with the limited resource of power. When we study the
Quan Yin method, we have to learn to rely on the greatest power, which heals without healing,
which does without doing. Therefore, you should maybe refrain whenever not necessary from
doing this kind of healing so that the people who come to you have to look inside themselves,
to look for their own great power to heal themselves. You also will develop this great power
and later you will heal without healing; you will heal without knowing, even.
In many cases of my disciples all over the world, for example, they will see me come and heal
them or help them. There are many cases like that, but I don’t know about it. I cannot be
proud because I’m not doing it personally, individually or intentionally, in order to heal
someone. But we will heal the whole world. Whoever has affinity with us and sincerely prays
to us, we heal them without healing; we know we do things without doing. At that time, you are
not entangled in the karmic patterns of the lower universe. You will not be in any trouble, but
your help extends to the whole world without you feeling proud, without feeding your lousy
ego.
And we help more numbers of people instead of one by one, two by two, exhausting our
resources. That is why I say, better to refrain from so-called ‘spiritual healing.’ I don’t say
refrain from healing, but I just tell you to heal in a higher level, with a more vast power that can
heal at the same time thousands of people, not only one or two or three. It’s up to you. You
can come for initiation, but I suggest this way.
Q. Master, please help me. I find no meaning in life. Can You please let me see You in my
dreams?
M. [Master and audience laugh.] What happens if that day you don’t dream? Or that you dream
and you forget all about it? It happens. It happens that we dream and when we wake up, we
just remember that we had a dream, but we don’t know what the dream was. And then you
will blame me that I did not come. How can I argue with you? [Master and audience laugh.]
It is not the best way to see the Master in a dream. If you see it, it’s good for you. But you
might not even remember it. The best way to see your own Master is that you, yourself,
become a Master, and Master of your own house, Master of the whole world and the whole
universe, Master in discipline, in wisdom, in loving kindness. No need to see me. I and you
are one. [Applause]
Q. How can we enlighten a selfish person?
M. I don’t know who is selfish. What is the definition of a selfish person? I don’t know who is
selfish – maybe me. I love to be alone all the time; therefore, sometimes it feels very difficult
to come and lecture here and there. My disciples ask me a year ago even, or half a year, or
sometimes two or three years before I come to see them. So I think I’m the most selfish
person in the world. And don’t blame yourself for anything else.
Selfish person – how can it be? We cannot be selfish because more or less you work for the
world. It doesn’t matter what you do; you are working for the whole world. There is no selfish
person in this world. Even if he doesn’t love anyone, he loves a dog or cat or he loves himself.
His self is the whole universal self – the whole Buddha-system, the kingdom of God. How can
you say a person who loves himself is selfish?
Q. In a boy-girl relationship, we may give a lot of love toward the other, but it can turn to hated.
Why is this so?
M. It is because we always look outside, and don’t look inside. If we all look inward and find our
loving kindness, the eternal source, then we can never hate anyone. We can only love. The
love without possessiveness, the love without knowing that we even love, without feeling
proud that I have loving kindness in my heart, without having to practice loving kindness, we
will just have it.
Just like Buddha or Jesus or the great Masters of old, they never hate anyone because you
will see that each one is yourself. All are one. Ten thousand things are one. You will see that
and feel it in your heart – no more separation; therefore, hated cannot breed itself in that
circumstance.
Q. If a person, after initiation, doesn’t practice diligently, will he lose the enlightenment he got
from Master? If he continues again, will he regain the enlightenment that Master gave to him?
M. Yes, but it will take a little bit more effort and longer time after you fall down. After you fall
down, it’s harder to climb up, but I would not bar anyone from that. You always have to try
again. Whenever we fail, in any kind of situation or any circumstance, we have to rise up and
try it again until we succeed.
Q. Master, can this meditation cure our illness?
M. I cannot promise you, but in many cases it does. But if you look forward for initiation because
of your illness, then it is not very ideal. You should look forward to the freedom from all
illnesses, all the time, in all ages to come. That’s the best way – the everlasting health, not
only temporary relief of your physical condition, but the eternal blessing, happiness for your
soul. That’s the best way to come for initiation.
Q. Is meditation necessary before initiation? How will initiation help me in my everyday life?
M. Meditation and experience about meditational practice are not required. If you have it, it’s
okay. If you don’t have it, it’s okay. You might have to start all over again because you didn’t
meditate in the right way anyhow. We start to help you from A, B, C.
And after your initiation, you will see miracles every day. It helps you in all aspects in your life,
whether you work better or you take better care of your family, you’re more loving toward your
family members, more loving toward yourself, more self-confident, everything, one thousand
and millions of things. I cannot tell you all. You have to experience it. It helps you; otherwise,
what is the good of meditation, and suffering every day waiting for heaven? We have to bring
heaven to earth by meditational practice. We enjoy some part of heaven here, and then when
we quit this earth, we will enjoy even more.
Q. Apart from being vegetarian, must we also try not to use leather products?
M. Now, I will not forbid that. We are not so fanatic; if you have them, use them. If you don’t feel
like using them because it will remind you of the suffering of the animal, that’s fine.
After you practice for some time, you will feel the atmosphere of the things that you use. Even
though it became dead matter, it will remind you of some suffering of the animal, and out of
compassion or peace of your own mind, you will not like to use it anymore. But that is up to
you, because actually animals were not killed for these skins, or the shoes that you wear.
They are killed for meat and the skins and horns and all these things are left over. It is not that
we intentionally kill the animals for these, so you may use them. But some people don’t like it.
[Applause]
Q. I have never been a religious man, but after reading Your books, I am deeply drawn to Your
teachings. Can You please explain why?
M. It is because what I say in the book is the same as what you think. It agrees with your inner
wisdom and your own self; therefore, you like it. That means I teach the Truth, which you
accept. [Applause]
Q. Does everyone who is initiated get enlightenment?
M. Yes. [Applause]
Q. If man and God are one, can man reach the level of God through meditation?
M. Yes. [Applause]
All religious scriptures advocate a vegetarian diet
Q. Compassion has been taught in every religion; therefore; the practice of vegetarianism seems
to be a rightful prerequisite. Suppose a religion does not expound on such a practice, do we
still consider it to be a good religion?
M. Every religion expounds on this subject. It’s just that we do not understand, and we overlook
it. For example, in the bible, I have told you many times, God said, ‘Do not kill all these
bullocks, lambs, and he-goats to make offering to me. You have to repent your sins because
your hands are full of innocent blood; otherwise, I will never listen to you when you pray to
me, and when you look upon me, I will turn my head away.’ That is advocating vegetarian
eating, no? [Audience: Yes.]
Also, it is said, in the first chapter of the Old Testament, that God made all living beings and
food for them and God made human beings to rule over animals. And the animals will be
friends of human beings, but Hes didn’t say, ‘You eat them.’ Hes said, ‘I made all the fruit in
the field, which is beautiful to the eyes and delicious to the taste, and all the herbs in the field.
These shall be your food.’ Hes didn’t include animals in the diet, so don’t blame God or
religions for nonvegetarian food. Blame our own misunderstanding. Every religion, even the
Koran, Buddhist scriptures, Hindu scriptures, Christian – every scripture advocates a
vegetarian diet, never anything else! You go home and study deeper into your own religious
scriptures and then answer your own question. Study deep; look in every page.
Q. I practice meditation. Sometimes I see hills or mountains and I ride around the hills. Can You
please explain?
M. Why do I have to explain? When you see a beautiful girl, do you ask me to explain? [Master
and audience laugh.] That is what you call enlightenment without enlightening, knowing
without knowing.
Q. Is there a law of karma in the universe?
M. No, nothing. No karma at all, but just our own mind which misunderstands and deceives us.
And our own judgment makes things look like karmic burdens, otherwise, nothing – only love,
compassion, Light, and heaven. [Applause]
Q. The world seems to be repeating its mistakes of making people suffer. What advice could You
offer?
M. Enlightenment! Get initiation, practice the Quan Yin method, keep the precepts, eat
vegetarian. If that’s worth any of your attention.
Q. One of Your disciples related her experience before Your talk. Don’t You think it is just
imagination or a dream she had?
M. Can you imagine like that every day, with your imagination? It is not true that you just imagine
and then you have everything. Even if that is imagination, it’s a good one. Try to imagine like
that every day and then you will be in heaven. [Master and audience laugh.]
No, there is a difference between hallucinations and the Truth. Hallucination is when you lack
oxygen, or you take drugs or things like that. And this hallucination or vision makes you suffer
more later, but the true vision of God, or of Buddha’s land, or your own inner self, will
rejuvenate you and make you better, elevated, more intelligent, happier, younger, more
enthusiastic, more energetic. And it lasts very long, sometimes three days, sometimes one
week, three months, or one year, and then it continues. It brings you more youth, wisdom, and
happiness every day. That is the true vision.
Q. I’m a Taoist. I pray to Tu Di Gong (local deity, earth god) and other small gods. If I get
initiated, will there be a clash with my religion?
M. No. I will only teach you how to see the Tao in the right perspective, and you will become a
better Taoist. After you can hear the Sound that doesn’t need the ears to hear, after you see
the Tao that doesn’t need the eyes to see, you will become a better Taoist, and the small
gods will pray to you. [Laughter and applause.]
Yes, it’s true. When I was in a Taoist temple, some of my disciples saw that your Taoist god
came and bowed to me. Someone asked if I feel very proud about it? No, this is just to let you
know you will become a living Tao Master instead of bowing and worshiping the dead or small
gods, as you have called them.
Q. Many prophets are saying that we are entering a new age. What and when is this new age?
M. When is this new age? Now! When you get initiation, you enter into the Golden Age.
[Applause]
Q. Why do religious people want to fight against each other, killing innocent men, to honor their
God? Is there such a thing as a devil?
M. It is just because they misunderstand the message of their messiahs, of their Masters, who
have already passed away. They need a living Master to clarify all their misunderstandings
about what is in their religious scriptures. They need a living Master to put them in touch with
their own God inside, so that they will know that they are God, all are Gods, everyone is God.
There is only one God. And then they will not kill each other anymore. So that is your duty.
You should get in touch with your own God, then spread this message to other people. Help
them to understand also their own God nature, and therefore stop the fighting and killing.
Q. Can You please explain why one has the ability to see auras and is it a sin to do so?
M. No, it’s not a sin. It is just that you are gifted with some degree of heavenly vision that you can
see peoples’ auras, but that is not the highest degree. That’s all. Perhaps you have been in
touch with some Master who blessed you with a gift of heavenly vision that you can see things
that other people cannot see. Perhaps you have been a good meditation practitioner in your
last life; therefore, some left over power is still there. It’s not a sin.
Q. What is a mantra? Is it the same as Quan Yin meditation?
M. No. A mantra is part of, maybe, Quan Yin meditation of the ancient times. For example, ‘Om
Mani Padme Hum,’ is the most popular mantra. When you meditate in the Quan Yin method,
you may hear it inside. Perhaps your master teaches you that in some specific level so that
your wisdom will open until that level. But then when you pass above this, you have other,
different, so-called mantras, or you don’t probably need a mantra anymore. So you can call it
a part of the Quan Yin enlightenment result, not like the Quan Yin method – a very small part
of it, a very, very, tiny, sometime no-need-to-mention, part of it.
Q. How can we get rid of war and reach eternal peace?
M. Practice the Quan Yin method. We must reach our inner peace first, and then we can bring
peace upon earth. Otherwise, we will still struggle, still have ‘I’ and ‘you,’ still have the ego,
still be concerned about fame and position, hence, causing wars.
Q. It is said that people have soul and spirit. How does it relate to our life?
M. It relates. Without the soul and spirit, you can’t live.
Q. Is it a universal law that there must a guide for us to attain full enlightenment? Is it impossible
for us to reach it by self cultivation?
M. It is too difficult because you don’t know the way. You don’t know where to go. Of course, with
a guide who knows the way you can walk faster. Our life is so ephemeral and short. You
grope in all directions. How can you find the way in time? Sometimes you go in wrong
direction, fall into a deep hole, and hurt yourself.
Q. Master, is fate predestined?
M. It is predestined, but it can be changed somewhat. If we practice the Quan Yin method, we
are enlightened and we will be able to see how it can be corrected. Hence, we can change it a
little bit, and thus we can improve our life somewhat.
Q. Why can’t God prevent wars?
M. Why should Hes interfere with our game? Wars are caused by us human beings. As long as
we still don’t realize that others and all creatures are ourselves, we still have wars. Until we
are bored, we are hurt, or others are hurt, we will not get enlightened. Eventually, we will long,
from inside, to search for the Truth. We will understand that wars are useless. We should
have peace. We should love others as we love ourselves. This is our lesson. So God lets us
learn this lesson. Hes does not prevent wars. Hes could terminate wars, but that will not do us
any good because then we would not learn our lesson. We should prevent wars by ourselves.
We should get together and end all wars. Only then will we truly understand what true eternal
peace is.
Q. You have so many disciples; is there anyone who is already fully awakened? Is there any
disciple who is enlightened?
M. Every one of them is enlightened. They attain enlightenment at the time of initiation, and have
greater and greater enlightenment day by day. They realize their greatness daily. One can get
enlightenment right away; that is why we say ‘immediate enlightenment.’
Q. I am a follower of Buddha. How can I stand in the middle way between good and evil?
M. After enlightenment, you can stand anywhere!
Q. Master, will the past five generations truly be saved and lifted to a better realm if we practice
the Quan Yin method?
M. It’s true. Not only five generations, but many more! [Applause] Even your friends and relatives
will all benefit.
Q. Will one get possessed while meditating?
M. It might happen if you grope by yourself in all directions or in a wrong direction. If you are
guided by a competent Teacher, you will be all right.
Q. Does spiritual practice mean escaping from reality?
M. Nonsense. I work very hard to earn the air ticket to come here to talk with you, and you are
saying I escape from reality! Besides, my disciples work very hard to earn their living to be
able to afford this venue for your sake. We don’t even ask a penny from you. So what on earth
are we escaping from?
After we practice, we can serve the public and the country better. I have told you already
about the trees that are so beautifully planted by your government, but my disciples did not
appreciate them before. Only after enlightenment did they start to appreciate the effort by the
government. Even in such a little thing, if we do not have real contact with our inner wisdom,
sometimes we would ignore it easily. So we do not escape from reality, but we do become a
better person and a better citizen.
BACK TO THE GOLDEN ERA 2

We have many prejudices, many so-called preconceived ideas, about life, about enlightenment,
about religion, about how we should lead our lives, about how religious people should be, about
how an enlightened Master should lead His or Her life, about how She or He should dress, eat, and
even speak. I had also, many preconceived ideas before and after enlightenment as well. Before,
of course more, but after a little bit of enlightenment, it was less, and it will become less and less
each day. God made me more humble, more humble each day, until I had no more of my own
ideas left, except God’s idea. And I have to do absolutely what Hes wants. Just like you, I had to
learn by mistakes.
Some people asked me, ‘Why do You wear such beautiful clothes? You’re supposed to be a
practitioner. You should wear rag clothes,’ or something like that. I used to think that way. Yes, I
2. Public lecture, Singapore Conference Hall, Shenton Way, Singapore, March 9, 1993 (Originally in English).
used to think that way – that an enlightened person should just wear some kind of rag clothes. At
that time, before enlightenment, I criticize some of the enlightened people who wore nice clothes.
So now God has punished me by saying, ‘You must wear beautiful clothes.’ So you know what it is.
And by the way, I don’t like the red color at all. I never liked it before, but today Hes made me wear
it in spite of my protest.
But anyhow, since long ago, I have learned to give up protesting because I know it’s no use.
Sooner or later God will have Hiers own will, and will make you do it whether you like it or not. You
will do it today, or you will do it tomorrow. The sooner you get over with it, the better. That’s all. It’s
just like you owe a debt to someone and then whether you pay it today or you pay it tomorrow, you
will have to pay it. Maybe you pay it faster with less interest, but if you delay your payment, you
have to pay more due to the interest rate. Since then I have learned to be more humble and
obedient to the will of heaven.
And sometimes in doing so, I have also some misunderstanding from the people, but I cannot do
anything else except to go through this. What I like or don’t like doesn’t matter anymore, and
whether I have a good reputation or a bad reputation, I can no longer choose. In that case, you
might ask me, ‘Well, we thought after enlightenment, we become free, that we could do what we
want and very freely decide what we do in our lives?’ Yes, we are free, very much free, because
we don’t take any more responsibility upon our shoulders. Everything is arranged by Providence,
and we absolutely have no fear of doing whatever is arranged for us to do. In that way, we are
absolutely free. Then we know the will of Providence; we know the plan of the universe, and we
can go along with it smoothly, without any hindrance, without any hard feeling or protest in our
hearts.
Why we cannot achieve perfection in our work
Before that, we also did the will of Providence, but we didn’t know it. We protested a great deal and
we delayed our duty and action because we thought it would be better tomorrow. It would be better
to do that instead of this, because what we are supposed to do, we don’t like. We thought if we did
it the other way, it would be better because it was more suitable to our habitual thinking or
preconceived ideas. After a great deal of trouble and lessons, we will have to surrender at last to
the will of the most high – call it Buddha nature, the Almighty, God, or whatever name that you see
fit to worship as the most high.
Sometimes we think we are the doer in this world, and therefore we take all the burdens upon our
shoulders. That’s why we get exhausted. We get tired, and then we get nothing done sometimes. If
we get enlightenment, we will know how to use the greatest power, which is already provided
within us, from which we came, and also to which we will return, and in which we live our lives.
Then we will have less confusion, less and less each day, until no more confusion is left in our
hearts, except to do the will of the Almighty. Jesus Christ also mentioned that, ‘I do, but not I, it is
the Father in me who does it.’ And Hinduism always mentions, ‘Not I, but Thou.’
Every religion mentions the same thing. I don’t want to demonstrate my knowledge of different
religions; therefore, I have mentioned just a few. Please forgive me if I have not mentioned your
religion – like Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, or Taoism. I have studied all of them with reverence and
sincerity since my childhood, and I can say I understand most of the famous religions. That’s why I
know that all religions point to the same Truth, which is within us. They point to the same Supreme
Master power, which we possess. The only difference is that sometimes we forget to look to this
Supreme Master power inside, and instead we worship the Supreme Masters of the past, or we go
to the church to worship God.
We are the temple of God
The church – the outside church, mosque, or temple, is the symbol of the kingdom of God within
us, which is built to remind us of our own temple. Jesus said, ‘Know you not that you are the
temple of God, and the holy spirit lives within you.’ If God resides within us, if the Buddha nature is
within us, then it is very obvious that we must look for it within ourselves. Most of the people have
not been shown the way to look inside – inside the kidney, or the liver or the heart? [Master and
audience laugh.] It is not the material level that Jesus or Buddha meant to point out to us. It is the
super consciousness within us. I have not enough words to praise this super power, which loves
and nourishes all things without even ever mentioning or murmuring one word.
The worldly power we do have, and the worldly people can do many miraculous things also, but
then everyone knows about it. Everyone remembers the heroes, the great kings, or the great
benefactors of mankind when he or she does some good deeds or charitable works. But we forget
to remember the great charity, the greatest loving power, which nourishes and sustains the whole
universe. And in every scripture it is mentioned that we have this power, we possess this power,
that God lives within our hearts, the Buddha is inside us. We all have read it, but we don’t know
how we can be so great. How can we, such ordinary people, become so great?
God has made me, a very humble person, very possessive of shortcomings, become a vehicle in
order to let me know that everyone can become one with God, in order to let me reassure you that
you, who are better than I, could even become one with God quicker. That is the only reason why
you see any shortcomings I have – if the dress I wear doesn’t please you, doesn’t satisfy your
expectations, or anything I do at all doesn’t measure up to your high standard. That’s the only
reason. In God’s eyes, everyone is Heirs child; everyone is great. And so often I have had this
experience that truly everyone is greater than I am.
Why did God choose such a humble person, this very imperfect person, to become Hiers vehicle? I
often pondered over this. Then, later I knew it was just so that I could truly understand how to be
humble, how to know that there are many other people much better than I am, and that they can be
one with God. If such a person like myself can become one with God, then everyone else can.
That’s perhaps the main reason God has chosen me. [Applause]
Learn by our mistakes and preconceived ideas
In the process of enlightening, each day after initiation we come to learn many great lessons
through our mistakes, through our own prejudices and preconceived opinions about other people’s
actions, appearances, and ways of life. Before enlightenment, of course I also had criticism in my
mind. I also had dislikes and likes of how other people should live their lives. I had my opinions
about many things in this world. Even though they didn’t concern me, didn’t harm me, and had
absolutely nothing to do with me at all, I would even venture to criticize them or to try to make them
right. And that’s how we have been busy all of our lives.
After becoming so tired with criticizing the world and trying to make people right, I have to come to
realize that I am the only one who should improve, and everything else will be all right. God makes
us learn by our mistakes, by lessons, and by other people’s examples. That’s why the old Chinese
proverb says that when we walk with three persons, at least one of them will be worthy to be our
teacher. This is the Truth that I have learned up to now. Even other people’s mistakes also strike
some memories within us, reminding us of something that we might have done in the past that we
should never forget and should learn from to improve ourselves, and that we should never criticize
other people.
Enlightenment comes by practice and in dealing with other people. I was enlightened in the
Himalayas, that is correct, but my view about life did not broaden enough until I came in contact
with you, or my so-called ‘disciples.’ I call them fellow practitioners, or ‘xian sheng,’ and ‘shih jie’
because I respect them. ‘Xian sheng’ means elder brother, and ‘shih jie’ means elder sister. Of
course, sometimes when they make me mad, then I call them disciples, just to use some of my
authority. [Master and audience laugh.] When they do things and obstinately think that they are
right even though they might hurt other people or make trouble for another person, then I would
sometimes use my ‘Master’s degree’ just to settle the situation. But in my heart, God makes me
more humble each day to learn from each situation and to accept everything as the will of
Providence. In this way I’m more free, more free than before when I tried to take care of the whole
world.
Let great burdens fall from our shoulders
An American philosopher, Emerson, wrote in one of his books, ‘A great burden falls from our
shoulders if we let God run the universe.’ But we always run everything, and we run God as well! Is
that not so? [Master and audience laugh.] Look at our prayers! When we go to the temple, or we go
to the church, we dictate immediately, ‘Oh God! Please make my business more lucrative.’
[Laughter] Please punish my little child because he is not very obedient.’ ‘Please, my wife is
spending too much money! Tell her to stop it.’ ‘And please,’ one thing after another. I did the same
thing. I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at myself, at my own foolishness, when I tried to tell
God what to do, even to let me pass the driver’s license test. Yes, I bothered Jesus and got angry
with Him because He didn’t let me pass the first time. [Laughter]
We have to learn through all this that it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s all right to be different and to
choose different religions. As long as you study very deeply into your own religious scriptures and
know what your religion wants to teach you, you are all right. I think the church and the temple are
very holy, sacred symbols of our devotion to God. And every time we pass through a church, a
mosque, or the temple of any religion, we should truly remind ourselves of the reverence we have
for this symbol of worship. But it probably would be better if the people who come to these temples,
churches, or mosques truly could find their God within – within this temple also, [Master points to
Her body.] not only in the brick temple, but in the true temple of God.
Solve the problems of this world at their roots
I never read newspapers or watch the television news. Well, I won’t say ‘never,’ but very seldom,
except when I am on an airplane for thirteen, fifteen, or twenty hours. You know what it’s like! At
that time I watch television or look at the news, and every time I look at the news, there is not much
in it. There is no good news, or very little good news, and more bad news. Is that not the truth? You
read newspapers every day, you know if that is not so. There is some good news in it, no doubt,
but the bad news is so much that sometimes I think it is better if I don’t read newspapers. I wouldn’t
do it out of habit or out of detesting them. It’s just because I feel that I don’t need to read those. It’s
just like some of the clothes you don’t feel you need to wear, or some household items that you
don’t need to have in your house. But even then, I know something about the world. I just know,
and sometimes act according to the world situation and also to the development of the whole
planet. Thus, I’m not very much out of date.
But now I have started to read newspapers more regularly since I’ve been in Singapore. So,
please, news media, don’t be angry with me. I have started to read now. [Laughter] I do not
advocate people not to read newspapers. It’s just that I did not read them before – very seldom. It’s
very depressing when you read about the news in the world with its many unsolved problems. The
governments of all the nations try their best to improve the environment of their countries as well as
the neighboring countries. Also, they try their best to negotiate with one another and even with
those who have not been in a good relationship with them before. They try sincerely to make up
with each other and to improve each other’s standard of living. That is very good, but even then,
according to the newspapers, there is much less hope than we expect. And things are done in such
a slow way that sometimes the people of the nation feel frustrated, so they demonstrate on the
street and protest one thing or another.
But on the general outlook, I think the world has improved a lot. Don’t you think so? [Audience:
Yes.] We now have much less idealism than before, less conflict between the theologies of
different nations. Each nation is trying very hard now to come together with each other, and this is
a good thing. But even then, I was thinking while reading the news that actually we all need
enlightenment if we truly want to settle the affairs of the world.
Back to the Golden Era
I was also somewhat enlightened after thinking like that. I thought, ‘Ah! I know why God makes me
do this and that and other things, including wearing beautiful clothes.’ It is so that we may go back
to the Golden Era, where everyone is beautiful, graceful, and does things nicely but effectively,
leisurely, but very, very successfully. Where we don’t need to always run around in our jeans and
eat sandwiches on the road to work, or have a quick cup of coffee and just gulp it down to wake
ourselves up before work. Maybe we should think and dream a golden dream again. Maybe we
should go back to the Golden Era of ancient times – where God and humans lived together –
where all the fairies could talk to us in our own language and could instruct us how to have a better
value of life – where everyone looked upon enlightenment and wisdom as a very natural way of
living, when no one would doubt a Master like Jesus when He came to earth to grace our world –
where no one would ever criticize another great being like that again – and where no one would
ever have any doubt in his heart about any Master who graced our earth, because the Master is
our self. I very much hope that this dream will come true, and that every one of us becomes a
Goddess, God, or fairy. Then our planet will shine with the halos of all of the earthlings who have
become enlightened, wise, graceful, and beautiful.
We have been living in rags and poverty for a long time. I think we deserve to enjoy some of the
golden atmosphere – the beautiful, royal style of a high standard of living, in which everyone is
graceful, royal and beautiful, like the queens and kings of the ancient times, with dignity and virtues
fit to be Gods. I do not see why we have to represent poverty. This is why I have corrected my
mistake. I became a nun, wore rag clothes, and I didn’t feel disturbed by that. I thought that it was
great. I thought that’s how enlightened people should behave. But afterwards, God made me see
differently. Hes said, ‘No! Why should You represent poverty and disgrace? You should represent
the glory of heaven, or at least a symbol of glory and grace because all the fairies of heaven are
beautiful and graceful.’ The Quan Yin Bodhisattva is beautifully adorned with all kinds of jewelry
and beautiful dresses.
When we ascend to heaven, we see glory, richness, everlasting happiness, and joyfulness.
Nothing there is like our earth, nothing at all. If we want to have access to heaven, we should do it
from the inside, but maybe we also can do it from the outside. And why not? Most people can only
see from the outside, so we should start from the outside. Whatever we can reconcile inside, of
course people will feel it; people will smell it; people will accept it by their wisdom because we
cannot cheat a person’s wisdom. That is the best judge, the most intelligent and the most correct
judgment. We may be able to cheat people outside but not inside.
Only enlightenment enables one to see the Truth
Sometimes we find in our experiences with life that we are doing some transactions and we have
been very cleverly designing a scheme of cheating the opponent in order to win a little bit more of
the share of the possession for ourselves. But then we will be surprised to see that we cannot
deceive them, even though no one knows about our plan. Somehow the plans are corrupted and
cancelled. We could not achieve our wish. It is because the inner God, the inner wisdom,
understands it. If it is unjust, and if it’s not in our store of karma, then it cannot be carried out. So
sometimes, we see injustice in this world, but actually it is not always absolutely injustice. It is
probably that we have done something unjust in our past, previous experience on earth; therefore,
now we have to reap it in order to learn our lesson. Just like in the bible, it says, ‘As you sow, so
shall you reap.’
Many things on earth cannot be rearranged for the better benefit of mankind if we don’t use
wisdom. If we only use our own power of the computer brain, then we can do something, but not
the perfect thing, not the complete thing according to the will of heaven. We don’t have complete
wisdom. We have not rediscovered our own complete wisdom; therefore, we sometimes resist the
will of heaven, and do things in a clumsy way, or in a resisting way. We cannot carry out our duty in
a perfect manner. Therefore, if we get enlightenment, then we truly see the whole picture with our
wisdom, not with the human brain. Then we do things just naturally, automatically correct. Even if
we don’t know why we did it, it always turns out correctly. This is why we need enlightenment. This
is why since ancient times all the sages and saints have encouraged us, emphasized to us, ‘Seek
you first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ This is why an ancient
Chinese wise sage said, ‘You first improve your own self, then you can take care of the family, then
you can govern the country, and then you can pacify the whole world.’ [Applause]
I was a very lazy person and loved loneliness, as I have confessed to you last night, but God made
me come out and do this ‘seeing-many-people’ business against my will, my obstinate will. But now
I have accepted it fully, and I shall do whatever there is, as long as my body is fit and my mind is in
order. If I can drag myself around the world and share this message with you, I will do it.
Everything comes from God
Many people do not understand God’s will, do not know what God’s will is. That’s why we are
clumsy in life, and even though we have the best intention, we always make mistakes. God tells us
to do this, but because of prejudice, we think we should do it the other way. Even if we are forced
to do that in the beginning, we struggle inside, and are not concentrated enough to carry out the
task that God wanted us to do in the beginning, or we delay it and upset the plan. But then God will
force us to go around, and we will have to do it sooner or later anyhow. It’s just delayed or spoiled
somewhat because we are not concentrated enough. We are not willing enough to carry out that
plan, which according to our preconceived opinion is no good because our society says that it is no
good, because our grandmother or parents say that it is not very good, or because our teacher in
the school says so, or because we have learned from books that it is no good. We do things
without happiness because we don’t know the will of Providence, of the Almighty. Only after
enlightenment will we know, more and more each day, how to accept the things that are assigned
to us while we are here, and by the way, get access to heaven at the same time.
We don’t need to forsake our family, and we do not need to go to the Himalayas. Oh, I did, but I
was stupid then. You don’t need to; you are wiser. Therefore, I have to come here to serve you at
your doorstep, and I had to go searching a very long way. You are better, more fortunate, more
virtuous, with more merits; therefore, God spoils you. God brought me all the way here just to serve
you. So no need to worship me. If you want to know God, just accept my teachings, accept God’s
gift for you, nothing to thank me for, and no need to worship me at all. I am a humble servant and
God made me to serve you. In this world if someone teaches you something, you call him a
Teacher or a Master, that’s the only reason. In my heart, I’m only happy if I can serve the whole of
mankind, and make them elevated, make them know their own greatness. And if even I, one
person, go to hell for that, I will smilingly stay there.
Heaven on earth is possible in this lifetime
We don’t have to go to the Himalayas or forsake our family and we don’t need to even forsake our
makeup, or our beautiful clothes. You have to wear nice, good things in order to face the world, to
beautify the environment of our earth; just like you plant colorful flowers in your house, or put out
some flower arrangements when the guests come. So be a good guest on earth and treat others
as good guests. Just do everything as God has given to you to do and that you are happy to do,
but get enlightenment. Then you can do it in a better way, and you can accept all things without
criticism, without protest, without any obstacles and struggling in your heart. And that is what we
call ‘Hsien Shi Jiei Tuo’ – we are liberated even in this life already. We will have heaven in this life
because we will be free from every preconceived idea and from every responsibility. We will do
things but without doing. We will be loving but without being proud that we possess love. We will
give charity but never claim any credit because we know everything comes from God, and we only
distribute as an agent.
Q. May I ask Master, does our soul exit from the deva eye or from the pai-hui chakra on the top
of the head?
M. Our soul doesn’t go out from anywhere. We don’t go out from anywhere in the first place.
Since we know nothing about liberation or freedom, we say for the time being that we exit
from here or there, from the heart or other lower organs. This is for the ordinary people. As for
the people who have attained a high level in their spiritual practice, their souls are completely
free. Their souls are not bound by this physical body. Their souls are free as soon as they
meditate. Sometimes their souls are also free even when they are not meditating.
Simultaneously they live in this world and keep contact with heaven.
Q. Is it possible to open one’s wisdom eye through meditation?
M. You have to open your wisdom eye before you practice meditation. Otherwise, how can you
see the right way to go? [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. Master, if good people have good karmic retribution, then why do some good people die
young and some bad people don’t? [Laughter]
M. Then should we wish all these people to die? It’s all right. We should be happy for anyone
who has a long life.
Good or bad, God knows, and the Buddha understands, but we cannot judge correctly. Our
preconceptions are mostly not correct. Perhaps the so-called ‘bad’ person is here to reclaim
what he was deprived of in his previous life, but we will blame that person without knowing the
cause and consequence. We don’t see the whole picture but we blame him. Perhaps the so-
called ‘good’ person owed someone something in a past life, which he has to repay now,
whether he wants to or not. Therefore, Shakyamuni Buddha said, ‘True charity is giving
without giving.’ This is the reason. We don’t know whether we are good or bad. It is best for us
to try our best to be good, forgive the bad person and exhort him to become better. Give him
your blessings if he lives a long life. Do not pray that he will die as soon as possible!
[Laughter]
Q. Is learning to be a noble and highly cultivated person the purpose of practicing the Quan Yin
method that You teach?
M. You are already a noble and highly cultivated person. I only help you to recognize the inner,
greater quality – the omnipresent and transcendental wisdom within you. It doesn’t relate so
much to how a person behaves, but to the inner wisdom and getting close to the qualities of a
Buddha.
Q. Master, when we are learning to meditate, should we put our attention on the heart charka?
M. No, I don’t think so. The heart helps our blood circulate to other parts of our body. This is its
only function. Our wisdom, intelligence, or any achievements are all attained through our
minds, so we’d better focus our attention on our minds. Isn’t this more logical? If you focus on
your heart center, it might cause a ‘traffic jam.’ [Laughter] Your blood circulation might be
blocked, so you’d better not do that.
Q. Master, vegetarianism is very common in Singapore, however, the older generation cannot
accept it completely. Most of them are Taoist. They kill a lot of pigs and chickens for their
ceremonies. Growing up in this kind of background, they can’t be convinced to become
vegetarian right away. How can I solve this problem?
M. Then let it be. Whoever wants to become a vegetarian can do so. If they don’t want to, it is all
right. You can suggest that they minimize their killing and eat vegetarian meals more often
whenever it’s convenient. This will at least benefit their health. Very often the karma of killing
could lead to shortening one’s life. I am speaking according to the scriptures. Don’t blame me.
[Laughter]
Q. What was the world like before the appearance of humankind?
M. None of us were here at that time. Why do you ask me? [Laughter] It is more appropriate to
be concerned about the present.
Q. Master, how can one dissolve one’s karma quickly?
M. By practicing the Quan Yin method and getting initiation. After receiving initiation, you will
understand gradually. Maybe you will understand immediately, or maybe you will take some
time, depending on the extent that your inner wisdom is opened. What will you understand?
You will understand that karma doesn’t exist originally, and then you will forgive yourself. Also,
we won’t continue to create any karma in the future, so we don’t have to reincarnate again.
That’s the fastest way, so far as I know. If you know a quicker way, please inform me.
[Laughter]
Q. Which religion does the Quan Yin method belong to and how does it differ from other
religions?
M. All religions are actually the same. They all talk about the supreme power, the noblest and
most compassionate quality within us. So all good religions are included. I never taught you to
attack each other’s religions. This is not the proper attitude for ordinary people, let alone for
spiritual practitioners.
Q. Is it true that when a person dies, the family members can, through a psychic medium, invite
the deceased’s soul to speak with them?
M. I haven’t died yet, but you keep asking things about death. [Laughter] I teach you how to live a
good life, but you prefer the death subject.
[Master sighs] Even if we could really summon a dead person and talk to him, wouldn’t we be
bothering him too much? He has finished his worldly work and duties and has gone to take a
rest finally. Why keep bothering him all the time? We’d better liberate ourselves from the cycle
of birth and death before we die. When we have already been liberated from it and
understand completely what it is, then we ourselves are not only liberated but can also lead
others to be liberated. Otherwise, there is little we can do for the dead ones. Better to get
enlightenment immediately, then we can understand.
For all these questions, I have no proof as to whether it is true or not. Sometimes we can’t tell
if it is really the deceased who came back or the living who are deceiving us. [Master and
audience laugh.] I fear that I might ruin some people’s businesses by speaking the truth. You
are welcome to play any game you like. Don’t involve me in it!
Q. How can a person help himself when he is in despair or extreme sorrow?
M. There are many ways. The first one is to pray immediately to the inner supreme power for
help. [Master points to Her wisdom eyes.] Secondly, have a closer look at the situation to see
why we are in despair and whether it is really hopeless. Sometimes we are too nervous. We
hastily make a wrong judgment and think that there is no solution, while in fact there is a
solution. Sometimes our preconceptions and habits could also cheat us for we have learned
many different things in our past lives and our brains have recorded them like computers do.
They play back the corresponding material and responses when we come across similar
situations. In fact, these similar situations are not exactly the same. Sometimes there are
differences; therefore, we should calm down and pray to our inner self for help. [Master points
to Her wisdom eye.]
If you believe in Buddha, pray to Buddha or the Quan Yin Bodhisattva for help. Pray to Jesus
Chris if you believe in Jesus Christ. Pray to Allah if you believe in Allah. Pray to Brahma if you
believe in Brahma. Pray sincerely as if you are crying for help while you are drowning. Only
through such intense sincerity can we reach our innermost, highest, lifesaving power. Then
we sit down quietly for a while, ponder over our problem to see if there is really no solution;
take time to analyze the situation. Sometimes the situation changes the next day, or after an
hour, better news comes and the problem is naturally resolved. It is best to calm down and
pray first, and then solve the problem in your own time. Of course, the Quan Yin practitioners
always know what they should do – just leave all their problems to the Master! [Applause]
Q. Why do we feel so assured upon receiving Your photographs? Why do we naturally close our
palms and bow to You when You enter the hall?
M. I don’t know either. If any of you get any benefit through me in any respect, it is due to the
grace of God, the love of Buddha for you. There is no need to ask me why. I’m not related to
most of these things; I don’t know anything about it.
Q. Master, what is spiritual practice and how does a person practice?
M. Come for initiation and we will teach you how.
Q. Isn’t it enough for a person to be kind and benevolent? Why should one get initiation?
M. It is enough if you feel it is enough. I won’t force anyone. I only worry that it is not sufficient!
Sometimes we think it is enough, but actually it is not. How can we tell if it is enough or not? In
this world there are so many people suffering. Can we help them all? In this world there are so
many places which are politically unstable. Can we settle them all? In the universe there are
so many mysteries that we don’t understand. Have we apprehended everything? Is it enough?
Do you think that you are good enough? If you do, I have nothing to say and I will ask you to
be my Master. [Applause]
Q. Will an enlightened person transmigrate again in his next life?
M. It depends on how much he is enlightened, and whether his master has enough power to take
him up and teach him gradually in the higher levels. If his master is not powerful enough, then
both the master and the disciple have to transmigrate again.
Q. Master, is our suffering in this lifetime the punishment for our mistakes in past lives?
M. It seems to be the case according to the explanations found in the scriptures of Buddhism,
Hinduism, or other religions. However, my understanding is that our greatest mistake is
ignorance. Once we are enlightened, we can solve any problem and eliminate our karma. We
realize that karma doesn’t really exist. The universe is nothing but an illusion, a dream.
Therefore, any obstacles, the so-called karmic hindrances, are caused by our ignorance.
Once we know the Truth, the whole universe is ours; we can do whatever we like. How would
we still suffer? Even if we still suffer, we will know that it is only a drama. We won’t feel so
deeply hurt, we won’t be so ignorant, and we won’t have so much attachment as before.
Q. In order to earn my living, I have to kill beings every day. Although I can’t bear it in my mind, I
can’t find another job. Master, how can I rest my heart?
M. In order to make a living, we often do many things that are disturbing to us. If you are uneasy,
then you can take time to find another job. Before you can find one, try to ease your mind. Try
to do your work contentedly. Perhaps you are destined to do that job for a while, so there is no
need to blame yourself too much. If you kill for your living and have no alternative, the Buddha
won’t condemn you. It is just that maybe you will have an uneasy conscience. Try to find
another job. Before you can find a new job, don’t blame yourself too much. That will only
make you feel more painful, and won’t help improve the situation.
Q. Why must we be initiated in order to get enlightenment?
M. Because you don’t know how to get enlightenment yourself, otherwise you’re welcome to try
without initiation. If you already know how to get enlightenment, then don’t come, please. I will
have less work.
Q. Should an unfaithful husband be treated with love, tolerance and more understanding?
M. Sure. There was a lack of love, and that’s why he was unfaithful. [Laughter and applause.] So
forgive him and improve your appearance. [Laughter] Love him more sincerely. And look into
the family’s affairs to see whether anything needs improving, apart from your own
appearance. I’ve told you already, make-up in the evening only [Laughter] and only wear
beautiful clothes for him.
Because, even if the whole world loves you and you only care for your husband, then if he’s
the only one who doesn’t love you, you are surely in trouble and in misery. Right? So take
care of him more, love him more. Give him the best of everything.
See if your cooking is still as lousy as last year, and then improve it. If your clothes are too
lousy, then improve them. Take care that the children are nicely bathed, and smell nice, and
you yourself also. Buy a little bit of new perfume, new make-up, new clothes, and take care of
the house.
Q. As a practitioner, can I enjoy dancing and listening to loud music?
M. Yes, you can, but you must meditate apart from that. If you do two and a half hours of
meditation, and then do other things, I do not forbid it. But after some time of meditation, you
won’t feel like listening to it any more. You have inside music, which is more enchanting, more
cleansing, more refreshing, and more energizing – that I tell you.
Before, I also liked music very much. Since I was young, I was chanting all the time and loved
all this music. Also, I loved to go out dancing with my husband but now I only dance once
every ten years. And in my place, wherever I go, I don’t have a radio, television, music or
anything. It’s not that I hate them. It’s just that I don’t feel that I need them. It’s not that I leave
them, but they just leave me. They just forsake me because they feel I’m too boring, and I’m
not fit for the music of the world anymore. So do whatever you like until you’re completely
satisfied, but meditate and keep the precepts so that you will progress.
Q. I always meditate on silence and emptiness to contact my inner self. I was bothered by a spirit
one day. Once I witnessed a spirit meddling with the mat I was sitting on. I no longer dare to
meditate alone. How can I protect myself?
M. Then let him sit there and you can find another mat. [Laughter] What’s the problem? Is the
mat so expensive you couldn’t donate it to the spirit? Maybe it’s because he sees that you’re
meditating so nicely so he wants to learn also. You should teach him – become his master.
[Laughter]
Well, this is the problem when you sometimes meditate by yourself, alone, without a Master,
or sometimes with a not very highly competent Master. Try to find another way to do it, or try
the Quan Yin method. And then we and the spirits and whatever are all in harmony. There will
be no fear between any beings. If they ever come, they will be just loving and harmonious.
Q. How can I remember my past life so that I can retrieve the knowledge that I have learned
then?
M. No, it’s enough to learn the present, because in the present life, we haven’t even learned
enough yet. The past life is gone. God has drawn a curtain between the past and present. It’s
for our own benefit. Therefore, it’s not always necessary to trace the past. If we know too
many things about the past without enough power to handle it, or to improve it with concern to
the present, then we will be in trouble. That’s why people sometimes fall into a kind of
possessed state of mind. Knowing too much about the past, they will be miserable living in the
present.
Suppose you knew that in the past life, you were the sultan of such and such country, and
now you drive a taxi. Would you like it? [Laughter] Or suppose that you knew that in your last
life, you and your wife were having some kind of bloodshed with each other, and now every
time you see her, would you be afraid? And because she killed you last life, could you ever be
loving to her again? It would affect very much your family harmony and your personal
relationships as well as your own happiness. Therefore, we don’t need to know the past. We
take care of the present, and the future will come beautifully.
Meditate on your inner self or choose whatever method you like. I only recommend the Quan
Yin method because I know from all the studies that it is the best, the highest, the quickest,
and the safest. We offer it to you in case you want to gain more knowledge in the present and
for the future. The past takes care of itself. The past is gone. The past, we can just forget.
Q. My husband is not a vegetarian. Can I get initiated or should I divorce him? [Laughter]
M. No! Why? Each one has his own opinion about how to live his life. I only suggest the
vegetarian diet and the saintly way of living. But should you not want to take it, or if your
husband or wife doesn’t want it, don’t force them. You can reason with them in the course of
time, or just show them, and let them choose. If they don’t choose the vegetarian diet, it’s all
right. You can cook for him lovingly, and then hope God will bless him one day that he may go
on the same path with you. That would be better for both of you. That is all. But we don’t
force, or we don’t divorce our husband or wife just because they are different from us. It’s
okay to be different.
Q. Can You please describe what heaven is like?
M. There are so many descriptions of heaven already in the bible, in the Hindu scriptures, in the
Buddhist sutras, in the Koran, and in all kind of scriptures. Please refer to them. They have
better literacy talents than I have. I can only experience them, but when it comes to describing
them, I am completely helpless.
It’s so beautiful that I cannot speak. I’m afraid to degrade it by talking. Just like a beautiful
woman, when you saw her, you were speechless. And then your friend asks you, ‘What does
she look like? And you say, ‘Oh, her nose is very straight, her eyes are big, and her lips are
very red.’ And that’s it. When the friend goes out to look for the girl, he would say, ‘Oh, the girl
looks… the nose is straight, the lips are red, and the eyes are big.’ Is that enough to convey
the beauty of that woman? No, because the imagination of that friend is different from the
reality. He might have misunderstood the beauty of that lady. That’s the difficulty.
Also, can you describe the love between a man and a woman, or a mother and a son? No, it’s
very difficult, so I’d better keep quiet. But I invite you to see it for yourself. Make an effort to
learn to know heaven by your own will and your own sincerity. Everyone can do it. There’s no
need to ask me. Secondhand stuff is no good. You are a first-class citizen. You have to know
everything firsthand.
Offer unconditional love to our family
Q. Can You please tell us how to cultivate unconditional love toward our family?
M. There are two levels of unconditional love. In a mundane way, we should serve our family in
whatever way is beneficial to them, not to us. We should not demand but instead always give
and sacrifice. And if each member of the family does the same thing, then of course there will
be harmony and love in the family. Most of us serve with a motive. When we love someone,
we expect love in return. Or we want to love the way we want, not the way they want it. For
example, if your mother-in-law wants a banana, you would force her to take apples. Even
though they are the best apples from Japan, the biggest and the most expensive, she doesn’t
like them. So just buy a banana! It’s so simple!
You don’t have to always force your way with your family members. Whatever they want, give
it to them. Therefore, just as I’ve said to you before, if your husband doesn’t want to eat
vegetarian, then cook meat for him. I would not, for my sake and my belief, forbid him to eat
meat or force him to eat vegetarian just because I think it’s good for him. I think it’s good for
him but if he doesn’t like it, then he is okay to choose his own way.
Similarly, that is how we can treat other people unconditionally with no motive. Let God deal
with them and teach them in their own time to come around, to do whatever God thinks is
proper for them. Maybe he wasn’t ready for that thing; maybe his stomach cannot digest
apples, for example. Therefore, it is a very simple thing to take care of the family. Whatever
they want, do it for them as long as it doesn’t harm other people or isn’t a criminal action. You
should obey and serve them with love and devotion just like you would serve God. Then that
is unconditional love.
On another higher level, after you’ve become enlightened, your love inside will grow at such
an incredible, unlimited speed that you can serve your family members without even knowing
you love them. You just automatically do things right – that is, if you’ve already put down your
ego and have completely surrendered to God.
Q. I am so afraid of losing You as my Master. It is indeed a rare opportunity to be initiated by

You. I am not a vegetarian but yet I want initiation. Even after initiation, I may not be a full
vegetarian. Can I still be initiated by You today?
M. You know the answer. I am also very touched by your honesty and sincerity. But we have
another way for you. We won’t completely reject you. You can practice the convenient
method, and you can try vegetarian food whenever it’s convenient for you, ten days per
month, or twenty days, or fifteen days, whenever convenient. Until you’re completely satisfied
with the idea that God comes first, God comes before everything else in life, before every
reason, before all logic, before any price at all, and then you can get initiation.
Otherwise, it’s not fair for everyone else and I must initiate the whole theater, the whole hall!
Why you alone? Most people like my teaching and would love to follow the initiation process,
but they cannot eat as a vegetarian. So why you alone? Then I just make it cheap and
wholesale where everyone is welcome. It’s not that I care whether you eat meat or
vegetables, but you must know what you want and pay for it. [Applause]
Light and Sound are food for our soul
Q. Master, why is seeing Light and hearing Sound so important in meditation?
M. It is because that is our own real self. Light and Sound are the manifestations of our wisdom
inside, which is invisible to the eyes and ears. Hearing the Sound doesn’t mean that you hear
with the ears. It’s just the inside awareness of your own self, of your own glorious nature, that
we are Light, we are a beautiful melody and that we are not the body. And the more you hear
this invisible, inaudible Sound, the more you see this invisible Light of heaven, the wiser you’ll
become, the more loving you’ll become, the more satisfaction you’ll gain, and then the more
efficient you will be to serve the world.
It’s not because the Light and Sound are important; it is because it is our self. It’s just like
food. We don’t eat it because of the taste only. It is because it will give nourishment that will
later manifest as strength and energy so that we can work for the family, we can think, we can
read books, and we can do other things. That is the importance of food. Similarly, the
importance of the Light and Sound is that it makes us wiser, more loving, and more capable in
all aspects.
Q. Master, You said that the supreme wisdom is within us. When we are dead, where will the
wisdom be?
M. We never die, just the body decays. We change our clothes, the fleshly clothes. Just like
yesterday I wore white and today I’m wearing red. Similarly, we change the bodily clothes to
another kind of clothing that is maybe more beautiful, maybe less beautiful, according to our
choice in life. We choose it by being enlightened. We know which choice is better, which
clothes are better for the next activity. If we choose beautiful clothes, we’ll go to heaven. If we
choose ugly clothes, we will go to a little bit lower level than human beings. If we choose
human clothes, we will come back again. But only the enlightened person can choose. One
who is free of the karmic force can choose; otherwise, most people will be forced to be born
wherever their karma or their deeds from the last birth lead them. They have no control
whatsoever about their future or about the new clothes that they will buy.
Q. My dearest Master, I was initiated last night. Since I came in contact with Your teaching in
Sydney six months ago, I realized You are the Master I have been searching for, for many
lives. All I would like to say is ‘Thank You. I wish You good health!’ [Applause]
M. Thank you.
Q. Is it true that a relationship and marriage will distract us from immediate enlightenment?
M. No, no. It’s not true. It’s not true at all, but it might make us a little bit sidetracked for a while,
for a while only. If you are completely enlightened, or are very strong on your spiritual path,
very much enlightened, not completely even, it doesn’t matter what you do, how attractive the
world is, you will always remember what you want.
But by the way, enlightened people will not become metal or wood. It’s all right to take care of
your family and your marriage. Most Masters were married, had children, and raised a family
just like you. And I say it’s absolutely normal. Anyhow, it’s absolutely normal to fulfill our duty
in life, and at the same time, aspire to heaven. God doesn’t put us here just to be lonely, or to
endure hardships, or to be ‘feelingless,’ or lifeless. It’s all right. Whatever happens naturally,
accept it, without struggle, condemnation, or rejection. Just accept it and do things in a
moderate way. We practice the middle path.
It’s all right if you don’t want to get married or if you don’t want to take responsibility for a
family life. But if you want to get married, if you love someone, it’s all right. It’s part of the
universal love. Any love is part of universal love. Just accept it as God’s gift to you should you
find a good partner. If God doesn’t give to you, even if you look throughout your life, you won’t
find any. So don’t worry about it. [Laughter]
Q. Dear Master, are our soul and our mind the same?
M. No, they aren’t. The soul is likened unto the chauffeur, the driver, and mind is likened unto the
car. Also, like a computer and a secretary.
Q. Yesterday when I saw You for the first time walking down to the stage, I started to cry and my
heart was calling, ‘Master! Master!’ How much I wanted to hold You! I don’t know why. Master,
is this okay?
M. Maybe we have an affinity. Maybe your soul is longing for liberation. Maybe your soul inside,
the wisdom inside you, recognizes, ‘At last, I’ve found my own self, my own comrade!’ So you
are happy. Call me Master, friend, whatever you like and be happy that you have found
something you’ve been looking for, for many centuries.
Q. Master, what happens when heaven becomes overcrowded? [Laughter]
M. It’s not Singapore or Hong Kong. It’s heaven, please! When you say heaven, its expanse is
limitless; it can never be overcrowded. Hell can be overcrowded, but heaven – rarely.
[Laughter]
Q. Dear Master, how does a man cope when he’s married unhappily and falls in love with
another married lady?
M. You have to see to your own marriage – whether it absolutely cannot be rescued or improved,
or whether you seek love in another relationship just as an excuse for your own pleasure. It’s
already bad enough if you have one marriage – troublesome enough. It is better that we can
take care of our marriage relationship. I know it is difficult. Everything is difficult in this world
but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Talk to your wife about where the problem lies. But don’t talk to her about your affair, please!
[Laughter] If you talk about that, there may be no more solution. It’s all right if you think that it
is a mistake, you may try to cut it down or forsake it. But talk to your wife about how to
improve your relationship – where she fails, or where you fail, and where you need her
attention or improvement, or where she needs you.
Talk to each other. Buy new presents for her; buy a beautiful dress for her. Adorn her with
beautiful things; make her beautiful. Make her a beauty of your life instead of spending your
time and energy on someone else’s woman because you don’t possess her anyhow.
It’s better to take care of what you have than to waste time and energy on other people’s
possessions. It doesn’t matter how much you like the neighbor’s car; you don’t go and spray
gold on it. Spray it on your car! Is that not so? Take care of your car because you drive the
car. You need the car every day; the car is necessary for you. The neighbor’s car, you can
admire silently, quietly, but don’t spray gold on it. Don’t look after it so much and neglect your
car. One day, maybe the neighbor will drive the car away and suddenly you’ll be without
anything. Your car will be in the garage, broken down, uncared for, and then you will be in
trouble.
Work for your marriage if you think it’s worthwhile. And then also, at the same time, respect
other people’s marriages. It hurts to forsake the things you love, but think of the other man. If
you were in his position, would you feel happy? Would you not prefer your wife to be faithful
and devoted to you? Make your wife a good wife; make yourself a good husband. And make
the neighbor’s wife also become a good wife to her husband. That would be the best solution.
[Applause]
Thank you for trusting me with your personal, family problem. This is also very important. If
your heart is not peaceful, it doesn’t matter how many wives you have, your business and
everything will go wrong. It’s better to be satisfied with what you have, to take care of it and
beautify it. Make it more beautiful and more suitable for your taste. Just like you cultivate your
garden, plant your roses. Make it more beautiful for yourself.
Q. If I am honest, how do I deal with people who are not honest? Will I lose out?
M. Even if you lose out, you must be honest. Honesty doesn’t mean stupidity. Deal with people
the way you should, but keep your dignity and keep your own honesty because you are the
one who lives with yourself. Even if you can cheat other people, you yourself know what you
are like. It’s best to protect ourselves. To be honest with other people is the best protection for
our dignity and our conscience. It’s the best way for us.
Okay, I will take leave of you now but I will take you in my heart. [Applause] And please keep
me also in your hearts – sometimes – when you’re in trouble. [Applause]
Thank you these days for your love. I truly enjoy being in Singapore. You feel very free here,
no repression, no hard feelings at all in Singapore. I congratulate you for being in such a good
atmosphere. Keep your country better and better each day. Thank you for your love.
TO BE ONE WITH GOD IS TO DO WITHOUT DOING 3
I congratulate you for having a new, old prime minister. [Applause] Your country is the envy of
many other nations. That was my impression when I first landed at the airport and as we drove to
my temporary residence. It’s so clean, fresh, and big, vast. People don’t have the pressure of living
close together without space. So clean, and the people are so friendly. Even the police at the
airport were friendly and trusting – expert in knowing who is who. They only take care of the law
and check on the so-called ‘not very law-abiding people.’ When they saw us, they know nothing
happens, so we just passed through without any checking of the luggage. This very rarely happens
for such a group like us with many people and a lot of equipment, and wires, microphones,
earphones, and so on. It was a very, very warm and welcome feeling at the airport. I have traveled
a lot around the world and this rarely happens, so I also would like to thank you. Maybe some of
the policemen are sitting here today. If not, please be reminded of the goodness of your country
and your people again. [Applause] If all the countries in the world become just like Australia, then
we don’t have to worry much.
3. Public lecture, Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne, Australia, March 14, 1993 (Originally in English).
I’m happy that your country is very liberal concerning the different faiths of different religions. When
I came the first day, many people came to visit me. Some were native-born, and some were
immigrants to your nation, but speaking perfect English. They have informed me of the different
faiths in your country, the different groups of meditational practice and different beliefs, or different
so-called ‘religious sects.’ That shows that the people in Australia are very spiritual, and very open-
minded to all kinds of good influences.
They also asked me what kind of religion I represent or try to advocate. I was asked already at the
airport by the police who were interested to know. I told them that I have no intention to advocate
any particular religion in your country, because from what I have gathered, your country has
enough religions already. By the smiles on your faces, I know it is true. So they asked me, ‘Then
what have You come for?’ I said, ‘First to get to know your country.’ I have heard so much about
Australia, this very interesting and charming land. Many people know about it and I have heard
about it since I was a child, but I had not the opportunity to come. So first, to get to know the
country and the people; also, second, to share with them what we know, and also to learn from
them what we don’t know.
In these days, I have been busy learning but have not had the opportunity of sharing. Today is the
day that I may have a chance to share with you what you might already know, or some of you
might not yet know. In this age of very progressive communication systems, most people in the
West, for example America or Australia know about many systems of meditation or religious
devotion. So, religions, we have plenty and we have enough. All religions have encouraged people
to be good, to do good, and to remember God or the Buddha; therefore, I do not intend to remind
you about this again. The reason my disciples invited me to come to this beautiful country is that
they thought because they are living in such a peaceful country, they owe so much to the
Australian people for this happiness and freedom that they sometimes don’t have in other lands.
So they wanted me to represent them to share with you the happiness that they gained through our
meditation practice, which is called the Quan Yin method.
Quan Yin is a Chinese term from where I started, in Formosa. Well, I’ve got to start somewhere!
Therefore, most of the terms sometimes seem very Buddhistic, also a little bit Chinese. But in the
Western countries, we don’t need to discriminate over these terminologies. Quan Yin is the
Chinese term for observation of the vibration, observation of the Word inside us, the Word, which
was mentioned in the bible, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.’ By observing silently with our wisdom inside, we will come in contact with God.
That’s the reason for all our happiness, and all our desires will come to an end. We do not leave
our desires, but our desires will leave us. Some people call this the supreme power inside. When
Jesus came to earth, he declared that, ‘I do, but not I. It is my Father in me who does it,’ and
‘Whoever prays to the Father through my name, that will I do.’
What I can do, you can do also
Why had the people at that time prayed through Jesus? Why through His name and not directly? It
is because at that time the people had not discovered their own Christ within. But later on, when
He imparted the supreme wisdom to His disciples, He again told them, ‘Whatever I do, you can do
also, and you can do better.’ Why better than the Master? It is just because it’s the nature of every
Master to be very humble, and also to encourage people to stand on their own feet, to know their
greatness, to recognize God who dwells within them. That is why He mentioned it this way. And
also why ‘better’? It is because He knew that in the generations to come, the freedom of religion, of
spreading religious faith, would be greater than at the time of His life. He knew that His disciples,
going through their own experiences and speaking in His name, would have more freedom to
express the greatness of a living Master, as well as the kingdom of God, which they themselves
experienced. It doesn’t matter how great a Master like Jesus is, he would not venture to glorify
himself; also, he’s too humble to do that. But most of the disciples can speak better of him, and
more freely express the greatness of the Master.
The reason why the Master does not glorify Himself also is because when a Master is one with
God, the Master has no more self to proclaim. There is no feeling of being the doer with the
Master, if He is a true Master. If we believe in Jesus or any of the saviors who have graced our
earth, then we must know that we are great; we are the sons and daughters of God; we are,
ourselves, the Supreme Master. But because we do not discover this power within ourselves, we
have doubts, we have anxieties and we have desires that are hardly ever completely fulfilled as
long as we have not come in contact with the God power. The reason for my disciples inviting me
here is to share with you the knowledge of how to get in touch with this supreme God who is within
you, of whom you have heard much about, and which all the bibles, all the scriptures, in different
religions have mentioned.
I have not come to alter your belief, your religion, to make you to become a Buddhist, or a
Christian, a Muslim, or whatever. Whatever faith you have belief in, that is correct. If you have not
the opportunity to get in touch with that supreme power on which your faith is based, then we will
help you to recognize that. It’s very easy, just like you receive flowers from beloved friends,
because it’s always there. ‘It is very difficult to know God,’ some people say to me. But to me, it’s
very, very easy; it’s like a child’s game. I am always surprised whenever I am in contact with some
people who have not tuned in with their supreme power. I’m always surprised, again and again.
Why don’t they know it? Why have they forsaken their greatness? Why do they go around in life in
some kind of negative feeling, or suffering, not knowing how great they are?
After the initiation, many of my disciples claim that I am the Buddha, or the Master, or whatever
God’s daughter. Okay, that I accept, but so are you. So are all of you, from the child to the old man.
None of you are different than I am. Everything I have, you have. Everything I have gained, you
can gain. And that can be proved very shortly after you have accepted your greatness through the
symbolic process of so-called ‘initiation.’ My disciples have testified to this fact; just like we say, ‘By
your fruit shall you be known.’ If we say something only by hearsay, or only by theology, by
speaking, by reasoning, or by debating, then it’s only half of the Truth. We have to have proof of
what we say and what we hear. That’s why Jesus said to the people, ‘Seeing, you see, but you do
not perceive; hearing, you hear, but you do not understand.’
The reason why we see without perceiving is that we see with our physical eyes only a part of the
creation of God, but we do not see the creator. We do not completely perceive what is the meaning
behind all these beautiful creations, and what is truly the meaning of ‘God is love,’ or ‘God is
almighty,’ ‘God is omnipresent.’ Of course, some of you would have perceived that. Nowadays
communications are excellent and everything is made known to the public at large. Many of the
systems have been introduced to you, to your country, and to other people in different countries.
Perhaps you have known some of the teachings similar to ours, or the method that can show you
the kingdom of God.
A precious method
When I mention the method, it isn’t a method at all, because when we transmit the Light and the
Sound, we don’t speak, both of us. The kingdom of God doesn’t need human language to be
revealed. Just like in the bible, it is stated that it is not by praying loudly on the street or making a
lot of noise that you know God, but by praying in a secret corner, there your Father will know you.
And what you do in secret, the Father will reveal to you openly. What is it that we do in secret?
When we meditate, we come into the secret closet of our wisdom, of our self. Then, the more we
come into that chamber, the more it is manifested outside as intelligence, as wisdom, as loving
kindness, as the more effectiveness of the way we work and serve in this world.
All of my disciples, or most of them, because some of them probably are dragging behind a little
bit. I wouldn’t boast that all of them immediately know everything, but most of them do. They have
experienced a lot of miracles in their lives. Many of us love miracles. Wherever I go, people keep
asking me, ‘Do You know this or that man or woman who makes miracles?’ ‘I always heard about
this healer; he’s the greatest healer; he puts his hands on you and you are healed.’ I said that it will
be great and then all the world don’t need hospitals anymore. We all love miracles; that is the
weakness within us. It’s all right. I told some of these people, ‘All these healing powers, all these
miracles are yours. If you want them, you will have them; no need to worship any miracle workers,
or any healer even.’ It’s great! What they do is great, but you can do the same. You can do the
same. Jesus has promised it, and so it’s for us now to verify if what Jesus said is true or not.
I have verified this, and many of my disciples, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of
thousands of them around the world have verified this. If you, yourself, want to verify, it’s nothing
very difficult and it can be done very shortly. Most of our fellow practitioners, I don’t call them
disciples. It’s just because I am just talking to you and I forgot. I call them fellow practitioners;
brother or sister is what we call each other. But they call me Master, so I am only one and they are
too many. I can’t win, so sometimes, I forget. [Master and audience laugh.] I call myself Master
also, but this is not in a proud sense. It’s just a very natural, spontaneous reaction. You may call
yourself Master also after you have mastered the art of life and death through the practice of the
heavenly Light and the heavenly Sound, which are the Word and the Light of God in the bible.
We know so many things in life already; we know so much already. Many of us have a great
position in the society and possess great knowledge about science, biology, and every other thing,
but there is much more to learn. We should not stop at the worldly level of discovery, but we should
go on farther into the higher dimension of the kingdom of God, and then choose where we go after
we leave this physical world. Just like many of the immigrants to your country, they have chosen
your land because it’s peaceful, it’s more secure, and more loving than probably some of their
original countries. Similarly, our world is beautiful; beautiful, but there are more exquisitely
beautiful, absolutely fantastic worlds beyond our world. And this we can choose, because in the
kingdom of God, there are many mansions. After the initiation, should we practice this method, we
will know immediately some part of this kingdom.
Most of our disciples know this. That’s why they like to invite me here and there all the time to
share with other people the same happiness. They thought they couldn’t do it alone. They can do
it, but they thought I probably could speak about it better. That’s sometimes their mistake, but if
people request me too many times repeatedly, then I cannot say ‘no.’ I have to come. Otherwise,
each of them, each of you, after knowing God, after knowing the kingdom of God, you have also
the power to share it with other people. To do it or not do it depends on your confidence. After you
practice for a longer time, you have greater confidence and you have greater knowledge, and then
you know what you are speaking of.
Before I knew the kingdom of God, I always thought if I do good things and bow to the Buddha or
go to the church, that would be enough. But afterward, there was something missing within me.
Something, I cannot tell why, it just pushes me so that I have to know further, so that I have to
know more. Before, I went to the church and I never asked for anything much. I always prayed to
God that ‘If You truly exist, please reveal Yourself to me. Please somehow let me know Your
greatness.’ And I prayed to the Buddha in the same way. At that time, God didn’t reveal Hirmself to
me; God did not care about me, and the Buddha also ignored me. After much suffering and praying
for the Truth, I have got it, but I got it through the transmission, through the practicing of the Quan
Yin method, observing the Word, the vibration which is our own self.
Our world is getting better and better because there has never been, in history, such an open
disclosure of such a precious method. Not that the Masters did not desire to share it with the
people in the world, it was just due to persecution and difficulty in communication in the old time.
Now we have television, we have telephones, we have newspapers, we have radios. Therefore,
the people in the world at large are now practicing this precious method that in the ancient times
could only be acquired through secret, through hardship, through years of searching.
I am not the only one who teaches this method. There are several more; therefore, the world, our
world now, is full of people who are enlightened, who know the kingdom of God, and who live a
saintly way of life. That’s why, I guess, our world is getting better and better. Even all the conflicts
between nations are being slowly minimized. Many of the political struggles that have bothered the
whole world have become less in a very short time. If we practice the heavenly wisdom, we will see
that there is a reason for it, and that it is because so many people are enlightened. There are so
many new discoveries that are better for people’s health, for the people’s spiritual welfare, and for
economic growth. Everything has a better promise.
Turn our world into heaven
If more of the people turn to heaven and truly get in touch with the source of all healing power, of
all magical fantasies, then the world will become heaven. At that time, probably we don’t need to
aspire to go to another planet or to go to heaven even, because our Father will be here among us,
because all of us will become one with the Father. It seems a very fantastic dream, but it may
come true. We would have no need to fear for the end of the world because we will turn this into
heaven. God will not destroy our world if it becomes a fit, a better and more glorious place for Hiers
children to live in. You only pull down a house when the house is rotten, and build a new one.
Otherwise, if the house is repaired and intact, then you would not pull it down.
Many people ask me about the end of the world. Do I believe in it? Am I afraid of it? What do I do
about it? I say, ‘Yes, I believe in it.’ God has the power to create, and should our world become
unfit for Hiers children to stay, then Hes would destroy it. But no, I’m not afraid of it because I have
the kingdom of God in my pocket. I can take it anywhere I want. In this life or the life after, I will
never lose my paradise; therefore, it doesn’t matter if the world ends or doesn’t end. It doesn’t
concern me. But what do I do about it? I do nothing. Of course, if you come to me and ask, then I
will remind you that you don’t need to fear it, because if we die, the world ends anyhow. So the
world may end any time, sometimes even in an accident. What we worry about is not the end of the
world, but the end of ourselves. If we are not prepared for a longer journey to heaven, we might
have to worry. Otherwise, there is nothing that we should do, but to leave it to the will of God.
Because so many are here today, I will shorten my speech and you probably have something to
teach me that I can learn, or something to inquire about what I know. If you have any questions or
anything to say, please write it on a piece of paper and then we will answer it for you. Thank you
very much. [Applause]
Q. Is one ever too old to start being a vegetarian?
M. Probably, yes. Maybe your biological system will not so quickly adjust to the new diet. So
sometimes, in our system, at about age sixty-five or seventy, it would be better for you to start
next time, when you change your clothes and come back again.
Q. If you have already a Christian mantra, does one have to change it?
M. No, you don’t have to if that works for you. If you truly can get in touch with God through that
mantra, and you can see the Light of God, and you can hear the Word of God, then you don’t
need to change. If you do not experience this God power manifested through the Light and
the Word, then you should change, if you desire to. If you do not desire, of course, you don’t.
Q. What does fear of the Lord mean?
M. Fear of the Lord means to respect Hiers laws, Hiers commandments. It doesn’t mean that you
have to be scared of Hirm or be afraid of Hirm. Fear of the Lord means that you respect God,
who is the creator of all things. We try to be righteous and virtuous in order to please Hirm
who is our true self. When we fear the Lord, it means we respect the Lord, we know the
wisdom. Then we can never do wrong things. It’s not that the Lord is so fearsome that we
have to stand far apart from Hirm.
Q. Why do you have to meditate two and a half hours a day and become vegetarian to be
enlightened?
M. No, you don’t have to be vegetarian, and you don’t have to meditate two and a half hours a
day to become enlightened, but you have to in order to keep the enlightenment. You can be
enlightened without these, but you can’t keep it if you are not fit to go on with it. There is some
great power within ourselves which, when tapped, can bring confusion, can bring shattering
experiences to our body and mind, should we not have prepared our purity to keep it or to
endure it.
Q. With respect, Master, may I ask why You wear makeup and jewelry?
M. May I ask you, ‘Why not’? [Laughter and applause.] It’s not jewelry, anyhow and my disciples
like me beautiful. This is very cheap; it’s only crystal of some kind. They are not true jewelry. If
you want, I’ll give them to you right now. Who was it? If you want them, I’ll give them to you. If
you don’t like them, I’ll throw them away. You want me to throw them away? [Audience: No.]
It doesn’t matter what you wear. Why are you attached so much to the material appearance?
Whether you’re attached to a beautiful appearance or a beggar appearance, it’s all
attachment. Throw them both out, okay? I can wear this today and I can wear jeans tomorrow.
It makes no difference to me. Why should it make a difference to you? It’s I who wear it.
[Applause] Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. Get enlightenment, that’s the best,
then wear what you want.
But I understand what you mean. You mean a practitioner should be very modest. Dress like
a monk or something like that. I have done that for ten years and I got enlightenment, but not
through the monk’s robe. Now I try to wear different clothes to see whether my enlightenment
become less or not. It doesn’t. You have to experience something; otherwise, how do you tell
people? I do everything through experience, and then I tell other people what I know. Should
some other people who wear makeup and jewelry and have a glorious appearance not get
enlightenment or what? It’s nonsense. God never says so in the bible, does Hes? No.
Actually, I don’t wear things beautiful enough; I tell you the truth, because from what I know,
we are more beautiful than this. We are more glorious in heaven. We have degraded
ourselves already into this stage. So this is just a reminder of some glorious state in heaven. I
can wear it, or I can not wear it. It doesn’t matter at all. Don’t you agree? [Applause]
What we wear also has some effect. For example, before, I was wearing monk’s clothes, and I
forsook my husband. I wasn’t enlightened. I don’t regret leaving him. I have more time to
dedicate to people instead of having a lot of kids and having to burden my husband to look
after the kids while I am going on tour for many months, or I never go home, for example.
Then, I just let him free, and I am free to dedicate myself to people and to serve God. I don’t
regret leaving him, but I was very sad leaving him at that time. I felt sorry for him because he
loved me very much. Also, I loved him very much. We had a very beautiful marriage. So I left
him and then I thought that in search of Truth I have to be dressing like a monk and all that in
order to serve people.
But then it had some kind of side effect. Many people left their homes and followed me. They
left their children and their husbands, and made a lot of trouble for me. Their children came
and made trouble, their husbands came and threatened to kill me, their wives wrote many
letters scolding me, et cetera. I don’t mind all this scolding or accusing. It’s just that I should
not break up the family through my dress. I understand, but they did not understand. By
setting this example many family people follow, and then they break up their family. I’m
supposed to bring them happiness, not sorrow; therefore, I changed my dress. If that bothers
you, then you go and look for another Master.
Q. Do You believe in reincarnation?
M. Yes, I do, but then I don’t, because reincarnation is only our habitual thinking that binds us.
Our true self is never born, never dies, and never reincarnates.
Awaken our own Supreme Master within
Q. How can You explain or justify the existence of people suffering illness through no fault of
their own?
M. If you believe in the reincarnation theory, that explains it. This is what the bible says, ‘As you
sow, so shall you reap.’ Sometimes we have made some mistakes in our previous life or even
in this life, then we get the illness.
Sometimes we suffer the collective so-called karma, meaning the collective effects of the
whole society. For example, if you don’t smoke, but you always have to go around the world in
airplanes or on buses that are full of smoke from other people, then you’re also having some
kind of collective effect. It’s called karma in the Sanskrit term. It means you suffer what the
society, what your environment, inflicts upon you. Therefore, we have to clear it up by having
a purer life and encourage other people to do the same. We should not need to wait for the
neighbor to do it; we do it first. We start with a clean diet, a vegetarian diet, which has been
scientifically proven that it is even good for our health. Apart from compassion, enlightenment,
and all that great deal, it’s good for your health. And stop smoking; do meditation instead.
After initiation, most of my disciples quit smoking immediately. They just quit it on their own. I
say quit it slowly if you cannot bear it. I do not ban cigarettes, but they quit it. Most of them
quit it immediately after reading my book only. There is such a power, which is awakened
inside that helps them to go through all obstacles in life. That is the supreme power. It’s not I
who help them. It’s the Father who helps. It’s their own Father who helps when they awaken
to themselves and want to claim their greatness again. That’s why I say, ‘Awaken your own
power. Be your Master, be the Master.’ I’m telling you, I’m trying to show you, the way to be a
Master, not to be my disciple. Therefore, after initiation, all the miracles come to you, all the
things good that happen to you, it is your own Supreme Master at work. So I never claim
credit for this. Even though the disciples praise me that I do this and that for them through
manifestation bodies, I say I know nothing about it. It is because your own Master power is at
work after the initiation. Be the Master, be a Christ, be a Buddha! [Applause]
Q. If we have followed another master, can we follow Master Ching Hai?
M. It depends. If you think you need it, then you follow. If your master has already imparted to
you the Light and Sound, and you have experienced the kingdom of God within and you’re
satisfied with it, then you don’t need to follow me. Only follow me when you don’t know it. If
you already know and you have a good master, please don’t. But you’re welcome. I don’t
reject you. [Applause]
Q. If we become one with God, does it mean that we lose our individuality?
M. Yes, but no. In the worldly level, you are still Ms. or Mr. So-and-So, and if you happen to be
the prime minister, you keep your post. God will not take it away from you. You still have your
wife and kids, all the possessions that you need, and all the jobs that you have to do. And you
still have your character. But then, you are one with God and that means you ‘do without
doing.’ You don’t claim credit for anything because you know it’s not you who do it, and you
don’t have any more ego to glorify yourself. That’s the only thing. Our individual self doesn’t
mean the ego. What we lose is the ego, not the individuality.
Q. If I realize my own enlightenment, can I help those close to my heart who have a negative
attitude toward life?
M. Yes, definitely. We have helped many, and our practitioners have also helped many. So can
you. It’s not by word of mouth that we convince people; it’s by our own greatness, the great
wisdom within which awakens that transmits this atmosphere to their wisdom inside and they
perceive it. That’s how we help other people in a more effective way, apart from just talking
and consoling them.
Q. Is God personal or just a universal power?
M. Both. If you want Hirm to be personal, God will appear because God can do everything. God
is your own self. The universal power is also your own self.
Q. Is there a devil, like satan?
M. What do you think? In Australia, maybe no, but in other countries, yes. When you see a lot of
disgraceful things that happen through some individual, some very destructive power at work,
this is the so-called ‘satan.’ But the sooner we practice the heavenly Light and Sound, the
better. Then the so-called satan will also become an angel. We will initiate him, and make him
vegetarian. Then he will do no more destructive work. But I need your love and force together.
I, alone, cannot turn this world into heaven. I can only turn myself into heaven. But you,
yourselves, have to also turn each of you into a heavenly atmosphere before we can abolish
satan. We have to work together.
Q. Many ancient Masters, for example, Lao Tzu and Quan Yin, described the ultimate goal as a
void where there is no attachment, no method, no sound, nothing. So may I ask why You
place so much emphasize on exterior things like hearing Sound and seeing Light?
M. Does he say ‘no sound’? Really? No. Oh, I have some books here. Lao Tzu, look; let’s see
what he says. [Master opens the Tao Te Ching.] He talks a lot about heavenly music, about
the Tao. The Tao, you don’t need to use the ears, but you can hear it; you don’t need to use
the eyes, but you can see it. These are the invisible Light and invisible Sound. He didn’t say
anything about ‘no sound.’ He said that you don’t need to use the ears, but you can hear it,
and you don’t need to use the eyes, but you can see it.
The Quan Yin Bodhisattva became Quan Yin because She practiced the Quan Yin method,
which means observing the Sound. It’s full of this evidence in the Buddhist scriptures. Like
when you practice Quan Yin, you can hear the sound of the sea waves, the sound of Brahma,
or the sound of thunder. Even the sound of many waters, et cetera. You hear without the ears,
but the more you hear, the more you know what God wants.
Then we can do the will of God instead of blindly doing things and clumsily following our own
instinct and making a chaos of this world. So Quan Yin Bodhisattva is the one who practiced
on the Sound. That’s why Her name is Quan Yin. It is stated very clearly in the Lotus sutra
that She is called that because She practiced the Quan Yin method.
Q. Does everyone get enlightenment eventually?
M. Yes, eventually, maybe in a couple of aeons or so, in thousands of billions of years, if you
haven’t met a Master who is experienced and who shows you the quickest way.
Q. How did You become a Master? Did You train with a Teacher?
M. Yes.
Q. Can You describe God?
M. No, but I know Hirm intimately. Just like I see you, I can see Hirm.
Q. Before we descend to this world of matter, we were pure as God. But why were we asked or
forced to descend to this world to experience these everyday difficulties?
M. So that we learn to be God. We are born from God, but then we are not God. Just like you are
born from your parents, but you are not yet grown-up, so your parents send you to school with
difficult examinations and all kinds of homework, which give you headaches. And sometimes
you cannot sleep enough and you cannot play because of the schoolwork. But they have to
send you there. It’s the same way with God. All these are experiences for us to grow;
otherwise, we become just like spoiled angels; doing nothing, knowing doing, and having no
inheritance of God’s power.
Q. Thank You for this experience. You spoke of no longer being the doer. Master, please expand
upon this.
M. It’s very difficult to explain to you, but this comes through experiences. It has two levels of
understanding: First through meditation experiences, and later through grace, just living in the
presence of God. And you don’t even know that you have healed people thousands of miles
apart. You don’t even know that you bring goodness to those near you, but you do all these
things and people know it. So it is to ‘do without doing.’ The first stage, before I met you, I had
the experience of being one with the whole universe, but this I cannot describe to you. You
just know it in the state of meditation called samadhi. You can call it samadhi; you’re just
being in the state of ‘non-desire.’ You can call it nirvana, the kingdom of God, or whatever you
want. You’ll be one with God. You just know it. In that state, you can only exclaim, ‘I and my
Father are one,’ and all the beings in the universe are one, but you have no way to explain or
to describe it. I regret to disappoint you, but I invite you to come to me and let me show you
how to experience it yourself, because I cannot describe in the human language what I know.
Q. Does being a vegetarian include not eating animal-derived products, for example, milk and
cheese?
M. No. We’re not fanatics. Milk and cheese are good for the children; they have plenty of calcium
and are good for your teeth. You may eat them in large doses, if you want. There’s no such
things as a prohibition on milk products. But sometimes you don’t feel that it’s very tasteful,
because you probably think that a cow’s suffering for it and things like that, so you don’t drink
it. If you are grown-up enough and you have enough calcium and vitamins in surplus, then
you don’t need to drink milk, but it’s not forbidden.
Q. Can the Quan Yin method be used for healing the body?
M. No, but yes. If you are supposed to be healed, then you’ll be healed. Most of our people are
healed, even from cancer, after initiation. Just now I was in Singapore; one of the girls just sat
there, crying, and thanked me for helping her. ‘But I don’t know anything about it,’ I said. She
said that after initiation the doctor discovered that she had stomach cancer and wanted to
operate on her. She was even administered the anesthetic, but she was still fully awake. The
doctor examined her stomach, and it was gone! No more operation needed, so she was
pushed out again, just like that. Many of these situations have happened. Therefore, I told you
that all the healing powers are within you. If you practice well, if you are sincere, if you seek
the kingdom of God, all things shall be added unto you. But sometimes the time is not proper;
therefore, probably you experience some illness. But the God power will take away already
half or two thirds of it in most cases.
I do not boast about this because I don’t want people to come to me, or to come to God, with
the motivation that they just want to take care of their body alone. If we come to God with
sincerity, then God will give us a lot of things. But if we come to demand just one thing or
another, probably we will be disappointed. That is because we should surrender our ego. We
should let God run the universe and not dictate to God what to do. Therefore, I don’t advocate
healing power or miracles on our part. If we have it, we don’t use it even. We just let God
grace whomever Hes wants, whenever Hes wants, in whatever situation is fit. I don’t use
healing power myself. Even though my disciples claim that I have a lot of healing power, I
don’t know. I don’t use it.
Q. This is not merely a moneymaking exercise, based on a cult personality, the Supreme Master
Ching Hai, is it? It looks that way to me, what with the books, video and audiotapes, posters,
photos, and magazines You are selling in the foyer.
M. Thank you for your compliment. I don’t make any money. This tour costs me USD400,000
personally with the crew and all the equipment. And we don’t charge money for initiation. We
don’t charge money for this auditorium. For the books, you just repay the printing costs. And
the audiotapes, we sell at the cheapest price. We don’t make any profit from the audiotapes or
videotapes. You look at the price, please. It’s even cheaper than if you buy them outside as
empty tapes in some cases. We don’t make money, ever.
I earn money by my painting, handicrafts, interior designs – lamps, bedding, clothing, and all
that. Please, I don’t want any money from you. If you want to give, it’s all right. We can donate
it to charity, but I don’t spend money on me. Even my jewelry is just imitation. I don’t have a
car. I don’t have a house, even! I have only a tent in my headquarters. It cost about USD50 or
USD100, I guess. So don’t be afraid that I will get money from you. If you don’t want to buy
the books, all right, we will donate them to you. We donate more than we sell. We give to
everyone who needs. And, even if we earn any money from these, we give it to charity. We
gave to the Philippine disaster relief last year; we gave to the refugees and we gave to the
poor around the world and in the countries where we live.
All of our so-called immediate disciples live in tents, I may inform you. We don’t have a house
or a temple, even. We don’t have even a roof above our heads. We have only tents. We don’t
have a meditation center in our headquarters in Formosa. Mostly, I don’t like to live in rooms.
If I have a room, I will live in it. But I don’t want to build; it takes too much time. By the time I
build a house, I will die already. Therefore, please don’t be afraid. We don’t make any money.
If you don’t want to buy the book, we’ll give you everything you need. If you have the money,
then you just exchange it so that we can print further. We print billions of copies of free
booklets. It costs a lot of money, all from our own pockets, because all of my disciples work.
Apart from going on tour, when we are at home or anywhere, we work. We earn money by
handicrafts and all kinds of talents that we have. We don’t take money donations from the
public. But sometimes people like to donate. You can’t stop people from being good. So if
they donate, we give it out again. Or we do something for you, or for the country that needs it.
[Applause] But you’re right. The one who works for God should never take money. Should
give only, never take. But thank you for reminding me. I will try to keep to that principle all the
time. Thank you.
Q. What is Your attitude on abortion, contraception, sterilization, and the abortion pill?
M. Abortion pill? They have that in a pill even? What do you want me to say? These are the
affairs of you human people. I come to teach you the kingdom of God. And should you follow
it, then you will know the answer yourself, according to the circumstances. [Applause]
Q. Why is it that, even when living the way God has told us, loving our neighbor, not killing, not
desiring material things, there is still an emptiness in my heart?
M. Yes, because you have not come in contact with God within you. You only do Hiers
commandments, but you have not known the Commander-in-Chief. Get to know Hirm, and
then you will feel fulfilled.
Q. Plants do have life also. What is the reason to become vegetarian and why?
M. Well then, we should die, all of us. Eating nothing would be the best, I agree. If you can do it,
welcome. [Master laughs.] Well, we have to eat something, no? Jesus ate something, and
Buddha ate something.
It’s all right to take vegetables because in the bible, even in the Old Testament, it is said so.
God said, ‘I made all the beautiful fruit which is pleasing to your eyes, and pleasing to your
taste, and all the herbs in the field. These are your food.’ No, Hes didn’t forbid us to eat a
vegetarian diet, so why not? You don’t study the bible well, that’s the trouble with you!
Q. Why is it detrimental to our spiritual progress to practice any meditation that involves breath
control?
M. Because breathing is ephemeral. Everything we use concerning ephemeral phenomena will

end in the ephemeral. What we practice is using our own kingdom of God, our own wisdom,
which is eternal; therefore, we can get eternal lasting happiness.
Q. What is mind?
M. What is mind? You operate on your head and see! [Laughter]
Mind is the one that makes you drink coffee when you don’t want to drink it, that makes you
have two wives when you know you should have only one, and causes a lot of trouble when
you know you should have peace. It’s very stubborn, obstinate.
Mind is only the computer. It registers all things that happen around it, and puts out again the
same information whether the circumstances have changed or not. Therefore, sometimes we
make mistakes and we have very harsh judgment in some cases because the mind has
registered the same information, but in two different circumstances. We have not learned to
be flexible, therefore, we stumble and we suffer. That’s why we have to learn to get in touch
with the real source of wisdom, and then handle every situation accordingly, without
condemnation, only with love and with understanding.
Q. How can the majority of people find two and a half hours daily to meditate? Can this time be
reduced and be effective?
M. You don’t have to sit straight two and a half hours. You can get up early one hour in the
morning, half hour at lunch break, and another hour in the evening. Less television, less rock
and roll, et cetera. maybe, or less talk on the phone and save the phone bill. Then we will
have a lot more time. Actually, we have more time than we suppose we do. We just waste it
because we don’t have anything else to do. But now we have a purpose, we have other work
to do. We will concentrate, and we will have time for that.
And even when you sit on the bus, you can meditate. I’ll show you how later at the time of
initiation. When you sit on the airplane, you can meditate. When you sit on the beach to enjoy
the breeze, the fresh air, you can meditate. When you sit in the park, you can meditate. But
not when you drive the car, please. [Laughter] It’s very easy to get two and a half hours. In
fact you can have more, more, more time.
Q. Do You believe in marriage?
M. I do. Why not? If I don’t believe in marriage, where do I come from? [Laughter and applause.]
Q. If one is fully enlightened, is she or he still subject to the law of causation?
M. No, but he respects the law of causation. He or she will probably suffer also because of
sharing the burden with the disciples. Just like you yourself go around empty handed, but if
your friend or neighbor carries too much stuff that he needs, probably he is ill and takes a lot
of medicine, or he needs special food and takes a lot of stuff with him, then you cannot bear to
see your best friend burdened with all this stuff. You share half of the luggage; therefore,
you’re burdened also. Even though you don’t need this medical stuff, you don’t need extra
food, you are burdened with these because of love for the friend. Therefore, the enlightened
person may undergo some apparent effects from the karma, but actually he or she is free
from it.
Q. About almighty power, can it change the movement of the sun or planets? Or should we
understand almighty power as having spiritual meaning, because I cannot believe the
miracles written in the bible.
M. You should. You can experience these miracles right now, and then you will believe. Anything,
the almighty power can do, but as God sees fit, not at our dictation. All the miracles in the
bible are true. These are children’s play. There is nothing that is such a big deal that you
could not believe it. There are much more than that. These are just very fragmented records
of what a Master can do.
Even nowadays I’ve seen with my eyes some of the Hindu monks walk across the water, and
not just walk halfway across a swift flowing current. And they wanted to teach me how to do it.
But I refused. I said, ‘I use the boat, it’s cheap. Very cheap.’ If you read the book from
Alexandria David Neel, you will see that she recorded many miracles in Tibet. People can fly
around in the air right now. They have to chain themselves to a lot of metal blocks so that
sometimes they can land; otherwise, they fly all the time in the air. Many such things are very
simple. To turn water into milk and all that, this is there. You can buy them in India, these
miracle tricks. If you want, go to India and search for some sadhus and learn with them.
No need to doubt the bible because Jesus wasn’t very proud of these miracles anyhow. For
example, when His mother tried to demonstrate His supernatural power by telling people to
prepare the jars of water and put them outside and then told Him to turn them into wine, He
said, ‘Mother, why do you make me do this?’ ‘Why do you force me into doing this?’ He wasn’t
very pleased about it. And then when someone was sick and touched His garment and
became healed, He said, ‘Your faith has made you whole.’ And sometimes when some
miracle happened, He said, ‘It’s not I, it’s my Father who does it.’
So these things should not be obstacle to you to put faith in Christianity or Jesus, in His
greatness. He is greater than these miracles. These are just by-products and He was forced
to do it in some circumstances. For example, He healed some people because at that time the
medical treatment was very expensive and rare. People were poor and needy. If He were
born here now, probably He wouldn’t do it to attract you. The teaching by Him is important.
The imparting of knowledge is important, not the miracles.
Q. How were souls created and can they be destroyed?
M. No, the soul cannot be destroyed because it is not material. Anything that is born and has a
material shape will be destroyed, but not the soul. Space cannot be destroyed.
Q. Why did God create this world?
M. So that we can know each other today, at least.
Q. I agree with what You say. It’s my opinion, not that God created human beings, but that
human beings created God. Do You agree?
M. Yes and no. It depends on what you mean by God. God is our own wisdom, and God has no
need for any creative power. It exists alone. It exists before all things. That is God. From that
power we came, and to that power we return.
Q. Didn’t Your disciples just needlessly kill those flowers that they presented to You?
M. Oh, what a pity! Shall we cry? Shall I repent for it? They don’t kill. These flowers are already
sold in the market. If you don’t want them, then tell them next time not to buy any. I’ve told
them many times not to buy anything for me, but I can’t always stop people from expressing
their love. Actually, the flowers are sold plenty in the market whether you buy them or not. We
are not so fanatic. It’s all right, just be ordinary.
Flowers will be withered one day. We don’t kill by cutting flowers. There will be more. But if
you cut an animal’s head, it won’t grow a second head. That’s the difference. You cut one
flower, and it becomes five next. The flowers like to be trimmed sometimes. If you ask the
florist not to cut his flowers, his roses, he will say you’re an idiot. But cutting it, it will grow
again next year. He has to do it. Please, there will be more. [Applause]
I seek your blessing. I am only of good will. I mean no harm, even to flowers. But I cannot stop
people who want to present them to me, and I cannot make the florists bankrupt because of
my teaching. They mean no harm to the flowers. They just please you with all these
reasonable things that you can express your love with.
Q. What is sexual misconduct?
M. It means you take a neighbor’s wife or husband without their permission. [Laughter]
Q. Is it true the teacher cannot teach until the pupil is ready?
M. Right, it’s true.
Q. What is it that You have that I don’t have?
M. No, nothing. I told you already, what I have, you have. It’s just that probably I know what I
have, and you don’t know yet what you have. But you will know if you let me show you how
and where. [Applause]
Q. Could You please give a briefing on meditation, and how You go about it?
M. Meditation itself is an empty word if you don’t have sincerity and perseverance. If we truly
want to know our true self, that is the true meditation. Whether you sit, you stand, you lay, or
you go about with your business, you are always centered in this sincerity, wanting to know
God, wanting to know your real self. That is meditation.
We just show you how to collect your scattered attention and focus it on the wisdom center
within our so-called, apparent ‘body,’ within the brain. It is the human language; actually, there
is no center, but I have to start somewhere to tell you to focus. And later on, you will even not
know that you have a body. When you are in samadhi, you experience bliss, Light, and all the
wisdom, and all the questions will be answered for you, and all the desires will drop off. You’ll
still continue to serve the society in a greater capacity and love, but you desire no fruit. You
just carry on your business without attachment.
And the meditation practice is very easy, but you need an experienced friend to teach you.
That’s all. If you already know it, or if you know an experienced Teacher, then no need. If you
don’t, I may help you. But we have to explain it in detail because if you do it wrong, or if your
motive is not pure, you might have side effects. That’s why it is better to have commitment to
a Teacher and learn the whole course in time. That’s all.
Q. I have been through the experience of enlightenment, but now need to know how best to
maintain my oneness with God’s Light.
M. If you did it through a teacher, then ask him. If you don’t have a teacher, then come to our
initiation so that I may help you further to maintain that.
Q. Many times You have quoted the words of Jesus as mentioned in the bible. How do You
regard the bible?
M. What a question! How would you answer this question? Please, this gentleman with curly hair
or that one with straight hair. You answer him. ‘Words of God.’ He said these are words of
God. Are you satisfied? Yes.
Q. I would like to be initiated, but I live far away from here. After I have been vegetarian for three
months, how are You going to give me initiation?
M. I will send someone if I am not there personally. Initiation doesn’t need language and doesn’t
need my personal appearance at the place. We do it regardless of space and time. Any time
you’re ready, we are ready for you. We’ll find the means to do it.
Q. Master, I have been vegetarian and have been initiated, but my family is still eating meat, and
I’m still cooking meat dishes.
M. It’s okay. Do what is required of you. You cannot let them starve.
Q. I have a question that no other monk has explained to me satisfactorily: Where does the
human being come from?
M. Even the Buddha did not answer this.
Q. Where are we going to go after death? Someone says that we are going to paradise, and
some others say that we’ll go to hell.
M. You’ll go to paradise if you are virtuous. You’ll go to hell if you are registered there. [Laughter
and applause.]
Q. In the five precepts, there is something that prohibits us from putting makeup on our face. If
we do so, do we violate it?
M. No, it didn’t say so. The five precepts are only not harming other sentient beings; not killing;
not stealing; not committing adultery; not drinking alcohol or taking drugs and things like that,
not gambling; and not telling lies. These are only five. The Buddha didn’t say, ‘Don’t put on
makeup.’ [Laughter] Don’t make it more complicated than it already is.
Q. Dear Master, what is the essence of the Quan Yin method that You are teaching? What is the
important point? What is the benefit for our current life and what is the good for us when we
leave this life?
M. The essence is that you will be getting in touch with your Buddha nature, God nature, or your
kingdom of God. And it will benefit you right now as well as in the life after because you have
wisdom and you will handle every situation in life in a more proper way. After you leave this
world, you will go to your proper place in heaven or nirvana and continue to serve the whole
universe in your capacity there.
Q. Dear Master, there are many people who say that the husband should not eat a vegetarian
diet because if a male eats a vegetarian diet, he cannot fulfill his duty as a husband, so the
family will not have happiness. What is Your opinion? [Laughter]
M. Is that true? You answer me. Is that true? You didn’t fulfill your duty as a husband? [Master
speaks to a male initiate and audience laughs.] Did you fulfill your duty? Yes, he did.
[Laughter] So, please, you accuse me for all the things I never know. All my disciples are lay
persons. Some of them are husbands and wives, and they continue to have children. I have
not banned anything. I just advise them to be more moderate in all things. That’s all.
Q. Dear Master, is it true that when human beings commit many sins they have to be
downgraded into animals in the next life?
M. The Buddha said so. The Buddha said ‘yes.’
Q. Why is it that the more material things we get, the more obstacles we have in our spiritual
progress?
M. It is not that the material things obstruct our spiritual progress. It’s our attitude toward them
that obstructs us. If you remember at the time of Buddha, there were many kings and many
rich people following Him and they attained enlightenment all the same. In fact, one of them,
they called ‘Yiu Mor,’ was a lay person. He was very rich, and he was more or less equal to
the Buddha because he was so highly enlightened and powerful. It was because he had a lot
of possessions but he was not attached to them. So take care of your attitude, and do not put
away your possessions. Put away your attachment, not your possessions.
Q. Can the wisdom eye open by itself through diligent spiritual practice, or do we have to rely on
the Master’s blessing?
M. Both. Rely on both. It’s the best and the most insured.
Q. Can You tell me the progress of the soul since the beginning until the end?
M. If I have time and if you have time, if we stay here forever, then I will tell you.
Q. Dear Master, if my husband has a concubine and I divorce him, do I commit some sort of sin
against my children? I feel scared to live with him.
M. That’s why I have told you, ‘No sexual misconduct, no adultery.’ It is to protect your family and
the happiness of your children. I think you should not divorce him yet, but talk to him first and
see where probably you go wrong. Maybe you neglect him. You don’t love him enough.
Maybe you don’t take care of the children enough. Maybe you don’t dress yourself beautifully.
Put clothes, and be a good wife to see if it works first. You don’t just forsake a marriage at
random and so quickly. You have maybe gone wrong somewhere or maybe something is
missing in the family. So, please, rescue your marriage first.
When it absolutely cannot be mended, then maybe you consider divorce. Otherwise, of
course, you don’t sin against the children, but they will suffer a separate family and a split-up
loving atmosphere. If you want to sacrifice, and you consider the children that much, then
consider talking to your husband. Be loving to him and be beautiful. See what the opponent
has that you don’t have and learn to be better.
Q. Master, these are questions from a young girl. Why do I have to eat a vegetarian diet? If I eat
vegetarian food, does the Buddha help me to become smarter, more intelligent? If I eat
vegetarian food, can I see the manifestation of Buddha?
M. You eat vegetarian because you learn to love, to love all the beings in this world. Whether you
see the Buddha or not depends on your sincerity and practice. And of course, you will be less
sick and more intelligent. That is scientifically proven.
Q. Would You please let me know about Caodaiism? Is Caodaiism the religion of God who open
it in Au Lac? If I follow this method, is it good? Do I get enlightenment?
M. Every good religion is from God. If you follow any so-called religion, you should see whether
the head of that religion, the founder, is still alive or giving you satisfaction that you see God,
that you can see God’s Light and hear God’s voice.
Q. Dear Master, I have a family and I have two children. I do want to eat a vegetarian diet
because I understand the good of eating vegetarian food as You have taught in Your book.
But, if I eat vegetarian foods, sometimes I waste the food with meat because there is some
left over from my two children. If I do so, is it a sin?
M. No, it isn’t.
Q. How can I be a permanent vegetarian? I want to be vegetarian very much, but I still want to
eat meat.
M. Then wait until you’re ready and pray that God will help you. We don’t force anyone to be
vegetarian if you’re not ready, if you don’t want to. We only help you if you want to.
Q. Dear Master, while doing meditation, is it true… [MC: I’m sorry, my English is bad, so I cannot
translate.]
M. What is it? Come and give it to me. You have to do things quickly because we waste the
audience’s time.
She said that when she meditates, not in our method, she just meditates, she empties her
mind and recites the Buddha’s name, but she does not get into samadhi, meaning the trance,
peaceful-like state. She asks me whether meditating like that is effective or not. Well, I say it
has some effect, but very minimum. If you have samadhi, it will be the best. Then you can get
in touch with the real Buddha nature.
Q. About not killing, if a tiger wants to come and eat me, then what?
M. Where do you go to see the tiger anyhow? Is that so easy just to meet a tiger on the street?
Your imagination is fantastic!
Q. In the kitchen, there are many ants. How do we fix this?
M. Be hygienic. Clean your kitchen all the time so the ants will not come.
Q. Is Quan Yin male or female?
M. Neither.
Q. A Buddha or Bodhisattva?
M. I don’t think She cares so much about Her rank. But in the scripture, it says Quan Yin was an
ancient Buddha.
Q. Can we change our destiny?
M. Yes, somewhat, if we practice the Quan Yin method.
Q. After initiation, if I eat meat or drink alcohol, will that affect or trouble Master?
M. Yes, because we are one. But it affects you more; it troubles you more. I can go free with all
this, but you may not. The person you should be most concerned with is yourself.
Q. I’m a follower and believe in Quan Yin Bodhisattva. If I study the Quan Yin method, will there
be any problem, any conflict?
M. No. It would be better.
Q. After initiation, can we read Buddhist books?
M. Sure, you can. Only, you understand better than before.
Q. After initiation, is it a certainty that we will be liberated?
M. Yes, if you follow the practice.
Q. Master, I’m from mainland China. There are many spiritual practitioners there who are very
anxious that Master go to mainland China to spread the dharma. We don’t know it. Can
Master help us?
M. I go wherever God wants me to go. I cannot make the decision. I would like to, but if God’s
willing then it will happen.
Q. One of the Chinese said that Melbourne is very beautiful and they hope that Master can come
back again. [Applause]
M. Yes, Melbourne is beautiful and I surely love to go, but again, it depends on God’s will and the
affinity between us. That is God’s will.
So thank you. I thank them for their love and supportive spirit. And I also thank you, the
Australian residents and natives, for giving me such a warm, open and loving welcome.
[Applause]
I wish you all the best in everything you do.
HOW SUFFERING CAN LEAD US TO HAPPINESS 4
Good evening, my brothers and sisters. It is a great pleasure for me to be in your great country and
in the great city of Sydney. You have taken for granted how beautiful your country is, but I
appreciate it probably better than you do, since I just came here for the first time. [Master laughs.]
It’s so beautiful and clean and friendly. I think the people of Australia are very lucky to have at least
the outer paradise on earth. Should we have the inner paradise as well, then we are perfect. We
would have the perfect condition and we would not wish to be in any other heaven.
I’m happy and grateful that you have reserved some precious time to come here so that we can get
to know each other. I have not the desire to come in such a way, or I have no desire to come at all,
even though I like Australia. It’s just because of the invitations, the repeated requests, from my
fellow practitioners in Australia that I have the honor to come here at all. But even then, in my
heart, I have always the strong conviction that you and I are not different – that there is no
distinction whatsoever between each of us – and that I have absolutely nothing to teach you except
to exchange the love and all things that God has given us. But since some of our fellow
practitioners in Australia were so loving and so earnest in their request for my presence, I have
been brought here, perhaps by the love of the disciples, so-called disciples, and by the will of God,
that I may get to know your country, that we may link with each other at least through my humble
presence. Maybe that is the only purpose that I should be here. But wherever I am invited to go,
there will always be people who are perhaps humble in their attitude or perhaps have forgotten
their origin that is their own kingdom of God, their own wisdom. Therefore, there will always be
questions about how to seek the Buddha or God or the Christ power within themselves. It seems
that my purpose of coming to some places is to share with the people in that native land some of
my collected knowledge about how to return to our own wisdom or the supreme power within
ourselves.
4. Public lecture, Bankstown Civic Hall, Sydney, Australia, March 16, 1993 (Originally in English).
Many times I’ve been asked why I use the title of the Supreme Master: Am I so arrogant to call
myself the Supreme Master? I said, ‘No, it’s the name of my Father,’ just like if you are Mr. Smith,
so your daughter is also Miss Smith. It is also the name of your Father, so you can also call
yourself the ‘Supreme.’ I actually forgot all about it, but people just keep reminding me.
Enlightenment brings true happiness
In this world, we have found a lot of suffering as well as happiness. Most of the people would like to
know why there is suffering and how to find happiness. The question, to me, is not to eliminate so
much of the suffering and not to gain more happiness, but to gain the supreme power through
which we see happiness and suffering as just a stage play. Then we will see things in life as we
see the movies. We may have a little emotion through the characters in the movies, but we will not
be overwhelmed by this emotion and get drowned in this emotion. Therefore, the difference
between the so-called enlightened person and the so-called non-enlightened person is the wise
outlook as regards the different phenomena in this world as well as in the world beyond.
When we say the world beyond, it is actually not correct because there is no world beyond. Each
world is within us. And when we say within, it’s also not correct because there is no outside and no
inside. But because of our human language, we have to express somehow the inner feeling or the
inner intuitive understanding. Actually, there is a very strange feeling after enlightenment because
you feel that everyone is all right the way they are. You know that everyone has this supreme
power, or the Buddha nature, within them. Why don’t they know it? They don’t, and therefore they
identify themselves with the suffering, within and without. And because of that, many of the people
of the world like to seek enlightenment so that they may know. After enlightenment you will be just
the same as before. There is only one difference: You accept everything that comes to you and
everything given to you as holy, and everyone else as holy.
Maybe in the course of teaching or guiding, the enlightened person might point out some direction
that perhaps is useful for the true seekers of the kingdom of God. Therefore, we have heard of,
perhaps, the vegetarian diet, or the ten precepts in the bible, the five precepts of the Buddhists, et
cetera. These are helping factors for the spiritual seeker so that he or she may achieve the
quickest result and the safest way to attain the so-called liberation. If we knew that we are already
liberated, then perhaps these things are not absolutely necessary. But because most of us do not
know that we are liberated, we need some tools like meditation practice, the vegetarian diet, and
ethical precepts.
Sometimes people keep bargaining, saying, ‘Well, I want the initiation, but no precepts, and no
vegetarian diet. Is that all right?’ I say to them, ‘It is all right as long as you want to play football with
other people, but you bring along tennis balls and tennis equipment.’ You will not be playing
football at all! The game is spoiled and you, yourself, will not be enjoying the football game, but will
just be in a messy condition.
There is such a thing as enlightenment. As long as we are still in the ignorant state of mind, that
means that we do not know that we are enlightened, then we need enlightenment. What for
enlightenment? So long as we want to seek peace and happiness within ourselves and to grant
this happiness to other people, we need enlightenment. Should we think this world is perfect the
way it is, and if we still continue to go on without caring whether we will be here next life, that we
will be reborn as what or not, then of course, we do not need enlightenment. If we still care for the
welfare of the world and peace on this earth, of course, we need enlightenment.
Before my so-called enlightenment, I was having a so-called good life, very harmonious – well, I
mean, not one hundred percent, but comparable to others, a harmonious life. There was nothing
that I needed or desired to have that I didn’t already have. But somehow, there are many things in
this life, like richness, fame, health, a happy marriage, friends, et cetera. that do not seem to
completely fill the emptiness within our hearts. That is because we are lacking the knowledge of
our own super wisdom. After we have found our own super wisdom, maybe we will still continue to
live a household life, to enjoy our marriage, to raise our children, to fulfill our social obligations, but
the total outlook is completely different from before. We’ll be contented.
The cause of all suffering
The contentment that I have mentioned is not similar to the contentment that we feel after we eat a
nice meal or maybe meet a good friend or are having a very merry party. This contentment is
everlasting – whether we have a party or not, whether we are married or not married, whether we
have a good position or not a good position, whether we are wealthy or we are not wealthy.
The cause of all suffering is not through any external condition, but it is truly from our own attitude.
For example, many Indian monks or monks of other countries, live a very simple life. They probably
live in a cave or a tent, or they just sleep wherever they can, but they are very happy and
contented, and they don’t ask for anything. But to an ordinary person, if he is forced to spend his
time such a condition, he will feel very unhappy. He will be forever striving to gain more riches, or
more fame, or whatever in his mind appears to be desirable. Similarly, also in spiritual practice, if
we do not find a best way, the fastest way, to achieve our highest enlightenment goal, then we will
be also forever desiring spiritual experiences. Not that many other methods cannot offer us
enlightenment. It’s just probably that it takes too long and we will be exasperated waiting too long
and nothing happens, or it happens just too little and it can’t satisfy our longing for God, if you call
that God.
What is God? Many people ask me, ‘Is that a person or is that an impersonal power?’ I always tell
them, ‘It is both.’ If it should appear to you as a person to satisfy your longing, then it will be that
way, and if not, then you will perceive through intuitive understanding what God is. We imagine
God is the fulfiller of our wishes, of our promises. That is true, even though it is too materialistic a
way to express what God is. We don’t find God as a person who sits there and grants us every
candy or cake that we want to have, but through God automatically our life will be fulfilled. But we
will be fulfilled even with or without candies. That is the paradoxical way of God, because God is
our own fulfillment self, our very own self. When we attain to our self, we will never feel lacking in
any way at all. All those so-called siddhi powers, meaning supernatural powers of any kind, will
automatically come to us. Most of the Masters do not advocate supernatural power for fearing that
we will attach ourselves too much to the spiritual materialism and, therefore, we will not have the
interest and the strength enough to go farther into higher realms of realization.
In India, there was a story about a king. He was a very good king and loving to his subjects. One
day he arranged that all his possessions, treasures, will be given to the people at large. Whoever
needs anything can just come and satisfy him or herself at the exhibition without any condition at
all. He had no children and no family ties, so he loved his people as his own. Now everyone
comes; everyone came. Sorry, I am always in the present, and forgot that I am telling the story in
the past. Everyone came and picked something of his heart’s desire. But there was one girl who
came and went straight to the back of the room or the place where the king exhibited all his
possessions, and put her hand on his shoulders and asked, ‘Are you also available?’ The king was
surprised and said, ‘Why? Didn’t you like any of the things that I have laid outside?’ So the girl said,
‘No, I only like you.’ Then, of course, the king was very happy that someone liked him for himself
alone and not because of his treasures. The king then went with her and they got married, or
something like that, and lived happily ever after, as it should be.
And do you know what happened? The girl did not want anything, but the whole nation belonged to
her, including all these subjects and all these objects. Therefore, in our path, we also do not
advocate miracle powers; it doesn’t mean we don’t have them. After the great enlightenment, or
even small enlightenment, we have all the powers that we want. But then we will have so much
that we don’t even know how much power we have. Instead of clinging to a corner of the house, we
have the whole house, including that corner.
The obstacles of siddhi powers
Some people, before coming to learn this immediate enlightenment method of the heavenly Light
and Sound, have also tried to practice many other ways of meditation. They have achieved
probably somewhat of the siddhi powers – meaning the power of seeing very far away or hearing
something that is not in the vicinity. For example, I sit here and I can see what happens in London
or I can hear what happens in Paris. This is a so-called siddhi power; or probably we can read the
other person’s mind and see what he is thinking about us. This probably is good for a spy, for the
people who are doing 007 or something like that, but after they have become initiated into our path,
somehow they lose these powers. Or maybe they have seen more better things or know better
knowledge so that they have begged the Master to take away this siddhi power from them.
There are two reasons for these things. First, probably they have gone too high, higher than the
siddhi power level, so they have overlooked the previous miracles that they have possessed. The
second reason, while they have not lost these powers, why do they beg the Master to take them
away? It is because they probably still cling to these powers somewhat in their minds, and so the
Master lets them have the choice of forsaking it themselves or not. After you have gone into a little
bit further region of consciousness, a higher level of being, then you will feel that these so-called
siddhi powers are more hindrance than help to your spiritual progress; therefore, we automatically
do not want to use them.
Suppose you sit here in samadhi, in a very tranquil state of mind where you are in a super
awareness of your true self, and you have no desire absolutely for heaven and earth. Then you see
something happen in London which is very gruesome, terrible, and you can do nothing about it.
Would that make you feel comfortable? [Audience: No.] You feel more frustrated and then you get
more upset. You have tried to attain the state of peace of mind, and here you are, feeling very
frustrated and miserable about the condition somewhere else about which you can do absolutely
nothing at all. Or maybe you see into someone else’s heart or mind when you’re doing transaction
business, or you see into your wife’s heart and see that she loves the neighbor, and not you! And
then could that be helpful when you are sitting in meditation? [Audience: No.]
Suppose someone is bearing a lot of hatred against us and we have the power to penetrate his
mind; that would be a very uncomfortable feeling for both. Most people have a lot of, sometimes
very uncomfortable feelings, uncontrollable emotions, within themselves that might or might not
have anything to do with us. If we get to know all these things, it is only useless and then we
always worry about this mundane level. We can never get into the beyond in order to merge
ourselves in the greatest wisdom.
There are a lot of spiritual happenings in our century, and therefore it is good for us, very good for
our people in this age, to know so much about the super power within ourselves. But sometimes it
also confuses us as to which direction to follow. Mostly, we will be tempted by the so-called
immediate results, like miraculous power, healing ability, seeing through the walls, or walking in
space, et cetera, so that we forget the main purpose for practicing meditation or for getting to know
spirituality at all. It shouldn’t be, really. When we know our true self, the supreme wisdom inside,
we will know everything. That, I think, is the best measurement, the best standard, to judge which
path we should concentrate on. Therefore, Jesus also said, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and
all other things shall be added unto you.’ The kingdom of God is not something that is very far
away in heaven; it is here right now. We have it all within ourselves. We only have to unlock it and
use it every day. Then we will see how much better a person we will become, how wise, how
loving, and how satisfied a person we will become. Of course, spiritual attainment is not measured
in the material sense or value, but it is just the frustrating inability of anyone to express the greater
value of insight. We have to start somewhere.
Most of the people will ask me, ‘What is the use of practicing meditation or getting enlightenment at
all? If we are not enlightened, is that all right or not?’ Yes, it is all right. It is very, very much all
right. But look at our world. Is it absolutely all right? If the answer is ‘no,’ that means, we are lacking
something despite all our material comforts or our scientific inventions. Our world is right in many
other parts, perhaps in Australia, but not all right in many other parts. And why? It is because of the
lack of wisdom. It is because we cling to our small, little knowledge and try to do things to conquer
the world with this little knowledge that we have. Should we have access to the whole wisdom,
which is incredible, absolutely unimaginable, then we would do things in a better way and the world
would have become, long ago, a paradise. Perhaps even better than the life we have in Australia
right now!
We see even in the most advanced countries, technologically speaking, or perhaps materially
speaking, there are still a lot of uncontrollable incidents which harm human lives. When I was on
the way to you in this theater, one of my fellow practitioners in the Quan Yin method drove me in
her car, and she was thanking me, I don’t know why, for helping her to buy this car in just five
minutes. She said searched about half a year before, but anytime she wanted to buy a car,
someone would take it away. This time she succeeded, and she thought it was because she
prayed to me. I said, ‘Well, it is all your spiritual merit. It had nothing to do with me!’ But she
couldn’t believe it. It’s all right, let it rest as it is. But I said, ‘Why did you have to buy a new car?’
She said because her car was stolen. I said, ‘What! In Australia, you mean someone has stolen
your car? I can’t believe it!’ I thought the economic situation in Australia is very stable; I was so
shocked to hear that. But she said, ‘Yes, it’s true, they steal sometimes.’
The root cause of dissatisfaction
Why do people steal in such a very stable country where even the poor get looked after? No one is
going to be starving on the streets, really, in Australia. Am I correct? You have social security
benefits for the unemployed, is that right? [Audience: Yes.] Yes, also you get social security money
when you are temporarily out of work or without any means to support yourself or you are sick or
something.
It’s very secure, so why do people steal cars or things like that? It is not only because of the car
itself. It was an old car only, so it wasn’t the car. It isn’t the desire to steal that is to blame. It is the
dissatisfaction in the heart of any human who does such a thing. He is not contented to accept the
way his life is or what God has meant to give him. Dissatisfaction, and why dissatisfaction?
Because he is unenlightened! An unenlightened mind is a very unsatisfied mind. Even if that
person were given a better car, he might not stop there. He might want another car or next, an
airplane. It is because we are unsatisfied with ourselves. We do not know the source of all
richness, of all power, so we want this and that and other, even when it is not very necessary.
Why do we want these things? It is because we have been in glory, in freedom, in richness before,
in heaven, before we descended into this lowly stage of thinking that we are just a human being,
that we have no power, that we don’t know anything, that it is very difficult to attain heaven. But I
can assure you that even now, we still can attain heaven, and very quickly, fast, and right here,
right where we live. We don’t need to go to the Himalayas. Even though I did, it is not necessary for
anyone to do that. I was probably destined to do so. Many people have different ideas about
asceticism. They think that if they forsake the whole world and family, and go into a cave and
meditate in the Himalayas, then they will attain freedom. It’s not true. I did just because God
wanted me to do so that I can tell you it is not necessary. Otherwise, you would not believe me!
Probably you would say, ‘Ah, you can’t do it yourself! You’re afraid of the Himalayan cold;
therefore, you tell us not to go because you, yourself, can’t do it. You don’t have any experience!’ I
had these experiences in order to tell you it is absolutely not necessary. Probably, I was more
ignorant than you, therefore I did that.
No one needs to do anything at all. We can just stay right where we are and do what we do now
and attain our greatness inside. Then we will still live on earth, but we will live in heaven at the
same time. We discharge our social responsibilities but we have no desire for the rewards, and we
have no attachment to the possessions that we have or don’t have. We will have no desire for the
neighbor’s things or wives or husbands. Then actually, the so-called precepts will just become a
very natural way of life for us, and it’s not a precept anymore. These precepts are only guidelines
while we are still unable to control our minds. Once we are in control of our minds, actions, and
speech effortlessly, then these precepts are just child’s play. We don’t keep the precepts anymore
because there is no necessity to keep them. We don’t do anything that is not ‘precepted’ anyhow.
And even if we do, we know why, and we do not torment ourselves with the self-inflicted guilt that is
not necessary in that instance.
Before we can do everything effortlessly, we must attain the state of understanding, of knowing the
will of God, knowing the plan of the universe, that at which moment we should do what and why.
We have no resistance from within or without to accept life the way it is, and also to go on with our
business without a heavy burden, without feeling exhausted from just a few hours of work. And
even then, if we work a few hours a day, the effectiveness will be much more than before when we
put a lot of effort in and we couldn’t do much. Most of the Masters, after enlightenment, do not
advocate people to leave their families, their friends, their business, to go into solitude or to
become a monk and all that. It is because they have seen that these outer things will not help us to
attain the inner tranquility of mind. It is only if we truly resign, renounce from within, that we can
have an everlasting desireless state. If we force ourselves too early to leave our family ties and
responsibilities, just like a fruit which is not yet ripe and we forcefully take it from the tree, then it is
useless. We couldn’t eat it, and the fruit will not last very long either. It’s neither good for the fruit
nor good for us.
Most of our fellow practitioners in the Quan Yin method, meaning the method of contacting the true
heavenly Light and Sound which represent our true supreme wisdom within, are so-called laymen,
lay person. They are not monks and nuns but their levels of attainment are incredible. It is difficult
to measure their attainment unless you talk to them or see their way of life and their enlightenment
in action: Perhaps how they handle difficult situations, perhaps how they tend to their family and
help the social mission at the same time, perhaps in how they deal with aggressive people lovingly,
perhaps in how they discharge their duties in such a quick, witty, and effective way, perhaps in how
they look so contented and peaceful in any situation that would blow other people’s temperaments
apart. Perhaps in these ways we may be able to perceive somewhat the difference between these
practitioners and the ordinary person. Otherwise, from the outlook, it is very difficult to know.
Perhaps you have read somewhere in those spiritual novels that after you practice some kind of
meditation a long time you become young, very youthful, forever young, and never die, are never
sick, are more beautiful than before, et cetera. These probably are true in some degree, but it
doesn’t happen to all spiritual practitioners because they don’t aim at these material manifestations
of wisdom. Perhaps it helps you to be healthier because you are more carefree within your heart.
You surrender more to the will of the universe rather than taking the whole world upon your
shoulders and can do nothing about it but just go around worrying all day and age yourself quickly.
Therefore, perhaps in this sense, practitioners look younger, more relaxed and healthy, loving and
happy. But I don’t think we should expect a practitioner of eighty years old to turn into eighteen, for
example, just because he practices a heavenly presence.
But the people who eat vegetarian, who practice the Quan Yin method, do truly look better. Some
look immediately better after the initiation that even I, myself, am sometimes very surprised. I am
not surprised in the sense that I don’t expect this to happen, but I am surprised that a person looks
so different, much more different than expected, and so quickly. All this because our wisdom, our
supreme power, is starting to work and to correct whatever misconstructions are within our body,
within our mental sphere, or within our speech. Therefore our appearances truly do look different,
but this is not very important. All these fairy tales do exist. For example, before, we have heard that
such and such person in his dream, or when he is in some difficulty, a fairy goddess or mother
guardian will come and help him out and things like that. All these things happen right now, in this
century even, and all the spiritual healing power and all kinds of incredible supernatural powers do
truly exist. If we practice the kingdom of God, the supreme wisdom, which is our birthright, it is
always there for us to achieve.
If we do not practice this, if we do not find a way to recognize our greatest inheritance, no one will
say anything to us. Absolutely no one has the right to say anything. It’s only we who suffer the loss
that we have a great treasure and we don’t use it. And we suffer so much or we have some
happiness but only very partial, very short-lived, and sometimes it is the cause of the next sorrow
of tomorrow. Therefore, the choice is for us to wake up into our glory or to sleep in our darkness,
denying ourselves all the things that other people everyday experience – things which are good,
which are excellent, for their environment, for their immediate circle, and for the world at large. If
we do not get enlightenment, we do not know our supreme power, we deny ourselves the greatest
privilege that even angels envy, that even small gods in the lower heavenly regions are jealous of,
and that is the great pity. We are the only ones to be blamed.
Since I am here already due to my fellow practitioners’ kindness and invitation, I am willing to share
with you the way to regain your greatness, to experience your true self, to have all your wishes
fulfilled, and to live a more worthy life. Even though we all will die, so-called die later or our body
will decay, at least while we are on this earth we will live a heroic life – strong and spiritual. We will
be the tower for other people to look up at, and we will inspire other people to rely upon their own
strength that is inside, which is incredible, which I have no true words to explain.
I think I have spoken enough. Thank you for your attention and maybe if you would like to tell me
something or ask some questions, you are welcome. [Applause] [MC: I know this has touched a lot
of people’s hearts and we would all like to thank Master Ching Hai.] [Applause]
Q. Can You comment on this? It is universally accepted that Jesus was a great man. He cured
the sick, the blind, the lame; He raised the dead. These were proofs of His very special
qualities. Actions speak louder than words, [M: Right.] yet Jesus ate meat and drank wine. Yet
You exclude that. Why is that?
M. Where is it stated that He ate meat and drank wine? It was the Jews who ate not necessarily
Jesus. I have told you already, suppose you are very highly enlightened, as Jesus, and
occasionally eat meat, it won’t affect your stature. You can be enlightened with eating meat as
well, but the point is that to keep it, to keep the enlightenment state and to be faster, you had
better be vegetarian. Should you attain the height of Jesus’ enlightenment, you may eat
anything you wish, but we are students yet. I have to set an example for my students. When
you are a student in the college, you exclude from yourself many things because you want to
concentrate on your studies. You exclude nice clothes and even girlfriends, sometimes even
postpone your marriage, just because you want to have a high grade in the college and get
your Ph.D. fast without so many burdens in between times. Once you become a professor, it
could be possible that you still wear shabby clothes but it is allowed for you, if you wish, you
can wear fancy clothes, marry, have many children, which you have excluded from yourself
before.
But anyhow, my brother, it is not desirable to eat other beings’ flesh. Don’t you think so? Why
is it desirable to kill for your body? I do not condemn people who eat meat. The rules are only
the so-called secret method for people who want to get enlightenment quickly and to preserve
it. You may or may not follow it, as your own free will. We don’t condemn people who eat
meat. It’s just that if you want to follow this path, it is best for you follow it completely and
wholeheartedly if you are to expect the best results of it.
Q. How does one know he or she has been enlightened?
M. How does one not know? If you graduate from college, how do you know? Do you know it?
Yes.
Q. When one is enlightened, can there be circumstances that would lead to non-enlightenment?
M. No, when you are grown-up, you are grown-up. You can’t grow back to the infant stage. You
might stop or retard, but you will not grow back to the infant height again.
Q. Can You tell us of love?
M. No, I can’t. Why? Because these things are not to be told in language. Suppose you love your
wife, how can you describe that love? You can only know it between each other. To the
outsider, it means nothing. It doesn’t matter how you explain it.
Q. With respect, we would like You to explain about reincarnation.
M. Reincarnation is a so-called non-enlightened state of mind that seeks to fulfill the desires,
which that person has not completely fulfilled during his stage of a certain kind of being. For
example, if one is so much in love with someone in this lifetime and for some reason the love
is not fulfilled or not substituted in another way. Then, after both person die, he will probably
be reincarnated again and search for that old love that he had cared so much about.
Q. If Allah, Buddha, or Jesus were alive today, would they be ‘Greenies’? A Greenie is someone
who is environmentally conscious.
M. That is a new party that protects the environment, right? Partially, perhaps, yes. We should
protect the greenery as much as possible for our own benefit but should not become nature
worshiper, whereby every tree is worth more than human beings. Trees are for human beings.
In case we need them, we should preserve them as much as our space, time, and the
population allow. In that case, probably Jesus and Allah, whoever, would vote for that.
I’m also a nature-preserver. I and all our practitioners are not allowed to cut trees
unnecessarily, but if necessary, we cut them in order to build, in that space, some better
institution for other people. We cannot always preserve nature without concern for human
comfort. We better see to the situation – where we should preserve and when and how much.
Q. As You said, enlightenment will cause us to ignore everything, such as wealth, illness, or a
higher position in society. I agree with Your point of view about ignoring wealth, but how about
illness? We suffer every minute. Illness causes incredible pain and misery. How can we
ignore that?
M. We just do not feel so much suffering the way we did before enlightenment. That’s all. We will
tend to our body as much as we can, we give it as much comfort as it needs, we give it
medical care, and all that. But should we have to suffer from illness, our patience, our
enduring power, increases and therefore the illness doesn’t bother us much. I do not say we
ignore it completely; it doesn’t bother us that much.
And after enlightenment, many of our illnesses just disappear. It is not a miracle. It is because
our super power self awakens and regulates some misconstructed part in our body and
destroys it. Many people found themselves with no more cancer even though they were
already put on the operating table and the anesthetic needle was already inserted in them.
But then the doctors found, to their amazement, there was no more cancer, so they were just
pushed outside again. We don’t ignore the illness; the illness seems to ignore enlightened
people.
Q. I have the need to be more spiritual toward all life. How do I react to the negativity around
me?
M. If we have a spiritual tendency, then we have more tolerance toward all things, including
negative influences and also any negative outlook in life. We will be more tolerant, more
understanding, and also our positive self will radiate these healing energies which correct
somewhat the negative atmosphere. We don’t need to do anything, really, if we are truly
spiritual. Things will better themselves in some degree, and should that person come to us for
advice or want to better himself, also then we will be in a position to tell him what to do or
suggest what to do.
Q. You said during the course of Your talk that once we were perfect but now are not. What
circumstances led us to this situation?
M. We are lost in the circus, and we enjoy so much the circus that we forgot our home. If
someone comes and just taps us on the shoulder and says, ‘Oh, you don’t belong here. You
have enough now? Now you’re hungry; you’re cold; you should not stick here. Go home and
have some comfort.’
Q. Dear Master, there is always a fear of the unknown. How can one be certain that the Quan
Yin method is the right one?
Of course, you don’t know until you try. But as you see from our outlining principles that even
if the Quan Yin method doesn’t do you any good or you’re not certain of the benefit of the
Quan Yin method, one thing you can be certain is that it will do you no harm. There’s no harm
if you eat a vegetarian diet; at least you’re healthy. If you don’t believe in any spiritual
compassion at all, it’s proved scientifically that the vegetarian diet is healthy for you. All the
hospitals in the world are built for the meat-eaters. You know that. Most of the meat-eaters are
in the hospitals, anyhow. Okay, that’s one standpoint.
And the so-called five precepts are to protect you from the uneasiness of mind. You should
have only a very loving, one-pointed relationship; you do not take what does not belong to
you; you do not gamble which causes misery to yourself and others and your family; you do
not take alcohol which makes your vision blurred; and you do not take drugs that are no good
for you.
From all these very apparent so-called material guidelines, at least you know that our
teaching, our method, will benefit you somewhat, and from then, you can start and get to
know it better. And at least we offer you a somewhat immediate proof of enlightenment, and
we don’t charge any money for it before, between, and after. You have no conditions, no
binding whatsoever. Suppose that even afterwards you don’t want us. We also don’t do
anything to you. So in any way, you don’t lose anything; you will only gain.
That is the symbolic thing I can tell you, but moreover you must use your intuitive wisdom to
ascertain which path to follow. It doesn’t matter what I say; you have to know it and pray to
your inner self, to God, to Jesus, to Allah, to Buddha, or whomever, to help you decide. And if
you see a stronger pull to come to us, then you know it is for you. Should you not feel it or
should you feel a stronger pull into the world, all right, then you are not yet ready. It’s very
simple.
Q. Are You connected with the great white brotherhood?
M. The white brotherhood originally denoted those who are highly advanced beings, and
probably in that sense, I also belong there. But we belong to the Almighty; we belong to our
self; that is the surest, that is the only certain answer I can give you. We belong to a group of
‘making you, yourself, better,’ ‘making you become a Master,’ a white brother, even if you are
black. [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. Your students seem to worship You a lot and consider You like a God, a supreme being. Do
You have any comments on their worshiping attitude toward You?
M. I have no comment. They do what they want. They are free to worship or not worship me. I
don’t advocate worshiping me or anyone at all. I have always told them that, ‘The greatness is
yours. Whatever miracle you have, whatever things occur to you, it is because you are on a
spiritual path. It is because you practice yourself. Your own great wisdom is awakened and
helps you.’ If they worship me or not worship me, it makes no effect on me, but I can’t stop
people. I can’t go to each one of them and repeat the same thing all the time. I can only give a
general guideline, but they are just the way they are. People are like that. They will grow out
of it, don’t worry. But that is good for them; they are one-pointed. I do them no harm, and if
they remember me, it’s better than if they remember the devil.
Q. What do You think of sex? If You condemn sex, then You must condemn mud, but do not
forget that a lotus flower comes out of mud.
M. You repeat what someone else has said. If it is from you, I will accept it, but you repeat it from
another so-called master. I never condemn sex. Did I, in any lecture, ever condemn sex? I
guess you want to air your view, but it’s not your view. It’s someone else’s view. It’s better that
you get enlightened yourself and have your comment on sex. [Applause]
I never condemn sex at all, but I do not advocate teaching or encouraging or always
reminding people of sex. These are things that all the animals can do anyhow. What’s the big
deal about it that we have to condemn or worship? I don’t think we should even mention it,
never mind making it a theme of teaching or an important topic. It’s nothing important. If I
condemn sex, I wouldn’t be here, or my parents would be dead, and the Buddha never born,
and Jesus never came. Don’t talk nonsense. [Applause]
Q. How do you learn to love yourself?
M. Do we need to learn this? After enlightenment, we know that we are all right. That’s all I can
tell you. It’s all right the way I am. I don’t know if I love myself or not, I just know. I’m all right.
I’m okay.
Q. Just a question from Your sample booklet. On page 40, You say, ‘Never in the bible have I
found a sentence, which says that animals are your food. Neither the New Testament nor the
Old Testament says anything like that.’ And You also go on to say that God never said we
should kill animals to eat. Reading from the bible, Matthew, chapter 15, verse 17, Jesus said,
‘Are ye also yet without understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes in at the
mouth, goes into the belly, and is cast out into the drought, but those things which proceed
from the mouth come from the heart and they defile the man. It’s not what goes in that makes
a man unclean, but what comes from his heart.’
And the other reference I would like to turn to is from the Book of Acts which I’m sure You are
familiar with. Peter, as You know, one of Jesus’ greatest disciples, said that he went into a
trance and he became hungry and would have eaten. He saw heaven open and a certain
vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down
to the earth wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and
creeping things and fowls of the air and there came a voice to him, ‘Rise Peter, kill and eat.’
But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.’ And
the voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God hath cleansed, call not thou
uncommon.’ Thank You.
M. Thank you, too. In the first paragraph that you read in Matthew, it didn’t mention meat at all.
Probably, Jesus at that time mentioned that because some of the people were so attached to
eating pig or not eating pig. There were certain foods they don’t eat but other foods they can
eat. So probably, Jesus mentioned that, but He didn’t say meat at all.
And secondly, Peter saw all this, but in his vision only, and whatever God created through
God’s power in a visionary revelation is not real. It is not the material flesh that God wanted
him to eat. Similarly, in Buddhist scriptures, there was a paragraph in the Surangama sutra
where the Buddha mentioned that in the early days of His preaching there were many monks
who came from different backgrounds and countries. They were not used to eating vegetarian
food; therefore, He manifested some so-called meat for them to eat through His power,
magical power. But later on He said, ‘If any monks eat meat, they are not my disciples
because the meat I manifested to them was not the real meat.’
I guess in this sense, both the bible and the Surangama sutra of the Buddhists say the same
thing. In the Old Testament, God never mentioned that we should eat meat. Hes said, ‘I
created all the beautiful fruit for you in the field and all the herbs in the garden. These shall be
your food.’
Q. In the Buddhist sutra, the Buddha said that, ‘If you use the Sound and the Light to see me,
you do not see the Buddha.’ Please tell me the difference between the Light and Sound in the
Buddhist sutras and Yours.
M. There are further explanations in that sutra, but the Buddha did not say the Light and the
Sound. The Buddha said, ‘If you use the phenomenal form to worship me, or worship my
phenomenal form, then you could not see the Buddha.’ He meant that you could not see the
Buddha nature, but He did not mean the Light and the Sound which are invisible to the eyes
and inaudible to the fleshly ears. That’s the difference. These are transcendental Light and
Sound which will help you to become wiser, more peaceful, and more loving. The Buddha
meant that if we cling to the ordinary form of the Buddha, it doesn’t matter how He appears on
earth, or we cling to a kind of idol worship, then we could never find our own Buddha nature. It
doesn’t mean this Light and Sound.
Q. Dear Master, do You think that God discriminates against humans or not? If yes, why did God
not give everybody the same color of skin, the same hair, and the same language, and that
way humans would not have any problem about language, and any discrimination of skin
color that maybe leads to wars and violence?
M. God does give whatever you have just mentioned to us, but we have chosen to be in this dual
stage because we like it. Should you want to be equal again and each one look the same
again, in glory and beauty, then please join the heavenly hierarchy. That’s why I am here, to
show you how to do it, how to go back to the non-discriminating state. You have the choice
either to be here in this colorful dimension or to go into the dimension where there is no
discrimination between the sexes, between heights, between the rich and poor, and the color
of the skin, et cetera.
Why did God give us so much of these so-called colors? Because Hes is very loving, because
we want whatever we want, and we get it. Hes also gives us other choices; therefore, we have
many choices. That’s why Hes gives us also this kind of world and also many other kinds of
worlds. Like Jesus mentioned, ‘In my Father’s house, there are many mansions.’ So if you
don’t like this world the way it is, it’s all right, you come toward the other world. We know the
way; we can guide you. And those who do not like to go to the other world, it’s all right the way
you are. You stay here and do what you want. We don’t force people to follow us at all. We
just offer the opportunity for those, just like you, who want to go into that kind of dimension.
There’s no need to argue with me, ‘Why this and that?’
Every world, every place, has its regulations and rules. If you want to abide by those rules and
regulations, then you stay in that place. If not, there are other kinds of regulations and rules
for yourself. For example, the Au Lac people or the Chinese who immigrate to Australia, even
though they are still so-called Chinese or Aulacese, they have to abide by the rules of the
Australian government, whether they like it or not. They should never bother asking why we
drive on the left side and not the right side. ‘In my country, I always drive on the right side.
Why so complicated that we drive on the left?’ But that’s the way it is. If you want to be in
Australia, you just do it. Make it simple.
Q. Please tell me if the Buddha-sounds are music or the voice.
M. They seem like music, but they are not exactly like the music of our world. It is indescribable;
it has an indescribable effect on us. It is a symbol of the inner wisdom, and the more we hear
it, the better and the wiser we become. It is not the voice, not the spoken word. Sometimes, it
can be, but it is not generally.
Q. We want a good result in meditation. Do You think we need to receive initiation from a real
Master for protection and introduction? If we haven’t received initiation and we meditate, what
happens?
M. You have heard of many people that had trouble when they tried to meditate alone without an
experienced guide. It’s a little bit adventuresome, but if you can do it alone, it’s all right. You
will find enlightenment if you can do it alone. It’s just that, in general, it’s better to have a
teacher – just like you learn English with a teacher or you learn to play kung fu with a teacher.
It’s safer and quicker and saves a lot of time, and also saves you a lot of unnecessary
mistakes and downfalls.
Q. I have read Your book and lecture and recognize that You don’t discriminate between
religions. Can You tell me what religion You are advocating?
M. I do not advocate a particular religion anywhere because we have enough religions. If a

Buddhist should adhere strictly to the Buddhist rules and scriptures, he is a good Buddhist
already. If a Christian truly lives according to the commandments, then he is a good Christian
already. I have no intention, and it is not necessary for me to advocate whether you should
follow the Christian or Buddhist religion.
We have enough churches and temples to teach people to be Buddhist or Catholic or

Christian, but we help the Buddhists to get in touch with their Buddha nature, help the
Christians to know the kingdom of God, should they desire to know. Should they desire to
know. It’s an offer only, with no condition, no force, and no money – between, before, and
after. No binding involved. No religious background or meditation experience is required.
Absolutely unconditional.
Q. If I belong to a religion, such as Buddhism or Catholicism, and I want to receive initiation from
You, do I need to leave my religion?
M. No, you don’t need to leave your religion. You can go to the church every Sunday or every
day. I just teach you how to talk to God directly, in your ‘church,’ if you wish to.
Q. Dear Master, I don’t believe in any religion, but I have been a good chap to everybody, and I
try to make my neighbors happy, also my father, too. So if I die, can I go to heaven?
M. Sure, you can. This is the kind of person all of the religions teach us to be. Surely you will be
in heaven, but how long it will last, I cannot assure you because your merit is also limited. If
you are good to one father maybe for seventy years, then maybe you will have seventy years
of heaven and later on, probably you will have to go back again and do other merit. But if we
are truly enlightened and get direct contact with God while here, then we can ask for anything.
We don’t have to go back again if we don’t desire to go back.
I thank you for all your love and your excitement and all your questions. [Applause] Your love,
because you recognize I’m yourself. You are excited because you care. You care about my
lecture and what I said. Thank you for both. [Applause]
SEEK YOU FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD 5
I’m very sorry to have come late. I completely forgot. I have this terrible forgetfulness. I truly
apologize. I can’t tell a lie – no technical problems, no traffic jams, nothing, just me. I forgot
completely that I had an important thing to do today. I forgot, and this happens not for the first time.
Please forgive me. I don’t know what else to say.
I forgot until the attendant came and told me, ‘You just have to do!’ I say, ‘Why?’ I had forgotten the
time and the important appointment. This has happened many times; therefore, I told my attendant
to buy plenty of alarm clocks and put them all over the place. If you come to my room, you’ll see
my bed with two alarm clocks on both sides, and on the table another alarm clock, in the bathroom
one or two alarm clocks. And even then, I have forgotten. It’s good that I had someone to remind
me, otherwise, you wouldn’t have seen me today. I don’t know what I would have done at home,
but I just wouldn’t be here. I’m very sorry. I will make it up to you. I’ll make a longer speech, if
possible.
Public preaching is God’s will
It is not my wish to be in Australia, so whatever happens, please forgive me, even if I speak
something that you do not think you agree with, or that you do not think you like. It’s also all the will
of God, because I have no desire to come here. I would prefer to sit on the mountain somewhere,
or in my room, or next to the river, or do whatever – just be like you, having a very quiet, ordinary
life. I believe each one has God’s kingdom already, so there’s nothing for me to do at all in this
world. But God’s will is always different, and Hes dictates the way I look, what I wear today,
tomorrow, where I should go next month, et cetera. Hes is a troublecauser; therefore, I have
forgotten. That’s why I have come very late today.
In Indonesia, just a week or so ago, I had an appointment with the Indian Consul General in
Surabaya and also with the American Consul there, and the Japanese Consul, and there were
supposed to be a few more Consuls. It was for lunch at twelve o’clock. And a half-past eleven, I
didn’t even know about it. I forgot completely, and I had just said okay for the appointment the day
before. I originally didn’t want to come, but later I agreed at last. But then I forgot all about it. Half-
past eleven, I still didn’t wash. I just sat on my bed doing nothing. Then my secretary, or attendant,
came and knocked at the door, knocked so urgently, and then I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ She said,
‘You’re supposed to be going because you have an appointment with such and such people!’ And
there I was still unkempt, undressed, and unready, unprepared. So we had to apologize to the
people and say, ‘Please, I’m coming right away!’ Things like that happen. And I don’t know why
God wants to use such a person like me who forgets everything.
I have just been reading some books, like about Ramana Maharshi. He passed away long ago.
Probably many of you know his name through books. He was a great enlightened person and he
never traveled abroad. I don’t blame him. He just stayed in his house and a few people came and
visited him; a handful of European and Indian people visited. And some people asked me, ‘Why
should the Master never go out and teach his way of enlightenment for people if he is supposed to
have compassion at all or wisdom at all?’ At that time, I thought, ‘Yes, they’re right. If the Master is
enlightened, compassionate, and has love, then he should come out.’ But then he never did. He
5. Public lecture, Bankstown Civic Hall, Sydney, Australia, March 17, 1993 (Originally in English).
said, ‘What for, what for?’ If he comes out and people don’t necessarily believe him, then what can
he say? He can’t introduce himself as, ‘I’m an enlightened Master and I have such and such
power,’ and so and so. If he does, people probably will think he’s telling a story, a fairy tale. And if
he doesn’t, how do people understand that he is enlightened? It’s very difficult for him to speak of
himself even though he is sure of himself.
When a Master or anyone goes out in the public to try to share something that they sincerely
believe in, they mostly meet with opposition or misunderstanding. That’s why people killed Jesus,
for example. But nowadays, in this century, it is ordained that no Master should be killed anymore.
We are in a more civilized age and no longer in a barbarous stage of development. I’m glad that it
is so, that it’s not necessary to shed blood in order to rescue the so-called sinners. And we should
not even demand that in any way, or we should not even think that way anymore. In each century,
human beings have continued to develop, as more and more Masters graced our earth and
brought enlightenment to the minds of the majority of the people who were ready to forsake the
flesh for the spirit, who would like to learn to die so that they will begin to live.
Most of the time when I am willed by God to go around like this, exposing myself to the public for
all kinds of comments, I’m not unwilling to go. I’m not unwilling to go, but sometimes the game is
too serious. Most people play too seriously, so it’s no fun. Otherwise, I would have enjoyed and
combined business with pleasure and had a little bit more fun, by the way. But most of us are too
serious. We play the game of life and we learn the lessons in our worldly, so-called drama, too
seriously. Many people cannot laugh and they dare not cry sometimes for fear that other people
will take advantage of their emotion. But it is correctly so, because emotion is the thing that we
should fear.
Because of emotion, we tend to act over-excitedly about some matter that we do not agree with, or
we think that is not correct, or is not according to our opinion. Because of emotion, some of the
world wars have broken out. Apart from power struggles, of course, and economical reasons, there
is emotion in it. Sometimes it starts just between two or three people or a group, and then we have
war. It started from there. And sometimes religious wars also started through, or by, or from,
emotion. These are things, sometimes, we should take time to consider and ponder whether it is
worthwhile. Sometimes, some people suggest that we forsake something or sacrifice something in
order to attain something else maybe of greater value, and we probably go berserk. We didn’t like it
and we react very emotionally so.
Of course, we have forgotten that we can’t worship both the world and God. If we couldn’t forsake
the flesh for the spirit, then we have not begun to live the eternal life. It is difficult for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God. What does it mean by ‘rich man’ – the comfortable life, the easy-going
style, the material fulfillment of our daily life. But these things we can all have. We can all have. It’s
just, probably, we can minimize them so that our life will become more spiritual and more relaxed
so that we become closer to God.
Forsake the meat diet for the kingdom of God
Take, for example, the vegetarian diet that I am always in trouble with. I wish I could give initiation
to you without it because it causes you more trouble than I am asking for. It causes trouble
everywhere, just because of that piece of beef – nothing better than that. For example, that diet, it
is scientifically proven that it’s good for our health even, and it’s economically beneficial to the
whole world. It’s not I who say it. It’s all these scientists and researchers who say these things. You
may look in the bookstores and find information concerning this yourself, which are plentiful in your
country, I believe. Today, in the English language, you can find anything that is scientifically
approved and tested.
And also, from any standpoints, if you have been associated with yogis and other practicing peace
of mind, you would, of course, know before I even mention it that they, all of them or most of them,
prefer or know that the vegetarian diet is better. It is the best when they meditate, when they want
to practice peace of mind because the flesh diet is more active.
There are many foods, just like medicines, that have different effects on the body. If we say these
don’t have any effect at all, then it is unscientific. If nothing affects us through the things we put in
our mouth, then if we drink poison, we will not die; or if we take an anesthetic, we will not be
unconscious for a while so that the doctor can give us an operation and we feel nothing about it. So
there are certain things in life that materially will affect our state of consciousness as well as our
body and also our mental state. When we take drugs, we are very blurred and sometimes
unconscious; we take alcohol, then we’re drunk, sometimes we have a headache or we can’t walk
straight.
Certain kinds of things in the material kingdom will affect us more or less. That you know.
Therefore, the food we take also affects us mentally, bodily, also spiritually, and this has been
proved since time immemorial. It’s not I who decide who eats what. I’m just offering you the way to
complete awareness of your own great self, should you be willing and like to take it. And we do this
with all our own financial resources. We do not expect anything from you at all. I have earned all
my money by painting, by interior design, and all my disciples have to work so that we can make
some contribution to the world to which we owe a lot of love and nourishment since we were
children. I am doing you no benefit. I’m just following the will of God; also to contribute something
to the world while I am still here. So take it as our goodwill or leave it as your free will, and we have
no need to make a lot of fuss over a piece of flesh. If you wish to eat meat, it’s fine. The whole
world eats it. I can’t be concerned so much, and I can’t tell everyone to stop it. I have no dream to
do it. I’m only here because God makes me to be here. Otherwise, to me, the world is all right. God
runs it. I have no concern.
Before, I had illusions about saving the world. That’s why I left home and wanted to get
enlightenment, et cetera, because I saw so much suffering around the world. But after a few years
now, I understand it’s all God’s will and there’s nothing for me to do at all. But Hes makes me do
something. Perhaps if Hes lets me sit idly somewhere on the mountain, it is also no good. I will also
be rotten and also die one day, so Hes will make me die on the road, perhaps. These things are
easily understood when we are in a very calm state of mind and put aside our excitement and
prejudice.
Genuine Master and method are difficult to find
In the ancient time, if we wanted to learn this kind of enlightenment method, it was not easy.
Therefore, most of the people make a myth out of enlightenment: That it’s reserved only for some
exclusive people who look like an angel, and saintly, with beard flowing, white robe flowing, walking
in the air, and things like that, or should be. Maybe, judging from my experience around the world,
it should be. It’s so difficult to convey to the people at large how easy it is since they have been so
used to struggling and a complicated life. But I can assure you again and again, it’s very easy.
If I can do it, such a small person like me, you can do it probably better. You have more strength;
your brain is bigger than mine – judging from size. You are taller, stronger, and you have
accomplished more than I have in your life. Your countries are more civilized than, perhaps, my
country, or supposed to be my ‘bodily country.’ My ‘country’ is much more civilized than any
country on earth, but that I can’t prove to you, so I don’t talk about it. I can prove it to you if you
come with me, yes, but I can’t prove it if you stay here and don’t want to follow. I can’t show you
London unless you come with me, for example.
In the old times, most of the Masters did not go publicly to preach what they know. First, for the
simple reason that any Master would believe that there’s nothing for him to do. They have become
accustomed to looking upon all brothers and sisters as God’s manifestations, and all of them have
God inside. Therefore, they feel they have absolutely nothing to do. Lao Tzu said the same. He
said, ‘There is nothing to do under the sun, under heaven.’ But then, again and again, sometimes
people discover them, and then they will be in the spotlight. One by one, two by two, and then the
so-called Master will be forced into the open. But because of the media and so many
inconveniences about politics and the situation prevailing at that time, not Masters truly were widely
known around the world. We didn’t have enough communication; we didn’t have enough
convenient transportation. Therefore, most people, whoever can know these kinds of Masters, look
upon them a sacred, as holy, as rare, as respected, a very rare species. Nowadays, if a Master
does the same thing, then of course, only a handful of people knows, but then, it’s still more than
the olden days when there were no communication systems available.
In the old times, we did not have enough material comfort; therefore, there’s not much to cling to,
not much to be attached to, or it’s not hard to put down. And today, we have too much of these
comforts available to us. It is very good that we have advanced to a greater height of civilization,
but sometimes on some occasions, it may be a great hindrance to our spiritual quest. The Buddha
also said, ‘If you have such a comfortable life, if you’re in heaven, it’s difficult to practice to become
Buddha,’ meaning it’s difficult to attain the complete awareness. We may be able to attain part of it,
that’s what He meant, but not the complete enlightenment.
The price of complete enlightenment
The complete enlightenment, of course, has its price. Our fellow practitioners also have many
different degrees of attainment. Those who truly dedicate their lives for spiritual practice – of
course, they forsake everything that is not conductive to spiritual attainment. Some would like to
just have a little bit of benefit without sacrificing too much, so we have two types of practitioners.
These two types, of course, we give them different guidance according to their wishes.
For example, in Singapore, we gave initiation to the people who would willingly commit themselves
wholeheartedly to the spiritual practice. And there were other people also who said, ‘Oh Master, we
like this very much, but we don’t know if we can be vegetarian yet, so please, can we be vegetarian
ten days or month or whenever convenient?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course, as you wish.’ And then they
also wanted me to teach them some so-called convenient method. So we divided into two groups;
one is completely vegetarian, and the other is not. And they also can mix together and meditate
and use the same Center.
Most of us are so great inside, but we do not care to recognize it. That is all. Therefore, there is a
difference between the so-called saints and the ordinary people who are also saints. We call some
people ‘saint’ when they are aware of their inner inheritance from heaven, and they can make use
of this power for their benefit, for the benefit of the immediate entourage, and for the benefit of their
country and the whole world. Such a saint does not necessarily go out and preach to the public. He
may just sit somewhere and people will go and find him, although a little bit limited in number.
And for the saint’s teaching, it’s not necessary to use language. Language is very secondary in
nature in conveying the message of heaven. There is one way, the highest way, and that is
conveying from inside and using the wisdom, using the heavenly language to convey. That doesn’t
need the Master’s presence or the Master’s speech. But in our world, if we do not use language,
sometimes people cannot understand, cannot clear the doubts in their intellectual understanding or
in their minds; therefore, language is a second choice in some cases. But when it comes to actual
transmission or recognizing the self, the Master doesn’t need to speak. Both have to be silent: The
so-called Master, and the so-called disciple. Both of them speak in silence, and that is the highest
form of speech.
It’s only when any Master goes out in the public that people expect Her to speak, and then the
Master has to do so. But while speaking, there are other things, underground, in silence, that are
also given to the ready audience or the disciples. Therefore, some people will see some wonders
while listening to the lecture, or see the Master radiating Light, or the whole lecture hall filled with
Light and all the people kind of engulfed in the Light. In this material world, we often ask for
material miracles; therefore, perhaps sometimes, the Master has to resort to miracles in order to
attract people to come, and then give them something immaterial. But that’s a very rare case.
For example, there is master who always works miracles and people don’t talk about his greatness
or his enlightenment; they just talk about miracles all the time. They say, ‘Do you know such and
such? Oh, he can do that. He can materialize that.’ And all you hear about is a ring, and a
necklace, and all kind of things, and you hear nothing from heaven. That can have a side effect on
the people who are too materialistic-minded. Therefore, most of the Masters avoid using miracles,
or use them in silence and underground. Only the one who receives it knows it. And mostly, the
people around him or her don’t know, even the very close disciples, or those close to the
beneficiary do not know, except when they are together, for example, in an accident or something
like that. Then, they would know.
Many times, I am asked by people who come to a private interview that I should bless them, heal
their sickness here and there, one and another, and I was often just speechless. I was thinking, ‘I
am giving you the whole kingdom, and you only want that. You only want this physical, ephemeral
body, and even if I cure you today, you will get sick again tomorrow. And eventually, we will die
anyhow.’ But most of the people who come to an interview are so materially preoccupied that I
can’t say much more, even if I told them that the whole healing power is within themselves. If they
would only turn into the kingdom of God within, they would have everything. God will bless them
with all kinds of things that we can’t even imagine we will achieve even in the deepest prayer.
Ignorance of our great self is the only sin
I have found that many of us have no self confidence, no faith in our greatness, in our supreme
power, and that is the only problem. That is the only sin that we commit that is worth talking about.
Otherwise, in my opinion, no one sins at all. It’s just a force of karma that is at work, which drive
them to do this and that, to go here and there, to be good or to be bad. Except when these
persons, for some exceptional merit, come in contact with some saint and sincerely sit in the
presence of the saint and derive direct magnetic blessing, then they change their life. They feel
different, they feel love surging in them, they feel power stirring within themselves. They feel the
wisdom awakened.
Why are we often sick, or why do people have sickness despite all the medical advancements and
all the luxurious life that we can afford? It is because we are out of touch with our supreme power
that regulates all things, which runs the whole universe. We go against it, or we are ignorant of it,
and that is the cause of all our misery. I wouldn’t say that when anyone has been initiated or is
enlightened that all disease will disappear immediately, although on many occasions that I know of,
it happened with our fellow practitioners. In many occasions, it happened immediately, that I know,
but not because they came for physical fitness, but just because they were so sincere, they tried to
look for God so that even their physical discomfort also disappeared. I wouldn’t say that everyone
would fall into this category. But gradually, each one will achieve this state of ease and comfort,
and all the ‘disease’ of the body, ‘dis-ease,’ disease of body, will disappear in a great percentage.
And even sometimes through their merit of remembering or merging in the supreme power inside,
they can even effect a cure or two in their immediate circle – not to talk about the Master. This kind
of curing or healing doesn’t bring about the karma of interfering with the law of nature upon the
shoulders of the disciple because he does it without knowing it. He does it, but not by using any
material or psychic power to boost his ego, or to make the one who receives the benefit worship
him as a healer. Therefore, the law of karma doesn’t apply in this case.
In many cases, should a healer use his own psychic power or the strength of mental power to cure
someone, then the ‘curer’ himself knows about it, and the patient also knows about it; therefore, it
bears the karmic mark upon their minds. In our path, even though we don’t advocate the use of
miracle power, it happens anyhow all the time, and we do not accumulate any karmic debt for
interference with the laws of nature because we do it without doing. Our egos would not grow
greater and bigger every day because we don’t know when we cured that person and how we did
it. It’s just that we know there is grace from Providence that probably goes through our body as an
instrument, or our presence, to cure that person. We might know it, but we can never be sure;
therefore, our ego is not in danger of growing oversized. Therefore, if we truly look for miracles or
any power at all, we should look first to the supreme power, and then everything else will come into
our life without us wishing. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Seek you first the kingdom of God and then all
the things shall be added unto you.’
All Masters work together
I wish I never had mentioned the name of Jesus or Buddha because they also cause me trouble.
Many people understand Jesus differently than I understand, and then that brings me trouble.
Many people think they understand Buddha better than I do and that brings me trouble. But
because I was brought up in a Catholic background, and also a Buddhist background, my tongue
slips and I mention these two great names.
Sometimes, they cause me trouble even though they know that I know, and I know that I know
them, but many people don’t think I know. I only mention them because you know them; otherwise,
I don’t need them. I’m completely independent. I know them just as I know my friends. And many of
our disciples also know them in meditation. Sometimes, Jesus will guide them invisibly about things
in their life when they’re in difficulty, or Buddha comes and blesses them.
All the Masters actually work together. ‘By their fruit shall they be known.’ We teach people all the
good things that keep the social security in order, like you do not steal from people, you do not
commit adultery, and you do not take alcohol. We teach people meditation to quiet their minds. And
if you see our so-called disciples or fellow practitioners beaming with happiness, with love from
within themselves, then you know that it is the good fruit, and it doesn’t matter what I teach, or if
the path doesn’t agree with you, you should know that this is correct. Any Master would only like to
see the worldly people in this kind of condition: Peaceful, loving, intelligent, and obedient to the law
of Providence. That is the only proof, and very solid proof. No need for me to talk a great deal, to
argue with anyone, or to prove any further about the correctness of our way of life.
There are, probably, other ways of life; I mean that many roads lead to the mountain. It’s all right.
It’s perfect. But some roads are more rocky, are more difficult to climb, and some roads are easy.
Our road is easy. That’s all! If you think your road is easier, it’s fine. It’s fine as long as you reach
the mountain, and then we’ll see each other. If someone is on top of the mountain, he sees that
there are no differences, but as long as he is not yet on the mountain, he probably will argue.
It is very strange that we could sacrifice a lot of things just to achieve some very temporary
purpose. For example, many people would undergo hardships, forsaking the comfort of their warm
home and also the many comforts that they can afford in their hometown just to climb Mt. Everest,
or other very difficult and cold and dangerous peaks in the world. Or to go into the desert to make
an expedition just because they like it. After they arrive, or when they set about to climb or to go to
the mountain, we know these people are truly serious. They’re very sincere in their effort to achieve
what they want. Similarly, if we truly love God, then we do not mind any sacrifice at all, if it is truly a
sacrifice even.
Many people ask me, ‘Why a vegetarian diet? I can eat meat and get enlightened. It’s okay or not?’
I say, ‘Yes, it’s okay, but it might not be smooth, and not complete, and also you probably will have
many side effects or hindrances on your path, and you’ll waste a lot of effort. Probably you will not
get very high, and sometimes, have trouble.’ So now, they say that they cannot believe me; they
think I want to make trouble. What for? If you think about it, wouldn’t it be easier for me just to give
initiation at random to anyone at all who comes into my hands, so that I get more famous, have
more people, and more of everything? Just because of the vegetarian diet, every time we lecture,
not all of the people come, not even half of the people come.
If you have difficulty with the vegetarian diet, I have even more difficulty in introducing it. So think
about it. I sacrifice everything that I have, finance, time, youth, family comforts, my husband even,
to expose myself to some of your, sometimes, criticism. Just for what? Just to get this difficulty
because of a non-vegetarian diet. So it must be something. You think about it. I do not wish to
make trouble for myself and have less disciples.
Some people would sell the initiation for some certain fee, so maybe you should look over there.
And they don’t care whether you eat meat or not. It’s very cheap, but it’s different in the length of
meditation and in the quality of initiation – that I might tell you, but I would not mention the name.
You find out yourself. There are many prices for different jewelry; so please, do not blame me, or
get excited over this little piece of meat. It’s not worth it. It’s below your dignity to do so. God
couldn’t care less whether we eat beef, or we eat chicken, or we eat cabbage. It’s we who care.
We have to, at least, show that we’re determined to see God above anything, let alone just a little
piece of meat that is not forced upon us anyhow. If we cook something and we put a few pieces of
meat, or a few pieces of tofu, or other kind of protein, it makes not much difference, or to me,
anyhow.
It is very sad [Master sighs] that we have to always discuss these very small things, which to some
of you, or many of you, seem so important – more important than God, more important than
enlightenment, more important than all my sincerity and love offered at your door, at my cost, and
my convenience, and at the convenience and cost of all my disciples from Sydney, Formosa, and
from all over the world. They came to help me with their own money, their own time. They sacrifice
everything. Some of them are not going to get married; they live in tents with me so that we can
save enough finances to come here or other places to see you and other people of the world,
according to God’s will.
I hope today, after you go home, whether with or without initiation, you may ponder over something
which is above materialism, above the care and importance of these ephemeral flesh cloths, which
we change after a few years into where and which clothes we do not know. If you want to know, we
offer you this opportunity, and you may select which planet you go to later, which kind of place that
you prefer to go to, according to your achievement. But if you would not like to select it, if you
prefer to go unknowingly with the angel of death or the angel of life, then you may do so. And I
wish you a good journey wherever you choose to go.
Thank you very much. You may ask questions now. [Applause]
Q. Please briefly outline the Quan Yin method and why this method is better than others?
M. The Quan Yin method is not really a method because when I’m supposed to teach you the
method, I’m just in silence, and you will also be in silence. But then you will hear the Word of
God, the music of heaven, and this music will wake you up from the slumber of your sleep.
The God power within us, the supreme wisdom, will begin to work again in a proper way.
We came to this human life just so that we can bless the world using the supreme power. If
we don’t use this to bless the world, then we’re often or mostly in misery. That’s the cause of
the misery of the world. That’s why, after the Quan Yin so-called ‘method’ transmission, most
of the disciples, the ‘advance-quicker’ disciples, they’ll be always in happiness. And whatever
they do is fast, efficient, and very clear. They have bliss and security within because they
have fulfilled their duty as human beings on earth.
We are not being human for nothing, not just to eat, to sleep, to have children, and to die. It’s
not the human purpose. The Word within us is the supreme power that we have inherited from
the God-Father, so we have to use it. We are human. Everyone says human life is so
precious, but in which way? Just so that we live until sixty or seventy years and we die, mostly
in sickness or misery, without any wish fulfilled? Is that all there is to human life? Think about
it. The Quan Yin method helps you to know your own power and use it to bless the world –
and bless yourself, of course, you’re included.
Q. How long does it take to get enlightenment?
M. How long? [Master snaps Her fingers.] That long. At the time of initiation, you just sit and you
get it.
Q. Animals are living beings, but also, plants and vegetables are living beings. They feel and
sense killing in a more subtle way than animals. So where’s the difference? And why be
vegetarian if we need the proteins, amino acids, and vitamin B12 of meat?
M. All these vitamins Bs you can find in yeast even. The plants have life, the same with wood and
everything else, but when you cut a branch of a tree or plant, it grows into two or three more.
When you cut the head off an animal, it doesn’t grow any more.
Of course, it would be better if we die, eat nothing and be saints. But it’s not necessary. The
Buddha also ate vegetarian. God has said that Hes gives us fruits and herbs in the field for
our food. So we shouldn’t reject Hiers offer. I think it would be offending to God if we don’t
take a vegetarian diet because Hes offered it to us. Go home and look at the Old Testament,
first page.
Q. Will everyone who gets initiated gain liberation or enlightenment?
M. For sure, provided he doesn’t desire to go back to his old way of life. But he will get liberation
anyhow – just that it will take longer and there’s more suffering for him because he desired it.
Enlightenment, you get it right away – anyhow a taste of the enlightenment at the time of
initiation. It’s just like you go and learn French with a French teacher. If he doesn’t teach you
one or two sentences at once, how do you know if he is French teacher or if he knows French
at all? At lease you know some sentences on the first day of your class. Similarly, when you
come for initiation, you have a taste of enlightenment right way – some portion, even a small
portion of enlightenment. From then on, you go on becoming more enlightened each day. You
get a greater portion of enlightenment each day until you completely realize that you are
great, that you have the kingdom of God truly within yourself.
Q. Do You believe that the Supreme Master of the universe, Jesus, the only begotten son of
God, said, ‘I am the way, the Truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me,’ and
that no one can enter heaven, God’s home, except by Jesus?
M. Yes, it’s true. Every Master says that. Jesus is the name of His body, and Christ is His title.
Every Master should have Her / His Christ power; therefore, in a sense, Jesus never died.
Jesus works through all the Masters throughout the centuries, throughout the ages, to liberate
and enlighten us, the ignorant who are still left behind. Jesus alone cannot enlighten us if He
is gone. Of course, He can in some degree, but we are humans. We can’t get in touch with
Him when He is in a higher sphere; therefore, a physical Master is necessary. But the Christ
power works through any physical Master who is destined or posted to be at that time;
therefore, when Jesus said Hes was the only way and the only one, He spoke the absolute
truth, but so does any Master, when the Master is alive.
I know it’s a trouble with clinging to the bible – the same with many of the Buddhists. The bible
and the scriptures are excellent evidences of the past Masters, but also excellent stumbling
blocks for our intellectual attachments. I know it’s very difficult. I only can wish you the best
wishes, and I can only be patient to wait until the time comes that you understand. The bible is
only a record of a super Master who has graced our earth, but what about those before Jesus
and after Jesus? Those after Jesus, probably we say, ‘Okay. We hear His name and we get
redeemed.’ But how about those billion, trillion years before Jesus – there was no one to
rescue them or what? Is the Father so merciless as to send only one son and at only one
time? Could Hes be so stingy, do you think?
If Jesus really redeems all of us – can you truly answer me, why are we still in ignorance?
There are many things we don’t know. Heaven, we can’t contact. Some people can when they
pray very deeply, sincerely to Jesus, and probably He appears to them and teaches some of
them, but very few. He doesn’t appear to all of us. But to our disciples He would because we
know how to contact Him. We can ascend up to His level and get His teaching directly. I’m not
teaching anything different. If you would like to see Jesus and God, I just help you. If you
would like to see Buddha, I help you. That’s all. But only if you believe it, instead of clinging to
a past record of a great Master, most of which we do not understand.
Q. What is the deepest obstacle to achieving enlightenment?
M. The greatest obstacle is that you don’t want it. Otherwise, I offer it at your doorstep; no cost,
no condition, no binding, nothing at all, absolutely whatsoever, and forever, and you still don’t
want it. That’s the greatest obstacles that I can think of.
Q. Why do people call You ‘Master’?
M. Why not? There are so many masters. Why are you jealous of my title? [Laughter] Master’s
degree in science, master of smithing, master of jewelry, master of machinery – any kind of
master. If I am teaching them something and that has an effect for them, it makes their life
better, smoother, more beautiful, more blessed, more blissful, more happy, more joyful, and
more wise, why shouldn’t they call me Master? But it doesn’t matter to me. You can call me
brother or sister. Some people call me ‘small sister,’ some people call me ‘little Hai,’ or ‘Ah
Hai.’ They call me many names. Some people call me mommy or mama. They call me many
things! I don’t mind. [Applause]
Q. What is the difference between You and me?
M. None that I know of. The only difference is that perhaps you have denied yourself of the
greatest privilege that our Father has endowed upon us both. You have denied it; that’s the
only difference.
Master power burns stored karma
Q. Does the karma of a person influence the enlightenment process, that is, when initiation by
You, Master?
M. Yes, it does to some degree. The past karma, which lies in the store of the subconscious, we
can use the Master power to erase it so that no trace of it remains for future rebirths. But the
present karma we have to undergo; otherwise, we would die immediately after initiation. If we
have no more take-and-give in this world, we can’t exist. Therefore, the present karma, what
is already written in this life that we have to undergo, we should undergo. But due to the grace
of the supreme power that is within us after awakening, we will have it smoothed or
minimized, or undergo it in dreams only. For example, you’re supposed to be stabbed by
someone, wounded heavily, but after initiation you dream about it only; then you don’t have it
in life. But when you wake up, probably the wounded place is still hurting. If you forgot the
dream, then you don’t know why, but the karma will be gone – something like that.
Karma, we must pay in some form or another. Maybe the Master sometimes takes some part
of it for you, or completely, depending on whether you can bear it or not. That’s why Jesus
had to sacrifice, because of the sins of many of His disciples, the persons that He cured, and
those persons that killed Him. He even forgave them. Therefore, He had to undergo suffering.
Many Masters do that, still do, not under the form of crucifixion, but in different forms: Mental
anguish, bodily discomfort, slandering, or demands of all kind of sacrifices from the disciples,
or from the world at large. For example, it doesn’t matter how much the Master sacrifices, the
people keep demanding more and more, and keep tormenting the Master. It’s also a kind of
crucifixion anyhow, but it doesn’t appear on the cross; it appears in daily life or in the mission
of the Master. You do not know this until you become one, so don’t bother believing it even.
Q. Can one take the first initiation eating meat, then take the second initiation if one feels a
higher pull?
M. I would give you the second initiation instead and forgo the first. Wait until you’re ready, and
come, okay? Why force yourself? If meat is better than God, then you’d better wait it. It’s all
right. God gives us all free will. Don’t worry about that. God doesn’t get angry, or doesn’t push
us. We choose what we want to do, but do it wholeheartedly if you want to succeed. You can’t
just tell the girl, ‘Oh honey, I love you very much. We should just pretend to get married first. I
will have a couple of affairs, and then later when I settle down, we’ll marry again. Is that
okay?’ Even in worldly life we can’t do that, never mind making a deal with God. I think we’re
too clever for God. That’s why Hes shakes Hiers head and sits up there; Hes doesn’t want to
come down.
Q. Can You tell us the practice that the disciples have to do after they receive Your initiation?
M. They carry on with the meditation that has been instructed to them, and they carry on with
their ethical conduct and the vegetarian diet. They meditate as much as they can. They keep
the precepts and do not deliberately violate the laws of nature. That’s all. Whenever they have
problems or obstacles in their meditation, they will write to me or call inside for help. That’s
what they do. And they carry on with their daily work just as before. Just maybe more lovingly,
more aware of their responsibilities in this world and more effectively, since they have more
intelligence and more original power from within, not from the computer brain.
Q. How can You tell the difference between a frail soul and a bad soul?
M. You mean someone who does not deliberately want to do bad things, but just gives in to
temptations and that. Well, they’re weak. It’s not the soul, but it’s the mind that is weak. And if
they also have weak and tempting associations with them, then of course their frailty grows
greater each day. But if they associate with people of stronger characters, who are more
noble in bearing, manner, and thinking, then they will get stronger. There’s no such thing as a
bad soul. All souls are good – from God – only bad minds.
The mind, the computer, the brain, registers many things, bad or good, and he puts it out
accordingly each day. If a person associates often with the very so-called rough background,
then he gets acquainted with this kind of habit, and his brain registers only these kinds of so-
called bad actions. Later, in similar circumstances, or if they register too much, they will give
out daily the same information; therefore we call that person ‘bad.’ Actually, we should say
that he has bad habits, not a bad soul. Whether our habits are good or bad depends on whom
we are associated with.
In India, people very much praise and hope for association with the great practitioner who has
peace of mind and who radiates invisible energy, who heals anyone who comes to him or to
her. This is what is called ‘satsang,’ which means association with those who know the Truth,
who turn toward the Truth, and who understand completely the Truth. They even go to the
extent as to say that if such a person, who is always in tune with the Truth, with God, with the
supreme power within, just looks at you once, your life is changed. So association is very
important. There’s no such thing as a bad soul or a good soul.
Q. Why do some people never experience God even after so many sacrifices?
M. Because they go the hard way. God has prescribed a way for us to get in touch with Hirm and
we deny it. We show this to you. The way we show to you is the way to get contact with God.
There are probably other ways. If you don’t feel an appeal for this way, then try to find another
way. Whichever way you find, if that gives you the Light of heaven and the Sound of God,
that’s a correct way, because these are the signals from heaven. These are the
manifestations of our wisdom inside which can lead us back Home.
Q. How does one overcome fear in daily life?
M. If we don’t know God, it’s difficult to overcome many things, not only fear. I was very shy
before. You wouldn’t know me. I hardly had any friends. I didn’t speak much and I was often
alone. Even now, if I did not come out to speak to you or if no one requests me to come out to
see them, I’m always in my room, or in my tent. I do not come out or go out to plays or discos
or shopping; I don’t do anything like that. I’m very shy. After seeing people in the airport, if
they don’t give me a quick exit, I will grow very moody because I’m very shy to see people
over a long period. I like to disappear as quickly as possible.
But then before, I couldn’t imagine talking to a large audience like that. I never talked! I didn’t
know how to talk, but God made me like this. God makes you overcome fear, nothing else.
Except that we turn back again to our birthright, to our birth duty to find God, to bless this
earth, we can hardly overcome anything.
Q. Can You please explain ‘Manjushri’s sword’ and its application to everyday life?
M. ‘Manjushri’s sword’ is the supreme wisdom. It’s the sword of wisdom, which is prescribed in
the Buddhist sutras. It means that when you have wisdom, you cut through all attachments,
entanglements, and obstacles in this world. It is likened unto a sword, which cuts everything.
He doesn’t actually have a sword, just the wisdom that cuts through all things so we are not
bound in this world anymore. That’s just a parable.
‘Manjushri’ is a Sanskrit term which denotes a saint, a Bodhisattva, which means a saint. In
Shakyamuni Buddha’s time, he was one of His greatest disciples. His name was Manjushri,
and he was supposed to have a sword that cuts through all the obstacles and everything.
That’s called the ‘sword of wisdom.’
Q. If one is a practicing tantric worshiper of the goddess, working with the senses, how would this
path affect this practice?
M. It doesn’t affect it, but I think you have been graduated. You worked with the senses, and now
it is time to work with the soul. If you wish to go higher, then you just practice this path.
There’s no harm to forsake the secondary school when you aspire for high school.
Q. How many gods are there in this world?
M. In this world? Oh, trillions of gods. Look at you; all of you are gods, but it’s just that you don’t
know it!
How to get rid of the ego
Q. There are four principal points in Buddhism. First, suffering, second, the origin of suffering,
third, release from suffering, fourth, to approach salvation or enlightenment. Later on,
Shakyamuni Buddha found that the only thing to gain absolute emancipation is to suppress
the ego, self-denial, because the self is the origin of suffering. In Buddhism, why is it
necessary to suppress one’s ego when it is so crucial on most levels for survival and self
respect, in a practical sense?
M. The Buddha did not mean that we have to humble ourselves in the society or cut down our
success just because we want to suppress the ego. To suppress the ego is accomplished not
by mental practice, not by observation, not by doing anything; it’s just by getting in touch with
the kingdom of God. Get to know the higher ego, the higher one. If you know something
better, then of course, automatically you will not rely on the lesser one. Suppressing the ego
doesn’t mean we have to go through vigorous asceticism or do anything about it, or have to
wear very dirty clothes in order to show our holiness inside or to make people think that we
are having no ego.
To have no ego means you have already merged within the God kingdom – you do without
doing, you heal without healing, and you do things according to God’s will and never claim
credit. But still in the social life, we keep the same position. We do the same work, perhaps, if
that is God’s will. If God wills us to forsake our duty or job and do other things for Hirm, then
we would do it. At that time, we truly suppress the ego, but without losing self-respect, position
in the society, or the respect from other people. We would just absolutely surrender and do
many things without even knowing, without claiming any credit for it. At that time we know
everything is God’s doing. It’s the supreme power of the universe which we are part of that
does things. That is a true suppression of ego.
Q. What happens to a person after he dies and is waiting to be reborn?
M. What happens to him? How do I know? Should I die and come back and report to you?
[Laughter] I think we’d better take care of the living. If your deeds are truly pure, your mind is
absolutely noble, your actions are high quality and beneficial to the world, your wisdom is
clear, then of course after you die, you know where you go. You know right now, even. We
just sit or don’t sit, and we know heaven; we know where we will be after death. By the way,
the initiated person will be informed at least three days in advance before his death so he will
know where he goes and to prepare his worldly obligations before he leaves the world. At that
time, probably, you will inform me where you go or what happens to you. Otherwise, I don’t
know now. Heaven has not told me that I’m going to die in three days yet, so I don’t know.
We’d better take care of the living. Take care of ourselves while we live, and then we know
how we die.
There’s no need for me to answer because each one is different. The individual death is
different; the individual way is different. Look at your present, and know what awaits you in the
future. If your life now is virtuous, clean, sympathetic to all, and respecting of the higher
spiritual values, then you surely will go to heaven and nothing will happen to you after death.
You immediately go to heaven. If otherwise, opposite-wise, then maybe the angel of death
already has your name on his waiting list for somewhere else below or somewhere a little bit
not very bright.
Q. Is it true that when a person gains enlightenment, the person’s family in six generations
benefit? Can You please explain further?
M. Five or six generations – it is just a saying. It could be more than that. Even friends and those
we love and sympathize with will get benefit as well, and get liberation or merit accordingly.
Q. I’m a Christian. I have Jesus’ photo in my room. May I put Your photo next to it? [Laughter]
M. If you wish. I don’t think Jesus will be very jealous about it. [Laughter] I think He will be okay.
Q. I’m already baptized. May I receive initiation from You?
M. Oh, sure! With honor. Why not?
Q. Is there any value in suffering?
M. Yes, great value, so that we learn to go upward, and we don’t sink to suffering again.
Sometimes, if God blesses us so much, we do not appreciate it, and we do not think of God
and do not remember to go back to the kingdom. When suffering comes, mostly people will
pray or remember God. So last time when I said ‘adieu’ to the Melbourne fellow practitioners, I
said, ‘Remember me – at least when you are in trouble!’
Q. We already have God. Why does the world still have rich and poor?
M. [Master sighs] I told you already, we’re ignorant of our greatness. That’s why.
Q. Where do we go after this life?
M. Where we go depends on how you live this life now. If you are virtuous and clean in all
means, your conscience is open and clean, of course, you go to heaven. And you go to hell if
you are registered there.
And if you practice the Quan Yin method of enlightenment, you go right to the farthest end of
the universe, the highest kingdom of God – the original one, from which you never have to
return if you don’t want to return. And should you return, you’ll be the Master or Teacher of
mankind.
Q. If there is a connection between spiritual life and physical life, then what method do we need
to follow in order to get the result within our limited life?
M. That’s a good question. We don’t use any physical means at all. That’s why when we give
initiation, we don’t speak, even. We may give some instructions before, like how to sit so that
you’re comfortable, where should you pay your attention, how to collect your attention. That’s
all. But when we transmit to truly help to remind you how to awaken yourself, we don’t speak
at all. Both the so-called Teacher and the so-called students are in silence. But in silence, we
receive the Tao, God nature.
We don’t use any physical means at all. Nothing of the physical, because from the physical
we can’t attain the nonphysical. From the ephemeral, we can’t attain the eternal. That’s why
all the methods that are concerned with the physical body are not very everlasting.
Q. What is initiation?
M. [Master laughs and says to the MC.] You tell them, please. You know it! [Laughter]
MC. Initiation is, very simply, accepting Master as a Teacher. That’s enough.
M. Is that right? [Laughter] Is that a condition that I put on you when I give you initiation?
MC. That is not the condition for initiation. That’s what initiation is. As we mentioned before Master
arrived, Master is a guide, someone who has been there, who is offering to take us to a
certain place, level, whatever you like to call it. The condition for initiation is outside at the
initiation desk. That’s the five precepts which are – Master, can You remember those?
M. Uh uh.
MC. We’re in trouble! [Laughter] Not to kill, not to tell a lie, no sexual misconduct, not to steal, and
not to take things which are unhealthy or things which are detrimental to the body. And not to
kill also includes, of course, the vegetarian diet. The other condition for initiation is to meditate
two and a half hours a day.
M. That can be divided.
MC. It does not mean necessarily that it has to be two and a half hours at one go. It can be an hour
in the morning, half an hour at lunch, an hour at night, as it is convenient for you.
M. That is on the physical level only. Actually, initiation is the self awakening of your own God
nature. It’s when the time has come that you realize you’re greater than the body and you
would like to know more about your own great self. You truly would like to fulfill your human
duty on earth as God prescribed it. That is the inner awakening.
It’s not only the physical fulfilling of these precepts, and that and this and other. It is truly the
time that your self awakens, wanting to know more about your self; that is true initiation. With
sincerity, we want to know the kingdom of God.
Q. One of the precepts for initiation is to avoid sexual misconduct. What do You define as ‘sexual
misconduct’?
M. Well, it’s just like you already have one wife and you’re not satisfied, and probably would like
to share the neighbor’s without permission. [Laughter] It’s all right with permission; I don’t
mind.
Q. If good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell, where does that leave the not-so-good
people?
M. Probably they stay in between, or maybe they go to hell a little bit and go to heaven a little bit
– have fun on both sides! [Laughter]
They stay in between. They go back to the human life because they don’t belong to heaven
and do not belong to hell, so they belong to the human standard. They go back and relearn
the lessons that they have not learned while they are in the human form.
YOU ARE THE SUPREME MASTER 6
I’m happy to have this opportunity to get to know you; otherwise, maybe for thousands or millions
of years we’d never know each other. [A video light begins to burn and then bursts. Master asks
what is wrong, laughs, and then says.] All the lights on earth go out now and again, or burst. But
the Light of God, which is forever inside us, will never go out whether we know it or not.
Supreme Master is the name of God
In case you are still bothered about the name ‘the Supreme,’ actually it doesn’t belong to me. I long
ago already dedicated my everything to God; therefore, this is not I who speak or who do anything.
‘Ching Hai’ is the name of the body; ‘Supreme Master’ is the name of God. And since it is stated
that we are all children of God, you can also call yourself ‘the Supreme Master’ and add your name
– ‘Smith,’ ‘Jones,’ ‘Churchill,’ or whatever. [Laughter] It is not what we call ourselves or are titled. It
is how we feel about it. Humility doesn’t come with a very humble title; it comes from within.
6. Public lecture, Corinda State High School, Brisbane, Australia, March 20, 1993 (Originally in English).
When we realize that we are all children of God, and we and the Father are one, that is where true
humility begins. Many people do not call themselves ‘the Supreme’ but they feel ‘supreme’ all the
same. Anyhow, they rightly do so; we all have the supreme power inside. Whenever we pray using
the name of God, or we happen to come across any name that denotes the highest power in the
universe, we should remember that this is where we come from and this is where we belong. This
is our inheritance; it is our true nature. Sooner or later, all of us will realize this. And the more we
realize this, the more humble we become. Therefore, when Christ said to us that, ‘I and my Father
are one,’ or ‘It is the Father that does through me,’ we do not smell His ego. We do not smell His
arrogance or pride. Do we feel that? No, not at all. But when someone on the street or maybe our
friends, or sometimes our acquaintances say something – well, they don’t say that they are very
great, but we smell very strongly the fragrance of arrogance. So this is not important – the name of
the person.
In India, it is the custom that when children are born, they are given a very holy and great name, for
example, Indra, or some kind of godly name, even though they are born into a lowly caste, or they
have no spiritual background or spiritual discipline at all. It is because the parents and the people in
India would like their children and themselves to aspire to something higher than just the body,
higher than just the name, and it is also good. I think, in the Jewish tradition also we have this – Mr.
Godlove or something like that. It is very, very nice. It is good if we have such a holy-sounding
name and holy aspiration, but it would be better if we ourselves, realize our true godly nature.
The kingdom of God is within you
If we have always heard that, ‘The kingdom of God is within you,’ and that, ‘We are the temple of
God,’ and ‘God always dwells within us,’ then doesn’t it strike us to wonder where might God be?
Why don’t I know Hirm? Yes, we can come to know Him – or Her, if you think it’s a feminine nature.
We can know God through very, very sincere prayers, very deep trance-like communion with the
inner super nature, or we can do it in a quicker way by following someone’s method who has
already found this so-called supreme inner nature.
There are many ways to God, but there are quicker ways, safer ways and there are longer ways.
What we can achieve through austerity and fasting, prayers and silence, for over long periods of
time, we could achieve quickly in one minute or one second even, through a correct and direct
communion if we know how, or through the power of someone who has experience in this field.
They can help to pull us, give us a hand, and it is faster, quicker. Also, we are looked after in a
safer way while we are traveling into the kingdom of God within.
God is not something very farfetched. If we say God is love, it is true. But only if we know direct
contact with God, can we truly say God is love. We will feel, we will know, we will see the love of
God every day in our daily activities, in our wishes come true, in our wisdom that blossoms day
after day. Now, like our friend here, he had not seen me either before or after initiation. But
because he believed in what I had said in just this small booklet, probably he felt a response deep
within his heart that what I have said is what he has been longing to hear or to know. So he just got
initiation, became vegetarian together with his wife, and they both practice meditation using the
direct, inner communication. And then he has improved. He has admitted this himself. I didn’t know
how he was before. I had to ask him if he spoke as eloquently before. He spoke very eloquently
and very deeply, as if he understood something, not just blah, blah on the outside. I was surprised
to hear him, also.
Don’t think I arranged all this. Don’t think I read his manuscript before I came here. I am as
surprised as you are. It’s good – we do things spontaneously and enjoy them together. It’s better.
Of course, I know I’m coming to speak, but all the arrangements are by my fellow practitioners,
even the flowers and all that. The first time I have seen them is here with you. Even though I have
told them there is no need for flowers, they like to do it, so why not? Otherwise, the florists won’t
know what to do with all the flowers. [Laughter] And the flowers will wither anyway if we don’t trim
them and cut the unnecessary flowers away.
Now, like our friend, he has not known me, and I don’t personally direct him or direct his thinking or
his ideas about how to express himself, but he practices diligently. He sincerely wants to know the
Truth, so he improves. He met me the first time here yesterday, but all the time, of course, we have
been in direct contact. Now, saying, ‘direct contact’ doesn’t mean that I sit in Hong Kong or
Formosa, pushing some buttons like that, directing who is thinking what. It is the direct contact with
your inner super nature, super power, or what we call ‘the kingdom of God,’ if you wish to put it that
way. And then slowly, by improving like this, you become the Supreme Master, which is your own
right. This is the aim of every human being because we have climbed the ladder up to now, and we
have arrived at the highest peak in the creation. Should we not realize this, then of course, we
have to repeat our lessons again, and that’s what people call ‘transmigration’ or ‘reincarnation’.
If we stop to think for a moment, in every scripture from different religious standpoints, it is always
stated that man has the highest position in the whole creation. So where is it? What is it that makes
us deserve this so-called highest position? Is it because we are born a little bit different from the
other beings in the kingdom of animals? Is it because we know how to make airplanes? Is it
because we can raise children? Is it because we can work? What is it that makes us greater than
other beings in the creation? It is the supreme power inside. It is the right and the ability to travel
from heaven to heaven, from heaven to hell, from hell back to earth, from earth back to heaven, at
will, any time. And it is the right, the privilege, to choose where to be born in the next life, what to
do in our daily life, and where to go after death.
It is this supreme quality that makes us different from other creatures, but only if we know how to
use it. I have learned to use it myself, and many of our fellow practitioners all over the world have
learned to use it themselves. We know the Truth that is spoken in the bible; we know the Truth that
was spoken in the Buddhist scriptures and Hindu scriptures, et cetera. We realize it by inner
experience, not by reading or reciting.
Therefore, we would like to offer this to you, free of any condition, charge, or any binding
whatsoever, because we know you will enjoy it also. You will realize that this is why we came to
earth; this is why we are born as human; this is why we are different from other earthly creatures or
other planet’s creatures, even that. Some of the scientific research has suggested, or maybe found
some evidence of life on other planets, but it is not yet for sure. But we, ourselves, using this
supreme power, can discover and we will enjoy the whole universe at our leisure.
In the kingdom of God we are safe forever
Many people think that practicing a kind of yoga or meditation is very difficult, and that we have to
isolate ourselves in some place, some temple, church, the Himalayas, or something like that. This
we may do, if we want to – if we want to – for a certain length of time, but it’s not necessary for
everyone, and it’s not a prerequisite condition. If everyone goes to the Himalayas, then what shall
we do? Anyhow, the Himalayas are not limitless. If all the Australians go there, we’ll have a traffic
jam, and we’ll have an overpopulation problem. [Laughter] So we might just as well stay in this
beautiful landscape that is a cause of envy of many nations.
I forgot to say that you are living in beautiful surroundings, but probably you know this already. You
have a beautiful beach and lovely forest. I had a little tour yesterday, and I’d very much like to live
here also if God gives me the privilege to do, which Hes has granted to you. Your country is
beautiful everywhere. It is not only here that is beautiful, but also this is a very ideal place. You
have mountains, and you have the sea at your door so that you feel not very oppressed. You can
escape anytime to the sea. I like to live near the sea because I feel like any time, if something
happens, I can escape. I used to feel like that, but now if anything happens I just escape inside,
[Master points to Her wisdom eye.] to the kingdom of God, and there I am safe forever.
Many people ask me, ‘Do You know that in the year 2000, people have predicted that we will have
the apocalypse? So what will You do about it? What do You think about it?’ I said, ‘I do nothing.
And I don’t think anything about it because when we die, our world ends anyhow, sooner or later.’
It’s the eternal kingdom that we have to find, and not try to protect this ephemeral world, even
though we could do it.
We are the ones who are to save this world
When I was in Hong Kong, about ten or some years ago, I meditated in a temple. I happened to
pass by and just stayed in that temple through knowing a friend. I just sat there and I was thinking
about the revelation in the bible that one day the world will be ‘kaput.’
I was very sad and I complained to God. I said, ‘You don’t have the right to do it. You have no right
to make people suffer. If You want to destroy the world, it’s fine, but do it in one second.’ In the
bible it describes a lot of suffering and prolonged death which is terrible! I said, ‘You are God. You
can’t do that! Why do You do that? You have to talk to the people and let them know something
else greater than that. Let them change their ways. Take it easy! Give them time! Give them more
chances to behave themselves, to improve themselves. If You think the people here are not
behaving properly, then You have to teach them. You have to find some way to teach them and
make the world better.’ That’s what I was arguing in some moments of emotional disturbance.
So God said to me, ‘Okay, then You do it.’ Hes puts the trouble on my shoulders. I thought it was a
joke because, at that time, I didn’t have any disciples, and neither had it crossed my mind that I
would become a Master or anything like that one day. God said to me, ‘All right, then You do it.
You try.’ That was it; the vision vanished, and everything went back to normal. That was a long
time ago.
So today, I would like to tell you, if truly you worry about the end of the world, then ‘You do it.’ You
improve the people, improve yourselves, improve our earth, and make everyone realize that God is
the most important thing for us. God is that supreme wisdom within us. We have to look for it, use it
to make us happy, and to bless anyone that comes around us – visibly or invisibly, verbally or
silently.
Meditation is to open and make use of the supreme power
It is not the purpose of any Master to come to earth to tell people to worship Her, even though
people might do it in the early days of their practice. They identify the Master as their benefactor.
But I always tell my fellow practitioners that if any miracles happen to you, any wish is fulfilled,
anything you do better, any intelligence that you derive from your meditation, it is your super power
at work. It is your own greatness that has awakened, and it has nothing to do with the Master. Well,
it might have something to do, because the Master is just a guide. Sometime when you don’t know
which direction to go, you stumble, or you have a little obstacle, then the Master will just give you a
lift, but that’s all.
Everything comes from you. You are the greatest Master; therefore, Jesus has promised us,
‘Whatever I do, you can do better.’ Did He not? Yes. Why do we forget this? Why do we always
humble ourselves and pray for something that we don’t know? Why don’t we know first, and then
pray? I have discovered this age-old, ancient way to have direct communion with the kingdom of
God. It’s not my invention. This method or so-called communion, ‘direct hotline,’ is always available
in this world – just from different places. Initiation is to remind you of your greatest inheritance, and
then you make use of your treasure every day instead of relying on any Master at all, whether dead
or alive. That is the purpose of our practicing method, and there’s no other purpose besides that.
Remember our true greatness
We have so much suffering in this world, we have a lot of unsuccessful adventures, and we blame
maybe God sometimes for not blessing us. But actually, we should blame ourselves for not making
use of the power that God has given us since time immemorial. Because of not using this power,
we are still here; because of not using this power, we are suffering, or we see the suffering around
us; because of not using this power, we have wars with one another. Only when we use this power,
will we truly have everlasting place. But it is also better that even some portion of the world
population uses this power. It’s already very, very uplifting for our earth. Otherwise, it would
become hell. Hell is the place where no light can penetrate, where the people completely forget the
kingdom of God, forget their supreme position in the universe, and undergo untold suffering from
their own illusionary conscience. They punish themselves because they think they are guilty.
The people who are enlightened do not think of guilt as such. They will see everything as a drama,
a play from God, and therefore, they try to play accordingly. Even if they have to undergo suffering
as other people, their spiritual power is so strong that they do not feel much effect. Therefore,
Jesus while being crucified in such agony, in such a tremendously painful situation, was still
Himself. He was still very centered, and did not pray for Himself, but prayed for others – prayed to
the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing, and to forgive and
bless the fellows next to Him that they may know God. This is the greatness of Jesus. He remained
always even in any situation.
That greatness also lies within us. That’s what makes the saints different from us; that’s what
makes us worship all the saintly personages throughout the ages. But it is better that we become
one, like them, and then we can truly worship them because we truly understand their greatness.
Otherwise, we only understand intellectually, literally, but we do not know. We do not realize it, and
we can’t make use of this greatness to benefit ourselves, benefit our relatives and friends, and
benefit the world at large.
We would like to invite you to try to remember your greatness, because we were not born to die.
We were not born just to undergo stress at work and the responsibility of raising children alone. We
were born to know the greatness of our Father. We were born to bless the world with our
knowledge of this supreme power within. We were not born to live just a few decades and then die
– a waste of our human life, a waste of God’s creative power, a waste of the heroic ideals inside
our hearts.
We have to realize what we dream; we have to do what we wish to do. If we haven’t done it, we
would do it now through our supreme wisdom, not through our habitual thinking and organization.
Everything we learn with the human intellect, with the human system, is only useful at the human
level. If we want to be greater than that, we have to learn something superhuman, which we have.
The human body is only our apparatus, only our office. It’s not our real self. Otherwise, if someone
lies there dead, you can’t make him eat, you can’t make him speak, you can’t make him think, even
though his brain is still there, his heart is still there, but it doesn’t pump anymore. What makes the
body function? That is the supreme power. We should make use of it before it’s too late, before we
have to undergo suffering again of birth, death, and old age – to relearn all these from ABC. It’s all
right if you want to come back and learn. But if you do not want to, if you want to begin right now,
we sincerely invite you with all love and nothing else – no money, no fee, now, before, after,
between, and after death, even. Truly, the Master power will help you all the way through until you
reach heaven, and never leave you or forsake you until the end of the worlds. So it’s up to you to
make a choice, and now I’ll leave time for your questions. Thank you for your loving attention.
[Applause]
Q. What do the nations have to do to stop killing each other?
M. Very good question. People make war with each other because they identify too much with
the body, with the immediate needs of the body, with all the demands from the body;
therefore, they kill each other. The only, and the best, solution is to find the way to realize that
we are not the body. Therefore, no one opposes us and we’re in no danger economically or
politically.
Enlightenment is the only answer. I mean that enlightenment is the true answer and the
lasting answer. Otherwise, we continue to identify with the body and we try to fulfill the needs
of the body. We worry that other people will come and steal our crops, take our wives, or
invade our nations. Some nations make war with each other because they want to expand
their economic war with another nation to gain more land, to gain more economic markets, et
cetera. It all has to do with the body. Even though we say it is the difference between
idealism, it all amounts to bodily demands. Therefore, if we are enlightened at all, then these
wars will stop by themselves. We will realize truly the brotherhood of mankind.
Q. Where did You get Your spiritual knowledge from?
M. From inside. Where I get the knowledge from, you can get it. Maybe you need a Teacher in
the beginning, just to show you how or to avoid some pitfalls or where to pay attention. That’s
all. The knowledge is all inside you. You just have to take some time every day to discover it
and make use of it.
Suppose you have a big storeroom and inside it is full of wheat flour, and you never have time
to look into it. You just stay outside and are busy thinking, ‘I’m hungry,’ but never know how to
make use of the wheat flour in the storeroom. Then it is no good. All the knowledge lies within
us. That’s where I get it.
Q. Can You tell us about God, the Father? What is Hes like?
M. Hes is like you. Hes has two parts: The good part and the naughty part. The naughty part Hes
uses to make life go on in bitter and sweet and in all the follies so as to amuse whoever likes
to see these things. The good part Hes uses to give us strength, spiritual knowledge, and all
the holy, noble things that we can do.
If we say God is all good and love, it’s fine also, but then we can’t explain all the devils in this
world. There is actually no evil in this world. It’s just the way we look at things that we do not
know how to play the game with God, and that makes things turn sour and become negative.
If we learn to contact God, things reconstruct themselves, and then we see things in a
different Light. We know how to mix them, just like some so-called poison, even. The
scientists know how to use it for the benefit of people’s health, but if we use it in a layman’s
manner, it kills.
God is not a person or not even a non-person. It’s the supreme power that pervades the
whole universe, and we are within it, also we are part of it, also we are the totality of it. We
know this God according to our diligence in searching, according to the grace of God which
comes in proportion to the sincerity of our thirst for knowledge of the kingdom of God within.
That is the temporary explanation about the so-called God. Otherwise, look at your neighbor if
you want to see God. It’s next to you. Look at each other and try to see whether you find God
within him, because the bible says so.
When you do something good and noble with all love to your neighbors or to someone you
don’t know, that is when you realize you are God or that is when God within you awakens.
When you do something you think is undesirable or harming some person, that is when you
allow the naughty part of God to take the upper hand. But it’s all the game anyhow. We have
to be enlightened to tolerate both, and to turn bad into goodness.
Q. You spoke about using Sound and vibration as meditation. Which mantras do You use, and
why have You not shared them with us?
M. I am wiling to share with you. But it takes a few hours with me so that I can tell you the whole
process – which elements to avoid and what to try to remember, and all that.
We don’t use any mantra. The Light comes from itself at the time of initiation. You just sit
quietly and it will come. I’ll show you how to sit quietly. It’s very simple, but we have forgotten
because we’re too accustomed with being busy, with being complicated, with running here
and there. We don’t know how to sit still anymore. We think when we sleep that is when we sit
still, or when we don’t do anything that’s when we sit still. It’s not so.
There is a little ‘connect,’ and that’s what separates heaven and earth. We will show you, but
if you have time with us, if you are truly interested. Later on, after the lecture, if you want to
know the secret, I’m willing to share with you. At the time of initiation, we have to sit together
for a couple of hours to tell you everything – about the pitfalls on the path, about where we go
wrong, and where we should pay attention; that’s all. But the enlightenment, the Sound or the
Light, comes alone, not because of these instructions. The enlightenment comes alone. It is
the grace of God. It’s our self, our wisdom-self that awakens.
Q. I also have been initiated into the ‘light and sound’ meditation; have been doing that
meditation for nearly ten years; was told when I was initiated, I could reach enlightenment; did
it faithfully; am still not enlightened. What makes Your system superior?
M. First, why I regard this method as best: I have tried various methods and our fellow
practitioners, many of them, have already practiced different methods and they hadn’t arrived
where they have arrived now. And also, I, myself, searched for the Truth since childhood and
practiced various ways and means to reach God, but with this method I got it fastest, quickest,
and safest. Therefore, I say to you through experience.
The light and sound you have been initiated into, I do not know whether it is heavenly Light
and Sound, or just the outer mantra and the candlelight. Many people teach people to look at
the candlelight, and then to imagine many things, visualize things; visualize the light and
visualize the sound. Maybe it’s a little bit different from our method. The Light and the Sound
come alone without visualization, without any outer aids, without anything to do physically or
mentally at all. It all comes purely from God. There are many systems, which they call also
‘light and sound,’ but they tell people to go on the beach and listen to the sound of the sea
waves on the beach. No, we listen to it inside – the sea waves are inside, the church bells are
all inside, without any effort, without any mantra, without any physical action, because we
have the kingdom of God inside. It all comes from the kingdom of God, not from human effort.
Q. Why do You regard natural forms of healing as magic?
M. Did I say magic? Probably, I said, ‘spiritual healing,’ because if we lay hands on someone and
heal him, we steal the position from God. We make that person be thankful to us instead of
thanking God or turning within and trying to get to the healing source of all healings inside. It’s
probably not very ideal, and also it depletes us of our spiritual power that we need to climb
back to our glorious kingdom of God.
There are different healings; maybe some are magical healings also. With ‘magical healing,’
sometimes people can be healed today but it comes back again tomorrow or next month in
the same form or in a different form – a kind of postponement, not a true healing. True healing
comes when you don’t heal. For example, someone just touched Jesus’ garment and she was
healed. Jesus never claimed credit for it. He said, ‘Your faith has made you whole.’ He
credited it to the Father and that is the best healing!
Many of my fellow practitioners claim that I healed them through my ‘transformation body,’ so-
called. But I don’t know anything about it. I say it’s your virtue, it’s your wisdom that is
awakened that works for you through whichever form. It might go through the form of Jesus, it
might go through my bodily form, but that has nothing to do with the individual. That is the
best healing. When you heal the soul forever, then that soul is forever free from bodily
discomfort and never dies again but is forever in glory. That’s the best healing; therefore, I say
refrain from spiritual healing. But if that’s absolutely necessary in some case, then you do so
at your spiritual expense, and you might be retarded somehow in the progress. But try never
to claim credit for it, otherwise, you will get the karma very heavily for interference with the
laws of nature.
Q. Master Ching Hai, to what degree does enlightenment come from self-effort, and to what
extent from the grace of God or the Master?
M. Actually, it comes from both. For example, we say we have to make an effort to purify our
bodies, speech, and minds through leaning more toward righteous conduct and through
having a more modest lifestyle, taking a vegetarian diet to minimize the bloodshed on earth,
and sitting in quietness to remember God. To this extent, we say we do it with our effort but
these are only still on the physical and moral level. And even sometimes without doing that
consciously, the grace of God still descends on us and gives us enlightenment.
For example, if during the time of initiation you have not prepared yourself for a vegetarian
diet, but you promise to, that’s enough for me. You still get enlightenment, all the same –
without any preconditions or prerequisite preparation. That is the grace of God. And after that,
to keep the enlightenment, to purify yourself, and to progress more rapidly on the path, you
keep on with the virtuous living and the vegetarian diet in order to minimize the side effects
and to polish more our loving nature inside to include all beings. Then we continue to get
greater and greater wisdom, greater enlightenment.
Both are really necessary, but we do it without effort. It’s not because you sit there or you eat
vegetarian that you become Buddha, God – it’s not true. It’s just because of our sincerity, and
we show it through our sacrifice of the flesh for the spirit in some minimum ways, like
forsaking the palatable taste, doing some good work and things like that, or reserving a few
hours every day to sit in communion with God. Otherwise, effort is not the main ingredient for
enlightenment. Enlightenment must be grace from God, and that we receive through sincere
longing at the time of initiation, and continue throughout our life.
Q. How does the average person recognize an enlightened person?
M. If you have your spiritual eyes open, then you will see that an illuminated person is
illuminated. All over him, around him, and everywhere he resides, grace flows from him; Light
pours forth from him. But if we have not that wisdom eye open to some degree, we can’t see
it. Therefore, many disciples saw Jesus with halos around Him, but other people crucified
Him. If you want to recognize a spiritually enlightened person, you have to be, yourself,
somewhat enlightened. Otherwise, we can recognize that person through his speech, actions,
or maybe through our intuitive feeling or through prayer.
We can pray to God, ‘Let me know whether this person is enlightened enough to guide me.
Please, I just want the ultimate enlightenment.’ Pray deeply to God and see how Hes guides
you. If the feeling is drawn more toward that person, then you know it’s correct, that this
person is all right. If you’re still more drawn toward the world or another master, then follow it.
But you have to be sincere to get deep into your own wisdom to get the intuitive response if
you haven’t got the heavenly eye open to see. The Light from the spiritual person is not
material light, and it hurts your fleshly eyes if you are not highly developed enough to see it.
Otherwise, Christ would have saved the whole world, at least the people of His time; Buddha
would have rescued all India, at least. But we are blind. We can’t see that clearly; therefore,
the bible says, ‘Seeing you see but you do not perceive. Hearing you hear but you do not
understand.’ That’s why we are in trouble. We have to open our wisdom eye and see. We can
help you to do that.
Q. Do You recognize different levels of illumination? If so, what are the tests or signs?
M. Yes, there are definitely different levels of enlightenment. In our method, we are showing you
how to verify it yourself at home. There are certain qualities of Light and Sound that represent
a certain level of consciousness. If you go through that you know which Light belongs to which
level. For example, in the astral world, which is very near to our earthly consciousness, the
Light is dimmer, just like the sunlight, maybe. But in the other, higher levels, the Light is
brighter, sometimes like thousands, millions of suns. That, you can recognize very easily, but
with practice, and you have to go through it to know. We’ll tell you later at the initiation if you
wish to know in detail.
Q. What should a non-compassionate person, someone who is not compassionate but who
recognizes that he is not compassionate, do with himself? Fake compassion or gain it in
stages?
M. I would recommend the second. [Laughter] If we don’t have it, then at least we start with
learning. I wouldn’t say fake compassion, but learn compassion. Just like a student who has
not been able to speak English, but he may repeat it from the teacher. Even though he
doesn’t know the whole vocabulary in English literature, at least he learns a few phrases and
memorizes a few pages each day until he completes his course. Each one has to learn.
There’s no one who is a fake or anything. It’s just that he hasn’t learned. No one has taught
him, and he has not practiced the art of compassion. Try to do it in a small way and gradually
increase until you’re completely being compassionate without knowing, without self
consciously being compassionate.
Q. Master Ching Hai, if God is all knowing, all loving, and all powerful, why does Hes not
communicate with us, despite our lack of effort and ignorance, and enlighten us with Hiers
power?
M. Hes does. We don’t want to communicate with Hirm; we’re too busy. We’re too busy talking,
too busy working, and too busy scolding the children, and scolding ourselves and neighbors,
and all that. Even when we go to the church, we’re too busy singing and dictating to God what
to do. ‘Oh, please God, my house is in disorder, my wife ran away, my children are not
obedient,’ and all that and this. [Master and audience laugh.] ‘Please, take them,’ and do this
and that.
We’re too busy and we aren’t quiet enough to listen to what God says. We ask, but we don’t
wait for the answers. So I’ll tell you how to hear God’s answer, if you have the time. After the
lecture, whoever wants to know it, stay behind and I’ll give you the secret of communication
with Hirm. And you can blame Hirm for all the things that you want when you know Hirm. Hes
does communicate with us, but God gives us the free will to choose to listen to Hirm or not to
listen – that’s the trouble. We have to be clever and choose the way.
Are we one or many?
Q. Master Ching Hai, are we one or are we individuals?
M. What do you think? If we are one, I wouldn’t be speaking to you. If we are individuals, then we
deny that ‘I and my Father are one.’ So what to do? What do you think?
We are one when we know we are one, when we truly realize inside. When we sit in
meditation and lose ourselves in the oneness of all things, then we can say we are one. But
when we descend back into the duality of this earthly life, then we are individuals. We have to
play the game of life until we completely finish with our duties. Then we go back to the
kingdom of God and become one again forever. But we don’t lose our individualities.
Therefore, Jesus is still alive. He’s still teaching somewhere else. After He finishes His job
here, He got assigned somewhere else. None of us will die anyhow, we just go in a different
direction.
Q. Is there life after death?
M. Sure there is! Even without asking me, you have seen reports on television, newspapers, and
a lot of medical and scientific research, which is written in many books. It is much more so
available in English version. I’m sure you know better about this.
Q. Master Ching Hai, what are Your views on evolution?
M. It’s a necessary process, just like we have to learn in the class. After finishing kindergarten,
we go to primary school; then after primary school, we go to high school should we desire to
or should we be compelled to do so. Or, if we want to reach a higher degree of knowledge,
then we go to college. After that, we even continue to learn through practice and experiences
in our job, in our field.
Similarly, in our creation, we could stay here as human beings or we could raise ourselves
into the level of heavenly beings, or we raise ourselves to Christ-like status. That’s why Jesus
said, ‘What I do, you can do also,’ and Buddha also said, ‘I have become Buddha, and you
will also become Buddha.’
Meditation
Q. Are there any problems for people with health problems to get initiation and practice Your
Quan Yin method?
M. No problem for anyone at all. Maybe the problem is with the diet. After initiation, we cook
vegetarian. Instead of throwing a few beefsteaks inside, we throw a few tofu, [Laughter] or
vegetarian ham, vegetarian protein. If that makes any problem with you about the
replacement, then it might be called problems. Otherwise, I do not see any problem for
anyone at all.
Q. Can You explain what ‘faith’ is? Doesn’t that bring us back to love? Isn’t it love that is all there
is?
M. Yes, you’re right. How can I describe things that are so abstract? If you love another girl or
another boy, how can you describe this love?
Q. I have been a vegetarian for more than five months. However, my occupation needs me to be
in contact with meat regularly. I’m making meat pies in a bakery. May I still have initiation?
M. Sure, but I think that you will have a little conscience problem; so you may find a better job in
the future. Slowly. When you find a better job for you, then you quit this present job.
Q. Master Ching Hai, have You seen God?
M. Yes, I have seen God, anytime – just like I see you. All disciples see God to some degree;
they see Jesus, Buddha, Indian saints, or other saints, and talk to them, learn from them.
They are representatives of God. We can know God, also, directly.
Q. Master Ching Hai, the manner in which You and Your fellow initiates have advertised tonight’s
event – large posters, hanging out pamphlets everywhere, is not the ideal approach, to
people’s understanding, of the Buddhist religion. Some people are upset because they feel it
is like a marketing industry. What do You think about this?
M. If they don’t do it, how do you know I am here? If they don’t do it, you say I have no
compassion and don’t share my knowledge with the people. If they do it, then you complain
that they do it. So what shall we do? Should I sit in the Himalayas? That’s fine with me!
[Laughter and applause.]
You see, it’s not what you do. It’s your intention. We can only offer you enlightenment, and
you take it or not take it. Why should you be upset? It’s you who have the problem. Tackle
your own problem and not ours. We don’t have any.
Q. To resolve past experiences, do we have to relive them to enable us to progress in this life?
M. This God power inside can erase everything, but we cannot because it’s registered deeply
inside our subconscious. Only when we use God’s grace can we erase anything; otherwise,
we just imagine things and understand at the intellectual level. So enlightenment is the
answer for that.
Q. You say that enlightenment comes from within us, and that it comes from God, and God is
within us. Does that mean that we are God? Or is God only what we believe Him or Her to
be?
M. That’s a very good question. In the bible, it is said that God made man in Hiers own image,
and then also it is said that God dwells within us. Truly, we are God. The body is not ‘we’ – it’s
only the house that houses God. If we identify ourselves with the body, then of course we are
not God. But if we know the dweller of the house, the owner of the house, then that is God.
We are that, but it takes a long time to know if we follow a complicated way of life. It takes a
very short while to know if we follow the way of God.
Q. You say, ‘I invite you sincerely,’ so what do I need to do now?
M. Just tell the information people that you want to come. Put your name down and we will call
you to come in. That’s all. And replace the beefsteak with tofu or [Laughter] vegetarian
protein. That’s it; that’s the only condition, nothing else.
And meditate as instructed every day. Find time for it. I know most of you say, ‘We don’t have
time! We don’t have time!’ But would you like to spend all your time like that – not knowing
who you are and where you go after death, contented to let the world make a slave out of you,
using up all your time and energy for trivial matters? Even though you have enough money,
the world urges you to make more; even though you have a high position, the world urges you
to have a higher position, et cetera; even though you have a lot of time, they will ask you to go
and do this and that, wasting a lot of time.
You have to take time. You have to have the courage to be your own master and to choose
what you want to do. Would you like to live this courageous life, or do you prefer to just wallow
in this sorrowful state of aimless life and let every situation control you? You make the choice.
Q. As I understand it, when practicing meditation, people must practice in a very calm place. In
this noisy, industrial country, is there any serious effect when people practice meditation in
such a noisy environment?
M. We, the fellow practitioners, meditate on the trains, on the buses on the way to work, on the
buses on the way home, and meditate in the park in the lunch-break hours. I meditated on the
airplane with all the hostesses and stewardesses running around with meat dishes and ice
cream and all that, no problem. I tell you, I have all the experiences on airplanes while
traveling, or buses, or wherever, in the busy supermarket even. It doesn’t affect you at all.
You’ll be surprised!
When you’re truly sincere, God is everywhere, always with you, and never leaves you. Hes
protects you from all situations and you’ll be always inside. Even though you work outside,
you’re always inward. It’s a very incredible state of mind that can hardly be expressed by
human language. I can only invite you to understand, to join in, and enjoy. If I make a very
beautiful apple pie and keep describing it to you through the telephone, will it do you any
good? No, huh? I can make a beautiful apple pie; I learned it in England. [Laughter]
Q. About life after death: Is there a reason why we can’t remember living before and remember
past lives?
M. We have to learn to be enlightened. If we do not fulfill our purpose as a human being – that is,
to bless this earth, to make the living beings in this earth evolve into a higher consciousness –
then we have to come back again and relearn these lessons, until we completely fulfill this
purpose. That means we have to get in touch with our inherent power within and use to bless
the world. Otherwise, we have to relearn again and come back again.
Q. Can You describe the stages from our first enlightenment to final enlightenment?
M. I can describe it. I describe it better at the time of initiation because you will experience it
yourself. I can say a little bit, like a framework, but it depends on the individuals. For example,
someone at the time of initiation is in the first level, the astral level, but some other people are
already on the third or the fourth level. Therefore, the time to reach final realization is different
for each person.
You start from the astral level, which is above our earth level, go to the intellectual level, pass
through the creative power level, through the great dark tunnel, and then go through the
kingdom of God – approximately like that. There may be five levels until you reach the
complete knowledge of the Truth. It depends on where you started at the time of initiation
whether you will reach it faster or slower.
Q. Master, please tell us about the ideal daily routine?
M. Try to do what you would like other people to do to you. Try to avoid what you think that you
yourself would not like other people to do to you. That’s the best.
Otherwise, enlightenment is the best. Then you will know intuitively what’s right, what’s wrong,
and have no need for any Teacher to point at you and say, ‘thou shall do this,’ and ‘thou shall
not do that.’ It would be better to be your own master; therefore, we show you the way to
know yourself.
Q. Please explain reincarnation.
M. Reincarnation is the leftover of the unfulfilled desires, be it spiritual or material. Suppose if we

have not been enlightened enough to pull ourselves together, back to where we belong, then
we will still be controlled by our material desires or unfulfilled promises. We love someone and
that one doesn’t love us and marries someone else, for example. We keep this unfulfilled
sentiment in our heart and vow to come back again, subconsciously or consciously, next time,
and try all the way through life to reach that unfulfilled promise. That’s why we reincarnate.
The saintly people reincarnate also, but at their own will. If they want to come, they come; if
they don’t want to come, they remain in the kingdom of God. But we are born through the
force of our own desires, and that is the difference. After the initiation, we will be in a less and
less desirous state of mind. We just feel very detached from this world. Even though we still
love our families, we still do our work, we know, at the same time, the state of heavenly
beings. We see the better part, and the lower part cannot attract us anymore. Therefore, we
are free from desires at the time of our death, so-called death, for we are free of everything.
And anything that is light and free will float upward, just like an air balloon. So the
reincarnation theory does exist, but only because we are not enlightened. That’s all.
Otherwise, there’s no such thing as reincarnation. But there is to the ignorant state of mind
because we cling to things.
Q. When I get enlightenment, how can I keep it forever? Can it be lost?
M. You can keep it, but we have to polish it by purifying our actions, our speech, and our minds.
If we are initiated by an enlightened Master, we will be taken care of, even if we fail
sometimes. If we sincerely repent and pray to the inner Master, we will be also taken up. But
in life, we will experience suffering, and the enlightenment seems to be lost somehow, or it
comes now and again only – not a continuous process of bliss and self assurance, self
realization.
For those who keep the precepts, keep the vegetarian diet, and practice sincerely every day,
they keep it forever. They keep it in their daily life, as well as the time of death, and also in
heaven. They continue to polish it until they become a Master.
Q. Master Ching Hai, please explain ‘heaven.’
M. Heaven: There are two stages, one on earth and one is in heaven. ‘Heaven on earth’ is when
we are enlightened and satisfied and feel loving in whatever circumstances. ‘Heaven in
heaven’ is when we leave this earth and then we reside permanently over there, in a very
blissful planet. We have no sorrow, no anxieties, and no desire for anything because
everything is there without asking.
MC. Dear Master Ching Hai, I think I speak in all of our names when I say thank You for Your
presence and Your blessings. May Your sharing keep with us. [Applause]
M. Thank you for your love and your supporting atmosphere. I enjoy very much being with you
and enjoy your blessing very much. Thank you.
IT IS YOU WHO BLESS YOURSELF 7
Thank you for coming here. Thank you for making it possible for us to know each other; otherwise,
this might never have happened in many thousands of years. This morning, I was interviewed by
one of your television personnel and he asked me if I bring a new religion to your country, or what I
named my faith or my belief. I said to him that it’s not necessary to bring another new religion
because we have plenty already. And he said, ‘What is the name, at lease, that You call Your
belief?’ I said that we also have plenty of names already. It’s not important to have another name
or another religion. Besides, the underlying principles of all religions are one. It’s just like we call
‘water’ in English and in French it’s something different, ‘l’eau aqua minerale,’ or German ‘vasser,’
Chinese ‘shuai,’ Aulacese, et cetera – all different. He asked me whether the religions are the
cause of many of the conflict in this world. I said that it’s not so. Religions do not cause conflict in
this world, but it is some of our misunderstandings about religions that cause the conflict.
Go beyond duality
Similarly, there are two so-called ‘forces’ in the universe: One is the so-called ‘negative’ and the
other one is the so-called ‘positive.’ Actually, both are positive, but if we use them negatively, even
the positive power turns into negative. If we do not understand how to handle some good chemical
materials, then they can be poisonous also. But even some kind of poison, used by experts, can
7. Public lecture, City Hall, Brisbane, Australia, March 21, 1993 (Originally in English).
become medical substances to heal people in some cases. We are endowed with both positive and
negative.
He also asked me if I have any intuitive knowledge about what the world is going to be like in ten or
twenty years’ time. I said that if all of us, or many of us, became enlightened, then the world is
going to be better. It’s already getting better; so it can only be better and better. More and more
people are practicing enlightening methods, practicing the presence of the greatest intelligence,
during their daily life; therefore, the world is bound to become better.
He said to me, ‘Are You going to the lecture with the strong intention of converting people into Your
belief?’ I said, ‘No.’ He was surprised that I didn’t have any intention. I said to him, ‘I came here
because of God’s will, and if people are converted or convinced…’ ‘Convinced’ is better. You are
already converted into your belief and that is right. I don’t need to convert you anymore. If people
are convinced by what I say, that is also God’s will. That is the collective fate of our generation:
That you might believe me or not. I have no desire to be successful, nor will I be disappointed if I
fail. I am only doing my job. If God doesn’t want me to do this, I would as well do any other thing
and just do it and enjoy it, not expecting any results because the work itself is already rewarding.
Any work we do, if we do it in a relaxed manner and wholeheartedly try our best without expecting
any reward, it is a reward in itself.
There would be no evil in this world if we only know God, think of God, speak about God, and do
only godly actions. And even if evil exists at all, there would be no problem. The problem is we do
not remember God very often, except when we are in sorrow. But if we are enlightened, then God
will be always with us, reminding us about Himself or Herself, if you call that feminine, otherwise
the women will be angry with me. [Laughter]
There are many methods of enlightenment, and it depends on how long you would like to enjoy
practicing it, or how long you like to long for enlightenment. If we like to do it slowly, then there are
plenty of methods. You can sit and do many things in virtuous way; or pay money for it, and then
do what the teacher says and wait for the enlightenment to come. It comes by prayers, also. But
sometimes these enlightenments are short-lived. Should we know the exact way where to look for
it, we will have it immediately, and it lasts forever, because we will be renewing it every day, and
we will be developing more and more. Actually, it’s not ‘developing,’ because we have everything
already.
Many names for the one
I would like to present to you a very successful way to enlightenment, as well as for worldly
pursuits; that is, we get in touch with the highest power, which is dormant within us. We call this the
Supreme Master power, the Christ power, the Buddha nature, or the Tao, it’s up to you. It’s just like
in India, people call a Master, a ‘guru’; in English we call it Master, but many people do not
translate it into the English term, and they just say ‘guru.’ And then after a long time, everyone
knows about it, and they know what a guru means. But if we didn’t know it, we would think a guru is
different from a Master. And if we don’t know it, we think the Tao is different from the Buddha
nature. That’s the only thing that makes a difference between religions, if there is any at all.
Therefore, I have no intention to bring another religion or another name into our already confused
system of belief. But I would welcome you to stay where you are, and maybe remind you to study
deeply into your religion, and if you have time, study other religions in order to have tolerance with
each other, and understand more about our own nature. Inspiring religious books or enlightening
literature is always helpful and keeps us more in contact with our inner self. Otherwise, if we are
too busy with daily mundane affairs, then we are further and further away from our inner nature or
God.
Many people, after initiation, find themselves understanding almost all religious literature without
my having to explain it to them. Many of them have not even seen me in person. They just have
had initiation through another instrument and I have not even been there to influence their thinking,
or to tell them what to do, but they have found their own supreme wisdom. And they have become
more enlightened, more intelligent, and more successful, even in daily life.
When we left Sydney, one of the couples showed their gratitude to me because their family has
increased in happiness and harmony between husband and wife. He told me that he came to
Australia and just met this woman. There wasn’t much passionate love between them, nothing
really very striking about their love relationship. They were together, and then just kind of
accidentally produced two children – that’s what he told me. [Laughter] But after the initiation, both
of them are initiated, suddenly, they found life and love pouring into their relationship. They didn’t
know that they could love each other. They didn’t know there’s such thing as romance or a family
united in spirit before, and after practicing the method, they have found it.
But these are the mundane things; it is not very important to stress it. But actually, every mundane
thing, or every mundane success or expression, comes from the inside, comes from our own state
of mind. Therefore, if we truly want to have a successful life, then we should start from the inside
out – just like we water the plant from the root and not on top of the leaves only.
If we are enlightened, all things will become easy; we think fast, we do things quickly, we react
precisely at the appropriate moment; and that’s the key to success. Most of us use our intelligence
at the brain level, the habitual level, the preconceived idea style of dealing. We do not use the
direct response, the ultimate wisdom, which controls all things in the universe and makes all
dreams come true.
It is not that I, personally, will bless you or any of the fellow practitioners. It is you that bless
yourself when you have discovered this blessing power within you. Therefore, we are here not to
bless you, not to teach you, not to be your Master, but to tell you that you can bless yourself, that
you can teach yourself, that you can become the Supreme Master. We all have the Supreme
Master within us. The only reason we don’t know is because we are being cheated by the
illusionary busyness of daily activities, by the false value of the material importance that we have
been taught to believe. If we know how to take time and where to look for our supreme wisdom, we
will find it, and we find it immediately. We can see our own nature; we can see God face to face,
just like you see me.
It is not difficult to find our own wisdom; it is just difficult to believe it. Therefore, if we see it, then
we believe it. If we see heaven inside, we believe it. If we see God inside, we believe it. If we see
Jesus inside, we will believe Him even more. If we see Buddha inside, we will become more devout
Buddhists. Therefore, I am not here to present a new religion, or to tell you to become a Buddhist
or a Christian, but to present to you what you already have but have forgotten to use.
What is it that makes Christ different from other prophets? What is it that makes Him better than us
or stands above humanity? It is this supreme power. Jesus has promised us that what He does, we
can do. And He doesn’t say He is the only son of God, but He says, ‘You are all the children of
God.’ But at that time, He probably was the only one, or one of the very few, who had discovered
His own princely inheritance; therefore, He was probably the only one. And then after He realized
that, He also realized that all of us have this inheritance, and He said, ‘Whatever I do, you can do
even better.’ The Buddha also realized that all beings have the same quality as He, and He was
surprised and said, ‘Why don’t they know it?’ Why don’t they know it? Because they look in a
different direction.
The Master reminds us of what we have forgotten
If you put a ten dollar note into your pocket and search all over the house, can you find it? Of
course not. The Master is the one who knows that the money is in your pocket. [Laughter] That’s
the only difference. You have known it, but you have forgotten. If a person is in a state of panic
looking for something or trying to solve something in a hectic way, then he can’t think straight, and
he can’t find the thing he wants to find. And some other person, just an onlooker who is pretty cool
and has nothing to do with the whole situation, looks around and he sees it. ‘There you are! It’s in
your pocket!’ That’s the only difference between the so-called Master and the ordinary people.
They put their attention in the other direction instead of where God is, so they don’t know God. But
God is always within us. It is promised to us like that, and I have found it; therefore, we speak to
you through direct perception, direct experiences.
Before, I was a religious person. I am now more religious because I know what is stated in the
bible is absolutely true, what is stated in Buddhist scriptures is verified by my own inner knowing,
inner seeing, and inner hearing – hearing without the ears, seeing without the eyes, knowing
without the brain computer, even. This is true knowledge, true perceiving, and true understanding,
and each of us has the capability to do that.
Therefore, if the disciples, the so-called ‘disciples’ – I call them fellow practitioners or I call them
brothers and sisters, but sometimes they call me Master, and sometimes I forget and I call them
students. But most of the time I call them brothers and sisters. Most of them, if they came and
bowed to me, I would not like it. Sometimes I don’t react, but most of the time, I react. I tell them to
please stand up. Don’t make a fool out of themselves and endanger my ego. [Laughter] That’s
more important. Don’t let me forget for one second that you and I are the same. Maybe I know that
your money is in your pocket, but if you don’t know it, it doesn’t mean that I’m better than you in
any sense. It’s just that you’re busy with other things, your mind is full of other engagements, and
you have forgotten what you have.
Enlightenment is so simple and immediate because God is within us. The kingdom of God is within
us. ‘Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the holy spirit dwells within you?’ This, we
must verify in order to know it. Many people ask me, ‘I believe in God already. I know there is a
creator, and I do all good things, and I live a virtuous life. Why must I have this enlightenment at
all?’ The answer is that if we don’t have enlightenment, we suffer. We don’t truly know our own
position in the universe, and we suffer.
We suffer in different way because we can’t handle the positive and negative power, which is
inherent within us. Therefore, sometimes the positive power wins and then we do some good
things. We feel good and that’s when we act godlike. Or at least when we sleep, we’re just like
God; we’re doing harm to no one, thinking no bad ideas, and wishing no one bad things. But when
we’re awake, sometimes the negative power within us has the upper hand. And then sometimes
we stray, and we feel very guilty, and we feel bad, and sometimes it harms us physically and
mentally, and other people as well.
Everyone says that a human being is the greatest, the crown in the whole universe. But do we
know how great we are? Do we truly know? From what we see in our daily lives, we don’t know.
We are begging for any favor from God, from angels, from local gods, from whoever we know for
anything at all, while we have, all the time, the best possibility, the supreme power, to alter
everything, to make our wishes come true and to fulfill the wishes of other people.
Enlightenment brings true freedom
We have heard that the great Masters of all time can bless people, can cure the sick, heal the
blind, et cetera, or can give us liberation by just a glance of their eyes, a touch of their hands, or by
our merely thinking of their name. We worship all these personages, but why don’t we aspire to be
one? And then we can bless other people, bless ourselves, and bless the world. That’s why we
suffer. We don’t use our power and we’re always craving and craving, and feeling some emptiness
within our hearts for which no worldly possessions, no positions, and not any of the earthly
beauties can fulfill in the long term. That’s why people become so-called ‘greedy’ or crave for sex,
for fame, for profit – not because they are bad in their hearts, but just because they are too empty.
They don’t know why they want money, even if they already have enough; they don’t know why
they have to wallow always in sexual unfulfillment; they don’t know why they have to take drugs
and all that. It’s just because they can’t find fulfillment in this world.
These are intelligent people; these are truly some of the highly developed souls. They are lost in
the maze and they feel frustrated. Therefore, if we have enlightenment, if we find the power inside
which fulfills all desires, which is above all desires, then we are free from all desires. We will have
everything; we will have more things, but we don’t desire anything. And even if we have less, we
do not desire either.
Many of the sages of India or other nations sit in their houses or in their places, or go wherever
they are invited without any possessions, without any fixed abode, and without any desire for
anything, but they are always in peace. They are always in love, and they are always in
communion with God. And the man who sits in a palace somewhere with a thousand and one
servants at his command and billions of dollars, is not satisfied and is always in sorrow, or has
anxieties of some kind. Equally, for the poor man who has nothing. He desires for things. He’s not
happy because he doesn’t have enough. And the rich man has a lot; he worries that something
might befall him, someone would take away from him, cheat him, and maybe take his life because
of his property. Therefore, enlightenment is a must.
Enlightenment means knowing the Light within us. En-LIGHTEN. The Light within us will guide
every footstep in our life to the correct destination. The Word of God, the Sound, the vibration, the
music of heaven, will whisper to us all the wisdom in the universe and what we can do in daily life
until we fulfill our duty as the blessing-givers on this earth. Then we can leave to a higher sphere in
the universe, where we’ll enjoy what we would like to enjoy, where everything is there without
having to ask. We present to you, or we remind you, in this process, just to become a self-master,
just to gain back what you have forgotten or lost through delusion in life, through the busyness of
this world. We will see the way on earth, as well as the way to heaven, through this Light, which is
immaterial, which we can’t see with the eyes.
But we can sometimes. When we are more highly developed, we can see it with the open eyes
also. But now our eyes are not trained enough to withstand such terrifying brightness of this
heavenly Light. Therefore, sometimes God has veiled it to protect us. Do not say, ‘Why doesn’t
God let everyone see it?’ We are not trained enough. Even Jesus had Light around Him, but not
everyone saw it. Even I have Light also, but not all of you see it; maybe some of you see it. This is
just for your information, by the way; I’m not proud of it. I’m used to it. Just like you wear your
clothes or you wear your long hair, it’s a very natural thing that we no longer feel it; we’re too
accustomed to it. The Light is within all of us. You’ll be shining, all like angles, if you tune in with
your own supreme power and know your own position.
Why do we have to be men of weakness? Why don’t we become great men again – like the
ancient sages, like the present saints that we worship, which we’ve heard so much about in their
biographies, their books, and their philosophy, that we so much enjoy? Why don’t we become one
and write our own books? It is not truly the books that are important. It’s not that we want to be
saints for the sake of being known, but it is to bless this world so that our world will not be
destroyed. If the prophecy were to be true, then the more so we must be enlightened.
We must grace this earth with God power, which is given to us to do it. Otherwise, we live for
seventy years, sixty years, or one hundred years even, and what? Is that all there is to a human’s
life? Is it the many morsels that we eat, that we cling to, or the clothes that we wear, that is so
fantastic about human life? Or is it the sports car that makes our life great? Or what else? Even our
possessions, our many children, our wives, our husbands, also will be gone, together with all other
material substances.
I invite you to be great men because I respect you. I know you have what Jesus had; I know you
have inside what Buddha possessed. I know what I have gained, you have inside. It’s a pity that
you live your life without your greatness, without using it for our world. If we truly love our Earth
planet, if we truly love our later generations, if we love our children, then we must bless the world.
We can’t bless it with our eight hours a day work. Plenty of people have done that for centuries,
and it hasn’t altered anything much. We have to bless it with the supreme power, with God’s grace,
which is in all of us.
If the purpose of our life is just to come here for so many days, eat some meals, have a car, have
children, and then die, I don’t think it’s worth it to worship God at all. If God created us like this, just
to make fun of us, it’s like a bad joke, and I don’t think God is worthy for us to worship. What is it
that makes us feel very awed with God? What is that? It is because Hes gives us this incredible
power, incredible love. We can’t love our neighbor until we find that love, because any limited love
from our brain, from our habitual conceptual thinking way of doing, is limited. We have to love
without love even, without the brain computer’s interfering definition of ‘love.’ We love then, but we
don’t know that we love. It is the Father, it is the all prevailing power, that loves. We work, but we
don’t work; it’s the power that works. We give to people, but we don’t think that we give anymore.
At that time, then we truly love people, we truly give in charity, and we truly fulfill our duty as a
human instrument on earth, to bless other beings to evolve into a higher consciousness.
Paradise on earth
In recent years, thousands, millions, trillions, of people are practicing the Light and Sound method,
so the world has become better. Political conflicts have minimized in all the nations, and the people
have less fear of a world war. We can heave a sigh and relax, and rebuild where there is ruin. It
might look a little bit chaotic at the moment, but it is the way it looks like after pulling an old house
down. It is messy for the time being, but we’ll clean it and we will make a new house. Whenever
you move your house or you make some drastic changes in your environment, it looks messy at
first. It looks very untidy and unclean, but that is only the changing interim period.
I am sure if all of us walk godlike on earth, we would not need to seek paradise elsewhere,
especially in Australia where you have beautiful scenery and a land so vast. People are very
relaxed and open because the space is open; they don’t feel the pressure of the cramped, crowned
city. Therefore, I think that’s why the Australian people are more open than in many of the other
nations. And I think Brisbane people are even more open because you have a kind of holiday
atmosphere here. Every day is a holiday. You can go to the beach anytime, whereas other people
have to spend a lot of money to look at it for just a few days, or a few weeks, while you’re living
next door to it. And you have beautiful mountains and all kinds of natural wonders.
If we have this super consciousness also awakened within us, and we use it to deal with daily
duties while we are sojourning in this world, then you will find even trees have life; they’ll speak to
you even. And when you arrange a fruit plate, it looks like it’s just been plucked from the trees. It
looks like it’s still on the tree even, so fresh and so lively. There is an energy pulsating within these
fruit dishes. And you see things differently; you experience God everywhere – on the bus, on the
airplane, on the train, and in the bathroom, even. Sorry, it is the truth! And then we can say truly,
‘God is all pervading, God is everywhere.’
Did I overstay my welcome? It’s four o’clock. I think your questions will be more interesting, so I will
stop here, and please let me know what else I need to clear in your minds. I thank you very much.
[Applause]
Q. How do the precepts define ‘sexual immorality’?
M. It is just to keep your balanced state of mind. If you have too many involvements at the same
time, you’ll be too busy and confused and probably too physically exhausted to do any work in
life, as well as spiritual practice. And also, it is maybe a painful feeling that we give our
neighbor if we take his wife without his permission. Don’t you think? What we don’t like others
to do to us, we don’t do to others.
Q. Why do children die?
M. Maybe they don’t need to suffer like we do, so they leave quickly. Maybe God wants them
quicker than Hes wants us. Actually, none of us die at all – only the physical body changes. If
we have something to do in this country for over a period of seventy years, and this fate has
been prescribed in our destiny, then we will live in Australia for seventy years. If what we have
to do here is only for a short while, maybe five or ten minutes for some purpose, then we can
only stay here for ten minutes.
For example, I came just now from Formosa and I will be here only a few more days to fulfill
my purpose here in Australia, and then I am called to another country. I’ll be in Hawaii,
America, Europe, because I have other engagements. Similarly, we come and go to different
destinations according to the plan of the universe.
Q. Can You please explain, ‘He who sees action in inaction, and inaction in action, verily he
knows the scriptures,’ from the Bhagavad Gita?
M. This ‘seeing’ is not the seeing with the intellectual understanding, but is the inner realization of
‘doing without doing.’ Just like I have just been speaking to you that you give but then you do
not have the ego feeling of ‘I give,’ and we love, but are not even standing there analyzing that
‘I love my neighbor.’ We will be full of love, but we don’t even know it. We will be doing plenty
of things at the same time, but in a very short period, sometimes doing a thousand and one
things in different places, but we stay right here. That is the ‘action in nonaction.’ That’s why,
sometimes for example, after Jesus had so-called ‘died,’ many people saw Him in different
places. Even before He died, His disciples saw Him in different places at the same time, and
so with the Buddha, Krishna, and other great Masters who were sent down by God. That is
‘action in nonaction.’
Whoever realizes that power, the supreme power within, can ‘do without doing.’ You may be
sitting here talking to the audience or doing anything, but at the same time you appear in a
thousand and one different worlds, different nations, and even different galaxies to teach and
help whoever needs or calls your name. That is ‘action in nonaction,’ because we don’t work
anymore. It is the supreme power, the universal link of the whole power that works wherever
necessary, just like a network.
Q. Is there a step-by-step daily program to follow to experience the enlightenment You speak of?
M. Yes, we have to discover day by day our greatest power. It’s not really a program; it’s just like
a habit. Just like every day you sleep two hours or work eight hours. We set aside two or three
hours to know ourselves, and that’s it. It’s not really a fixed program. You may do the
meditation intervals. In the morning you wake up a little early, you do one hour or half an hour,
accordingly, and at lunch break, another half an hour, while on the bus, twenty minutes, on
the train, forty minutes, or in the park sitting on the bench, enjoying the breeze while enjoying
your ‘inner breeze’ as well. All together added up, it will be even more than two and a half or
three hours. It’s very easy.
Q. Why or how did we lose the ability to love our inner self and therefore others?
M. How? Because we’re too busy. We’re too busy with our daily life, we’re too busy with our job,
too busy with taking care of the demands of others, and we didn’t turn inward. But if we know
it, we can do it every day and everywhere. It’s very simple because our inner self is always
present. Every time we are born again, we are given the same chance again: To remember
our godlike self inside, but we have forgotten.
Q. There is a question from an eight year old child that says, ‘Do You believe that God is here?’
M. I do believe, because God is here, truly. Look at your neighbors; God is in them. God is in me,
in you. The only difference, perhaps, is that I know and you didn’t take time to know yet.
The limitless power erases limitless karma
Q. Isn’t it true that one must go through one’s own karma? In the notes, You say You remove the
karma with initiation?
M. That’s correct. It always happens and has been proved, verified, because at the time of
initiation we awaken the greatest power inside, which can erase all things. That’s the way of
erasing karma; otherwise, we can’t do it with the brainpower because it’s limited.
Because our karma is limitless, we have to use the limitless power in order to erase it. It’s very
simple, just like you know how to erase a computer program, you just push which button and
the whole thing is gone. No trace is left. If you don’t know it, even if you stand there one
thousand years, it’s still there – if the computer lasts that long!
Q. Why do You think that it is easy for an average person to become enlightened? What do You
mean by ‘easy’?
M. When I say ‘easy,’ it means easy. You can get enlightenment just like that. [Master snaps Her
fingers.] Is that easy enough? Easier than you breathe, easier than you eat your food, easier
than you walk, easier than choose which clothes you put on Sunday morning. Is that easy
enough? Even six year old children, ten year old children, can do it. So can it be called
difficult?
We are too used to our complicated life and complicated way of getting things and costly way
of getting things so that when someone offers it free of charge and at our doorstep, we kind of
step back, ‘I… I…. haven’t seen this kind of thing before! Must be something wrong!’
[Laughter] But have faith in the goodness of God, in the grace of the universal love.
We are not here to pay for everything we want. We are the children of God; we should have
everything free of charge! But because we have not this faith – so all right, pay for whatever
you need to, but not to me. You don’t need to pay anything, and it’s very simple. If you want to
find a complicated way, then go elsewhere. Here, it is very simple: At the time of initiation, you
just sit there and wait for God power to pull you up and open the kingdom for you. You will see
Light streaming forth to you; you will hear wisdom; you will change anew into a baby, and you
will know everything differently. [Applause]
Q. How can we give more love and kindness to more people?
M. As I have mentioned, we must have this limitless love first; we must discover it. If we do not
have this limitless love within us, then we can’t give, even if we want to. So, please, get
enlightenment! Get this love within you, the boundless love from God, and then we give
without people asking. We give without knowing that we give; people just feel love from us.
Q. What is the future of the world?
M. How do I know? [Laughter] And what for? I will be only here for, maybe another decade or
two, if I am that unfortunate. What for do I know the future of the world? It’s the business of
the ‘earthians’ to worry about this.
But as I said already, if we are all enlightened, or many of us are enlightened, the world will be
bright; the fruit and everything will grow in abundance; the atmosphere of the world will be
clean and washed; and of course, the future will be brighter. If not, then maybe God has to
take it away and rebuild a new one. I don’t blame Hirm. If we don’t clean our house, if we let
our house degrade into an endangering state, then the government will pull it down, if we
don’t do it ourselves, and try to build a new house for us.
Q. How does one deal with violence and anger in people who are close to us, people we live
with?
M. Jesus has told us to return hated with kindness. That’s the only way. Anytime you feel
violence or hated, just close your eyes and pray to God. Pray sincerely.
Q. Why are we in a state of illusion?
M. Because we don’t want to be enlightened. It’s very simple. If you want to erase this state of
illusion, then please come for initiation. You will know right away. There is only one
hairbreadth difference between enlightenment and illusion.
Q. How did You discover Your method of enlightenment and how does it differ from other
systems?
M. God led me to discover it. But the method itself without an enlightened Master is not
important.
What is the difference between our guidance and others? It is that we give immediate
enlightenment and that we give it without any cost – now, here, and hereafter. We give
without any conditions at all. And you have lasting enlightenment every day. You can meditate
every day and you can enjoy your wisdom every day. Then you become your own master,
instead of slaving to some master, whether past, present or future.
Q. Would You tell me why I always get worried, even though I don’t deserve it that much?
M. If you don’t deserved to be worried, then don’t worry. [Laughter]
Q. Some nations or religions find suicide heroic, some find it fatal for spiritual survival. What are
the spiritual consequences of suicide?
M. Suicide is mostly done in a very depressed state of understanding; therefore, it’s no good. It is
a kind of escape from reality and from obstacles, and a kind of impatient, short-tempered
solution. If we wait a few more days or maybe a few more weeks or months or years, things
become different.
Suicide is a very terrible crime because we take away the right of God, who will take us when
the time is right. At least at that moment, we have no God in our mind, we have no faith, no
aim in life; that’s why we take our life. Because of this depressing state of mind, we will go to a
very depressing level of existence. And there, we remain long, long, long, until we’re fed up
with it, until we awaken somehow, or through some merciful grace. Then we can be given a
new life, but that doesn’t mean we become intelligent; we’ll be a little bit dumb and clumsy and
depressed. So I would advise, for whatever reason, please reconsider and live on, and see
what God decides for us the next moment.
Q. Do You regard love between two people of the same sex as ‘sexual misconduct’?
M. You get me into trouble. [Laughter] How do I know? I am not in that category.
All right, then have one partner at a time. Only one, okay? Sexual misconduct in the sense of
an ordinary relationship between a man and a woman is that we should be faithful and
devoted to each other and help each other to realize God within both of us. And in the special
case, then forgive yourself. Do not think that you are a female or a male, and then have one
partner. Try to strive for a higher perfection, a higher love, and a higher reunion within
ourselves that transcends all sex, all races, and all creeds. That is better for you. In the
meantime, keep your relationship in a faithful and regulated basis.
Love means respect, cooperation, and mutual support in order that we know a greater love
than the existing love at the present in our misunderstanding. In that case, it is all right; we
can’t help the way we feel if we are unenlightened. So, please, get enlightenment, and then
you will see there is no necessity for this so-called physical love. Even if we still have it, there
is a different feeling.
Q. If enlightened, do we have to experience earthly life again?
M. It depends on you. If you have a good Master, a very gracious one, you don’t have to come
back. But in case you want to come back gain, it’s all right, you will. If you do not want to and
sincerely would like to be liberated in one lifetime, you don’t have to, not at all. Even if you
failed in keeping the precepts, even if you failed with the instructions, but you pray to the
Master and the Master power, which is all merciful, you will be given refuge and taken up
forever. Maybe the Master will teach you and upgrade your level slowly, but you will never be
pushed back to the earthly life again.
Q. You say that Buddha and God and Jesus are one; yet, it is in the bible that God denounces all
other gods and false idols. How is this so?
M. If there is only one God, how can there be false gods? I talk about the one, that one. If you
have other gods, I can’t be responsible. I talk about the one, the only one, which you talk
about. Why bring other gods in? I said that there’s one God, but with different names and
forms, just like one God with different names and forms is in front of me here – undiscovered
God. [Master is referring to the people in the audience.]
Find time to work for our real self
Q. Master, You claim many of us work eight hour days and forfeit so much. The reality is that
many of us work far in excess of eight hours a day for survival and for our future. How then do
we find time for meditation, two hours daily, and enlightenment?
M. All right, then continue to work eight hours for the world and none for yourself. We can find
time if we love ourselves. Think of it. We work eight hours a day, forty hours a week or more,
and what do we get – a wardrobe full of clothes that we change with the fashion every now
and then, and a belly full of hams and chickens and all that every day. Then, when we die, we
will get nothing. Is that what we have to labor for every day? Fine, do it, but save some time
for yourself, for knowing your greatness. And then, even then, you can use that greatness to
work in eight hours and make it more successful, make the world more brilliant with your
wisdom. Not that I say you don’t work, but we can find time anywhere.
We can sit on the train, the bus. If you drive a car, don’t meditate, otherwise, no exception
anywhere. [Laughter] You can sit while you are resting, and you can watch less television or
talk less on the phone, and save money even. Find time for yourself. Otherwise, we can be
enslaved in the world system at all times and without even serving it properly. We are
enlightened in order to serve the world better, to work better in these eight hours or even five
hours.
Our friend has introduced to you that before, in his work, sometimes something takes three or
four days. That is true. I have worked with many of the fellow practitioners, and the way they
worked and their reactions were so slow and so ineffective. But after they train with me for a
while, they’re very fast! What takes three days, we can do in, maybe five hours. We do that;
we built a garden in three days, with rivers and trees and everything – with small rivers. We do
that. We sometimes build houses for something in a very fast way. It’s just that we become
more organized within and we know what is the main point, what to do first, what next;
therefore, we don’t lose time. It’s very logical. But we can only see clearly when we are ‘en-
light-ened.’ We have Light inside to illuminate the whole process of everything we do.
If you want to truly work for survival at all, then please get enlightenment. You will find that
you survive better, and everyone will like your work because you do it better. You do it more
conscientiously, more effectively, but with less effort. And everyone will trust you. Many of the
bosses will be too happy to have you as employees. I know this from our disciples’ circle.
Whatever they do, people like it better. Even our disciples, when they work with other people,
they train people into better men also.
For example this morning, one of our fellow practitioners gave me a book that they had
printed recently with my photo or something. I said, ‘Wow! That’s beautiful! Very nice! I didn’t
know it was so nice! Where did you print it?’ He said, ‘Well, in Formosa.’ I said, ‘Wow! This
man does a good job.’ The disciple said, ‘Ah, yeah. I trained him. He didn’t do it well at first,
but we trained him. We pushed him, we criticized, and we told him how to do it. Sometimes he
worked so slowly and we made him work faster.’ At first, he was just an ordinary printer, and
then after a little time working with us, he was raised to manager of the whole company. The
boss trusts him now that he works so fast, so quickly, and so efficiently. You see, there’s even
an indirect blessing by working more closely with our fellow initiates.
Q. The bible states not to worship any other god but Hirm – no idols. Please speak on this in
regard to people who wish to worship and idolize You and others.
M. Am I responsible for anything that anyone else does? They do not idolize me and they don’t
worship me. They are just grateful for the guidance that I have taken the time to show them.
They’re just grateful to have the chance to become their own master in their house again.
Therefore, they show it by flowers perhaps, or by wearing my photo to remember me. Of
course, if someone does something good for you, you try to remember him. That is all.
But for me, myself, I do not believe in all this worship, because I believe you and I are equal. It
doesn’t matter what amount of worship you think people give me; it doesn’t alter anything
inside me. Sooner or later, all these people will realize that they are also the Master, and
that’s the end of it. But while they are still young, if they want to do something, give me flowers
or that, it’s all right. Otherwise, all the florists will go bankrupt. [Laughter] If I don’t come here
today, I don’t know how long they will take to sell all these flowers. It’s all right.
Q. There are many questions that ask about the definitions of ‘reincarnation’?
M. Reincarnation is just like staying in one class if we can’t pass the exam to a higher grade of
education, or going a little bit further in a different class for a kind of retarded children, for
example. That’s it. We change the classroom and that’s what we call ‘reincarnation.’ We
change from one form to another, change the lifestyle, and surroundings.
Q. Do You believe there is so much violence in this world because we kill animals for food?
M. That’s not the only reason, but one of the reasons. There is also hatred within our hearts.
Meat-eating is not worse than having hatred in the heart; poisonous thinking will poison the
atmosphere of our earth. Violent reactions or ideas in our heart and our mind activate the
whole atmosphere. And that, in turn, also gives the chance or opportunity for the killing of
animals and men. And that, in turn, breeds a more violent atmosphere into the worldly
surroundings. But mainly, if we do not kill at all, from the animal on, then we would not have
violence in the first place.
Live the way the bible teaches
Q. Some of the teenagers of this generation have no respect for parents. Is it because we are not
good parents?
M. No, I don’t think so. It depends. I wouldn’t say that all parents are good, but most of them are
good. The teenagers, probably, in this generation, have not been groomed enough in morality,
in seeing their parents as representatives of God on earth and taking God’s place to raise the
children and to educate them. If the parents somehow hinder or obstruct the children when
they want to realize God, then we can say these are not very good parents; otherwise, there is
no such thing as ‘no good’ parents.
Maybe the different outlook of our teenagers nowadays is because of the influence from the
bad news, from violent pictures, and from many undesirable means of communication, and
bad company, bad influences, bad friends, that makes the teenagers the way they are today.
So the solution, again, is that we have to go back to the Golden Age. We have to live the way
the bible teaches us to do: The way of non-violence, the way of love, the way of
enlightenment. Then we can bring our children back to their innocence, back to their ethical
way of life. Even the children can get enlightenment, too, and then they know for themselves
and they will change their way of life.
When I was in Melbourne, there was a man, not a teenager but about twenty years old, who
took drugs and all that – a very handsome young man, strong, tall, and intelligent. He didn’t
get initiated because he was struggling with whether he should give up the drugs and all that
– because we don’t allow drugs in our group. After he decided, by then I had left Melbourne,
so he followed me all the way to Sydney and threw all the drugs and even cigarettes away on
that day. He struggled hard that day, but then he made it and he was so glad that he did. I am
sure he will become a good teenager from that day on. He was very positive and happy. He
was melted by the way we loved him and took care of him. He stayed in my place one night
and then we took him back by another disciple’s van all the way back to Melbourne.
If all the children know the way of Truth, maybe they will choose it. Then they will discover
love within themselves and they will respect the parents more. In turn, if the parents are more
enlightened, they will be more understanding, more clear, about how to raise their children.
This is only my advice, my offer. Please don’t be offended if I say something that does not suit
your taste.
Q. Are You a Master in a line of spiritual Masters?
M. I am very shy. Don’t ask me this question. You can ask my disciples through their experience.
If I’m worthy to be called a Master or not, it’s through the lives, the examples, and the success
of the disciples. So, please, ask them and don’t ask me. I can’t say things about myself very
much. If you ask so directly, I’m very puzzled, but people say, ‘By thy fruit shall thou be
known.’ If my disciples have accomplished something that is worth recognition by you, in a
spiritual sense as well as in the social level, then maybe you can satisfy your own question.
Q. Master Ching Hai, how do You feel about abortion?
M. You get me into trouble again. [Laughter]
These are social problems that are not easy to say yes and no. But of course, I am against it. I
vote for life in any government, but again, these are worldly problems, and as a spiritual
practitioner, I find it very difficult to condemn something or to support it.
In the case of many poorly-developed countries and over-populated nations, if I say ‘no good,’
then I don’t know whether I do justice to these poor people and the starving children while
they have no other solution and not enough intelligence or organizational talent to feed them.
If I say ‘yes,’ that means, I am against my own principle of love. So this is up to you, the
earthly people, to try to find a way to solve it. It is best still that we get enlightenment and
always adhere to the principle of love and of non-violence. And then if we truly believe in God
and evoke Hiers power, every blessing will be there, and we will find plenty of means to
satisfy the population.
If God meant for the people to be here, Hes must know how to handle them. It is we who stop
the blessing power from God and the nourishing program through our own limited faith in
God’s ability, and that we do not find our own true wisdom in order to handle all these
population problems. Therefore, the answer is not yes or no; the answer from me is
enlightenment for everyone alike, for every nation, the same thing. Then we don’t need to
even ask this uncomfortable question: ‘Abortion or not?’ I wish we didn’t even have to raise
this question. If we are enlightened in the first place, we wouldn’t.
So, please, help me. Together, we get enlightenment; we have to clean our world. If you truly
love these children, if you truly find no other solution for this problem, then we have to help
each other. We have to enlighten our atmosphere more, by more and more people standing
tall and walking godlike on this earth, walking with enlightenment, walking with wisdom, doing
things with love. Without enlightenment, I can’t discuss anything that is truly beneficial
because we will be in a mundane level only. We talk about how to feed our stomach and how
to take care of this ephemeral body which lasts only a few decades. What can we do about it?
We can’t keep always identifying ourselves with this ephemeral body and then trying to solve
every problem. We have to solve it from the root; we have to see it from the top of the
mountain – the whole view, and then locate where we should do what things.
Q. Is enlightenment not a form of killing a part of you, a part that comes with being human?
Should we therefore not rather live life fully and thereby praise God?
M. Do I kill a part of myself? You see my arm missing or something? Am I looking abnormal to
you after enlightenment? Do I appear to be abnormal or lacking something? No, I am more
fulfilled now than before.
I know how to paint now; I didn’t know that before. I know how to make a lot of handicrafts
more beautifully. I couldn’t imagine I could do it before. I can decorate interiors of rooms; I
didn’t know how to do it before. I can build rivers; I didn’t know how to do it before. I can make
mountains; I didn’t know how to do it before. I can build houses with my own hands; I didn’t
know how to do it before. No one instructed me. I’m just more full than before. More parts of
me have been awakened, not taken away. After enlightenment, we make full use of our
power, worldly-wise as well as spiritually. So, please, do not be afraid; just stand up and be
great. Be what you are and make use of your talents which lie dormant inside. The more you
are enlightened, the more fulfillment you have.
I play the piano, and I write music; I couldn’t do it before. No one taught me. I paint; I didn’t
touch a brush in my life before. My paintings have sold a lot. Only copies. The originals are
very expensive and I don’t want to sell them anyhow. So you see, I am not handicapped in
any way after enlightenment. I am more fulfilled and more able to do many things that are
required me at that precise moment. I don’t overdo anything, but whenever it is necessary or
needed, I do it. Therefore, I can earn money and come here to you without bothering you,
without making you afraid that I’ll take donations from you, or need your financial support, or
anything. Without enlightenment, I couldn’t be here, even. I have not enough money to go
around the world. And it’s my nature not to ask from anyone, for one penny even. Since I’m a
child, I would rather go hungry than do this.
Q. Please explain that between human beings when one robs something from another who is the
real loser?
M. The robber is the loser in the long term. But if he is forced to do that out of hunger, or if he
really can’t do anything else, and he repents in his heart that he will change and give charity
later when he can, then he doesn’t lose also. He also will turn around, but he has to truly
repent and give back what he has taken, through different means of charity, or by giving back
to the owner.
Q. Rules of any kind restrict freedom. This must be obvious to You, so why do You suggest that
we should follow and live by Your rules, Your method, against the numerous other rules and
methods offered throughout the world and the world’s religions?
M. You may choose whatever rules or methods you want; we just offer our method. And these
are not my rules, not my rules at all. These are the secret codes of better progress if you want
to be enlightened quickly without any side effects, without disturbance in your mental balance.
These are not rules; if you don’t kill someone else, it’s no rule. If you don’t steal, it’s no rule;
it’s just ordinary behavior. You make it a rule; it’s no rule at all. Actually, these are only the
ancient rules. I just put it there, but it might not apply to you.
Actually, if you think about it, when you drive a car because you want to be free, you want to
be fast, to be somewhere else, don’t you follow any rules? You just drive all over the place,
and that’s called freedom? At the expense of others and of your own life, that is when you say
you have freedom? No! Freedom is when we know how to go inside the rules that don’t hurt
our freedom. If you drive all over and don’t follow the rules, you will be ‘not in freedom, but in
jail.’
These are the things that help you to go straight to the kingdom of God without being
entangled somewhere and being obstructed, or being in some jail; therefore, this is true
freedom. Just like when we drive the car in Australia, we drive on the left side, and even
Australia is different from France where they drive on the right side. But it doesn’t mean
because of that, you just drive on the right side because you are a Frenchman and you don’t
want to respect the rules here. Then you will be in trouble. That is all. The universal rules, if
we obey them, we will find ourselves in a greater freedom than what we imagine freedom
should be, but most of us misunderstand.
Q. Buddhism teaches enlightenment by effort and following the noble eight-fold path, but You say
it can be attained by Your transmission from Yourself. Can You explain this?
M. Yes, enlightenment is through your effort and also following the eight-fold noble path. I do not
teach you anything that is outside the eight-fold noble path. It is by your effort as well because
you have to sit every day. Not that I sit for you. It is without effort because we sit there, but
because we don’t do things. We don’t do any physical thing that makes us enlightened. The
enlightenment comes alone, therefore with effort, but without effort. My path is the path of all
the ancient Buddhas. Only after enlightenment will you know what the eight-fold noble path is.
Otherwise, we just talk about it; we don’t truly realize it, and don’t live the teaching of the
ancient Masters.
BE PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL 8
Aloha! [Audience: Aloha!] I love Hawaii. Everyone loves Hawaii, especially when they can afford to
have a nice and quiet room on a private beach. My disciples, in keeping with the latest trend of
recession, rented a room for me next to the highway, so I love Hawaii even more. [Laughter] It
costs double if you rent a room across the other side of the beach, they told me. It’s good that I
have known about all this before I was born, or Buddha has known, so He reduced my size to fit in
this small room and also with the environment. So I hope that you, the other tourists, got a better
room, more quiet. After the first day, I have tried to recess the voice of the highway and blend it into
the waves at the front door. Anyhow, I make a change between both of them. When I’m fed up with
the cars, the traffic noise, I go to the front door and hear the noise of the waves and see the
flashlights from the fishermen. They are not supposed to do it, but they do.
How is everyone? This room is a little bit small because our honorable Mr. Chen intended to have
this room only for the Chinese audience. I don’t know where you came from – the white ones.
[Master and audience laugh.] I apologize for the inconvenience, but tomorrow I have heard that
we’ll have a bigger room. I have heard. I have not seen it yet. I didn’t see this room either until now.
I heard that there are only three hundred, and now it looks like double or more, and more
downstairs watching the video.
The Chinese from overseas have been well looked after materially by the government of Hawaii.
We have a good government here. You can see that by the cleanliness of the environment and by
the happiness and relaxed atmosphere of the people here. Therefore, I guess, materially, we lack
nothing or not very much in Hawaii. The same is true for the Au Lac community, who are very
happily settled here. And on their behalf, the Chinese and the Au Lac people, we thank the
government of Hawaii. Also, we thank the Mayor of Honolulu for giving us such a big honor
yesterday by being with us in a vegetarian restaurant. Maybe it was the first vegetarian meal of his
life but he ate it so joyfully. And he had two or three plates of it, big ones, so I guess it must have
been very tasty for him.
In that case you may also try it yourselves. We have some good vegetarian restaurants here in
Hawaii. One or how many? That’s the only one? Then we have to introduce some. [MC: It was just
opened for Master.] Opened for me? I don’t eat much. Today I ate only one sandwich. That was my
only meal today, and most of the time, it is similar in this direction. Recession, you see. [Laughter] I
have to be in the trend.
The Buddha says that if you want to save sentient beings, if you want to talk to them, you have to
integrate with them. So I integrate in all ways, even with a sandwich. I don’t eat that much. It’s not
that I don’t want to go to a restaurant. I do not feel it’s very necessary to go to crowded places.
Very seldom, except when I have to serve you in this way, do I go out. Even if I have nothing to do
or nowhere to go, I just stay in my room. I didn’t even walk out of my room today. All day long and
night, I stay in my room and meditate or read books, holy books of the different religions. I’m
studying hard just like you.
Even though this room is very small, we feel the unity of all races. And this is very good; this is
typical atmosphere in Hawaii. No one minds the neighbor, what he looks like, and what color his
8. Public lecture, Hawaii Cultural Plaza, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A., March 27, 1993 (Originally in English).
skin is, or what kind of job he has. Each one minds his own business and lives with each other,
happily and in harmony, and this is very good. But I feel especially so much warmth and love for
the Chinese. Everywhere I go it is the Chinese that have given me a lot of honor and welcome,
even when they don’t know me at all. Sometimes we have no time to look for a room or hotel, or
our initiate’s house is too small to accommodate the people who come to see me privately
sometimes, then the Chinese just pack their belongings, go to a hotel themselves, and leave the
whole house for us. Many place, it is like this.
Therefore, I intended today to speak Chinese. I was invited here by the Chinese community, and I
felt very obliged to talk in Chinese. I feel like speaking Chinese, not an obligation, but then it was
reported to me that there are too many white faces here. You are not angry with me, no? Or, you
can call me ‘yellow face’ in return. [Laughter] We have to have some humor; otherwise you will get
too sleepy when I speak something very boring to you. So they said to me, ‘So many English
speaking.’ They didn’t say, ‘white faces,’ actually, but sometimes they talk like this. The Chinese
people don’t speak much English. They cannot say sometimes ‘American,’ they say ‘Amelican,’ so
they have to say ‘white face’ so that I understand who is who. And there are so many English-
speaking people here that we do not have enough earphones for the English language, so we have
to arrange it for the Chinese. I said, ‘Okay, but then give the Chinese people priority with the
earphones and let them sit next to me, and the Aulacese can sit elsewhere.’
Ancient Teachers and ethical traditions
I will be finished with the Chinese very soon, don’t worry, and then we go to heaven. It’s just that I
feel it’s very fair to introduce to you a very fine race of people. The Asian people, or most of them,
are very fine anyhow, but because the Chinese are all over the place, we just have to know them
better. Everywhere they go they bring business prosperity and also high moral standards, family
love and royalty to that country, or the environment where they live, because they have a very age-
old, ancient, ethical tradition.
And because since long ago, they have been used to Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Chuang Tzu, and all
the ancient teachings of the old masters, so at least in their subconscious, or in their way of life,
they have kept to a very good line of tradition. Therefore, God has blessed them with high
intelligence and diligence that makes them successful in every place they go, and which makes
them a target of envy of everyone else, to our regret. Anyhow, everywhere I see that if a nation
treats the Chinese immigrants well, then that country is well. And the Aulacese, also.
They are very beautiful inside; therefore, they dress beautifully outside. In the Ching dynasty and
the old traditions, they dressed like in a fairy tale. Why is that? Because in ancient times, their
people practiced the meditation method and they could get in touch with heaven. They saw all the
fairies in heaven and they described them in paintings, in art works, et cetera, and so they imitated
these people and dressed themselves just like them. Even the Chinese Quan Yin Bodhisattva
dressed beautifully with ornaments here and there, glittering and all that. Even the Chinese
Buddhas have to be beautiful, not just a very ascetic Buddha. They prefer a beautiful Buddha.
Probably that’s why the Quan Yin Bodhisattva descended to earth fully ornamented, beautifully
dressed and elegant; otherwise, the Chinese probably would not have accepted her. [Master and
audience laugh.]
They love beauty, precious stones, and things like that. Their handicrafts are very beautiful, so
much so that they are famous throughout the whole world. Why do I introduce you so much about
these things – to let us compare, to let us know why the Chinese people are successful, intelligent,
and diligent. It is because they are a little bit highly developed inside. I’m not saying outside. I don’t
know, maybe outside, also.
You ask me why the Chinese in mainland China or the Aulacese have had to suffer in the past. It is
because of their mission. They have to bring Light and beauty into the world, therefore, the
negative force has been trying to control them, but it won’t be for long. As you know already, the
Light has dawned in their land and it won’t be very long before they’re free to express again what
they’re supposed to do.
And the Au Lac people also love beauty. Every Au Lac person can sing, even though they sing not
very well sometimes, but they can sing. All of them love singing and they love beauty. The way
they dress is beautiful. The Chinese and Aulacese are beautifully dressed. It is because those who
love artistic things and beauty have something artistic and beautiful inside them. It’s a little bit
higher consciousness. That’s why they had to suffer for a while, because the positive and the
negative always struggle to have the upper hand.
Wherever they go, these two nationalities will bring beauty and goodness into the land that they
live in. That I have seen with my own eyes while traveling around the world and by being in
communication with the Chinese or Aulacese community. Of course, when they go into different
lands, then they wear just the same as other people to be integrated. But deep down in their being,
they have this appreciation for beauty, for everything that is of higher taste and good quality. You
know their china. The whole world loves their china, and the whole world loves their silk and
handicrafts, earrings, and all that. Even though we have all the precious gems in different
countries, the handicraft, the way they handle the gems and make them into beautiful objects are
different, very different. And the way a Chinese lady dressed in, for example, the Ching dynasty, in
the royal or the aristocratic dress, is even so different from in, perhaps, the Occidental countries.
Everything they do is more refined and more elegant. It is because they have some inheritance in
them. It is something inside that they have derived from their ancestors.
Many of our disciples, if they are Chinese, then they would practice very fast and their level goes
very high. And Aulacese, also. But if it should be some other nationality, it may be a little bit more
difficult than with the Chinese or the Aulacese. And that is from my experience; please don’t be
offended. Maybe you have to prove it to me today that you are better. But many of our disciples are
from different countries also, but perhaps they’re not so used to the so-called ‘oriental,’ way of
meditation. But actually, this is not oriental. This is continental; this is international.
A balance of orient and occident is needed
Our life, if it should be fulfilled, then it must be two-sided. There are some things in the Chinese
that are lacking; there is something that we have in the Occident that the Orient doesn’t have – the
practical side. Therefore, the Occidental people have progressed more in mechanical and
electronic ways, and have many other civilized instruments or inventions. And also their way of life
is more hygienic, more organized, and more in order. Therefore, if both of them, the Occident and
the Orient mixed together and learned from each other, it would be fantastic. The Chinese should
learn the practical side of the European and American people, et cetera, and vice versa. That is
why God has placed the Chinese all over the earth, and the Aulacese as well. They are both very
similar in their way of life, taste of beauty, and everything else.
If we are too spiritual and not practical, then we seem to lack some color in life. For example, in
India, many people practice meditation and they are very holy, but the practical side of India is very
much lacking. And that is, I guess, one of the many reasons why the Occidental people stepped
back a little bit when they saw this outward manifestation of an impractical side of a so-called holy
life. But we don’t have to be impractical to be holy.
Holy actually should mean ‘whole,’ to be ‘wholesome,’ a ‘whole’ being; then we must have
everything. We should develop all sides, all the way round. Then we should, as well, take care of
our business, be successful in life, but be wise and holy inside at the same time. Only then, I think,
do we truly fulfill the purpose of a human being – that is, to know ourselves and to beautify the
world that we are residing in, however short. Otherwise, if we just take care of the spiritual side,
then we may be too out of touch with the world, and we may not care so much for the beauty of this
wonderful planet which took billions, trillions of billions of years to come into existence. And it took
trillions more years to become peopled and as beautiful as it is today. Despite all the damage that
has been caused by wars, by natural catastrophes, our world is still very beautiful, especially
Hawaii. I have not forgotten your land.
It would be a pity if we neglect this, even though ephemeral or illusionary, environment, but as long
as we live in it, and our children will continue to live in it, I think we should beautify it. Therefore the
women are putting on makeup, sticking some flowers into their hair, and wearing their best clothes
whenever they can or whenever they’re out with other people. That is because of the natural
tendency of love for Truth, beauty and goodness in us. And men also love beauty in their way and
express their beauty in their own way. But because men don’t need to makeup to look beautiful,
therefore they don’t do it. [Laughter]
People say women are the beautiful sex, but I think men are more beautiful because they never
need any make up. And all the women run after them – since ancient time. It was Eve, who
seduced Adam, not the other way around, according to what I understand. I may be wrong, correct
me please. [Laughter] Yes, and even then she succeeded only in half of it. He swallowed only half
of the apple, or maybe he only swallowed halfway, and it got stuck there. [Laughter] That’s why I
think many women are restless and worry about their husband’s faithfulness. She feels somehow
she can’t control him or possess him completely – 50 percent only. That is the instinct in us, I
guess.
Two duties of human beings
In order to be complete within ourselves, we have two ways of doing things. First, we take care of
our worldly duty, and that we all do. Perhaps we have not done so wholeheartedly, or we have not
realized that work is also a blessing and that we could do away with our give and take with the
karmic relations between us and other people in this world. And it also helps us to be strong in
body and mind, since we have to use them for work. It’s an excuse for us to let this machine run
constantly. Just like a car, if we put it in a garage too long, it will be in trouble. We have to run it
now and again even if we don’t use it. So the first duty, all of us more or less do already, maybe not
very willingly at first, but after we finish the second duty, the enlightenment, we will do the first duty
even better.
Enlightenment is not a duty or a privilege of Himalayan saints or Indian sadhus alone. It is

everyone’s privilege. And it is available even to children from six years old. Our fellow practitioners
range from six to sixty, and sometimes over that. Sometimes children of five and a half, or five and
nine months, or eleven months and a half, five years old and eleven months and a half came and
bargained with me. They said, ‘Please Master, I have only half a month more and I become six
years old. Can I be initiated?’ Now, who taught them all these things? It is their own inner God
nature that wants to find rest in its own resource. And many of the senior citizens sometimes are
over the age of initiation because of maybe having difficulty taking a vegetarian diet, or not knowing
if they can sit for so long, et cetera, so we have a limited age for people, but then some of them
come also and bargain with me and tell me all kinds of excuses to kind of force us to give them
initiation. Sometimes we make exceptions for different people.
What is it that makes a difference between a so-called enlightened person and a not-enlightened
person? An enlightened person sees life in a different way. He’s more relaxed, happy, and he
knows what is in him. He knows what is the great power that makes all things move, that makes
one love the other, that makes the earth so lively, and makes life happier for him. That is the
Supreme Master power within each one of us, and when we awaken that and use that only, then all
other negative, depressing traces of our habits, or collective memory from the past, will fade away.
Just like a garden when we plant so many flowers and useful things, then the weeds will become
less and less, and also we pluck out the unwanted weeds.
Take a free vacation every day
If we only are active and center our life in only activities, then we miss one important part; that is
the wonderful inactivities, which make the activities more wonderful. It’s just like when we have to
go once a year for a long vacation. It is because our spirit, our body, our mind needs a rest in order
that when we come back to our job, we are more efficient and more willing to do it. Similarly, if we
take a rest every day after our work, then of course, logically, we can work more efficiently the next
day. That’s what makes us happy. No need to talk about heaven or anything else. Logically
speaking, we do not need to wait one year to take one month’s vacation. Our body is already too
exhausted; our mind is already too tired to enjoy even that period of rest. And we rush out to
Hawaii, rent a room, maybe next to the highway, like me [Laughter] and enjoy all the traffic noise,
the gas smell, and all that. And then we rush in, book the airplane ticket, and sometimes we don’t
get it, and then we rush here, rush there, just to be on the beach and get a quick tan, otherwise
people don’t know we’re on holiday.
That used to be the trend in Europe sometimes, when I was there about twenty or so years ago.
The people that come into the office with the brownish skin, we know they have money. We know
they can afford to go to Costa Brava – costa a lot of money to get there. Then when we go back to
work, sometimes we are not even recuperated from so much rush. The husband has to drive long
hours to take the wife and children to the beach and take them back, and take them to the
coffeehouse and teahouse, and what not. And then after the holiday, he is more exhausted than
before he left – some of them, not all, but most cases are like that. The poor husband goes on
holiday. Maybe you know better than I do.
We do not need to wait until our body is exhausted, our mind is already abused, very worked-out,
in order to go on vacation. We could do it every day by sitting in meditation. And we don’t need to
do that in one go, two and one half hours, even. We can do it half an hour here, half an hour there.
We can do it at lunch break, on the bus, while we are sitting on a train, an airplane, on the beach
while we are enjoying the sea, in the park while our dog is running around or the children are
seesawing.
Meditation is not a mystical way of life that we have to dig a cave in our cellar and make a
Himalayas out of it. We could sit anywhere, any time, in a quiet room, even in a bathroom if we
don’t have any other quiet room. Yes, we do that in some places or sit in a clothes closet. I did that
sometimes before when I was with a crowd of people, or in a big temple with gongs and bells all
the time, or in a very busy city. It doesn’t matter; wherever we are, we can meditate. It’s very, very
easy; that’s why children can do it.
And we don’t need to even cross legs like this. I’m supposed to sit cross-legged, otherwise, you will
think, ‘What kind of Master is that? Couldn’t even cross Her legs!’ [Laughter] Well, I don’t have to.
But it is a tradition from ancient times because in ancient times we didn’t have tables or chairs. And
most of the Indian people cross their legs even when they do business transactions. Most of the
meditations came from India and China where people sit on the floor and that is a habit, but we
don’t need to do that. We could just sit like you sit now and if you know how to meditate, just close
your eyes and do your thing. Do your meditation anywhere at all and no one will even suspect that
you are a holy person. And that’s the best part about it. If people know that we are holy, sometimes
we get into trouble. I get into trouble all the time. After I have been discovered that I can do some
meditation then everyone wants to learn.
The activities of life can go on without any question at all, and they must go on, but if we have only
activities and no stillness, then logically speaking, we are not in balance. That’s why most of us
experience a so-called unhappy feeling in life, unsatisfied. We don’t give ourselves the time to rest.
We think we sleep and that is resting. That’s fine. That’s also resting, but it’s not enough because
we are unconscious, like dead; whereby if we meditate, we are consciously aware of our
greatness, of our communion with the greatest source of the universe. We are a part of it and we’re
connected together with the whole universal power. That’s why we will be strong, patient, and wise.
Then we can do many wonders, and people will look at us and think, ‘Wow! He can work miracles.’
But it is not true. It is the universal power that is at work while connecting us with it. It’s just like a
radio or television network. If we tune it, if we have an apparatus, and we are connected with the
whole television network, we can see the program from thousands of miles away. It’s not our
television set that has his program. It is the program from the main station.
Ignorance of our real self is the only sin
Similarly, when we join in the saintly order, the universal circle, we are one of them. We’re strong,
we are united with the whole, and then we are no longer lonely. We no longer have to use our
individual limited power to do our daily work. Even our daily work will be taken care of and watched
over, helped, and blessed by this universal power. And if we don’t use it, it is a very great loss to
our life. It is the greatest mistake that we ever can commit. That is a very unpardonable thing that
we have done or are doing unto ourselves. No other enemies, however cruel, however vicious,
could be more cruel to us than if we don’t know our greatest power which lies within us, all the time
waiting to be wakened, waiting to be of service.
What makes a sage different from us? It is because he knows how to use that power. What makes
Jesus and Buddha objects of worship for thousands of years? It is because they knew what they
have, and they made use of this treasure, of this greatest power within themselves. That is the
power that makes all the kings even renounce their kingdoms, made the Buddha walk out from His
throne and never wants to go back. That is what made Jesus able to raise the dead, heal the blind,
et cetera. We all can do that, no problem. If I can do it, you can. You’re bigger than I am. You can
do bigger things.
A room is valuable not only because it has beautiful walls and a secure roof, but because of its
emptiness inside. That’s why we can sit here, we can put flowers, we can put valuable objects
inside, choice things for our pleasure. Similarly, we have to make our room empty. We have to
know the great emptiness inside, and then we can have our choice ideas, choice wishes.
Everything will come true if we sit and rest for a period of our busy daily life to discover the greatest
treasure within, which makes the richest person in this world look like a poor beggar. We will have
the whole universe at hand and we desire nothing at all just to share it with the world, or just to
complete our duty as a worldly citizen while we’re in this world. We do without any desire for
reward or any attachment to the success or failure that we already try our best in our enterprises to
achieve.
There was a great master that you know, Paramahansa Yogananda, he said, when we sleep, we
are like God, like an angle. We do nothing; we’re so pure and so innocent. That is because in sleep
we are in touch with our supreme power within. We are, at that time, one with the Supreme Master
inside. We do that unconsciously, but even then, after we wake up, we feel better. We work all day
long, and if we could rest for a few hours even, five hours, we feel already much better. Why?
Because we rest in the source of all happiness and healing power, of wisdom. Therefore, we are
innocent like a baby. Everyone sleeps innocently. And when he sleeps, he looks just like a child.
Even when he has just been murdering someone or making some very tragic mistakes like that in
his life, when he sleeps, he just looks like a baby because he’s back again to his loving wise
source.
Now can you imagine if we do that consciously very day, then we are more conscious of that
greatest Master power which is inside of us. We can accomplish more in life with less effort, and of
course naturally we will be happier. When we sleep, we have desire for nothing and we hate no
one, because we are at the source of all wish-fulfilling power. Similarly, if we consciously , while
awake, get in touch with this power, then of course we are more conscious while awake, while
doing things in this world, and we have less and less desire, less and less hatred, should we even
have hatred subtly residing in our heart. That is only very logical, and nothing mystical, nothing
difficult, nothing that we should argue about it. If we do something, of course we have to know the
logic of it. We can’t just blindly follow someone, or some method, or some theory, and then worship
the guru or whatever. No need to worship anyone as a guru, as a Supreme Master. We have this
Supreme Master inside, and we have to know it, and that is the only thing to do.
If we only work and work and have no rest, of course, then we become more restless and we
become less efficient in our work, because we get fed up, bored with one-sided life. But if we work
and rest at the same time, like most of our fellow practitioners do, of course will be happier. Two or
three hours of meditation are equal to many months of rest. In that time of communion with God or
that Supreme Master power, which is our original self, we recharge all the energy that has been
lost during the daytime. It’s more than when we sleep, because when we sleep we don’t know
anything. Of course, when we sleep, we don’t need to be meditating or anything because we’re
already godlike, angellike. The trouble is that when we awaken, then everything starts. All the
hatred comes back to us or comes toward us. Every interrelationship between us and other people
starts to breed troubles or unhappiness, and then, because we are not sleeping at that time, we
experience fully the consequences, the effects, of all these happenings around us. The only
solution to deal with this is that we are consciously aware of that God presence, God power, which
we’re unconsciously aware of while we are sleeping. Therefore, we meditate.
Meditation is the answer; meditation is sleeping while we are awake. Sleep without sleeping. Then
we will find all the answers that we need to know about life and death, and how to deal with our
daily life, our family relationships, our financial business, and we do not fear even the end of the
world. We do not fear recession, we do not fear having no job, because at that time we will know
how to work according to situation without standing there stamping our feet, or waiting for
something that is not in our share. We will be happy, and we can have resolution to every problem
that faces us every day, and we will be happy in all circumstances. Many sicknesses, many
sorrows, will just leave us and all the worldly desires will also gradually say ‘good-bye.’ This is the
only solution to every problem.
The problem does not lie only in having unemployment or having subway not yet built in Hawaii,
but the problem lies within our own discontentment because we do not know what to do next in the
new circumstances. And every day sometimes new circumstances come without asking, without
our welcome. So we have to be always prepared. And how to deal with them, how to be prepared –
that we know with the meditation. We know every day, consciously or subconsciously, how to deal
with every situation in life, and that’s why it is the key to happiness. That is why we will be happy
and surefooted, and we will never feel disturbed or wanting. In the bible, it says, ‘The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not want.’ That means we have no desire whatsoever once we know the Lord,
once we have the Lord as our shepherd. But do we know the Lord? We do not. That is why we
have want.
We would like to offer you a technique to know the Lord and the offer is from a very simple and
pure motive. We do that with our own finances, our own time, and our own willingness and love for
you and for the world. We want to prevent the end of the world. We want to prevent wars and
hatred between nations, between brothers and sisters. We want us, including myself, to live a
heavenly life while we are here. That is the only motive that motivates us to come here, apart from
the invitation from the Chinese community here, and the longing of the Aulacese disciples.
I think I will leave some time for your questions, and I will talk further. Thank you for your undivided
attention and love. [Applause]
Q. Would the practice of Tai Chi Chuan be dangerous in mixing with the Quan Yin method?
Some people consider Tai Chi a breathing technique.
M. No, it’s okay. It’s a kind of exercise.
Q. Where in Honolulu can one learn vegetarian cooking?
M. You can go to the restaurant that I have been to yesterday. What’s the name of that? Buddhist
Vegetarian Restaurant. You can look it up in the newspapers or the yellow pages. I do not
know about the roads in Hawaii. Also, you can come to our meditation center and our
disciples will try to ‘cook’ you well. [Laughter]
Q. How do you deal with hatred in your dreams?
M. In the dream, you do not need to deal with it. It is only a dream. The problem is when we have
hatred in this big dream, the real dream that we have every day, then we should deal with it.
Every time we have this hatred for someone, we immediately realize it and withdraw it; that is
very simple. We can’t avoid hatred feelings sometimes. It is due to the so-called karmic
consequences of last life or everyday life, but we root it out immediately the moment it
appears. That is the only thing to do.
The purpose of life
Q. What is my divine purpose in this life?
M. It is to know that you are God, to know that you are one with the Father, and use that to bless
the world, and bless yourself with happiness. That is your divine purpose, and it is the divine
purpose of every human being in our world.
Q. How can I receive enlightenment and be like You?
M. Like me? What do I have that you have to imitate?
It is very easy. Whatever I can do, you can do better. Just get initiation and we’ll show you
how. You may be even better than I. I am just nothing.
Q. How can I achieve joy and peace in my heart?
M. Get enlightenment. Get initiation.
Q. Master Ching Hai, should we supplement our vegetarian diet with vitamins if we feel the need,
minus the gelatin capsule, of course?
M. This is too extreme. It is okay if, now and again, you swallow one milligram of gelatin. Don’t be
too extreme. The point of being vegetarian is first to rekindle our compassion for all beings
and minimize our violent nature which is inherent within us from life after life battling and
struggling with nature and the environment for survival. If we can’t help it on some occasion, it
is fine; meditate more just to clean whatever little guilt you have inside, and that’s okay. But
there are many capsules made with fruit gelatin; it is not irreplaceable.
Q. Do You take vitamin supplements?
M. Yes, sometimes when I’m so tired, I don’t eat much, and I have to go on tour, one place after
another, seeing different people all the time, I have to do something repairing to this car so
that it goes. [Laughter]
Q. How can you meditate without your mind wandering?
M. It takes some practice. Just like at first you learn English and you babble some Chinese inside
[Laughter] or Aloha language, but after a while you just select what you want to speak. When
you want to speak Aloha language, then you do it, and when you want to deliberately speak
English, you just flow English out. That’s a matter of practice. We practice meditation and after
some time we’re so used to it – the effortless tendency to let go, we become ego-less, and the
grace of God will pull us up. And we have to do nothing, just become very easy, just like when
we’re so tired that we just sleep without any intervention of our mind or action at all.
Q. How do we know about the Lord?
M. The Lord is within us. There is a way to know the Lord. I told you already. We will show it to
you. I have seen the Lord. I can show you how to see Hirm. At the time of initiation you will
see Hirm. Some of the people get also the convenient method, that means they are not fully
initiated, they just want to try, and they will also see glimpses of the Lord.
Q. You mentioned that there is still much beauty left in this world. What do You perceive will be
the fate of this beauty with the current increases in population and environmental
degradation?
M. You can’t say that Hawaii is very ugly, can you? It is still beautiful and clean, therefore many
people pay a lot of money to come here and run around on the streets and on the beach, just
to enjoy the beauty that exists in Hawaii. There are many other places in the world still
preserved in their beauty similar to Hawaii. So we cannot say that the whole is completely in
disorder.
Of course, the more we preserve it, the more we beautify it, the better. The root problem is
that many of us are not enlightened. We do things blindly, sometimes even with good
intentions, but blind; therefore, we destroy many of our beautiful parts of the world. We should
sit still for some part of our life and think over, recognize, our way of life. We can only do that
with enlightenment; otherwise, it is very difficult to rescue our world from the surface.
Q. How can I overcome my inner anxiety so that I can concentrate? Anxiety keeps me from
focusing with a single mind and my thoughts are scattered.
M. The inner anxiety comes also from the outer environment. We have fear because of
recession, because of the unemployment rate and because of the insecure atmosphere of our
world. Also, we have anxiety because of the seed of worry we planted within us many lives
ago, and in order to root that out, we must clear it from the time immemorial. That seed, we
have to burn out, and that we can only do by the Light of God at the time of enlightenment.
That is why enlightenment is necessary for everything – for the past, the present, and the
future.
That is why our fellow practitioners have no fear – just like this gentleman, he says he fears
no death. Death is the most dreadful thing for most of us. Still, we practitioners no more fear
death because we die daily. We can experience going out of the body and coming back, going
to different heavens and coming back. Therefore, we fear death no more because we know
dying is just coming and going, just like we step out of the door and come back in the room
again.
Q. Regardless of religious ‘labels’ is there a universal Truth to know?
M. Yes, that’s why I do not tell you to change your religious beliefs, occupation, or way of life. I
tell you just to know the Truth. The Truth is inherent in all underlying religious principles.
Q. Is there a destination we should arrive at?
M. That is the kingdom of God, nirvana. But there is no such thing as a stagnant station that if
you jump up, then you can get caught under the roof or something. Our human language is
very limited and powerless to express the powerful and limitless.
Q. Is existence serious?
M. What is all this ‘existence serious’? If you slap yourself and it hurts, you know it’s serious.
[Laughter]
Q. Am I in danger of not continuing to survive?
M. Why should you not continue to survive? I didn’t tell you to die immediately after initiation!
[Laughter] I am still here, sorry, and all my disciples are still here. We don’t go anywhere. We
stay here and get liberated from all of our desires, our hatreds, and our unwanted bad habits.
You are liberated already while living.
Q. Will I survive spiritually if I do not follow a specific course toward enlightenment?
M. It depends. If you keep a very virtuous life, then of course, your spirit is uplifted somewhat, to
some degree. But if you would like complete knowledge of this Supreme Master power within
yourself, then it is better to take an experienced friend to help you. It is faster, less
adventurous, and more successful. Just like in every walk of life, every business or new study,
you need an experienced friend or teacher to teach you.
God is Light and Sound
Q. Please speak of the Light and Sound of God.
M. The Light and Sound of God come when we are in deep communion with Hirm, when we
sincerely want to be back to where we came from. It comes like a flashing, like lightening, like
thousands of suns, like colorful rainbows, like beautiful electric shocks. It thrills your whole
body; it thrills every nerve, every cell in your body, and renews your body, spirit, and mind. It
makes you become like a newborn baby. You are innocent, but intelligent; you are patient, but
very wise, very active, very fast reacting.
And the Sound is just a kind of condensed Light, more concentrated, more powerful. If you sit
in meditation after initiation, or sometimes when you are in very deep prayer, it can happen
that the sound vibration comes like thousands of musical instruments at one time, but it does
not deafen your ears at all. It does not hurt your eyes when you see thousands of suns inside.
It does not hurt your ears when you hear a thousand kinds of violins or a great orchestra from
heaven playing a tune. That uplifts you to the heavenly abodes and lets you experience
different dimensions of the universe. It lets you know a different power, which is beginning to
emerge within your own being.
That’s just about all I can simply explain to you; otherwise, these things are not related to
human experience at all. We have never experienced such things in human terms or human
existence; therefore, it’s difficult to tell you in words. I can just only invite you to experience it.
That’s why all of our disciples are so happy and so faithful, not to me, but to the teaching that I
have brought to them, to the guidance that I have provided to them. If they look very devoted
to me, it is because my teaching helps them. It truly awakens their own power; therefore, they
are grateful to me, not to this person at all.
Q. Does the negative force get stronger as you get closer to your Lord?
M. No, it’s not true. The closer we get, the less negativity, just like the higher we go, we are
further from the gravity.
Q. Why should I or anyone pray to You when enlightenment is inside us always?
M. All right, you don’t have to. Find your own enlightenment; I will be happy and congratulate you
if you can find it. If you see the Light of God, experience your own power of wisdom, and hear
the sound of heavenly music that lifts you to the sky, to the different civilization, to the different
levels of consciousness, then it is okay; you do not have to come to me at all. I am just
speaking to those who don’t have them and who do not know how to have them. So we freely
help you – no condition, no charge, no binding.
Q. What is Your method of meditation?
M. I’ll tell you at the time of initiation. It takes some time.
Q. Jesus Himself said, ‘I am the Truth, the Light, and the way. No man can come to the Father
except by me.’ He also said that He was the son of God. What are Your views about His
statement?
M. He stated the truth, while He was alive. He said, ‘I am the Light, the Truth, and the way.’ Also,
He added, ‘as long as I am in the world.’ Don’t cut His tongue in half and just take a half of
your convenience. ‘As long as I am in the world, I am the Light, the Truth, and the only way,’
every living Master says that. The Buddha said the same thing.
Q. How do we learn how to meditate?
M. We’ll show you. There are two kinds of meditation. The first one is complete, what we call the
initiation process; we take full responsibility to help you until you reach your highest
destination – visibly and invisibly, until the end of the world. The other one is just that you
want to try to have a taste, or you cannot follow a vegetarian diet, or you’re not very serious
about existence, then we give you a so-called convenient method.
The convenient method is that you eat vegetarian at your convenient time, and you sit about a
half an hour a day in meditation. The initiation, you must take more seriously. You must truly
want to go back to the kingdom of God and to get to know it in this lifetime, get to know it
completely, and be liberated from everything. It takes two and a half hours a day for
meditation, at least, but then you can meditate five minutes here, ten minutes there –
anywhere you can anytime you have free time. Or when you do some laboring work, you can
always meditate. When you just sit there on a coffee break, you meditate. When you sit in a
restaurant while you’re waiting for your meal, you meditate. Everywhere.
The convenient method is for some people who just like to meditate a little bit and not very
seriously or don’t want to follow a vegetarian diet for some inconvenient reasons, or are not
yet strong enough to stay above the beefsteak. The initiated people throw away the beefsteak
and they put the tofu in its place. That’s all.
At the initiation, we will immediately give you the taste of the sound of heaven. It lifts you up,
and also you will see the Light accordingly – according to your sincerity, you see dimmer Light
or greater Light. Immediately, at the time of initiation, after we’ve told you how to sit and just
relax yourself, et cetera, then you’ll get that. But after the initiation – tofu instead of beefsteak,
and many other kinds of vegetarian hams, et cetera, or cheese. You can eat nuts; you can
drink milk.
In Hawaii, it is very easy to meditate. There are beautiful nuts here. Nuts are very wholesome,
very nutritious. Some yogis in India only eat nuts and milk, but in our practice it’s not
dangerous and does not require a very strict diet. It’s just vegetarian because of compassion,
also for health, so that your body will be more able to withstand the greatest force when you
tap inside. It also minimizes the side effects while meditating because it is a long road.
Q. This is a long question. Many Christian ministers describe this period in our life, 1993 through
the year of 2000…
M. Give it to me, I will read it. [Laughter] Wow! It’s truly a long question. He wrote a book here!
[Laughter] [Master is reading the question….] Many Christian ministers describe this period in
our life, 1993 to 2000, as being full of troubles such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
droughts, famine, storms, and hurricanes, worse than we have had so, children killing children
and their parents or their other family members, an increase in criminal behavior, wars and
rebellions. What is Your insight about these predictions and events?
Do I need insight to these events? We can have it outside in the newspapers. Newspapers,
radio, televisions, and all these often broadcast this news. This is, of course, a very sad event.
But this is the last warning from the heavenly hierarchy so that the children from the earth will
turn backward into their own safety, into the heavenly security that God has already attached
with us before sending us down. This is our ‘life-preserver’ already attached within our being
to save us in any catastrophe, any circumstances, bringing us back immediately to life. If we
do not rely on this lifesaving power that is within us, then no one, not even God, can help us.
That’s why we are running round the world and we keep telling you the message of how to
save yourselves – at our own cost, our own time, and our own inconvenience, in the hope that
our brothers and sisters will believe in our sincerity, and at least try it and help themselves.
Q. What do You recommend for healing cancer, specifically breast cancer?
M. Please ask the doctors, I am not professed in medical research. But nowadays, many
inventions have helped in this field and many people are cured. Also, people say that a
wholesome diet, like raw fruit and raw vegetables for some period of time, cures cancer
physically, in the physical level. And also some people recommend that sesame seed and
whole meal brown rice, chewed 100 times every mouthful, could cure cancer. Many people
have tried them and many people have succeeded. Many of our disciples get initiation,
practice the Quan Yin method, and cure themselves without sesame or raw vegetarian food,
even. It’s up to you to choose, or ask the doctors for the alternatives.
Q. With all the gurus and spiritual teachings available in this modern age, including other past
teachings and also the Light and Sound, how does one recognize with absolute certainty a
perfect master?
M. That’s your personal preference, just like when you see which girl you like best. [Laughter] It’s
your own choice. You must know instantly which one you like best. I can’t help you. I am not
advertising for myself either. If there are so many Masters, so much better for us – you can
shop around. But be certain to buy something quickly before all the shops close. [Laughter]
Q. If one has severe food allergies, for example, unable to tolerate beans, tofu, diary products,
and can eat only grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, how can one maintain a strict vegetarian diet?
Is this a karmic problem?
M. There is no need for tofu. I am just saying it because they feed me tofu every day in Formosa.
I am fed up with it, so I want to transfer some of my karmic debt. Otherwise, I tell you the truth,
I was in India for several years and even in the Himalayas, we don’t have any tofu. They just
eat whatever is there. They cook lentils and mung beans, which are staple foods in India, and
just eat mung bean soup with rice every day. And they are okay; you know the Indian people
are healthy. No tofu is found in India, very rare. Tofu is a delicacy in India. Tofu is a product of
China.
Q. Is it really possible to clean up our karma for liberation in one lifetime, even with very heavy,
bad karma?
M. Yes, it’s possible. That’s what we’re here for. If you’re not weary and burdened with so much
karma, then you don’t even need us. If you are already an angel, if you are already free of
everything, then what is the path for? What’s the method for? Don’t worry about your karma;
it’s the past.
This room has been dark before we came. Maybe all day long, or many days it’s dark, and
many nights it’s dark. When we turn on the light, immediately there is no more darkness. The
Light of heaven will cleanse all the darkness for eons, billions, trillions of years within our
souls, so don’t worry. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are heavy laden and
weary, and I will quicken you.’ I will help you.
Q. What is the universally used name for God?
M. [Master spells] G-O-D. [Laughter]
Q. Can Jesus forgive sins?
M. He can while He was here, just like any doctor can cure our disease while he’s alive – that’s
his job.
Q. Does the sin of the father follow the son?
M. To some degree, yes. We call that collective karma, meaning the collective retribution within
the family. But on top of that, each one has his or her individual collection of bad deeds or
good results from good deeds. Karma means both good and bad actions and bad and good
results – not only bad ones; most people use it in the negative sense.
Q. Will initiation help me to keep the five precepts? At first, sometimes it is difficult; what if I fail?
M. It will help you if you are sincere. If you fail, then try again. We can’t just immediately walk
when we are born, but at least we try. And we try, and we try many times, and now you are
walking all over Hawaii, [Laughter] from these first failing steps.
Q. Is there a life beyond death?
M. What do you think? What do you think I am babbling all these hours for? [Laughter] If there is
no life after death, I would be swimming on the beach every day, [Laughter] sitting pretty in my
tent at home, and saving all my money and buying three or four private airplanes by now. If
there is no life after death, what for am I working so hard?
Q. Tell us about reincarnation.
M. This I have told many times, but of course I have to start from scratch because many of you
are new. Reincarnation is just like retarded children who can’t catch up with the ordinary
class, or an advanced class, and have to stay behind or go to an even lower class for retarded
children.
If we get enlightenment in this lifetime, then we have upgraded ourselves to the saintly class,
the Buddha class, so we don’t have to be reborn again as human beings. If we want to, and
then we become a teacher, just like we already passed the exams and we come back to be
the teacher of high school. We are also in the high school with every student, but we are the
teacher.
Q. Do You believe in Jesus Christ?
M. Do I believe in Him? What do you think, yes or no? [Audience: Yes.] Yes, of course. He wants
a silly answer. [Laughter]
Q. What are the similarities between Buddhism and other religious, and what are the
differences?
M. There are no differences. The differences are that the Buddhist canons are plentiful –
thousands of them, due to good collection and the long life of the Buddha. And the bible, there
is only one because Jesus lived only three and half years to do His mission, for example.
Other religions, it depends on how many people collect the teachings of the old masters that
they become long or short, big or small volumes.
But all and all, the underlying principle is that there are two ways to life. First, the ordinary life
on the physical level, we have to fulfill our duty wherever we are, whatever job we take, and
do it wholeheartedly – loving our family, et cetera. On the higher level, we have to know our
highest ability, which is lying dormant inside. Knowing that power, we can live in heaven while
journeying on this earth simultaneously. Also, knowing this power, we can do our jobs better
on earth; we can be good guests on earth and live a richer life while we are here. All religions
teach us that – nothing more.
Q. How many levels of consciousness are there? How can you find out which level you are on?
M. Before we reach the highest level of Truth, we have to go through five levels of
consciousness. We can know that by recognizing the intensity of Light that we see inside. And
also by the scenery, the heavenly abodes that we see inside, we can recognize which level.
Another way of recognizing it is through the Sound. Each level of consciousness vibrates at a
different oscillation, and then by knowing which Sound is corresponding to which level, we can
more or less testify to our own achievement.
After sometime you become an expert; you don’t even bother about that. A person just opens
his mouth and you can judge him, even from his talk or from his way of doing things, of his
work even, you can judge that person. Not to criticize or to do anything, it is just that if we
should want to know that person’s level, we know it immediately, without having to look inside
to search for his Light or his Sound inside his being. And we can judge our level of
achievement inside by our own outward actions, like we become more loving, more tolerant,
more dedicated to the course of human beings at large; we become more patient, just more
enjoying. This we can know by daily observing.
Desirelessness comes from contact with our source
Q. You say meditation will lessen your desires of want, but no matter how happy my mind may
be I still have many wants. Can You explain why?
M. Do you meditate – the person who writes? Maybe you don’t meditate the way we meditate. I
can’t be responsible for that. [Laughter]
When I say, meditate, I mean the Quan Yin method of meditation because we are in contact
directly with our own source of all happiness, of all wish-fulfilling power. Then and there you
will be happier and have no want. Ask my disciples. But of course, some of them get it slower
because their level is different, but some get it quicker. Eventually all desires will just go. We
don’t reject things; desirelessness doesn’t mean detesting everything in this life. It’s not true!
We like things; we love things. We take care of things, but we are not attached to things.
Should things not be there at our request, we’re not bothered. That is the desirelessness
state.
But it doesn’t mean you don’t want to go and make money – no, no, no! Go and make it!
[Laughter] Be as successful as you want to be; work for it. Use your wisdom inside to be more
successful even. Earn as much money as you deserve and want; if you can’t use all of it give
it to me. I can make use of it. [Laughter] I’ll give it to the Philippine volcanic victims. I’ll give it
to the Au Lac refugees who have no clothes, no bedding, no mosquito nets. I’ll give to the
poor in Formosa, or in many other places.
We have many uses for the money, so don’t be a failure! Work for the money if you want it.
Buy everything you need; whatever is left over, give it to the Vatican, to the temple, to me, or
to the poor. No, don’t give it to me. I will not accept your money. I am just kidding. But should
you not know what to do with it, I’ll tell you what to do. That’s all. But you use your money
yourself. I don’t accept any donations.
Q. Why must one become a strict vegetarian to experience enlightenment?
M. No, you don’t have to. You can experience enlightenment without a vegetarian diet, but to be
completely enlightened and to keep the state of happiness at all times, we should grant
happiness to all beings as well in a complete way. Give them no fear, give them no
threatening atmosphere wherever you walk, and then you’ll experience free feelings and a
very, very loving atmosphere always around you. That is the more complete enlightenment.
Being vegetarian alone doesn’t bring you enlightenment, and doesn’t make you become a
Buddha. All the cows, the buffaloes, and the horses – they’re all vegetarian. [Laughter] But
that is the great way to help us to achieve complete enlightenment. Because a Buddha
without complete compassion is lacking. That’s all.
Q. Is there another living Master now who teaches the same method?
M. Why are you so interested in other masters? Am I not good looking enough for you? You hurt
my feelings, you know? You don’t know how to be good to a woman? [Laughter]
Okay, there will be plenty, go and look for yourself. Go to the Himalayas. It’s fine with me. The
bird has already come into your house, you don’t catch it, and you keep looking for the bird in
the sky. What for? [Laughter] Yes, laugh. Have a good laugh at yourself.
Q. Would You tell us more about the true teachings of Jesus compared to the Christian teachings
today?
M. The two are right. The Christ’s teachings in His time and the Christian teachings at this time
are right. Both are right. Maybe the present teaching of Christianity is missing or has been
censored in some part, but this I dare not say, in case I’ll be in trouble. The other teachings of
Jesus while He was alive may be more and recorded. According to the Dead See Scrolls that
I have read, supposed to be very ancient, recorded even while Jesus was alive, some things
are missing in the bible.
But on the whole, the teaching of Christianity today is okay. The only missing part is that
Jesus is not there. That’s the greatest missing part. Now we replace it with a direct line to
Jesus. Should you want to see Him, you can see Him; you can talk to Him; you can learn
directly from Him because He never died. If the church or any other organization in the
Christian body can help you to get in touch with Jesus and get a direct line to God’s telephone
number, then it’s more correct, more fulfilling, more complete. If not, then we can supply this
missing part for you. That’s all.
Q. What ideas of meditation should you input into your mind, any specific ones, to be in touch
with the universe?
M. If you would like to learn the convenient method, of course, we will teach you later. You stay
behind, and I will ask some of my disciples to teach you more properly. Otherwise, you just
pray very deeply, very sincerely, while you pray, anywhere, not only in the church, but also in
your house. Anywhere you go you must always try to remember God, the greatest power
within us, and pray very deeply. Close your eyes or open your eyes, but pray very deeply and
then that is also a kind of meditation. Now and again or often, according to your sincerity, you
will get the response from the Supreme Master power that is within you.
Q. We all need good water and air. Leaders in industrial countries pollute all over the world. How
can their awareness and actions be changed?
M. Tell them to go and get initiation. Otherwise, no use talking and debating all the time at the
intellectual level. Most of our intellectual understanding is very stubborn, clinging to our own
view and not considering others. That is why all these things happen, which is very sad. I think
all the people should get initiation, get enlightenment, and all the worldly problems will be
easier to solve.
Q. Do dreams in sleep have any teaching significance to daily life?
M. Yes, sometimes the dream is a kind of symbolic expression of some event or something that
we have to learn. But we have to be expert at it. If you want to learn about these dreams, then
go find an expert, because our dreams are plenty and sometimes they’re meaningless.
Sometimes they are just a following-up of the daily events while we are awake and don’t
mean anything.
Q. When people invade your psychic space, should we surrender to it or should we fight it off?
M. Of course not. Everyone has the right to his living room physically, as well as his psychic. No
one should invade other people’s psychic space; should it be done, you ask sincerely that it
should be gone. Ask the God power inside to help you. Protect yourself with the faith of your
religion, but be faithful enough, be strong. Otherwise, we have initiation for you. Use the
greatest power, and then everything will leave. In the presence of the king, no other topsy-
turvy being can be present.
Q. If I am taking medication under a doctor’s orders, can I still be a vegetarian and be initiated?
M. Yes, sure, why not? Medications are not drugs. What I mean by drug are the drugs that your
country forbids. Those I also forbid, for your sake. They ruin your life, cost a lot of money, and
make you a dependent wretch, where you should walk like a king, like a God on this earth,
and bless the whole world with your greatest power and wisdom inside.
Q. How can one be happy?
M. After all these hours, I think your neighbor can tell you. [Laughter]
Q. How can I serve humanity?
M. By getting in touch with God, we serve best. Otherwise, do whatever is in your power to
express your love wherever you go, to your neighbor, help the needy, and fulfill your duty in
the family.
Q. How can I express my God Light?
M. You can only express it when you have it. So have the God Light first, and after initiation then
you can express it. We can’t show the money when we don’t know where the money is. Even
when we have it, we must know where it is in order to show it to people. Even though you
have God Light within you, you must know it first, contact it first, and then you can show it to
the people. I can show you the Light because I have the Light. I am in possession of the Light.
I know I have it. You have it, but you don’t know – that’s the difference between us.
Q. I would like to find a good husband. Is it okay? [Laughter]
M. By all means, yes! Why not? [Laughter] I also would like to find a good husband. [Laughter]
Q. When meditating, how can you concentrate your thoughts without being affected by daily life?
M. It will become natural after some time of practice. It will just be effortless; you don’t even know
when you think or not think. You just sit there and it happens. The Lights will come, the
Sounds will come, and then you are oblivious of everything. Whenever you want to come out
of it, you will be aware of everything again. It’s very easy.
Or, does she mean that can she find husband as well, and then also meditate? It doesn’t
matter at all. Most of our fellow practitioners are married people; it’s no bother to spiritual
practice.
Q. Why must we have the initiation in order to know how to meditate?
M. Because you don’t know, that’s why. Just like if you want to learn any skill at all, you have to
go and find a skillful person and learn from him. We don’t want to be an irresponsible guide.
We have to teach you from the top to the bottom because you’ll be alone when I am gone.
You have to know everything about how to deal with the problems. Sometimes the negative
power within you arises, and you have to know what to do. We have to tell you everything.
That is the process you must know, but the initiation goes without language. You just sit there
and you get everything you should get.
The instructions are only for the mind, the intellectual doubts and all that. And all the pitfalls
sometimes encountered during the journey to the kingdom of God, we have to tell you. But the
initiation is nonverbal. During the true initiation I don’t talk to you, and I don’t even need to be
present at all. I could be in Formosa, in Japan, anywhere, and I can place someone here to
tell you the instructions and you get initiation from me all the same. In initiation, the most
important part is your own sincerity of wanting to know your own self and that’s how you can
get your own answers.
Q. Is it justified if I kill a murderer in order to stop his killing of other human beings? If not, what
should I do?
M. Tell the police, because if you kill him, you are the killer and the police will be after you. So tell
the police to do their job because it’s not your job, all right? But maybe that person will be
repentant, so give him a chance. When he’s in jail, he might be repenting or he might read
some immediate enlightenment book and then he will turn his life around.
You never know what makes a person turn into a murderer. It could be many complicated
situations; it could be a very intricate system of society, or some kind of trap which he falls into
and then he can’t get out of. We can’t just take justice into our hands without considering a lot
of his background and the previous life’s karmic net between the different people’s
relationships. Sometimes we judge him unjustly. The murderer came maybe to kill those who
killed him before, and now, if you kill him, next time he will come back to kill you. So it never
ends, this devilish cycle. We had better not use violence for violence.
Q. What is the difference between a monk and a lay person?
M. The difference lies in the heart, not in the outer outlook. If a lay person is very dedicated to
God while fulfilling his already given duty to him, then he’s also a monk. A monk is more lucky.
He’s official, and everyone knows that he’s a monk. Just like policemen, the official police
wear uniforms and look dignified, and some secret agents, they are also policemen. Both are
doing the same duties, so who can say what is better, what is different. It depends on what
you do and what you aim for in your heart. Your motive is very important, not the outlook.
Q. What causes a person to become a monk?
M. How do I know? [Laughter] There are too many monks; I can’t ask them all. Go and
investigate. You better know your self; the monkshood is within you. The renunciation of all
renunciations, that is monkshood. That is truly what a monk is.
Q. Are there such things as evil spirits or demons or satan that possess people?
M. Yes, there are such things, but many of the evil spirits are within the hearts of the people.
When we generate hatred, when we generate oppressive thoughts toward other people, we
breed these unpleasant, electrical, invisible currents into the air, into the atmosphere. They
condense together and make it become a force that is frightening to reckon with for whomever
passes by, for whomever comes into contact with that environment, which is full of hatred and
full of dark, oppressing force. It is better that we always think good, do good, and talk good.
Think God, do God, and talk God. Even realize God is better still.
Q. Do You advise people to seek counseling from psychics or fortunetellers?
M. That is for the people who are not enlightened. Of course, they depend on anything. I can’t tell
them to stop it because they will be going all the same. But the enlightened people take
matters into their own hands. They control their own life and they regulate their karmic pattern.
They need no psychic reading or no fortune-teller to tell them what to do next.
Q. Are there ghosts or earthbound spirits? How can we help them?
M. Help yourself first, please. [Laughter] We are the living and we can’t help ourselves, never
mind the ghosts! We can’t talk to the living beings. It’s more difficult to talk to ghosts.
Q. Please tell me why sometimes I feel very lonesome and sorrowful. Why can’t I be happy and
have no worry?
M. It is because we are incomplete. Everyone feels lonely now and again and often to the point of
suicide because nothing in this world, even the whole kingdom of earth, could satisfy them.
That is because they know they had better things before – before they came to this world,
before they got entangled in this maze and forgot their origin.
So go back to where we belong. Find your greatest treasure, which satisfies every great and
small need in your life. Even the sexual appetite will decrease; even the greatest beauty on
earth will not have such enticing power over us as before our enlightenment. Enlightenment is
just that we know ourselves. We know how complete we are without having to be combined
with the other sex, or the other opposite force. Inside we have yin and yang, we have positive
and negative, we have the female and masculine aspects within our being. If we unite them
both, we balance the yin and yang, and then we’re complete. We’re whole, we need nothing,
and we never feel lonely.
I stay the whole day in my room and every day in my room for many months sometimes if I
don’t have anything to do or I don’t have to go out to lecture. I don’t feel lonely. The more
people I have to see, the lonelier I feel. The less I will feel not lonely because when I’m with
people I have to go outward – my tendency goes out, my energy goes out, my focus goes out
to take care of people, to listen to their needs, to feel one with their trouble, sorrow, and their
loneliness.
Then I’m lonely because I forgot my complete self, at least for the time being, or I have no
time to be one with that, or I separate a little from it. In fact, I’m never separated from it, but at
least my mind, my focus, my attention, is separated from this complete happiness self;
therefore, I am lonely. When I am alone, I’m playing with myself or I’m merging with myself. I
am just complete; therefore, I’m never lonely. So that’s the paradoxical question for you. Try it
and you will know it, but be enlightened first, please.
Q. If you are enlightened, can you heal the physical ailments of others?
M. You can, but it’s not the most noble aim for us, the enlightened persons. We come not for
physical reward but for the healing forever of the soul from all sorrow or sickness, forever and
ever. But the physical ailments do go away also. Many of them or some part of them will go
away, even cancers. Many of our disciples are healed automatically.
Even when they’ve been already pushed onto the operation table and then injected with the
anesthetic injection, but then the doctor found that the cancer of yesterday is gone! So they
pushed the patient back out again and said ‘sorry.’ Yes, some thing like that will happen, but
we should not aim for physical healing alone when we want to see the Lord. We just ask for a
very little thing if we do that. It’s as if we went into the king’s treasury room and he said, ‘Take
whatever you want,’ and you just wanted a glass of cold water. That’s a great loss to us; that’s
all.
Q. In Christianity it says Christ is the son of God. In Buddhism, is there a relationship between
Buddha and God, and how are they related?
M. Buddha is also a son of God. All of us are sons of God. Jesus says that we are all children of
God, but some know it, and some are too young to realize it. Just like two princes, one is
grown up and ready to take the throne, the other one was just born and doesn’t know he is the
prince. Both of them are princes.
Q. How long do I need to meditate every day when I just get started?
M. Twenty hours. [Laughter] In German, they say, ‘Eins gut, al ist gut,’ which means whenever
you have a good start, it will end good. You might start with twenty hours. I give you four
hours to sleep, eat, go to the toilet, and all that. [Master and audience laugh.]
You meditate as much as you can for your own sake. Even if I say to you, two and a half
hours, it’s already very little. We work eight hours for a few thousand dollars a month that
feeds this body only for a few decades. And we couldn’t work for the whole kingdom of the
universe for two and half hours a day? That’s a very great bargain. Make your choice and do
what you want to do. I am only suggesting and helping you if you need, but the choice is
yours.
WE ARE THE SUPREME MASTER 9
How is everyone? Aloha! [Audience: Aloha!] Have you had a nice morning? [Audience: Yes!] Good
breakfast – bread, butter, sausage, ham, milk? Bread and milk are good, but sausage, ham, never
mind! We eat whatever we think is proper and necessary to nourish this body. It’s just that there
are some foods that are a little bit more poisonous and not helpful to the body, spirit, and mind. The
other foods are more helpful to us in attaining something higher than life. Similarly, there are many
paths to enlightenment and we may choose whatever we think is suitable to us so that we can
nourish our soul and make it grow up and become one with God.
Anyhow, is this too serious? Should I crack a few jokes first? I don’t know much about Hawaii
jokes, and the jokes I told you yesterday about my apartment next to the highway due to my
disciples’ recession in our traveling budget, you heard already. Probably you read the newspapers
and have heard that there is a recession everywhere in this world now due to economical
problems. Therefore, they also recessed my budget for traveling. Everywhere we go they rent a
cheaper room, even if it is on the edge of the highway. [Laughter] Well, I pretend to be a very
‘highly developed’ person and I hear nothing from the outside world. [Laughter] But that naturally
provides plenty of lights and sounds; the lights from the cars at midnight, and the sounds of
continuous traffic. [Laughter] You can pretend that it is the sea wave sound, and it’s also amusing
9. Public lecture, Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A., March 28, 1993 (Originally in English).
sometimes. It’s okay. Meanwhile, I can also listen to the Sounds inside by a special technique.
Therefore even if I live next to the highway, it doesn’t affect much our spiritual practice. So a
special technique is also very necessary, similar to a special diet.
Everything is God’s will
It’s not that we try to tell you what to do. It’s just that some of the ancient Masters have had
experience in experimenting with what is the best way for us to reach God, to reach the Supreme
Master, which is within all of us. It is the Master of all Masters. Without this Supreme Master’s
guidance, we do not know why we are here and what we should do. And whenever we do
something, we never can be sure whether it is correct or not. It’s not that we don’t want to do
correct things, but it’s just that sometimes, or most of the time we do not know what is God’s will, or
what is the proper action to take in different circumstances. Therefore, we make mistakes.
We have heard that everything is God’s will. Even a hair falling down from our head is according to
the Lord’s prearrangement. But then why do we have to suffer for what we do? As the bible says,
‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ Isn’t that paradoxical? Isn’t that too unfair for us? Well, it isn’t. It is
unfair in one way and not in the other. Unfair, because if everything is God’s will, why should we be
punished for the things that we do? But it is fair, because God has given us a way to overcome all
these fearsome, so-called punishments. It’s just that we do not know how to use it, or maybe we do
not want to use it because life after life we have been used to the so-called ‘easy’ way. We do what
we feel like doing at that moment. We live our life according to the dictates of our habits and the
collected information that we have through our eyes, ears, nose, touch, et cetera. We have
forgotten God’s commandments.
Many of the people ask me, ‘Why do we have to practice? Why do we have to sit in meditation?’
Actually, we don’t need to ‘sit.’ We can lie down just as well to meditate but then when we lie down,
we are just down! You know, lie and down? [Laughter] Instead of hearing the inside Sounds, we
might hear the outside sound – snoring sound! [Laughter] Instead of seeing the vision of God or
heaven, we see all kinds of dreams, nightmares sometimes, which trouble us when we wake up.
Therefore, when we sit, there is less chance of going to sleep. Even if you do sleep, you will fall
down on the floor and then wake up immediately. At least you can sleep maybe five or ten minutes,
and the rest you meditate.
There is a difference between sleeping and waking visions. When we sleep, sometimes we have
visions or dreams that are very useful for our daily lives. Or maybe they predict something in the
future and prepare us for some event that we may be able to avoid should it be unpleasant, or to
amend should it be a little bit grave for us. These are the dreams that are sometimes true. But very
seldom do people have the ability to analyze their dreams and make use of them in their lives.
What is it that makes people sleep and dream these dreams that are so useful, which predict
something in the near future or some true events? It is because when we sleep, sometimes our
soul gets in touch with the source of all knowledge and peacefulness. Then sometimes the mind, at
that time, is not truly asleep; therefore, it can register some of the information that we have still
remembered it. Otherwise, most of the time we just remember vaguely that we have dreamed, but
we can’t remember the details of the dreams. If we bring this sleeping information into the waking
state, it would be more useful.
To meditate is to sleep, but in a wakeful state. Then all the information we have gathered within the
storehouse of wisdom, we can see clearly, consciously, and know what is what. That’s why an
enlightened person is wiser, happier, and content, because he knows what to do. The
subconscious mind also has all the information open to it to know even the past lives and the future
events. But that is just a between state; it’s not the highest state even, you will be surprised to
hear. When you reach the highest state, you go back to ignorance. [Laughter] Is that very
disappointing? Don’t worry, this is a different one.
There are two kinds of ignorance. One is the ignorant ignorance, and the other is the saintly
ignorance. Both look the same, but are not! It’s just like scientifically we all know that two extremes
look alike. For example, very intense darkness or very great light, both we cannot see. In the
extreme darkness, we don’t see any light, or in the extremely high frequency of light, we also
cannot see the light. Both look like darkness, but it is not so.
The Light inside the Light of the extreme intelligence is without shadow and substance; that’s why
we can hardly see it with our eyes. Even if sometimes we see it with the wisdom, which doesn’t
need an eye, we still feel like it hurts our physical eyes. But then afterwards we will be used to it. It
will feel as if we are looking into very ordinary daylight, and it won’t hurt anymore.
The sage looks like the ignorant
One of the people asked yesterday what it is like when you go into the samadhi state. He asked
me whether the highest level is when you become nothing, and you are not aware of your body,
not aware of your environment, and all that. This is not even the highest state. In the highest state,
you are able to function in your daily life just as an ordinary being while having a super awareness
surpassing that of the mind-computer – an awareness of all things that are going on in the
universe. Therefore, your mind might not know about it and you will look like an ignorant person.
But everything is done at the level of soul consciousness, universal consciousness. And every
being who thinks of you, who prays to you, and who needs your help, you will be able to help them,
to hear them, to see them, to tackle their problems accordingly without the interference of the mind.
The mind is just like a computer, only. Even if we use the mind, it’s not that great. It’s limited, and
we can’t be all pervading, omnipresent, et cetera. The sage looks like the ignorant; it’s like that.
And the sage could be always in samadhi, meaning in the absolute state, but he doesn’t look like it.
It’s not necessary that someone always sits there, cross-legged and unmindful or unaware of
everything going on, always in a blissful trance within himself. Not necessarily is he the greatest
sage or has he the highest attainment. If he is not yet able to function within our worldly life as a
normal being, then he has not yet arrived at the highest level. But then that’s what makes it difficult
for us to realize who is the highest one and who is not.
Normally, we have the conception of a sage or yogi sitting in the Himalayas and not moving at all,
like a piece of lifeless stone or something. It must not be so. Of course, if an enlightened person
has nothing to do, then he would sit in meditation, read books, just walk around, or do anything –
cooking, running, standing, or sitting cross-legged, or not cross-legged. This has nothing to do with
the state inside of a person. In our way of practice, it is difficult to detect. Suppose a highly
developed person sits next to you right now. Probably yesterday or just before he came here, he
had a very high vision of the Lord or high revelation of some kind, but then now he just sits next to
you and you do not know, do not see him as such. Even though we may feel the very harmonious
atmosphere, which generates from that person, most often if we do not pay attention, we may not
even notice. We just feel good, but we don’t know why. You might think, ‘Today I am happy, my
body is healthy, or I ate sausage, it was very nutritious, or something that makes me feel good.’ It’s
not necessarily so. Therefore, in our daily lives, if we truly look for God, we can see Hirm
anywhere.
I may report to you that in this age of much trouble and disaster, we also have great hope because
God has ordained many saints to come to our world. And the messages are almost identical; that
is, we should seek the kingdom of God first, then everything else will fall into place. Normally, we
try to take care of the worldly problems first. We take things into our hands; we try to run the
universe. But we always feel very disappointed because even the best leader in the political field
can only satisfy people temporarily, and bring them some kind of material comfort. We cannot take
care of the whole world by just our political skill or any other ability, and that’s the problem. It
doesn’t matter how good our intention may be. It is because we have to first seek the kingdom of
God.
The kingdom of God means this supreme power within us. We have connection with it, and that’s
why it is said that God made man in Hiers own image. ‘Image’ doesn’t mean our profile, our body,
or our way of life. It is the image of the invisible, universal power that we are made of; therefore,
the creative power and destructive power are also within us. Most of the time we see disasters that
come from heaven, for example earthquakes or anything else, and they destroy a lot of houses,
many things, many lives. Then we think, ‘That’s terrible! How terrible! How could God do this to
mankind?’ But it was not as terrible as when we dropped an atom bomb, and the effect was longer
lasting. More lives have been destroyed in wars than in any disasters. Is that no so? [Audience:
Yes.]
Make good use of both powers
If we stop to think about it, most of the disasters are brought upon ourselves by our own
misunderstandings, our misuse of the power of God. God has given us the constructive power and
the destructive power for different uses. We should destroy what we need to destroy, and we
should build what has to be built. But sometimes we use them in the wrong direction. It is because
we do not know the better way; we are not illuminated by the Light of wisdom.
It is very simple to find God. It is very simple to know ourselves. The only thing that stands in the
way is our own ego – our own preconceived ideas about what to do, about what God is, and how to
find God. Actually we are endowed with this power, and it is no big deal to find it. If we have
something in our pocket, is it difficult to get it out? No. If I have these beads on my neck, is it
difficult to give them or to show them to you? No, it isn’t! It’s just because our attention is always
wandering around looking at lamps, seeking things and all, that we forget what we have.
Therefore, I say ‘immediate enlightenment,’ because it is there already. It’s just a matter of turning
the attention to where it is, instead of turning the attention all over the place. Why do we have to
turn the attention to this power? Because without this, we can’t work properly. We make a mess of
our world, of our life, and of everything we have a good intention to accomplish. That’s why the
world is as it is today.
Thousands, billions, trillions of years and we have not advanced to the civilization standard of other
planets. For example, other people have UFOs; we don’t. It’s all right to envy the neighbor who has
a Mercedes or Rolls Royce. Why don’t we envy the neighboring planet for UFOs? It would be a
faster and higher aspiration. Now other planets have UFOs for sale. The price is reasonable, it’s
just we can’t get there to buy them and they wouldn’t dare come here to sell them. [Laughter]
Some of the planet businessmen are very eager to come here to establish their enterprise with our
earthly people and to teach us higher technology, but they dare not come. What with the polluted
air of our earth, they would die when they landed. We would probably rob them before they had a
chance to open their mouths to talk about a deal. Or we might shoot them because we’d think they
were invaders. We doubt everyone except our own ignorance. That’s the trouble with us.
With all the money we have spent making rockets, trying to go to Mars and all that without success,
we could buy UFOs, because on other planets, the materials are cheaper and more durable than
ours on earth. For example, the diamonds there are in big blocks, so if you want to wear diamonds
all over your body, it’s fine. It is not necessary that we buy just a piece like this [Master holds up
Her necklace] and it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some good ones cost a lot of money.
But on these kinds of planets, they use diamonds to make UFOs because they are more durable
when they are in contact with the atmosphere. When it’s rubbing with the air, if the substance is not
durable enough, it will break.
Sometimes their techniques also have trouble; some of the first ones broke down a long time ago.
We have read in the newspapers that we have found pieces of these broken-down vehicles and
some of the fragments of the beings there. Maybe this was one being that was a kind of robot
anyhow. Other planets are more technologically advanced because they are more in touch with
their wisdom.
We thought that Jesus and Buddha died and then disappeared into nirvana; it is not the truth. We
can contact Jesus and Buddha if we have the ability to do so and if we can locate where they are.
What dies? Just the fleshly clothes. I wear this cloth, and after some years it will become decayed,
fall into pieces, and become dust again. Similarly, our body is just a different kind of fabric. It
decays a little bit; the decaying process is longer and just gives a different smell. That’s all. It is not
we who die. When we say so-called ‘living,’ we mean that we move, we talk, we love each other,
we can feel each other’s feelings. When we so-called ‘die,’ the body is still the same, the brain is
still there and everything is intact, but still we can’t move, can’t feel anything through the body at
all. The body just lies there just like a discarded garment of no use. That is because the real ‘we,’
the real ‘I,’ just got out of it.
Similarly, in the meditation practice we come and go into the body at will, just like when we take off
the clothing that we wear and change into another or put it back on when we come back. It’s very
easy; therefore, children can do it. Children do it even better because they are not so complicated,
do not have confused preconceptions about what it is like, what it is not like, about God and
whatever. Everything they think is pure and simple. Therefore, if we turn into a child, we can
experience God faster. It is very simple to say, ‘I turned into a child and I experienced God,’ but it is
not easy to do so if we don’t know how. It is very simple, but it is not easy because we don’t know
how. It’s just like you put your glasses in your pocket and then you are busy doing some household
work. Later when you want to find your eyeglasses, you can’t find them. You look all over the
place, you turn every stone up, table, and everything, and you can’t find them. They are all the time
in your pocket. If you don’t look there, you can’t find them. That’s very simple.
Everyone needs enlightenment
Therefore, immediate enlightenment is nothing to question; everyone can have it, and immediately.
I will just show you where it is. It is inside you because the kingdom of God is within us. God is all
the nobleness, the goodness that all humanity generates together, has created together. That is
why God is within us, and that is the common good of all mankind. We can make use of it or we
don’t have to make use of it, it’s up to us. If we use it, it’s so much better for us in our daily work
even, and so much better for our planet. We can see how fast we grow into the galaxy’s united
spirit and work with all beings on different planets.
Our life could be more meaningful, more colorful, more broad in every aspect, instead of clinging to
a corner of our earth and knowing not much about why we are born and why we have to die after
so much trouble of birth, growing, and enduring so much suffering and so much misery that are not
always entirely our fault. And we don’t even understand where we come from and why we have to
come. Therefore, enlightenment truly is a must for everyone. Why should we live in darkness when
we could switch on the light? If we know where the switch is, the light is always immediately turned
on. Similarly, the Light of the whole universe is within us; we have to just plug in or switch on, and
then we are in the kingdom of God, we are in the Light.
We are here to offer you this knowledge of how to turn on your heavenly vision, television. You can
watch and see what else is there, apart from our ephemeral body, apart from our limited earth,
apart from our very small amount of knowledge. We always worship the saints and sages of the
past and the present. We envy them, love them, and adore them, but why? It is because they have
found their greatest supreme power. We are exactly the same as these saints, not a little bit
different, not at all different.
It is better that we turn and worship ourselves. Know how great you are and then worship your self.
Everything is there for you. You don’t even need to ask for any blessings. They will flow into our
lives every day because we are the source of all blessings, of all wisdom, and all love. Then,
whether the neighbors love us or don’t love us, we just love them. We feel fulfilled in our giving and
our loving instead of expecting any love from other people. People will be also infected by our love
and our wisdom; they will also become enlightened. Whoever even looks at us once will be
different, never the same again.
That is the power that we possess. We can use it anytime, anytime at all, if we know where. Just
like electricity, if we know where to turn on the switch for the whole house, the electrical power is
for our use. We can use it for cooking, turning on the fan, for the air conditioning, for the
refrigerator, for video equipment, for television, for everything we wish to use – but only if we know
that we have electrical power inside our house. That’s what we want to offer you – to know what
you have and how to use it. Otherwise, we do feel sorry that people live the way they do, and they
shouldn’t! They don’t deserve to live such miserable lives. They are God’s children; they have God
within themselves. They can let God rule and run their lives and do everything for them in God’s
wisdom instead of in the limited brain-computer power.
We run around ten hours or eight hours a day trying to do many things and trying to accomplish a
great deal but we can only do so much, and our world is still like this. Even if we advance in some
of the electromagnetic fields or in technology, we regress somewhere else because we don’t do it
with wisdom and we don’t enlighten the world with the true wisdom that everyone has.
We try to copy some of the apparatuses from the astral world which people reject up there, throw
into the garbage, and here we pick them up and they become our top, best-selling inventions. Most
of our technologies are rejected things from the upper region. The best thing is to enlighten all the
people of the world, and then each one can use his own greatest power to work together.
Otherwise, if some person is working very hard here to do something, many of the others are
against him. Many of our techniques are very destructive. We cause a lot of damage to our world
because of our so-called intelligence.
Intelligence and wisdom are different. Wisdom is wiser and we can see the whole universal plan.
Intelligence is just from the brain. We collect some information and we pull it out again, very limited.
That is what we learn and we see, the influences from other beings, and is from very material
information. If we use wisdom, we have the whole storehouse of the universal plan and then we
can pick up whatever we need to benefit our world and ourselves. We can live in a higher state of
thinking, a higher state of perception. It’s not the way we think as we do now. It’s just like when we
grow up, we think differently. We know things in a wiser way, not like when we were children and
we did not know what was behind many things.
To be enlightened is to grow up in spirit and to do things in an adult way. We have the ability to do
this if we just know how. Of course, after enlightenment you will probably see things differently.
You will see things just as dreams and have no more desire even to teach people. But then
because of the destructive world, because of the misery of the world, because people call on you
to help, you will have to do for the sake of other people. Otherwise, to the enlightened sage, there
is nothing to do.
Okay, I think I’ll leave you to ask questions. Thank you very much. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, some meditation practitioners claimed they saw a vision of a great disaster in
the world. During that disaster, millions of people were killed. Is that real? What is Your
opinion?
M. It will be real if many more of our worldly residents do not wake up and use their own great
saving power inside. God has given us the lifesaving power, but most of us don’t use it. Of
course, everything is created and will be destroyed in the proper time if we don’t have enough
creative power to sustain it, to restore it. Just like if a house is built, but we don’t repair it, even
if we have all the tools in the house, all the paint, and all the equipment to repair the house,
but we don’t do it, then the house will be pulled down or damaged by itself.
Even if the house is pulled down and damaged, we have emergency exists and all that. But if
we don’t know them, and if we don’t use them, of course, we will be in danger. Therefore, I
would like to offer you this opportunity to save yourselves at least, should it come to that. But
how many people hear me? The thing is so simple, unconditional – you just sit there and
relax, just like you sleep, and then all this power will come to you; all the knowledge of your
past, the memories, will come to you; all the skills of life will come to you. It’s so simple, but
how many heed this?
They keep asking me all the time about the end of the world! We will end anyhow when we
die, so we might as well save our souls. If we want to save the world, we have to contribute
our power, the supreme power. We have to take it back and use it; otherwise, who else can
do this? The angels have their worlds, their duties to do; Jesus is teaching somewhere else
more advanced than our earth; Buddha has gone to Buddha’s land to do His thing. Only we
are here to rescue ourselves.
If you are afraid of these disasters, then get enlightenment. Repair our house; restore our
world into a more moral standard and a more enlightened planet, then no disaster will befall
us. Otherwise, even if I don’t know anything about the future, I could say, ‘Yes, everything
could happen.’ If the world is becoming so rotten a place, not fit to live, then God would pull it
down and create a new one.
We are the Supreme Master
Q. How do you develop the third eye?
M. You don’t develop the third eye. It’s already there. We can’t develop what is not material. The
third eye is just a way of speaking. There isn’t an eye at all. It just means that normally we
have two eyes and we see things in a limited vision, but if we have the other eye, the third
eye, we can see things in the whole universe. That’s why it’s called the third eye.
The soul doesn’t need an eye to see, doesn’t need ears to hear, doesn’t need any sensory
apparatus to perceive things. That’s the highest Truth. That’s the highest perception, without
having to use any fleshly instrument. That is our soul power, the Supreme Master within us,
which knows all things, hears all things in all ways, everywhere. That’s what we have to find.
We are the Supreme Master of all the universe.
Can you imagine how great you are, and then how you live your life now? [Master sighs]
That’s why I feel very sorry for you. You come here to listen to me. You shouldn’t have to do
it! We are equals; we are exactly the same. We have the same power. You shouldn’t even
have to respect me. That’s a very sad thing. You will know it if you accept what I say, and then
you will know just what I know, what Christ know, what Buddha knows.
Q. Dear Master, how do we develop our wisdom as lay people?
M. Lay or not lay – do I look like a monk or something? [Laughter] I already grew my hair for you
and you are still talking about lay and monk. There is no lay, no monk. There is only one, and
that’s the Master, the Master power. The Master never has to be a monk. That’s the God
within you. God never needs us to shave our heads or do anything. It’s just because we don’t
know it. If we knew it, we would have already arrived there.
Lay person or not lay person, what are you talking about? I was ignorant when I became a
nun; you don’t have to be! A true monk is one without desires and you can do that in daily life
also. You have a wife – because you have her, so you continue being devoted and faithfully
love each other. You help each other to grow, to search for the ‘non-wife’ and ‘non-husband’
within, the ‘non-feminine,’ ‘non-masculine’ inside, the everlasting ‘we.’ Otherwise, what is a
monk useful for? He recites the sutras, and he eats vegetarian food. That, you can do at
home. Just because you have a little exercise with your wife or husband, that makes no
difference. God doesn’t need all these things. These are at the physical level; we can go
above that.
A man who goes above the physical level is a monk. He can do things or he can not do
things. He doesn’t have to. These are just physical. We don’t talk about physical exercise; we
go above that. Of course after being enlightened, a great deal of desires will fall out, and then
you just do things without desire. If you have to do something, you do it. If you don’t have to
do it, you don’t do it. Very simple.
Q. What are Your views on reincarnation?
M. There is no reincarnation. The soul never reincarnates, but just our habitual thinking, our
desires, our attachments, reincarnate. If we know the soul, if we’re enlightened, if we know the
connection with the whole universe, we are not reincarnated anywhere. We’re always right
there. We’re never born and never die.
All this is theoretical talk. Just get enlightenment and you will know all things. No need to
waste my paper. All the paper that my disciples printed for you, I think is a waste of money.
Think about the recession of our time! Get enlightenment, save everything: Save printing,
save paper, save time, save the rent money for this lecture hall. [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. Do You agree that the planet is entering a new age of enlightenment and that the feminine
influence will now prevail?
M. Why should the feminine aspect prevail? Just because you see me as a female Master? I am
perhaps the only female Master so I can’t beat all the male Masters in this world. [Laughter]
It is not the feminine aspect, but it is probably motherly love that prevails in our world. God is
both feminine and masculine. We are both feminine and masculine; do not identify us with a
woman’s body or a man’s apparatus. These are only the clothes we wear. Sometimes it’s
different. Just like I wear something like this, that lady wears something like that, and the
gentleman here loves sports – probably just came in from running, so he wears something like
that.
And if we enter the new enlightening age or not, it is up to you to decide. It’s not up to me or
anyone to say. If we are all enlightened, or many of us are enlightened, we would enter a new
enlightening age. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter who predicts what and who decides what age
we are in, what is the use? We are still living in darkness.
Originally we are one
Q. If we are all one, doesn’t Your enlightenment enlighten me also?
M. Yes, but you don’t know that we are one; that’s the problem. If you already know that I and
you are one, then of course my enlightenment is yours. But you don’t know; only I know.
Suppose the parents recognize a son that has been lost for many years, but the son doesn’t
recognize the parents, so all the property from the parents does not become his. The son will
not acknowledge them and has no right to receive anything. He has to prove that right. The
parents also have to try to prove to the son that he is their son.
I am trying to prove to you now through the ‘immediate enlightenment’ process that you and I
are one, and my enlightenment, you can get also; therefore, you can get it immediately to
prove that we are one. But now you sit there, I sit here; I can’t do much for you. Yes, I do
something, but because you sit there and your attention is fixed on me and also on the outer
world, you can’t know it yet. At initiation, I tell you to focus inside, you know where it is, and
immediately you see that we are one. What I have, you have, at least to some degree. And
then you discover more and more about your greatness, day by day, with the daily meditation
practice.
Q. How does one overcome mental abuse by parents and others? How does one know whether
he or she has indeed forgiven someone?
M. Each family is different. Sometimes family members misunderstand each other. The parents
try to do their best to look after the children, and the children sometimes look at it in a different
way, thinking the parents are too over-domineering, and therefore they feel resentful. So we
can never tell. The best way I can tell you is to be loving and kind to your parents because
they are the representatives of God. They take care of you in the name of God. Their love for
you is the love of God through their bodies and care. Pray to God all the time, with all your
might and sincerity, so that you see things in a different way. And if your parents truly are
unknowingly abusing you, they will change and harmony will prevail within your family.
The second question is that when you truly forgive someone, you have no more hatred toward
that person, no more blaming, no more obstructive thinking – just very easy. When you see
him or her, or when you think of her, it is just like you think of anyone else without any of the
resentment.
Q. Master Ching Hai, does God sit upon a throne in heaven observing, judging, and recording all
our actions on earth to determine whether we shall rise to heaven or be doomed to eternal
hell?
M. No, there is no such God. All these things whether happiness or disaster are brought upon
ourselves by our own misunderstandings and abusing the power of free will. We have to
correct our ways, use our free will in a proper way, and then we will be all right.
By the way, I would like to mention again about the meditation subject. Everyone just says, ‘I
meditate and I can’t find anything. I can’t have peace of mind, or I am in trouble and I am in a
possessed state.’ It is because you do it wrongly. You just call anything meditation. Of course,
everyone meditates. People meditate on money, fame, power, political struggles, and all that.
Everyone meditates on something, but please don’t misunderstand that is meditation on God.
Meditation has proper techniques and it is safer to follow the footsteps of the great Masters of
all times.
Q. How does use of psychic abilities hinder spiritual development?
M. Because psychic ability is still one corner of the whole. If we cling to one corner, then we
cannot attain the complete state. That’s it. Just like magical power and all that, these are
binding, golden chains.
Q. Is it important for us to tell our families about You, or will You take care of becoming known to
them?
M. Do what you can in your power. Otherwise, why should God use us at all? We do what we
can, think properly, and leave the result to the universal plan. That’s the proper way, not
always sitting there and waiting for the Master to do everything, or thinking that Master knows
everything.
Of course, I know everything – maybe, if I am a Master, but you have to know it as well. It’s
your duty to know it. Your duty is to do what you have to do. Just like a student in a class, the
teacher knows everything, but the student has to learn all the same. The student cannot say
to the teacher, ‘Look, you know everything. You know all these questions, why ask me?’
[Laughter] Yes, it’s our duty; we have to know. We have to do what we should do.
Q. Is pain a part of God?
M. No, pain is what we have inflicted upon ourselves by doing something not according to the
plan of the universal intelligence. It is a reminder that we should correct our ways.
Q. How do parents help children become enlightened?
M. Well, just get them initiated and they will get enlightened themselves. They have
enlightenment within themselves just like the parents do. We are all equal, actually.
Q. Is there any universal language? Is that Sound close to Aum?
M. The universal language is the inner current that unites all things and brings all beings to
understand each other without language. The sound Aum is the Sound of the second level. It
is not the only Sound, and it’s not the highest Sound in the universe.
Q. Why do we need to meditate? What is the advantage? People say that if we don’t meditate
right, we will have trouble. Please explain.
M. Look at our world and answer yourself. Look at your state of mind and answer yourself. Look
at the way you live your life, look at how miserable many of us are, and answer yourself why
you have to meditate, why you have to have enlightenment. It’s not my problem; it’s not that
anyone has to tell us to get enlightenment. We just have to rescue ourselves and rescue the
world.
Of course, if you meditate at random as I have already mentioned, you will run into trouble. If
you tap inside the great power without knowing how to handle it, you will run into trouble. If
you tap the wrong side of power and run into the negative force, you’ll have more trouble.
Therefore, it is best, of course, to have an experienced friend or Teacher to help.
The omnipresent, great enlightened one
Q. What is the difference in the life of an enlightened person and an ordinary person?
M. What’s the difference between Jesus and other priests? He is different. What’s the difference
between Buddha and the other monks of His time? He is different. He knows His supreme
power; He is one with the universal power. He can do what He wishes, saves whom He wants
to save, knows what He wants to know, and lacks nothing in life. He is happy wherever He is;
He’s omnipresent; He can help whoever calls on Him. That is the difference between an
enlightened person and a not-enlightened person.
Q. Can one have enlightenment just by listening to the inner Sound?
M. Sure, that is the enlightenment itself to some degree, until you recover your complete wisdom.
THE COMMUNICATION WITH GOD, ALL OF US CAN ATTAIN 10

Muchas gracias, good evening. The communication with God, all of us can attain. There are many
ways to reach God-realization or at least to have communion with God. We can do that through
very deep and sincere prayers, or very deep longing for communion with God, or someone might
do it through some meditative process. There are many ways, but there are some ways shorter,
some ways longer, some ways more secure, and some other ways are short-lived. If we are in very
deep and sincere prayer, we may have a glimpse of the kingdom of God, and if we have the grace
of God, we will also have a glimpse of Hirm. But if we know precisely where God resides, then it is
easier to find God and to find Hirm every day. That’s what we are here tonight to share with you.
While I was in meditation this day before I came here, there was much information coming for you,
and I hope I can remember it all.
In the eyes of the enlightened person, the world is perfect. We always have heard sayings like that,
but then why do we see suffering? Why is God very loving and kind, but does not make the world
apparently perfect? But the world is very, very, very perfect. It is because we do not turn into the
‘perfection nature’ of the world that we do not see it. The true world lies beyond our sensory
perception; the world we see around us is only a poor coy. That’s why I say the world is already
perfect. Most of us do not see the perfection of God’s creation, but we can by sincere longing and
by a precise technique.
It is just like God assigned women to bear children; God also assigned a certain way to have
communication with Hirm. It is a little difficult to convey all this, but I’ll try my best. The inner
perception and outer language sometimes do not match. In the bible, it is stated that, ‘God made
man in Hiers own image.’ It is exactly just that. I’ll tell you why. As I have mentioned, this world
around us that we can see, we can touch, is a poor copy of a true, perfect world; nevertheless, we
go from the copy and then we can compare it to the true one.
‘God made man in Hiers own image’ means we have the creative power just like God and we have
all the qualities that God has. Now, we started from the lower level. We humans have many
qualities as a copy of a perfect quality. We have temperament, we have emotion, we have
intelligence, intellectual intelligence, we have creative power, we have free will, and we have a holy
quality. We have a little bit of each. Of course, we have some negative habits also due to our
collecting them from outside, but that was originally not there. That was the outcome of our
interactions with each other and between us and the world at large.
10. Public lecture, Central Cultural University, Mexico City, Mexico, April 1, 1993 (Originally in English).
Qualities of God
Let’s begin with our emotion, intellect, and free will, et cetera. And the negative tendency, it’s not
the thing that God has created, so we just leave it aside for the moment. Whatever we have in our
life, in the apparent, outer life, we have it rooted in the invisible, perfect world of God’s creation. If
we do not have the perfect side of our nature, then we have only a part of it and we are not a
complete being; therefore, we cannot be perfect as our Father in heaven who is perfect. And of
course, we cannot see the world as perfect. All the suffering, all the misunderstanding, all the
misery in the world is not God’s fault and it’s not God’s will. It is our lack of understanding the
perfect side of our nature and the perfect side of God’s creation. God has given us a way to know;
before we were born, God placed it there within us, but we have forgotten.
There is nothing negative about being emotional, or being too intellectual, or even being greedy
about the things of this world. In God’s creation, there is nothing that is negative. It is just that we
misuse or we do not understand how to handle our quality that it looks negative. In order to perfect
our life and to see the perfect side of God’s creation, we can learn to know ourselves. Just like the
car, if we know how to drive, it will go smoothly and it will carry us to our destination. If we do not
know, the same car will bring us disaster and maybe loss of life.
For example, our emotions – in our life, our emotions cost us a great deal. Sometimes they cost
the loss of a nation or lives. It is because we don’t know how to handle them. If we raise ourselves
above the coarse level of emotion to the finer level of perfect emotions, then we know how. Then
emotion becomes a good tool for us. At that time, we dare to laugh and we dare to cry with perfect
harmony, and we have no artificial restraint about feelings anymore. We just know exactly how to
react emotionally at the right moment, which brings relief to ourselves, and brings joy or maybe
relief to other people.
Further up, we have the intellectual quality. If we just have the learned intellect from books, from
the society, and from our worldly information without getting in touch with the real root of our
intellectual source, the true intellectual power which is beyond words, beyond literature, beyond
book knowledge, then many times we just babble forth what we have learned or what we have
remembered by heart, without understanding the essential meaning of what it is. And most often,
we repeat what are other people’s opinions without our own taste or our own true realization. If two
or there or many of such people are together in such a coarse level of intellect, which is rooted in
our perfect world, then it is different. At that time, we have heavenly eloquence; we speak only
when necessary, and whatever we speak drives directly to the heart of the listeners and uplifts
them to the finer level of understanding.
If we climb further into the perfect world of ours, above the intellectual level, then we will find the
creative force, which creates all things in this world and two more worlds beyond. All of us have
creative power in human existence; therefore, we can make life more comfortable with many kind
of technological equipment. But above that, we have creative imagination – that is, we imagine
many things but we cannot bring them into fulfillment. But if we reach the finer level, the higher
level of our creative power that is inherent within us, we can make them come true. We can even
relinquish our so-called ‘karma,’ meaning the guilty feelings that we, most of the time, carry around
with us, and instead, we even create heaven for ourselves, create glory of our life. That is the finer
level of creative force.
Should we climb further up into the kingdom of God, to the perfect world, then probably we will
encounter difficulty because God places something there to test our courage. And as God is
infinitely fearless, there’s nothing beyond and above God, Hes wants us to be fearless. Therefore,
Hes places something there to discourage us, but at the same time, to encourage us, to make us
realize our fearlessness, to make us realize that, ‘I and my Father are one.’ And as God made us in
Hiers image, we should be exactly perfect and fearless as Hes. This fearsome and dark region, we
will also pass through, but with an experienced guide, of course it would be better, faster, and
safer.
After that, we arrive at the border of reality, the world of perfection. We can have the whole, the
general view of the true world. We can explore further up the whole kingdom of God. We can see
how perfect our world, our universe, already is. Then we can see that all the sufferings, all the
apparent miseries, are just illusion, just a dream, or just like a drama, and there’s nothing to worry
about.
But before that, we can have a taste of the reality from the first step, second step, third step, and
so on. We begin to already have a very firm conviction that the world is not as we perceived it to
be. The real world and our apparent world are just like a real man and his shadow. If we only know
the shadow and do not know the real man, we only know the illusionary nature of the man’s
shadow. The saint and the enlightened persons enjoy both worlds, and detachment comes easily
to them because they know the real. When I meditate, I see things in a more flowing and smooth
manner, but when I put it into language it is so clumsy that I feel a little frustrated. [Master laughs.]
Please, forgive me, but did I make myself a little clear to you? [Audience: Yes.] Thank you.
If we take some time to ponder, then we will realize that in some moment of our life we nearly
glimpsed God, we nearly realized our true nature. Or sometimes, we have sorrow and very deep
depression, and we pray very deeply to the Father and we feel uplifted into some different world
than the world of our own, a world of happiness, of joy, of Light – a brilliant Light. Or sometimes,
we had a glimpse of Jesus Christ and He had words of comfort to us; or for the Buddhist, we might
see the Buddha, et cetera.
Actually, Jesus and Buddha are all sons of God. There must be different appearances to suit
different tastes. Because our Father is very rich and generous. Hes can make thousands, billions
and trillions, numerous appearances to please Hiers children. Therefore, sometimes our initiate
fellow practitioners see different things. And God is very humorous; Hes makes the Buddhists see
Jesus and makes the Moslems see Krishna. And I can just laugh. [Master and audience laugh.]
What can you do in the situation that the Christian, who had never a tendency to believe in Islam,
would see Mohammed, for example? That is the joke of God. But when we see these holy
personages inside, we have no feeling of discrimination anymore. We just feel too grateful, too
happy, for God’s grace that we shed tears, because together with the appearance of Jesus,
Buddha or Krishna, there is the accompaniment of Light and joy, wisdom and an uplifting in spirit.
I think some of you will understand what I mean. When we have deep prayers or at least a very
uplifting feeling of joy, no sorrow or suffering of the world could ever touch us that moment. That is
the time when we are in touch with the true world, the perfect world, and have at least a moment’s
contact with the real world. And after the vision has left us, the feeling has left us, we feel a great
loss and we long for it again, because to most of us, these visions are very, very rare. But if we
want to keep these visions, we have the way to do it.
We have come to share with you the way to get hold of God permanently, and do not let Hirm
escape. That is the way to eternal happiness. And once we have that firmly in our grasp, we never
fear anything whatsoever, because we are always with the Father. We are often in the real world,
and see the drama of this world as just a play. We may enjoy it, or we don’t enjoy it; it doesn’t
matter, because we have the real thing. Just like when we have grown up, and if we lose a little
plastic toy, it doesn’t matter. We may play with the children. We use the plastic toys. We play with
them just like the real things, but we are not attached to these children’s toys anymore, and that is
true renunciation, true monkshood.
Most of the time we have heard that the world is already perfect, there is nothing to do, or ‘Be you
perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect’. But we always wonder how, simply because we
do not have the chance to know the reality. After we know, we will say the same thing. In case you
have not known it, or you have forgotten, then we may remind you. Should you have found it by
yourself or by another means, then it’s perfect with us. Then together we may work for the world;
we may share our knowledge with other brothers and sisters, those who have still forgotten how to
do it. That’s the purpose of our presence in your friendly, lovely, beautiful country.
I have been here three days, and I enjoy every day with your company. Every day, the people of
your country came and showered us with love, with trust, with friendship, and with open-
mindedness. I feel so different in your country, very different, and all of the questions that have
been posed to me are super intelligent – nothing of the petty, material level. And it was so
comfortable for me that for the first time I don’t have to always explain to people why I wear like
this, why I do like that. For the first time, I feel that I am in good rapport with the friends that come.
Well, it’s not the first time, but I mean it’s one of the rare times. It’s truly very pleasing for me. So
much that this morning I even had an illusion that maybe I will stay here for good. [Applause]
Thank you for your love. It’s just an illusion, I guess. Well at least, I have to go around the world for
two more months. So I have to put aside my illusion for the time being, but I truly thought like that
this morning while I meditated. I was smiling alone when I thought of the moments being with you,
the kind of feeling that you have trusted friends.
What else should we talk about apart from having a permanent residence here? Is it possible? I
have a British passport. What’s the condition – maybe, one thousand US dollars or no, one millions
US dollars, in the bank on deposit? [Laughter] With that I have no problem. I will sell my paintings,
and I’ll have it. Just a little bit of joking to make you relax, otherwise, everyone will have a stiff neck.
[Master and audience laugh.]
Happiness comes when we know God
In order to know the kingdom of God, we should know our whole quality, as I have stated before.
Only after knowing ourselves completely do we know God, because God made us in Hiers own
image. If we live a life of misery and suffering, it’s our own free will because even if we have
forgotten how to know ourselves, God has always sent someone to remind us.
The seed of wisdom is within us. If we know it, we are more fearless than any great hero of our
history. If we do not know it, everything could upset us, everything could frighten us, and we never
feel happy even if we possess the whole world. That’s why we have greed and we have desires,
because we never feel truly happy. We think if we have more possessions, more money, then we’ll
be happy; or we think if we fall in love often, then we’ll be more happy, but we end up more
miserable than before because nothing can replace the pleasure in the kingdom of God. That’s
why we must seek the kingdom of God and all the things shall be coming unto us. By knowing our
holy quality, our perfect self, we will enter the kingdom of God.
When we sleep, nothing in the world affects us because at that time, we are unconsciously in
communion with God, with our real source, with the true world. But when we are awake, we forget.
We are dragged down into the material existence, and we are swimming in the illusionary vision. If
we could bring this ‘deep-sleep’ state into the ‘awakened’ state, then we’ll be happy twenty four
hours a day. That’s why after we sleep, we feel refreshed and recharged, and in sleep, we have no
hatred for anyone, very rarely. If we sleep deeply, we don’t have any hatred or any dreams
because we are unconsciously in contact with the true, perfect world.
The method of Quan Yin, or contemplating of the real world, is to bring this unconscious state into
conscious awakening in daily life, and therefore bring us happiness twenty four hours a day. The
more we practice, the more we become expert, and the more we are happy and fearless because
we are the Master of the real world. In the whole universe, we will reign supreme; therefore, who
can do anything to us? Even if something happens, we know it’s just a play because we have life
eternal in our hands. If we lose the body, it’s just like we lose one pair of trousers, and we know we
have plenty in our closet. For example, I design my clothes myself. It’s cheaper, and more
beautiful. I love beauty, Truth, and virtue. Who says God is ugly? [Laughter] I have many clothes,
and should I lose one, I can design another. I would never feel terribly depressed if I lose one set of
my clothes like this, because I’m able to make hundreds of them and I can have a new set in two
hours, one hour. In the kingdom of God, we can have things faster than that.
If we are in possession of our creative power again, we can do anything. That’s why we have heard
that Jesus or Buddha can help many people – bring them from hell to heaven, heal the sick, cure
the blind, rescue all His disciples into the kingdom of God, and fulfill their wishes in many different
places simultaneously. It is because Jesus has the real power from the true world. He has become
one with the Father. He has become perfect as the Father.
Of course, we do not crave for the fulfillment of these material comforts, nor does the Master care
to display all this power that He has. It is more important that He show to the disciples the real
world, and not create toys in the material level for them to play with. But in case it’s truly necessary,
absolutely unavoidable, He would make a few miracles or two, one or two. Therefore, He didn’t go
around the world and cure all the blind, heal all the sick, and raise all the dead to life. He raised
only Lazarus, as you know. You know the bible; you know better than I do.
Also, many people ask me, ‘Jesus had great power, why didn’t He make all the world see the true
world, all the world go to the kingdom of God at once, instead of having to go through suffering like
that?’ That’s the free will. Each one has to choose to go back to the Father, or stay here and play
around. If we do not make good use of our free will, we create trouble. But it’s all right; God is
infinitely patient. Therefore, Hes just lets us play and does not destroy our world. Well, Hes does
sometimes; part of it, just to tickle us into remembering that life here is ephemeral and full of
disasters and sufferings, and the only way to escape is to return to the true world which is perfect
and eternal. But because the majority of us cannot see the true world, we cling to this world and we
don’t let go. If we have a glimpse of the true world, and often have such glimpses, then of course
we don’t have any more attachment to this world. Therefore, many Masters have come and offered
us to see, to have a glimpse, into the real world, so that we might have less attachment for the
illusionary world.
We also offer the same. First, see the kingdom of God, and then you can even decide, but mostly
after seeing the kingdom of God, we just want to stay there. And we can have both the real world
and this world at the same time, should we be still a little unsure or still afraid to let go. Yes, we can
have grown-up things of the adult, but we don’t have to throw away our children’s toys. It’s all right.
Therefore, many adults still keep their childhood teddy bears when they sleep. It’s fine.
The method of meditation does not necessitate us to leave home, to go the Himalayas. You may
go for a ten day excursion, and we don’t need to go to be a monk in the temple. We can be if we
want to. One person asked me yesterday, ‘How can we combine spiritual practice with daily
practical life? We have to work; we have to take care of our family, and fulfill our duty in the world.’
And he said, ‘Enlightenment seems like only for those who stay in the monastery and have a good
and a tranquil life. Otherwise, for us, it’s not possible.’ I said to him, ‘Not all the people in
monasteries are necessarily enlightened, and not all the people who walk beside you on the street
are ignorant.’ In these days, most of the practitioners of this method are just ordinary, like us. I
have even tried to put on earrings so that you think I’m normal [Laughter] – that I’m not an
extraterrestrial or something from heaven. [Laughter] All of us can meditate and keep a very
ordinary life.
In these days, many of our fellow practitioners have come from different countries to see me. I
think I can name a few to back up my introduction. A Chinese, Hung Hai – he worked for the
Chinese ambassador in Costa Rica. He just quit because he didn’t want to go back to Formosa; he
loves Costa Rica. Now, I don’t know who else there is. A couple from Panama but I don’t know
what they do. What is your job, brother? [Brother: Engineer.] An engineer from Panama, and a
couple of medical doctors from San Jose and Costa Rica. I don’t see the husband but I see the
wife is here. Some medical doctors, and then some others. Many, mucho, mucho. These are
professors and a Christian priest from Honduras. And I see Marcos over there; he worked for the
American embassy. I can’t remember any more. That’s just about it. There are too many to
mention.
So now, you know all the saints are sitting around with you. They live in the real world at the same
time as in our world. They are enjoying heaven while fulfilling their duty as citizens in this world.
Therefore, be assured and be at ease if you would like to join the kingdom of God. And then
together we will work to beautify our world and bless our world with the Father’s power that is
inside. The initiation includes five, six, seven generations. You can bring them to heaven with you
after their time is up. And it’s all unconditional: No charge, no binding, nothing, now and never,
ever.
All right, I think I have spoken enough for now. If you have any more question, I’ll be happy to
elaborate further. Thank you. [Applause]
Q. How can I get rid of the negative and only keep the positive?
M. By always turning to the positive. But it would be easier when we know how. That’s why at the
initiation, we will tell you. If not, every time you have a negative thought, stop it, and pray
immediately to the Father or whatever faith that you have, and replace it with the contrary
positive thinking. And don’t let it become action or speech. Even if it becomes action or
speech, stop it. Don’t go further.
Q. Dear Sister, I have recently heard that we should also learn how to forgive God.
M. That’s very generous of you. Hes would be appreciative. If we want to forgive God, first we
should learn to know God. And then we know where Hiers bad quality is in order to forgive.
But I’m afraid you’ll only know Hiers good quality, and you will only love God.
Q. There is a lot of abstract thought in spiritual realization. How can I get to know myself in a very
practical, straight forward, and easy manner?
M. Our method is not a thinking method. It’s just direct contact with God’s power, with the Light of
heaven, with the Sound of God. At that time, there is no need for reasoning anymore. Just like
we talk a lot about water, but when we drink it, ‘finito.’ So we invite you to come to drink the
water.
At the time of initiation, apart from just casual instructions, the real initiation takes place in
absolute silence and you are left alone with God, without any intellectual interference of any
kind. And in silence, you will see the Light shine forth from heaven without using the eyes; you
will hear the Word of God without using the ears – direct contact, merging in the real world.
Q. Can we overcome negative karma by means of the Quan Yin method?
M. Of course, that’s what it is for. Otherwise, what is the use? At the time of initiation, all our past
karma and negative burdens will be burned away by the Light of God. And we just live out our
life waiting for the time to go Home. Not only us, but also our five, six, seven generations, and
our friends, our loved ones, are liberated. Even if they are in hell, they will be pulled up to
heaven because of the tremendous power from the kingdom of God. The Truth will dispel all
falsehoods; the grace of God will erase all negative traits.
Q. Frequently when I am in meditation, when I am praying, tears will come to my eyes. Is it good
to cry? Why does one cry?
M. If you cry and you don’t know, how do I know? [Laughter] Usually, it denotes cleansing of our
impurity, and we’ll feel much more relieved afterward. But don’t cry too much; you will dry up.
[Laughter]
Q. Do You think that we human beings will ever be able to understand the Truth and know why
we are here? And will there be an end to the misery and the suffering?
M. Sure! Definitely! That’s why I am here – to remind you that we can. If I can, you can. If our
disciples can, you can. We are no different: The nose is between the eyes in both of us.
Q. Could You elaborate, please, on the fact that when one gets illumination, he takes with him
five generations?
M. More than that, I just say five in case you think I am exaggerating. Even your friends with
whom you have sympathy, strangers, anyone in connection with you, the Father also takes
care, because God is very generous, very merciful. Whomever you love, Hes loves.
The purpose of a vegetarian diet
Q. Can I get to know God even if I eat meat, especially small wild life? This is a part of the
Mexican culture to be in communion with nature. So even ingesting meat, could I get to know
God?
M. Sure you can, but then it will breed some side-effects and your vision might not be as pure as
it should be. Therefore, according to the law of God, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ it would be best to
keep to a pure vegetarian diet, if possible, if we would like to know God completely, if we want
to awaken this tremendous power within us, we have to be prepared for it. Just to prepare us
with a certain special diet, certain medicine, et cetera, and we should not transgress.
The vegetarian diet is not only to nourish our love for all beings, but also to give us a very
enduring strength in order to receive, to deal with this tremendous power, once we tap within.
It has been proved since time immemorial that a man who wants the complete kingdom of
God, complete oneness with the Father, should refrain from a meat diet. But if you would like
to have a taste of it or just a partial experience of the true world, we will help you in another
way. We have an expedient method that will be taught to you if you present yourself at the
information desk. And of course, you are to be vegetarian whenever it is convenient for you in
that direction. For the complete realization and to prepare for initiation, we should adhere to
the vegetarian diet.
Q. Do You have any opinion regarding the statement that Mexico is a very important country for
the future of the world?
M. Every country is important for the future of the world. Without one or another, we are not the
world. Of course, if the Mexican people are more spiritually advanced, then in the future, your
good country will contribute a great deal of help and blessing to the world. We have the power
to do that; just know God, and then we bless the whole world. It’s up to you to make your
country become the most important country of this universe. If we are just proud of ourselves
and do nothing about it, then it’s no use. We have to have something in order to be important.
We must earn money in order to be able to help people.
Q. Master, is it possible by the law of karma to adopt an animal body after human life?
M. Yes, it’s possible. If our life standard is below human dignity, which means subconsciously we
desire a kind of animal life, then we will be granted this experience until we think, ‘Okay, we’ve
had enough of it!’ Then we’ll be lifted up again. Similarly, if our standard is above the human
standard, then we will enter the angelic circle or sainthood. It is a matter of choice.
Q. Our life is a gift from God; what we do with it is our gift to God. I once heard that through
dreams God communicates Hiers wishes. What do You think about this?
M. Do you think it is like that? All of you think? Yes or no? [Audience: No.] No. Maybe in some
rare cases, occasionally we can have a glimpse into the will of God, but most of the time that
is just a karmic reaction. Of course, God accepts whatever action we do, but it is we who reap
the consequence. God says, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ Therefore, we just take care that
we do not reap a very undesirable result; that is all. God doesn’t care.
What we see in dreams sometimes concerns events in the future. That is because in sleep we
access into the storehouse of cause and effect and then see what is written there. It is not
necessarily the almighty God that conveys the message to us. In the casual world, there is
library that is a place where everything is recorded and if we somehow pass by, then we’ll
see. Some people have access to that library any time they want. Some do so occasionally in
dreams or in meditation. If we practice our method, we can sometimes pass by and have a
look at it if necessary.
Q. The people that today get their initiation, how will they keep contact afterwards?
M. We contact inside; we don’t need physical contact. We contact through the real channel, not
through the illusionary channel. I don’t need to be here or to be there at the time of initiation.
We do it through the inner communication, through our own wisdom, which understands
without listening, sees without the eyes, and hears without the ears. But of course, you can
contact me by writing, by phone, by fax. Today, it’s very simple.
After initiation, every time you ask a question you have abided by the instructions, every time
you ask a question you have an immediate answer. But in case the mind still doubts, then
write or ask physically. I could also send some advanced disciples to help you in solving some
basic questions. Our world is very small; don’t worry that I’ll escape somewhere.
Q. What is the importance of music in our life? Does it have any importance?
M. Yes, it is very important. That’s why many people in mental hospitals use music as one of the
healing instruments. And sometimes after a hard day’s work, we listen to some soft soothing
music and it’s very relaxing and recharging. In some of the factories, they put on music so that
the people will work better, but that is only the outer music
Can you imagine how much more beneficial it is if we listen to the inner Sound, the Sound
from heaven that the initiation will help you to rediscover? This Sound is the Word of God. It
will give us more and more wisdom, more and more intelligence, each day. Together with the
Light of God, it will bring us closer and closer to the Father, and then tell us everything in this
nonverbal language of how to handle our daily life. That’s how the lives of the initiates become
better, more comfortable, more intelligent, and nearer to God each day.
Q. We thank the Lord for having someone like You. Thank You for sharing with us Your words
and I would like to share with You this publication. I hope You enjoy it.
M. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Q. Could You tell us whether, in this audience, there is somebody that has fully seen God?
M. Fully, maybe not, but some have seen a lot from God: The one who stands in front of you, the
ones who sit around here, many of them. You raise your hands. They are disciples. You see
them over there? They were all outside because they were taking care of the information. Also
the other people sitting or doing the equipment, and sitting around on the staircase there, or
standing here. All of them have seen part of God, either in manifestation body, or in Light or
Sound.
Q. How is it possible that You have been so illumined? Are You afraid of anything?
M. How come I am so illumined? I don’t know. I got in contact with the real wisdom; I see things
with the real eyes. It’s just like when we see the ordinary surroundings with the ordinary eyes.
We see the super world with the ‘super eye.’ ‘If your eye be single, your whole body will be full
of Light.’ This is the eye that we must use to see the kingdom of God. If the body is full of
Light, of course you are illumined. It is a matter of using the right apparatus. Just like we use
our hands to grasp things, our eyes to see each other, we use the wisdom eye to see the real
world, the wisdom of God. I can show you and you will be the same because you and I are
equal. It’s just that you forgot how to use your own wisdom, and I have regained it through the
grace of God, through effort, and through sincerity; otherwise, we are the same.
Q. Are You afraid of something? Are You fearsome of something?
M. What shall I be afraid of?
Yes, I’m afraid you might lose your life before you know your self. I am afraid that you may
spend your life in suffering and poverty while you are the son of God. I fear for your life if you
are not yet enlightened – not really afraid, just a feeling sorry for your suffering, for your
unnecessary sorrow. That’s the only thing that bothers me. To see you suffer makes me
suffer.
Q. Dear Master, for many years now I have been trying to meditate. I have not been able to have
a vision, and this would be the most important thing for me – to be able to see the Light. And I
pray and I pray. How can I be successful?
M. Then maybe you need initiation. It’s quicker. Yes, with praying, sometimes it takes years to
have the vision of the Lord; with initiation, it takes minutes or seconds.
Q. Master Ching Hai, could all the masters of the world unite and create and forge a universal
morality in order to avoid suffering and evil?
M. Yes, if all of us are enlightened, it’s possible. If only a few maters are enlightened, it wouldn’t
make much difference because it is not necessary to change our world. It’s not necessary to
change the world, just tune inside the real world, see the real world; then we would see that
the world is perfect. Because, for example, if I am enlightened and I see the real world, I am
happy. I see that everything is perfect, but you still are in suffering because you don’t see it.
Buddha was here, Jesus was here, but in their time people still suffered in ignorance, and
even were ignorant enough to harm the only savior of the time. Therefore, each one of us
must be enlightened, or at least the majority of us, then the world will be different. At least,
when we are enlightened, the world is different to us. That’s what is important, not to change
the world.
Q. Do You agree that God’s plan is to save all human beings?
M. No, Hes doesn’t plan anything because the world is already perfect in Hiers plan. It’s we who
forgot to use the perfect eye to see the perfect creation of God. But whenever we human are
crying for the real vision, then God will send one or two of Hiers messengers to remind us
where to look for it. Otherwise, God has created a perfect world. I have seen it perfect. Except
when I’m with you, I know you are still in your own vision, and of course I know for you the
world is not perfect. And because of love for you, I share this suffering with you, and I suffer
also the imperfection that you suffer. Otherwise, in my own opinion and view, I don’t even
have to come here and talk to you because I see everything’s already perfect.
Right now, you go outside and register and then we will call you later, by name. There is an
information desk outside, one for initiation and the other one just for part-time enlightenment –
for those who cannot put down the piece of beefsteak. [Master and audience laugh.] If you
want initiation, please go out and register now. After I finish this, we’ll call you in. I will be with
you later.
WE MUST FIND OUR REAL SELF 11
My dear brothers and sisters, especially the Au Lac brothers and sisters, please allow me to speak
English because we are in America. Is that all right? [Applause] I wish you a very pleasant evening
together.
We have always heard that the kingdom of God is within us and the Buddha nature is inside all of
us. The Buddha nature and the so-called kingdom of God are not two different things. They are
different names to describe the same thing. It is just like in different languages we call flowers with
different intonations. If the kingdom of God is within us, why couldn’t we find it? It is because we
have forgotten how great we are, how true happiness can only be found if we really know
ourselves.
True happiness comes from self realization
Many people are happy, they think they are happy, because they have a lot of money or they are
proud to be in a very high social position. And we sometimes are proud of being very educated,
having a vast knowledge of many things pertaining to life on earth. But these things are not
permanent and are not the whole knowledge of the universe. If somehow we can forget these
ephemeral matters for the time being and deeply contemplate on whom we are and why we are
here, on what we are made of, then we will be able to know our greatness, or the kingdom of God,
which is within ourselves, or the Buddha nature if you are allergic to God. If we want to be proud of
ourselves, I think we should be proud properly, because we are the greatest in the whole universe.
And if we know that, then we should truly be proud. But of course, after knowing ourselves, we do
not feel any pride at all because it is just a very normal affair. It’s just like if we place something in
our pocket and then we now rediscovery it after searching all over the house and not finding it.
11. Public lecture, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.A., April 3, 1993 (Originally in English).
True happiness is not offered by the high positions of the world, by the knowledge that we gain
from books or from society, or from the possessions that we have. True happiness can only come
with self realization, with enlightenment. Then when we laugh, we truly laugh, and when we cry, we
are truly touched. All our emotions are worked out in a harmonious, natural, and perfect way,
leaving our body and mind relieved of all burdens and unnecessary pressures which cause a lot of
unknown illnesses or many mental disturbances.
After enlightenment, when we understand something, we truly understand it – very deep, very
profound, very satisfying. And then we truly know happiness, even though in life we still encounter
a lot of difficulties, a lot of undesirable situations, but within ourselves, we are unshakable. We
might shed tears but we are not miserable. We are not weighed down by the misery, the sorrow
that we encounter. We might laugh very heartily but we will not be attached to the fleeting
happiness that the material world offers us. We enjoy things but we do not possess them. We
sympathize with people but we do not bind them to us. We love everyone without feeling a
possessive impulse to bind people around us all the time. This is then the true happiness.
Many of us think that to attain the kingdom of God takes a very long time or it is impossible – only
Jesus or Buddha can do it. But if we remember very clearly in the bible, Jesus has stated that,
‘Whatever I do, you can do. You can do better.’ And the Buddha said, ‘I have already achieved
Buddhahood. You will achieve Buddhahood.’ What is this ‘Buddhahood’ or the ‘Buddha nature’?
We can call this the great intelligence, the great wisdom, which is inherent within all of us. By the
rediscovery of this wisdom, there is nothing we cannot do, no space we cannot traverse, no task is
too difficult, and we do things without effort. We can rescue many people from hell, we can bless
the world with our spiritual Light, and we can ascend to heaven whenever we wish.
And even in our daily life, we will attain true happiness through having realized our wisdom. Our
situation in life may change or not change but still we have a very deep happiness within us, which
nothing, no situation, can shake. We might appear to be shaken in some situations, but then within
our soul, our heart, there will come forth, will radiate forth, a very stable peace, a very solid
tranquility, which makes us happy and content in every situation. Sometimes in dealing with our
daily affairs, we cannot help but feel some frustration or dissatisfaction. But still, if we are
enlightened, we have a very different attitude because we know that God’s will shall be done. We
know that this world, however charming, however real it looks, is only a shadow of the true world
which is within us, which is only one hairbreadth again. We can walk back into that reality anytime
to console ourselves, to verify to ourselves that anything that happens in this world is illusionary
and we have a choice not to stay within this dark world – because we do.
A visit to an intensive care unit in hell
This morning at brunch time, one of my fellow practitioners sat with me and was chatting about his
experiences. It’s nothing much really; you may be surprised and disappointed because he talked
about hell, not heaven. Of course he has gone to heaven other times too, and he told me already,
but this morning, I don’t know why, he talked about hell. He went to hell probably out of curiosity to
have a look. Probably he was fed up with heaven since he had been there many times, so he
wanted to have a change and went to hell. Luckily, he didn’t go to a very, very deep and horrible
one, just to the kind of outskirts of hell. So he went there and he saw that the streets were very
small and dark, slippery and depressing. The houses were similar to ours here, but very dull, very
dark, very dim with no light. And the sky above, instead of being blue and bright like our sky was
dark and depressing, and there was no light in it. The houses were all covered with moss and they
were wet and damp and very depressing.
As soon as he entered there, he felt such a depression, such a pressure within his soul that he
wanted to cry, but he couldn’t even cry. It was such a depression that he could not even cry out to
relieve himself, and the tears would not even fall down. He just felt like choking, without anyone
doing anything physically to him, without anyone ever speaking anything or any abusive words to
him; he just felt oppressed. He walked around there, opening his mouth and wanting to cry, but he
couldn’t even cry out. He walked around there all the time and then he remembered the method
that I have taught him for such situations. Of course he made use of it, and then he felt better, and
he came nearer and nearer to the entrance.
Before he got to the entrance, he came to a point where the road separated into two: One was
going up, a wider road and brighter, going up, and the other one went deeper underneath, must
have been into a more intensive care hell. It’s just like a hospital; hell is a kind of hospital to repair
some people with perverted views about life, about heaven and earth and all that, which are
contrary to the Truth. So there are some intensive care stations in that kind of hospital which are
very, very depressing, a lot of suffering, indeed, and sometimes it could go on for a long time if the
person is very sick, mentally or psychically.
Now, when he encountered that crossroad, he was very frightened and oppressed within his heart,
so he prayed to the Master power and then he was able to walk toward the lighter path. Otherwise,
he was kind of rooted there and feeling very, very frightened, very depressed, without anything
happening to him. It is just the atmosphere in that hell that makes people depressed without ever
doing anything.
He was asking me why, so I kind of explained it to him that because the atmosphere is different
from your own, therefore you couldn’t bear it. If you go deeper, it would be terrible and probably not
easy to come back. Just like we are human beings and if we happen to go under water, we could
bear it for a while but still we feel the pressure of the volume of water above and around us.
Therefore, we couldn’t bear it very long and we will be suffocated without anything being done to
us.
Similarly, if a human being of a dignified standard goes to hell to have a look, then of course he will
suffer this difference in vibratory current. Therefore, he felt very, very uncomfortable and near
dying. It felt like mountains upon you and you couldn’t move; you couldn’t get away from it. This
experience I’ve known also sometimes, when I have to go there for some reason, maybe shopping
to see who is a good soul to bring up. Shopping in hell can be very uncomfortable. But that was not
a very deep hell.
Now, when he turned to the wider and brighter road, he saw a very big gate and outside the gate
was a different world altogether – bright, happy, clear, everything is normal and beautiful. Inside
the gate is the world of darkness, of depression, of suffering. So he just walked out of the gate and
he was in the Light. Of course he saw many other things, but I don’t think I will take up your time
this evening because we’re not advertising hell tonight. [Laughter] Yes, you can laugh if you want,
it doesn’t matter. Express your humor.
He walked out of the gate and then into the Light. So simple is that, but then he even had to pray to
the Master in order to walk out. You would think it would be very easy but it is not. If you go to such
a place, your feet seem to root there. And if we are not very highly virtuous, or if we do not have
any reliable source of power beside us, it is not easy to get out. That’s why most of the people,
when they fall into a state of lower consciousness like the so-called ‘hell,’ they can’t help
themselves to get out.
Even though it’s just a door apart, they can’t go out. And no one is at the door to guard the door at
all, but no one could ever walk out. They don’t think of walking out. The atmosphere is so binding,
so confining, that everyone is rooted inside and can’t get out. We feel very depressed when we’re
there because we are human and we are not used to such low vibratory currents. It’s just like the
animals, for example the pigs, they’re very happy in their den. They’re rolling around in filth and all
that and they feel happy, but if we were to be in there for even a few minutes, we would not feel
content and we would like to walk out.
So there are different levels of consciousness, which manifest in different kinds of worlds for
different beings to satisfy their subconscious levels of understanding. We can regress for a while –
not regress, just probably go around a different corner for a while that may be darker than where
we stand for a while. That is the lower world of hell. And we could walk directly into the Light and
therefore step up our consciousness. It’s all up to us. And if we could not do it ourselves, we should
try to find someone who has experience in such business and they will help us.
Enlightenment immediately is no big deal – just know-how, just like everything else in life. If we
know how to operate a very complicated computer, it’s very easy, but for a layman, it’s almost
impossible. Immediate enlightenment, since ancient times people already have experienced it, but
more so in this century because the media, the communication systems, are great. Therefore, we
have all the good news available to mankind at large.
Why is it so easy to get enlightenment? It is because our nature is enlightenment, because we are
wisdom, we are great. It is said that God made man in Hiers own image; therefore, it is said that
the Buddha and all sentient beings are equal. But the difference is that the Buddha knows it, knows
His treasure, knows His wisdom and can make use of it, and the other sentient beings do not know
or have not yet come to know it. If a sentient being knows these things, then he’s immediately
merged within his own greatness, or the Buddha nature. He will realize immediately, or sooner or
later, how great he is, that he and the Father are one, and then he is the Buddha.
Look beyond the shadow to the real thing
Someone asked me, ‘Is there any difference between God and a Buddha?’ I said, ‘Yes and no.’ All
things come from God; this is the source of all beings, this is our own nature, the original source,
before we were born into this physical world. Actually, we were never born; we were never born at
all. It’s just a different room that we have stepped into. Just like the story I narrated before about
our disciple who first was in the dark world and then came out into the Light world, which was only
one door apart. The Buddha is the God power that is manifested into a shape in order to guide us
into the Light. Jesus is also the same. He is the manifestation of God power on earth in order to
remind us that we can be the same. Jesus and Buddha did not come here to make us worship
them or to enjoy our glorification of them. They came here to show us that we can be the same,
that we can be connected with God, and be great as Buddha and Jesus. And we can walk back
into the Light where we have come from and not be deluded by this shadow of the real world, of
this poor copy of the real things.
I have made an example of a very beautiful girl. Miss Universe, for example would probably stand
inside a room somewhere with the light behind her and her shadow on the floor, and someone
outside the room saw only the shadow and not the beautiful girl. Now if he looks at the shadow, of
course it is kind of tortuous and not beautiful, but even then, it probably seems beautiful enough.
Maybe the nose was very high and the figure was very proportionate, et cetera, and probably we
would think, ‘Wow! What a beautiful shadow!’ But it is only a shadow. If we get to know the real girl,
we would not marvel at or attach to the shadow at all, and we would think, ‘Wow! This is truly what
it should be!’ Because we do not step inside to find the real beauty, we think the shadow is
beautiful, but it’s not good. It is twisted here and twisted there, the legs are too long, the head is too
big, et cetera, because all shadows are like that.
All shadows are very poor images of the real thing. Therefore, we don’t need to change the world
because the world is only a shadow of the real thing. If we get to know the real one, then we do not
care about the copy, about the shadow. That’s how we gain detachment from the world. That’s how
we will be truly happy because we have discovered something precious and real. Nothing of the
shadowy world could affect us anymore – be it twisted, be it long, or a very funny shape,
representing the misery and suffering of this world. We would not feel very disturbed because we
know it is only a shadow. As soon as the light is turned out, the shadow is gone, because only the
real thing is forever there. The real girl is always there, whether the light is on or not on, whether
the shadow is there or not.
The God nature, the kingdom of God within, the real world, exists all the time, eternally. What is
destroyed is only the shadow of it – just like when the light was out, then the shadow of the
beautiful girl also disappeared. Therefore, when we say that we die, or the end of the world will
come, and catastrophes will come, et cetera, we, the practitioners of the Quan Yin method, never
worry because we know the real and the eternal world. Our life is bound to be always in happiness.
Even though we apparently show some of kind emotion, it is only the wave on the sea’s surface;
it’s not the whole sea. And soon the waves will subside and go back into the sea, all tranquil, all
great. Therefore, if we want to find true happiness in life, we should turn inward, walk through the
door that separates the shadowy world and the real world.
The door is here. [Master points to Her wisdom eye] We call this heavenly gate, the wisdom eye, or
the gate to nirvana, everything behind, everything that is unsatisfactory, everything that is false,
illusionary, and causes unhappiness. Then we will always know what true happiness is. Even if we
do not search for heaven, or even if we do not believe in heaven, at least our life here on earth
would be very smooth, content, and happy, the way it should be.
Ignorance of the real world is cause of suffering
The world is full of suffering but it is not God’s making. It is not the lord of karma who makes
troubles, as we have learned to know. It is not the law of cause and retribution that makes us reap
what we sow; it is our own ignorance of the real world that brings us all kinds of unhappiness. We
keep chasing the shadow, wanting it to be straight, to be more full, to be more beautiful, to be more
proportionate, but it is only a shadow. If we get to know the real person, we care not what the
shadow looks like. Is that not so? Similarly, if we know the real world and how beautiful, how
eternal, how free of every disaster and suffering it is, we care not whether this ephemeral drama is
going on in which way. We know it is a distorted picture, a projection of the real and beautiful world;
therefore, whatever it looks like, it doesn’t concern us that much. But if we do not know, of course
we would always attach ourselves to the shadow, wanting it to be this and that and other, which is
impossible. The shadow may be straight, may be bent, may be twisted, may be long, may be short,
according to the situation of the light that is behind the real object or above the real object. It is not
important anyhow because the shadow is only a shadow. That’s why it is ephemeral. That’s why it
is illusionary, and it should be so.
There is nothing that is such a big deal about the world, about our life, about our body, whether it
stays here or it disappears one day at death. We can create plenty more. And the shadow may be
short today, long tomorrow, but our self still remains the same and that is important. We must know
our real self and not go chasing after our shadow and wanting to change our shadow because it’s
useless. The shadow will always change and it’s always short-lived. In the morning, it is very long
when you stand facing the sun or with your back to the sun. At noon time, it becomes very short,
almost unidentifiable on the ground, almost clinging to the shape of the body. In the afternoon, it’s
again very long or twisted, depending on the position of the sun. Why would we worry whether the
shadow becomes like this, that or other? We know we are not the shadow.
After enlightenment, we know the real world. We walk through that door of darkness separating
darkness and Light, and then we know happiness. We’re very stable. That’s why most of our
disciples are very happy. Not because they gain more money, it could happen, or not because they
have better positions but that happens, also, but because after we know the kingdom of God, all
the things shall be added unto you anyhow as a bonus. We have wisdom, we have illumination that
shines on all things so we see things in a better perspective.
Things just become better automatically. There’s no magical power, nothing mystical about it. It’s
just like a person who was lying ill all the time so he was unable to fix his car, or to do something in
the house, but once he’s strong again, he’s clear in the head and he can eat, he can drink, then of
course, he can tackle many things easily. So our soul, our mentality, is ill without enlightenment,
without the proper food to care for and nourish it.
After we have enlightenment, we have plenty of strength and then everything we can do
automatically using the greatest wisdom instead of using only the title limited computer brain.
Therefore, of course, everything will be better. Our lives will become brighter, happier, and
everything we do will be smoother. Not to mention that we also have the transformation body of the
Master, who always helps us or sometimes tells us what to do, if we have not yet reached the
highest state of realization and are not in possession of our whole wisdom. So we cannot be
anything but happy. We can’t escape from happiness, and that’s the reason why our fellow
practitioners are shining. It doesn’t matter in which walk of life and in which position they are in,
deep down within them, they have this happiness. They will be the best citizens of the world. We’ll
miss their company. [Applause] Thank you. You are awake after all? I thought I was talking to
shadows. [Master and audience laugh.]
Whether we want to go to heaven or we just want to be a good citizen of the world, enlightenment
is a must. It is our birth right, our possession, and if we deny that right, it is very pitiful for us. Why
should we not make use of our treasure when we have it instead of going out begging for a morsel
or two of food on the street? If we have the treasure, the great limitless treasure, why don’t we
make use of it? And it is so easy. It’s not that we have to go out begging for something or do
something about it. Just sit at home and then we have everything.
Therefore, we invite you to know yourself. We invite you to return to your own greatness in order to
bless yourself, bless the world, bless the hell people, and ascend to a higher level of world, a
higher level of consciousness, when we finish our duty on earth. This we can do easily through a
definite method. Thousands, millions, trillions of people have already tried and have succeeded, so
you may also try. Even children can do it; no one would be denied this privilege. And I am always
there for your convenience and for anything you need at all. [Long applause]
Thank you for your loving attention, and now you may ask questions.
Q. Will there be world peace?
M. The world is already in peace. We are not at peace. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, when we have a few problems, how do we know which one is fixed karma and
which one is Master’s testing?
M. Actually, there is no testing for us. We test ourselves. Just like when we have some hardship
we say, ‘Oh, God has tested me,’ but it is not true. It is because of our karma, because of our
tendency toward negative ways, that we experience hardship. The only way is to turn back to
the positive and then we experience a different way. We can do it by self discipline or by
prayer, and then we turn everything to a better way. Whether it’s karma or God’s testing, it will
be better.
Q. Lao Tzu said, ‘The more you know, the less you understand.’ Understanding comes from
meditation. Do we need to continue reading scriptures to collect more knowledge?
M. You can if you want to, but the true knowledge is from within and it’s not from books. Books
can inspire us to a nobler ideal, to a better way to follow. But if we stop at the book level, then
we are only attaining worldly knowledge, at an intellectual level, and we can’t pass through
into the non-knowing knowledge. Just like Lao Tzu said, ‘The more you know, the less you
understand.’ What he meant is that what we know in this world, we do not truly understand the
real meaning, and we do not understand the Truth.
Q. When one meditates, can he sit for the first five minutes in meditation without having
distractions? Is this true, how can You prove it?
M. You can not only sit five minutes without distractions, but you can sit for five hours, sometimes
five days, five months, even. If you have the chance to learn how to do it and if you have
nothing else to do during this time, you can enter into samadhi and forget every other thing.
That is possible. I don’t need to prove it; many of the people from ancient times up to now
have done these things and my disciples can do them. It is no big deal about sitting five
minutes. Probably you never sat before, and that’s why you do not know such things are
possible. But we can show you. Of course, it is different between different people, but five
minutes are nothing.
Real freedom is living in universal harmony
Q. The key to a happy life, what does it really mean to you? I thought that the only key to a happy
life depends upon you and whether you live your life the way you want it. Is this necessarily
true?
M. It’s not that we live our life the way we want that brings happiness. This most often brings
disaster. If we live our lives the correct way, yes, then we are free. Then of course we will be
happy, not because we do what we want. [Applause]
In everything, there is some judgment and some kind of definite way. For example, if we say,
‘I have a car, and I can drive anywhere I want,’ that will bring problems. But if we drive within
the proper roads and with the proper attention, then of course we’ll be at our destination very
fast. If we run all over the place, we’ll bring trouble to ourselves, even though we call that
freedom.
Freedom without discipline will bring disaster, and the way many of us lead our lives brings
misery, as you see all around you. Therefore, there is a definite way to lead our lives in order
to have true and lasting happiness. That is the life of a gentleman. That is a life of the sage
who does things according to the universal harmony and not according to the dictates of the
restless mind.
Q. Why are some people in hell? Is it from their thoughts, their actions? How can we help them
and ourselves?
M. People go to the hell because they are sick. They’re not healthy in their thoughts, deeds, and
words. They have done something below human dignity and standard because they do not
understand better. They’re sick mentally; therefore, they have to be treated in that special
ward for intensive treatment. That’s called hell, with a lot of suffering. Just like when we have
a very grave illness, we have to be admitted to the hospital and the doctors give us a lot of
medicine, injections, and sometimes cut our body into pieces in order to cure us. But that
causes suffering.
In order to help them, first you must help yourself. Be enlightened, and then you can walk into
hell and rescue them. Otherwise, it’s very difficult to reason with them. It’s already difficult
enough to reason with the people in the world who are not so much in a very dark state of
understanding.
Q. When will I consciously enter samadhi?
M. When? When you enter, then you will enter and you will know it. When you’re very deep
within your self and merging with your own great virtues and wisdom, at that time we are free
from the body and we could sit there not moving for many hours on end or many days even; it
depends on how deep we are within. That is when we consciously enter the samadhi state.
Q. I’ve eaten meat most of my life but I’ve recently stopped for good. I will no longer eat any
meat, poultry, eggs, or dairy products. My question is how can I rid myself of the toxins, guilt,
and resentment that I feel from my past actions?
M. Just forgive yourself. No problem. Whatever we have done in the past is already past. What is
now and in the future is important. Just like when a child was very young, he didn’t know what
is what, and he walked all over beautiful clothes or put everything dirty in his mouth. But that
now he’s grown up, he doesn’t do it anymore, and no one would scold him or blame him for
what he has done as a child.
In our different stages of development in consciousness, maybe we have done something that
we should not have done, but we were only students. We were learning at the time, and if we
know it is improper and we stop it, that is already excellent. You could congratulate yourself.
You should be proud of yourself and love yourself more for being able to understand this,
instead of feeling guilty and blaming yourself. It’s unnecessary.
Q. As children go through today’s educational system, how can parents guide them in learning
and growing toward the Quan Yin method? How can we help children pick up less pollution
from the modern world?
M. You have to set up an example. First, be a shining example, then the children will follow. No
need to force them. One example is better than twenty years of talk. [Applause]
Q. Death is supposed to be the happiest moment. How can that be? When a person dies, You
said that You would come and make the individual forget their loved ones so that they would
leave this world. Isn’t that a cruel thing to do? How do You go about doing this thing?
M. Is it a very cruel thing to do? Should I make them remember their loved ones and linger in the
world and cry together all year round because they can’t do anything about it any more? Is
that better, yes or no? [Audience: No.] Okay, thank you. [Applause]
Q. Is being ambitious wrong or bad?
M. No, it’s not bad; it’s not wrong. It’s wrong to be wishing for an unsuccessful life, because God
has placed us here to do something. Whatever we’re gifted with or whatever business we
undertake, we must do it wholeheartedly until we succeed. Of course, if we do not succeed,
then we try again. But do not think that whatever we do, if we are ambitious, that this is no
good. We have to be ambitious. Otherwise the world will go under if no one is ambitious and
attentive to his enterprise.
Q. Is there any place here in Los Angeles to go to follow the path of enlightenment?
M. Why do you ask me? You are the one who stays here; I’m a foreigner. [Laughter and
applause.] If you want to join us, then of course we have a place here in Los Angeles and
after initiation you could go there for more information or for meditating together. But if you
would like to ask for other places in town, then please look in the telephone book.
Use of magical power violates the laws of nature
Q. Is magic an acceptable way for gaining enlightenment?
M. It’s not a good tool because it will bind us to the ego pleasure – that we can do this or that, we
can turn or move an object, that we can make things disappear. All that affords us a mental
pleasure that binds us to the mental level of consciousness and keeps us from going higher.
Therefore, magic is not regarded as a very good way to show off our enlightenment, or
through which to attain enlightenment, because we will stop at a rather low level.
The Buddha also discouraged the use of magic. He often told His disciples not to use magical
power, but one of His disciples, being too proud of his achievements in the magical field, often
made use of them, and so ended in a very tragic death. Jesus also made a few miracles or
two when He was forced to do so, but He was very reluctant. Therefore, He didn’t go around
and make all the dead come back to life again, or cure all the sick, or heal all the blind. He
only did it occasionally when it was absolutely necessary, without feeling proud or accrediting
the power to Himself. Therefore He said, ‘Your faith has healed you,’ or ‘It’s the Father in me
that does,’ et cetera. He never went around doing miracles all the time just to show off. It is
very clear that enlightened people always adhere to the rules of the universe and respect the
laws of nature without interfering too much for their own ego’s sake. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, thank You for enlightening me that this world is just an illusion and that all
human accomplishments and material riches are meaningless. My question is that if this is the
case, does this mean that we need not worry about the beauty of this land by not abusing the
environment, and we need not waste our minds searching for solutions to solve this social ills
in order to make this a more peaceful world?
M. No, enlightenment will only help us to know how to do it better. And we will do it without much
effort and have better results. In our meditation centers around the world, things are kept tidy
and beautiful. We plant trees. We don’t allow pollution and litter around our Centers. We keep
our body, spirit, and mind clean. And I love spotless cleanliness. Every disciple knows this.
Also, we plant trees and we plant grass. We do whatever possible to beautify our world.
I told the disciples they could beautify their bodies also to make them look more beautiful with
a little bit more happy face. And if they have beautiful clothes, they can wear them. I didn’t tell
them to go in rags or to eat grass instead of going to work; it is not true. We are very practical,
but in a very enlightened way. Therefore, we do things better, we are more beautiful, and we
enjoy the world, but we are not attached to the world. We do things better than before.
[Applause]
Q. I would like to know more about how to live a happy life and have peace of mind. I am very
bored with this life and I am not happy no matter what I do. I need spiritual help to be happy
and lead a happy life. Thank You.
M. Yes, go and get initiation. [Applause]
Q. How many hours per day should I meditate in order to get out of this earth in this lifetime?
M. It doesn’t depend on how many hours we meditate actually, because some people just sit five
minutes and they’re out of the body for a short time, and then they come back again to work.
They gather better information from the real world in order to serve this world, even though it’s
ephemeral, because we are here for some purpose. Therefore, we continue to serve the
world, but in a wise way after we know what to do, after we enter the true world and know how
to correct the shadow to suit our taste.
If we want to have true happiness, happiness can only come when we know the true world.
It’s always in a happy state. If we’re chasing happiness in this world, sometimes we have it,
sometimes we don’t; most often we don’t. If we do have happiness, it brings sorrow afterward
or it is very short-lived.
Q. Is the Quan Yin method the only way to achieve happiness and enlightenment?
M. You could say it’s the last way, the last step of any way at all. It’s just like it doesn’t matter
what kind of food we cook and how many vegetables we chop together; the last thing is to eat
it. So the Quan Yin method is the prepared meal for your spirit. Therefore, of course, it’s the
best. [Applause]
Q. If our true Home is with the Lord, why and what motivated our souls to come into creation?
M. Just because we wander around. Like my disciple this morning, he went to hell just to have a
look. He didn’t have to; he wanted to. We wanted to experience different things. And why not?
It’s fine, but just remember to go Home afterwards. That’s all.
Q. Master, I’d like to devote my full time toward achieving Buddhahood like You did so that I can
serve humanity more efficiently like You do. Please help me. What can I do to accelerate the
process?
M. First, we have to get enlightenment, and later we continue to get more enlightened. Then, if
God’s willing that we should serve the world, and in which way, that will be determined later.
It’s too early to talk about guarding something from the thieves before we have any
possessions.
Q. For years, many religions, for example, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, have existed. On
the contrary, Your group has only come into existence recently. What principles in Your
meditation group preclude the other religions as acceptable?
M. Do we have to be ten thousand years old in order to prove to you that something is effective?
We have ships, we have cars which existed before I was born, but are these better than
today’s airplanes? You are talking nonsense! [Applause] Besides, we are not against any
religion. We just bring forth to you the essence of all religions to make you know that all
religions are one and are pointing to the same Truth. And if you don’t know that Truth, no
religion will help you; it doesn’t matter if you follow ten religions or one. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, if Jesus and Buddha had all the power of God, why did they not use it. Why did
not Jesus save Himself from death? Why can’t they use their powers?
M. He didn’t have to; He didn’t want to. For Him, life and death are just a matter of walking to
different rooms. Why should He resist one room and not the other? Why should He attach
Himself to one room and not to the other? All rooms are His. He walks in and walks out any
time He wants. Besides, only His body died; He never died.
If you meditate with us in the Quan Yin method, you can contact Him; you can talk to Him. He
will teach you many things. Dying is only the ephemeral clothing. Just like I wore different
clothes yesterday, today I wear these clothes, I can change any time I want, and that doesn’t
affect me, the real person who wears it. And so, Christ never died. That is a very great
misunderstanding. Buddha never died. Many of our disciples still see Buddha and Christ
nowadays. Any day when they sit in meditation, they can learn with them, learn the Truth from
true Masters, not from scriptures alone. [Applause]
Q. Would You please explain why Your teaching contradicts the teaching of Jesus? In the bible,
Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the Truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.’ It is an exclusive claim. There is only one way to God, through Jesus, and not many
ways.
M. Fine and where is He now? I want to go with Him and through Him. If He’s the only way, tell
Him to stay here and never move. If He moves away, how I can go if He’s the only way and
He’s gone? [Applause]
He says one more sentence besides that. You forgot, ‘As long as I am in the world, I am the
Light of the world.’ [Applause]
Q. How do You, Master Ching Hai, bear all our karma? Did Jesus not already die for all our sins?
If we are such great beings, why did Jesus have to die for our sins?
M. We are great inside, but the things we do outside are not always great. And that weighs down
on our conscience, makes us feel guilty and uneasy, and that is what we call karma; that is
what binds us in the suffering world. Jesus liberated us from this feeling when He was around.
Otherwise, you can see even Jesus died and if you believe that He died for the whole world,
then He died a wasteful death because we still are suffering here and are ignorant. He died at
that time for His disciples, for the ones who believed Him at that time. And after Him, there are
comforters who will come. They are the different Masters of different times. We have to go to
the living Teacher and worship the passed-away Master, but not wait for Him because His job
is done. [Applause]
He asks how do I clean the karma of the disciples, and also how do I bear the karma? Well,
this is my business. If you go to the garbage collector and ask him, ‘How do you do it? Why do
you do it?’ It’s his job. You don’t worry about my job. [Applause]
Q. Are You the messiah?
M. It’s up to you to answer, to verify it, because if I say, ‘Yes,’ you might not believe me, you
might crucify me even. If I say, ‘No,’ then what am I here for? [Applause]
Q. If a person is devoted to their religion, say Christianity or Buddhism, would it be necessary to

receive initiation and practice the Quan Yin method? Can they find their hidden true self
through their own religion?
M. If you can, then you don’t need initiation. But if you haven’t, then you do.
It doesn’t matter if you are Buddhist or Christian or what. Finding the true self will make you
become a better Christian, a better Buddhist because you know the true Buddha nature and
you know the true Christianity within you. Otherwise, the Christians tell us, ‘Be you perfect as
your Father in heaven who is perfect.’ But are you yet a perfect Christian, never mind about
as ‘perfect as the Father in heaven’! The Buddha said, ‘You will become the Buddha. You
have to know your Buddha nature.’ Do you know your Buddha nature yet? Have you known
anything about Buddhahood yet? If not, then come to me. [Applause]
Q. What are the differences among Your world, Buddha’s world, and God’s world? Thank You,
Master.
M. We have the same world. When you go up, you will see Buddha also if you wish to see Him.
You will see Christ if you have an affinity with Him or longing for Him. And this is our world,
the world of the Masters, and the Masters include Buddha, Jesus, et cetera.
I told you that if you wish to see Jesus you might see Him, or if you wish to see Buddha, you
might see Him. But sometimes it’s not like that actually, I have to add, because God is
humorous. Sometimes during initiation, the people sit during the transmission in quiet, no
talking, because there’s no talking in initiation, only silent transmission, and some Muslims
would see Buddha, or some Christians would see Buddha, or some Buddhists would see
Jesus, without wishing to do so. Therefore, God sometimes makes jokes. [Applause]
Q. How do we stop anger?
M. Just stop it. It’s difficult. And sometimes anger is also justified, if you do it in a cool spirit, in a
view beneficial to the opposite person, instead of doing it with hatred. For example, when your
children are very naughty and they repeatedly do things that they should not do, and being a
responsible parent, you have to teach them a better behavior. So sometimes, you take anger
or you truly show you are angry, and that sometimes is beneficial to the children.
So it’s all right. You have to look at the situation, because sometimes in a justified situation, if
you do not show a proper attitude, be it anger or be it concern, then the people may not even
understand, may not even know what you mean. They will continue in their way with hurting
both parties. We have to know with wisdom, not always judging what is wrong and what is
right.
Q. Is there a connection between the rising violence in human society and the increasing killing
of animals for food? Have these animals with strong desires for vengeance come back to our
society by way of reincarnation to make mankind suffer through violence and chaos?
M. Well, you answer yourself by the question. In the Buddhist doctrines, the Buddha said that
killing animals, eating meat, et cetera, will breed wars and a vampire kind of atmosphere. And
these in turn will harm sentient beings, eat the sentient being’s flesh, et cetera. During the war
many people were killed anyhow, and that is also a kind of ‘vampiring’ – eating people’s flesh.
Therefore, it is undesirable to have animals killed for our animal body.
Q. Dear Master, Your disciple before said that if one is initiated by You, his karma for at least five
generations will be erased. Could You explain further to us about this and how is it possible?
M. We came to this world having many relatives and friends because we have karmic bonds with
each other for give and take. Therefore, if one person is enlightened and enters into the circle
of sainthood, of this great mercy and grace, then other people, the beloved ones, will be also
pulled inside, because you have nothing more to give and take with each other. They were
there because you were there, and now you are gone, they can be gone with you.
Also, God is merciful. Whomever you love or care for, Hes will take that person into
consideration also because of the bloodline, the blood connection. And the karma, however
heavy, will be erased because God’s power is greater than anything – greater, greater,
infinitely great. Therefore, a little karma, however great, is nothing in the infinity of God’s
mercy. We turn to God and we’re taken care of. Everything we have done in the past is
forgiven; otherwise, how would we call Hirm God? [Applause]
Q. If this world is but a shadow, then is the fight to conserve it worth our efforts?
M. But what else should we do here to pass our time anyhow? Even though we know the drama
or the movie picture is only temporary and only lasts a short span of time, should you go and
tear the silver screen off, or what? Since we are in the movie theater, we watch it and enjoy it.
All right? [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, I was told that the Truth is very simple. How simple is that?
M. When you get initiation, you’ll know it. It’s simple like that. [Master snaps Her fingers.]
Because we already have it within us, and language cannot describe the things that are so
abstract but very powerful, therefore, we just have to know it. Just like drinking water is very
simple. How simple is it? Just drink it, then you’ll know. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. What is the meaning of life?
M. Don’t you know it by now? If you can write this question, you would have known it already.
Life apparently is just a bundle of experiences – from suffering to happiness, from existence to
nullification. But the true life is beyond all this ordinary comprehension. We have to step into
the invisible gate that separates us from our true nature, and then we know what is the true
meaning of life. Otherwise, I can elaborate on it all day long, but what is the use to you? What
use does it serve? [Applause]
Q. If we find that our lives are meaningless, can we be born again?
M. If it’s already meaningless, why do you want to be born again? What for? It’s a meaningless
question. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. If we and the Father are one, so we are God and Buddha. Why are living Masters necessary?
If the power of God is within us, why are we not our own living Master?
M. Right, that’s what I want to ask you. Why are you not your own living Master, instead of living
a life ignorant, miserable, and knowing nothing about life and death, knowing nothing about
the Father who you want to be one with? Did you ever see Hirm yet? See Hirm first, and then
be one with Hirm. All right? If you didn’t see Hirm yet, come and let me help you. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, we normally do not know our previous lives, so how do we know our progress in
the following life?
M. We can know if we want to. In the second world, the second level of existence, we have a
place called the Akashic library. If you go there, you can have a look, a glimpse into your past
and future if you want to. You can do that by any kind of meditation practice or by deep prayer
also, and by the Quan Yin method, you will also pass by there. If you’re interested to know
your past life, you can have a peep inside. But I’m afraid after that you will only be interested
to know the present and the future. Knowing the past life is not that necessary. That’s why
God draws the curtain and doesn’t let us see – to minimize our suffering. It is better to go
forward into the future and not regress into the past.
Q. What is the role of humans in this world?
M. Eat, sleep, raise children, and die. [Laughter and applause.] Most of the people do that. If you
don’t want to be like that, get enlightenment. [Applause] The questions are very cute. I enjoy
them. [Laughter]
Q. Is there any value to hearing the various Sounds as chakras open? Is yes, what is the value?
What benefit is there to our body?
M. The Sound is the Word of God. It’s the teaching of the Buddha, in silence, without language.
The more we hear it, the wiser we become, the happier we will be, and the more beneficial to
the world.
Q. Why do we have to go through this world to reach enlightenment? Why couldn’t we exist
initially enlightened?
M. Because we already came here, so we have to go back. That’s it. If we were there, then we
were there. You have already walked through this door, so later you have to walk back out
again to find your car.
Freedom of choice is a dream
Q. Dear Master, all things come from Buddha nature; if so, is there really free will or free choice?
M. No, we just dream that we have free choice. We make a lot of messes with this free choice,
which we should give up in the beginning anyhow. But we can only do that with sincere
devotion to God or whomever we believe in. And we can only do that through enlightenment
because then we know it’s not we who do things; it is the universal plan. Then we will not
reject our job, we will not throw away our wife or children or get divorced or anything. We will
know what it is and we will lead a more contented and happy life. Free will is this: For
example, God’s plan is that I have to put my umbrella here, but now I don’t want to put it here.
Why should I put it here? I feel that I should put it there. [Master points to a different place on
the table.] Why not? Now I upset the environment and our plan for a while. Then I feel very
uncomfortable and my umbrella will break over there, and I don’t know why. If I had put it
here, it wouldn’t be broken. So now, eventually, I will have to bring it back and put it here.
Suppose you divorce your wife or husband, or reject your job, and think, ‘I am free. That’s it,
fantastic! I’ve taken the matter into my own hands, and now I am free of her or him.’ You think
you have done decisive things and are very wise. But what happens, maybe a few days or
few months later, you will meet someone else, maybe worse than that one. [Laughter] So the
experience you have to go through anyhow. Maybe you think you have changed it, but no, just
postponed it. Or maybe God lets you turn around the corner, but only to go back to the same
road again. [Applause]
Q. How are thoughts formed and how do they enter the mind?
M. You open your mind and let them enter. I guess that’s what it is. Our mind is like a computer,
a brain computer system, and any time it can pick up anything. If we do not take care to guard
it or to select the better information for our use by special attention and a technique, then of
course, we pick up all kinds of things, good or bad. And then accordingly, we react later on
positively or negatively in our life and reap the results.
Q. If you have received initiation, can you back out? Is there any punishment for doing so?
M. Yes, you punish yourself for not getting further enlightenment. That is grave enough, graver
than any other punishment. To deny ourselves wisdom, to deprive ourselves of the greatest
privilege in heaven, is the greatest punishment already. I will not do anything to you. You are
punished enough. [Applause]
Q. Can a simple person meditate and be enlightened?
M. Yes, many of our senior ladies and gentlemen are very simple. Many of our children of six,
ten, twelve – they are very simple, but they all get enlightenment, if done correctly. We will
teach you how.
The body is what you make it
Q. Could You explain Your understanding of the physical body? Some religions consider the
body as something dirty, of no value, and almost something to be rejected?
M. What shall I do about it? Should you kill yourself to be pure or what? Should we get killed
immediately after initiation [Laughter] and go to heaven? Actually, the body comes from
the great self also. Everything comes from God. Pure or impure depends on our attitude and
on how we make use of it. Without the body, how can we get enlightenment, how can we
bless the world, and how can we love and be loved by others? The body, when used rightly, is
a blessing. It is as pure as anything else. But if we abuse it, indulge in sensual pleasures
without turning to the ‘real body’ within to know the more noble purposes of human life, then of
course the body is just a very impure, very filthy vessel. And it’s fit only to be thrown away as
soon as possible. [Applause]
Q. Why is Quan Yin the greatest method of enlightenment? How can I start it? Are there any
requirements or preparation needed?
M. It is the greatest because it shows us enlightenment and the true way of life. All you have to
do is put your name down at the information desk outside, and then we will call you after I
finish with this work. It’s very simple; no preparation needed. Just after today, you should
replace the beefsteak with tofu. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. How was a human first created?
M. Don’t ask me. You go and ask God. I’ll show you the way to go to Hirm and then you ask
Hirm. All right? It’s none of my business. [Applause]
Q. In Christianity, a murderer can be forgiven if he believes in God. In Buddhism, can one get
enlightenment or be forgiven if he has lied and cheated, and / or committed a crime?
M. Sure. When Buddha was alive, there was a person who had killed 99 human beings and he
wanted to kill the Buddha also, to make it one hundred. And then the Buddha forgave him and
he was enlightened and he became an arhat in no time. In every religion, it is the same – love
prevails. Love is above everything, above all law. [Applause] [MC: No more questions,
Master.] Finished? Thank God.
MASTER POWER BRINGS ENLIGHTENMENT 12
Good morning, how are you? [Audience: Fine.] We could have done better, and would be doing
better, if we had more equipment. Just relax, and prepare for some good jokes. As you have seen,
our group is very funny, very humorous, so there is nothing to fear. In German, they say, ‘A saint
who is miserable is a miserable saint.’ [Laughter] So we try to be happy Buddhas.
When you listen to our friend here, you will be frightened that every day we will feed you with tofu
and vegetables. There is much more in the vegetable kingdom than only tofu, but no doubt, tofu is
the most nutritious food. A soy bean has 36 percent protein compared to beef, beef probably 25
percent, and pork 16 percent, et cetera. So actually, when we eat tofu, a soybean product, we have
more protein. Of course people think vegetable protein and meat protein are a little different. Yes,
they are different; vegetable protein is more digestible and healthier, and this has been proven by
today’s scientists. But nevertheless, I will not elaborate more on this great stomach philosophy, but
we will go a little bit higher than the solar plexus chakra. Are you familiar with all of these big words
– chakras, nirvana, samsara, and all that? If not, then I’ll just put them aside. I just use them so that
you know that I am very learned. [Laughter]
Merge into the noble philosophy of the ancient saints
Just maybe a couple of decades ago, or several centuries ago, our life on this earth has not been
so beautiful. We did not have so many highways, we did not have electricity, and we did not have
airplanes. If I were born a little bit earlier, say a hundred or so years ago, or maybe two hundred
years ago, I would probably have no opportunity to be here with you tonight in such a quick and
relaxed way, and to share with you the atmosphere of the ancient sages of the Golden Age, where
in a few hours we would forget at least some of our sorrows, our hatred, our pressure in order to
merge ourselves in the noble philosophy of the ancient saints. You are invited to join into the
golden moment of a higher purpose of life.
12. Public lecture, Vasa Park Resort and Ballroom, Seattle, Washington D.C., U.S.A., April 7, 1993 (Originally in English).
Our world is very very beautiful compared to many other planets that we know of, or maybe not
know of. Just pretend that we know some. Scientifically speaking, there are a few more planets
that have been discovered which are not as beautiful as ours. So we could congratulate ourselves
for having such a little paradise, where we have enough water, greens, and air. Even air, because
in some of the planets the air is not alive. Sometimes it is very contaminated and living beings
cannot even stay there. Our world has been beautified day after day until we reached today’s
comfort. So we have a better kind of life with electricity and with all kinds of civilized inventions.
That is just in material comfort. Similarly, if our spirit, which is more important than the flesh even,
would be equipped with more of the very comforting instruments, then our life would be much
better still.
Our human life consists not only of the material appearance of the body, or the thinking power of
the mind, but we have also something beyond these two, which is the spirit. The spirit, the wisdom,
or the supreme power, which is within us, is that which makes all things come to life and sustains
them. Therefore while we are so-called ‘living,’ we can move, we can talk, we can think, we can
love, we can investigate, we can do many things. But when the so-called ‘spirit’ leaves us, then
even if the same body exists, we cannot do anything. So if while living we learn to know this spirit
that is the dominating factor behind all of our living activities, then we will be wiser, more
enlightened, and of course, more satisfied.
Modern era opens ancient secrets to the masses
Otherwise, even though we have a lot of comforts in life, and our civilization has reached such
heights in history, most of us are still unhappy. Many things we want to do in life, many ideals we
want to fulfill, and we do not know how to begin. And even if we know how to begin, we are not
certain whether it is the true direction. Therefore, many times we are unsuccessful despite all our
sincerity, our prayers, and our good will to serve the world at large. It is difficult to reach our goal. It
is because we do not recognize this spirit, or the supreme power, which is dormant in all of us. It is
just like a person who has a great treasure in his house and doesn’t know where it is, and therefore
could not make use of it for the betterment of his life.
I am sure all of us here, and most of the people in the world, long for peace, true happiness, and
beauty, inside as well as outside. But why it is that most of the time we spend a lot of money and
time on some matter and it cannot be accomplished? It is because we do not approach the
problem at the right angle. It is because we do not use our supreme wisdom in all of our
undertakings.
Is that correct English? You have to bless me because I am in the Chinese community, eat Au Lac
food, and talk in all kinds of languages all day long. [Laughter] Despite all my wisdom, language
outside is still a problem. Actually whatever we learn outside, same with each of us, whatever we
try to learn with the mind, which is our super computer, we cannot accomplish it in a 100 percent
way. Besides, there are so many things to do in life, so many projects we want to accomplish with
only the very limited power of this computer. Even though it is the best quality, sometimes it is out
of order – like when we put some wrong fuel in it like too much whisky in one day, then it zigzags,
and it doesn’t work maybe for one or a couple of days, or we put in too many drugs or something
that is very detrimental to the thinking power of our computer.
If we do things with our great wisdom, with the central intelligent force, which is connected with the
whole universal network, then we can do many wonders, and yet we don’t use any effort. This is
what Lao Tzu called, ‘Doing without doing. Action in nonaction.’ How do we accomplish this? It is
very simple. All the Masters in the past have promised us that whatever they do, we can do also. If
they have become the Buddha, we can also become Buddhas. Whatever they have, or they had,
or they discovered, we have also. All human beings are born equal. It is up to us to make use of
our treasure or not. God, if there is one, would not push us because we are the most respected
creation in the whole universe. We are the crown of creation and our free will is absolute because
God has made man in Hiers own image, and therefore man’s will is God. Nevertheless, sometimes
we have forgotten to use our free will to better our life or to bless this world. Instead, we have
abused this power, and therefore many times we have brought disasters into our beautiful planet
and then into our lives.
The difference between heaven and earth, or heaven and hell, is only a hairbreadth apart. The only
difference is that in heaven, our attention withdraws inward instead of spreading outside, and then
we know the kingdom of God. Most of the people think this is impossible, while the experienced
practitioners on the path know that it is very easy, very simple, therefore even children from six
years old can do it. And old people up to sixty, sometimes over, could even do it. Everyone can do
it, because everyone has this power within them.
The Buddha said, ‘I and all beings are equal. Why do they not know it?’ And Jesus said, ‘What I do,
you can do better.’ Better doesn’t mean we will be higher than He. Better means that in the future
we will be allowed more freedom to exert our power, to communicate this good message to more
numbers of people, whereas He was limited to only three and a half years of technical
developments in order to communicate to the masses. Therefore He said, ‘What I do, you can do
better,’ is a prediction for a more liberal future.
In the time of Jesus, religious activity or the Truth was feared, persecuted, and hidden from the
mass of the people because the politicians at that time feared anyone who had power to move the
masses. It didn’t matter that the power was for the good of mankind or not. It was just a power
struggle, and that’s why in the ancient times, or maybe up to recently, we do not have much
chance to know about spiritual secrets, which are actually not secrets at all.
Many hundreds of years ago in Au Lac, we had no electric lights, and one of our ambassadors or
maybe a delegate from Au Lac, went to France to study. And when he came home, he reported
that in the West people had the lamps upside down. Before, we had oil lamps, which had to stand
on the table, but he said in the West, the lamp is upside down, and the water came from the wall –
the tap water. And the king cut his head off because the king and the whole hierarchy, the whole
royal household, could not believe that it was the truth, and so they accused him of blasphemy or
not respecting the king, of making a fool of the royal lineage. Not only was his head cut off, but
many of his relatives and family members also lost their heads. Such was the punishment in the
old time for someone who was suspected of not being loyal to the ruler of the nation. Today luckily,
we don’t have such injustices, and today the majority of the people in the world know that the
upside down lamps is very normal. Thank God.
Similarly, many centuries ago, spiritual attainment or becoming enlightened was something very
mystical, very impossible, very farfetched, a kind of visionary dream. But today, it is a very common
theme that people sometimes even talk about in coffee shops, in the park, on the train, on the bus,
et cetera. This is good. The age of our world has changed, and we are beginning to live in another
kind of atmosphere where many more people will be enlightened, and peace will be more
accessible to mankind. And let’s hope that in the future generations all the rulers of the earth will
not rule with armed force but with wisdom and love, because all men are brothers. The different
countries are different rooms, which the whole family has the right to share with each other, and to
live with each other in harmony.
The future is in our hands
As long as the majority of us are not enlightened and not using this super wisdom within us to take
care of the world and to do everything, whether big or small, our world will not become what we
dream, or what we expect it to become. Therefore, the future of the world is in our hands; it is not
only in the hands of the political figures of any great nation. Please remember, even if there is one
great king who rules the whole planet, who has great wisdom like that of Solomon or King David of
old, if the whole masses of people are swimming in ignorance, he can’t do much. When Jesus, the
Buddha, or other Masters, were still living, because the communication was very poor, the
enlightenment message was not very widely spread among the people. Therefore, even if we had
the son of God on earth, even if we had the Buddha, the world at that time was still chaotic.
Today, thanks to the many wonderful inventions, we have beautiful communication systems, and
we have fast transportation methods. Therefore, many of the people of the world, thousands,
billions of people, have been enlightened through different saints, different messages from different
spiritual schools. And therefore we can see the hope of the Golden Age at the horizon. Many of the
great conflicts between powerful nations have ceased, somehow. So each one can breathe a sigh
of relief because we do not fear much of a third world war or fourth anymore, at least for the
moment. It is because in this age many people have become enlightened, and use the wisdom to
bless the world or to enlighten their neighbors. And one will lead to the others, and then soon
many, many more, and the majority of the people will be living in the wisdom of their birthright, and
using it to bless the world to make it become heaven. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how much we try
with our limited knowledge of books, or of experience in our field, we can only do a very small
amount of service to mankind.
Jesus was great and was worshiped by the whole world up to now, due to His wisdom, this
supreme wisdom, within Himself. Buddha is still alive within the hearts of the people of the world. It
is due to His supreme wisdom, or the Buddha nature, which both of them stated that we also
possess. We know all this. We have read all this. We have learned all this from many Teachers,
from many books, but we never wonder, ‘How could I get it? Why don’t I have it?’ The answer is
that we do have it. We can have it, and we always have it, already, but we do not know how to
make use of it. We are too busy, too busy with the worldly knowledge that we learn from books. We
are too proud of knowing many things, but the greatest wisdom we have neglected. It is just like the
prince, the son of a king, who has forgotten his heritage, and goes out begging for some morsel of
food. It is very pitiful, and then we blame God for not helping us, we blame the Buddha for not
blessing us.
God and Buddha have already blessed us, have told us what to do, but we do, most of the time,
the opposite. Even if we just talk about the very simple precept like, ‘love thy neighbor,’ or ‘thou
shalt not kill,’ even that many of us couldn’t keep. God has prescribed the way of heaven: ‘If you
love me, keep my commandments.’ If we did this, our world would have become a long ago a
paradise. If we blame God, we should think twice. Everyone asks me wherever I go, ‘If God is
almighty, why doesn’t Hes turn the world into heaven? Why doesn’t Hes make everyone better,
become angels and so on?’ Yes, Hes has told everyone to be an angel, but we do not listen. We
do not want to keep the commandments of God, which can make our earth become heaven.
Why is it so that we know it, but we can’t do it? We can’t keep the precepts? It is because we lack
the supreme power. We don’t have the strength to resist so many of the temptations of this world.
That doesn’t mean that after initiation or after enlightenment, you don’t eat, you don’t sleep, and
you throw away all your property. It is not the case. All the worldly, created phenomena, we can
enjoy. We just enjoy more because we know heavenly life, which enhances our life more. Just like
before, we did not have electricity, we did not have electric lights, and our world was still going on,
but in a little bit more darkness. Now we have electricity, we have lamps all over the place, and we
can work all night long without any problems. And that makes our life more comfortable and more
enjoyable. Similarly, our life here is already good, but it would be best for us if we have
enlightenment.
Characteristics of an enlightened person
Enlightenment means more Light into our life, not artificial light, but the Light that is everlasting.
And then in every activity, in everything we do, we are very clear. Not clear at the level of the mind,
but clear at the level of super consciousness. Therefore, we will always be in the correct direction.
Even if we make mistakes, it is not a mistake. We will know it is just ‘apparently’ so, but it is actually
the plan of the universal brotherhood.
Many people fear that after enlightenment they cannot do their business, or they may not be able
to get married, or they will have trouble of any kind. But it is a wrong conception of enlightenment.
Enlightenment should be that we will be more beneficial to the world, more efficient in whatever we
do, and more happy in our life. Enlightenment doesn’t mean we have to spend our life in misery, or
in ascetic practices, smearing ashes all over the body, and all that. Yes, you could do that if you
are in that. Whatever we do, whether we smear ashes on our body, whether we shave our head, or
we wear rags or we wear beautiful clothes, it should accompany enlightenment, and that is all we
lack. We don’t have to change our way of life. We just have to adjust to a correct way of life. We
just have to add more Light into our spirit. And then once we have discovered electricity, we can
use it in numerous ways – television, radio, light, refrigerator, et cetera; everything we want is
available.
Electricity has not been the invention of mankind; it has been just a discovery. Similarly,
enlightenment is not an invention of Buddha or Christ, and it is not a gift from any Master. It is a
birth right. It is an inheritance within all of us, and at each moment we want to have it, provided we
have an experienced friend to show us the first time how to do it, then we have it. We can have it
all the time. Just like if you walk into a new house, or your house, and you have never known
where the switchboard or the electric switch is, so it is very difficult to go around the wall touching
here and there trying to find it. But if someone who has been in that house and who knows where
the switch is just tells us, then we can even close our eyes and do it every day because we know
exactly where it is.
Most of us live in this life trying to go through it in a hard way with a complicated method. When we
hear someone say, ‘Enlightenment is easy, is immediate, is free of every obligation,’ we feel very
reluctant to believe it, but why not? If the thing is already in your pocket, and someone points it out
to you, why is it so difficult? It has been there all the time. Therefore, in the bible, it is even said,
‘The kingdom of God is within you,’ and then ‘Seek you first the kingdom of God, and all the things
shall be added unto you.’ Truly, it is like that. We go through life spending a lot of energy, time and
finances trying to find happiness and wisdom through different material means and through gains
in possessions, love, or business, but we never find it. As soon as we are satisfied with one point,
we want the next one. And we will never stop. Deep down within our heart, there is always
something that is not satisfied, something empty. It is because our super conscious knows that we
have missed the greatest part of our life – that is the supreme wisdom that is there for us to use.
We should use it! We must use it if we want to live a true life and if we want to experience true
happiness.
See heaven on earth
If we step beyond this material existence into the world of Light and reality, even for just one
moment, we will know that this life is not the only one, and is not the best life there is. It is only a
copy of the real life. Then we will lose the attachment or the competition that we have for this very
ephemeral life. That is why, when the sages of old are enlightened, they forsake their whole
kingdom. They could do that. It is because they have gained a greater kingdom within. Jesus said,
‘My kingdom is not on earth; my kingdom is in heaven.’ Where is that heaven? How do we get
there? It is right here, and we can get to it any time, provided we sincerely want it. If we do not see
heaven now in this life, who can be sure that we will get it after we die? Do you ever work for a
company and then the boss says, ‘You just work on, and after you die I’ll give you all the money
you need?’ [Laughter] Will you agree to that condition? Yes, you do. You do. You always believe in
a hereafter heaven, which we don’t see.
You are invited to see heaven on earth, and then to see that everything we have seen in this life is
only a copy, a shadow of the real. Then we will enjoy even the shadow better, because we know
the real is beautiful. Suppose you know a beautiful girl and you know her personally, then even
when she comes near you, even just seeing her shadow, you have not seen the girl, she was
inside the door, and the shadow was projected outside, even seeing the shadow, you are thrilled.
Because you are connected with the real person, and you know that it is the shadow of your
beloved. So you love even a shadow as well, and you welcome the shadow also, because you
know the shadow comes from your beloved.
Similarly, we have many things in life and we try to enjoy them, but most of the time the enjoyment
is very shallow and short-lived, and sometimes it brings another misery along. But if we know the
real happiness, then even this life, the shadow of the real life, we also enjoy because we know we
are from this life. And we know even how to adjust the shadow to make it more real. Before, we did
not know how to stand where the angle will make the shadow more beautiful, and now we know.
Then we go through life contented, happy, waiting for the time to come that we step into the eternal
reality and leave behind all this so-called suffering in the shadow world.
If we do not know this real life while we are still here, it is very difficult to say whether we will know
it after we leave this world. Because we don’t know it, we come back again and again searching for
this life, for the enjoyments that are never fulfilled. We hope to get it in the next birth, et cetera, and
therefore comes the reincarnation. An enlightened person never reincarnates except at his own
will, for some noble purpose, in order to help some other suffering brothers and sisters who are still
mired in illusion.
Most of the people reincarnate because of the pull of their previous tendencies from past lives.
They can’t resist being reborn because many unfulfilled desires, many ideals, have not been
accomplished. But using the limited knowledge, which is passed from one to another in the same
world, recycled all the time, the same thing, we can’t know the whole universe. We can’t tackle the
thing from the root of its problem. It is just like we water the plant from the leaves and never the
root. To be enlightened is to know the root of all things, and therefore, whatever we do, it is correct.
People will be also affected by us and then turn into the Light, and then the whole world will be
bright.
Break through the material barrier
Originally, when we first came here, we were living in Light and happiness and glory. Then after
some time, we have been entangled in the enjoyment of this world, to everything in this world. We
became curious. We wanted to know, we wanted to taste, we wanted to touch, and we wanted to
experience everything that is around us. Then slowly, we get in contact with these material
phenomena or appearances, then we become more affected by the material side of nature, and we
become more and more material. And then eventually we are mostly material and the Light
disappears from sight.
The Light does not truly disappear or vanish; it just becomes enveloped in the gross material case.
In order to find the Light again, we have to break through the material barrier, and that we can do
with a definite method. Just like every scientific thing, if we have a method then we can do it. It is
just like women can bear children and men cannot. Therefore, there is one way to be enlightened
and the others are not so effective. The sages of old times have discovered this method. Actually
not discovered, the method was conveyed from heaven through different sons of God at different
periods of time, to remind mankind of their glorious, original state, and that they should not forget
their origin, and should not wallow in their suffering which is unnecessary.
We are here today to share with you this good news and very simple technique to break through
the material cover and to get in touch with your true glory again. And if you have any questions,
you are very welcome to ask. Thank you very much. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, please tell us how to reach the eternal happy heaven?
M. We will show you at the time of initiation. It’s very simple and very fast, but it takes a few
hours because we will also tell you what to do every day to renew it, to remember it all the
time, and how to avoid pitfalls and all that. Therefore, it takes a few hours, but the
enlightenment comes in a few seconds.
Q. Is it true that normal persons only use a small portion of their potential brain power?
M. Right. That is scientifically proved already. Therefore, we do not know much of the things in
the universe.
Q. If it is so, when or how can one fully utilize the power?
M. That is why there is initiation. We will show you how to make use of your super power which is
within yourself. And it will be done in quietness and togetherness, but in silence, not by verbal
language.
Q. Why is the spirit hidden from us?
M. Why? Because we just look outside and we don’t look where the spirit is. Suppose I am sitting
here and you are always looking at the back door. Would you see me? No. That’s it. I am not
hidden from you. It is just that you don’t want to see me, for example. It is a similar thing with
our spirit.
Q. If we are to live in harmony, why have we created the fear that causes us to fight?
M. We do not create fear. We have fear because we do not have the power to resist fear. We
have not known our greatest strength that is within ourselves. As soon as we know this, all
fear vanishes. That’s the best way to conquer fear – to know our greatness, to know our
strength, our super wisdom.
Q. Is there any difference between God and Buddha?
M. Yes, there is a difference. But there isn’t any difference. God is the unmanifested aspect of
the cosmic power. Buddha is the manifested one. Within the Buddha, there is cosmic power.
The Buddha came from the cosmic power, and also possessed this cosmic power.
Q. Why does the Buddha pray to God?
M. Does the Buddha pray at all? I didn’t hear about that! [Laughter] He did not tell me that He
prayed, but if you hear Him praying, please ask Him.
Q. How can I overcome my being so frightened that I do not accomplish my simplest goals?
M. As I told you already, it is because you do not rely on your greatest strength which is the
cosmic energy within yourself, and which is connected with the whole universe. If we have
that, if we rediscover that, we fear nothing. Death is the most fearsome enemy; even then, we
transcend it. We die every day while we are living, so we have no fear of anything at all.
Q. Must a person be fated to achieve enlightenment?
M. Fate is in our hands. If you always go around all your life, thinking, ‘I will be fated to do that
and this and other,’ then you will never do anything. We always have to do our best, do what
we want to do, and then see what fate has for us. Then we will know; otherwise, how do we
know?
Q. Can we all be masters? If so, what does the word mean?
M. I think you want some silly answers. [Laughter] What does the word ‘master’ mean? The word
master means master. Master means you already know how to master yourself, and you’re
not torn apart by different obstacles in life.
Q. Thank You for Your wisdom. Please tell me about the role of evil in life?
M. Evil? We did not invite him in tonight, [Laughter] but since you mention it, he is around the
corner.
Evil is an extra force that we have created together with other beings while having
interrelationships in our lives. For example, I am alone here, I have nothing to do, and I have
no business with anyone. Then suddenly someone else comes and asks something or wants
to do something. And we have a misunderstanding, we create some very aggressive
atmosphere, and then that person probably punches me in the face. If I couldn’t punch him
back because of my weakness, I would try to remember that all the time, and try to get any
chance to give him back what he has given me as a ‘present.’ So that breeds hatred. Hatred
wasn’t there in the beginning, but it was created because of the interrelationship between me
and that person. So that is evil. Originally evil did not exist. Evil existed after we failed in our
effort to keep to the positive side of our nature, after we failed to remember our goodness and
forgiveness, after we failed the test of life.
Q. Is this evil the play of the ego?
M. No, it is our own creation. Similarly, we could create heaven if we wanted to. Every time we
extend loving kindness, tolerance, and understanding to others, at that time we create
heaven.
Q. Does the ego need to open to evil or integrate it?
M. The ego is evil itself. The ego is the feeling of individual pride, of self-arrogance; therefore, we
should not even bother about that. We should know our greatness instead of being proud of
our little knowledge and accomplishments. Whenever we are proud of our little
accomplishments or knowledge in this life, that is when the ego comes to take a place in our
spirit. This is no good for us. We should do without any sense of pride or asking for reward.
Q. For enlightenment, is service in love to humanity as important as meditation? Or is service

more important or less important than meditative practice?
M. Both have to go hand in hand. We meditate because we want to do service better. We want to
be clearer in what we do; therefore, we will be more efficient in our work and more of service
to others. Without meditation, sometimes we have the very best intention and we are willing to
serve people, but we do not know what is the best way. Meditation is a helping factor to true
selfless service.
Q. Dear Master, I have seen You many times in my dreams. Is this true?
M. You see me now also in your ‘big dream.’ Is it true? [Laughter] If it were not true, you would
not be repeating it. You would have forgotten. Many people claim to see me even before I was
famous. Before I became known as Master, they had seen me already in dreams or in visions.
I guess you are one of those people who have an affinity with me.
Q. I am from Alaska. The beauty of the land signs in my heart and fills me with peace. This year I
have seen the presence of angels profoundly in my life. How can I invoke my guardian angels
to help direct me on my path of peace and love? Bless You in all You do.
M. You can be more concentrated, more sincere in your deep prayers, and then, maybe the
angels will come back again. Or you can join us in the initiation process and get hold of the
angels at your will. Both are possible. One is a little bit risky and adventuresome. Initiation is
more sure and quicker.
Q. Dear Master, is Jesus also a Buddha?
M. Yes or no? [Audience: Yes.] Thank you. The Buddha is the one with wisdom and compassion
as far as the Buddhist terminology definition is concerned. Jesus was a manifestation of both
wisdom and compassion. How do we know He has wisdom – by His teachings, by His wise
teachings which are still preserved until our days. How do we know He had compassion? At
the time of His departure, He was nailed on the cross, suffering, thirsty, rejected, and very
unloved by the people of His age. Still, He forgave His so-called enemies. He prayed to the
Father to forgive them. This kind of noble attitude can only come from a so-called Buddha.
The Buddha was also as compassionate as Christ, so both of them are Buddhas, or both of
them are Christs. Christ is the Hebrew name for Buddha, and Buddha is the Sanskrit name for
Christ. It is just like water in English and l’eau in French, both say the same thing.
Q. Why do ghosts appear, and should we pray for them?
M. Better pray for the living first because we are still alive and we still have the way to know
ourselves, and to enter the kingdom of God. And we aren’t saved yet, let alone the ghosts,
beings, including the ghosts. But ghosts are actually some kind of wandering energy, which is
housed within a shell, and astral shell of some deceased person. It might not be that person at
all. For example, I cast off my clothes somewhere outside and someone else without clothes
came and picked them up and wears them. Then he looks like me from the outside, but he is
not I. He might be just any wandering person; similarly, ghosts are like that.
Q. What can one do when one’s life is surrounded by problems and there are no solutions to
them?
M. My friend has already advised you. He said he got initiation, forgot the beef, and are only the
potatoes and tofu. Get enlightenment and then all your problems run away because they
cannot bear potatoes and tofu. [Laughter] They will go after the beef. [Laughter]
Q. What do You know about life on other planets?
M. What do I know? I know so much I don’t have the time to tell you. There is already a lack of
time when I want to tell you about things on our planet, never mind life on other planets. But
you could go and visit them via initiation. With enlightenment, we can visit many galaxies and
different Buddha’s worlds, different heavens, and without buying airplane tickets and no need
for UFOs, even. [Applause]
Q. Would You please discuss some of the powers that You have developed through the use of
Your mind?
M. I don’t use my mind, brother. I use my mind only when I want to go to the bathroom, or to eat
some food [Laughter] or to make a telephone call. I don’t use my mind to develop this power,
because I already have this power, which encompasses the whole universe and includes all
magical abilities. You have it also. You have it. [Applause]
Q. Do You know if beings from other planets reincarnate as humans?
M. Sure, there are such things. You are one, for instance. You came from higher developed
countries in different galaxies. You come here for a while and then you will leave again. And if
you want to know where you came from, get enlightenment. Let us help you if you do not have
it. [Applause]
Q. Do You believe that the universe is a supreme being?
M. No, the supreme power is within and permeates the whole universe.
Q. Dear Master, I would like to know why the universe exists? Since I am only ten years old, I do
not understand.
M. Then wait until you grow up and then you will understand. [Laughter]
Why does the universe exist? It is because we like to look at it. Suppose the universe doesn’t
exist and today we don’t have the chance to speak with each other, or we do not have the
chance to play with each other, to love each other, or to do something to enjoy our existence.
It has some purpose. And if you do not want the universe to exist, then you can sleep all day,
all night; you can see nothing.
Get to know our real self through initiation
Q. Is it possible to lead a life completely free from doubt and fear forever? If so, what does one
need to do or not do?
M. Fear and anxiety come only from darkness, from ignorance, from the fear of the unknown.
Once we get to know the stable side of nature, the real side of our life, all fears and anxieties
disappear. We only fear because we think that after this life we have nothing. We fear
because we know only the ephemeral existence of this world. If we know that life is eternal, if
we know that we are the greatest being in the universe, then we will have no fear at all. So I
invite you to get to know yourself through the means of initiation.
Q. God is a concept, an idea, but its reference is to that which is transcendent or beyond worlds,
which are always qualifications and limitations. Infinite, universal, and eternal, life is only in the
present. Eternity is an aspect of here and now that thought and time block from our
experience of life. So I think that we can only experience in the present, so that this life
moment is the most important. What do You think?
M. Sure, but you do not experience it; you only repeat what other people say. ‘Eternity is in the
present time’ is true. For example, now if I close my eyes, I don’t close my eyes, I see reality,
and I stay in the dual world at the same time. Therefore, I can say to myself and to you that
‘Eternity is here, now, present.’ But as long as you don’t see it, you only see the duality, you
only see the material world, therefore, here, now, past, present, or future, is just the same to
you.
Reality is different from this world, different from what we know since we were born into the
material existence. If we do not see it, we cannot claim that reality is right here and now. What
we see around us now is not reality. Reality is something beyond this life, beyond what you
see here, beyond the material bodies that we know. If we see it at the same time as we see
this body, as real as seeing this body and these surroundings, then we can claim we see
reality here and now, all the time.
Q. How do we know that there is reincarnation? Is it a fact, or what is the basis?
M. There is no need to ask me even. You can read about it in the newspapers or in the many
books that do research in this field, and get the proof for yourself.
Reincarnation is a state of transit from one experience to the next. And in order to experience
something, we need to use a tool that is mostly a human body. While we have the human
body, we experience many pleasant things and unpleasant things, and many unfulfillments.
We want to re-experience or experience more because we are not satisfied with one life, and
in order to do that, we have to reincarnate. We seek another body to use as the tool for further
experience. That is the process of reincarnation. The enlightened person has no more desire
for experiencing anything, therefore, he does not reincarnate.
Q. The Buddhist bible says that people who eat meat will pay for their sins. If a person who is a
vegetarian cooks meats for others in the family, does that person have a sin?
M. No, because she doesn’t eat it. She was forced to do it. It’s not that she willingly advocated
the meat that people like to eat. Besides, people have the freedom to choose what they eat. If
you are a vegetarian, it’s fine. If other people are not ready for a vegetarian diet and they
choose a meat diet, it’s their free will and right. Of course, you try to help them to understand
that it is better for our health, our spirit, and our enlightened state of mind if we take a
vegetarian diet. But we cannot force everyone to be the same because even God does not do
that. God only guides and tells us the precepts, and then we keep them or do not keep them.
It is our responsibility. But, of course, it is better that we keep them so that the world will get
better and become a heaven.
Q. I usually see red Lights in my room. Sometimes I can see the red Light emitted from my body.
Is there anything wrong with my practicing meditation?
M. No, there’s nothing wrong. It’s just that your level is not very high yet. Red Light sometimes
stimulates anger within the person. It’s an astral level of consciousness.
Q. If I continue to meditate for several days without eating or sleeping, will I get into trouble?
M. Yes, you will be hungry and sleepless. [Laughter]
Q. If my level is low but I break into a higher level, will the Light and the Sound kill me? Can
Master save me in time if that happens, or will I come back to earth with my brain out of
control? [Laughter]
M. You have to do it the correct way. Get to know the correct method and not just do it at
random. The Light comes in accordance with your level of understanding and in accordance
with your ability to bear it. Therefore, do not feel in a hurry. If a child of two years old is forced
to eat a lot of vitamins and nutrients in order to grow fast, it is no good. So take it easy. Do
your meditation as you learned from your teacher, whomever that may be, and wait for the
time to come.
Q. I love my original master very deeply and usually recite his name. If I continue to do this, will I
lose Your love and blessing? I love both of You with no difference because without my original
master I would not be alive to sit here and listen to Your lecture.
M. I am not in competition with anyone. You can love ten more masters if you wish, no problem.
Just be enlightened. That is the best way to show gratitude to your previous master, and no
need to even be grateful to me or anything. Whatever you do, I love you all the same. It’s you
who probably do not love yourself because you will think, ‘I do that very badly. I do this very
badly,’ and it is you yourself who stop feeling being loved.
Q. I am an initiate of Kirpal Singh Ji and correspond with and love Sant Ajaib Singh Ji of the
Punjab. It sounds like Your path is the same: A vegetarian diet, five sacred names, and
spiritual diaries. Is it an insult to another liberated master to be reinitiated by You? Also, since
he has taken responsibility for my going to Sach Khand, how would my initiation by You
change my life, for I know that I am God, however I am not yet totally liberated?
M. You should have more faith in your master. Kirpal Singh was a great soul and if you were
initiated by him, that is fine. You should have more faith. Faith is what you need, not another
master. And our path is similar, but if you wish to join us to have more reinforcement and
more encouragement for your spirit, you are more than welcome. [Applause] It is not an insult
to Kirpal because I will take care of you for him. That is all. All great Masters have no sense of
individuality and possessiveness. Don’t worry about that. Whatever you do, if you are happy, if
you progress in your spiritual path, that is what your master, whomever that may be, wants
you to have. So if I can help you, he’ll be happy. As long as you are happy, he will be happy.
Q. If enlightenment is truly possible for anyone, why do we need You?
M. Because you are not enlightened, yet! [Applause] It’s possible for everyone because if
everyone comes to me or any of the experienced Teachers, it’s always possible. But if they
don’t come, it is not possible because they don’t know it themselves. If they know it
themselves, it is fine, but most people don’t know.
Q. Can one who believes in Christ also believe in Buddha at the same time?
M. Yes, but one is enough. One is enough, because both of them are the same. Both of them are
one. All the Masters are one.
Q. What will happen after death?
M. You’re too hurried. [Laughter] It won’t be long before you know. And how do I know? I’m not
dead yet. [Laughter]
To find the eternal heaven, find the eternal source of merit
Q. Dear Master, how can I get rid of bad thoughts?
M. To get rid of bad thoughts, you have to replace them with good thoughts. It’s very simple. If
you don’t want to wear black, then throw it off and wear white.
And by the way, I was just joking with you. I know you sincerely want to know what happens
after this life, so I will try to explain to you even though I am not completely dead yet. I’m half
dead. [Laughter] With the world tour and busyness, I am always half dead.
What happens after death depends on you. For example, if we are very virtuous, correct,
loving, and kind while we are living in this world as a human being, then after so-called death
we are taken into a deserved mansion which is called heaven. But this is not eternal because
our merit is not eternal; therefore, the heaven corresponding to it is not eternal. To have
eternal heaven, we have to find the eternal source of merit, which is the greatest kingdom
within us, and that is itself eternal merit.
If, in this life, we are doing the opposite things, things that are contradictory to the
commandments of God and below the standard of humanity, then we probably will have to
regress into a lower level of consciousness, of existence, in order to re-experience what we
lack, what we must supply to our knowledge. And after some time, we will be lifted up again to
a human standard. If we are better still, above human standard, then we will be lifted to
heaven. And the initiates are the ones who enter the eternal kingdom and will not reincarnate
again on this earth or any other earthly world.
Q. Master, please talk more about the Buddha nature within us.
M. The Buddha nature is the so-called Supreme Master power which moves the whole universe,
which makes all things alive and beautiful, which makes us wise and loving, and which leaves
our body lifeless after it decides to withdraw from it, and not use that instrument anymore. If
we know this Buddha nature, there is nothing that we do not know, and there is nothing that
we want, nothing that we would desire.
That doesn’t mean we become a wooden stick, a wooden statue. We have all things that
human beings have. We have emotions, we have feelings, and we have the taste of
enjoyment of beauty, of Truth, and of virtues, but the emotions that we have now are under
control. We use them whenever necessary and we withdraw them whenever we want. That is
the difference between the ones who know the Buddha nature and the ones who don’t. The
one who knows Buddha nature is always in happiness. It doesn’t matter in what
circumstances – he may be very poor, he may be very rich, he may be in a top political
position, or he may just be collecting garbage. But he will always be absolutely free of anxiety
and fear, always contented in whatever situation he finds himself in. That is the difference.
Q. After initiation, if something goes wrong, something against Your instructions and regulations,
what is going to happen – a disaster or something else?
M. Sometimes yes, if you don’t have courage, then you would fear. But actually, the worst
disaster is that you stop there. You were given a great treasure and then suddenly you don’t
want to use it. So what kind of disaster befalls you – that you are poor, you have nothing for
yourself! You deny yourself the greatest possession and that is the worst disaster already. If
you don’t know it, it is not that bad. But if you already know it and you deny yourself or you
make some mistakes so that you use it or you have no way to use it again, that is already the
greatest disaster.
Q. How important is chanting for enlightenment?
M. If you had been enlightened by chanting, you wouldn’t have asked me this question. So it is
not important at all. Enlightenment comes not through chanting, not through praying, not
through anything, but through our own sincerity, our own very deep longing for it. And then we
know where it is. Therefore, during the initiation, we don’t speak. I will not speak anything to
you, and you will not say anything to me, and then enlightenment just comes.
Q. Please let me know what is the end of meditation practice?
M. What do you think? [MC: Enlightenment.] The end of it is the outcome of peace, tranquility,
love, having no desire. Even though we still work in the world, we still possess things, we do
not have desire, and we do not have the torment of wanting many things and never having
enough. That’s the outcome.
Q. How long must one meditate to reach enlightenment?
M. Enlightenment comes immediately. As soon as you sit down with a Master and sincerely want
it, it comes immediately, even before immediately. Sometimes I have not finished the
instructions and people already got enlightenment. Some people are in a hurry, you know.
They have no time to wait. But the meditation takes place daily, because we always want to
be in the enlightened state, and we always want to renew our acknowledgement of
enlightenment. And also we want to strengthen it, to expand it until infinity. Otherwise, even if
you meditate for one hundred years, you don’t get any enlightenment.
Meditation does not bring enlightenment; the Master power does. During initiation or during
your so-called meditation in our method, you do not meditate because meditation means
effort. But in our way, it is effortless. You may sit there sometimes even sleepily and then
enlightenment comes, even then. Or you’ll be enlightened during sleep, because the Master
power will wake your soul during your sleeps. While your mind is asleep and your body is at
rest, your soul will be awakened into the world of Light and wisdom.
Therefore, meditation is not a means to enlightenment, but for lack of vocabulary in this world,
we have to call it meditation. Actually you just sit there receiving the grace of God and
acknowledging your own supreme power. There’s no meditation actually that is involved,
because anything that is earned or is the result of some kind of action is still a worldly
production. It’s still within the material framework. Therefore, our meditation is a non-
meditational meditation – effortless meditation. [Applause]
Q. What makes You the equal of the other great Masters?
M. The same thing that makes you equal with other great Masters makes me equal. If you do not
acknowledge this, it’s your problem. All of us are equal. You are as great as Jesus and
Buddha, if you want to be, if you want to know, if you know where your greatness is. I know,
and that’s what makes me great. If you don’t know, okay, it’s fine. If you want to know, you’ll
be as great as any. [Applause]
Q. Master, You said mistakes are not really mistakes, but part of the unfolding plan of the
brotherhood. Does this mean that everything we do is part of the universal plan of the
unconscious becoming conscious?
M. Yes and no. In the universal action field, there are two kinds of actions, one is positive and
one is negative. If we turn to the positive side of nature, or the universal plan, then our actions
will be always positive. If we stay somewhere vaguely in between or don’t know, then
sometimes we’ll be positive, sometimes we are negative. And should we be always on the
negative scale of the universal plan, then we always do things negatively. And of course this
is preplanned, but we are in the negative side. Whatever we do is also preplanned, but why
should we always do the negative things, instead of turning to the bright, the beautiful, and the
Truth?
What seemed like a mistake is a positive step to another unfolding of the universal plan. So
then it cannot be called a mistake, even though, in that, not very completely enlightened state
of our mind, we may think that it is a mistake. But everything is in the positive framework. If we
want to be used in a positive position in the universe, then we turn to the positive, get
enlightened, turn to the Light. And if we want to be used for the negative action of the
universe, then we stay where it is, or do negative things. So both are right, but it’s different in
merit and outcome and our responsibility or our enjoyment of the result is, of course, different.
Q. Being a vegetarian is part of living a healthier life; what other things can we do to obtain and
help others to attain a high level of wellness?
M. First we have to attain our high level of wellness, then we can help others.
Q. There’s a continuation: I wish to become a chiropractor, is this a good way?
M. Yes, it’s good. I have a fellow practitioner who is a chiropractor. He’s a doctor. He’s staying in
our Center, and now he has no job. He thought he’d come there to help people but we’re too
healthy for him. He just stays around, meditates, and teaches the Taiwanese English.
Q. Can the evil satan be changed into a good being by God’s power or Your method?
M. Yes, it’s just a matter of turning in a different direction. You are as evil as you turn in to the evil
direction, and you are as positive as you turn in to the positive power. Being initiated into a
saintly way of life, or in the saintly level of consciousness, is turning in to the positive direction.
Q. When we gain immediate enlightenment, will we be masters too?
M. It depends on what God wants you to do. But at least you’ll be the master of yourself, of the
life course that you undertake, and you’ll have no problem.
Q. When You say ‘they’ can become Buddha, my question is who are ‘they’?
M. Did I say ‘they’? I probably meant ‘we,’ forgive me. I thought you’re more intelligent than that.
Q. When we first come here, where do we come from?
M. We came from our Home, the Father’s House, the original place of glory.
Q. What is everlasting life, and how is beneficial to human life?
M. You still ask this question by now? If it’s not beneficial to mankind, I wouldn’t be bothered to
come here, spending all my money, energy, and time, with sleepless nights and fruitless days,
if it’s not beneficial to mankind. If it were not beneficial, Jesus would not have sacrificed His
privacy, Buddha would not have renounced the kingdom. It is very beneficial. I’ve told you
already that we need wisdom to serve others, to do everything in our life without making
mistakes. We serve in love and wisdom if we are enlightened. If we have good intentions but
do not have wisdom, sometimes we do wrong; we do it in the opposite direction. So that’s it.
Q. Would You tell us what some of the other worlds or levels are like?
M. I’ll tell you at the time of initiation. Otherwise, it takes too long a time to tell you, because each
world is a vast storehouse of knowledge. I can’t just tell you in a few minutes.
In the lecture at the United Nations I have mentioned it, so maybe you go look for that tape.
Also I remember, I think in Singapore, I have spoken about different heavens, so please, look
for these. They are all in English.
Q. Do You believe in simplicity and austerity? Which are the principles of Buddhist teaching?
M. Neither of them. Buddha had led a very ascetic practice before He reached Buddhahood, but
then He realized that it’s no good, so He forsook it. Simplicity of life is very good, of course.
But that is a matter of personal taste also. If someone is so used to living in comfort and can
afford all the comforts in life, why should he consider simplicity?
Simplicity means we live a life without want, without desire, in whatever environment we are
in. If we are rich, we live a rich life. If we are poor, we live a poor life. That is simplicity.
Q. Dear Master, hate and greed are bad habits. But hatred is everyone’s habit. Can You show
me how to avoid that and make everybody happy?
M. I have said something similar before. When you have some bad thoughts, replace them with
good ones. So, whenever you discover yourself having hatred, then immediately root it out
and replace it with loving kindness. Try to do it, and then it becomes a different habit. It’s just
like brushing your teeth everyday or not brushing them everyday. You try to replace a bad
habit with a good habit.
Q. Master, are You a Buddha? And does it require a lifetime of dedicated meditation to become a
Buddha?
M. Am I a Buddha? Should I say yes, would you believe me? [Audience: Yes.] [Applause] All
right, thank you. If many of you say yes, then who am I to say no?
He asked, does it require a long life of dedication? It doesn’t. It depends on the individual.
Some people will take a lifetime, some people will take many lifetimes, and some person will
take many hundreds of lifetimes. It depends on the background of the individual. Therefore,
Shakyamuni Buddha became a Buddha after six years, and Jesus also after a dozen years,
and other Masters after eight months, like the sixth patriarch Hui Neng, and many other
Masters after nine years. Some would not become Buddha in this lifetime, but become just a
saint. They get some degree of sainthood. So it depends on the individual.
Q. Dear Master, after initiation, will all my bad deeds be removed, and will I have to pay for my
sins?
M. The stored karma will be erased, but the karma that you need to live on in this life will be left
alone. Otherwise, you would die immediately. Therefore, you take care that you do not sow
some more bad seeds in the future by keeping the precepts, by meditating every day to erase
some of the newly accumulated karma, and also to expand your wisdom. And also to be a
vegetarian helps to terminate future connections with other beings. Past karmas will be
burned out so you don’t have to come back again.
Q. Are there any generalizations that can be made about the past lives of people who have very
angry, intolerant natures?
M. Probably they just came from a tiger; their last life was a tiger or something like that.
Q. What is the best way to cope with these people?
M. Just don’t cope. [Laughter] Recite a prayer, go and do something else, or just look at them
with loving eyes, and then after they’re tired of scolding, probably they’ll cool down.
Otherwise, how do you cope with a tiger? Run away, no?
Q. Dear Master, I meditate thirty minutes a day, but I cannot concentrate after ten minutes. Is it
because of heavy karmas that I have?
M. No, it’s just a habit. Most of us are so used to looking outside and paying attention to outer
things that when we try to withdraw all our attention inward, it is difficult. It’s used to running
out again. After ten minutes, it’s already very good. Most people cannot even do it for ten
seconds; so continue and then you will improve.
Q. How can one who feels little love become more loving?
M. You go and buy some more love from the supermarket. Is there anywhere that has love for
sale? [Laughter]
Get enlightenment, and then we’ll be more loving. That is the purpose of enlightenment.
Enlightenment makes us more loving, more tolerant, more understanding. That’s the best
outcome.
Q. That’s all the questions.
M. Thank you so much. I’m liberated. [Applause] This is gradual liberation. It’s not very humorous
today. I am very sorry that people are so serious. Thank you. [Applause]
TO APPRECIATE LIFE, START WITH ENLIGHTENMENT 13

How is everyone? Still recognize me from the last time? Is there anyone from last time? Please
raise your hand. [Part of the audience raise their hands] Fine! So I don’t have to start from scratch.
Is this still very early for you? [Audience: No.] No? You don’t work today? [Audience: No.] Oh, fine,
and I have to work.
The real homeland of the soul
I had a lot of inspiration about what God is, and how to better our world, and how to better
ourselves, and how to be in samadhi, et cetera, but I lost them all when I came to Colorado. I
guess it’s because Colorado people are very spiritual and the environment here looks like the
Himalayas. I think all of you are yogis, so you don’t need to prove that to me by any funny
gestures, or mudras, or anything. [Laughter] This is one of the places where I might consider
staying and making myself at home. ‘Consider’ only, because I have many other people who
‘consider’ that I should stay at their hometown. And I can never win because I am alone, and there
are so many people. But today I would like to take some of your time to introduce you to our ‘real
Hometown,’ or maybe invite you to have a look at it.
Many people believe that God creates only goodness. And then other people believe that God
creates also evil because, they say, everything comes from God. What do you agree with? The first
one or the second? [Audience: The first one.] The first one, right? Then where does evil come
from? [Audience: Humans.] Ah, humans, so you’re very enlightened indeed!
This place, which is called our world, is not the original plan of the universe. It has become like this,
with all kinds of sufferings and all kinds of undesirable situations, because of the by-products of the
humans and other beings’ interrelationships. If evil has truly existed, then it couldn’t have changed
from one place after another, or from one country to the other, or from one period of time to the
other.
13. Public lecture, Denver University, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., April 10, 1993 (Originally in English).
Humans can stop evil
In the old time, we did not have guns, and we did not have atom bombs and all kinds of things that
could destroy mankind in no time. So actually, the evil that exists in this world is not God-made. It
was not already there. Therefore, it changes from time to time and from different countries. Why
are we talking about this? Because we must realize that if evil is man-made, then man can also
stop it or avoid it, instead of blaming God all the time, or waiting in a corner of the church for God to
descend and do something about it.
For example, between me and Mr. Smith, whoever that might be, we never met each other and
nothing happened between us. And suddenly one day Mr. Smith came to see me, or I went to see
him. Suppose we are both very ignorant and we both wanted to do the same thing. We both
wanted to arrive at a position which is very lucrative and profitable, famous and all that, for
ourselves. Then both of us are in competition for that objective. And then if one of us wins, of
course, the other will feel very frustrated. If he is a bad-tempered man, he might try to take revenge
of some kind, or make trouble for me. And therefore, in this process, we breed another kind of
atmosphere between us and apart from us.
Originally, both of us had no hatred, but now we have hatred, and that hatred is the third energy,
which is born from both of our energies. If we come to think about it like that, we couldn’t blame
God for anything that is unfortunate in this world. Most of the people think that God made
everything, including evil. I used to think that way, but as I am getting older, I have more sympathy
for the Old Man. You develop more understanding for old people as you grow older. [Laughter]
It’s just like you and your wife or husband, normally both of you have no children, but you got
together and then the third kind was born. Those are your children. And your children may be
exactly like you in character, in intelligence, in ambition, or virtues, but they might not be. And they
might cause you a lot of trouble and headaches. So these are not your making, not entirely. Maybe
some of it is your making, but if you are very virtuous parents and very exemplary, but your
children are the opposite, then it is not your making.
Similarly, our world has become sometimes intolerable. It is our own making. Now, in order to
improve this or repair the world, or the house, the ‘big house’ that we live in with so many rooms
which are the nations, then we should know that evil is avoidable. Evil is avoided by doing good, by
keeping the commandments, by loving thy neighbors. But because our mind is so used to an eye
for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, it is difficult to do what we think we ought to do, or to treat others in a
very loving, kind way. Therefore, we need a stronger force to help us, to pull us out of our habitual
thinking and actions. That is why enlightenment is necessary. It is just like a woman who is already
very beautiful, and if she dresses herself up, wears a little bit more jewelry, and learns to walk in a
graceful way, then her beauty is more enhanced.
Everything in this world is beneficial to us
Everything in this world is actually also good for us, even evil. Evil is our mistake, but then, we
don’t have to stay in the mistakes forever. At least the mistakes are a kind of shock. When we
receive the effects of our mistakes, we will be shocked into realizing that this is not a proper thing
to do. They cause us misery and unhappiness, and therefore we turn around. All things in this
world which are beautiful and enjoyable are reminding us of our true happiness within, in our true
Home. It’s not a sin to enjoy the things that God created for us, but if we always feel very attached
to these things, then God will remind us that this is not proper. And therefore, we will sometimes
experience unhappiness or misery from the things that we cherish most.
It is wrong to deny the world. But it is not right to sink deep into the world all the time because we
miss the better half of life, which is spirit, and is more enjoyable than anything this world can afford.
Everything in this world is just a reminder of the true happiness, the true glory, and the true life that
we should have, and that we should know, because we have forgotten. Many people ask me about
the woman and man relationship, and sexual pleasure, and things like that – whether it is sinful. I
say, ‘It is not, but you should know that there are many more pleasures than that.’ For example,
sexual pleasure is only a copy of the true pleasure when you are in union with yourself, when both
forces within you, the feminine and the masculine aspects within yourself, are united. The union
between man and woman is just a duplicate of that one.
So actually, God sends us into this world not without any instruments to remind us of the kingdom
of God. It is just that we have forgotten that these are the reminders only, and we just love the copy
and forget the original. That’s what makes our life miserable, and even then we do not enjoy the
copy completely. Therefore, many of the man and woman relationships are rocky, and the sexual
relationship between you is not that holy, not that mutually respecting. Sometimes it’s kind of
abusing, and sometimes just a frustration release, a kind of instrument. If we truly want to enjoy
this life, we should enjoy the true life, which is a hundred thousand times better than the life that we
know on earth. And by knowing that life, we can also enjoy this life.
More intense feelings after enlightenment
Just like one of our friends, just expresses her opinion that after initiation or enlightenment, she
enjoyed life also. She would feel whatever is there with very intense awareness. And when you are
happy, you are truly happy. You have no reservations for your laughter. You are not constrained
and not feeling ashamed for laughing very loud, very heartily with your friends, and even alone.
And when you feel sorrow, you truly can weep. You weep all of your emotions out and then you get
relief. Not that after enlightenment we become like wood or stone and have not feelings
whatsoever.
Some people keep asking me whether I fall in love sometimes. Are you interested, by the way? If
not, I don’t talk about that. It is private. Are you interested? [Audience: Yes.] Okay. I thought it was
too personal. You come here to talk about Buddhahood and God and all that, and here I bring
things that sound very mundane. Never mind. I say, ‘Yes, off and on, now and again.’ Or maybe I
don’t know if that is falling in love or not. Well, when I see a person probably I like him and then
after he is gone, good-bye. Is that being in love or not? Steve, you have more experience.
[Laughter] Is that falling in love, Steve? [Steve: Yes.] Yes, really? But not in Colorado though, I
haven’t.
But before enlightenment, I didn’t know this kind of feeling. I never missed anyone. I didn’t love
anyone. I didn’t care about anyone. I did not enjoy friendship with people. I was a very lonely child,
very quiet. I did not feel lonely, though. I was just a very alone person until now. Until I was forced
into this job, I was a very quiet person. I could not talk. I mean that I didn’t speak; I didn’t make
friends. I enjoyed myself. I felt I needed nothing. And you know what it’s like in our society – you
work, and then one month a year, you have a vacation. Even if you don’t want to, you have to. It’s
the law.
When I was alone there, I wasn’t married then, and then this forced one month vacation was the
time I had trouble. I didn’t know what to do because I had no friends and there was nowhere I
wished to go. But you had to go because if you didn’t come back with a tan, people would not
respect you that much.
So you spend all your money and go to Costa Brava or whatever, and you lie there, bake yourself
to death, spend all your time in the sun, and get burned, get peeled, get scorched, and do
whatever you can with the cream and all that to comfort yourself. And then you go home to show
people, ‘Here I am from Costa Brava,’ cost a bomb, cost a lot of money. [Laughter] That was the
kind of life that I had. Probably some of you experienced the same up to now. And then after I
became the ‘main bro’ in this ‘office,’ I became more talkative. I changed; I became an entirely
different person than if you knew me before, maybe five, six, seven years ago. You wouldn’t
recognize me now.
When I was married, my husband had a lot of friends from this medical doctors’ circle, and they
talked a lot to him about many things. Also they talked on the phone a lot. But I hardly could speak
anything to him. And sometimes I stood around and felt very envious with these friends. I said, ‘If I
could just talk half of the time like them, I would feel already very good.’ I felt a little bit inadequate
because I couldn’t speak. I mean that I am not a talkative person. I’m always quiet; I do my job and
have feelings, but nothing more. And even the love for my husband, I don’t know if it was love or
not. Well, I missed him when he was away and I was happy when he was around but that was it;
that was just about it. It was not a very kind of passionate thing that you read about in a romance
novel or watch in the movies, things like that. I thought that, ‘Oh, it looks like I am not a person of
this world, I don’t belong here.’
The fabulous network leading to God
But after enlightenment, you feel that your feelings, your emotions, your affections, and your
everything are very sharp. You realize more that you are truly living beings. Many people fear that
maybe after enlightenment they would shave their heads, cast off their beautiful clothes, and go
into the Himalayas, or find a cave in Colorado somewhere. But it is not true. Maybe you do that in
the beginning because you are too fanatic, too eager, too eager to know God, forgetting all the
while that Hes is always here. Because you are God, you are the representatives of this God
power, and we are all connected together in this marvelous network. And should we forget that, we
will be very lonely. Deep in our hearts, we will never be satisfied. It doesn’t matter how many
friends we have, how much money we earn, or how busy we are, many of the moments of our lives
will be in loneliness and dissatisfaction. We just don’t know what is it that is lacking in our lives. So
we do feel something missing. That is because we have forgotten to tune in with this network that
connects us as the whole, with the whole universe. And therefore, whatever we do, we do alone.
We work alone, and we feel a great burden on our shoulders.
That’s why Emerson says, ‘A great burden falls from our shoulders when we let God run the
universe.’ To let God run the universe doesn’t mean we sit there and wait for bread to fall from the
sky. It means that we work together with the whole universe, and whatever we do, it will be
blessed, watched over, and helped by the whole power. Therefore, we will be the great beings.
And everything within us, including the so-called ‘human emotions’, will be very alert. We feel, for
the first time in our lives, that we are truly alive, and we truly enjoy everything that God gives us in
this life.
There is no denial of the world, not truly. I don’t think an enlightened person is so negative in this
attitude. I feel, I see, and I know that my fellow initiates, you can call them disciples, that’s your
word, are very alive, they are very alert, and they are happy. They know that life is all right. Not all
of them are, but it is very seldom that they want to run away from life. Maybe in the beginning
because, before, I used to wear nun clothes and looked very serious, so people thought to be
serious and become a monk is the means to the end of Buddhahood. After I realized that, I
changed, because that was a wrong conception. It’s okay that I wear the clothes if I want to but that
is not the leading condition for enlightenment.
Enlightenment solves all problems
Enlightened people are very happy and they accept the situation, whatever it is. And I have the
very positive knowledge that if all people are enlightened, then we don’t need to change the world
at all. We don’t need to make India become rich; we don’t need to change communism into
capitalism because everyone will be contented under whichever circumstances they are in. We
don’t have to change anything. We don’t need to even vote for a new president every four years.
And Mr. Clinton can stay there forever, [Laughter] whether he is good or not, because we are good.
That is important. One president, however good, can not do much. But the whole nation is strong
when people in that nation are all together, at oneness, because of the connecting network. And
the whole world is all together in unison because they’re all connected with that network. And then
the president cannot help himself but to be good. He has to behave. I don’t mean Mr. Clinton.
Please don’t tell him! He might not give me a visa next time. [Master and audience laugh.]
The problem in this world are not to be blamed on politicians, not to be blamed on the economic
system of any country, or any ‘ism’ of any nation, but to be blamed on the ignorance of our self
nature – that we do not know how great we are, that we do not know that we are the contentment
incarnate, that we do not know that we are love personified. Therefore, enlightenment is a cure for
all illnesses, for all worldly problems, for all wars, and they are once and for all finished! And as
long as all of us are enlightened, the world will never come to an end.
Everyone predicts about the end of the world. I mean everyone worries about it; just some people
predict and make many people worry. But even if the world comes to an end, the enlightened
people will never feel bothered. They know this world comes and then it will go one day, but the life
eternal always goes on and nothing can affect it. Life eternal is what we are; wisdom is what we
possess. Love is what our nature is and that cannot be destroyed with any bomb at all. It cannot be
limited by space and time. Therefore, the Master doesn’t have to always be where the disciples are
to help the disciples and bless them. And the disciples will grow into mastership and also can do
the same. So whatever I do, you can do also. That was what Jesus said to us.
But can we do it? Can we do what Jesus did? No, not yet, because we have not learned what He
learned. We have not tuned into the kingdom of God. We have forgotten our Father who is perfect;
therefore, we live in imperfection. Now, to correct this is very easy. If we want to go northward, then
we have to face north and continue, begin and continue to walk or to go northward. But if we want
to go south, then of course, we have to turn back and face south and begin to go there. It’s very
simple. Every day we face the world; we walk toward the world; we think toward the world; we
merge ourselves in the world. All our attention, energy, emotions, and best talents face the world.
We don’t face God. Now it’s very simple. Turn around. I will show you how at the initiation, and
there you are. It’s very simple.
This world is the shadow of the kingdom of God
You will ask me the question that if you face God, then do you have to turn your back to the world?
It is not so in the kingdom of God because actually if there is no kingdom of God, then there is not
this world. This world is only a copy of the real thing, of the real life. Therefore, you do not have to
forsake the world in order to know the real, but you have to know that the world came from the real
by realizing the real. Just like you get to know a beautiful lady instead of chasing after her shadow;
then you have both. If you want the shadow that much, you can include it because the shadow
comes from this beautiful lady. It’s no good always clinging to the shadow and not knowing the
real, but as soon as we know the real, the shadow also belongs to us.
Since ancient times we have always heard many stories about how fantastic a Master like Jesus is.
‘Jesus – He is great, fantastic!’ He can do many things and we admire Him, but He should not be
the only one in this position because it is said in the bible, ‘Know you not that you are the temple of
God, and the holy spirit dwells within you.’ We house God. Do you understand that we house the
Almighty within ourselves? And here we are having nothing of this almighty glory. It is because we
face the other way. We face the shadow, we chase after the shadow, and try to correct the shadow
to suit our taste – that the legs are too long, the head is too flat, or the ear is too pointed. It is
because of the light that projected the real and made it become the shadow. And if we chase that
all the time, trying to make it different, of course we make trouble for ourselves. We exhaust all our
energy and we achieve nothing. We might be able to adjust a little bit here, a little bit there, but this
is only a shadow; tomorrow the ear will be pointed again. In order to truly enjoy ourselves, we have
to correct the real. We have to know the real one and adjust accordingly.
If you know where the beautiful girl stands, then you can even make the shadow become more
beautiful if you wish. You can make the light behind her go a little bit above or under, and then her
shadow will become very much like the real person, or you can do some technique to adjust the
shadow. But if we do not know the real and try to adjust the shadow from the shadow itself, then
we always have problems. That is the problem with the world. That’s why our world is always in
trouble. We try to correct the shadow and not the real object.
A peaceful world comes if everyone is enlightened
Many heroes have come and gone. So many great kings have reigned in the world, but the world is
still the way it is. If you have fixed some problems here, other problems will breed themselves
elsewhere. If you have enough medical care for the people, now you have incurable diseases like
AIDS, for example. It’s troublesome. And so we never come to an end without problems if we
always try to fix the world.
I have known one person. He is very much interested in our teaching and wants initiation and that,
but he told me that he would like to stay in the world, to remain in the world as worldly people, in
order to understand their problems, and in order to help them. Many of the heroes of our history
have thought the same thing, and the world has not become a paradise. Even though we have a lot
of better equipment and a more civilized society, we have other more troublesome problems.
So you see, our brothers and sisters, what the conclusion should be. It’s not that after
enlightenment we forsake our political career, or leave the president alone in the White House and
all the aides will go out because they’re all enlightened. But we stay there and we do a better job
because we know how to adjust the shadow now. Or we don’t bother at all to adjust the shadow
anymore. Whatever the shadow may be, fine, because we know it’s not important. We may feel
amazed at the shadow, its changing shape and size and color at different times of the day. We
might watch it with amazement but we no longer chase after it, and we no longer put great
importance upon this shadow.
That’s why people should be enlightened. The world will be at peace and no other thing needs to
be done. I don’t know if you agree – yes or no? [Applause] I tell you from my example, not sheer
talk. For example, now you look at me and I’m wearing beautiful clothes. Actually, I designed them
myself, and I have seamstresses who are monks and nuns. Together, I mean we are those who
live together and do not have family ties and that, so we work on everything together without
wanting any wages or any position. It’s very inexpensive anyhow, but it looks beautiful, right?
So now, I am happy because I am beautiful, fine. But when I am alone and I do not have to see
you at such a great event and important gathering like this, then I just wear whatever it is – very old
clothes, but very comfortable, and old shoes, flat. And I don’t even care to wash them very carefully
because I would just pitch my tent next to the river and put my clothes in the bucket and some
soap and river water, and I use my feet to stamp on them while I clean my teeth at the same time. I
use my feet to just walk in the bucket, walk on the clothes for a while, and then bathe and I swim, I
just shake them loose and get the river water to clean them. Then I throw them on the rocks and
after some time, they are dry. And that’s a life of beautiful enjoyment that I most cherish. But
nevertheless, when I go out, sometimes I stay in hotels, sometimes I stay in a very beautiful
mansion which some of the disciples lend us for few days, and I also enjoy that. I also enjoy the
freshly cut lawn and the beauty of the flowers that you plant around in your gardens, and every so-
called luxurious thing that you have, I enjoy.
An enlightened person conforms to circumstances
Therefore, enlightenment affords us the enjoyment, not the situation. So I enjoy in both cases. I do
not deny luxury and I do not cling to asceticism because each has its beauty. Whatever is there,
you accept it, and that is the simple life. Some people ask me if the simple life means going to the
forests and living in caves and eating weeds, and all that? I say, ‘No, a simple life means you stay
where you are and enjoy whatever you have.’ If you are rich, you enjoy your rich life and share
whatever is left over, too much, with other people. If you are poor, enjoy your simple life and be
happy that you don’t have to worry about thieves. [Laughter] And that is simple living. Stay where
you are, enjoy what you have, that is, in my thinking, simple living. Do you think that’s all right?
[Applause]
If we try to change our life, it makes us ‘not simple.’ You are so used to living with clean bathrooms
and all that. And now you have to punish yourself and adjust to a kind of outside open toilet and it
freezes in the winter, and maybe you are not used to the cold. You’d get cold and you’d get sick,
and is that simple? No. Then you have to be administered to a hospital and get all the needles in
your tongue, in your knees, and wherever necessary. [Master and audience laugh.] And that looks
very complicated indeed, at least from the outside. Therefore, simple living means you are
comfortable where you are.
But of course there are some things we adjust in our life. For example, if we meditate a lot, then we
cannot afford to eat meat too much because that excites our energy, stimulates the passion, and
we would like to sit still in order to know our own treasure and wisdom. If we do not follow a simple
diet, then it will have some side-effects. Therefore, some people who meditate at random and do
not adhere to the vegetarian diet come into a kind of disturbance. Many people have mental
derangements. It is because of violating the law of nature. The law of nature teaches us to be
vegetarian. You know all of this. I think in the sample booklet that you were given, it has already
been proven scientifically that we humans are a vegetarian species. Our teeth and our intestines
are made for vegetarian beings, and the meat-eater beings are different in body construction; the
inner organs and the digestive system are all different. Anyhow, I’ll be long about enlightenment
and short about diet, okay? In case you are allergic to the vegetarian diet, I won’t mention it
anymore.
Quan Yin method is the ultimate method
But be enlightened anyhow, by all means and by whatever you can afford in your environment and
in your mental state of preparation. There are many ways to enlightenment, but there is a best way,
quickest way, or longest way, safer way, or a little bit risky way. Just like when you climb the
mountain, there are many roads but some roads are even and some roads are more rocky, and
some roads are dangerous. I have found that the Quan Yin method, the method of observing the
inner Word, the inner Sound, and the inner heavenly Light, is the best and is the ultimate, because
ultimately we have to arrive to the Light of God and to the Word of God in order to get the wisdom.
All other roads are leading you to that state: That you could hear the Sound of God and could see
the Light.
All other methods have this same goal, but we are right here – the teaching directly – and you
immediately experience the enlightenment taste, you see immediately. So you get this Light and
Sound right away at the time of initiation, whereby with other methods, you have to take a long
time, many years, or do many ascetic kinds of sacrifices in order to arrive there. Therefore, actually
this is not a method. It’s just a fruit and the meal is already prepared for you hungry guests. The
others, maybe they are not hungry so they try to mess around with their food or cook all the time
and not eat it.
Many of our people who stay permanently in our Centers around the world, their lives are very
simple, but they are very happy. Our life is so simple that, when compared to the most simple
lifestyles in other countries, theirs seems pale!
The other day we were speaking with some of the people who work with the government in Au Lac.
They are not governmental officials but are just doing business-wise work, and so we had a chance
to talk about this. And then, I said, ‘Actually the people in Au Lac, if they were enlightened, they
wouldn’t feel so troubled about communism even.’ I said, ‘Because actually I am a true communist;
whatever I earn I share it all with people.’ Communist means you have everything not for yourself,
but for the community; you live in the community. Therefore, actually I don’t talk communism, but
the communists should give me the best medal for it because I live what they preach. [Laughter] I
live in a tent. I live a simple life. I don’t earn money for myself. All the money runs around the world
for the sake of my disciples, for the enlightenment of others, and for the poor and needy. And even
my clothes I design for myself, so it’s cheaper. [Applause]
Changing ourselves is changing the world
It’s not what we have in life, but to what degree we are contented with life. To tell you honestly, I do
not have a better life than any of the people who live in the communist system. For example, from
thirty-six or forty hours until now, I have only had one meal, and that wasn’t much. There was only
maybe half a bowl or one bowl of rice, just a few tofus, and a few vegetables. That’s all there was.
And I am working so very…, you cannot say it’s not hard. It’s hard work because we run from one
place after another and we are always packing and unpacking and talking to hundreds and
thousands of people all the time. I seldom rest my voice, very seldom.
I’ll tell you my schedule. For example, the night before last, I was in Seattle talking to thousands,
and after that, talking to the disciples and non-disciples, et cetera. I did not go to bed until about
five o’clock in the morning. Before that, I meditated for a while and then slept a little bit, and got up
again at nine or something, got ready to go to the airplane. At the airport I had to speak to
hundreds of people and make them happy. [Laughter] What are you laughing at? It’s true, because
if not, then they are not happy. And in the airplane, I have to talk again to the neighbors because
they ask me where I come from, what I do, and all that. Fine, and I enjoy that also. Then I had a
little rest, maybe ten minutes. And again, came down to the airport and hundreds of people were
already there waiting for me to talk again. Okay, I talked until nine or something, and we went
home and I had a little rest. And then came the telephone, and I talked again for about one or two
hours, one hour at least. And then I came out, and all my disciples and their immediate friends, the
Americans, wanted to be exclusively treated. So only Americans were around and I talked only in
American language for a while.
And then I took that meal that I told you, and that was it. I had nothing from that meal until now.
And before that I didn’t have meal. Before that meal I nibbled two mouthfuls of bread and two
mouthfuls of milk. That was before I left Seattle. And I came to last night and had that meal, my
only meal, until now. So therefore, I had, in forty hours or fifty hours, actually only one meal and
nothing more. If the communists are proud of their teaching, they should be more proud of action
and give me a best medal. [Laughter and applause.] Actually, I am too proud of myself. It’s my ego
at work but don’t worry, I’ll put it aside later. [Laughter]
So the problem is not to change anything of this world, but to change ourselves. I would have
complained before. Without enlightenment, I would have complained. I would have loved to have
my beautiful house, my lovely husband, and my ‘whatever’ that is mine. And I couldn’t just sacrifice
like that. By the way, doing this, I do not even feel that I sacrifice, but I just feel very natural and
very happy to do it. Of course I am tired and I complain sometimes because of some of the
unnecessary, tiresome questions or demands from people and disciples. And sometimes it
agonizes you having to accompany kindergarten children while you are teaching in college. Yes, it
is very difficult also, but I get through; I get through. That’s a reasonable complaint, no? Is it not?
Enjoy the world within and without
Thus, if the people in any poor country or in whatever situation, get enlightenment, they would not
feel suffering. Some of our disciples are relived of even the most dangerous sicknesses after
initiation or after they practice for a while. It depends on also their sincerity and karma; some of
them have to undergo sometimes this retribution, but they go with smiles on their faces.
Yesterday when I was in Seattle, one of the women told me she had to undergo an operation and
she had already prepared herself to go to play in heaven while the body was undergoing the
operation. She told me, ‘Fine, I know already. I will go and let the doctor inject me and then,
meanwhile, I will go to Buddha’s land and have a look around.’ [Laughter] Yes, that’s what she said
and she had no fear whatsoever. Yesterday, some of you heard it. Were any of you in Seattle
yesterday? Yes, you heard this? That was an Au Lac lady about my age, maybe younger, but don’t
make me feel very old. Yes, that’s what they do.
And sometimes some of our fellow practitioners, their lives are not rich like yours. Perhaps, in
Formosa, they drive a taxi, but while driving the taxi they can see Buddha’s land or heaven, the
kingdom of God, at the same time. Therefore their lives pass very quickly, and whatever they do,
they do it in joy. They enjoy the real life and the shadow of the real life because both will blend
together; there is no separation, no rejection of any kind.
The beauty of enlightenment
When I was in Indonesia, or some other country, some people said, ‘Oh, You look beautiful. Would
You consider remarrying?’ What do you think? Do I have time for that? [Master and audience
laugh.] Yes, but I said to him, ‘Why do you ask this question?’ He said because he thinks that
enlightened people would not care so much about these things, no love, very dry, and all that. I
said, ‘No, if you consider, you should propose first. You propose, and I will put you on the marrying
list.’ [Laughter] But then, that’s the last I heard of him. [Laughter] Probably after a close
examination of my face and figure and whatever, and my lifestyle, he thought he had better not
take the adventure. [Master and audience laugh.] My disciples everywhere are enough to scare the
biggest heroes on earth. They would run away, you know. [Laughter]
When you are at home and you have only one husband or wife, and if the third person comes, you
already feel very scared, very frightened that your love would be shared. How much more if they
see my disciples! They hang around twenty-four hours, they eat everything with me, and they
interfere with all kinds of privacy, except when I am in the bathroom. [Laughter] My door can never
be locked. Always coming up and down, and my room is just like a restaurant. So whoever dares to
be my husband should prepare for war. [Master and audience laugh.] So that’s the life it is, and
whether you have or you don’t have, it’s fine. It’s very fine with you because you are contented
within yourself. You do not reject life, but you do not sink into life deeply so that you know nothing
else except the material existence of life. And that’s the beauty of enlightenment. [Applause]
All right, I am ready for your questions because there will be more talk by the way. You can ask
anything and I am free to answer or not, so don’t worry. It is a very good atmosphere today. For the
first time, and you can laugh so much. I think we don’t charge money for the lecture, but we charge
for the laughter because this is very rare. [Laughter]
Q. In the bible, Jesus Christ said, ‘I and my Father are one,’ but how can I reach this state?
M. Get enlightenment. Get initiation; that’s what we are here for, to help you.
Q. Dear Master, I never eat vegetarian, however after I listened to Your videos and read Your
magazines, I started to eat vegetarian once or twice a month. [Master: Big deal, big deal!] Can
I meditate? If yes, is there any danger?
M. Fine, it’s already a big improvement. From thirty days to twenty-eight days! [Laughter]
Q. Dear Master, how can we live a happy life?
M. Didn’t I tell you that to get enlightenment is a sure way of a happy life? Okay, I am very
patient. [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. Could You please explain Your precept against killing, specifically against abortion?
M. You get me into trouble. [Laughter]
‘Thou shalt not kill’ is the precept of all religious scriptures, not only Christians; it’s even in
Jainism, Hinduism, and other religions also. If they truly take this, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ in the
true sense of the precept, abortion, of course, should be avoided. And the doctor should be
very precise in determining what is the special situation in which people should undertake this,
because maybe sometimes it’s dangerous for the mother or dangerous for both. So the doctor
should be fair in determination that situation. Otherwise, I think we should save life in any way
we can.
Whatever is your special circumstance, you have to answer with your own self conscience,
and the doctor has to determine that. I am not here to condemn anyone because I know life is
very hard and it’s very difficult to say what is right and what is wrong. We also are all under
the sway of karma, of the law of cause and retribution, and sometimes it is very difficult for a
person to go above that to be saintly and to be decisive about anything in life. But bear in
mind that if we have faith in God and in all our wisdom and if we are enlightened, no
circumstance is difficult, no situation is hard to handle. So I just propose enlightenment and no
condemnation for anything. [Applause]
Q. Is it okay to receive initiation from more than one Master?
M. It’s okay, but why is it necessary? For example, if your Master has already taught you the
Light and the Sound within you, and you are satisfied and you’re making progress with that
path, then you don’t have to be initiated by another Master who will teach the same method.
But nonetheless, if you are not completely satisfied and you are more convinced in some
other Master, of course you may do so.
Respect the talent and qualities of other people
Q. Jesus ate fish; why do You not?
M. You always put fish in Jesus’ mouth! [Laughter] All right, suppose He ate fish, He is Christ. He
can do many other things that you cannot do. Why do you look at the piece of fish only and
not at His qualities and His holiness? As soon as you become as holy as He is and as
powerful as He is, you can eat human beings, if you are that desperate for meat! Oh God!
We always compare the things that other people do to suit our tastes but we do not respect
their qualities and their talents. We have to know what we have and what other people have,
and then we can say what we can do or not. The president can stay in the White House. He
has a lot of bodyguards, and he has power over the whole nation. So some thing he can do,
we cannot.
Q. Are pain and illness always the result of present karma? If so, how do we clean them out?
M. We clean it out by enduring it, because it’s already too late now to reverse the wheel of
karma. But we could minimize it; we could lubricate it, by being enlightened, by meditation on
the perfection of the Father every day through the guidance of a Teacher. Through initiation,
we minimize a lot of things.
Q. Do You feel that initiation is important? Why can it not be done on our own?
M. The question answers itself. If you have done it yourself, then it’s not necessary to get an
initiation. But if you can’t do it, if you haven’t seen the Light of God and heard the Sound of
heaven, then initiation is necessary. Besides, there are many steps to heaven so that you
must know verbally the instructions and so many pitfalls that you should avoid. If you do not
know that, you will waste a lot of time and sometimes it’s dangerous.
Q. Who was Your Himalayan Master and of what lineage?
M. I think I talked about that already in some of the tapes. You go and have a look. Now I am
here, and you keep asking about my Master all the time! I’m jealous! I am so beautiful and you
don’t care about me! [Laughter] You care about an old man with wrinkled eyes and a cranky
mood, who doesn’t talk to anyone, doesn’t accept disciples. [Laughter]
Q. Master, specifically what is the difference between enlightenment and the power to initiate,
and which one did the patriarchs of the bible have?
M. The power to initiate came first. You will have the power of initiation also if you are appointed
by the Master; because the Master will initiate through you. And also you have the power, the
true power, the perfect power, not the borrowed one, when you become a Master. When you
reach the fifth plane of consciousness, then you become Christ or Buddha; at that time you
can initiate. But enlightenment is a part of it, part of the power. And you will expand this, and
will get to know more of your greatness, more and more, until you realize your complete self.
That is the time you’ll know God. That’s the time you’ll be able to initiate people.
In the state of samadhi
Q. Dear Master, is it right that we have to be at or beyond the second level of spiritual practice to
have a samadhi experience?
M. No, it’s not true. It’s just a deeper or shallower samadhi. If you see the Light or hear the
Sound, that means you’re already in samadhi. It’s just a little bit not very deep. And
sometimes you’re in very deep samadhi and you sit there and are only aware of the inside,
and sometimes you are aware of both the inside and outside.
Q. If initiated, can one practice meditation an hour in the morning, half an hour in the middle of
the day, and an hour at night? Or does one have to meditate two and a half hours in one
continuous sitting?
M. No, you can separate it. You can do it on the bus, in the park, on an airplane, on a train, et
cetera, to make up the hours that you need.
Q. Please explain the reason for not eating or using eggs, and how do eggs represent life and
death?
M. An egg is a symbol of life and death; in it contains life. And many of the black magicians or
white magicians use eggs to withdraw some of the negative possessive spirits within some
people. Therefore, if we eat eggs too much, we tend to attract this negative force toward
ourselves. That’s one of the reasons why we should not eat eggs.
Q. Do You have homosexual disciples?
M. Yes, do I have to report to you their private business? [Laughter]
Homosexuality is just a misconception about their awareness. They misunderstand their

body’s function. When they become enlightened, this will be less and less because they will
identify themselves less with the body, but more with the spirit. Therefore, there is nothing
wrong with that. When the children are very young, they play with their plastic models and
they cling to their teddy bears, but when they grow up, they will leave them. So do not worry
about your misidentification with your body or with your birth appearance. It’s all right. Just get
enlightenment and everything will fix itself in due course.
Q. Master, I often see that in meditation it is my mind watching my mind. I lose faith that I can go
beyond this technique. Any advice? Thank You.
M. Of course, it’s not a very suitable technique for you, perhaps. If we use the mind to watch the
mind, we are still inside the mind, and inside the creation’s destroying and nourishing process.
We should go beyond the mind; therefore, in our meditation, we don’t use the mind at all. That
is the most advanced technique. So maybe try ours, okay?
Q. What happened to Your husband?
M. Thanks for your concern. We have lost contact for; I think, several years now. He waited for
me six years, and then he remarried after six years. And during the time, we wrote off and on,
half a year a letter, or one year a letter, and after six years he got married again with a
vegetarian doctor wife. Then he got a son and he reported that to me. That was the last I
heard of him. If you are interested to know, maybe I’ll go into the second level and have a look
at his future. [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. Master, how important is it to see the Light eighteen inches in front of me? I only see it close
to my forehead. Thank You.
M. It’s fine. It’s a good beginning. Don’t worry, it will grow further.
Why Bodhidharma sat facing the wall for nine years
Q. I don’t know if it’s my business to understand, but I’d like to find out about Buddha’s message
when He came from India and sat facing the wall for nine years.
M. The patriarch, Bodhidharma, sat facing the wall for nine years because He had nothing else to
do. If it weren’t for you, I would probably sit and face the ceiling for nineteen years. [Laughter]
You see, if they have things to do, they will do them wholeheartedly. If they have nothing to
do, they just do what they want to do. That’s it. And if he loved the wall so much, why not?
Of course, I make a joke about it. But to elaborate further, you should understand that an
enlightened person is very content within him or herself, and does not desire to do anything
when it’s not necessary. For example, if I don’t come to you, or if I don’t lecture, or if no one
requires me to come out to see them or talk to them, I am always in my room. Of course,
sometimes I like to take a walk in a garden or in a forest whenever it’s there. If not, I stay in
my rooms. I do nothing; I am just happy. I may read books or not read books, I might meditate
or not meditate, I may sleep or I may be awake, I may eat something or not eat something; I’m
fine within the walls.
That’s the problem with prisoners. Because they are not enlightened, they feel walls separate
them. If they were enlightened, they would sit pretty well in there and never probably want to
leave prison. That’s why the patriarch sat there and felt good. At that time probably there was
no lecture hall for him and not many people understand him, so he just sat there and enjoyed
himself. He could have done other things but it wasn’t necessary at that time.
There was a story about a Zen Master and his disciple. I am afraid to take up your time, is it
okay to tell? [Audience: Yes!]
One Zen disciple, very enlightened perhaps, came to see his Master after some time and then
his Master asked him, ‘What did you do all these months? You had a summer vacation, now
what did you do?’ He said, ‘In my backyard, there is a big piece of land. I cultivated and
planted some vegetables. They tasted so good. They looked good, and I feel very good about
it.’ The Master praised him, and said, ‘You did not waste your time! You know how to use your
time. It’s very good.’
And the disciple asked the Master, ‘What did you do during this time that I was not here?’ And
the Master said, ‘In the day time I ate and read books. In the nighttime, I slept.’ The disciple
nodded his head and said, ‘Master, you also know how to use your time. You didn’t waste
your time. You are very useful.’ Yes, it’s very comfortable. It takes an enlightened mind to
understand an enlightened mind. That’s what it is with the enlightened people. If they have
work to do, they do it. If they don’t, they don’t miss anything.
Whenever we are on tour, we are sometimes in a kind of very famous place. Like when we
were in Mexico, we were next to the pyramids, and of course people would like to go there. It
was about one hour from our place, and my room was in the middle of the city with all the
noise and all the narrowness, everything. But still, I didn’t long to go to the pyramids, so we
never did go, even though I stayed there for six days and lectured only one day. I saw people
every day, of course, but I had no longing to go see the pyramids or anything else. I stayed
always every day, every minute of the day, in my room.
And so, as I have told you again, and again, enlightenment is the only cure of everything in
this world. Otherwise, if anyone else, you put them in a room like that and you don’t let them
go to see the pyramids, or some other things, they will be unhappy. But we are not. I and my
disciples, the immediate crew, no one wanted to go to the pyramids. I told them, ‘If you want
to go, you are free to go. You don’t have to wait for me or ask my permission.’ But no one
wanted to go. They are just happy to serve. They sleep when they have time, and when they
wake up they go and prepare the equipment and all that for the lecture. No one longs to go
sightseeing or anything. It is because we are very contented within ourselves. Therefore, the
first patriarch Bodhidharma, the Buddhist who came to China, faced the wall for nine years. It
was the same situation.
Why the ego exists
Q. During meditation, do we need to keep ourselves awake so that we know that we are
meditating? If I fall into a state of not fully being awake or I fall asleep, is there any good in my
meditation at all?
M. Yes, it’s a good sleep. [Laughter]
Q. I have been on a vegetarian diet for three months, but I can’t cross my legs because there is a
problem with my legs. So am I qualified for initiation? And can You comment on posture when
meditating?
M. Then don’t cross your legs, for God’s sake! [Laughter] Do what you want with your legs. I
don’t want your legs; I just want your enlightenment.
Q. After initiation and if Master is not with us, if I have any problems with my meditation, what
should I do?
M. The Master is always with you. The Master is not the body; we are wisdom. We are connected
with the whole universe. And the Master who is worth His name is omnipresent, so whenever
you are in trouble, the Master knows. And the Master is always helping you to progress.
Whether you see the Master or not depends on your power of samadhi. Otherwise, the Master
is awake and taking care of you twenty-four hours a day, so don’t worry.
Q. Master, You are very beautiful and have much to offer. I am glad to be here. My question has
to do with the ego. What are we to do with it, if anything, and why does it exist?
M. The ego doesn’t exist, actually. The ego comes from the information that we collect during our
time and during our interrelationships with others, or with all things around us.
For example, when you were born, you had no ego, but when you grow up and then you know
yourself to be beautiful or handsome, then the ego begins to grow. And everyone praises you,
‘Oh, you’re beautiful!’ And then, ‘You have a Ph.D.!’ You grow more in pride, and that is the
ego. But don’t worry about it. It’s just a good accessory sometimes, and you can throw it away
anytime you don’t need it. But you have to have enlightenment first in order to know when to
wear it and when to put it down.
Initiation is the only way to reach the fifth world
Q. What kind of Light and Sound can I hear when I reach the fifth level? I mean, what symbol will
let me know if I come to the fifth level of meditation?
M. That, I will tell you at the time of initiation because I cannot just tell you like that at random. I
don’t know what kind of meditation you do. If you want to elaborate further, maybe it’s better.
The fifth level is meant for the initiated people only, not for other than disciples; they couldn’t
even reach the first.
Q. Dear Master, I am married but I sometimes have dreams of being with other beautiful girls.
How do I prevent these dreams? Am I creating heavy karma?
M. It’s all right, enjoy your dreams. [Laughter] Just don’t do it in the reality, otherwise your wife
will not let you enjoy it. And keep it a secret. What can we do with dreams? Forgive yourself;
it’s okay.
Q. How can it happen that we are born as a twin?
M. It is because you like to stick together, I guess. You have affinity with each other and you want
to go out at the same time to have companion. No problem about twins. We are twins
ourselves; we have both feminine and masculine aspects inside, and if we reunite that, we’re
happy. Forget about the physical aspect.
Experience is better than empty talk
Q. Dear Master, please let us know more about energy, the relation between energy, peace, and
love? The only thing we know from science is that energy cannot be destroyed or created.
Energy can be transformed from one kind to another kind. Some say God is energy; God is
love. What do You think?
M. I think these are only sayings. Before you experience them, all sayings are empty. I do not like
to be a living dictionary, but an example of the true knowledge. When you are enlightened,
you understand this energy and all the metaphysical questions.
Energy is of many kinds, negative and positive. When we are enlightened, we balance both
and make use of them for the purposes in life and in the right time, the right situation. I told
you already if we are enlightened, the world will be at peace and there is no need to change
anything. Of course that is the peaceful energy that we radiate after enlightenment.
Q. How do we influence a beloved, such as a husband or wife, to be a more moral person? Is

there a special method to help them?
M. Yes, enlightenment. Enlightenment helps you to be sharper in all feelings. And you will be a
better wife, a better husband, even. Many of our initiates claim that their married life became
much better after both of them practiced God’s presence – the Light and Sound. Before that,
they just had a kind of very lukewarm relationships, or cold as ice cubes. And after
enlightenment, they knew how to care for each other, and they felt more loving toward each
other.
Q. Dear Master, I had a lot of nightmares in childhood. Now the nightmares are gone, but I still
dream frequently every night. Please tell me, are these dreams involved with my karma?
M. Maybe you had a very rough life before. You lived a truly nightmarish life; therefore, the
influence still lingers until now. Well, I sound like an advertising manager; but enlightenment is
also for everything. If you want to live a fearless life, a dreamless life, then of course,
enlightenment is the answer.
Q. Were Hermes, Zoroaster, the Essenes, and the Gnostics great Masters? Who were the first
Masters?
M. All Masters, all true Masters, are one. They come from one source. The highest Master is the
Supreme Master, the Almighty, which is in all of you. When we first came here, we were
Masters before. We came here, we blessed the world, and we forgot all about our power and
our glory. Our energies were also exhausted because we paid attention to outer phenomena.
All the Masters who come here are the ones who are awakened in this awareness, and know
their true glory. They can travel the road Home frequently and they can lead us back Home.
So there’s no need to discriminate between any Masters. All the religions are founded after
the Master has gone; therefore, we have Christianity after Christ, Buddhism after Buddha, et
cetera.
Q. Enlightenment always seems so lofty. In what ways will I be different after enlightenment?
How will I know?
M. Oh, you’ll know it; you’ll know it definitely. You’ll know it, just like when you walk inside the
door and when you walk outside the door. It’s very definite and very beneficial to your daily
life. Just like between an educated person and an uneducated person, there is a great
difference.
Q. Is it true that to become fully realized, one must practice the highest yoga, Tantra, and the
secret mantra? And did Buddha perform these before full realization?
M. I didn’t see anything like that in the scriptures. I only saw that He sat under the Bodhi tree for
forty days or more, and He saw the stars at the time of realization. If you want to have the
same realization as Buddha, you can have it right now.
And about tantra and tantrum, [Laughter] I do not know. I did not see anything in the Buddhist
scriptures referring to the Buddha’s practice before He was enlightened. I only know that He
saw the stars and He saw the Light. If you want that kind, we have it.
Q. There is a vow to refrain from intoxicants. What about chemicals on fruits and vegetables?
M. Oh, my God! You are fanatic! Wash them with salty water and eat them; otherwise, you die.
Q. Since I started the vegetarian diet, my son who is seven years old asks, ‘Is it another no-meat
day?’ I realize my son was born with the great nature of not eating meat, but due to my wrong
conceptions, I started his meat-eating habit. How can I restore his greatness and reduce my
guilt?
M. Then take time. You have taken much time and effort to force your son into meat, and now
you have to take the same amount of effort and time to reverse it.
How dictators emerge
Q. Dear Master, please explain what kind of karma it is when there are dictators like Hitler, Lenin,
and Ho Chi Minh, who caused wars that killed millions of people, and made millions of others
suffer?
M. That is the collective karma of mankind which, as I told you, consists of the by-products of the
interrelationships between humans and other beings in this world and other worlds. Those
kinds of by-products become a kind of very forceful, strong energy, hanging around our
earth’s atmosphere. And when it is too condensed, then it has to manifest into some kind of
visible form, such as a very great dictator who kills millions, et cetera.
Since you have asked, so therefore, these people are not to be blamed also, in a sense, but
we ourselves are to be blamed. If each one of us leads a life of virtues, keeps the
commandments, and refrains from killing of any kind, including indirect killing by keeping the
vegetarian diet, then the world would never have bred these kinds of dictators in the first
place. These are there to remind us of the virtuous way, and if we are not awakened yet, then
these things will continue to remind us until the whole of humankind is awakened.
How to eradicate anger
Q. What is anger? Why does it boil inside of us, and how do we release this anger?
M. Sometimes it helps to release it outwardly. Sometimes between husband and wife, or

between men, or parents and children, there exists some kind of tension and after you have
cleared it together, you clear the air. It’s also helpful.
Whatever comes naturally, just let it be. If you cannot control it or you cannot control it
completely, just try not to bear hatred in it. Just express what you feel. Express it in the best
manner that you can, because sometimes anger, when swallowed too much of the time, will
breed disease within the body. So the best is that first we have the virtues of God, and then
other passions like anger, greed, attachment, will subside by and by.
Q. You said only human beings can become Buddha. I want to know if, when a disciple passes
away and he is on the fourth level, does he need to come back to this world to be a human
being and after that to study until he becomes a Buddha?
M. No, he doesn’t have to. He studies from there. The Master will continue to teach the disciples
and never leave him until the disciple completely realizes himself. [Applause]
Q. You said You denounce immorality. What is meant by sexual misconduct? Is that wrong?
M. I do not denounce anything. I just propagate a correct way of life and you are free to follow it. I
do not denounce anything. If you feel that it is a denouncement. It’s not true. It’s just that you
go in the wrong direction. Now you should go back to the right one if you want to arrive at your
destination, which is the kingdom of God.
Too much sexual abuse and indulgence tire your body and exhaust your mental power, which
should be conserved for the greatest enlightenment and to help yourself and to help mankind.
It is more noble that way. That is all. Sexual misconduct means you have too many girlfriends,
too many boyfriends, too many husbands or wives. It exhausts your storehouse of energy.
Q. How do You suggest that a person go about attaining enlightenment when that person lives in
extreme and almost constant pain?
M. There are many drugs that can help you with pain these days. You do not have to endure that.
You can take medicine in order to prevent the pain, and then when you are calm and
peaceful, you can meditate.
Q. Please let us know if the comforter that God sent, the spirit of Truth, is only one comforter or
are there a few comforters. If there are a few, please let us know how many.
M. You want to shop for enlightenment! [Laughter] One is enough for you right now. [Applause]
Because even if there are a few, who knows if they will come to you and when, and whether
you are still alive when the other comforters come.
Q. Master, I have a hard time meditating because my head hurts when I start to meditate. Please
tell me how to stop the headache.
M. Maybe you try too much. You should not have any effort. But I don’t know what kind of
method you study, so it’s difficult to tell you. But whatever you do, relax. Just do it like you are
mowing the lawn or eating breakfast. There is no need to put strain on your brain for
concentration. In our method, we do it without effort. We just sit there and the Light comes;
therefore it is better.
Q. What does it mean when some people are absentminded when someone talks to them, and
they just don’t react, or they instantly forget what you have just said? Is it because they’re too
mental or they use their mind too much?
M. How do I know? You ask them!
Q. Dear Master, when You die, where does Your soul go and what happens to Your energy and
karma?
M. Me or anyone? [MC: It says when You die.] I will tell you after I die. [Laughter and applause.]
It’s too early. I mean that I am still very young.
Heavy karma incurred in meat eating
Q. If, after being initiated, I still make a mistake like eating meat or having an evil thought, does it
mean that I will be disconnected from God or suffer some bad punishment?
M. An evil thought you might not be able to control immediately after enlightenment because it’s
similar to stopping a car. When a car runs at sixty miles an hour and if you want to brake it, do
it slowly. So it’ll probably take some time to be able to purify yourself completely. But the
meat, you can avoid. Except when you don’t know it and you eat it by mistake, then that’s fine.
But you have to meditate more on that day to clean it because that is a very heavy karma.
That’s what makes people ill, what makes our bodies suffer, and what makes us go to hell
afterwards to repay for the suffering of other beings. [Applause]
Q. Dear Master, I sincerely thank You for the lecture today. I wish You to take care of Your health
so that You can continue to give lectures for the rest of the world and save who have sincerity
to find the way back to God’s Home. Thank You again. Please take care of Yourself.
M. Thank you. God takes care of me. You take care of me. Because you have love for me, you
have good thoughts for me, you have loving wishes for me, and therefore you take care of
me.
I can’t take care of myself. I just flow with the water. Wherever there is demand, I just have to
fulfill it. I have no time or actually no very fixed schedule to say that I can take care of myself.
Never mind I am okay. I work hard and I am all right.
Q. This question is about discipline. I find that I am very devoted to trying new techniques for a
period of time. When I do not see results or when I get too busy or too tired, I just give up. I
don’t stay with the discipline. How can I push through my weakness and continue with a daily
routine and mastery?
M. Of course, if you have a method and it doesn’t work very well and also maybe you do not
follow the practice regularly, and diligently and sincerely, then you will lose your faith. So try to
do what is instructed and then your faith will grow more with the results. Of course if you don’t
have results, you don’t have faith, and the less faith you have, the less results. So you’ll be
going in a circle.
Q. Master, sometimes during meditation with the convenient method, I feel a chill from my spine
going up to my head, and then there seems to be a feeling of energy encircling my head.
What does this mean? Is this a bad or good sign?
M. It’s okay. It’s your kundalini at work. Afterward, you will be used to it. It’s only the convenient
method and still it works so much because of the Master power blessing you. Other people
practice many years to try to awaken the kundalini and they can’t do it.
Q. Did Jacob receive bad karma for tricking Isaac into giving him the blessing? Did Benjamin
receive bad karma for tricking his brothers into bringing this father to Egypt?
M. He talks about the bible?
Q. Yes, the Old Testament.
M. What do we know about these people? Why do we care? They are all gone. [Laughter and
applause.]
Okay. That’s it, no more questions? I am relieved? Thank you for your attention. [Applause]
ENLIGHTENMENT IS THE TOOL FOR EVERYTHING 14
I’m so overwhelmed by your love and the welcome program. I was very tired after my journey, and
also because of many days of sleeplessness. But I feel very, very blessed and joyful to join your
congregation tonight. I am sure we will know each other as we have known each other, and there
is nothing new to all of us tonight. Let’s just remind each other of what we might have forgotten or
what we have placed in some very remote corner of our soul and didn’t have the opportunity to
reopen – that is the enlightening nature of our great selves. I’m overwhelmed, not only because of
your love, but because of the realization that I am sitting before the Buddha and God’s
manifestations, and that brought tears of joy into my heart.
It’s not always that I am blessed with such a realization while sitting with a multitude of people. It’s
just that tonight it happened, and it is beautiful, especially when sometimes I’ve been also kind of
discouraged. In the last few days I was thinking whether what I am doing is truly worthwhile. But
tonight, because of your love and your very highly developed spiritual wisdom, I feel I will continue.
I know I will continue. [Applause] And if in the near future during my tour, if I have any success in
bringing people happiness and God-realization, I will remember Washington D.C.’s people. Thank
you so much. [Applause] I really need it tonight. It’s very good. [Applause]
14. Public lecture, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., U.S.A., April 14, 1993 (Originally in English).
Enlightenment is already there waiting for a Master to open it
Enlightenment is already within us; therefore, whatever our fellow initiates credited to me, I should
not accept because it is all yours. Whatever greatness, whatever blessing, you receive during the
course of development in your spiritual training or rediscovery, it is all yours. But because humility
is the nature of a highly-developed spiritual brotherhood, they always credited all the miraculous
power, all the blessings, to the Master, whoever that Master may be that happened to be
experienced in the path, and showed them how to rediscover it themselves. If you were not already
enlightened, if your nature were not Buddha, I would never be able to make you a Buddha. If God
were not already within you, I would never be able to show you God inside you. I cannot make a
stone into a diamond however long I polish it.
So, with all my humbleness, I just would like to tell you that you are very great. You are the
Supreme Masters, and we are all one. There is nothing I should teach you except to point to you
your precious jewel that you have placed in your pocket and you have forgotten because you’re too
busy looking elsewhere for it. Many a time you do that. You put things in your pocket, your eye
glasses, money, or whatever important things and you forget. It’s so near to you. You keep looking
and search the whole house, every corner, and you never find it, and so you think seeking for your
own treasure is so difficult. Actually it is not true. We just don’t know where to look for it, and that is
all. And some friends stand around and just say, ‘Hey, it’s in your pocket,’ [Laughter] that is the job
of the Master, so-called ‘Master.’
The Masters since ancient time, if they are called by the name, by the title ‘Master,’ by the
disciples, actually they are just like one of us. They should be very humble, and they have all the
human qualities that we have. They do not know that they are the Master, but because of the
experiences of the disciples people credited that one as a Master. Just like we say, ‘By your fruit
shall you be known.’ So anyhow, ‘Master’ or ‘not Master,’ is not important. The important thing is
that the experienced friend whom we call Master can show us where our greatness is and then we
make use of it.
The difference between the enlightened and non-enlightened
There is such a vast difference between an enlightened person and a non-enlightened person,
even though both of them are exactly the same in quality, have exactly the same wisdom, and
possess the same greatness. I just could not tell you how different. I just know it is different, and
many of our disciples know that after initiation. Right? [Audience: Yes.] Some of you would know.
And then after that, if you talk to other people who are not yet initiated, have not yet rediscovered
the partial quality of their wisdom, you will see a vast difference between them even though on the
outlook, there’s no distinction.
Enlightenment can be likened unto someone who has already stepped inside the house. It doesn’t
matter how near he is to the door, or how far he has already advanced into the depth of the house
in order to discover how much treasure there is inside, once he steps inside the house, he is out of
the cold, out of the danger of the wolves, the tigers, and all the other natural disasters, should they
come by. There is a very big difference. Once we are in the house, we know what is inside. If we
are near further into different rooms of our house, we will discover the treasures, all the furniture,
and all the precious things that are within the house. And we may go back outside and tell the
people what is inside.
The people outside of the house may listen to the story and may repeat it again to someone else,
that something is there, such and such are in the house. But there is a difference between
repeating, and seeing and enjoying, and also deriving the benefit from the safety of being inside
the house.
Some people ask me, ‘I don’t need enlightenment; what for? Is it okay not to be enlightened?’ I
say, ‘Yes, it’s okay.’ There is no choice anyhow. But when we are outside the house, sometimes it
is safe, sometimes it is sunny, but sometimes it is raining, sometimes there is a typhoon, and a lot
of things happen. And once we know we have a house, we can even step outside sometimes, but
whenever we want, or when it is necessary, we step inside.
There are such wonderful things inside the chamber of our soul that no worldly treasures can
equal, and nothing of this world can bring such happiness to us as when we discover our true
greatness.
Everyone has a share of this wisdom
The more we discover how great we are, the more humble we become. And that is a very
paradoxical thing, but it is like that. We will become like a child; we will become like a very innocent
person. The great sage is like a very innocent person. And it seems like you can tell him anything
you want, about your talent, your ambition, your intelligence, your degrees, and he will never object
to you. It’s not that he will always try to force his wisdom upon you. It only comes naturally, by
circumstances, or by request. And after speaking most probably the so-called Master will forget
everything that has been spoken, completely or maybe just remember one or two sentences,
because the wisdom comes from the universal storehouse and is for the common use of all beings.
It doesn’t belong to one person or any group of persons. It belongs to the ignorant as well as the
enlightened. It belongs to the child as well as to an aged, senior citizen. Everyone has a share of
this wisdom, but only if they truly want to know it.
By knowing this wisdom, we do not forsake the world; we will not lack the enjoyment of the world.
But actually, we enjoy the world more when the opportunity is there, and even when the
opportunity is not there, we will be happy all the same. And that’s the difference. That is the only
difference because if we do not know our enlightened nature, we always crave for some things that
will bring us happiness, or that we think will bring us happiness. Therefore, we become sometimes
ambitious, seeking fame and name, seeking property, seeking beauty, seeking ephemeral love, et
cetera, thinking that these will bring us happiness until we realize that these only breed sorrow
most of the time.
Only when we are truly enlightened can we enjoy anything. Whatever comes, we enjoy. The good
things come, then we take them as gifts from God, and we enjoy wholeheartedly without any guilt,
without any reservation, without any obstacles whatsoever in our heart or in our thinking. The
nature of the enlightened person is very free, very carefree, and very easy. Just like a child, if you
give him something good, he accepts it. He will not think that you want to trick him or whether he
deserves it or not; he just accepts.
And when the circumstance does not allow that we have comfort or richness in life, then we are
also happy to carry on that way. We have no desire for material greatness, but that doesn’t mean
that we do not strive to work for the society and that we do not try our best to fulfill our obligations
as a citizen of the world. We do; we do, all the same. We do more effectively and with total
willingness to contribute our part to the whole world. The difference is that we do without desire for
reward, without desire for praise. And should we fail, we still can bear it. We will not have any
suffering in our heart.
Many of our fellow practitioners have told me that after enlightenment they are much different from
before. They know more than before. They understand many things that they never understood
before and they are so different from what they were before. I have forgotten what it’s like to be
‘before’ or to be ‘after’ enlightenment, so sometimes, it’s difficult for me to know what they are
talking about. But sometimes I happen to meet and talk or stay and integrate, with some of the
non-initiated people and then I realize what they were talking about; then I know what is the
difference between an enlightened person and a not-enlightened person. That is not discrimination.
It’s just a statement of what it is, of the reality; therefore, it’s not a proud statement. It’s just a
realization of the difference between a person who steps inside the house and the person outside.
The greatest way of a gentleman is enlightenment
If I have not the opportunity to truly have a very deep understanding with the non-initiated people,
sometimes I would forget, because most often I see people as myself. I forget whether I am
enlightened or they are not enlightened. I never remember these things when I meet people. That’s
why sometimes, apart from feeling some kind of discouragement during my mission, I also feel in
my heart, deep down, that there is no need to teach anyone. There’s no need to run around the
world, no need to answer the invitation of my disciples worldwide and tire myself out on smoky
airplanes, in crowded airports, and with all these hectic schedules.
I think there’s no need to do it because I don’t see any necessity, but then, just when I think like
that, sometimes the almighty power would remind me that it is necessary. Because there is a big
difference between knowing you have a treasure and making use of it, and just knowing you have
a treasure but without knowing where and how to use it. There is a big difference. Therefore, if I
continue to travel around the world according to the sincere request of the disciples, it is because
of these instances that I know some people do not know that they are great, and they long to know.
It is not because we want to be proud of our greatness, but because it is a duty to know our
heritage. We cannot just be born into this world, live a few decades of hectic schooling, working,
sweating, earning money, struggling with children and family problems, and then be ‘kaput,’
finished, [Laughter] and nothing more to it, nothing more to life, nothing more to the great meaning
of human life.
And worse still, at the time of leaving this world, we suffer. We suffer because of the attachment
with our family members, we suffer because we do not know where we are going, and we suffer
because of the fear of the unknown. And all the family members or the beloved ones are just
standing around helpless seeing us suffering. Therefore, the great way of a gentleman is
enlightenment. We must know where we come from and where we are going, very clearly, very
decisively, because we are great human beings.
We live the life of a hero. We walk the life of God on earth. We should not live like slaves to our
money, to our possessions, to our ‘whatever desires’ that the world has labored and found a way to
stick onto our minds. We were not born with desires, we were not born with hatred, we were not
born with racial discrimination. We were born innocent and beautiful, so we should remain like that.
And we should even be wiser, apart from being innocent. That’s the way of a gentleman; that’s the
way of the great beings.
What Jesus and Buddha could do, we can do also
If we worship Jesus, if we adore Buddha, if we long to worship, to bow to the sages of the
Himalayas of the ancient time, then we should know that we could be one of them. There is no
difference between a sage and ourselves, only one hair apart, very thin. And when we traverse
that, we are there in the circle of sainthood. And if we stay behind, just one hair apart, we are
ignorant beings bowing down to all the pressures of the world, fearing all kinds of things, persons
and beings, knowing not what we are before and after our life. Even though we have eyes, we are
just like the blind. We have ears, but we are just like the deaf because the heavenly teachings, we
do not hear. The heavenly kingdom, we do not see. Our greatness, we cannot perceive. It is a pity
if we continue our life like that.
We want so much to help the world. We want so much to bring peace to our earth, to make it into
heaven, but how do we do it if we don’t have wisdom? How do we do it if we are not above
average? How can our head keep from being wet if we are not above water? So enlightenment is
the tool for everything in this life and the life after. We’ll travel far and wide into the galaxies of the
universe; we’ll know things by which even the most brilliant scientists in this world are
dumbfounded. That is the ability of a human being.
A true human being is not flesh and bones only, not the outer appearances of beauty and charm,
but is the great storage of wisdom, of almighty power that can move mountains and do all kinds of
marvels. Whatever Jesus has done is child’s play. Whatever Buddha has cared to demonstrate
while He was on earth is just a joke because what He and Jesus can do is above all that even. It’s
a billion, a trillion times greater than that.
And we can, that’s what I discovered and that’s what I would like to remind you, as soon as we
pray, we draw our attention inside, and don’t care much for the material comforts and possessions.
It doesn’t mean we leave them. We stay in the same house, eat the food that we can afford, wear
the clothes that we think are fit for the occasion, but our attention is not there anymore. That’s the
important thing. It’s not the things in themselves that are the obstacles to our sainthood; it is our
attention that’s the obstacle. Therefore, the attention we should withdraw inwards, and then we will
know everything that Jesus knows, that Buddha knows, and all the sages of old and the future will
know. This is because our nature is like that.
Just like if you put a diamond in your pocket and then you look all over, even if you look all over the
world, you’ll never find it. Not only your house, you search the whole world, you will never find the
diamond if you don’t know where it is. Meanwhile, all the while, it’s in your pocket.
The world would not be in the state that it is right now if all of us are enlightened, or at least half of
us are enlightened, and better still, the majority of us are enlightened. And then there’s no need to
talk about peace; peace will come. No need to want anything because we have wisdom. Wisdom is
the Lord. ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ The Lord is within us. That is our almighty
power which stays there dormant, and we can awaken it anytime and make use of it, at least to our
own contentment.
Enlightenment brings happy lives
Enlightened persons never know ‘uncontentment,’ never know want, never know unhappiness, at
least not for long. In the beginning of the practice when we are not yet stable in our habits and the
mind still has the upper hand, sometimes we might think we want this and that, but then
immediately we realize our mistake. It is not like before enlightenment when we don’t even realize
that we have desire, let alone stopping it. Therefore, the difference is very obvious. All these things
I tell you from my experience. It doesn’t mean that after enlightenment you sit pretty, cross-legged,
somewhere on the sofa, and all things become heaven. No! We still have to undergo a little bit of
give and take of the karma, the law of cause and retribution, while we are on earth. But we have a
great power behind, backing us up, and it doesn’t matter what kind of rain or typhoon we
encounter, we are very stable, safe, secure, content. We know nothing can happen to life eternal.
Something may happen to our body, but not the real self. If we want another body, we create one.
And that is a very, very definite feeling of the enlightened person.
The enlightened person does many things, but never feels he is doing anything. Even physically,
he gives away many things but he never feels that he is a giver; he endures many things but he
never feels that he has patience. He might show his temperament now and again, but he never
feels guilty because it is fit for the occasion. Therefore the way of the enlightened person is free,
happy, and wise. That is the life that all of us should remember because that is our self.
It’s not the life that we think we are now, full of worry about every little thing, about electric bills and
telephone bills, and every little thing makes us trouble. After enlightenment we still have all these
bills coming, no doubt. [Master and audience laugh.] God will not take them away because they are
yours. [Laughter] But the attitude and the means to overcome them are entirely different. We will
find life more relaxed, and it will be easier to meet the demands from all sides. If we truly, truly
sincerely seek for our wisdom, that’s what I can promise, because I have learned to know this
myself. It’s not from books, it’s not from any teacher. It is from my own experience. Therefore,
whatever I share with you is absolutely true, private, and at no cost, because it’s from me. I don’t
borrow it from the bank, no need for interest. [Master and audience laugh.] And then you will come
to realize all these things and more for yourselves according to the capacity of your demand and of
your work, and of the way the universal brotherhood sees fit to give you because of your mission in
life or your position in this world.
Therefore you see sometimes, when Masters reach mastership, they are equal, even that, but you
see slight differences between Masters and masters. You can see that through their discourses, or
through the progress of their disciples, or through the way he expresses his understanding about
the inner realization. Therefore, there is a slight difference between Masters, even. Why? Not
because they are different in the quality. It’s just because of the different background or positions.
Such a Master could make use of so much, so he has that much or he draws that much from within
himself to give out. And other Masters in different circumstances, in different generations, different
nations, will need more or less of different kinds of qualities of speech, of explanation.
Therefore, we have many of the so-called religious doctrines, and many different names for
different religions which point to the same Truth. After enlightenment we will know that very
definitely. We will know that the underlying principles of all religions are the same. We will know
what they taught when they were alive – the founders of these religions. We will know Buddha and
Jesus taught just the Quan Yin method. We will know that what Lao Tzu talked about in the Tao Te
Ching is the Quan Yin method, about the Light and the Sound of heaven, which lift us up above
mundane ideas, above all the pettiness of our computer mind, in order that we meet with the higher
level of consciousness, and then we know our selves. Then we know God.
I am just so happy today. I don’t know if what I’m saying is suitable for you or not. I just bla, bla on.
[Master laughs and audience applauds.] I think I’ll just stop now and then you might ask me
questions, and I’ll have the opportunity to explain further. Is that okay? Thank you so much.
[Applause]
Q. Jesus is no longer on this planet Earth. Does He have the power to reach those who believe
in Him now? Can we have two Masters at the same time – a Master who left this earth and a
Master who is still on this planet Earth?
M. Yes, we can. Fortunate are those who meet the Master who is still living, but who also is the
inner Master at the same time. But while you meet the living Master, you can meet the
ascended Master also. If you reach up to the level where Jesus resides at this moment, then
you can see Him. Many of our disciples saw Jesus, and many of our disciples saw Buddha. Is
that not so? Are there any disciples here? [Fellow initiates: Yes!] Anyhow, sometimes the
Buddhists will see Jesus or Mother Mary, and sometimes the Christians will see Buddha or
Mohammed.
Q. How do I go about suppressing my ambitions that have been burdening and obsessing and
bothering me so much?
M. It is because we are not enlightened, and the nature of our ambition is the urge for
enlightenment actually. There’s nothing else, nothing of a very base nature. It is because we
know in our subconscious that we are something greater than that. We used to be the boss;
we used to be the ‘president of the universe,’ and therefore, it is difficult to remain lowly while
we are on earth. That’s why we have greed and why we have ambition. After enlightenment,
you will know how to handle your ambition for the good use of your life, as well as for the
world. There’s nothing bad about ambition, just the way we handle it. If we handle it wisely
with wisdom, it will be of very good use.
Q. What is happiness and how long can it last?
M. All of you know that worldly happiness is ephemeral. It lasts how long according to the person
and the circumstances. But the true happiness, which is derived from our true nature, is
everlasting. That’s what we would like to introduce to you, that which is already within you.
Quan Yin method takes us to the source of all beings
Q. What are the steps to enlightenment, and what level of enlightenment does this technique
take us?
M. It will take you to the source of all beings, where you came from and where all beings will
return. Between this earthly level and that absolute level, there are five levels of
consciousness, or different planes of existence. And if we, through the practice of the
heavenly Light and Sound and the guidance of an experienced Teacher, pass through these
five levels, then we arrive there, at the house of the Masters. This plane is where all Masters
come from and return to after their mission, and where we also will come from in order to help
other beings, should we desire to return to earth or any other earthly planet in the universe.
So the first step is to get initiation, and then everything else will come.
Q. Is the only way to go to God through initiation in the Light and Sound?
M. Yes, it’s the last part of the journey. You have many other ways also, but if you don’t reach
there, then you’re not there. Just like the door of the house – it doesn’t matter from which road
you traveled if you do not pass through the gate, you do not enter the house. So we start from
there because we are more fortunate.
Q. Is there more than one initiation?
M. No, only one. Only one physically, but many inwardly, inside. It depends on the individual. At
the time of initiation, the Master, or the representative of the Master, gives the same verbal
instructions, but the initiation doesn’t come from these instructions. The initiation comes from
within, from the awakening of your own nature. And even then the levels are different.
Therefore, two persons sitting in the same place or next to each other will have entirely
different levels. Also, the Master will, from inside, teach each individual differently, and only he
inside knows what the Master teaches him. And his experience is different from that of his
wife, or his kids, or his father, brothers, et cetera. So you can call that different initiation if you
wish, but I would say that it is the continuation of learning by different individuals.
Q. Master Ching Hai, I have at times a strong desire to become nonexistent. Please share Your
thoughts, if there are any, on this desire.
M. Oh, I’m also like that. I’d also like to be nonexistent so that I don’t have to travel, and I don’t
have to be such a great ‘Master,’ and all this and that and others. But since we are already in
this existence, we stay. We stay to see what happens next. Meanwhile, we get enlightenment
so we can be in the existence level and the nonexistence level at the same time. But that
nonexistence level is by no means empty, by no means nothingness. It is a life full of richness,
full of splendor, full of glory, full of happiness, full of creative energy. We will enjoy that life
more than the so-called existing life, which we know as the human life here. But we can have
both at the same time. It’s very wonderful! Very wonderful.
Q. My children are very important to me. After initiation will I be able to continue to love them,
and not merely share an existence with them? What changes will occur in that regard?
M. Oh, my God! [Laughter] You have become like a child. Do all my disciples throw away their
children or what? What do you do with all your children after initiation? [Audience: Love them
more!] They said they love them more than before. So you are safe, okay? Keep your
children. Don’t worry; I don’t want any. [Master laughs and audience applauds.]
Q. Is there such a phenomenon as soul mates in this world? If so, what is the spiritual
significance of this for the people involved?
M. A soul mate is someone that when you meet him or her, you feel a very great attraction to
each other and you both will be able to complement each other in life and especially in
spiritual progress. That is what is called a soul mate. But in the world of non-duality, there is
no soul, no mate. It’s just the talk of this world. So, whomever you feel is very attractive to you
and very helpful to your daily life activities as well as spiritual endeavors, then that is your soul
mate – while we are here, if we need a mate at all.
True Master awakens our true self
Q. How can we tell true Masters from false masters?
M. Oh, that I don’t know. I haven’t met any false ones. I’ve met only true Masters. False or true,
it’s up to you.
There are many ways to discern a true Master. When the so-called master just clings to one
part of the Truth and forsakes the rest, and then teaches the disciples only one part of that
from the whole Truth, then we call him a false master. But actually, the name is not very
correct. Maybe he is a kind of ‘partial master,’ ‘part time master,’ but not false. [Master and
audience laugh.] And when a Master teaches you the whole Truth that is within yourself and
awakens that which already exists within you, that is the true Master because he awakens the
true Master within you. That is the true Master.
And what is your true nature? What is the true Master within you? That is God. That is the
spirit that dwells within your church, your temple. When that God manifests, we can hear the
teaching through the heavenly music; we can see Hirm through vision, through abundant
illumination like thousands of suns sometimes. That is our true nature when it is awakened. If
any Master can awaken these heavenly wisdom vibrations and heavenly Light within you,
which is your self-nature, which is your self-mastership, then that is a true Master. It takes one
to know one.
Q. Regarding the five requirements you must follow in order to be initiated, what would happen if
you don’t follow them?
M. When you don’t follow them, what happens is that you don’t follow them. What else can I do?
Then try again. If you think that it’s good for you and good for others, and it’s a kind of
protective fence around your spiritual sapling, then you keep them and don’t make any
damage to your just-grown sapling. But otherwise, no one is there to condemn you or do
anything to you, except your own conscience. So try to keep to that and whenever you fall,
stand up and try again.
Q. What is the easiest and safest path to take to self-realization and God-realization?
M. This method, ‘immediate enlightenment,’ ‘Quan Yin method.’ That’s the best, the easiest, and
the quickest. You get enlightened immediately, without any preparation, without any cost,
without any condition, today after the lecture. And if you don’t get enlightenment immediately,
money-back guarantee. [Laughter and applause.] Oh, by the way, there is no money-back
guarantee because we don’t charge even a penny. [Applause]
Q. How should we protect ourselves from the violence of nature and the violence of man?
M. We don’t need to protect ourselves. What do we have that we should protect? Before you
were born, what did you have? After you die, what do you possess? What is it that’s so
valuable that we should protect? Throw everything away. Let it be; whatever comes will come.
If your body dies, your body decays, you’ll have thousands, billions more. Don’t worry about
anything. If a possession should be yours, you can’t even get rid of it. If that girl should be
yours, ordained by heaven, no one can replace you. Don’t worry. Just relax. Get
enlightenment. [Applause]
All these fears keep us from living a happy present moment. Therefore, all guilt, all conflict, all
hypocrisy, arise out of this fear of the self, of the ego-self, that I have this or I have that. I have
fame; I can’t lose face. I can’t do that because I am in this position. I can’t scold people
because I’m the Master; I am supposed to be very graceful, very soft-spoken, very gentle, et
cetera. Just throw everything away, and be at the moment. Whatever is required at that
moment, do it wholeheartedly with faith in God and with faith in the whole plan of the universal
project. [Applause]
Q. Christianity teaches that we are all sinners. Are we still sinners when enlightened? If so, does
it ever end – our being sinners?
M. Yes, we are sinners because we believe we are, because we have no way to raise ourselves
above the sinful level, above the mud. If you are in the mud, of course you look muddy, dirty.
But if you rise up, what does the mud have to do with you, whether it’s there or not? So rise
up, be enlightened! [Applause]
Q. How can an enlightened human being who is living in a society which is in conflict, for
example Northern Ireland, help to remove the conflict in their society?
M. Very difficult. We can only remove the conflict within ourselves. If everyone does that, there is
no conflict to remove. Therefore, even though Jesus was so great, and Buddha was so grand,
they couldn’t remove the conflict within their own borders. And even sometimes disasters will
also affect their lives. It is because the majority of the people of the world were not at peace,
were not enlightened. Therefore, enlightenment is the only requirement for any illness of this
world, for any wars, for any conflict. Nothing else is necessary.
True nature is without anything, no dust can cling to it
Q. I’ve heard many people say that when you are enlightened, you are supposed to shave your
hair and wear no make-up. [Laughter] What do You think of this?
M. What do you think? Is that correct? [Audience: No!] They said ‘no!’ [Laughter and applause.] I
give an ‘A’ for you. Beautiful! Beautiful! I love that. You are very open, very enlightened, at
least to some degree.
If you are still clinging your attention to any thing of this world, whether it’s there or not there,
you obstruct yourself. Your nature is without anything. No dust can cling to your nature. No
make-up can cover your Buddha nature. No lipstick can blur away the Light of heaven. If you
have eyes, you’ll see I am radiating Light now. Even if I put a whole box of charcoal on my
face and make myself black, I am still very white and bright. [Applause]
So if you shave your head, then you are enlightened? Is that right? Why don’t you do it if it’s
so easy? [Laughter] All of you do it. Steve, your hair is too long for enlightenment. God
doesn’t care whether your hair is long or short. It’s stupid! [Laughter] Never mind, do what you
like. It doesn’t matter. Otherwise, all the beautiful Miss Universes cannot get enlightenment, or
what? [Laughter] And if we say that, all the barber shops, all the beauty salons will close. We
will create unemployment even more! [Laughter] Is that the life of an enlightened person? If I
preach like that, Mr. Clinton will not be happy! He will not give me permission to preach in
America. [Laughter]
Q. The ego is a strong force. How does one overcome the ego?
M. By being enlightened. Ego is the clinging attention to a small self, which is like, ‘Oh, I am a
doctor; I am a scientist; I am a teacher; I am such and such intelligent and high-positioned
person.’ That is the ego. But when we know our greater self, the ego lessens in size because
we are not only the doctor, we are God, or at least God’s children. We are Buddha. That’s the
only way to melt the ego within the greater frame of the self.
Q. What is the source of the world?
M. I don’t know; it takes too long to research. Why don’t we just live today, get enlightenment,
and then we can see for ourselves? If I were to tell you, it would take a long time. You know
that our world, at least geographically speaking, has been in existence for trillions of years.
And if you want to make a research about it, I’ll never have time for the lecture. The truth
about the world’s existence lies within us. We have a library inside and when we get to the
second level, we can look at it. Then we know everything – not only about this world, but
about many worlds in the universe.
Q. If one is initiated by You, Master Ching Hai, do we remain Your disciple forever? What is the
job of a disciple?
M. The job of a disciple is to become a Master. [Laughter] Therefore you don’t need to be my
disciple forever. You don’t even need to be my disciple; you are already a Master. You just
don’t know it, so I tell you how to recognize your self again, that’s all. There are no disciples
actually. It’s just a name that we call ourselves in this physical world.
Q. Could You please explain to me what the mind is?
M. The mind is nothing but a bundle of attached thinking, and ideas and information that we
gather in our daily relationships with other beings, and that we call ‘me,’ or the mind. And then
we cling to all that, and say, ‘Oh, I am like that. I brush my teeth three times a day; that’s me. I
never apologize even when I am wrong; it’s me. I don’t fear anything; it’s me.’ But all these are
what? They are just collective information. Before you were born, you didn’t brush your teeth.
You had no teeth! [Laughter]
Therefore, mind is nothing, and we would be very unwise to listen to this kind of so-called
mind. It’s just the collected habits, information from others, from society, and from our own
interrelationships. And then we think we are like that. ‘Oh, I have to eat this. I have to drink
coffee, because it’s me; it’s my way of life; it’s me.’ But who is that ‘me’? Who drank the coffee
before you were born? Coffee wasn’t even there hundreds of years ago, for example.
Therefore, these things are very unreliable and very nonsensical. They are not you. And that
is what most of us call ‘me.’ That is the mind.
Q. Once you become enlightened, can you lose consciousness of your enlightenment?
M. Oh, yes, it’s possible – when you sleep. [Laughter] Yes, sometimes when you meditate and
then you sleep, the Light comes, enlightenment comes, but you’re not aware of it. [Laughter]
And, when you are not asleep, then you’re aware of it.
Q. How do we quickly give peace to our previously-made enemies?
M. Hug him and kiss him. Give him a candy. [Master laughs and audience applauds.] That’s what
I did this morning, because some people cannot be enlightened by words, or by explanations,
or by initiation even. Some people need that – just direct love – physical as well as mental as
well as emotional.
Q. How do I escape from my flesh and love desires toward the opposite sex?
M. No, don’t get away from it; otherwise, we’ll have no more children? [Laughter] Just stay cool.
Have one at a time. Have one partner only, okay? If you have a soul mate that you found who
is good for you, and you have three-dimensional love – physical, emotional, and mental, it’s
fine. And then the so-called fleshly desire will lose some of its stronghold on you after we
regulate it with a stable relationship or within marriage. So don’t worry. It’s just the beginning,
and afterwards it will die down. It will lose its attraction. Just stay cool. Have one partner; it will
be enough. [Applause]
Q. How can we best help someone who is experiencing serious illness?
M. The car has trouble sometimes. The car sometimes burns out, sometimes the tires blow out,
sometimes the fender is scratched or something. What do you do with the car? Try to repair it,
and so the same with the body. And if sometimes the car is irreparable, it costs more to repair
than to buy a new one, then buy a new one. Same with the body. Whatever you can do with
the car, this car, the body, do it; if you cannot, then just leave it, and God will give you a new
car – a new body. [Laughter and applause.]
Most people pay so much attention to this car, and they have all kinds of fears and troubles
because of this car. They kill each other for survival just because of this car. They hate each
other just because of this car. They do many things that are against our own conscience just
because of this car. We have to realize that this is only an instrument just like a car that you
buy.
Q. If a person has a desire to get liberation or go beyond the three worlds, is this desire different
from ordinary desire?
M. Yes, it is different because by having that desire alone, all other desires die down. Otherwise,
we have too many desires and then we have trouble because we are pulled from different
directions. Whereas if we have only one upward desire, we’re pulled up, and then we’ll be
happy. We will reach our high nature.
Q. Is love intoxicating? And if so, must we refrain from it according to precept number five?
M. Oh, no. Intoxication means drugs, alcohol, and all the things that make you become addicted,
make a slave out of you, also blur your vision, damage your brain cells, and impair your ability
to think, to see, and to do things clearly. These are drugs; these are intoxicants.
Q. In what way can we get energy from meditation?
M. In the effortless way. The energy from meditation is already within us. By the power through a
Master, at the time of initiation, it is awakened. Therefore when we do the meditation in our
so-called ‘method,’ which has no method at all, we get the direct energy without doing
anything. It is a very effortless effort. That is the best way, the natural way, because we get
what we have. We don’t borrow, we don’t try, we don’t steal, we don’t force things to happen,
but things come and happen because they are already there.
Q. Is enlightenment another term for Zen Buddhism?
M. Yes, if you need that title so much.
Q. How likely is it that the few enlightened humans on this earth now can affect the awakening of
the sleeping or distracted masses?
M. They will have some impact, yes. But of course, it’s best when the majority of the people are
all awakened.
Q. Would You please address the issue of karma and how we resolve our previous karmic debts,
and how that relates to enlightenment?
M. Karma is the Sanskrit term for the law of ‘As you sow, so shall you reap,’ which is the law of
the lower universe. When the Master gives you initiation, He pulls you up further; therefore,
the karma downstairs can be burned and doesn’t affect you. The Master just leaves a little bit
for you to carry on this life, which is already smoothed out and lubricated by the Master power.
After initiation you have no more stored karma so you don’t have to be reborn again if you
don’t want to. If you want to be reborn again, it’s very easy. We can create karma or we can
borrow it from many other sentient beings and use it to come down. Initiation is the destroying
of all karmas in the past so as to leave no more opportunity for the beings to come back in the
future.
Q. What do You mean by immediate enlightenment after initiation?
M. I mean ‘immediate enlightenment.’ Instant! [Master snaps Her fingers.] Like that. [Applause]
If I show you something, which is in your pocket, can you immediately take it out or not? Yes.
That is what it is because you have it within you. I just point to you where it is so that you may
get it.
Q. Master, there are billions of people alive today who will pass from this life without being
initiated into Your program. Does this mean they cannot reach enlightenment in this lifetime
by any other means?
M. Yes, they can, but the degree is different. Sometimes in deep prayer, they have glimpses of
enlightenment but that is flickering, and sometimes it’s gone again and they don’t know.
Again, they are back into ignorance, but initiation means permanently. You know definitely
where the switch is and you switch it on anytime you want, and you are inside the circle of
Light.
But enlightenment from other ways is not always permanent and sometimes it’s dangerous
because people do not know how to handle the newly discovered energy. Therefore some
people become mentally disturbed and all kinds of queer things, or they start abusing magical
powers, which are from a lower level, and become anything – magicians, healers, any kind
without reaching the highest level of consciousness. Without the guidance of the Master, we
do not know where we are heading and then we stumble around and we play around with all
kinds of things, and sometimes it’s dangerous. The path of enlightenment is full of tricks and
pitfalls that we should avoid. And with the experienced guide, it’s easier, faster, safer.
But what can we do? The world is like that. That’s why it is the world. If the worldly people are
all enlightened, we wouldn’t call this earth ‘world’; we would call it ‘heaven.’ And the
atmosphere around us will be different. Everything will be different. And then we don’t even
need to work for food. We don’t even need to want anything. All things will be there, just like in
heaven, because our merit will be different, will be many folds, a thousand fold.
Up to now, just a few millions of people are enlightened, and the merit is not enough to cover
the whole earth population. Therefore, we still have disasters, we still have war, even though
it’s less than before. And all the ‘politicalisms’ have already lessened in intensity, and the
threat of a fourth world war or fifth world war is far away now. It is because the majority of the
people have a higher awareness in the present century due to the mass media broadcasting
the messages of enlightened Masters around the world, and due to the large numbers of
people who have joined the enlightened circle of the sage. Therefore, our world is better.
Q. Jesus spoke not just of such wonderful ideas as peace, love and eternal life, but also about
the scary idea of eternal punishment. Do You believe that God would ever condemn someone
to eternal punishment?
M. No, he condemns himself. If he refuses the Light, then he stays in darkness. And as long as
he refuses it, that’s as long as he will stay in darkness. He can stay eternally if he refuses the
Light eternally. So it’s up to the individual. [Applause]
Q. As human beings on earth, we have to fulfill earthly obligations such as food, clothing, a roof
over our heads, and make enough money to pay the Internal Revenue Service. How can we
break away from this and start nurturing our spiritual needs?
M. You still keep the roof above your head. Don’t take the roof away! Just get enlightenment.
Don’t worry about material comfort! I stay in a tent and I am still all right. Sometimes the tent
blows away, no roof is there, but I am still okay. [Laughter]
We had a meditation hall, very large, accommodating about seven thousand people. But last
year, some people said some things and then it was pulled down. Okay, we let it be pulled
down. We did not protest; we did not complain; we did not explain the ungrounded
accusations. We didn’t bother. And now we plan to bring raincoats when it rains, and bring
umbrellas when it shines, and just sit there and meditate all the same. But when we are
enlightened, all things will be okay also. Jesus has promised, ‘Seek you first the kingdom of
God, and all the things shall be added unto you.’ I promise you the same. [Applause]
Q. Is it true that if a woman doesn’t have a child of her own, she doesn’t have a complete life?
M. He wants a nonsensical answer or what? Do you agree? [Audience: No.] They say ‘no.’
If God doesn’t ordain you to go through the terrible labor pain, then you should be grateful for
Hiers blessing! [Applause] We have enough children in the world.
Q. It is hard to quiet my mind for meditation. It is like a monkey that wants to run and play, but not
sit quietly. How does Your meditation help quiet the mind to realize the true self?
M. I just put the mind to sleep by the Light and the Sound. The music will nurse him to sleep, the
Light will comfort him, and then he’s fast asleep. Only the soul will be awake. But
nevertheless, continue with your meditation if you do not want to join us, and you will get used
to it a little bit more.
The thing is, if you sit in meditation and you use all your effort to concentrate on the breath, or
on the heart chakra, or whatever chakra, all over chakra, and you get nothing in return, then of
course the mind will get bored. It’ll say, ‘Hey, what are you doing? You make me sit here for
what? I want to see the cinema; it’s even better than this. I want to go and drink coffee and
talk with friends; it’s better.’
I have a fellow practitioner. She is pretty old, about sixty, oh no, fifty something. Before she
met me, she had many other masters and they taught her many methods. ‘Continue with the
breath, sit in Zen for fifteen hours a day,’ and all that, and ‘eat one meal.’ She said she sat
and sat until she could sit no more and her bottom was about to fall off, and she could get
nothing! Therefore, she couldn’t bear it. And after she got enlightenment, she said sometimes
she sits for four hours and she’s so happy, tremendously happy. Because of her happiness,
her whole family of eight members is all happy. They told me this, even though they were not
initiated. They told me how beneficial it is – my work. So they encouraged me to continue. The
non-initiates, yes! [Applause]
Q. Why is being a vegetarian so important to enlightenment?
M. It is important to you. You can get enlightenment without being vegetarian because I don’t
require you to be vegetarian before initiation, but after only. Therefore you get enlightenment
all the same, through the grace of the Master. But we have to keep a loving attitude toward all
beings because they are ourselves. If you eat all of your body’s members, afterward you’ll
realize you have nothing left. [Laughter]
And also, we should not sink so much into the material tastes, but be immersed in the bliss of
heaven. All beings deserve life and therefore we grant them the happiness of survival.
Q. I believe I could achieve a closer relationship to God if I could erase the idea of God in the
sense of being a person. Will Quan Yin help me in this regard?
M. Yes, that’s what it is for. We erase completely the separation, the individual self, and then we
don’t do, but God does through us.
Q. I cannot believe that intelligence exists on this planet alone. Do You?
M. Yes, true, it doesn’t. It exists on all planets, to a more or less different degree. It depends on
the location. There are some other planets more intelligent than we; there are some other
planets that are less intelligent.
Q. How am I to know my mission in life?
M. I suggest that you get enlightened first, and then you can see better.
Q. Do You work with the white brotherhood or the universal brotherhood?
M. Yes, I also work with the black brotherhood. [Laughter and applause.] We don’t discriminate.
Yes, of course he meant the white brotherhood. It is the title for those enlightened beings that
help the whole universe. It was just a joke only; there’s no black, no white, over there.
Q. When one becomes a Master, will he or she ever have fear, doubt, or anger? We call Jesus a
Master, however, according to the bible, Jesus was frightened the night before He was
crucified. And before His death, Jesus cried, ‘Why, God, have You deserted me?’ Please
explain. If Jesus had fear and doubt, how can we have no fear and doubt?
M. Yes, they probably would have fear and doubt, but that fear and doubt are not deep-rooted
like in us. If Jesus had no fear of the crucifixion, then His sacrifice was not so great. He had
fear, but He accepted it. Whereas when we have fear, we run away and we try to blame it on
others, or we try to escape. We try to put that cross on someone else. That is the difference.
We might have fear; we might have emotion, but we can withdraw it anytime, or we can make
use of the fear or emotion for the benefit of other beings. After enlightenment, all the feelings
or the emotions are still there because we are made to have these in order to use them to
understand other brothers and sisters. If you have no feeling, no emotion, how can you
understand human beings? How can you help them? But the fears of the Masters are
different.
The fear of the Masters sometimes is also affected by the fear of the disciples. He takes the
fear from the disciples, so the disciples are fearless. The Master will take some degree of that
fear, but that is only very shallow and not deep-rooted – only illusionary. And the Master on
one hand has fear, but on the other hand definitely has no fear. He knows He has to have
fear, but He doesn’t fear the fear. [Applause]
Q. What does Quan Yin really mean? Please explain.
M. Quan Yin, in our group, means the observation of the inner Word, inner teaching, inner music,
heavenly music.
Q. Can love be truly unconditional? If God loves those who don’t sin and loves and forgives
those who do, why are we spending our lives trying to avoid sin?
M. Because it hurts us, not because it hurts God. Whenever we do something that we know is
sinful or not correct, we hurt ourselves. Our conscience will scold us, make us trouble;
therefore, we try to avoid it. God loves all alike. Therefore, the sun shines on all, and the rain
doesn’t desert those who are poor, or sick, or sinful. It’s just that we, ourselves, are
responsible for the feeling of separation between us and God if we do something unrighteous.
Therefore, we should avoid it. Also, it is our duty when we live in this world and we have
interrelationships between each other, we have to keep an orderly society.
Q. The beings that live on other planets or those that come in UFOs, do they share the same fate
as human beings, the same vulnerability to suffering, the same need to reach enlightenment?
M. Yes, to some degree, but less than our earthly ‘earthians’ because they are more advanced.
They are closer to the Father. They have more Light, more wisdom.
Q. Once one becomes initiated does one need to denounce one’s religion?
M. No! No, please do not. We say that with initiation, you don’t need to change your profession,
you don’t need to change your way of life, and you don’t need to change your religions. No
problem; don’t change anything. Just eat vegetarian. That’s all.
Q. Will we meet our beloved pets and animal friends in heaven after our life’s journey is over?
M. Yes, if you want them. If you want them and if you are enlightened, you can take them along.
But if you are not, you have no force to bring them, you have no power. You couldn’t even
bring you, yourself, to where you want, let alone your pet.
Q. What is the purpose of epidemic diseases such as malaria, AIDS, et cetera? Are humans
interfering with the natural process by trying to find cures for these diseases?
M. Yes, you find some cure for these and another disease will breed itself out. Only when man
realizes that he should surrender to God, to the almighty power which is within himself, only
when man realizes that in him there is a great healing power for all diseases and that he
should rely on that power alone, then all the diseases will cease. All these are warnings to tell
us that we should return to God.
Q. How long does it take to become enlightened, to reach the highest level of God-realization?
M. It depends on you, and how diligent you are, how much you want it. And also it depends on
the Master. Is the Master powerful enough to take you through these levels of consciousness
and lead you to where you want to be?
Q. How many kinds of samadhi levels are there?
M. Oh, many. There are many levels of consciousness, and therefore also many levels of
samadhi. But the last one is the ‘non-samadhic samadhi.’ It means that you carry on working
in the world just like an ordinary person, but at the same time you are always in samadhi, and
that doesn’t smell. It doesn’t give out any odor so you can smell that the person is in samadhi.
That is the highest samadhi.
Q. Can one separate religion and science successfully and believe in both? I mean by this, can I
believe in God and evolution at the same time?
M. Sure. The evolutionary theory supports the spiritual progress of mankind. It is the same, very
similar, in science and religious theory. The only difference is that sometimes science reaches
only a certain height and stops there, and religion goes further and is broader.
TURN INWARD AND LISTEN TO THE HEAVENLY TEACHINGS 15
I am very honored to be in this great country, this country of prosperity, of peace, of loving
kindness, and humanitarianism. Your country has what many countries do not have – warmth and
human love between each other, as well as very elevated spiritual standards. I was very touched to
know that in your country there is no death sentence. That shows that in this land, love rules above
all things. Let’s hope that other countries will learn from your example to let God rule justice and
not to take revenge.
I had the opportunity to speak to some of the people who live in this land – the immigrants, for
example the Au Lac refugees who have been welcomed into your country with love and
nondiscrimination. They’re all very happy in this country. I am sure this will add more merits and
blessings to the great nation that you happen to reside in. Only a very spiritually elevated country
can possess such qualities of loving kindness, of nonracism, nondiscrimination. If every nation
were like this, at least our world would become a small paradise. But unfortunately, there are many
other things that prevent people from understanding the basic truth that ‘Love is the greatest law in
the universe,’ and therefore, many people do not enjoy life the way they should.
We are God
The more we cling to life in a forceful way, the less we can enjoy the flavor of it. Therefore,
enlightened persons are happier and more contented, and from this very stable state of mind, they
can do many wonders because they are quiet enough to understand where their wisdom lies,
where their greatness is, in order to make use of it. When we are very busy, or we are in a panic,
or in a hurry, most often we forget what we want to do, or we do things in an incomplete way.
Therefore, the tranquil mind of an enlightened person can see things more clearly. That’s the only
logic of this science.
15. Public lecture, Montreal University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 17, 1993 (Originally in English).
‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Who is that ‘I am’? That is the one that resides within us. That is
the true self, and therefore we are God. This realization doesn’t come through hearing people
saying that or through believing alone, but through self-realization. And just as in any other
science, there must be a special technique. Everything we learn and master in life is all done
through self-experiencing. Similarly, enlightenment can be achieved through some persevering
self-experiencing, and therefore it will be lasting. That’s the reason why we have heard a lot of
saints and sages of all times saying that God is within us. If God is within us, that means we and
God are one. If we and God are one, we are God. But even then, we have heard so often and we
have read so many bibles and so many statements from such great men life Jesus, Buddha,
Mohammed, et cetera, but we do not truly believe that we are that and we cannot find the God that
is supposed to dwell within us. It is because we lack self-experience; we have not known it by our
own discovery but only by hearing.
In the old times, when science had not reached the height of today, we had many problems. Even
the rain would trouble us; even the snow bothered us. Anything, any small thing, big thing,
obstructed our daily activities, even the rain for example. Now we have umbrellas, we have
raincoats; we can walk in the rain. We can even enjoy the rain and we can work in the rain. Better
still, we have cars, we have buses; we have all the things that protect us from the different weather
changes in nature. Therefore, we are very comfortable. In the ancient times, if we were to hold a
meeting like today, many of you who live at a very, very long distance could not be here. Not
because of the distance only, but because of rain, because of weather, and all that. So in the
ancient times, people hid themselves in caves, in mountains, under trees, to protect themselves
from natural disadvantages. Many people still do today in some of the underdeveloped countries,
but that must not be.
Enlightenment is like that. It’s just like we add more comforts into our life and be happy in whatever
condition. Suppose we don’t have a raincoat, we don’t have an umbrella, we don’t have a car, if it
rains today, we are stopped from all our activities, from all the things that we love to do and want to
accomplish. Similarly, life is fantastic if we have enlightenment. There is nothing in this life which
could be named suffering, terror, or trouble. It is only because we lack protection that it seems to
be so. Take for example the rain, if it doesn’t rain, we don’t have water and all the trees, the
flowers, cannot grow. All the crops that we need for survival would never be there. Therefore rain is
not terrible in itself, but it is if we don’t have an umbrella and we walk miles in the cold. We will
shiver, we will catch cold, we will be ill, and we may lose our life even, though it is such a very
harmless and useful, natural phenomenon. Even a very natural, beautiful phenomenon becomes
harmful to us if we lack the equipment to protect ourselves.
To change the world, change ourselves
Many people want to change the world, to change the way we live our lives. But the sages with
enlightened spirits say, ‘No, change yourself!’ because if we change ourselves, we change the
world round us. Even if the world still stays the way it is, we are not affected. If each person
changes in this way, there’s no need for any wars and there would be no disasters. If everyone has
an umbrella, a raincoat, what is the need to change the season, to stop the rain, or to make
magical power to control the rainy season? Many people would like to learn and possess this
magical power. It can stop the rain, can make it last longer, can push it to another direction, and it
takes a long time to learn this magical skill. But why bother? We just wear the raincoat – it’s cheap,
it’s simple, and everyone can use it.
Once the Buddha wanted to cross a river by boat, and the boatman did not want to take Him
because He had no money. At that time He was, of course, a renunciant, a monk, still, who
possessed no property, so the Buddha had no choice but to walk over the river. These days, quite
a few yogis in India, Tibet, and elsewhere still can do that. Many people ask me about magical
power because people are curious about things that they cannot explain, and also about things that
they scientifically think are impossible. So I tell them, ‘Yes! These things do exist.’ But
nevertheless, they are not to be used at random, and also not to be done for show. Even Jesus,
who possessed a lot of magical power, didn’t always use it. He was very reluctant; therefore, He
raised only one dead person to life, He cured maybe only two or three blind persons, and did not
run around all the time raising all the dead back to life. That will bring the natural law into a chaotic
situation. That is a thing an enlightened saint would not do.
Each one has to yearn within his heart to know himself, to know God, and then the kingdom of God
will come, and the Master will come to help that person. If we use magical power or any other
supernatural way to convince people, we unknowingly lead people astray because we limit God’s
power within these magical skills, which could be learned by some experts. Also by doing that, we
interfere with the flow of nature and, of course, will bring some disasters upon ourselves. What we
seek are the eternal things, like wisdom, love, and the greatness of the universal power, not the
small corner of these low level gains.
Greatest miraculous power is to do without doing
When we possess the great wisdom, we also possess numerous miraculous powers. But at that
time, we have so much, too much, that we might not even know how much we have, and things
just come out from us automatically without us intentionally doing anything. That’s why the saints
do things without doing, without even thinking, without even wanting to do it. It’s just like a very,
very rich person, he has no idea how much he has. He can never count it, and can never see all of
his treasure.
Therefore, the enlightened person is always happy. At least most of the time he is happy. And even
when he encounters unhappiness, brought to him by his very close contact with someone he loves,
maybe then he is affected. Because of the love for that person, he may share the suffering or
unhappiness of that person, but even then, he is very, very calm inside. He knows that the
unhappiness is only of an ephemeral nature. He’s not kind of dragged and sunken into this
unhappiness like most of the people are. Therefore, if we even want just to be happy in this life, we
should get enlightenment.
Of course, I should tell you that you have to seek God for God’s sake alone, not because of
wanting happiness in this life. But I do think that these things come together. If you are enlightened,
you are happy, and the more happy, the more you believe in enlightenment and the more you will
appreciate God’s nature anyhow. What is the use of expecting an everlasting happiness in heaven
while we grovel here in darkness and in misery every minute of our lives? An enlightened person
enjoys both worlds – enjoying heaven at the same time as enjoying the world. Why? Because he
knows that whatever is manifested in this world is also the will of heaven, and it’s also a copy of the
real manifestation in the higher kingdom of God. Because he is very relaxed, has no fear, no
anxiety whatever, he enjoys, he enjoys to the utmost.
Many people think that after enlightenment, maybe you don’t know how to love your wife, your
husband, or children anymore. It is the opposite. Only when you are very happy and know your
true worth, can you truly love another person because you will see your refection within her. You
will respect that person and love all the good qualities that God endows in that person because you
have realized what God has given you yourself. Then you know that God gives all beings the same
amount of qualities. But we choose sometimes to go in the opposite direction; therefore, we suffer
and then we blame God. We say, ‘How come God has such almighty power and cannot turn this
world into heaven?’ The power doesn’t lie in God’s hand. It lies in your hands. I know all this
through experience, not through books and not through any bible. I know this also through the
experiences in the lives of my disciples.
Sharing the bliss of enlightenment
We are seeing each other today due to the kindness of my disciples. They want to share with you
what they have discovered. So they have gone through a lot of trouble, expense and time to
organize this day’s congregation. We do not do this with a very burning ambition to convince you to
come into our path, but we do it with a very happy attitude of just a happy person.
Therefore, we do not care to wear very special renunciative dress to impress you. We do not try to
make a very holy appearance of ourselves to convert you. We do not try to give anything to you,
gifts or any kind of magical power, to let you come in into our circle. We do it as a duty of a brother
to another brother. And we just do it for the sake of doing it. Actually, we’re happy whether you are
convinced or not convinced. We will be contented whether you come or you go because nothing is
that deadly serious to us anymore. We do it or not do it; it is the same thing to us. I could be sitting
pretty on top of a mountain in Formosa and enjoying my samadhi power or I could be sitting here
knowing more of the people of the Earth planet; it’s the same to me.
If you feel that you’re ready for this happiness, which is the true happiness because it comes from
the root, because you know the whole thing from heaven to earth and hell, you know everything,
then you choose what you would like to enjoy. Therefore, your happiness will be true and lasting.
Otherwise, most of the so-called enjoyments in this world, we are not free to choose. Sometimes
we are forced to get married because of some political or business reasons, and try to make the
best out of it. Sometimes we’re dragged along with a big family, trying to feed them, working from
morning till night, and we think that we are great because we are taking care of the family. But it’s
not always a choice; therefore, we do not feel happy in many things we do. Somehow we feel that
we are not the one who controls all this. We are not the host; we are just like a guest. We are
blown with the wind, and go along with whatever the situation is. We lose many interests and joys
in life through not knowing why we are doing all this and that. But after enlightenment, it’s different.
Whatever we enjoy, we truly enjoy. We understand the values of life as well as the values above
this life.
There are two lives on any planet; one is of material existence, and the other is of an everlasting
nature. If we know only one, and we lack the other, just like most people in the world, they enjoy
only the material existence of so-called life, but they do not know the real picture of this projection.
They know only the shadows, so they enjoy the material life and fear losing it. But the truly
enlightened person knows both, the everlasting and also the copy of it, and he can enjoy both at
the same time. Or he can choose to enjoy one and not the other, or he can choose to enjoy both.
But I think while we are already here, we might just as well enjoy it. And there’s nothing in this
world that we should not enjoy, really, except those things that are harmful to the lives of other
beings. Therefore, we just suggest a vegetarian diet, so the fish can always swim in the sea as
much as he pleases and the cow can graze in the pasture until nature calls him back to where he
belongs. We can enjoy them and they can enjoy us.
Some of the enlightened persons, I don’t know to what degree, choose to live on the inside, on the
other side of life, the spiritual side of life. And therefore they give the impression to people that all
enlightened persons have to be like that – have to go to the Himalayas, have to go into the cave,
have to forsake all the beautiful things in this life in order to be an enlightened being. But that must
not be so, because we will be too aloof from this world, and many people will find it difficult to
associate with us. If they find it too difficult to associate with us, how can they help themselves?
How can they know what we know? Of course, maybe it is more pleasant for a saint or an
enlightened person to stay away from the hustle-bustle of the world and to be carefree in his or her
own way. But on the other hand, there are many other brothers and sisters who need our
assistance.
Stay in the world but remain above it
Everything in this world is of some use and if an enlightened sage becomes a useless being, then it
is a waste of nature’s product. Therefore we would just stay in the world but remain above it. We
can have our house, our cars, but we no longer are slaves to these possessions. If we have them,
we enjoy them. If we don’t have them, we just don’t. It’s a very simple life. I had beautiful cars when
I was in Formosa but I just sold them before I went on the world tour, because we were a little bit
short of airplane tickets, so I sold them. And in the future, should I not have any more of these
beautiful and expensive cars, it would be fine. I’ll go by bus. Or my disciples have many cars, and I
can go with them. No problem. I can borrow one day from this person and the next day from
another person. Why should I have my own car, anyhow?
Therefore the things in this world, we will enjoy if they are there, and if they are not there, it makes
no difference to us. That is the way of the enlightened. Not that we have to run away from the
material existence, but we remain above it. I think that this is more practical for most of the people
on this planet because we are in the material surrounding; we are in the material existence. Wait
until we leave this physical world, then we can enjoy completely the spiritual atmosphere of the real
life. So why be in a hurry? If everyone gets enlightenment and runs into the Himalayas to stay
there forever, soon we would have no more enlightened persons left. And the others would never
know of enlightenment because everyone is gone. No connection; no message; no example; no
one who walks beside us, who shares with us all the ups and downs of the world, who encourages
us to walk in life as an angel, as God
In the old days, it was very difficult to know where the Master was, and who was the enlightened
person. People had to climb mountains, to cross the sea under a lot of hardship and trouble in
order to find an enlightened person. Therefore, our world did not develop in the ancient times.
People lived in poverty, and lacking of a lot of comforts, so I think that it’s not very ideal. I think the
enlightened person must live in this world; must do whatever he has to do; must take care of
whomever God places in his hands, and be happy, be enlightened. Even if we run away into the
forest, we can’t run away from the universe. We are still in here, where can we run away to?
Many people think an enlightened person must have a very special appearance, maybe a very long
beard. I happen not to have one, but today with technological advancements, I think I could grow a
beard even with some chemical stuff. [Master and audience laugh.] Or maybe an enlightened
person has to just stay in the Himalayas. There are maybe some enlightened persons who stay in
the Himalayas but it must not be like that; it must not be that all of them are doing so.
I don’t want to cite the bible or scriptures anymore; otherwise, I will be in trouble. I’ll just talk about
what I know and forget about the scriptures. I was going to cite a Buddhist scripture for you, but I
thought I had better not. The less you know, the better, the more simple. [Laughter] Then you don’t
add more complicated intellectual nonsense into your brain because the bible cannot enlighten us.
The menu cannot satisfy our hunger, but what we need is the direct teaching.
Turn inward and listen to heavenly teachings
There are two kinds of teachings. One is the theoretical doctrine, which comes from the Master
while the Master is still alive. That is to teach His disciples about how to behave in the society. It is
just for the mind and just to suit the customs and laws of that nation at that particular period of time,
and also to correct some of the bad habits of the disciples and to guide them in many aspects of
life, like in politics, business, marriage, and things like that. But these are all worldly; all are within
the level of material existence.
There is another teaching, which is the real one – the original and the lasting one. This teaching is
nonverbal and can be done through what we call thought transference when the disciples turn
inward and listen to the teachings from heaven. At the time of initiation, we will tell you how to do
that, and not because we tell you that you can do it but because you’re ready for it. The Master
power will switch on the button of your age-old wisdom, which has lain dormant within yourselves,
life after life until now. Just like we switch on the light, all the darkness will disappear instantly. That
is the immediate enlightenment process and that is very possible for everyone who is sincere and
who wants to know how great he is, how he connects with the whole universe, how God dwells
within himself, which he didn’t know all this time. Then everything else in life will take care of itself.
Truly!
I have asked all of my disciples, and none of them said that they are not happier than before; that
they are not more contented than before; that they are not more intelligent than before; that they
are not more capable, more powerful, than before, even just a few weeks afterwards, or even a few
days afterwards, depending on the person and how receptive that person is. Even after initiation,
just a few minutes, even within initiation, you know you’ve changed forever, and you accelerate.
You are no longer within the human standard, but you enter the circle of sainthood without
changing any appearance, without running away to anywhere, without doing anything dramatic in
your life. Just be where we are and enjoy both worlds. Enjoy the real as well as the ephemeral
nature of the projection of the real life. That’s what we have discovered, that’s what we continue to
discover, and that’s what we would like to share with you. [Applause]
Q. What do You think should be done about hatred and violent in everyday life, for example,
prejudice and racial discrimination? How do we get the message to those who don’t want to
listen?
M. I think all these phenomena are the result of the non-enlightened mind. If we are enlightened,
everything is solved without having to speak with each other, without having to preach at all.
So actually, all these things such as anger, hatred, greed, and all that, come from the lack of
enlightenment in that person because he is so unsatisfied with what he has in life.
He is so discontented within the framework of his life, so it becomes natural that he is

agitated. He’s aggressive, he’s angry, he’s greedy for more, because he thinks these things
will satisfy him more and make him more happy. Actually, the deep root of all this is the
yearning for a happier state of life. It is a deep yearning for enlightenment. Therefore, if we
want to cure all this illness, we have to introduce enlightenment into people’s lives and make
them happy.
Q. Why has my ego risen?
M. How do I know? It’s your business! [Laughter]
Perhaps no one ever scolds you; perhaps your position rose in society; perhaps you’re too
successful in your business; perhaps your wife or your husband spoils you too much.
[Laughter]
A truly enlightened person
Q. I wish to be enlightened. Why should I bother about staying in this society?
M. Why not? It’s your choice, of course, but why choose? Why bother to choose? We are born in
this society; we owe a lot to this society – to survive, to grow up, and to enjoy all the comforts
that we have now. Therefore, it’s also okay to stay in the society to repay some of this
kindness, just to be present, just to be one of the whole, and nondiscriminating as to whether I
am enlightened or he is not enlightened. ‘I am an enlightened person. I don’t mix with
unenlightened people!’ and these kinds of things. When a person turns inward all the time, he
doesn’t mind who’s around him. He doesn’t even know that he is in the society or out of the
society. He will just be himself and do what must be done at that moment. Always in the
present, that is the truly enlightened person.
Q. Is it possible to become awakened without a spiritual guide?
M. Yes, it is possible, very much possible. But without guidance, you probably cannot go very far.
To be awakened and to be completely awakened are two different things. So when a Master
who has already traveled from the material existence to a higher awakening state can guide
you, it’s best and faster and safer.
Q. How, through this enlightenment or initiation, can we bring all people and living beings to
supreme enlightenment and destroy all negative things and suffering?
M. We cannot bring all beings into the state of supreme enlightenment just because we are
enlightened. But to us, the enlightened persons, all the beings and all the suffering disappear.
That’s the most important. When you are enlightened, when you are in the state of samadhi,
there are no beings, so suffering, nothing exists.
When you come out of the samadhi state, if you wish and you come in contact with those who
are not enlightened and who see things as suffering, you may try to help them. Whoever likes
to know of your state of non-suffering, they can come. If they do not, it’s fine; they have to
learn their lessons. You can’t force all the children in your family to become professors at the
university just because you are one. But you can guide them step by step until they become
grown up and educated enough to be like you.
Q. How do I get rid of the fear of death?
M. Oh, I die every day! There’s no need for fear when we know that death is just a stepping from
one room to the next. It’s quicker than that. I could just sit here and die, but you don’t know.
Very fast. A step from one plane of existence to the next – that is the process of so-called
death, and it can be done in a second, not even a second! So there is nothing to fear about it.
If you fear death, come to me. I’ll teach you how to die every day, and you’ll get used to it.
[Laughter and applause.] Just like when you first drove a car, you didn’t know how to drive, so
you were very afraid. If you drive it every day, you’ll get used to it.
Positiveness
Q. According to You, what is positivism?
M. It is probably a kind of attitude of some people. They try to hypnotize themselves into thinking
that everything is great and everything is possible in life. But thinking alone helps only very
little. If we know the root of all the problems by shining the torch of enlightenment on all
corners of life, we tackle problems better, not in a positive way, but in a right way – be it
positive or negative.
If we only are positive, we neglect another part of life, which is very important. It’s just like if
you only choose men and you don’t care about women. Can we do that? No, we can’t. An
enlightened person knows how to handle positive and negative, not to reject anything, but to
make all things into full use for life and the life after. I don’t preach extreme things.
Q. What do You think of the future for our youth? Do You have a lot of faith in the future
generation?
M. Our future will be very good. More people are enlightened these days than during the time of
Jesus or Buddha, or any other period of our Earth planet. So I think our future will be very
bright. It’s already getting brighter. The political situation of the world is already very hopeful.
Many of the great archenemy nations shake hands with each other and want to talk about
peace and economic resurrection. So we should feel positive.
Q. How can we earn our living without depriving others of their chance of earning their own
living? For example, if I don’t have a job, somebody else will have it and be happy. If I don’t
cut a tree to make a living, that tree will feed numerous different beings.
M. You have a job because God gives you that job. Even if you are out of that job, no one can
take that job if it has not been meant for him. So do not feel guilty. Whatever you get, you get.
It’s just if we try to compete with other people, try to put that person down, and try to do many
tricks in order to trick him out of a position, and then we replace him, that is a different thing.
But if we get it naturally in the competitive society, it’s first come, first served. If the other
person wants the position, he should be as fast as you or as capable as you.
And about cutting trees – you can cut that tree and plant ten more. So don’t worry about that.
Just plant more trees! We respect nature but we do not become slaves to nature. The tree is
there to serve us in different ways. It may give us shade when the shade is necessary; it may
give strength to a house if a pole for a room is needed; it may give warmth to your house if
you need wood for fuel. Don’t worry about cutting trees if it’s allowed and if they are abundant
in your country. You have to look into the situation and not always become nature-
worshippers because human values are the topmost. If you cut all the trees and do not plant
new ones, of course it’s no good. But if you cut one tree and plant ten or twenty, what’s the
harm? We cannot be fanatic. We have to be flexible in different situations.
Q. Is it we who decide to become an angel or a devil?
M. Yes, sure, but also circumstances. If we are not strong enough to withstand the temptations of
life, then of course we fall into the other side of nature, which is negative. When we are strong
enough, we stay in the middle, and we can have both positive and negative at our disposal.
That is the way of the enlightened person.
The samadhi state of an enlightened Master
Q. How can we reach a permanent state of samadhi?
M. There are many kinds of samadhi, of course. There are some kinds that are very short-lived
that you get at the beginning of your practice after initiation. And there are some kinds but
that’s after some time of practice. And there’s another kind of samadhi which is very ordinary,
and you have it for twenty-four hours while you are working in this world; that is the samadhi
state of a Master. A Master looks like a very ordinary sentient being but the wisdom is very
obvious, and the blessing and the power are very transparent.
Q. For Christians, God’s love is fundamental for union with Hirm. Is this ingredient enough to
save us?
M. It’s only the imagination of the mind that we have faith in God, that we love God, that we are
united with God. The real union truly does take place, but this is when you merge into Hiers
glory, when you see the Light from heaven, and you hear the Word of God. ‘In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’
If we hear that Word through initiation, through meditation practice, then we can say that we
love God, that we know God, and that we are in union with God. Otherwise, it is all
imagination, all novelty, a romance of the mind. We can imagine that we have money but we
don’t necessarily have it. That’s the difference. [Applause]
LET GOD SERVE THROUGH US 16
It is said that there is a tradition in the United Nations in Geneva that we begin with a meditation. Of
course you can meditate in whichever way you wish, or you are used to. If you have not acquired
the habit of meditation, or if you wish to learn a little bit of the basics, I suggest that you close your
eyes and then concentrate on your third eye, or the wisdom eye, which is a little bit above the
eyebrows and in the middle of the forehead. And from there, you use this wisdom eye to look
straight at the invisible screen in front of you. It’s like you use your physical eyes to look into the
screen of the movies. And be it light or dark, just look into the center of it, and repeat the name of
God, of Buddha, or whoever the saint is that you have the most faith in. In this process of
meditation, even though it may be very little, you may be able to experience some of the heavenly
signs. Maybe you see the stars, the moon, and the sun. Naturally, it takes some more minutes to
quiet down the mind, but you could try ten minutes here and try more at home, if you wish.
I’m very happy for the world that in the United Nations people meditate. Since the ancient times the
great kings were always those who had deep insight and those who practiced meditation methods
in order to be connected with heaven and to know the will of heaven before they were able to
govern the earth’s affairs. That’s why since ancient times, the great kings of wisdom always ruled
with compassion and a wise system. And their names always stay forever in the hearts of the
people. They never have to use violence or armed force to conquer, but they use love and wisdom.
And we have reason to feel happy that here in the United Nations are more or less kings of the
world. We don’t rule only one nation, but whatever service we do here affects the whole world.
I’m so happy that there is a tradition here that we meditate not once a week, but also every day at
home. Once a week is only when we get together here to do it in a symbolic way but the more
important practice is carried on at home, and even at work. Our system of meditation is a
continuous process, twenty-four hours a day, for those who seek wisdom, and for those who like to
serve the world with love and dignity, and of course, wisdom. When we are connected with heaven
through different means of meditation, or deep prayers, in a sincere longing to know the will of
God, we will be able to serve the world in the better Light. Because the Light from heaven, which
comes through meditation, will be able to shine on our path, in whichever path we choose to serve
the world.
Of course, here in the United Nations, your work is most noble, most important. I have always been
following the activities of the United Nations, and I feel very happy that our earth, our planet at
least, has such a universal body which serves the whole world, not only one or two governments,
and selflessly, and sometimes sacrifices even their precious lives for the peace of the world – for
instance, like the peace army in Cambodia or in some many other not very stable countries. This
demands sometimes the sacrifice of personal comfort and safety, and even lives. And let’s hope
that in the future, all the world will heed the advice and the direction of the United Nations, and that
we will live in a more loving atmosphere of brotherhood. And of course, the meditation practice that
is headed by the group would be a great benefit.
As I have said, since ancient times, all the wise kings ruled with love and wisdom and never with
force. So it is very, very good, that the personnel in the United Nations do meditation together. That
is very, very touching to know. And if you would like to try some other kind of meditation, of course
16. Public lecture, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, April 20, 1993 (Originally in English).
we are willing to offer it and with no conditions, no binding, no charge whatsoever – just with love,
to serve the world through you, to let God serve through us.
Because the time is not very long, I think I’ll let you ask me any questions you wish to.
[Throughout the question and answer session, Master used English, Chinese and French
alternatively to answer questions asked in different languages.]
Q. About the vegetarian diet, what if somebody has the willingness to follow it and unconsciously
or not knowingly eats meat? How would that affect him?
M. That probably would give you a little bit of a stomachache but you meditate a little bit more
that day, and that would be no problem. We can’t always avoid these problems. The
vegetarian diet is only to propagate more loving kindness, which already exists in us, to polish
it more, to bring it to full extent to all beings, including our younger brothers and sisters. That
is just to show our love and also to polish our compassion, but if we do something
unconsciously, why no one can blame us, God would not.
Q. I would like to know what initiation means.
M. Initiation means that you are very sincerely longing to know our kingdom of God within, our
own greatness, our inherent wisdom. And if you want to know that, then we arrange for it. We
have it inside; you just forgot and don’t know where to switch the button. And because the
button is not visible, it has to be done invisibly within us. At the time of initiation, the
experienced friend, or open, guide, will help you to push open that button. And from then on,
you enter into the circle of sainthood, and you know your wisdom. When the button is pushed
there is some signal – like bright Light coming through, or heavenly music. Those are the
signals of the opening of the kingdom of God within you. You already have it, the Master or
the Teacher doesn’t give you anything, just helps you to rediscover it. That is the initiation.
Q. You’ve done a lot of work recently for the refugees of the world. How about the drug problem
of today? What kind of visible aid can we give?
M. Drugs begin with ignorance and frustration of the young people of our age. Many of the so-
called holy organizations sometimes have failed in satisfying their needs for a higher meaning
of life, more than just the material, because the material world today we don’t lack. Therefore,
they’re charmed, they’re seduced, into taking drugs because, in taking drugs, sometimes they
can have hallucinations and feel comforted for a very short time. But little do they realize the
very grave consequence after that. Therefore, meditation is the best way to relive all this
suffering of people when they want to know God; they want to know happiness inside. Our
happiness through meditation, through the Light and music of heaven, is everlasting. And it
always improves, and there is always more and more happiness, and never any
consequences like from a drug. If we can propagate more the benefits of meditation, then the
drug affect on people will be less and they will understand where to turn for a longer lasting
happiness.
Q. I’d just like to come back to the subject of enlightenment and initiation, which I see You put the
word ‘immediate’ in front of it.
M. Where is it? [Master looks at the sign behind Her.] My disciples make trouble for me again.
Q. Immediate enlightenment.
M. Immediate enlightenment means immediate.
Q. But the initiation periods in ancient Egypt, for instance, were at least seven years. And usually
initiation is regarded as a rather long process by which one earns enlightenment.
M. Yes, true.
Q. I know it suits our modern life to say ‘blip’ and we can now be enlightened, but I wonder what
the process is?
M. In the ancient times, it’s not easy to find a Master even. And if you find one, he tests you for
long years, tests very long. Like Milarepa of Tibet, his Master tested him for four years, with a
lot of scolding and beating sometimes. But today if you do that, the Master will be put in jail.
[Laughter] It’s not allowed anymore. And besides, in our world, with a very fast and advanced
way of life, we can’t just cling onto that kind of method of testing disciples. Today we have to
tune in with the modern pace of the society. Of course, it makes more trouble for the so-called
Teacher because He has no time to ground the disciple, or make him earn what is very
precious. But what do you think? If a Master does that, how much longer will it take until we
will be enlightened? It takes a long time.
The enlightenment is very fast, but the process of seven years is to test the disciples and to
ground them in moral discipline. That is very good also, but because of that, in ancient times,
not many people were enlightened. And because of ignorance, they crucified Jesus. Not many
people know what is enlightenment and what meditation practice is. It is so new and so
strange; therefore, today many Masters make it open to the public. That is at the sacrifice of
the Master’s time, expense, and a lot of effort to bring the disciple into a fast moral standard
and a very high lever of enlightenment. It’s a different time.
Enlightenment doesn’t mean you are completely enlightened. You have a taste of
enlightenment so that you are encouraged to go further with it. In the olden times, the Masters
didn’t do that. They let you first work and really suffer for it. And then you appreciate it more.
Q. Could You define or describe enlightenment, as You understand it?
M. There are two levels within our existence; one is the so-called ignorant, the other
enlightenment. And when we step through the border, we come into enlightenment.
Enlightenment implies Light. So when you sit in quietness, through the help of the
experienced Teacher, you have Light, you see Light floating through you. Then you feel
elevated. You feel changed. You enter into a different dimension, and once you enter there
and register, you never come back again. You still work in the world; still do your business,
fulfill your duty as a housewife, a husband, or United Nations personnel, but inside you are
contacted with a higher world. And it’s not only Light that we see, we see beautiful heavenly
mansions, which like Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house, there are many mansions.’
We can visit, we can see sometimes, ancient Masters and learn from their wisdom in order to
put this into use for our daily service to the world. And that is why we work more effectively,
with less effort but more results, because we are wiser; we learn from the Masters. These
Masters never die; they just ascend into a higher level of existence. And if we ascend to their
level, we meet them also. We can learn from them. That is a better way than just to learn from
limited scriptures or bibles, which sometimes we don’t understand the meaning of anyhow.
Q. To my best knowledge, the monk Kung Ching died in 1986 at the age of 96, and through his
life, sometimes he meditated as long as four months without eating anything or drinking
anything.
M. Right, that is possible.
Q. And this thing happened four times through his life. Before he passed away, he said, ‘I will be
reincarnated and come back. Next time when I come back, I will be in the province of Quay
Hsi, China.’ Could You comment on that?
M. Well, that is his business. Why do you ask me? [Laughter]
Q. How can it be that he comes back in Quay Hsi, why not Quay Tung?
M. Well, he likes Quay Hsi better, you see. [Laughter] That is his choice. Some saints do come
back at will. Once we enter the circle of sainthood and mount into a different level, a higher
level, we can choose to reincarnate wherever we want. But some times they choose to
reincarnate in a place where they have more affinity with the people. That is all.
Q. [Spoken in Chinese.]
M. She asked if I could teach her something that is faster, because she has meditated for many
years and didn’t feel much effect. So I said, ‘Yes, sure. You come to my house after your work
and I’ll teach you.’ That’s what it was, okay? No problem. Tonight!
Q. What is Your view of life after death?
M. Well, you ask me too early. [Laughter]
Q. Everything either is finished or is there something that is going on and how would it be going
on?
M. We die every day, during meditation. Many people do not know what dying is because they
don’t die every day. When we meditate, sometimes we die. We die but we come back again
because our silver cord is not broken yet, as it would be at the time of death. So we die, we go
to different worlds; we leave this physical world for a while, maybe sometimes for some hours,
or months like the monk Kung Ching, but we come back again.
That is the process of death. Just like you walk from this room outside the door, any time;
there is no problem. But that is to the ones who are virtuous, who live up to the will of heaven,
who meditate, and who contact the kingdom of God within. Then they die just like walking
through the door to a better room, a more glorious world. But to those who are heavily
burdened, who do not fear God, and who do things which are not according to God’s loving
law, then they have a lot to fear. At the time of death, they suffer tremendous pain. And also
they sometimes sink to a little lower existence, which is more terrifying, more suffering, and
that’s what we call hell. For us, no problem, we die every day.
Q. I wonder if You could give us a few basic points of Your teachings. I noticed You have written
a few books, and I just want to know very briefly what are the basic points of Your teachings,
or Your theory? What should one do to become enlightened? What should one believe in?
Those basic points.
M. Our teaching doesn’t advocate any particular religion, but you stay with your own religion. And
we just help you at the time of initiation to make contact with your faith. For example, you
believe in God and we help you to see God. If you believe in Buddha, fine, you’ll see the
Buddha. And you can learn from God or Buddha directly, through the nonverbal teaching from
heaven. We don’t have to use language; therefore, at the time of initiation, I don’t talk. We just
sit quietly and then in silence, you will be enlightened because your nature is enlightenment.
Q. Having read Your doctrine about meditation and enlightenment, and the various levels of
existence You have described, it sounds a bit frightening.
M. Which level?
Q. I don’t know which level. There are many levels that You have mentioned. When one
meditates, how does one overcome this kind of fear, when you go into different levels?
M. The first, or maybe some lower level, is frightening but the other ones are not. Maybe you
read the first one, no? The first level is called the astral level. There are many tricks there
because it is a lower level. It is still a level of illusion and maya, and hells exist there also. Of
course, you might traverse it and then maybe you encounter some kind of unfriendly beings
but the Master is there. That’s why – to protect you, to pass through this unfriendly region and
to go higher. No problem. Many of my fellow practitioners are very happy; they are not
frightened. Very, very beautiful, very excellent in feeling. You will feel renewed like you are
charged, full of energy. You will be like a newborn person. You will not be frightened.
Q. I would like to ask if You have been attacked by the negative energies causing interference in
Your work?
M. I have been attacked also by some of these so-called negative energies. But when they
encounter the Light, which surrounds a practitioner, like myself for example, then they melt
like noodles or like nothing. So I have never been harmed. I never fight back, just naturally
they stopped. They just melted.
One of the practitioners, after she became a disciple, told me she was a kind of Taoist. She
had practiced until she could manifest a knife that long, [Masters demonstrates with Her
hands.] a knife, but an invisible knife. And whomever she directed that knife to is assured of
death. She directed that knife to me while I was lecturing somewhere, without telling anyone.
It is invisible; it is a form of Light, sharp, about that long. [Master holds out Her hands.] But
when it came to me, the Light that surrounded me just melted that knife, and she surrendered.
Now she has become a disciple. We have that even on tape. She confessed that after
becoming a disciple; otherwise, no one would know and I would never talk about it.
Q. Have You had contact with the wisdom center in our planet, like Shambala, or things like this?
M. There are many people in the past with whom we can have contact. It is no problem. For my
disciples, it is already much easier. All of my disciples, my fellow practitioners, can contact
them also. And they see Jesus, Buddha, sometimes even already at the time of initiation.
Q. What do You think about the phenomenon of UFOs on our planet?
M. They are from the other planets that are more advanced in technology. In our universe, there
are many planets like that. Sometimes they make UFOs for sale. Maybe in the future, we can
buy one. Yes, it’s not a joke.
Q. I don’t understand why we say God is good, yet there is so much suffering in the world?
M. This is not God’s fault. It is our fault. We see things with different eyes. We should see with
the ‘true eye,’ and we will see the true goodness of God. For me, the world is perfect, and no
suffering, nothing. But for you, there is suffering; therefore, I’m here to tell you to go into a
world of non-suffering. You will see differently. Just like a cat, if you put him in front of the
television, he doesn’t see movement. Or the owl, in the daytime the sun shines brilliantly, but
he never knows there is a sun and he says there is no sun. But for us, there is a sun because
we have different eyes.
Q. Yes, so when the people near You are suffering morally and physically, you don’t see this
anymore with Your third eye?
M. If I don’t want to see the evolution of this world, then I see nothing. But because of those who
suffer, I come down and see the world as they see it to help them. If I want to help them, of
course I have to come down to their level and understand, and help them to go up. It’s just like
you help a child to learn ABCs, even though you have a Ph.D.
Q. But can we help the suffering of the world directly by meditation?
M. Yes, somehow we help, but everyone must be enlightened himself in order to get out of the
suffering; otherwise, it is no use. It helps, of course. Just like you are a professor in the
university, and of course you help your child to be more intelligent by helping him with the
homework. But he, himself, must be a Ph.D. later in order to know how to work, how to earn
money, how to have a high position in the world. So it helps a little bit, but each one must be
enlightened. Otherwise, one Buddha enlightened would be enough. One Jesus would be
enough.
Q. How did You go through the separation from Your family?
M. With my husband? It was terrible. I don’t want to do it again. He waited for me six years, my
husband, and then remarried. And now I cannot go back and do anything. So it stays like that.
It is fine. It was painful – not easy, no. It was not easy, but I was crazy for God. My husband
was crazy for me, and I was crazy for God. So I chose God more than a husband but because
I was not enlightened. I was not enlightened. That’s why I did it. You don’t have to.
To be enlightened, you don’t need to run away from your family. You don’t need the
Himalayas, nothing. If you have a Teacher at your home, you don’t need to go. I did not have
a Teacher at that time, I wasn’t enlightened, and I didn’t know where to go to find a Master, so
I had to leave home. I wanted to run around to look for a Master. And after that, my husband
remarried, and my love, also my passion, died down somehow, so we stay like this.
Q. Did You have any children?
M. No, not with him. We were married two years only. No child with him. We didn’t have any.
Q. Can children practice Your method?
M. The children, when they are six years old, if they are with initiated parents, can be initiated
into half of the method. When they are twelve, if they have parents who also practice, they
can be fully initiated. If they don’t have parents who are initiated, they have to wait until 16
years old.
Q. Do the parents decide on the initiation of children?
M. The children must want it. We respect young and old. And I always tell people never to force
other people into initiation or any kind of practice if they are not ready.
I think we have to conclude our meeting, and I have to thank God for allowing such a noble
meeting to take place through the kindness and egoless of Madam, the president of the
meditation group. Yes, ‘Coordinator’ is the same name. In New York, they call that the
president of the yoga society. So I’m very touched by her efforts, kindness, and generosity.
And it is because of her invitation, the invitation of the United Nations that I even made the trip
to Europe this year, which I hesitated to do for a long time even though I have long been
invited. So it’s a kind of a push. The United Nations’ invitation is good for the whole of Europe.
You see that – how good the United Nations is. Thank you very much. [Applause]
I wish that you continue with your noble work; that will be beautiful for the world. And because
I know today that you skipped your lunch, we’ve made some Aulacese food for everyone who
would like to eat.
PERCEIVE THE TRUTH BY INNER WISDOM 17

I’m very honored to be in the most beautiful and peaceful country on the Earth planet. It’s been a
long time since I left Europe; I nearly forgot how beautiful it is here. I nearly forgot how clean
Switzerland is and how beautiful the people in Switzerland are. It is nice to remind myself again.
And I even forgot that the weather is so nice in Europe, and there are so many flowers. I had a
17. Public lecture, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland, April 21, 1993 (Originally in English).
walk this morning and admired all the flowerbeds around Geneva. And it is so beautiful! The Swiss
people truly know how to please their visitors.
Before I arrived, I was escorted by two cars with the attendants and in the two cars were the
personnel of the United Nations. One of them told me that every document that comes out from the
United Nations is in six languages. I said, ‘Wow!’ When our documents come out, maybe it will take
sixty languages because we have many disciples, many fellow practitioners, around the world.
It is because of the invitation from the United Nations that I’ve come here. We actually have to
thank the people of the United Nations who invited me, who gave me an excuse and a reason to
overcome all my fears of traveling, my fears of cigarette smoking in the airplane, and to include
Switzerland in our journey. And since I am here, I would like to present to you the best, the fastest,
and the easiest way to reach your highest virtue, your most beautiful virtues inside. Since our
theme is ‘Truth, beauty, and goodness,’ we will be dwelling on these virtues.
Truth is perceived through the inner wisdom
Truth is what we perceive through the inner wisdom. It is not always what we think or what we
receive through intellectual or literary teachings. All the scriptures are the introduction to the Truth,
just as the menus in the restaurant are the introduction to the real food. After we reach the Truth
inside, we have both virtues and beauty. All that we want to cultivate for a great gentleman, we will
find after we have realized the Truth. And there’s nothing that we can describe about the Truth,
except that when we perceive it, we will be changed into oneness with this Truth. Then we will be
living a life of Truth, beauty and virtues, the life of Jesus, the life of Buddha, the life of Lao Tzu and
all the other great Masters since ancient times.
There is something by which we can recognize when we know we have perceived the Truth inside:
When we see with the inner eye the brilliant Light from heaven and when we hear the heavenly
music through the inner hearing faculty. But we might think, ‘What kind of body inside us has an
eye and ears?’ If we operate on this body, there are only internal organs but no eyes and no ears
inside. It is our true self who actually needs no ears to hear nor eyes to see.
Man is the greatest creation in the whole universe, greater than the angels. When we are virtuous
and enlightened, there are angels who will surround us, protect us, and serve us. As you
remember, when Jesus was born, there were angles who came to greet him. If we have the inner
eye, or what we call the wisdom eye, open we can see the saints surrounded by different beings,
including the angels. And if we practice the enlightenment way, we will also be surrounded by
angels of different levels.
Spirituality and science do not breed conflict with each other
Within us, there is the kingdom of God, there is God Hirmself, and because God has made man in
Hiers own image, we have the almighty power. The reason why we do not have access to this
power is because we have forgotten how to use it. The saints, like Jesus and Buddha, are those
who have remembered how to utilize this greatest power within ourselves. Within this power, there
lie beauty, virtues and the almighty ability to do a thousand and one things at once. But at that
time, a person doesn’t need to do anything because he has transcended the level of mundane
activity and entered into a level of the almighty network.
Recently some scientists also have discovered and mentioned that man has many different layers
of consciousness. When he sleeps, he is at a different level and when he enters into deeper sleep,
he is on a different level. When he enters deeply into the recesses of our wisdom, he will be able to
do many other things without effort. They call these levels something like alpha, beta, delta levels,
et cetera. I guess you have heard of these, have you? [Audience: Yes.] Yes.
Actually, spirituality and science do not breed conflict with one another, but complement each
other. Just like 2,600 years before, the Buddha said that in one glass of water there were billions of
beings. That was before we had a system of hygiene or microscopes in order to discover these
invisible beings in the water. Therefore, the saints do not need to study biology or chemistry in
order to understand the universe. What takes scientists many decades or sometimes many
hundreds of years to discover, the saints know in one lifetime or in a few hours of meditation. And if
we take the effort to discover it, we will be as great. But actually it doesn’t take any effort at all.
When we practice the meditation of our system, it is effortless.
There are many kinds of so-called meditation practices, which sometimes involve a lot of work and
asceticism and very special surroundings, and also a very, very special diet. For example, some
yogis can only drink milk and eat nuts and fruits during their meditation practice. Otherwise, maybe
the side effects can be very undesirable. But with our system, we do not need any kind of
asceticism. The requirement to refrain from taking meat is only from a compassionate point of view
so that we may see the fish when they swim in the sea; we can see the chickens or the rabbits
running around.
When I was in Formosa, there were one rabbit and one chicken that came to my residence. And
we three got on with each other very well. The rabbit used to come into my kitchen and steal my
vegetables. But afterwards, when he saw the chicken, eat some dry noodles, he also began to eat
noodles; he didn’t eat vegetables anymore. When the chicken ate some bread, he also liked to eat
the bread. If we take the time to learn from the animals, they are fantastic. And even the rabbit
changed his behavior just because he loved the chicken. He always ran around chasing after the
chicken. He wanted to kiss her all the time. Therefore, maybe he ate the bread and the noodles
just to please the chicken. If the rabbit can do that, we can too. It means that we can change our
habitual way of eating to please the Lord, who is our most beloved and who lives within our hearts.
Because whatever we do, we know it. We know it because of the Lord within us.
The Lord is the source of all love
Our wisdom is the source of all learning, of all intelligence in the world. The Lord is the source of all
love – be it mundane, fatherly, or between man and woman. Therefore, when we seek this wisdom,
we will have all intelligence; when we seek this love, all desires are quenched and we will never
seek for anything more. All beauties and virtues will come to us and stay. All love will be filled
within our being and will stay without any effort because we are love, we are wisdom, we are
beauty. Sometimes when we have the opportunity to ascend into a higher level of existence, we
will see how beautiful we are – more beautiful than any make-up in the world could offer. But don’t
tell that to the Christian Dior Company. [Laughter] When we are in this world, we can still use
make-up just to pass our time, just to beautify this world, just like when we plant flowers in the
parks, botanical gardens, or on the streets to please ourselves and others.
I normally very seldom go out sightseeing anywhere. But when I came here, I went out immediately
because it’s so clean, so beautiful, and there are flowers everywhere. I wanted to do some painting
but I was so busy looking at the flowers and the time passed so fast that I didn’t do anything. You
are very lucky people who stay in Switzerland. When I get older and have no more teeth, I will
come and stay here. When I have no more excuses to travel, maybe, if God’s willing, I will come
and stay here.
To be the representative of Truth, wisdom, and beauty
So the beauty outside, we can accomplish with many materials, like flowers, clothing, make-up,
decoration, et cetera, and the inner beauty, we can decorate with virtues, goodness, and wisdom. If
we only have the outer beauty, we lack half of it. We should be the representatives of Truth,
wisdom, and beauty on the inside and outside. The peace and love that we most often talk about
and seek, we have within ourselves. After we attain wisdom inside, we won’t even talk about peace
and love anymore; we will just be peace and love. And then wherever we go, whichever location
we live in, we will represent and radiate this kind of inner beauty. It doesn’t matter how or what the
outer appearance is, people will still feel that we are the most beautiful beings, the most peaceful,
and loving.
That is the reason why we sometimes see that many people flock to some so-called masters in
India or elsewhere to sit at their feet. It’s because of the inner beauty, wisdom, and love from their
master. The master might look very old and wrinkled through the eyes of the world; not attractive,
but still, the inner attraction is irresistible. This inner beauty we possess and we can rediscover it
again through a simple effortless technique. When we call it a technique, it is not really fair
because there is no technique in the kingdom of God. It is just our own wisdom that has awakened
and wants to find its own source.
Rediscover of the wish-fulfilling gem
When the disciple is ready, the Master will help. Perhaps we can say there is a little invisible button
inside ourselves that has to be pushed at the time of initiation, as per request. And then everything
will be opened, just like ‘open sesame.’ In the olden days, people used different parables to
describe the opening of the inner eye, the wisdom eye. They called it the rediscovery of the wish-
fulfilling gem, or opening the gate to heaven, or the key to heaven, et cetera.
Since I’m already here in Switzerland and have brought the key with me, if you would like to use it,
you are welcome to borrow it. And once it’s open, you will have immediate enlightenment, a taste
of enlightenment. Maybe it’s not the complete one, but it’s a taste of it. Then we will see the Light
from heaven; we will see heaven and we will hear the direct teaching from God, but not in six
languages like the United Nations, only in one language – the language without language, the
music of heaven. And in silence, we will hear it. So at the time of initiation, we don’t need to speak
with each other, and in silence, God will reveal Hirmself. God is our true self, filled with wisdom,
beauty, and virtues. These are the true qualities of man.
We have the choice of living a life of an ordinary being or to be a saint, to be separated from the
creator or to be one with God, to be ignorant of our greatness or to recognize that we are the top of
creation. The choice is absolutely ours, and it takes only one split second to change. That’s why we
call it immediate enlightenment. Once we step beyond that gate, we go forever upward. But if we
stay around in this life and death circle, we are forever inside. Heaven and earth are less than one
hair apart. Therefore, the suffering in this world and all the unfulfilled feelings are not God’s fault or
God’s intentions; it is our own choice.
Wisdom and true love are memories of heaven
If we like to remain in the water and get cold and wet, that is our problem. But if we want to step on
the shore and inside a warm and welcoming home, it’s our right. This body is just a kind of clothing
and actually we wear too many clothes, one on top of the other, and still we do not feel very
pleased. These bodily and fleshly clothes we can leave any time to ascend into a different
dimension where the glory we have no language to describe, and the life eternal and happiness
forever, we have no way to imagine. We have seen many paintings about angels and the heavenly
kingdom, but they are lousy copies. Sometimes when we ascend to heaven, we can’t even look
because it is so brilliant.
The colors of this world, however beautiful, can never paint the true picture of the kingdom of God.
And all the jewels in this world, diamonds and all that, are nothing in the higher world. In the higher
kingdom, diamonds are truly diamonds, perhaps used for making UFOs, or to pave a road, or to
make a wall. The beings there do not need them to decorate themselves. They are furnished with
every dignified, beautiful, virtuous and glorious raiment. It is because of these glorious memories of
heaven that when we come into this world, we love jewels, beautiful clothing and beautiful
mansions, et cetera. It is because of our memory of the true love of heaven that when we come
here, we seek love within each other, that we love each other as man and woman, as parents and
children, and as friends. Also, it is because of our memories of our wisdom that we love to study in
this world, that we want to have a higher degree of education.
That’s why when the sage finds the true wisdom, the true love, and the true beauty inside, he is
completely satisfied. The sage may even marry, or have children or possessions, or may have
jewels and all the beautiful things in the world, or he might not want them. Both are equally all right
with him. And the sage may possess two or three Ph.Ds. or not, that’s also equally unimportant to
him because the sage knows the true source of all that we want to seek.
All the unhappiness and craving in this world come from dissatisfaction because we do not know
the real thing. If each one is enlightened and rediscovers his own greatness, there would be no
more crime in this world. All the greed and all the possessiveness come from the memory that we
had all things in heaven before we came down to this world. Therefore, to end all this, we should
go back to where we belong, not by condemning ourselves or our neighbors, but by knowing that
we have all things within ourselves, also by helping our fellow men to reach the same level of
consciousness.
The memories of the prince of heaven
If a prince was lost in a jungle and then found his way back to the palace, even before he reached
the palace, he would already feel happy. He would not demand anything from the farmers. Even if
the farmers gave him something, he might or he might not accept it, but he knows he is going back
to the kingdom. Even if the farmers gave the prince the most precious things, still they could not
satisfy the prince. Similarly, when someone is enlightened and has rediscovered his own
greatness, his own glorious being inside, he is satisfied for all time. That is the best way to correct
all our shortcomings and to fulfill all our desires because all shortcomings come from the longing
for our birthright, our real possessions inside.
Just like the prince who always wants this and that and others and is never satisfied in a farmer’s
house because he is not used to that way of life. It’s not that the prince is very hard to please or
that the farmer is not hospitable, not polite enough; it’s just that life is different for both of them.
Even if the farmer tries his best, he cannot please the prince, and even if the prince is very
compassionate and very polite, he couldn’t lie to himself and say, ‘I am happy in the farmer’s
house.’ It is the same situation with us. We are the princes of heaven; that is why we are forever
unhappy here – until the time comes for us to realize that our Home is not in this world. Then we
will find a guide to lead us back to where we came from, a guide who has already gone Home and
come back again; one who knows the road very well. We call that a Teacher, a friend, a colleague,
or whatever we like to, but that person is experienced. That’s all there is to the initiation, to the
enlightenment and to our situation on this earth.
Since I am already here in your country, I would like to present to you a gift before I go, just like a
good guest would do. It is the gift of eternal virtue, eternal happiness, and eternal beauty. When
you wear it, you will be forever beautiful; you will be forever wise, forever virtuous, and whatever
you wish for will be there. That is the way of a great man, the way of the saints since time
immemorial.
Q. If we were all in the world of the beyond, why are we here on earth?
M. We are all part of the whole chain from heaven to earth. We are the link from heaven to earth.
We are the invisible and visible; therefore, we are better than the angels. The angels only
have an invisible aspect so they cannot bless the earth directly. We can, but only if we
remember the great blessing power inside. That’s why man is in the highest, most precious
position in the whole universe. All the angels have to bow to us; that is, if we are virtuous and
wise.
Q. You mention that everything that happens to us that’s painful is our own choice. What about
illness?
M. It’s also our own choice. Because we choose to live an ephemeral life, we have forgotten the
eternal life aspect of ourselves. But even if it is not true, our body is just from the material of
this world. It’s just like a car; it gets damaged sometimes and goes out of order. So it’s no big
deal being sick.
Q. Master, why did You say that our life is not here? Why would God send us here?
M. I said our true Home is not here but we came here to bless the world, to bring God’s power
upon this planet. Only, after sometime we have forgotten our greatest position and then we
identify ourselves with our habits, our thinking, and our material collections from this world.
That is why we need to be reminded again. And once we want to remember, we will. Then all
the questions will become clear to us and we will know why we are here, and at the same time
we will know where we belong. Then all the searching will come to an end and you will be
sitting here answering the questions and not asking the questions.
Q. Isn’t it true that the kingdom is already here, that we don’t have to die to reach it?
M. Right, we can see the kingdom while living, but for that we die also. We die daily and come
back daily. We die many times a day and resurrect many times a day. That is the life of the
enlightened beings. They live in both worlds at the same time.
Q. Why have we left paradise?
M. Well, we wanted to do something. We were not contented being happy and enjoying the bliss
in heaven while other created beings were suffering. Also, maybe we wanted to come here to
play, just like sometimes we go to see the theater or the circus, even though in our house we
have enough ‘circuses.’
What Buddha taught is the same as what Jesus taught
Q. How can the idea of Christianity and reincarnation be compatible?
M. Jesus had no time to explain everything. Buddha had 49 years, so He could talk a lot. But also
the bible has been censored in some parts according to the ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’; it supposedly
was written during the time the Master was still alive. And some of the later generations
probably left out some parts that they did not understand or did not agree with. But also, we
see that some of the information leaked into the bible. For instance, when people asked Jesus
if He was the reincarnation of Elijah or the Masters before Him, He didn’t say ‘yes’ and He
didn’t say ‘no.’ If it were not true, He would have said, ‘No, there is no reincarnation.’ So we
have to be alert while reading the bible in order to find good information for ourselves.
Q. Why was Jesus crucified?
M. How do I know? I was not there! You are much older than I am, you must know better.
[Laughter]
Anyhow, it is stated in the bible that it was due to political competition, economical
possessiveness, and the vicious ignorance of the masses at that time. In the olden times, to
find an enlightened Master or to be enlightened was extremely, extremely difficult. Even today
most Masters do not travel. Even if the Master travels and comes to you, maybe you’d think,
‘What? It is so cheap! Why have you come to offer this for free? Maybe you are no good!’
They risk criticism from the masses and risk losing their reputation and dignity. Before Jesus,
no one openly taught people.
According to the information I know, Jesus belonged to the Essene Brotherhood of that time,
who were extremely secretive in their spreading of the doctrine. Anyone who wanted to enter
had to go through a lot of tests and introductions from many members, and had to take a vow
not to reveal the secret to the public. Jesus broke that vow in order to serve the masses
through His boundless love and sacrifice. Therefore, the majority of the people did not know
what a living Master was and what enlightenment meant, so they crucified Him. It was a lack
of education at that time.
Q. In the bible, it is said that God is a jealous God.
M. No!
Q. Why do You associate Buddha with God?
M. So do you think God is jealous? What do you think? God cannot have that quality. Is that what
you think? God only has love, right? Jealousy is a human quality, and we pick it up only
because of the circumstances here on earth. We are not even born with jealousy, but when
another child comes and snatches our toys, then we begin to have that quality.
Buddha is the son of God. Buddha was one with God. Whatever Buddha taught is just like
what Jesus taught: Love, compassion, and wisdom. Therefore if we say God is jealous, we
have no grounds really. Even though the bible states it in one sentence, who guarantees that
the bible was written by God? We have to go and ask God Hirmself whether Hes is jealous or
not. With the method I will teach you, you can go to Hirm and ask Hirm directly. But when I go
to heaven, I see God, Buddha, and Jesus, all drinking tea together, no problem. [Laughter] I
can only tell you from my experience and from the experiences of our disciples that God is not
jealous.
A person of enlightenment stands on the middle path
Q. I feel I am on the path of spirituality, but I feel like my energy is out of balance. How can I
stabilize my aura?
M. That’s why enlightenment is necessary. A person of enlightenment stands on the middle path.
With the real enlightenment and with the real meditation, we can balance both the negative
and positive, and make use of both. And then there is no kind of struggling or feeling of
energies competing.
Q. Was prophet Mohammed also a Master?
M. Well, He also taught people wisdom, love, compassion, and if His disciples at that time
adhered to that, then He was a Master. We have to judge the tree by its fruit also; if He
fulfilled this category, of course He was a Master.
Q. How many lives do we need until we can free ourselves from our karmic bondage?
M. One life, with our way, and you will never come back again. Only if you want to, you can.
Q. Isn’t it difficult to meditate such a long time, two hours per day, in our time with work, earning
money, and so forth? Isn’t it a long way?
M. Yes, it’s difficult, but if you want it, you will pay the price. We work eight to ten hours a day just
to feed our bodies that last about sixty years. And if we work two and a half hours for eternal
life, it’s worth it, isn’t it? For me, to work in the world eight or ten hours is even more difficult.
You are the true renunciant. You renounce heaven and practice asceticism for ten hours
every day, and you don’t complain. [Applause] You’re better than all the yogis in the
Himalayas.
I always marvel at how people in this world endure, and how they sacrifice for a short life
span, that’s even full of sickness, unhappiness, and misfortune, sometimes. Whereby, to step
into heaven is so easy, full of love, bliss, and happiness every day. And we can even have the
worldly life at the same time, without forsaking it, only at the cost of two hours and a half. Just
throw away the beefsteak, that’s all! And many people don’t want it. And they worship all the
yogis who do nothing but enjoy only the bliss of God. So I think I worship you.
Q. Do You agree with the scientific theory of the origin of the earth which is the big bang theory?
M. Yes, I agree, but scientists only explain it in the material and physical aspects. They have not
discovered the real essence, the invisible force, behind the big bang. It also helps to
understand the spiritual aspect of creation.
The Master power can minimize our suffering
Q. Can You explain God?
M. No.
Q. What is the purpose of hell? And how many dimensions are there?
M. Does he want to go to hell or what? [Master asks the MC.] Many people go there anyhow
because the road is very wide and easy to drive on. There are no traffic lights, no traffic jam
hours. [Laughter]
There are many dimensions, many levels, to reach the kingdom of God. And on the first level,
there is hell. Sometimes you see hell on earth also, during wartime, during famine, during big
disasters, or when there is disease, and also within the family when it’s not in harmony. Hell is
just a kind of big hospital, where all kinds of surgeons and instruments are necessary in order
to purify some illness of the psychic being, such as excess hatred, excess greed, excess
ignorance, et cetera. And after the maladies have been corrected, then the being will be
wholesome and be reborn again as human.
Q. How can one accept the death of one’s child?
M. It is difficult. But again it’s our choice; our choice to recognize that before we were born, there
was no child born to us; our choice to realize that life is eternal. We must have the courage to
face whatever happens in this world instead of wallowing in our misery. So that is our choice.
It’s very difficult to choose, but very noble when we choose the life of courage and
intelligence.
Q. Can we change our fate?
M. Fate is the result of past actions; therefore, it is difficult to change. It is similar to when we cut
into our flesh and the blood comes out. We can minimize it; we can lubricate it, but we cannot
change it completely. Nevertheless, the initiation will help us to purify, to burn out, all the past
karmas and just leave the karma of this life for us to go on. And even then, the Master power
will minimize our suffering when necessary, when we cannot bear it. That is the only way we
can alter fate, and alter it forever.
Q. How can we use the knowledge that we have learned in a past life in this life?
M. Well, the present time is more important than the past. If in the present life, we are
enlightened, we are initiated by a Master, the future is no more a problem, and the past is also
disconnected. Otherwise, we have so many lives on earth and so many past records that we
can’t correct them all.
Tao is the great self
Q. What is Tao?
M. Tao is what you call the kingdom of God, the Buddha nature, the great self, and the wisdom.
Q. Is sexuality a way to free the energy that we have inside of us? Like in Tantra?
M. No, it’s just a release of some physical pent-up energy because the physical energy has
nothing to do with the spiritual energy. Just like the engine of a car has nothing to do with the
driver. But sexuality is also a copy of heavenly pleasure; therefore, we like it because we
remember the ecstasy of heaven. And that’s just about the nearest thing we can find in this
material world to comfort our souls while we have to live here. But when we find heavenly
bliss and we can compare them, then sexuality loses so much charm and it doesn’t bind us
that much.
Q. Master, do You believe in the nirvana of Buddhism and how can we achieve this?
M. This method will lead you to nirvana. Nirvana is a Sanskrit name for the kingdom of God. It
mean the state of desirelessness. ‘Nirvana’ – no desire. Only when we enter the kingdom of
God, will we have no desire.
Q. Is Your method any different from transcendental meditation?
M. Yes, we don’t teach people to hop around. [Laughter] Maybe that is the difference. Also we
don’t charge money for anything we teach. Otherwise, whatever you prefer to practice is okay.
Whatever you are happy with, that is your way. Don’t ask me to criticize or to compare things.
It is no good for our neighbors.
Q. In Your opinion, why was it necessary for Christ to multiply the fish, if You say that we should
be vegetarian?
M. Because the people who came were not vegetarian. [Applause]
And also, I’ll tell you what, maybe He didn’t eat fish; maybe it wasn’t fish. Most of the time we
hear He broke the bread and He blessed the figs. But you know sometimes, like in our
vegetarian diet, some people make many things which we call fish, pork, or dried beef, but
actually they are all vegetarian. They can even make it look like a chicken or a fish, just to be
artistic, or maybe to satisfy their longing for fish and meat.
When you go out to the health food store, you see a lot of vegetarian ham and sausages and
pate and all that. Normally we would say, ‘Okay, fetch me a vegetarian ham,’ but sometimes
we are lazy and we say, ‘Fetch me the ham.’ Yes, so maybe here is a language problem. I do
not believe Jesus ate fish. According to the treasury that was written during the time the
Master was alive, it states that He belonged to the Essene lineage, and the Essene lineage
was completely vegetarian.
Q. Why don’t we feel the same compassion for the vegetable? In fact, why do we have to kill for
eating?
M. Okay, so we’ll get initiation and die together! Eat nothing out of compassion.
It is okay to be a vegetarian, to eat vegetables. Do you remember in the bible? In the Old
Testament, on the first page, God said, ‘I made all the fruits and vegetables in the field and
they shall be your food.’ We can’t refuse God’s gift, can we? So we take them. The legumes,
when you cut them, they will grow more branches. That’s the difference. If you don’t cut them,
sometimes they die, and they don’t grow! It is out of compassion to cut them and make them
grow more abundantly. That’s their way of survival. So the legumes, the vegetables, represent
life. When you cut the head or the shoulder of a pig, it dies. It doesn’t grow one more pig or
three more pigs. So that represents death. We eat life to get life. Don’t worry. We can eat
vegetables. [Applause]
Oh, but you are so compassionate! I only ask you to leave the beefsteak and you even want
to leave the carrots. Fantastic! If only everyone was like that, the world would have no more
war.
Enlightenment is the only ideal
Q. Don’t You think that many religions are sometimes responsible for wars? Why is it so?
M. It’s not the religions that are responsible, but we are responsible. We make discrimination
between religions. We force people into our belief by violence, and that was never the
intention of the founder of any religion. Even when Jesus was alive, He never forced people to
believe Him. He said, ‘Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar.’ And even when people crucified
Him, He didn’t protest. He wanted to show the disciples the way of surrender, the way of
forgiveness, and the way of love. But if nowadays the Christian, the so-called Christian
people, in the name of God, fight with each other, it is not the fault of the Christian religion.
[Applause]
Q. How do You visualize an ideal society in spiritual harmony? What can the East give to the
West from the spiritual standpoint today?
M. The ideal society is a society in which everyone is enlightened, because ‘Seek you first the
kingdom of God, and all the things shall be added unto you.’ All virtues, beauty, goodness and
wisdom lie within us. That’s what we call the kingdom of God, and if we cannot find it, we will
be forever unhappy. Then our unhappiness will breed all kinds of undesirable effects. So
enlightenment is the only ideal.
Q. What do You think about AIDS? Is it man’s fault?
M. Yes, of course, because we do not abide by the laws of nature and the ten commandments,
for example. Eating flesh is also a cause of all kinds of diseases and wars in this world. I risk
offending you by telling you this, but I have to tell the truth. According to the research,
Americans are the highest beefeaters in the world and they have the highest rate of cancer.
All the countries like China, or Russia before, have the lowest rate because they don’t have
much meat. And also other kinds of diseases stem from many poisonous substances in a
meat-eating diet.
All the diseases are a warning to us that we should go back to our virtues. As long as we
forget this, we will stumble across a variety of diseases in different period of time. If we
succeed in curing one disease, God will create another. I don’t mean God; it is the Lord of
karma, the god of karma. It is the law of nature, of cause and retribution. For example in the
bible, it is said, ‘Meat for the belly, and the belly for the meat, and God shall destroy both of
them.’
Q. In Your book, You mention the great and the small enlightenment. What is the difference?
M. The difference is that one is small and the other is great. [Applause]
Q. Is there any relationship between kundalini and enlightenment?
M. Kundalini is a force that is curled at the bottom of our spine. When it has awakened, it gives
us a lot of power – the power of distant seeing and hearing, and all kinds of magical powers.
But when we are enlightened, every power is awakened, including the kundalini, without much
painful experience. Enlightenment through the Light and Sound from heaven is the best. It’s
all inclusive.
Take care of the Buddha nature inside
Q. Why are there so many different religions in this world if we are all from the same source?
These differences cause so much suffering.
M. There is only one religion. If you take time to study all the scriptures, almost most of them say
the same thing, which is to preach the one Truth that we have to reach, and to live a virtuous
life while we are in physical existence. That’s the main motive of any religion: To find heaven
while we are on earth. All other things are just different ingredients for the main meal,
according to the different tastes of different nations, at different period of time in history.
Q. Can we really go past suffering?
M. We can, when we are in samadhi. Also, we can with wisdom. Maybe the suffering is still there,
but for us the intensity is much less. Some of our disciples, when they know they have an
illness which requires correction by surgery, they just say, ‘Okay. Fine! I’ll just let the doctor
take care of my body while I go to heaven, sightseeing for a while and I’ll come back later.’ So
no problem.
Q. How can we give spirituality and teach the vegetarian diet to children in Buddhistic simplicity?
M. First, we must set an example. And then the children will see how easy it is, and how much
better we have become: A better temper, more loving, more patient and more understanding.
Then the children will follow us. Sometimes the children will ask for themselves without us
having to explain anything. Most of the time it’s like that because we don’t force the children to
believe. The children are very, very pure and intelligent and they can pick it up very fast.
Therefore, whatever they learn is mostly from their parents and from the environment. So we
set the example first.
Q. If man is greater than an angel because he possesses both the nature of the visible and
invisible, then is man greater than God – God that is only invisible?
M. No, God is also visible, because you are God. You house God; God is inside you. So you are
both visible and invisible, that’s God. It’s God who sits next to you.
Q. After being enlightened, can we see our past lives?
M. Yes, we can, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t want to, because it’s not always pleasant! Also, in the
future there lie so many things to discover. Heaven offers so much. Therefore, we don’t want
to look at the things of the past. But we can. In the second level of existence, there exists a
library where all the lives are written inside. You can go and check it when you reach there.
Q. Aren’t killing and suicide things from hell?
M. Yes, from past karma that the person is too weak to resist.
Q. How can we again find our awareness of heaven that we’ve lost?
M. With the Quan Yin method. Come for initiation and I’ll tell you how. It is very fast.
Q. I have a Quan Yin statue that has been in our family for a long time. As we were a Catholic
family, I did not know how to pray and take care of the Quan Yin. The only thing I know is that
Quan Yin has been protecting our family. Could You please tell me: Is Your Quan Yin method
related to this Quan Yin statue?
M. No, it doesn’t relate to any statue. But the Quan Yin Bodhisattva practiced this method, when
the saint was alive, to get enlightenment. And you don’t need to take care of a statue; take
care of your own self. Why do you take care of a statue and forget the Buddha inside? The
Buddha inside needs to be taken care of but the statue doesn’t. A statue is only from marble
or from wood. It is due to the handicraft of man that the statue came into existence. Dust it
when it is dusty, that’s all there is to take care of.
Search for the eternal heaven
Q. Does one have immediate enlightenment in a few days or in one life with Your meditation?
What do You think about what Buddha taught us about rushing for everything, including
enlightenment? Is this dangerous because it might become a vanity and then blind us?
M. That happens when you have no Master. If you don’t rush for enlightenment now, when will
you? You are already forty, fifty or sixty years old, when will you rush for enlightenment? The
Buddha rushed for enlightenment before He reached thirty even. We are already too late, so
rush fast!
There are two kinds of enlightenments in Buddhism that are clearly stated. One is called
‘sudden enlightenment.’ If you are familiar with Zen, you know this. And the other is ‘gradual
enlightenment.’ You’re welcome to choose one of the two. We offer the sudden
enlightenment. If you don’t like it, you can go to gradual enlightenment elsewhere. [Applause]
Q. Do You remember Your last life and how was it?
M. I don’t have time to take care of this life with all my world tours and thousands and thousands
of disciples. I don’t even have time to eat and sleep sometimes because of you people, and
you still ask me to look for a past life. [Master laughs.]
There is no need for a past life. I’ve told you already, if you want to, you can go to the second
world library and look. But according to my disciples, they say they have seen a lot of my past
lives. There are many tapes in which they talk about it. If you want to know, you can get some
tapes outside. The price is like the cost of an empty tape with no profit. If you don’t have any
money, then you can get them for free also.
Q. Isn’t animal suffering necessary for their own evolution?
M. Yes, they must pay for their past karma because they owe us something. But if we enter into
the give-and-take all the time, then we’ll never get out of it. That’s why we forgive. We don’t
eat them and we cut asunder the circle, and we are liberated.
Q. Can we enter in spiritual contact with a dead person?
M. That is very easy. You don’t have to be spiritual to do that. Many witches can do it. It has
nothing to do with the spiritual. But sometimes when we practice spiritual enlightenment, we
will see our deceased beloved ones in our vision. They come and tell us that they are very
grateful that because of our initiation they have become liberated. The initiation guarantees at
least five generations of your family will be liberated – liberated from suffering, not to be
become a Buddha. If you practice, you can become a Buddha, but they, because of your
merit, will be liberated. Sometimes they come back just to say that they are very fine and to
thank us for giving them this opportunity. Our disciples have experienced this.
Q. Why does suffering bring us close to God and force us to find God inside, and not in religion?
M. It’s because when we realize that the world, the material existence, is not reliable, then we will
find that money, possession, and position cannot afford us protection. Then we’ll turn to look
for something more eternal, more strong, and more powerful. That’s why we want to find God.
Q. Is it true that we always have an angel who is helping us?
M. Not all of us – the virtuous ones, yes.
Q. Do we have a work to do here on earth?
M. Yes, to bless the world with our presence. And we can do so more if we are connected with
the blessing power of God which is within us. And then we can truly fulfill our purpose of being
here. Otherwise, we keep coming back and back again until we know what we should do.
That’s why we keep reincarnating. Once we fulfill the purpose of blessing this world with
God’s power, then we are finished! That’s when we have graduated. [Applause]
No more time. Thank you very much. Thank you for your love. I feel your love so much. I feel
that European people are truly very classical and very noble. And all your questions are very,
very high level, and that has pleased me so much. Thank you.
REDISCOVER THE TRUTH, GOODNESS, AND BEAUTY 18
I have not returned to France for almost twenty years. I studied French here for one year, but there
has been little chance for me to practice it since long ago. Setting foot in Paris, I can taste the
wonder and the beauty of this metropolis again, especially the evenings of Paris. I strolled around
the city at dusk, and enjoyed a cup of coffee with friends. I had almost forgotten the fascinating
lifestyle of Paris, the cordiality of the people, the magnificent historical relics, and the prosperous
culture. In some aspects, Paris has not changed much. She is still as fascinating, beautiful, and
elegant as before. She is always so artistic and romantic, representing the typical style of French
living.
Everyone loves Truth, virtue, and beauty
We all love Truth, virtue, and beauty. This explains why women wear make-up and men put on
smart clothing, people paint and furnish both the interior and exterior of their homes, and build
beautiful houses, parks, gardens, fountains, and the Eiffel Tower. All sorts of artworks were also
created for this reason. We do all this to express our admiration for beauty. Even children
demonstrate their tendency to this quality. They love showing their new dresses to others; they can
easily forgive others, which is a demonstration of virtue. Children never lie because they are closer
to Truth, virtue, and beauty, which are divine qualities.
We show that we love Truth, virtue, and beauty because these qualities are inherent within us, but
we have been contaminated by the environment as we grew up. It seems that our nature, this
original nature, has long been forgotten by us. We fight for existence every day and collect useless
information from society, so we are no longer as happy as when we were children. In childhood, we
were so pure and innocent and we had more Truth, virtue, and beauty than we could express. We
18. Public lecture, Mutuality Palace, Paris, France, April 24, 1993 (Originally in French).
can never be satisfied in our present situation, because the memory that comes with us from the
original source is much more magnificent than anything we see in this material world.
Most people are seeking endlessly for something, but they do not know what. We hope to find, in
this material world, something that could lead us close to our original source, the kingdom of God;
however, the kingdom of God is within us. If we can find our Truth, virtue, and beauty again, then
the material world will become more meaningful to us and the world will be more beautiful. We can
find the Truth in this illusionary world because we can always track down the real thing by following
its shadow. Then we’ll have no more discrimination. Even the longing for the kingdom of God will
vanish because we can see the kingdom of God here and now.
Our fellow practitioners who were initiated and are now practicing the Quan Yin method are very
happy. They also share their happiness with people around them, as they know how to accept and
appreciate the original face of life, and improve it by the knowledge acquired through meditation.
Their every action reflects their underlying Truth, virtue, and beauty. These qualities are extremely
abundant and account for our existence, but we can never find sufficient Truth, virtue and beauty
from the material world. So we will never be satisfied with this life on earth.
The real world is the source of happiness
There is nothing wrong with material life. However, if we indulge too much in the material aspect,
we are only chasing after the shadow and forgetting the real object in the end. Similarly, you may
have a photograph of your fiancée, and no matter how beautiful the picture is, you shouldn’t get
attached to the photo and forget the real person. Undoubtedly, this photo is helpful to you when
you are apart; however, when your fiancée is right in front of you, she is the source of your
happiness. You can only be fully content when you are with the real person. Such is the case with
our original nature. If you can discover and appreciate it, it is absolutely incomparable. We may
keep the photo or even take some more, but no matter how well the photograph was taken, only
the fiancée in person could satisfy us. An enlightened person can still enjoy this world in the same
way a husband appreciates the photo of his wife. However, the beauty and the real bliss come
from the original person and not from the photo, which is most important. Similarly, worldly
pleasures are only the copy of the real world. Only the real world can bring us real, eternal
happiness.
Before we were born, we were given a precise method to find our real life. 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. This path is so real and distinct when we observe it with our internal eye of
the soul, but we can’t see or feel it with our physical eyes. It will automatically manifest when we
are sincerely seeking it. Nonetheless, it is better to have the assistance of an experienced guide
because most people have forgotten the path. Even if we can remember, the way Home is so long
and risky that we need a guide to lead our way. This guide has walked this path before, and he
knows all the ways between this world and the superior world.
Thanks to the grace of God, I have found this way back Home. I offer this discovery to all who wish
to remember, and I offer to help them retrieve this long lost blessing of bliss. Through initiation, we
can taste heaven again, right here and right now. Initiation is the transmission of a power that
shakes and wakes up our real person, and brings us Home. We’ll be totally renewed after initiation.
We’ll be full of life and vitality. All the greed and desire will leave us. We will still be living an
ordinary life, but we won’t be frustrated anymore when we fail to realize our goal, or be upset when
we can’t get something we crave in this world. These longings can only be minimized after we have
found the true source.
An enlightened Master is the best guide
After initiation, you will get from God the intense internal Light that shines all along the path back to
our original source. A constant melody from heaven provides us with all we should know on our
way Home. The enlightened Master, the experienced guide, will stay forever by our side, protecting
and helping us to complete this extraordinary journey until we have passed through all the worlds
en route. This guide will do His very best in anything that comforts and benefits us. We shall say
farewell forever to distress and to lonely feelings, even when we are still in this world.
The guide understands that we have been away from Home for so long that we are both exhausted
and have no courage. For this reason, He gives us all possible help while we are on earth, as if we
are in heaven. This guide knows the way well. Our life on earth would be extremely tiring without
Him. Without the help of such a true friend, who accompanies us through the ups and downs of life
and supports us in facing all the obstacles and traps, it is very difficult to reach our destination, the
eternal heaven.
The internal Light and Sound are vital in achieving eternal life
To achieve eternal life, we depend on the internal Light and Sound. Without them, there will be no
happiness, either on earth or in heaven, and we can never reach a state of perfection, in spite of
however hard we try to become a virtuous or elegant person. These qualities belong only to the
interior world. All the words of so-called beauty, Truth, and virtue manifested in this material world
are inferior duplicates.
My dear friends, I sincerely welcome you to join the group heading for Home. There are absolutely
no fees or obligations. Even the keeping of the five precepts and vegetarian diet is not compulsory.
However, if we only have intelligence and technology, but no sincere compassion for other beings,
then our life is not complete. Our inner self would feel isolated and feel an unspeakable sorrow.
This is simply logical. If we wish to bring heaven into this world, we must live in the same way as
the beings there. That is to say, live in harmony and respect the freedom and right of existence of
all lives. We ourselves created the karmic cycle, and this is the cause of wars and of different
opinions. We have suffered enough from the conflict between individuals and groups. The five
precepts and the vegetarian diet are not compulsory rules but are aspects of an upright and noble
lifestyle, and the demeanor of a great gentleman. The love of a kind, noble, and virtuous person
should embrace all living beings. Being the most intelligent of all living beings on earth, we ought to
implement our true love and sincerity into actions to bring peace to the world. We should widely
spread our love and care, and protect all the beings living on earth.
Q. What are we to do with our psychological problems, and what can we do after enlightenment?
M. Psychological problems are the result of the numerous pressures from our society: Work
problems, family problems, and personal problems, et cetera. Sometimes these pressures are
too much for our physical and mental strength, and this is why we encounter psychological
problems. But at the source of these problems is our thirst for a spiritual life. This is why, if we
are enlightened, all these problems will disappear.
And do not worry that you don’t have anything to do once you are enlightened. Look at us, we
have so much work to do and there is never enough time because many people in the world
ask for our help, and there are many things to do. Plus, after enlightenment we will be able to
solve our problems in a more efficient way, no matter what kind of work we are in. This is why
we should be enlightened.
Q. Could You speak of the different inner levels?
M. I have spoken specifically on this subject at the United Nations. I think that we distributed a
copy of it, so take it home with you and take your time in reading it.
Q. What exactly is immediate enlightenment? How can we achieve it?
M. Immediate enlightenment is possible because we already possess the enlightenment inside of

us. It is like a diamond that is already a diamond, we only need to clean it a little and we will
have it. So we can have immediate enlightenment because it is already here. It is only
because you have forgotten where it is, but we know where it is. We will show you where it is
and you will find it immediately.
Q. What is meant by abstaining from all sexual misconduct?
M. It means that if you already have one wife, it is enough, or if you have a lover, a man or a
woman, it is enough. [Laughter] If you have too many men or women, you will have problems
and won’t be able to find your inner greatness. So if before initiation, you have a partner and
both are happy, then do not worry, and don’t go looking for someone else. [Laughter]
Our original nature is Light
Q. How can we know that we are enlightened? What are the manifestations?
M. It isn’t difficult. Enlightenment means with Light. If we are enlightened, we must see the inner
Light but not with our physical eyes. When you are enlightened, you will see immediately the
inner bright Light, and this is the sign of enlightenment. It works instantly because our nature
is the Light from heaven. We are not our physical bodies. They are only clothes that we can
remove and put back on whenever we want, if we know how to do it. I will show how to do it
during initiation.
Q. Is suffering absolutely necessary for the soul to progress?
M. No, it isn’t always necessary. It depends. Some people have almost never experienced the
world’s suffering, but they still have a thirst for God. These people have a lot of goodness,
virtues and grace. It is maybe influenced by their past lives.
Q. Why do animals suffer?
M. Animals suffer like us. We are not animal, but we sometimes suffer. It is the cycle of birth,
illness, and suffering. If we leave this cycle, we will never experience suffering again. And
animals must wait a little longer until they become human beings and can take the road that
will lead them Home.
Q. What are the dangers one might encounter on the path without an experienced and living
enlightened guide?
M. There are several dangers we may encounter if we do not have a guide to help us. If we do
not know the traps on the road ahead, we can sometimes be cheated, and the road Home is
very long and steep. This is why we need an experienced guide. The dangers include mental
disturbances, physical suffering, and being possessed by other spirits.
Q. Can we meditate anywhere, at anytime?
M. Yes, but not for all kinds of meditation. There is a meditation you can do in public, and another
that is better to do in private. We will teach you everything during initiation.
Q. What do You think about meaness? And what can we do against it?
M. There aren’t really bad people. There are only people lacking security, wisdom, and the
knowledge necessary for living in a pleasant way for themselves and everyone else. Maybe
they have many inner problems and no confidence. They are more pitiable and need more of
society’s love. This is what I think.
Q. When a person reaches enlightenment and meets a guide in a dream who shows him the
heavenly kingdom, what can we do to see him again?
M. You must practice more the meditation taught by your master and then you can see him again
and again, not only in dreams, but also in reality; in the internal vision, but also externally, just
like the way that I see you now, very real.
Q. Could we call the guide to help us in resolving some important problems?
M. Yes, anytime, but it works more efficiently if we take the initiation with a Master because we
can have a direct line of contact.
Q. How many Masters are there today?
M. I don’t know. One, two, three, four at the most. Not many, right? How many Masters do you
want to have? Am I not enough? I am very pretty. [Laughter and applause.] One Master is
enough for everyone.
Christ has always been within us
Q. What can You tell us about the return of Christ?
M. Christ is always within us. No need to wait for Him to come from heaven, He is always here,
inside of us. [Applause] But if you want to see Christ in His form, it is also possible with
initiation and the daily practice of meditation. You can even see Christ during initiation. Some
of our fellow disciples have seen Christ, Buddha, and other ancient Masters. So can you.
Q. Isn’t it too late for enlightenment and redemption of our inner faults?
M. No, it isn’t your fault. If no one can show you the path, you will not know how to find your life.
Isn’t it so? Now, if you do not find it, it is your fault, but before today, no.
Q. Can meditation decrease the need for sleep?
M. Yes, meditation decreases many of the negative aspects that we get from society and outside
associations.
Q. Do You think that enlightenment through meditation could protect us from illnesses?
M. In some cases. But we want enlightenment because we want to find our inner greatness and
our true life, and not only to get good health. Health belongs to the physical life. We can see
doctors and take drugs. We must come for God and God only. It is better, more sincere, and
we get better results.
Q. Can we reach enlightenment by repeating ‘Namo Renge Kyo’ of Japanese Buddhism without
receiving initiation from an enlightened being?
M. If, when you recite this, you see Light and hear heavenly Sound and music, you can say that it
works; if not, you need to be initiated.
Q. Are the five precepts mandatory after initiation?
M. It is better for you and everyone else, for your conscience, the peace on earth, for your
wisdom, and your nobility, to keep the five precepts.
Q. What should we think about when we meditate?
M. Nothing. We already think too much all the time, so why think again during meditation?
[Applause and laughter.] But there is a way to calm our thoughts and our minds that I will
teach during initiation. We need time to sit down together and talk for a while. During the real
initiation, we won’t be talking, including me, and in this silence, you will find your original
nature.
Q. Can we still take care of our families after we get enlightened?
M. But of course! What do you want to do with them? Throw them away? [Laughter] My so-called
disciples are normal people. They have families, jobs, studies, whatever, some occupation.
They still lead a normal life but they know inside their consciousness another invisible life, an
inner paradise. We see it and hear the teachings from heaven, and we become more
intelligent, wise, and compassionate.
Q. Is it fair to receive sickness in exchange for all of the good we have done on earth? Does
goodness only go in one direction?
M. I think not. It isn’t necessary to pay for goodness with sickness. That is not the law of the
universe. [Master laughs.] God is very merciful. Sickness comes from the fact that we
misunderstand the laws of nature.
Q. Who is Your spiritual guide: Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, or someone else?
M. All of them, and some others from heaven, and myself. [Applause] I am also my own Master,
and you are, as well, though you do not know it at this time.
Quan Yin method is compatible with all religions
Q. Is Your teaching compatible with Islam?
M. Yes, why not? Islam teaches people to be good guests on earth and that it is necessary to
find heaven while we are alive. I also offer the same thing. I tell you to respect the five
precepts, which give us nobility, wisdom, and peace on earth. I also offer you the path by
which to find God immediately. Therefore, our path is compatible with all of the good religions.
Q. Can You give enlightenment to everyone? Are You capable of altering the profound nature of
someone?
M. Everyone has the right to be enlightened but it is your choice to wish for it or not. After having
found our true enlightened nature, our greatness, and our wisdom, we will change ourselves.
For myself, I do not change people. It is they who change because their true nature is
exceptional; it is their nobility and their wisdom. And he who finds his true nature will rid
himself of all negative habits.
Q. What should one do to help someone who is possessed?
M. That is not difficult. You should tell him that God is in all of us, that Buddha is in all of us. We
need to believe in our greatness, in our internal wisdom, and not in the negative forces that
are only illusion. It is necessary to have a strong faith, and afterward everything will be better.
Q. How should we get rid of constant thoughts which bother us during our meditation?
M. We practice, and with time we forget all of our negative habits. We need to take the time to
practice our meditation. If that does not work, you can try our method. [Master laughs.]
Q. If I need to kill a person in order to save a thousand other people, have I committed a sin?
M. Yes, even then. But when we do something so that many people benefit, then it is necessary
to make the sacrifice. But it is better to be enlightened and afterward you will know whether it
is necessary to kill or not, because maybe that is part of the universal plan. It is necessary to
know what it is that one is doing.
Q. Does hell exist?
M. Yes, it exists, but mainly for people who are very disturbed in their minds. People who are
virtuous and good never experienced hell. For those who are initiated, never. Hell is a great
hospital to help people whose spirits and minds are sick. It is similar to our hospitals on earth
where illnesses are cured.
Q. Is there benefit in eliminating negative tendencies through hypnosis?
M. There are cases where that works for a bit of time but it isn’t enough to eliminate all the
negative energy, because we collect negative energy from a long time in our past, from many
lifetimes in our past. Enlightenment is necessary because the Light inside is very strong, very
brilliant, sometimes like a thousand suns, and it can enlighten our past, present, and future
lives. That is how we truly become purified.
Q. Does meditation imply the practice of prayer or does it refer simply to mental concentration?
M. We can do everything in the beginning, but afterward we don’t have to do so much. We will
immediately connect with God, and communicate directly with God and with paradise. We do
not need to pray because we are already in paradise.
Q. How do You know that You are a Master?
M. Because I looked and I found. [Applause]
Q. You speak of virtue. What is virtue for You?
M. True virtue includes all goodness that we can know in our lives, plus more – the highest
qualities of heaven. If we possess this true virtue, we are not even consciously aware that we
possess virtue, and yet at the same time we shine out this internal virtue to everyone around
us, and everyone around us knows but we do not. It is like the sun that shines on everyone
but the sun does not know that it, itself, is great. That is the true virtue. [Applause]
Q. What do You think of the practice of yoga and all similar disciplines? Can we achieve a certain
state of enlightenment through the practice of yoga?
M. That depends on the yoga you choose. If that yoga practice helps you to obtain internal
enlightenment and to see a great and intense Light inside, that is a good yoga. If not, you
need to keep searching for another yoga.
Q. When we hear a voice speak to us inside, is that our spiritual guide who is speaking to us and
giving us guidance?
M. That is not always the case. It depends on your guide and what he is telling you. If you have a
true, reliable guide who can be here, and at the same time, in heaven, and sometimes this
guide talks to you, that is the best. You need to know a method by which to verify if that is the
true path or a negative path. That is why an initiation with an experienced guide is necessary
in this regard.
Q. Are we reborn after death? And if that is true, how?
M. Well, I don’t know yet. I am not dead. [Laughter] After death, we have many choices. We
might reincarnate like other human beings and continue to study until we have come to
awareness of our internal heaven. If we are enlightened when we are alive, then we will go
straight to heaven and will stay there forever in eternal bliss. If we have ignored the laws of
nature in this life, acted against them, and do not know God, and in opposition, we react
against the laws of the universe, we will temporarily stay in the so-called ‘hell,’ according to
what we did on earth.
Q. What is man’s purpose on earth?
M. Because God wanted to bless the earth through us, we came down to be a link between
heaven and earth. But because we have been exhausted and tired for so long, we have
forgotten our great mission. This is why a Master comes once in a while to remind us of our
true nature, and this is why we are here. [Applause]
Enlightened Masters come to earth at any time and in any generation
Q. How can You be Catholic and Buddhist at the same time when God demanded that we only
listen to Jesus and to His church?
M. Buddha is also a son of God. Jesus and other Masters came down because God has many
children and there are numerous children on earth that need God’s help. So Hes sends
sometimes one or two of Hiers children for us. Buddha was one of them. We should not
discriminate between Masters. If we do, we make wars and there have been already so many
religious wars. [Applause] We live and let live. We believe in God and let others believe in
their own.
Q. I feel ready to receive enlightenment. I’m very receptive. Would it be possible to meet with
You?
M. Later, you can register. [Master said to the MC.] You can answer.
MC. Yes, there is an initiation session that follows the lecture. If you are interested, you can consult
the information desk outside. Master, of course, will be here.
M. With pleasure! We say in French, ‘Avec plaisir.’ [Applause]
Q. I have been a vegetarian for a year, but I don’t have time to meditate because of my studies.
What should I do?
M. We have plenty of time, but you do not know it. You can meditate on the bus, on the train, on
the airplane, in a park, at work during a break, ten minutes here, twenty there, fifteen minutes
now, fifteen later. Get up earlier in the morning and go to bed a little later. Do not watch too
much television or read too many magazines and newspapers. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. About hell, do You really think that it is only for people with mental illness? I am quite
surprised to hear this.
M. Hell is a great hospital to help people whose spirits and minds are sick. It is similar to our
hospitals on earth where illnesses are cured.
Q. What slight trouble may we experience during initiation?
M. Nothing, no complications, only harmony, happiness, and a feeling of elevation during

initiation.
Q. How do You define karma?
M. There are two kinds of karmas, one bad and one good, but both imply attachment for you on
earth. After initiation, the karma from past lives will be erased, but the Master does not touch
the karma for this life. If so, you would die immediately. We must stay here for a while to bless
the world and to help our friends, and afterwards, we can go to heaven and never return, if
this is our wish. Karma is an invisible force, very fair and strong. And what we have created
will come back to us. This is the law of cause and effect.
Q. Does God exist outside of man?
M. Yes, God exists inside and outside of us. God is everywhere. We cannot say that Hes is
outside or up there. Hes is everywhere. This is why we should not do bad things, because
Hes knows everything. [Laughter]
Q. You speak of God, but I thought that God did not exist in Buddhism.
M. We still speak of God, if not, where would Buddha have come from? He didn’t say God
because people’s conceptions of God at that time weren’t very accurate. The Hindus would
sometimes put a stone on a table anywhere, bow to it, and pray with all their hearts and call it
‘God.’ Naturally Buddha told them, ‘Such a God doesn’t exist!’ [Master laughs.] People’s mind-
set was different, so Masters had to use different methods to break the superstitions that
ignorant people believed in. But in some places, Buddha spoke of God, and He said
something to this effect, ‘I do not say that God exists or does not exist. I say that there is one
thing from which everything comes and returns to.’ What is this thing? It is God, no? It is the
same thing. [Applause]
Use our wisdom to judge the authenticity of an enlightened Master
Q. Jesus said somewhere in the bible that there will be a time of false prophets and that you
have to be vigilant. What do You think about it?
M. Yes, a false master is one who teaches us bad things that go against the teachings of the
bible, of Buddhism, of Islam, et cetera. Someone who entices us to steal, or who lets us do
everything we like, who doesn’t ask us to be virtuous and peaceful. But a Master who reminds
us of our inner virtues, who praises the glory of heaven and God, and at the same time brings
us back Home, is a true living Master. You must verify with your intellect, your virtues, and
your wisdom. It is not good just to repeat everything or criticize someone who is good to you.
Q. Do You think that AIDS can be cured by enlightenment?
M. I cannot guarantee it. When I was searching for God, I didn’t make any material demands, so I
do not know if it works or not. I encourage everyone to only seek the kingdom of God and
everything will be fine. We should not come for enlightenment just to cure our physical body,
because this is very material and not very noble. Forgive me for being so honest with you, but
I must. [Applause]
Q. How can we communicate with our inner Master?
M. Through initiation and the daily practice of meditation.
Q. I just started to meditate. I hear the inner Sound and see the dot of Light, but I do not feel a
sense of eternity or love. Could You tell me what I should do?
M. It is because you have not reached a very high level. Keep practicing and soon you will know
more. If you reach the first level, you will know the magical powers and will see inner
sceneries that are from a lower paradise. If you reach at least the second level, at that time,
you will feel more strongly the eternal life. So keep practicing. Maybe your master doesn’t
have enough power. You can look for another if you are not satisfied with him.
Q. My body always wavers when I am meditating. I also feel a vibrating current. Would You
please explain this phenomenon?
M. It’s the same. You will confuse the audience because you didn’t mention which meditation
method you are practicing. If you have a master, you may consult him. It is very simple and
more convenient.
Nonetheless, I am happy to give you a little advice. Do not direct your attention to your bodily
feelings before, during, and after the meditation. Concentrate only on the method instructed
by your master. It’s that simple.
Q. Since I am a student in medical school, I have to perform anatomy on animals occasionally.

May I also get initiation?
M. You are getting me into trouble. If I say yes, there would be a problem because it is against
the precepts. If I say no, I would feel sorry for you. How about I simply close my eyes and
allow you to fill in the initiation enrollment form? I observe nothing with my eyes closed!
[Laughter]
This is not really your fault. You don’t want to be violent. It is only the necessity of your
profession. You don’t understand this before the initiation. It would be better later when you
are graduated from school. This is not really serious, but of course, you could incur some
karma. When you suffer from mysterious illnesses now and then, you should know why.
Q. May an enlightened Master get married?
M. Yes, of course. Why not? Are you going to propose to me? That depends on whether I have
the time or not. If you are an enlightened Master, you don’t have much time for your family.
Therefore, many enlightened Masters are single because they couldn’t spare the time. When I
was conducting my worldwide lecture tour, I couldn’t even find the time to sleep and eat.
Sometimes we worked all night long. Besides the normal work, there are many matters and
people that need your attention. You have to live for the world. Your life, your privacy, your
time, and your health all belong to the general people. You almost have no private time at all. I
would consider it, if you really volunteer but I am promising nothing! [Laughter]
FOR A HAPPY LIFE, GO IN MY DIRECTION 19

M. Yes, I was once in Austria for a while.
J. Really?
M. Yes, but only briefly – on vacation.
J. And where do You consider Your main residence now? In what country do You mainly reside?
M. In the past years, in Formosa.
J. My question is, what is Your path now that You have become practically a spiritual center?
Was the path an easy one? What brought You to it?
M. It was not easy. Not at all easy! But we need not always do the easy things. We can also try to
experience the difficult path to have an adventure.
Search for Truth is deep-seated in man
J. Did You have some significant experience after which You decided to follow the spiritual path,
or was it always clear?
M. Even as a child, I had this tendency to search for the Truth. I think that is the way most of us
are. And when we grow up, then maybe some of us continue with the childhood tendency,
and some of us are too successful in other areas in life, in our profession or in science, and
we forget the dreams and ideals of our childhood. But some people still retain that deep
impression to look for God when they are adults. They do not forget it. I belonged to the latter
group.
J. Wasn’t it somehow remarkable for You, as I have heard, to become a nun during Your
marriage to a German man? Or did it happen with Your husband’s consent?
19. Interview with journalist at the Health Center, Vienna, Austria, April 27, 1993 (Originally in German).
M. With his consent. It was no problem. Yes, it was a problem. It was not easy to separate from a
dear home and a beloved person with whom one wished to go through one’s life. It was not
easy.
J. Did You have to dissolve the marriage, or wasn’t it possible?
M. Yes, my husband was very understanding, and we went to the authorities and separated.
J. But You still remained in contact, or did You lose touch completely?
M. Yes, for a long time, six or seven years, we remained in contact by letter. And also, once my
husband looked for me in India, and we met in the Himalayas on my birthday. I was buying
fruit on the street, and suddenly someone came up from behind, and put their hands over my
eyes, and said, ‘Happy Birthday!’ I was very upset at this lack of respect, and almost started to
scold. But then I turned around and there he was – my husband, in the Himalayas!
J. But with the work, he did not help? You had to go Your way, and he had to go his?
M. Yes, he did not want to go with me, although we considered it. But we shouldn’t bind
ourselves forever. He gets a lot of joy out of his scientific work. He is very interested in his
scientific research. That’s why it’s no problem. Six years later, he remarried. Yes, he waited
six years. That’s a long time for a man, and also for a German man. I was very touched!
But now I am away from that, and I cannot take on the burden of thoughts of a family
anymore, and I became more and more involved in spiritual activities. Many people here
come to me and take a lot of energy. And I thought to myself, if I went back to my husband, it
would not be good for him. I would not be able, ever again, to be a very dedicated wife,
whether I wanted to or not. I have nothing against marriage and a family life, but I am always
away from home and have a lot of other activities. And I know that if I went back, it would not
be good for my husband. I am too busy. Too many people come, and his house would be an
open house, and he would not want that. I know my husband; he is very quiet and introverted.
He loves solitude and enjoys calm.
J. You had no children?
M. No. But now he has a child, from what I have heard, maybe even two now.
God wants me to do this work
J. What do You consider to be Your main task in Your work and Your method? What is the
essence of Your work?
M. I have to admit that I do not really enjoy my business, but I can’t go back. It is God’s will. I
would like to be a private person. I do not like it very much to appear before the public.
Normally, I do not talk very much. I would like not to talk much. I like reading books and
painting. I like being alone. You spoke of a task. I don’t know of which task…
J. Of a spiritual one, perhaps of the method. Is it important for You?
M. Well, it is like this. In this world, we all have our responsibilities, right? You’re a journalist, and
inform the public about anything important. You have to communicate to the people. That is
your responsibility given to you by God and you do it willingly because it is a pleasure, and it
helps people. It is perhaps your pleasure and your service to humanity. And as I have no
other talent, God wants me perhaps to share my discoveries about spirituality. Perhaps that is
my task. God wants me to do this work.
J. And I’d be interested in knowing, this method, the Quan Yin method, how does it differ from
others? Is it a form of meditation? They wrote, ‘the fastest way to enlightenment.’ What is the
essence of this meditation or method?
M. Yes, it goes very quickly. Actually, it is not a so-called meditation like many other meditations.
With most meditation techniques, you have to practice a lot and push yourself hard. But when
you do this one, it is automatic. You can just sit down quietly and then it comes. The heavenly
Light and music of paradise come automatically.
J. Can it be called an elementary exercise to sit, turn inward, and to hear the inner Sound, and
let the Light act, to become one with God and with the cosmos? Is that more or less right?
M. Yes, sure! You already know so much. Yes, it is not the first time that you have met with a
meditation entity.
J. Yes, I also meditate, but everyone in their own way. And so my next question is – is there
something special about it? Because there are a lot of people who meditate and get stuck
somewhere along the way, or get caught up in their daily life. Is there some advice You can
give, when all these people say, ‘I also meditate and try to introspect. What can I do to speed
it up, the turning inward, and how can I also carry it over to daily life?’
M. Here with us, you bring it into your daily life, that which we get from God every day; this
blessing comes twenty-four hours a day, and we share it with our brothers and sisters
everywhere. It is automatic. You don’t even need to think about it.
I do not know what kind of meditation you have already encountered, but with us you get the
connection and have it always afterwards. Yes, it is always there, inseparable, but it must
become a daily habit, the meditation, just like we partake of food every day. We say two and
one half hours a day, just like we eat maybe two or three times a day and get calories.
J. That means, how long should we all sit and meditate every day – one hour, two hours?
M. Two and one half hours a day. That is the minimum! On the other hand, we meditate almost
the whole day, even when we sleep. We will show people how it is possible to meditate at
work, and even during sleep, to be one with heaven.
J. Okay, I have no more questions about the method, as I was very thoughtfully given the books.
I have just one more question about how to apply it. There are a lot of people who are
spiritually enlightened or clairvoyant. What about You, are You clairvoyant?
M. Clairvoyant? Do you mean to see in the future?
J. For example. But anything, like Your being able to see more than others do.
M. We see what we want to see, and what is necessary to help the world and to elevate the
disciples. But otherwise, it is not very important to be able to predict if the world will end or
not.
J. What do You think, for example, about the situation that the world is in today – pollution,
catastrophes, wars, and dangers everywhere? How do You, as a spiritual person, see the
whole situation? Is it precarious? What can one person do?
M. All of these things, fighting and everything else, come from our ignorance, our not knowing
about God’s wisdom. They come as advance notices, as warnings, that we should go back,
that we should remember God, that we should find our own greatness. As that is sometimes
difficult to be able to do all alone, you look for a friend, a being who has much experience in
this area, with whom one can learn. That is easier.
I am an ordinary person
J. How do You see Yourself, as a prophet of God, or…?
M. I see myself as a very ordinary person, and besides the normal life that God has given to me,
I have found something that makes my life friendlier, gives more intelligence and love to
recognize the world better. I see myself as a normal person who has discovered special
possibilities. For example, this lovely young woman here, she is also from Austria. She
speaks German, but has also now learned English, and has developed for herself the
capability so that she can better help me today.
J. My last question – this evening during the lecture, I will hear more. What is Your message to
the world that You want to pass on to everyone or the most important thing You want to say?
M. I think that when you go in the direction in which I am already going, then you have a better
life. You know yourself better, you can rediscover your best qualities, your beauty, goodness,
and intelligence, and so life for such people is happier and of a higher quality. You learn to
appreciate things more, in love, in business, in science and so on. You will see more clearly
and act in a better way.
J. Do You have courses or seminars in Austria or in Germany for Your method or work, where
one can learn?
M. Yes, we have contact people in every country possible, who give out a lot of information, and
you can decide if this is for you or not.
J. When we publish this article, probably people will have questions in Germany, as well as in
Austria. Are there books, cassettes, and also real courses, seminars, where this can be
learned?
M. Yes, of course.
J. Then one can inquire?
M. Yes, when someone requests something, I will send it. We only send when someone
requests. We send to many different countries to help people, and everything is free of
charge.
J. How is this financed? I heard that it is all donated. But it’s so much expense: Advertising,
books, and so on.
M. The advertising is done by the disciples, and the rest is from me. For example, travel
expenses and lodging are from me and my closest disciples and colleagues. We work when
we have time, I mean, when we are not meditating or holding seminars. We do artistic crafts. I
paint, and my paintings sell very well everywhere and that gives me a secure financial basis.
No problem.
J. Just one last question.
M. Ask whatever you like.
J. As Your disciples, or in Your circle of friends, or those who donate, can You name any
prominent people or well-known doctors, actors, or someone who is internationally known?
Could You tell us something in that regard, only if it is possible, of course?
M. I don’t know if these people want to be named. But there are many high-ranking politicians
with us, for example, in the United Nations, also many actors and actresses from different
countries. But we have made a promise of confidentiality, unless they give us permission.
Yes, in all countries, there are many, many high government officials, actors, and famous
personalities. We usually do not publish that. It only happens on occasion because we might
have to report in a newspaper about a special event for people to know.
J. Has there been such a special event?
M. I used to help the Au Lac refugees, and then had to deal with political circles. During that time,
they sometimes took photographs with famous people. We had to report that to the disciples,
and that’s why you sometimes see some presidents in the picture. But that’s rare. We are
seldom photographed internationally with famous people.
J. Okay. We will take some pictures tonight. I heard that Your paintings will also be displayed
this evening.
M. Yes, I think so – paintings, creations for interior designs, lamps, and such.
J. You are very creative. Somehow the spirit and the creative are almost one.
M. Yes, we must also earn money in order not to tax the disciples too much. They give what they
want and can, and what they cannot, then they don’t. Most people do not earn very much. But
our work demands great financial resources, and so we must earn money ourselves. It’s
better like that. I want to give unconditionally in the world, and take nothing. The disciples
contribute a little – 1 to 2 percent. Good for them, and we do appreciate it, but no one is
asked. They do it if they are able and want to give. But we make no hints, nor put pressure on
people. Let them give or not. Besides, the world today has such big economic problems, and I
understand that.
J. Okay. I wish You all the best this evening.
RETRIEVE THE LANGUAGE OF GOD 20

There is a language superior to all languages; that’s the language of God. But the longer we are on
earth, the less we remember it because we have not the chance to use it, or no one with whom we
can exchange the knowledge. That’s the reason why we forget our origin, because we forget to
communicate with God in the godly language. Suppose we have a lover who is separated from us
for a long time, and we have not had any contact with him. After some time, love will be only a faint
memory, and we will have little to do with each other. Then we both will be like strangers to each
other. Many love affairs do not last if the partners are both too busy, or even if one of them is too
busy. When we are busy, we forget everything, including the love relationship. Or maybe we do not
completely forget, but the longing is not so intense. The memory of love is not so sharp even
though there is still something that we feel is missing in our life. But because we busy ourselves in
work, there is not much time to nourish the love that we so cherish.
The longing for the true Home, the kingdom of God, is always haunting us. Because we are too
busy with the world outside in our struggling for survival, we have forgotten to communicate with
God in the language of our origin. If we are in the company of our countrymen, we will remember,
and with a little practice, we will again speak the inner language fluently. Otherwise, just like the
languages of the world, the less we practice, the less we can remember. And we stumble on a few
sentences here and there, which is not very useful. It sometimes even does harm because the
broken words do not make sense, or are not spoken in a proper manner and circumstance.
This could create more misunderstanding and trouble. That’s how we encounter obstacles in this
world whenever we’d like to express our inner beauty, Truth, and virtue. Despite our best
intentions, we often find ourselves unable to accomplish all the assignments in this world with
perfection, because the treasure of wisdom inside is not in our full possession. We have it, but we
forget where it is and how to use it. Sometimes, accidentally, we may be able to tap inside the
source of the supreme power, but oftentimes we fail. Thus, all the beauty, Truth, and virtue within
us lie unused.
We are the Master of our House
We are not the helpless and unholy persons that we think we are or find ourselves to be, but truly
we are the supreme power in the whole universe. We are here to bless the world, but we have
forgotten the tools; therefore, we carry out our task poorly. We are the kings, but live our lives as
beggars compared to the greatness that we possess. Brothers and sisters, I am here to present to
you a better way to reach this supreme power; the way that we should, by all rights, bless this
earthly planet; the way of the Masters, because we are the Master of our House, which is the
universe. And the world here is just one of the rooms in which we stay, to decorate and beautify it
20. Public lecture, Congress Hall, Vienna, Austria, April 27, 1993 (Originally in German).
with Truth and virtue from the wisdom sublime, within us – the kingdom of God within. Once we are
again in touch with this inner supreme power, all beauty, Truth, and virtue reveal themselves to us.
Then we will not even have to try to reach these super qualities. They will find their way to us
because, in fact, they are already there existing within ourselves.
We are not only ordinary human beings, we are also super beings, and we can only discover this
through the silent knowledge, while still carrying on with our outer activities. We will dive deep into
the ocean of wisdom and love from which all beauty, Truth, and virtue emerge and the waves of
material life on the surface will no longer disturb our being.
The wisdom eye can clearly see illusions in the magic mirror
We will be protected by our own power throughout this adventure and our journey in this material
region, as well as during our homeward march. And the world here will once again be beautiful and
virtuous because we will see the world with a different eye, the wisdom eye, which will reveal to us
the hidden beauty of nature, the law of love and mercy. We will clearly see, in the brilliant Light of
heaven, that all suffering, falsehood, and unvirtuous sides of this life are just illusions – that these
things never existed in the first place. The kingdom of heaven is truly here and now as always in
eternity.
It is as if we are looking in a magic mirror which distorts our vision, and suddenly we remember to
look back at ourselves and our real surroundings only to discover that all is true and beautiful, and
the images in the mirror are only a poor, distorted reflection made deliberately to amuse the
curious on lookers. So we may enjoy this life as a material projection or reflection of the kingdom of
God, but it’s not all there is to life, so we should remember. If we cling only to this distorted image,
we will suffer and we will blame God for all the sorrow in this world. Enjoy the world as those
curious audiences at the circus, who like the strange reflections in a magic mirror, but at the same
time know that they are in the real world. If we follow the direction pointed to by the Master, we will
find our true self, which is full of wisdom, beauty, and virtue, and all false images will leave us. We
will find ourselves without any ugly qualities, any pain, any discomfort, because these are only the
magic illusions through the mirror.
The true Master can take disciples traveling all the way to the kingdom of God
I am here through the will of God to help you to rediscover your great self, should you have had
enough with the false life in which we suffer in many aspects. My service is free of all binding and
conditions and at no cost, as this is the tradition of the enlightened saints. The Master is someone
among us who, apart from being a normal human, has discovered the supreme power within Him
or Herself, and who uses it to serve the world better, and to travel all the way to the kingdom of
God. Consequently, the Master can take anyone along who wishes to go in the same direction but
who unfortunately has not found the way himself. This is done through cooperation of both sides,
beginning with the so-called initiation and ending with mastership for the graduate.
Everyone will graduate sooner or later, and the Master never leaves a student until he is
graduated; that is, until the disciple reaches the highest degree in the kingdom of God. At the
initiation, our wisdom eye will be opened and we will find ourselves flooded with heavenly Light and
glorious heavenly attributes. Many of our illnesses will be soothed with the heavenly melody. Quan
Yin means contacting the inner Sound, the silent music without instruments, which is a direct
teaching from God. This heavenly Light and music come immediately at the time of initiation, so it’s
called immediate enlightenment. It’s immediate because it’s already within us.
The kingdom of God is within us, but we have forgotten where to look for it. With the touch of the
Master in spirit, our switchboard of the whole powerhouse will be pushed open, and Light and glory
will fill our being. We will be born anew, innocent and beloved by the whole universe. We enter the
gate of heaven; we learn the teachings directly from God. We will converse with ancient Masters
on occasion, and bring all these blessings back to the Earth planet. In short, we leave behind all
burdens that belong to the lower worlds and enter the circle of sainthood, from which there is no
return to the ephemeral level. But if we want to, we can come back to help those who are in need
to find bliss and eternal happiness, but we come back only as Teachers of men and angels.
Step into the region above time and space
In short, we have the choice of both the spiritual world and the earth. That’s the way of the sages
since time immemorial. That’s the life all of us can have if we work for it. But actually there is no
work; it’s more fun and excitement, on the contrary. After initiation you step into the region of
effortless action, above time and space, and above all the laws of this world. Things will just start to
happen in an incredible way, and truly we live in heaven while staying on earth. This is the life that
was intended for us, because we are the children of God. God made us in Heirs own image, so
naturally we are godlike. If we take time again to remember who we are, we will lose nothing, but
only gain in power and grace because this greatness is already within us. We are the image of
God; we have godly qualities.
I have discovered this Truth. Many have gradually discovered this Truth through the Quan Yin
method which allows us to contact the heavenly Light and Sound, the manifestation of God or of
our supreme being. You can also avail yourselves of this method to find your own greatness. It’s so
easy, anyone can do it, and even children can. The five precepts and vegetarian diet are a great
help in this endeavor to speed up our progress, as well as to afford us a noble way of life – the way
of a saint with the superior qualities of boundless true compassion, wisdom, and love. All other
beautiful virtues come from these original qualities.
Q. How do You see Yourself as a spiritual being and what do You think of life after death?
M. This afternoon some journalists asked me the same question. They asked what I thought of
myself – as the highest being, fantastic Master, or something like from a UFO that landed
from some other planet or something? [Laughter] I said, ‘I see myself as a normal human
being, a very normal human being, that happened to discover some super power in myself.’
And I will continue to seek further to discover more on the path of discovering myself. Just like
this wonderful girl, [Master is referring to the translator.] she is Austrian. She speaks German
naturally, but she also has learned and mastered English, and hence can speak a second
language fluently. And that’s a special quality this person has taken up for herself and
developed and advanced further. Me too, I am also a normal person like you. I also eat, I love
beauty, and I love those exceptional types of people – I like people with love, like you. But
otherwise, I happened to discover certain other aspects by a science to discover and
perceive. Therefore, I have a little bit more than those people who have not gone in this
direction. That’s all there is to it. I have something a little bit extra. [Master uses a special word
in German and the audience laughs delightedly.] You can have that, too. [Applause] It’s a
wonderful thing. You, too, can have it, because you already possess it in you.
Q. How can we help the people in Bosnia spiritually?
M. That’s quite merciful on your part, but we must help ourselves first. We still have the time,
chance, opportunity, and the good surroundings in which we can lead our life quietly. Let’s
make use of our chance now, and then perhaps help further. [Applause]
Unveil the heavenly eye to observe the real world
Q. How can we attain goodness and beauty when everything around us is all dirt? By dirt, I mean
progress, factories, automobiles, computers, et cetera.
M. Yes, as I’ve already said, the world is not real. What we see is just a blurred picture of the
Truth; therefore we have to have our real eye opened and then we will see quite differently,
very differently. For instance, if we happened to be amidst dreadful situations, like in war on
the battlefield, then if we have our heavenly eye opened, we could close our physical eyes
and see not any war around us, no person’s death happening. We see only heaven around
us. That’s tough to explain; you must have your own experiences. For instance, you look into
a magical mirror, become fascinated and feel bitterly sorry that your figure has become so bad
in the magical mirror. You then start crying, feeling awfully hurt, and I say, ‘Look over here, at
the other mirror over there! You aren’t that bad. You are like this. Just turn around and look.’
But you don’t turn around and look; you are so enraptured by the magical mirror. I just can’t
help you, not even tell you to make you see you’re so beautiful, that you’re a born enchanting
beauty! [Master laughs and audience applauds.]
Q. What kind of Light was around Buddha and Jesus?
M. Oh! I have it, too! You haven’t seen it yet? [Laughter] Seriously! Yes, have you? Yes, how
big? [Audience: A very big beam of Light; Master laughs.] Very big? Big mass? How much?
Three kilograms? [Master and audience laugh.]
The Light around Buddha or Jesus, we can all have if our meditation practice reaches the
level of Buddha or Jesus. Each one of us can get to that level once we work hard on it,
meditate diligently. That’s why I have this Light, too. Nothing extraordinary about that. It’s
always there. I’m getting used to it, used to carrying it around, and seem to forget that I have
anything like it at all. [Applause]
Q. What is actually happening in mentally sick people? Can the spirit become ‘ill’?
M. The spirit cannot become ill, but if we identify ourselves with the illness, the physical body, or
with disturbances of the mind, then maybe we suffer. But the spirit can never actually become
ill.
Any regarding people, who do have disturbed minds, there are quite many reasons. Maybe
such a person can no longer bear the burden of our society; he is perhaps too weak. Or
maybe he has a strong desire for certain things he cannot possess. There are several
reasons. If one is in love and the loved one doesn’t love in return, et cetera, we would become
a bit sick, too. Quite many reasons. There are people who meditate without a Master; they
sometimes meditate and then are overpowered by inner energy that is too strong for them to
handle. Therefore, it’s sometimes dangerous if one meditates without the guidance of an
experienced Teacher or Master.
Q. Does Master like the following quotation? ‘Man is wise as long as he seeks the Truth. He
becomes a fool the moment he thinks he has found it.’
M. No, it is not like that. It seems to be so. It looks like that when human beings have found the
Truth; they seem to be like children. But not a fool! Not really. [Applause] They appear quite
innocent-looking, like very simple people, quite normal people. There is no sign at all that they
have become great and wise. That’s why people in the Orient say, ‘The wise only appear as a
fool.’ But he isn’t really foolish.
Q. How does the Roman Catholic church see and stand on Your teaching? May one take the
initiation if one is not sure that he can fulfill the precepts?
M. I’ve been in touch with clergymen and there hasn’t been a problem. I’ve been always
reminding people of their inner greatness, of the heavenly kingdom. I never encourage people
to steal or hurt anyone, or break the laws of our State or do something bad. So I think, not just
the Catholic church or other religious organizations, but all spiritual groups will agree with and
support us, because I teach things that are helpful to people. You can take it or leave it. In
addition, I don’t charge a penny. It’s all free of cost. [Applause] I am not a danger, [Master
laughs.] not a danger for anyone! [Applause] Thanks. You really understand! God bless you.
As for the precepts, we’re quite weak sometimes, and also are influenced by our environment.
When we undertake to do something and then fall, we have to start all over again. That’s not a
problem. We try again and again till we succeed. Like when we were children once, we tried
to walk, but fell down, again got up and walked further, until today, we can run fast. [Master
laughs.] No problem! God is quite merciful and very understanding. Don’t be afraid!
Q. Is death predetermined?
M. Yes and no. It is so that normally when we must die, we then die, indeed punctually.
[Laughter] But once we’ve practiced a spiritual life, we can postpone it a little. Earlier or later,
but not very long, because no practitioner wants to live long. But we can postpone it a little, a
few days or a few hours to complete a few things in this world. Yes, that’s quite possible.
Q. I haven’t understood what it means that all bad or evil in this world is illusion.
M. Yes, you can’t understand that. I couldn’t understand it either, but now I can understand
because now I see it with the eyes of Truth. I don’t look anymore into the mirror. I look into the
mirror when I want, but I turn around if I want to see the true world. I have the choice. And you
see only one direction in which you can or want to see, so you don’t see the other things. But
through the initiation you can see the Truth in steps.
Stillness and quietness are our virtues
Q. How can I reach stillness in thought? How can I come in contact with my higher self?
M. You’ll get it with practice. Once you’re still and return to your inner greatness, then day by day,
we’ll become quiet again because stillness is our quality, and quietness is our virtue. We’ve
forgotten that and we’re restless because the world around us is restless. And that influences
us.
Q. Why did God create man?
M. That, you can ask Hirm. [Laughter] Right? I know a way, another solution to that. You take the
initiation, and after that you ask God directly why Hes created the world. [Applause]
Q. How do You see Your former marriage? Do You still meet Your former husband?
M. Ten years, more than ten years, we haven’t met. Once he came after me to the Himalayas,
and he met me on the road on my birthday. [Master laughs.] That was the only time that we
met again. And six years after I had left, he married again. Now he has, maybe, a son or two.
And I don’t know anymore. I am busy; he is also quite busy, maybe. I wouldn’t like to disturb
his new married life; that’s the reason why I don’t write to him anymore after his new marriage.
It’s better that way because he still loves me. I’m afraid that if I write to him again, or inquire,
he’ll perhaps start remembering our good times and that will introduce an uncomfortable
atmosphere for his new wife, and that shouldn’t be.
Q. Is it necessary to have a Master to attain enlightenment? How do I know if I have the right
Master for me? Why did Buddha require six years for enlightenment?
M. It is not necessary to find a Master if you find the way going it all alone. If you’ve already found
the way, and seen the heavenly Light and can hear the godly music, then you don’t require
any Master. [Master chuckles] But if you don’t have that yet, then it is better, quicker, and
surer, if we learn from a Teacher who has much experience in the matter. It’s like when we
learn to speak English or German, or learn economic matters, we must have a teacher. It’s
better that way, and quicker.
And how do you know whether the Master is all right? As I said, you have got to have that
inner feeling; pray to God so that you may have an answer. Why did Buddha need six years? I
must ask Him too, and then I will give you an answer. Okay? I forgot to ask. [Laughter] We
don’t need to know why He required six or sixty years. It’s not our problem. We only need to
know how long it takes till we are able to reach Buddhahood.
Q. Why can’t we see God?
M. God comes in several forms. When God comes, it’s like a beam of Light, like a hundred or a
thousand suns. And God comes with the music of heaven. God also comes, sometimes, in
human form, in the form of the Master, in the form of the inner Master. Once we have our third
eye opened, then we can see and we can hear, not just with the ears and eyes, but with our
wisdom, with our self nature.
Death is not the end of life
Q. Is death not the complete highest level, where one is united with God?
M. No, death is not at all the complete highest level. There are people who go to hell and those
who go to heaven after death, and again those who come back to earth after death. It is not
the end of life. But when an enlightened being dies, he goes immediately Home, to the place
where we really come from, to our origin; otherwise, we go to other places. It’s not the end.
For the enlightened person, there is not death, but just a change of dress or an entry into a
special place. There is no death, no pain, no problems, no hindrance.
Q. Can one attain enlightenment in this life, no matter how bad or good he lived?
M. It doesn’t matter. It’s not a ‘makes-no-difference’ thing. God gave us the ten commandments.
And Hes has given us several rules we’re supposed to keep so that we can get Home. We
can also lead a lax life, but that hinders our progress in spiritual practice. If we lead a very
normal life, we advance very quickly, very fast.
Q. What are the essential prerequisites for attaining enlightenment? Can You possibly name the
most important?
M. Well, first you must find a Master. Second, the initiation. Third, keep God’s commandments,
and fourth, the vegetarian diet. And fifth, meditate every day according to the instructions.
Q. How can mankind progress at all if life on planet Earth will not be possible anymore? As for
instance, if the ozone layer is totally destroyed, and all the plants are wiped out, the basis of
all life.
M. It isn’t that bad. So far we’ve certainly been able to progress. And if it’s not possible anymore,
then we’ll see. Right? Don’t worry yourself too much. Once we are all spiritually enlightened,
then there aren’t any impossibilities. We are not facing dreadful future. It is only dreadful if we
don’t obey God’s voice. That’s why all bad things happen on earth.
Q. How does one perceive the inner Light?
M. As I said, during the initiation you can immediately see it, and hear, too. But we need some
time to sit together in a quiet place, so that others don’t disturb us, and we needn’t talk much.
Q. Is it true that the Master remains in us for the rest of our lives?
M. Yes! Not just for this life, for all eternity, until you’ve reached the highest level of heaven.
Q. Is it possible to be enlightened and be normal at the same time? [Laughter]
M. Don’t I look normal? [Laughter] To show you that I’m normal – I’m thirsty! [Master takes a
glass and drinks.]
Q. What happens when we are physically dead?
M. Oh, that you’ll know when you die. [Laughter] I already explained that there are several
possibilities.
Q. What is the best that we can do to help the earth survive?
M. Enlightenment! [Laughter]
We deserve immediate enlightenment
Q. The expression ‘immediate enlightenment’ perplexes me! Isn’t it probably a catchword for the
impatient and shouldn’t we be practicing some patience? Even Jesus had to go through an
arduous path and wasn’t immediately enlightened.
M. Yes, that was His karma! [Master chuckles]
We have searched here for a very long time until we found this moment! You have searched
after Truth for many thousands of years here, maybe. It’s not that simple that you find
immediate enlightenment. You deserve it. You’ll know after your enlightenment that you really
deserved it. It’s not so simple, but it is so simple, because you are already here, and because
I’m here too. [Master laughs.] Patience! You already have had patience for a thousand years
here, and you could continue to be patient. There are many thousand more years in the
future. If one doesn’t immediately take enlightenment, then one must return and come back
again and again. One doesn’t know how long.
Q. Is meditation contemplation?
M. You can put it that way, too.
Q. How could one best combine the spiritual life with the normal life of our surroundings?
M. We don’t want to combine anything! We don’t have to. Spiritual matters belong to a higher life,
and we continue our normal life here like before. There is no conflict.
Q. Why do You call Yourself, the ‘Supreme Master’?
M. Well, my Father is the highest Master and I have Hiers name, like you call yourself Mr. Muller
and your daughter will be called Miss Muller. Right? [Applause]
Q. Who gave You this title?
M. I already said that it’s my Father’s name. [Laughter] Indeed, Hes is the Supreme Master. And I
come from Hirm. You too, but you’ve forgotten it. That’s not my fault. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. What is Your opinion on extraterrestrial beings?
M. Yes, indeed there are. There are other planets that are more civilized than our technical
civilization. They exist. They build UFOs to sell them. [Laughter] Maybe we might be able to
buy UFOs in the supermarket in the year 2500. [Laughter]
Q. Why is there an increase of souls on earth?
M. Because we are having an advantageous, comfortable life here. It’s not just more souls, but
rather the spiritual part of minerals or plants evolve until they reach the human level. That’s
why we see more and more people. And sometimes some come over here from other planets
too, but those are not many because we’re already overpopulated! [Master and audience
laugh.]
Q. Can one have more Masters?
M. Yes, sure, you can shop around.
Q. If not, then why? In the school you can have many professors.
M. Yes, right, because the worldly professors don’t have scientific knowledge in all branches;
therefore, we need so many professors. But in the spiritual world, we don’t need that. Just one
Master – He knows everything. We only want to get Home and the Master knows the way
well, very well; therefore, we need just one. But as you please, two or three, if you want to
confuse yourself, that’s your business. [Laughter] Yes, it creates confusion.
Q. I’m enlightened, and found no God, [Laughter] and rather got to the realization that no God
exists. Is my eyesight bad?
M. Maybe you need glasses – spectacles. Outside, there are many.
Q. Is Jesus Christ the highest being in the heavenly spheres?
M. Yes, the highest one, but not the only one.
Q. How can one harmonize consciousness and unconsciousness and bring them into union?
M. They never come into union. Each has its own job.
MC. Master, we are out of time.
M. Okay, thanks a lot. [Applause] If you’re not satisfied with the answers to your questions, or
have more questions, please write to me. Then I will answer your questions in a letter.
Because we don’t have so much time, we must start the initiation right now. Many thanks, and
I am quite touched by your love for God and toward me. [Applause] It has been a pleasure.
GOD GIVES THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD 21
It is a great honor for me to be here in this renowned city, the unification capital of Europe. We
have the common market, a symbol of unity and of working together in peace and harmony; we
have the United Nations, the agreements between the United States and Russia, et cetera. Last
night, a great master from Africa sent two of his disciples to visit me, bringing with them the first
21. Public lecture, Auderghem Culture Center, Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 1993 (Originally in French).
harvest from their plantation, to invite me to go to Africa. Even though this master and I have never
actually met, he has given me so much love and great appreciation.
The United Nations in Geneva also invited me to give a lecture, and the warmth I received there
cannot be described with words from our languages. This invitation is one of the two main reasons
for my visit to Europe this year. Another reason is an invitation to exhibit my works of art in
Brussels – my paintings and other art work at the Gallery Yu I. These invitations symbolize the
unification of mankind and the elevation of our spiritual aspect over the material aspect.
There are two sides in human life, one is physical, while the other is spiritual. If we only take care
of the physical aspect, it isn’t enough. That is why we always feel that something is missing in our
life, even though we do not know what it is. The physical side – food, material comfort, and
protection – allows the body to function in its physical and mental dimensions. But even with all the
care that we give it, our body doesn’t last long because it is made of temporary materials, and
sometimes it even breaks down. But the spiritual side of our being doesn’t need anything. On the
contrary, it gives life to physical activities.
Perfection is reached when the positive and negative aspects are balanced
To become a perfect, complete human being, both sides must be connected with one another. This
is what we call the positive and the negative sides of creation. When this creative power remains in
the positive aspect, it is invisible; we cannot see or feel it with our physical organs. This aspect
belongs to the kingdom of God, or nirvana, and is entirely pure and spiritual. And when this
creative power manifests itself and becomes visible, it is what we call the negative aspect. To
function, it needs the positive aspect. If we are disconnected from the positive side of our nature,
we are dominated and controlled by the negative side of the universe. This brings us pressure,
suffering, and the feeling of being a prisoner, and even if we try very hard to free ourselves, we
don’t succeed. Just like a prisoner, no matter if he is surrounded with material comfort, he is never
happy because for a prisoner, freedom is the only ultimate goal.
Some of us try to free ourselves, like the prisoner, through different ways, but rarely do we succeed
because jails are also surrounded by excellent security systems. No one ever manages to escape.
But if someone comes with the key, opens the door for them, and guides them toward the exit, then
they are certain to be liberated. A Master is someone who has this key. She knows the road to
freedom, and if we trust Her, we will find this freedom.
What is the most beautiful gift beyond any material offerings? The Quan Yin method. It is the key
that can liberate prisoners of this physical world. Initiation is the process for opening the prison
door, and from that day onward, we are free forever. The precepts and the vegetarian diet are a
protection, and they guarantee that we won’t have to go back to jail. But more important, the
greatest help is that of the Master and our sincerity in the practice of the daily meditation that is
taught by the Master during initiation. It will elevate us to the highest position in the kingdom of
God.
Offer the most beautiful gift to the people of the world
If we are only connected to the negative side of the creative power, then no matter what we do, we
always remain in the negative aspect. That is the reason why all so-called beauty and virtue,
according to human standards, are so small compared to the universal measure. Thus, no matter
how much we give to the physical and mental worlds, it will never be enough, and there will always
be suffering. This has been true since time immemorial. But if we connect ourselves to the highest
power, with the positive aspect of the creative power, which is infinite and eternal, no matter whom
we help, this person will forever be elevated and away from suffering. That is why Buddha left His
kingdom to find the best way to help mankind. That is why Jesus taught His message, risking His
own precious life.
According to the ancient tradition left by men of wisdom, and following the footsteps of great
Masters, I am here to present you with a way to reconnect yourselves with the positive force. We
will then be able to work with a celestial force, with real wisdom, with true beauty and virtue,
instead of working only with our physical and mental power, and only ending up with material
success, a limited intelligence and virtue, and the shadow of true beauty. All our efforts to express
real beauty and virtue in the outer world are only painful attempts to represent heaven’s glory. But
if we connect ourselves with the positive power, we will act spontaneously, and all actions will bring
blessings and a heavenly atmosphere.
Q. Is the Supreme Master Ching Hai the only Master able to give enlightenment?
M. No, but that is enough. [Master and audience laugh.]
Q. What is the difference between sincerely praying to Ching Hai to be saved, praying sincerely
to Jesus Christ to be saved, and praying sincerely to Buddha to be saved?
M. Both are already left, and I am still here. [Applause and laughter.]
Q. Master Ching Hai, many people here have had their first taste of nirvana, reading ‘The third
eye,’ a book written by the Tibetan, T. Lobsang Rampa. What do You think about him? Can
the readers consider his work as a valid spiritual reference?
M. I am not here to speak about other people. [Applause] If we want to speak about a person, we
need to spend a great deal of time to know this person, to be able to explain what is good or
not good about him. We cannot speak just like this. We can’t talk too casually about someone
else.
Q. What is reincarnation?
M. Reincarnation is a return cycle. If you have not found an exit leading you to paradise, you
must go back. Just like on a freeway, if you cannot find the exit, you must return in order to
find it. This is reincarnation.
Q. What is the purpose of animals on earth?
M. Animals are here to please us. Many people love cats and dogs in Belgium, no? So you know
why they are here, no need to ask me.
Q. Can we eat dairy products?
M. Absolutely. I, too, for the last few weeks, have been drinking milk and I don’t even like it.
Lately we are always on a trip, and the type of food is not always ideal. Plus, I am tired
because there is too much work, too much traveling. This is why I also have to drink milk. The
Buddha drank goat milk also. The bible doesn’t say that we cannot drink milk, right?
Q. It is said in the bible, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ Aren’t eating herbs and vegetables also killing?
M. Yes, but in the bible, God said that Hes made all the fruit and herbs for us. Hes said that we
could eat them. This is not the same as killing an animal because if you cut a branch of a tree
or a vegetable, it will grow into many more branches, and this symbolizes life. But if we want
to eat meat, if we cut the head of a cow, three heads will not grow back.
Q. How did the world become such a terrible place? I am thinking about wars and all the killing
and violence? Why? What happened?
M. Because we have created a lot of cause and effect. If we kill too many animals, for instance,
we will have to pay the consequences.
Q. Why are there different faces on the planet?
M. Because they are pretty, just like flowers.
Q. Do we need to pray and fast like Jesus did to become a Master?
M. Many people have prayed like Jesus and they didn’t become a Jesus. We need to walk on the
road that Jesus walked in order to become a Master. Praying to Him won’t do it. If you pray to
a doctor, will this help you become a doctor? No, we must study; we must work like him; we
must learn with him.
Q. If we take the initiation, do we have to follow Master for a long time, or can we change and
stop whenever we want?
M. Of course, you can do anything you want, but the consequences will not be the same. You
know this, no need to ask such questions. [Master laughs and audience applauds.]
Q. How long does the initiation take? Is it done individually?
M. Individually and within. But on the outside, one time is enough.
Q. Is the Quan Yin method compatible with orders like the Rosicrucian?
M. Of course, you do not need to change your religion. You must only meditate two and a half
hours every day, and follow a vegetarian diet. That’s all. You can stay within the Catholic, the
Buddhist or any other religion.
Q. Are animal beings in the process of becoming human?
M. Yes, but it takes a long time.
Q. How can we reach enlightenment so quickly when it is said that usually it takes several lives?
M. But you already have had many lives, those are enough. [Master laughs.] Now is the time to
go back Home, you already know. [Applause]
Q. So we can, in one life, be liberated from reincarnation?
M. In one life, yes, it is possible with God’s grace and with an experienced guide who knows the
road to bring us back quickly. If not, you are lost, and then it takes a long time.
Q. According to You, what can we expect after our physical death, with or without
enlightenment?
M. If you have reached enlightenment while you are alive, you will always have it. If you are not
enlightened now, when you die, you are also not enlightened.
Q. What do You mean by psychic healing?
M. Psychic healing and enlightenment are two different things.
Q. If someone uses his hands to heal naturally with a method called Reiki, is this acceptable?
M. If you want to be fully enlightened, you must not interfere with other people’s karma. By doing
this, you will lose your spiritual force and will remain in this physical side.
Q. Traditional teachings insist on the fact that in giving the same message to Westerners and
Easterners, one takes the risk of failing in conveying that message. Can a message be taught
both to people from the West, as well as people from the East? Can Your teaching be given
both to the people from the East and to the people from the West?
M. There are no East and West. There are only the wisdom and the soul. And wisdom and soul
have no odor, no race. I only talk to your wisdom, and not to your physical appearance. I only
speak to the greatness within you, and not to the small differences between people. I talk to
your soul within you, and not to the significant details, cultural differences. These are only the
habits of people of different regions, and none of them is important.
Q. Do animals have a soul?
M. Yes, but it is not very developed.
Q. Can we get in touch with animals that we loved in this life on other planes of existence?
M. Oh, my God! I suggest you find another one on the street, in a shop. It is quicker and more
practical. [Applause]
Q. Master, will You have a chance to visit the countries of Eastern Europe and when do You plan
to go to Poland? I ask this from the bottom of my heart.
M. We have to see what is God’s will. I have nothing to decide.
Q. Can we eat fish when we practice the Quan Yin method?
M. No, you cannot eat fish because a fish is not a vegetable. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. What caused me to be born in my family?
M. Because you have affinities with your family, that is why.
Q. Are young children purer than adults?
M. Yes, it is true.
Q. I had an out-of-body experience. Is there a method to achieve this easily?
M. Yes, the Quan Yin method.
Q. Do we risk being possessed by bad spirits when we meditate? How can we protect ourselves
from them?
M. Sometimes, if our Master is not experienced in this field, it can happen; it is dangerous.
Q. Is it true to think that God started to exist when man started to search for the Truth outside of
himself, and when man felt the need to pray?
M. Of course, God existed before man, and when he felt separated from God, he started to pray
because he felt the suffering caused by this separation.
Q. If man were to disappear, would God disappear with him? What do You think about that?
M. What do you want? [Laughter] What kind of question is this? It is good if everything were to
disappear because I would have no more work to do, [Laughter] and I would disappear also.
[Master laughs.]
Sincere praying is better than the outer ceremony
Q. Are we right to think that a man without conscience, that is, a man that doesn’t pray or
worship God is a primitive man?
M. There are many kinds of prayers. Sometimes people pray inside, not having to go to a church,
and we cannot say this is not praying. We have to know the man from inside, not from the
outside. There are some people who go to church that are not as sincere as a person who
stays home, takes care of his family, and prays to God in his heart.
Q. How can we help children from being contaminated by modern life – C-television, drugs,
laziness, arrogance, et cetera, and respect, at the same time, their so-called freedom of
choice?
M. You can help them by selecting for them what is best on television and from their
environment. They can also have the freedom to watch television, but not the freedom to
choose bad programs. Freedom is not always the best thing for children who have not yet
enough intelligence to choose. When they grow up, you can give them more freedom. But
above all, if you lead a life of virtue, goodness, and beauty, you will be an example for your
children to follow.
Q. I do not believe in God but I believe in science. Why can’t we have adultery when we are
enlightened? [Laughter]
M. It is not that I forbid you. It is your neighbor that does not like you! If you have an affair with
your neighbor’s wife, he is going to be the unhappy one, not me. [Applause and laughter.] To
be enlightened doesn’t mean that we can create suffering for others because we have a
choice. It isn’t a ban, but rather a kind of mutual protection for the people around us. And what
we do not want others to do to us, we do not do to others.
Q. Many religious celebrations started with the killing of a lamb, a goat, et cetera, during the time
of Jesus and His disciples. I think it is horrible.
M. It is because they misunderstood the teaching of Masters like Jesus, Buddha or Mohammed.
So the answer is enlightenment and a non-violent life; live and let live.
Q. Master, what do You think about the atrocious war in Yugoslavia?
M. There is war in many other countries as well. These countries have to suffer from the cause of
too much killing of other beings. Sometimes, by killing each other as humans in some other
previous lives, when we come back for this life, we are born in a country where there are war
and suffering. That is why it is said in the bible, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap,’ and it is also
mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.
Q. When meditating, if you find yourself as if you were on the ceiling, what should you do next?
M. Go through the ceiling! [Applause]
Q. What is meditation? I haven’t gotten anything so far.
M. There are many kinds of meditations. You have to choose what is suitable for you. According
to my experience with different meditation methods, the heavenly method, the Quan Yin
method, on the inner Light and music, is the best, the quickest, and the safest. So you can try
it.
Q. Master, I received initiation in the Sound and the Light of God from a perfect Master, but I did
not have the expected experience. Could I ask for a second initiation, to have an inner
experience of God, without denying my other Master? What am I looking for is my own
experience of Your teaching. I came for the initiation.
M. Of course, yes. There is no problem. You are welcome.
Q. Where can we meditate?
M. Anywhere. In a park, in a garden, on a bus, on a plane, but not when you drive a car! You
should not! [Laughter]
There are two kinds of meditations. One is on the inner Light, and you can meditate
anywhere. The other is on the heavenly music, and in that case you should meditate in
private. It is better. I will explain everything during initiation.
Q. Isn’t the killing of animals necessary to preserve the ecological balance?
M. Why? There are many things we do not kill and they are also balanced. In this case, we
should also kill human beings to achieve a balance. Yes? Same logic. In some countries there
are too many people, hungry people, and the economy is not good. Should we kill them in
order to find a balance? Killing is never good. God said revenge belongs to Hirm.
Q. Do You have a solution to end aggressiveness and violence?
M. No, I don’t have it. You have! Everyone has this ability. If we stop killing animals, if we stop all
violent acts, the world will become a paradise. It is not only my responsibility. It is everyone’s
responsibility. Don’t you think? [Audience: Yes.] [Applause] Because if a Master, any Master
could do it, Jesus would have done it already; Buddha would have done it a long time ago.
You can’t expect this from me, a little woman, with no power, nothing.
Q. Some people reach enlightenment without the help of a Master. With all due respect, is it
necessary to follow a Master to be enlightened?
M. If you can do it, it is fine, but it is almost impossible. Up to now no one has succeeded, only
maybe up to a certain level, but not higher. [Applause]
Q. Is enlightenment contagious? If a person has reached enlightenment, will he be able to

spread the benefits to others?
M. Yes, but the effect is not complete. Each one has to find enlightenment for himself.
Q. How do You explain injustice in the world?
M. It is karma. ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ Maybe we have created injustice in other lives.
But it is also the collective energy of the world, the whole population, that creates some unfair
and some unjust events in the world, and sometimes we are affected by it.
Q. You give us great pleasure. What can we give You?
M. Nothing. I bring enlightenment, the best gift, and if you like it, it is free of charge. You cannot
ask for anything better than that. Everything else is ephemeral. Enlightenment will bring
everything that you want, the peace, the happiness that money cannot buy, the power to save
people from hell and bring them to heaven. This, nothing in the material world can offer. Your
country is stable economically. We do not need to bring you any money or any material gifts.
Is that not so?
Be sincere to awaken the Supreme Master within us
Q. What is the relationship between You and sincerity? It was said that we have to be sincere to
be able to receive initiation?
M. No, within yourself. If we are sincere, the Supreme Master within ourselves will be awakened,
and then we will have the benefit of finding ourselves. The Supreme Master is God within us,
in our temple, and God is not mocked. We have to be sincere with God, not with me; I am only
the guide. I show you where God is. If you look in that direction, you will find Hirm, but you
have to sincerely want to reach that destination.
Q. What, in Your opinion, is man’s greatest strength?
M. That is our true self, the omnipresent power. When we rediscover this power completely, we
realize that we are the Supreme Master ourselves; we are one with God, one with the
Supreme Master. And whatever we do, whatever we think, it is the Supreme Master that does
it. With this power, we can be anywhere, in an instant; we can rescue people from hell; we
can bring them to heaven; we can liberate anyone that comes to us. We can be in thousands,
millions, of places, or we can be in heaven and hell at the same time. There are billions of
things that we can do in one second, at the same time.
Q. I read Your book with great interest. You mentioned that we cannot eat fish and eggs. I love
pastries. What a dilemma!
M. You can find pastry without eggs, or you can cook it yourself. I, too, love pastries. I prepare
them myself without eggs, or I buy the pastries that haven’t the eggs. There are many things
you can eat. Do not worry. This person, the professor, all are vegetarians and they are still
alive! [Master points to the MC.] She likes pastries very much, the chocolate ones.
Q. I believe that to reach inner awakening, one needs to have reached a certain level of inner
wisdom and be ready to accept inner happiness. What do You think?
M. This comes after enlightenment. On the contrary, it is because we are not enlightened inside
that we do not have peace and happiness. All the happiness in this world is ephemeral, but
the inner happiness that comes after initiation, after enlightenment, is eternal.
Q. What is enlightenment on a physiological level?
M. Not much, but we will feel as if a mountain has fallen from our shoulders. Many of the
illnesses, mental and physical, will also depart, and we will find ourselves suffering less at the
physical level.
Q. What does the relationship between Master and disciple bring in the search for
enlightenment?
M. It is just like in any other science, we need a guide, a teacher. The road to heaven is long and
hazardous. If someone already knows the road and takes us, it is safer and quicker. And the
guide helps us a lot when we are in trouble, because when we meditate, we tap into the
power within, and sometimes this power is incredible. If we do not know how to handle it, we
may experience some kind of mental disarrangement.
Q. What will happen if I accidentally step on tiny insects or animals?
M. You are very kind. It isn’t serious, because when you breathe, you also kill many insects; the
same when we eat vegetables, but we cannot avoid it. We try not to kill on purpose because
of our love for all beings. What we cannot help, we cannot help.
Q. What is paradise?
M. You come to the initiation and you will know, because it isn’t easy to describe paradise in our
worldly language. It is a state of very well-being, of intelligence, of love, and kindness in
action, not just speaking about it.
Q. Is man the highest being in the creation, or will there be other levels of being?
M. Yes, man is the superior or supreme creature because man has the supreme power inside.
But we have to discover it to be superior. It is just like we have a great treasure within our
house and we don’t know how to use it, then we are still very poor.
Q. Is man a link between animals and superior beings?
M. We are superior, even higher than angels, but only when we discover this superiority inside
us.
Q. Will there be someone that can help us with meditation after You go back to Formosa?
M. Our relationship is inside. It doesn’t matter where you are, the Master knows. And whatever
you want, you just ask inside and help will come to you automatically, without the Master
being present.
But to help with basic problems in the beginning, I will leave someone with basic experience
who you can contact in Belgium. There must be some address somewhere in the book. If not,
you can ask outside at the information desk.
Q. Is drinking wine once in a while and smoking compatible with Your method?
M. There is nonalcoholic wine. Yes, there are many nonalcoholic wines, nonalcoholic
champagnes, nonalcoholic beer. I drink nonalcoholic beer and champagne. You can find
some.
Q. Are there various levels of enlightenment?
M. Yes, there are seven levels.
Enlightened Master is in this world to bless the world
Q. Buddha and Jesus left. They did what they could, and the world is still as it was. Do You
expect to do anything better?
M. Buddha’s enlightenment was not the whole world’s enlightenment. He has given the way of
enlightenment to a number of disciples while He was alive, the same with Jesus, and the
highest disciples passed the knowledge of enlightenment to the future generation. But the
number of disciples is always limited; the same is true with every other Master. Therefore, the
world will not profit on a grand scale. But their presence, of course, blessed the world and
elevated our consciousness. That is why our world is much better than before. Yes, much
better.
Q. What is the goal of man through religion?
M. Our religions teach us that we have to be virtuous and good persons on earth, and at the
same time, we have to find heaven within us. Most of us maybe only believe in a religion to be
a good person, but we have not found the kingdom of God within. So we have only
assimilated half of the teaching of any religion. Only when we have found the Light and the
teaching of God inside, then are we completely religious.
Q. Is nirvana really the final goal of our spiritual path? If it is, it means that life ends when we
reach nirvana. Does this make sense?
M. It is just a way of saying, so that we have something to compare with; otherwise, the supreme
wisdom is infinite. When we reach the so-called nirvana, we don’t have the sense of being
stopped there. Otherwise, we would feel like we were in prison again, imprisoned in nirvana.
There is no sense of limitation, no sense of nirvana either.
Q. According to You, what happens to a person that commits suicide? What’s the difference
between those who die naturally?
M. There is a big difference. Most people who commit suicide are in a state of very low
consciousness and great depression because the pressure of the world is too much on them.
So when we die in this state of consciousness, we remain like this for a long time. This is not
good for our soul because if you are so depressed that you want to die, you want to get rid of
the depression. But because of that, you stay depressed for a long time. It is horrible!
Q. Master, does enlightenment stop the process of reincarnation?
M. Yes, if you are studying with a perfect Master who knows all the way to heaven, because
enlightenment has many stages. If you only reach the second stage for example, and you do
not have a Master who is also inside to teach you to go higher, then you have to come back.
A perfect Master is a Master who has experienced all the levels of consciousness. Wherever
you rest or wherever you happen to find yourself, the Master is there also. The Master is
omnipresent, so He can help you where you are and bring you up. Otherwise, if you find some
enlightenment yourself or with an inferior master, you will have to come back together with
your master because he must also reach the highest level.
Q. Can a vegetarian eat cheese or milk?
M. Yes, of course.
Q. How do You teach Your disciples to relate to nature?
M. We respect nature. We respect the environment. We do not destroy trees and forests or
vegetation at random. And in many of our Centers, we plant trees and flowers to beautify the
environment. And because we love nature, we do not eat animals.
Q. How do You explain rape, cancer and accidents?
M. Karma, cause and effect, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ We do not see very far into the past
and that is why we blame the present. But there is nothing that happens without a cause,
even though sometimes this is not entirely our fault. This world is very sad. That’s why we
have to find the way out. It is just like if you always drive your car on the highway, and if you
do not find the way to the exit, sometimes your car may run out of gas, or you can have an
accident because someone ran into you.
Q. Why do we have so much bad luck and difficulties? Is it arranged by God?
M. No, it is because we live in this world and there are actions and reactions. We create an
individual cause and effect, and also we have a collective effect from the whole society and all
the bad atmosphere. Bad energy comes from our bad thoughts, bad actions, and bad speech.
Everything carries energy; good action generates good energy. Therefore, we have to be pure
in speech, in action, and in thinking. That is why we suggest the five precepts and the
vegetarian diet to purify our environment.
Q. How should we meditate?
M. We will teach you during initiation.
Q. What can we do against wickedness, people’s jealousy?
M. Pray to God that they get enlightened quickly so that they won’t bother you again. That is the
best way to get rid of the enemy, and you meditate.
Q. How can we gain peace and face death?
M. We meditate, and we die every day, then we are not afraid of death anymore. When we
meditate, we can die for a while; we go to paradise, have a look, go shopping, and come
back. Dying is not a big deal, just like stepping from this room to that room. If we have a clear
conscience, we have nothing to fear.
Q. I have not been a vegetarian up to now, can I still ask for initiation?
M. Yes, you only need to be vegetarian from today. When I am here, you can get initiation
immediately. If I am not here and there is a representative, then you will have to be a
vegetarian for three months. So take your opportunity.
Q. Why is it that good methods like the Quan Yin method are not very well known in the world
since ancient times up to today? We have not heard about this method. This is the first time.
M. There are many things that you have not heard about, not just the Quan Yin method. You
don’t know everything in this world, so it is not a surprise. This method is very ancient, and the
lineage has been unbroken from one country to the next, from one Master to another. If we
are not interested in this kind of direction, sometimes we never know about it. For example, I
came to Belgium and my disciples have put announcements on the radio and in the
newspapers, and put posters everywhere to introduce to you the Quan Yin method. But how
many people came today? Not the whole Belgium! The rest of the people in Belgium will
never know what I am talking about, what the Quan Yin method is. Even though I am right
here at their doors.
Q. Master, is it necessary or preferable to be celibate in order to reach enlightenment? Thank

You for Your humility and Your humor.
M. No, you are celibate if no one wants you. Otherwise, if you love someone, and someone loves
you, it is also an expression of God, an aspect of divine love. If you love each other and help
each other in your spiritual path, it is very fine. If we stop all marriages, I do not know how
Master can come to this world again.
Q. In what way does Your method differ from other techniques to reach enlightenment?
M. Because we offer immediate enlightenment, the proof, and you will retain this all your life. You
will always progress and you will know it. Maybe you don’t have much with other methods,
and it can take you many years to get very little.
Q. Why is it necessary to be initiated to learn this method, instead of simply presenting it to the
public, openly, to everyone?
M. Yes, I present it to the public, openly to everyone.
Q. Why the initiation? What’s the process of initiation?
M. Yes, initiation is for the public, not for me alone, in secret. Everyone can come. It’s open. Did I
say that some people could come and others couldn’t? We say ‘initiation’ because we only
invite those who want to. If I stand on the street and teach to everyone, someone may come,
beat me, and say, ‘I do not need you here! I don’t want this.’ So we have to give people a
choice. If you want, you come, and those who don’t want, they can leave. This is why we call
it ‘initiation.’ It is no secret.
Q. What does enlightenment represent? How does it relate to peace and justice?
M. This is too intellectual! I do not know how to answer this question.
Enlightenment is enlightenment. It helps us to get out of the world of ignorance and to go back
where we belong, to the glory of the kingdom of God. You cannot say that it represents
anything. It is just like an expression in the worldly language.
Q. I have never been initiated up to now, but I do believe in Your teaching. If I have some
difficulties in my life, will Your power help me?
M. Sure, but helping yourself is the best. The money that you earn, you can spend at liberty,
whereas the money borrowed from someone else is limited. Also, you feel ashamed to borrow
all the time.
Q. Could You explain someone levitating during a deep meditation?
M. It is no big deal! We elevate our soul; it is better that our physical body. When I am on an
airplane, I am also elevated. [Applause]
Q. When hungry mosquitoes carrying malaria attack us and we don’t have any other way to
avoid them, what can we do, kill or be killed?
M. Use mosquito nets or some kind of preparation according to the situation. It is easy.
Q. Dear Master, my husband passed away and sometimes I see him in my dreams as if he were
still alive. I wanted to know if there is life after death, and can we live happily in another world
after death?
M. Some of our disciples also see their relatives because we can go to the world where they
reside at the moment. After initiation, five generations in your family will also be liberated. If
we follow the instructions of the Master, sometimes we will see them coming back to thank us.
Q. Why would a child have to die when he is so pure?
M. Because he doesn’t need to live anymore. Maybe he went to heaven; it is even purer.
Sometimes, we have some work to do. For example, I have to stay here only three or four
days, because this is the time I need to finish my work here. So I come only for four days, and
if I need to come again, I will come again. I don’t always have to stay here like the Belgian
people. Similarly, some souls have little to do with this physical world, so they come for a
while and they go. They have sometimes a little karma to take from their parents, and then
they have to leave.
Q. Dear Master, I have been initiated in the Reiki natural method of healing. Can I be initiated in
the Quan Yin method?
M. You can, but maybe it is better to just practice one thing at a time. If you prefer Reiki, then you
stay with it and if you want to practice a little higher, then you come. Spiritual life doesn’t
consist of healing alone, and healing is only a part of our power. If we always cling to one part,
then we forget the rest. Those who meditate with the Quan Yin method also have healing
power but it goes without using a hand; it goes regardless of distance. You can heal people in
America, in France, in other places at the same time, while you are staying in Belgium. This is
the healing ability of a Master who is omnipresent. We do not need to be physically present.
This is more complete. We can only achieve this when we let go of this corner of power.
Q. What was Your training? How did You gain Your wisdom?
M. It is in the book.
Q. Why can’t we have products with animal fat when we can have cheese and there is fat in
cheese?
M. Cheese is made with milk and fat comes from an animal that has been killed. And taking milk,
we don’t have to kill the cow, and from milk we make cheese, butter, et cetera. This is the
difference.
Q. I have always helped people during my life and I will continue, but why do I meet so many bad
people? They are negative and I am so positive?
M. Yes, that is a misfortune. So then, you come for enlightenment and you will be among the
positive people. They have the same ideal, the same direction. Maybe when you are with the
negative people again, you will be able to change them with your power.
Okay, time is up. They want to throw me out. [Master laughs.] See you at the initiation, if you
come. Good night. Bless you. I wish you a good evening and good dreams. Thanks for all.
Thank you.
ESCAPE THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF REINCARNATION 22
M. Hallo! How are you?
J. Fine!
M. Did you get something to drink, yes? Well then, what are your questions?
J. What is an enlightened Master?
M. Do you mean, what does enlightenment mean?
J. Yes.
M. Enlightenment means to awaken the Light that you already have inside. We have this Light in
us. In Christianity, it is called the kingdom of God. We already have it within us, and the
remarkable thing is that we do not know anything about it. And every day we go around doing
our work, or hour housework, we earn money, or take care of the children, and we don’t even
know that we have this greatness within us. And when we discover it, it doesn’t matter how
little or how much; that is enlightenment.
22. Interview with journalists at Her residence, Munich, Germany, April 30, 1993 (Originally in German).
Enlightenment means Light. And when we discover God’s Light in us, then we have
rediscovered enlightenment. With this so-called enlightenment, you find within yourself much
greater clarity and security. You have new ideas and many other experiences. Problems and
questions clear up completely on their own.
J. A lot of people, I guess, people who do not know much about it, say that they do not have
time for such things because they have enough problems, enough suffering and worries, and
therefore no time for meditation.
M. Well, then I have nothing to say, right? We always have problems. That is precisely why we
must find solutions. And with enlightenment, we keep finding relief for all of our worries and
problems that we can normally not solve satisfactorily with ‘normal’ thoughts. But if they are
not interested, that is also all right. We make ourselves available on a volunteer basis, if they
are interested. We are not interested in forcing anyone or influencing them through some kind
of special power.
J. The method promises instant enlightenment?
M. Yes, directly.
J. Directly?
M. Yes, directly. Because we already have it within. We just have to, like we have electricity in
the house and know where the light switch is, turn it on and then we have light immediately.
You do not need a miracle for that. It’s no problem. We have the kingdom of God in us.
J. What is the trick? Okay, not a trick, but why don’t other masters know this light switch?
M. Oh, that’s experience, something you learn about. Just like every science in this world, we
have to learn it, to master ourselves, to master a subject. After high school graduation, we can
go on and learn more. Doctors can’t, for example, operate on patients or such. But after they
have learned how and practiced seven years or so, then they can. It’s the exact same with
spiritual matters. Practice makes perfect. You, too, can become a master, everyone can.
When we study something and take the time to practice, we can slowly become masters.
J. What kind of practice?
M. First you must look for someone who has experimented in this direction and has gained
experience. We cal such a person, ‘Master’ or ‘Teacher.’ From that person, we can learn the
way, the technique. And after that, we practice maybe two to three hours daily. To play the
piano or to study English or German, we also must practice two to three hours daily, right? So
we also practice every day for two or three hours and then we reach it in stages.
What is the Quan Yin method?
J. And what is the practice in the Quan Yin method?
M. It’s called Quan Yin because I started in China. It has not been translated yet. Quan Yin
means observation of the inner Sound, the heavenly music, that cannot be heard with the
normal ear. For that, you need the Master’s help to bring forth again this inner, special ability.
We need no eyes and can still see. We need no ears and can still hear. Because these things
are not of this world, you need other instruments, other organs, for it. Our soul, our true self,
does not need physical eyes to see heaven and does not need physical ears to enter into
contact with the heavenly music. That is the invisible realm of God, invisible for our physical
organs.
J. I wanted to know if Quan Yin is something like the Mother of God?
M. Yes, in Buddhist society we have a Mother of God, a divine Mother whose name is Quan Yin
Bodhisattva. But that has nothing to do with this here. That Goddess, though, did practice the
Quan Yin method while She was alive. ‘Quan Yin’ means to contemplate through the inner
Sound, the inner music, and the people also called Her the Goddess Quan Yin because She
practiced that. She also learned and practiced it. The Buddha Himself, in His writings, also
said that all the saints must practice this method in order to completely reach sainthood. It
happens also in levels.
Levels of enlightenment
J. What levels are there then?
M. There are five levels, until you ‘graduate,’ not continuing our earthly dimension, but a little
higher. Then you reach the Master level, but it continues further, like, for example, you maybe
graduate from high school and then want to study medicine. But then you can still go on and
improve yourself by continuing to practice every day and gaining more and more experience.
J. Are the levels connected to enlightenment, to liberation from physical, emotional problems?
Tell about that.
M. Yes, yes, a lot is cleared up. We are released from a lot of complicated memories and
invisible problems in the area. With enlightenment, you naturally feel lighter and better.
J. And do the Sounds also change with these levels? Do the Sounds have certain qualities?
M. Yes, when you reach a certain level, there are certain kinds of melodies. For example, there
are here in our world natural sounds and noises like the wind, rain, birds singing, all these
things. Somewhat higher, there are similar things, but it cannot be heard with the ear. Still
higher, you hear something else again and so on – always different up to the fifth level. And
then you can still continue to hear.
J. And does that which one hears contain certain information?
M. Yes, not as language but rather as intuition. It might be, for example, that when you practice
the Sound meditation, you suddenly get new ideas or answers to questions or problems every
day. We gain a great deal of clarity about all the problems and questions of our life, and we no
longer need to read books or look to the teacher and ask. Then we are already this ‘Supreme
Master,’ our true self because we are made in God’s image. We have God within. It also says
so in the bible, but we do not know Hirm because we have forgotten how to discover Hirm.
Every day we are busy with our work, with our problems, and we forget how great we are.
Enlightenment is the rediscovery of our Truth, our true self.
Does collective karma exist?
J. I have another question. You come from Au Lac and Germany. Is there such a thing as
national or group karma? Is there such a thing for a nationality like the Germans and the
Aulacese?
M. Yes, the Aulacese who now come here were perhaps Germans earlier. We don’t know very
well. We can, however, go back to the past, inside, and perhaps investigate better, but that is
not very important. We live at this point in time, here and now, in the present, and it is better
like that. In the present we have enough problems.
J. What about the present time? I read a lot about the apocalypse and predicting the future,
about great changes occurring up to the year 2011 and so on, radical changes. A lot of people
are afraid, and there’s a lot of speculation.
M. Yes, they should not be afraid. If the world ends, even if we are afraid, it makes no difference.
It won’t change anything, so it’s better if you keep on slowly every day. But I think that now our
world is getting better all the time. A lot of political conflicts have been resolved and the
atmosphere of the world is better than before. There are not as many threats anymore, for
example, as with the atom bomb or similar things that are deadly and dangerous and could
destroy the world in a second. Today we have a little more safety. Anyway we cannot leave
this universe; we always stay here. If we no longer have this world, then we will have another
one. There are so many planets. We need not be afraid. Life here is just a short experience
and death is also just a change, like when you leave one room and go into another. There’s
no problem.
For us, this meditation every day on the Sound and the Light means dying again and again.
We die several times a day and then keep coming back. When we go to heaven to look
around there or such things, then we die in that moment. But we still have a connection to our
body, and that’s why we come back. And when we really die, this connection is cut, and then
we do not come back, or we come in another body – so also no problem. We can die every
day and rise again. That’s not bad. The body is just like a house; we can come and go if we
know how. It takes practice.
All religions are fundamentally the same
J. What I find wonderful and new is that you often speak of Buddha and Christ at the same time.
I was with different schools and masters and there were always people, and there are still
people who say, ‘No, in Buddhism there is no God, no creator, and no paradise.’ There it is
called pure lands and clear space. And in Christianity, they say, ‘Buddha isn’t God, but
rather…’ For my understanding it was always very important for all religions to come together
and I find that very strongly emphasized in your work.
M. Yes, because I have very clearly seen that all religions are fundamentally the same. Many
different theories have developed because the Masters were born in different lands and in
different times. Take India as an example. Buddha perhaps had to say some things a little
differently from Jesus. The Indians know so much about karma, reincarnation, and so on, and
that’s why Buddha had to continue to explain that. But in other countries, they know nothing at
all about karma, and so they do not need to hear about it. That’s also not important. When you
find a Master, then you do not need to come back to earth or to any other lower level. That’s
why we do not need to learn about the karma theory.
J. Today?
M. It’s not necessary, even today. When you find a Master, then it’s forever changed – the
vicious circle of reincarnation. If you know about the karma theory, that’s okay. And if not,
that’s also okay. When, for example, I am in a country in the East, then I talk a lot about
Buddha and so on. But when I am in a Christian country, for example France, then I hardly
speak of Buddha but I talk about the kingdom of God. That’s the same: Nirvana or the
kingdom of God. When you have found within yourself the inner peace for always, then that is
nirvana or the kingdom of God. Only the names are different, but the meaning is the same.
J. And does it look the same or...?
M. Looks exactly the same!
J. Do the Buddhists have different furnishings than the Christians?
M. There are different so-called ‘paradise,’ in the levels, as I have already said. There are five
levels of enlightenment. It depends on which level you have reached; there are different
surroundings, atmosphere, and views. The first level is not as beautiful as the second and the
last is called nirvana in Buddhism and the kingdom of God in Christianity. And within this
highest level is paradise. You also find it in Buddhism.
And if you study Christianity very carefully, you will find references here and there to the
various levels; for example, in the bible, I don’t know where exactly, I think in John, as he was
raised into the second heaven, he heard trumpets. And in the same way, we can now
experience that through initiation. And when you reach the second level, then you also hear
the trumpets. There are more, not just trumpets. Trumpets are a kind of heavenly Sound that
means the second level of our enlightenment. There are also then the third, the fourth, and so
on.
J. And are there trumpets in the second level of Buddhism?
M. Buddha didn’t say as such that it was the second level. But there is a sutra, a holy book, the
so-called ‘Lotus sutra,’ in which Buddha explains that when using the right method, one hears
trumpets, many waters, and so on. The bible also states that when God spoke, Hiers sound
was like thunder or many waters, the sound of the ocean or trumpets, or when God appeared
to the saints, Hes appeared like a large flame.
In Buddhism, it is just the same or similar. Two Masters need not say exactly the same thing.
Everyone has His own way of expressing Himself. But when we are enlightened, we see this
clearly; it’s no problem. It’s no problem for me, but we can see Buddha and Christ and ask
them directly.
J. I was just going to ask that: What about asking directly? Can we?
M. Yes, we can!
J. Is it also like praying?
M. One can also pray. When we see Christ inside with the third eye, that’s what it says in the
bible, then our body will be full of Light. And when we see with the third eye, when we reach
this high level where Jesus now is, then we can also see Him and talk to Him and ask Him
questions and receive answers directly.
J. And can anyone go directly there?
M. Anyone, but at different times. You start at different levels at the initiation, for example. All
receive the same initiation, but everyone will reach a different level during it, although you are
sitting next to each other. The Master does not teach you with words, but it is an inner
initiation. The inner soul teaches the inner soul. It does not occur through the apparatus of our
computer brain, but at a higher level. That’s why the Master also sees which disciple is at
which level and gives the corresponding teaching. And what one person sees, no one else
knows about, even if he is sitting next to him or is married to him or a blood relative. These
things mean nothing; everyone is here for themselves.
J. Do they have something to do with the past life?
M. Yes, among other things. And the present life also has an influence.
J. The present life too?
M. Yes, because we have free will. We can always choose. Sometimes we do not listen to our
inner voice. We listen only to our reasoning, our habits.
J. Yes, our habitual way of thinking.
M. Yes, we have absorbed so much and then it comes out later; for example, as a child you saw
another child that was not very good get hit by its mother. You experienced it so often that
when you are an adult and your children aren’t good, you will also hit them, although you
know that it isn’t right. But your computer recorded the behavior like a machine and then
reproduced it. That’s why we sometimes choose the wrong direction and we are a little
separated from God, from our natural origin. But when we notice it and want to go back, then
it is never too late.
J. Never too late?
M. Never too late! That’s why we can always find enlightenment immediately.
J. What I notice, when I speak or do a report about such topics, is that such words as faith, trust,
hope, love, do not offer anything scientific. To have faith in something or to have hope today is
not modern.
M. Yes, for sure, because we have not seen!
J. Either we have to be able to verify something, or weigh it, or cut it up, or do something else to
it. And then it is in our thinking pattern.
M. Yes, when people have not seen God, then you cannot scold them for not believing. But with
us, they see and then they believe. It is better like that because people today cannot just
believe blindly anymore like before. People today are more intelligent and more economically
developed. You cannot just believe in what you do not see.
We are not like children any longer who just believe; it’s not that easy anymore. That’s why we
offer this opportunity, that we see first and then believe. Or you believe, you see, and continue
to believe; that’s also good. When you see, then you believe more firmly, or if you before did
not believe, now you see and you believe. It is very difficult for us to believe in God when we
have not seen Hirm. That is difficult.
J. That’s difficult. I think Buddha said spirit cannot see spirit, cannot see itself, just as I cannot
see my own eye.
M. Yes, but we can see it through a reflection.
J. Through a mirror?
M. Yes, and the Light and the music are there so that we recognize our qualities. And later we
will recognize ourselves. Then we do not need all that anymore and everything becomes
clear. For me it is very clear, but in our language it is very difficult to express this Truth. It is as
clear for us as the sun. We don’t need to explain it at all.
J. Why is this knowledge so hidden?
M. Yes, because that’s the way it is. It’s very easy.
J. It is too easy?
M. Too easy. When you have loved someone, then you know this for sure. Other people know or
don’t know. It’s no problem for you. But you know very clearly, that you, for example, only love
this woman and no one else. And this feeling is very clear and the woman also knows it. Both
of you know it for sure. But it is difficult to explain it, very difficult. You enjoy only. After a while
you tell other people that they should fall in love, then they will know what is like. And I say the
same: Get enlightenment and then you know!
These things are very abstract and far away, not like a banana or a melon that we can reach
with our physical organs. For me, it is so clear that we need not discuss it, need not doubt,
because God is there! It’s truly so! You don’t even need to call Hirm God – that’s also okay.
Hes is an omnipresent love. This power is everywhere, this vital energy, which makes us
always happier, protects us, and answers to all. It gives us complete satisfaction.
J. And needs no name, no form?
M. No name – nothing! What kind of name?! There are and have been so many names: Shiva,
Krishna, Buddha, Allah, Jehovah, Rama, so many names – 1001 names. We do not need to
give yet another one. That’s the way it is! We are godly, loving, and have so many wonderful
qualities that we can rediscover. And we are always satisfied in every way – always satisfied,
at peace forever, that’s the end. It’s good like that.
Sometimes in this life we have a lot of money and a higher position, but we are not happy. We
are always missing something and we don’t know why. That’s why we run after women, fame,
position, and we are never satisfied because we still do not have the true contentment from
the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is just another name again, but a name is empty
without our own experience.
J. A clear sign, a sure sign, is then that one must be content?
M. Yes, love and contentment. When you are content, you can love others and forgive others
because it doesn’t matter to us what happens. It’s like that when ‘the kingdom of God is within
you!’ And everyone can find that for themselves. Everyone, because we have that within us;
we were born with it. But if we do not discover it, then it is not there. We sleep and we suffer
all the time. Like a man who has a great treasure but does not know where and does not have
a key to it. And so he always remains poor, is always poor, is without money and must
perhaps clean the street or drive a taxi or such to earn his money. And all the time, he has
behind him or under him a great treasure!
J. What is the key?
M. Saint Peter has the key and he gave it to me to open the door wider for the people who are
ready to come Home. There are many people who are not ready yet to leave the kingdom of
earth. For them, the earth and the things here are what they need. They cannot imagine that
there is anything else, something better. It’s like fruit when it is ripe, then it falls to the ground.
It is very easy. That’s why we do not get in a hurry to pull these people to us. They come on
their own, when it’s time, when they are ripe!
J. And everyone has to know that for themselves?
M. Yes, everyone must know that for themselves – if they have had enough of this life or not. You
alone are the only one who decides. If you are not finished with this life, it doesn’t matter how
long I talk about the kingdom of God, you won’t be interested. And not only you. Voila!
J. Voila! Well, then I wish You all the best for tomorrow.
M. Have you had enough?
J. I have a lot of special questions, but I must ask them of myself.
M. Yes, tomorrow the audience will also ask questions, maybe your question will be one of them.
But if you have any more questions now, it’s no problem. I have time for you.
J. I have one question as a mother. How can I as a mother meditate two or three hours a day?
M. Oh yes, how does one do it? You don’t have to meditate during the day, but at night and early
in the morning when the whole family is still sleeping. Then we have time and peace for
ourselves. But of course, a mother will think, ‘Oh, I don’t have any more energy! The whole
day with the children, I don’t have any more energy to sit.’ But this meditation will give her
energy back. She will be restored. You sit only for an hour and you have enough energy for
the whole day. And in the evening when you are a little tired, then you sit again for an hour
and get restored. And like that you always get more energy again. Yes, that’s what we need.
Our inner self is limitless, but we don’t use it. Do you think that I, as a weak, small woman,
could travel like this from one country to another almost without sleep? For example, since
yesterday evening, we have not slept. The whole day, I have received guests and journalists,
like yourself, and worked, and in the evening, I had to hold lectures and after the lectures, I
gave initiations until three in the morning. Then I went home, had a shower, changed, packed,
and we traveled to Germany. This morning at 9:00 or 9:30, we were here. Then I met a lot of
people, took a lot of phone calls, and have not slept at all. I lay down for a half an hour; that’s
all in thirty-six hours. And we often sleep so little.
We also eat little; the less you sleep, the less you eat, too. That’s why I must rely on this inner
power, because with normal, human power, I could not do it. And talking all the time! That
takes a lot of energy and I eat so little because I sometimes have no time to eat or am too
tired. I sleep little, and can’t eat a lot. Before, I could not do much. I was always tired because
I am so small. I worked a little and then had to go right back to sleep. But now I can work all
day and sometimes through the night. You are maybe a little tired, but not exhausted. You are
now more preserving, more resistant. I eat a little vegetable, tofu, sometimes nothing.
Sometimes food doesn’t taste good to me. I just drink a glass of milk and continue. So we
don’t worry about eating and sleeping. When we can sleep, then we sleep, when not, it’s also
the same because we use the limitless energy within us. And you can also do that! Otherwise,
all mothers are very tired, but children are energetic and never tired. They scream the whole
day…
J. … and night!
M. And they always do things like that. Always full of energy and the mother so tired, so
exhausted. But that need not be. We have the limitless energy in us and can use it. The more
you meditate, the more energy you have and you can work the whole day. You do not feel so
tired. A lot of mothers in our group have experienced this, thousands of mothers.
You feel born again, as full of energy as your children. You can play with your children and do
a lot of other things without getting tired. It’s remarkable! That’s why we must find
enlightenment. We must find ourselves again, our great self, or we will die. This life is so full of
pressure and oppression. We always feel very tired and broken and sometimes think, ‘How
can it go on like this?’
J. Now I have another question about the meditation technique. Do You visualize something?
M. Nothing.
J. It comes on its own?
M. It comes – no effort!
J. No effort, no visualization, no image?
M. No, nothing. We don’t use our computer. That is the trick of the Master. That’s why you need
the Master. Otherwise, it doesn’t work.
J. Yes, I know a lot of meditations that work with visualization…
M. Yes, that is very tiring. We work the whole day and think and think and think and then in the
evening we want to meditate and find peace and we are supposed to think yet again and exert
energy and imagine! If we have fruit in front of us, why should we visualize? With our
meditation, we put the fruit in front of your nose and you eat! Then we do not need to struggle,
and go to the store, or visualize, and so on. That’s very tiring – my God! I have tried it all! We
waste so much energy.
J. Yes, I have also tried some things. What I also noticed in the videos is that You don’t use any
kind of ritual or ceremony at all.
M. No, because we have God within us. We don’t need anything at all, no external ritual. We
don’t need that at all. When the door is opened, then we are reconnected to our godly quality.
That is it, and we are whole again. Like when you plug in the cable and the light turns on
immediately. We don’t need to sit and beg and ask or to visualize. Why should we visualize? If
you don’t have any money, should you sit there and visualize that you have some? Does that
work? But this is illogical, there is no logic in it.
J. But the people who sell the courses, they sure get money…
M. Yes, people want so badly to have something, to improve their lives. Poor people! And here
we make everything available free of charge and they have it right away – their energy and
their wisdom! And people still doubt, ‘Does such a good thing exist, and free even? We have
never heard of such a thing.’ Yes, because life is so bad, we only expect bad things. We are
so pushed down that we can no longer believe in goodness, in something spontaneous,
natural, and good, in love and goodness. I was one of those who looked everywhere, and
visualized and practiced breathing.
J. … and counting, forwards and then backwards.
M. Yes, counting too and I became so tired. I was so happy to find this Quan Yin method. And I
share gladly and do it free of charge because I earn a lot of money myself. I don’t need
anything from others. God has given me so much so that I may share. It’s such a wonderful
thing; it’s outstanding, and when someone does not have it, then it makes me very sorry. It
makes me very sorry. I don’t know if I was able to make that clear to you?
J. Yes, yes.
M. It’s a difficult thing.
J. I would like to know one more thing. Can You teach the children something from the
beginning that they can take with them on their way that will support them?
M. Of course! When the mother and / or father is initiated, then the children can also participate
after the age of six years old. Only after six years because before that they are too small and
don’t understand anything. But after six years, it’s okay. Then they receive half initiation and
after twelve years, the full initiation because only adults receive the full initiation. And when
the adults lead an exemplary life, then the children will also want to lead such a life.
We have many children with us, many children who see the Light and hear the Sound, and
they are very good children. You need not worry about them so much anymore and need not
be afraid that your children will take drugs or fall into a bad circle of friends because they will
be stable from very young and are morally firm. Our children are wonderful; I am very proud of
them. When you meditate, then you become very sensitive and can feel it quickly and when
you speak to someone, you know exactly what level he is at, without initiation.
Well, then you are content?
J. Yes, thank You so very much!
THE TRUE MEANING OF INITIATION 23
MC. And now I’d like to greet Master Ching Hai on Her world tour in Munich!
M. Thank you.
MC. And I also want to warmly welcome you to Master’s lecture today, the first of May, Labor Day.
We’ll use today for a day of inner labor. You could now begin with the flower offerings.
M. Thank you. More flowers than people! We have a problem arranging all the flowers here.
There’s no place for the people. Thank you. Okay, and what’s on your program now?
MC. Master Ching Hai will now begin Her lecture in German.
How are you? I’m sorry that the room is so small, but you can come up to the stage, too, and sit.
We do that sometimes because the room is too full, no matter how large. Come here, some of you,
23. Public lecture, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Munich, Germany, May 1, 1993 (Originally in German).
and sit here next to me. I’m sorry that it’s pretty uncomfortable. Make yourselves comfortable. Sit
down next to me, and correct me when my German isn’t good. I’m happy that you’ve come here,
although it’s so small. Why is it so small here? I’m so sorry! There are more people here than in
heaven!
So, my dear friend, ladies and gentlemen, I’m very happy to be in Germany again and especially in
Munich, which awakens especially nice memories in me. I used to live in Munich, but maybe you
already know that. You don’t even know me? I was your neighbor. I always did my shopping in
Schwabing!
Normally my German isn’t very good. Today I will try my best in order to give the lecture. And if
there’s something you don’t understand, then it doesn’t matter, because we have our inner wisdom
that understands everything. We don’t need any language, explanations, or lectures. We
understand each other already on an inner level. But in any case, since I’m already here, I must
say something in order to complete my task. Otherwise, had we already known each other for
longer, then we could sit quietly and look into each other’s eyes and that would be enough. We do
that with a lot of initiates, too.
It is more than ten years since I was last in Munich. So many old friends and acquaintances have
overwhelmed me with warmth and loving attention since the moment of my arrival. And I am very
touched. It reminds me that under the cool surface of the German mentality, lies deep human joy
and sensitivity, and shows that love is independent from space and time. And love is the most
important in our lives. Love is the driving force behind most of our actions. All other aspects of our
physical existence are also important, but in their essence, only secondary.
I caught a little cold, only when I came to Munich. I’ve traveled around the world already and
nothing happened, but as soon as I come to Munich then it happens, a cold, maybe to welcome
me. I always had a cold in Munich. But the weather is so nice! You’re enjoying it? Yes.
We are in the driver’s seat
That was my present, my gift. Our material body is only a car. Our real I, our real self, is, so to
speak, the driver of this car. If we only take care of the car and not the driver, then it wouldn’t be
very clever of us, right? But that’s exactly what a lot of us do. And that’s precisely why we have so
many problems in life, so much confusion, and so much misery. Sometimes we make the good
Lord responsible for all that, but actually we are the ones in the driver’s seat. And we have free will
and all the means to take hold of the steering wheel, and to direct our lives in the right direction.
We are not only a material body; rather, we are also equipped with infinite divine powers, but we
are handicapped in several ways. If we do not use this inner power, then we are handicapped.
Does that make sense? If we only take advantage of our physical power and don’t use the divine
power, then we are handicapped in several ways. But on the other hand, if we know how to use our
spiritual powers to take advantage of our spiritual powers, only then do we become complete, well-
rounded beings.
Since early times, we have called those beings ‘Masters’ who are able to use their own potential
fully. That’s why the world of the Masters is a world of perfect wisdom, virtue, and eternal beauty as
compared to our world. To become a Master in this sense is within the reach of all of us. The
people in so-called ‘paradise’ use a great part of this power. It is through this power that they are
even able to turn their environment into paradise. The more they use this power, the higher the
level of the paradise.
So that’s why there are different levels of spiritual development. Usually people use very little of
this power. That’s why earthly people are surrounded by a much less heavenly, less glorious, and
less peaceful environment. All the misery in this world comes because we are not aware of our
powers. Even God cannot be responsible for everything. Because God has equipped us with
superior powers, we are able to determine for ourselves what kind of life we want to lead. For those
of us who are in contact with heaven, life will be smoother and more fulfilled in regards to virtue,
beauty, and wisdom.
Open the gates of heaven through initiation
Many people repeatedly ask me what ‘initiation’ means, what initiation is good for, and why one
needs a Master. Initiation is the opening of the gates of heaven, the reestablishment of the contact
with the paradise of our true self. In order to reach this, we must be carried by true intentions; we
must feel a real longing to get to know the best part of our self. We must truly understand that our
physical abilities are not the only reality, because in the depths of our consciousness, greater
treasures are waiting to be rediscovered and put into use.
A ‘Master’ is one who understands how to uncover these treasures of our consciousness. At the
time of initiation, the Master helps us to enter into our true kingdom, and from then on, our level of
understanding will increase. But in the process, you do not see that He carries out any physical
actions, or says anything in human language, because at that moment, the soul of the person to be
initiated receives instructions directly from the source of the highest wisdom. And from that point
on, we understand many things that we were never able to understand before; we are able to solve
many problems on our own that before we had not been able to understand. From that point on, we
see life from a completely different perspective. And we will feel an overflowing love for all living
beings, for whom we felt nothing before. This is the noble goal that all of us can reach.
After initiation we truly understand the difference between the physical and the spiritual levels.
Otherwise, one would not be able to describe, with any amount of subtle, intellectual explanation,
this state of consciousness. It is just as hopeless as to make through words the love between two
lovers comprehensible to an outsider, or to explain colors to a blind person. That which we
experience directly is much more valuable than many highly interesting lectures. All Masters offer
direct and true experience to the seekers of the Truth, and bring them back to where they came
from – that is to say, to the kingdom of God. The disciples attain this with no effort, and the Master
does this for them unconditionally, with no fees or conditions.
Our earthly world and the kingdom of God are separated only by a hairbreadth from one another.
But astoundingly, many of us are still not able to cross such a tiny line to take possession of the
greatest power of the universe. That is why, in spite of our enormous efforts in all of our daily
activities, we are able to attain so pitifully little. This is presently the biggest obstacle for the
progress of our civilization. The best thing which we could give to the world is enlightenment, from
which all wisdom, goodness, and beauty come. Only with true wisdom, goodness, and beauty can
we serve the world. With them, we can transform our world into a paradise on earth.
I’m finished with the lecture. You may ask questions. Thank you for your attention.
Q. Is the basis of this teaching also the teaching of karma or reincarnation?
M. Yes, that is right, but that is only a small part of our system, of our teaching. Our system helps
people to escape their karmic punishment.
Q. In order to depart from the earthly level of consciousness, right?
M. To attain a higher level of consciousness.
Q. And do You, as the Master, take on the karma of Your disciples?
M. I do. I must.
Q. Does that happen at the time of initiation or does it also happen before the initiation?
M. Sometimes before, sometimes afterwards.
Q. Okay, thank You.
M. You’re welcome. You already know a lot about the basics.
Q. Why is it not allowed to heal people after the initiation, for example, with Wei Qi Gong? The
healer is only a channel for the universe vital force.
M. Healing isn’t forbidden, but if we want to go up to the higher worlds, we must let go of a corner
of our abilities. For example, if you want to see all of beautiful woman, you cannot just look at
her feet. Rather, you turn your eyes away from her feet to look at the whole woman! Healing is
just a part of our universal energy. And if you are attached to a small part of this energy, then
you can’t experience or use the whole energy. That’s the only reason for the suggestion. It’s
meant to help so, that you don’t just stay in a corner, but grasp the whole.
Q. What is the third eye?
M. The third eye is actually not an eye. Rather, it is our wisdom, which can see all without eyes,
can hear all without ears, and can feel and know everything without physical organs.
Q. Can one become mentally dependent on the Master through the initiation?
M. Dependency is never good! Never. And initiation is the first step forward independence, so
that later we can become Masters, and not always be disciples. Our path is directed toward
becoming a Master. And after initiation, of course, you must learn that you are the Master.
You will soon know this, and then the dependency will drop away on its own. It goes away on
its own.
Q. Can someone who is already a follower of another Master also be initiated by You?
M. Naturally! But if you already have one, then that is enough. But of course, you have to know
which Master you have already had. For example, if your Master has the ability to show you
the inner Light and offer you the inner music from paradise, then your Master is capable, and
is a true Master. So that’s why you don’t need to look for another Master. But if you do not see
Light and hear music, then you have to look for another one.
Q. How can one recognize a Master as the highest?
M. It depends on how honest you are with yourself. When you really, truly want to reach the
highest level in heaven more than anything else in the world, then you will find a Master of the
highest level so that what you want will be given to you. But be honest! Look inside yourself
and ask yourself if you really want the kingdom of God, and then the answer will come on its
own.
Q. Why is it necessary, useful, to have a spiritual Teacher if complete knowledge exists in our
souls?
M. That’s right, it is not necessary to have a Master if you can find it on your own. But most of us
have been incarnated in this world for so long that we have forgotten to find our kingdom of
God. That’s why the Master is there to remind us, to help us to find our self again, and to
remind us that we are indeed the greatest Master of the universe.
Q. Master, please explain reincarnation. How can I know that reincarnation is true?
M. When we go to the second level in the hierarchy, we can see our own past lives or the past
lives of others. But for that we must practice a certain kind of meditation.
Q. If we are all reincarnated souls, then why is the population of the world constantly increasing?
M. Because, apart from our own reincarnation, there is the reincarnation of other beings, like
from the mineral or plant kingdoms. They have an evolution and always climb higher, and
that’s why there are always more people. Additionally, beings from other planets also come to
us, because they have an inner affinity with us. Relation, you could also say, affinity, inside.
Q. Why do we have overpopulation on this planet?
M. Overpopulation? I said that, yes? We have so many because beings from other planets come
to us, and also from the mineral and plant kingdom. They climb higher and become human.
Q. If someone has been religious since childhood, can they be initiated? I ask this question
because, in Your book, I read that it does not matter what belief one has. Thank You for Your
answer.
M. Yes, of course. We need not change our belief, our religion. The motive for all religions is to
reach our heaven, the paradise inside ourselves. We don’t need to change our religion; rather,
initiation means that we become capable of seeing our paradise. We help you to continue to
develop the so-called belief because when you really see your promised inner paradise, then
you will believe in your religious theory even more. That’s why we don’t need to change.
Q. What does immediate enlightenment mean? Does enlightenment happen at the initiation?
M. Yes, immediately! That’s why one says ‘immediate enlightenment.’ When you sit down and I
say, ‘Let’s begin,’ then you will see. Immediately. That’s why we speak of direct
enlightenment. You need not wait so long because the kingdom of God is in us already. We
don’t have to buy it in a shop, or look for it in another place.
Q. You call Yourself the Supreme Master. Does that mean that other masters are lower than
You?
M. All of them are Supreme Masters. You, too! The name ‘Supreme Master’ belongs to our
Father and I am Hiers daughter, just like you are Mr. Miller, and your daughter is Miss Miller.
You are also the Supreme Master but you have forgotten your name, your origin, and that’s
not my fault.
Q. Who are You? Are You love?
M. That I don’t know. You must feel it yourself. Such a question can’t be directly answered.
Q. What is the true meaning of man and woman?
M. True meaning of the relationship, the true relationship, or what? Oh, that means that one is a
man and the other is a woman. What a question! You don’t always have to be so intellectual.
You don’t always have to show that you know everything, et cetera. That’s too deadly serious.
Q. Why do normal people always suffer?
M. It is written in many religious texts, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ That’s the theory of karma
in Sanskrit, in Buddhism, and also in the Catholic religion. You sow something and then you
reap something. And because our lives are a continuous circle, we are reincarnated, then we
die again and forget what we have previously sown. Now we harvest something not so nice,
and we don’t like it. All the misery of this world comes from our own activity and from our
collective activities.
Q. Why are we separated from the higher level? How did it happen?
M. We forgot it. It’s quite simple. Like when you put something in your pocket and then you look
for it everywhere, in the whole house, on the whole street, and you can’t find it. But when you
remember that it’s there, then you have it again immediately. That’s why we can have
immediate enlightenment, because it’s in your trousers’ pocket.
Q. Where do we come from before birth?
M. Oh, how should I know where you come from? There are so many people! Everyone comes
from a different background, from different levels of consciousness. But you should know that!
If you don’t know that, you could try to meditate and to go back before your birth, and then you
can find out where you come from.
M. Do you know what the meaning of life is? That we can have children, that we can go
shopping, that we can work, and that after work, that we can die. That is the normal meaning
of life. But the real meaning of our life is that we must come here to bless the earth with our
divine energy. But when we come here, we are burdened by so many earthly things and are
exhausted, and then forget what our task is. That’s why the so-called Masters always have to
come to remind us that we are great, that we are the Masters of our self, so that we can return
to our true position.
Q. Why do You speak of immediate enlightenment? All other masters say that it is a difficult, long
process, and possibly lasts many reincarnations.
M. Yes. We have already experienced many reincarnations. Now is the time!
Q. Is there a mistake that one can make along the way that is irreparable?
M. In life, right? Maybe you mean, ‘Is there such a sin that we cannot ever make up for it?’ No,
not at all. Actually there isn’t such a thing as sin. The biggest sin is that we don’t know that we
have God in us. Everything else is unimportant. When we are initiated and know that we are
the children of God and that we have God power, then all sins disappear. That’s the way it is.
Q. How long should I meditate and in what way?
M. Normally two and one-half to three hours daily. And you can do it partially; spread it out
throughout the day.
In what day? I will tell you during the initiation. It needs a little time. The initiation comes
immediately, only the explanations and the directions take a little longer, so that you know
how you should meditate every day, and what to avoid, or what we should keep in mind.
Q. You say that when praying, one feels the presence of God or Buddha. What am I doing wrong
if I feel nothing or have inner blockages? Sometimes I think that I am cut off from God, and
don’t find the access.
M. I didn’t say that we should always be able to feel the God energy or Buddha energy, but
sometimes. I have prayed for a long time, since I was small. Only sometimes was I able to
come into contact with the higher power, but other times, I was not able to. When you are
really deeply in prayer, then you can feel it; otherwise, it is very difficult. But with initiation,
afterwards, we feel our real self that manifests itself in our lives with Light and music, with
wisdom and love, and many other virtues.
Q. Does Your teaching represent competition for a practicing Christian?
M. Not at all, not at all. In the spiritual life we do not compete. Only if you do business and want
to make money, do we speak of competition. We only have one God. Who competes with
whom?
Q. What is the origin of destruction?
M. There is only destruction in our world, the earthly world, or the hellish world, but in heaven,
there is no destruction. Sometimes, because we contaminate the atmosphere too much,
destruction comes on its own. Like when we have created an atom bomb, and it explodes,
then there is destruction. And if you do not create an atom bomb, then there is no destruction.
It is also the result of our negative thoughts and actions.
Q. Can someone be initiated who is here today for the first time, without having heard much
about You?
M. Of course. It doesn’t take long to understand what you already have in you. You already have
this wisdom; you already have your supreme power. There’s not a lot to say.
Q. What does Jesus Christ mean to You? Who is He?
M. You don’t know who He is? You have to ask me?
He is one of the highest Masters to have visited our world and to have taught us. But He has
already gone. You know all of this.
Q. You said, on the one hand, that You have a cold and that it almost killed You. How can You,
as a vegetarian, get sick at all?
M. You are not at all generous. I’ve traveled around the whole world, and I have done so much
work. I work very hard when I am on world tour, and I have to put up with the smoke in the
airplane. I have to work day and night, and sometimes I do not sleep. Also I have no time to
eat vegetarian, and naturally my body is material and can therefore be influenced.
Of course, as vegetarians, we get sick less often than other people. That’s why all hospitals
are made for meat-eaters. I get a cold once every six or seven years and you already criticize
me for that. In my situation, I travel around the world, work day and night, and often cannot
sleep. You couldn’t do half of it either without a cold. And now I have a cold, but I still come to
give a lecture. That’s really something, isn’t it? [Applause]
Q. What is the goal of the Quan Yin method?
M. The goal is to reach heaven, to go back to our true Home.
Q. Have You already reached Your potential, or can You still make progress?
M. One always makes progress. There is no roof, no limit, but if you reach a certain stage, then
it’s mastership. Like when you get a high school diploma, but then afterwards you continue to
investigate and to develop. There is no limit in spiritual practice.
Q. Is the meditation that You practice the Light and Sound meditation?
M. Yes.
Q. What can You say about our ability to go beyond physical consciousness?
M. All who are enlightened can do that. That is nothing special. We do it every day, several
times.
Q. Are all Masters on the fifth level and one with God?
M. Yes, they must be.
Q. From which planet did You incarnate?
M. I’ve forgotten that. I come from a planet which you all come from.
Q. How can I protect myself from the negative thoughts of others and from my own?
M. You always have to think about God. If you can do that, then other thinking will not be able to
influence you.
Q. Why, in spite of positive thinking and acting, and helpfulness do aggression and negativity
always return to me although I have been on the spiritual path for more than ten years?
M. When we are in water we can’t avoid getting wet. In this world there is negativity everywhere,
and so much aggression. We have to live with it and to practice tolerance. And when we have
time, we must go inside ourselves and find our happiness, and rest in this happiness. And all
other misery of this world can no longer bother us.
Q. After we become initiated, how will we be further cared for and led? How will we stay in
contact with the Master?
M. Our relationship is not an external thing, but rather from the inside. Wherever we are, we’ll
stay in contact. And whatever happens to you, or endangers you, the Master always knows
and helps you wherever you are. No problem. And moreover, in these times, you can write a
letter, telephone, or send a fax; it goes very quickly. And you can also visit me.
Q. Must You bear the karma that You take from Your students on Your own body?
M. That’s the business of the Master; it must be done so. It is the price of being a Master. That is
my salary.
Q. How can one help one’s ancestors, the deceased, to reach better circumstances in the next
life?
M. We can hardly help the living, much less the dead. But when you are initiated, the initiation
promises the liberation of five generations of your family, at least. So the power of meditation
helps the decreased, five or six generations in the past, at least five generations. Also, your
living friends, or anyone that you have contact with, people that you love, all of them will profit
from your initiation and from your daily practice with your God power.
Q. Where does the constant inner restlessness come from, and how can one find inner peace?
M. Our peace is always there but we let ourselves be bothered by the external circumstances.
And that’s why we cannot become calm. But when you are initiated and know how to reach
this inner peace every day, to rest yourself there, then you will find in yourself your true,
original peace again, inside you. [Applause]
Q. In many practices there are worldly rituals, which also masters practice. By rituals, I mean
certain clothes, certain forms of greeting and acting, et cetera. Why are these rituals also
necessary in the so-called higher spiritual area? Personally, rituals irritate me a great deal,
especially when I am supposed to recognize the authority of a Master.
M. We have no rituals here, so stay calm. You don’t need to do anything. When you see me, just
say ‘hallo’ to me, or don’t say anything, no problem. You also need not call me ‘Master.’ It’s
just that most of the initiates call me that and you get used to it. But personally, I don’t have at
all the feeling that I am a Master. Rather, I just always say that I am a normal person and that
I have discovered my superior abilities. You also have these abilities in you, and I help you to
find your own abilities. Whether you call me Master or not, it makes no difference to me.
Q. Is everyone initiated, even someone who perhaps has difficulty at that moment to physically
bear enlightenment? Can someone be refused for enlightenment? There are some people
who are in a mental state where they are not able to cope with what the initiation means. Are
these people initiated or are they somehow put on a waiting bench?
M. Everyone can be initiated. There are no exceptions that I know of. There are none, as we
have it in us, the enlightenment is already there. The great power is already there. You have
it; I only help so that you can open it. There are no side-effects.
Q. What is yin-yang?
M. Yin-yang is Chinese terminology to describe the two forces of our world. One is positive and
one is negative. The positive one is everything light, all contentment, and all good. And the
negative one is all that is sluggish, dark, or not very advantageous. And the balance between
the two forces help us to understand the wisdom of God.
Q. I have heard that the personal God lives in the heart. I’d like to have more contact with my
heart.
M. Then come to the initiation!
Q. My question is how can it be a sin to commit suicide?
M. It isn’t a sin exactly, but when we commit suicide, at that point we have a very low level of
consciousness and also very low vibrations. And if we die in such a state, then we will remain
in the state for a very long, long, long time. And that is very tortuous, very painful, and brings a
lot of suffering. That’s why we shouldn’t do it. It’s not a sin, but it is very terrible for us.
Q. Should one show one’s children the way to God or must every person find it themselves?
M. Yes, show them for sure. As parents, we must show our children what is good.
Q. Where does evil come from?
M. Evil – because we can’t always understand each other. There are always misunderstandings.
Q. Is initiation possible even if, in spite of good intentions, I am not able to guarantee that I will
keep the five requirements?
M. Yes, it’s possible. You must always try again to continue in the right direction. Sometimes we
are tired or weak and we fall back, but we can always keep trying, and always renew our
determination. There is no one who is immediately perfect, but we must want to make
progress with our good intentions.
Q. Are You convinced that people will really reach enlightenment through Your lecture?
M. I’m not convinced of it. I have seen it with my own eyes. It isn’t a conviction; it is a fact. You
can also receive immediate enlightenment, if you want, during the initiation, and then you
convince yourself.
Q. If God doesn’t want any living being to be harmed, then why did Hes create meat-eating
animals?
M. The meat-eating animals are actually not created by God. These are very aggressive souls
that are looking for such an experience, who want to try such an experience, and they
incarnate as tigers or lions to have fun. The souls, the aggressive souls themselves, want to
have such experiences, and then reincarnate as such animals.
Q. Because of negative thoughts I had a great failure once and I am afraid that this might happen
again, that I really may fail in life because of negative thinking.
M. We can’t be positive throughout our whole lives because we are also subject to the influence
of our surroundings. So forgive yourself when you can’t reach it, and try it again.
Q. How do You see the future unity of religions?
M. Future unity of the religions depends on us. When we all reach the highest understanding,
then we understand that all religions are one, and we have only one God. All religions should
serve this goal, then we will be one, and there will no longer be discrimination. [Applause]
Q. Does spiritual growth eliminate the possibility of sexual erotic love?
M. You mean that after you grow spiritually, you don’t have any more sex? Is it possible to have
sex and enjoy it after spiritual progress? Yes, of course. You don’t need to become a holy
Buddha. But with spiritual practice such desires will decrease because we enjoy our divine
ecstasy more and more. We enjoy our heavenly pleasure more and more every day and the
earthly pleasures seem less and less important. They are not such attractions anymore, not
so strong, but it is not forbidden. Not that you must become a holy Buddha. It’s still okay, but
we don’t see it as so important as before. If we have it, okay, and if we don’t have it, we don’t
die.
Q. I am only fourteen years old, and would like to come to the initiation. Can I make this decision
on my own, or must I speak to my parents about it?
M. Yes, it’s better if you talk to your parents before. It’s better for your parents, so that they know
what you are doing and are not afraid. Because parents love their children a lot, and always
want to know what the children are doing, and if it is good for the children or not. Parents
always mean well. It is better if you discuss it with your parents first.
Q. In my work, I live in the material world, which leaves me little time for spiritual things, and I
make no progress. Should one withdraw oneself, for example, give up one’s job for a while, in
order to dedicate oneself to meditation?
M. No, you don’t need to do that. Imagine, I have a lot more work than you, and I still meditate in
spite of it. We must complete our worldly tasks, and at the same time, remind ourselves of the
divine paradise. We meditate and work at the same time. We work when it’s time to work and
we meditate when we have time. So, early in the morning, very early in the morning, or late in
the evening before we go to bed, or when you take a break at work and have time, or when
you are sitting in the bus, or in the park, enjoying the fresh air. You can sit everywhere, sit
anytime, and go inwards. It’s no problem. We have a lot of time.
Q. Can it happen that one finds out during the initiation that one was possessed and the demons
rebel?
M. I have never seen it up to now. There have been many thousands of people who have been
initiated, but this case has not come up yet. The negative and positive forces cannot mix.
They don’t go together. After initiation the devil runs away quickly because he’s afraid. We
have no fear; he’s afraid.
Q. After initiation, we will become more free and independent inside. At some point we go free,
externally, from the Master. Is this correct?
M. Naturally, it is important that you be independent from all external apparatuses, things,
including the Master. The Master is only there at the beginning to teach you the alphabet. But
later, you must learn to write alone, and I don’t always have to be there to dictate what kind of
love letter you should write to your beloved.
Q. Dear Master, when my mother heard Your name she believed in You immediately and has
meditated a half hour every day. She recites Your name and has seen the inner Light. Is my
mother also one of Your followers? When she dies, will You also come to help her?
M. Yes, of course. One need not always be officially initiated for that. It’s not necessary. The
official ones are few; the unofficial followers are many more.
Q. Do You have spiritual powers for human physical suffering? For example, my daughter suffers
from a growth disorder of a hormonal nature and the doctors have no medical solution.
M. I also have them, but God has not allowed me to use this power everywhere, except for the
ones God has chosen and has told me. I must respect the natural laws; otherwise, I would go
around the whole world healing people and the doctors would be unemployed.
Q. I was baptized a Christian. May I, or should I, be initiated by You?
M. Why not? It doesn’t hurt. You will see Christ on the inside and talk with Him, and then you can
ask Him if it was the right thing. Many of our disciples come into contact with Christ during the
meditation or even during the initiation. During the initiation we can come into contact with
Christ or Buddha.
Q. Your fifth rule forbids the enjoyment of intoxicating substances. But isn’t it true that intoxicants
can also bring about a state of tranquility? Where do You draw the line?
M. Do you mean drugs? I say this, ‘Drugs are not good for our progress.’ Drugs brings more
suffering than pleasure. Maybe you have a little enjoyment for a moment, or for a day, but the
suffering then follows. It is very torturous. Everyone knows what drugs bring to the addicts.
That’s why we should distance ourselves from such painful substances. And when we always
stay in contact with our inner grand power, then we will have much more pleasure, much more
ecstasy, than when we try drugs. It’s better that way. People take drugs because they have
the desire for heavenly ecstasy and look for cheap substitutes everywhere. That’s why they
take drugs. And when you recognize the heavenly pleasure, then you abandon that way. It’s
better like that.
Q. How can the mother of two small children take the time to meditate and to continue to develop
on the spiritual path without neglecting the children?
M. You only meditate when the children are sleeping; otherwise, you cannot at all. Many mothers
also meditate with us, and they find that they have much more power, much more energy, to
serve the children, to give them love, without becoming exhausted or tired so quickly. That’s
no problem. We all have children. There is no mother who has no children. We must do
something for ourselves and also for the children. Your meditation will affect the children a
great deal and will make them much calmer, better behaved. And so then you save a lot of
energy, not fearing what could happen to your children.
Q. Why are people not all the same? I mean, why are there different races, poor people, and
animals? Where does this come from? [MC: This question is from Johanna, seven years old.]
M. We have a lot of colors, and many different faces, so that life here is interesting. If everyone
were the same, white or black, then it would be a little boring, wouldn’t it?
And poverty comes from our activities in previous lives. That cannot be changed, but we can
change our futures if we live morally. And if we make progress spiritually, then we will change
our future.
Q. What do You mean when You say that we should serve the world?
M. I said that we can best serve the world with our greatest power. We serve the world in any
case, but with our greatest power, we serve better. Maybe I said that, but I didn’t say that we
should serve the world. We serve the world with our abilities; for example, the doctor serves
the world when taking care of patients, and the farmer serves the world with his plowing.
[Audience: Cigarette salespeople also serve the world.] Yes, but in a negative way. They
make the world dumb and kaput, and give me a cold, too!
Q. Can one see enlightenment like seeing auras?
M. Auras are different. The enlightened people have a great Light around them that is different
from auras. Auras, everyone has, but the great Light of the enlightened person is different.
Everyone has an aura but the Light of the enlightened person is a bit different. It is bigger,
clearer, brilliant. Of course, it can be made visible because enlightened persons have Light
around themselves. But the people who want to see it must have their third eye opened or
they won’t even see it. That’s why they killed Christ although He was surrounded by the great
Light; the others couldn’t see it. It is not always visible for all people, for some, yes.
Q. Somebody who is mentally sick – would You suggest that he meditates?
M. If he can still understand our practice and our teachings, yes.
Q. Could You please say something more about the equilibrium between yin and yang?
M. Yin and yang are positive and negative. If we are on the one side for too long, in the negative,
then maybe we become more cruel, do something ugly, or not good for us and the people
around us. And if we are too much on the positive side, then we are too holy and we don’t
want to stay in the world. Then we cannot serve the world. We see the world completely
differently then, and we do nothing at all. This state is for heavenly people. The people who
live in heaven are too positive, they have no negativity, so those in the highest heaven have
no negative aspects. The people in our world are much more negative than positive. And
when we can balance between negative and positive, then we find enlightenment, then we
can be in heaven and serve the world at the same time on the physical level. That is the way
of the enlightened, the way of the Masters.
Q. How can one come daily into contact with God?
M. Through meditation, we come into contact with God every day.
Q. Does it also work if you meditate less than two hours a day?
M. Yes, it works, but of course, the less money you earn, the less you can spend.
Q. You say that we should not eat any sentient beings, which means animals. Are plants not
sentient beings? Does one do harm eating plants?
M. Yes, so you need not eat anything else! Then we meditate, and die right after the initiation, or
what? Is it right to become so fanatical? Christ was also a vegetarian, Buddha also ate
vegetarian, and we can too. And besides, it says in the bible that God made all the plants and
fruit as our food and that we may eat them. And the plants, when you cut a branch from them,
then three, four, six new shoots grow up, and that means that plants are the symbol of vitality.
If we eat life, then we live, then we partake of the vitality. But when you cut an animal’s head
off, three or four heads do not grow back. That’s why.
Q. What is negativity, evil? Can You explain it again in more detail?
M. Negativity, evil, is a kind of energy that isn’t very favorable, isn’t very loving, but rather has a
lot of destructive qualities. People in hell, for example, always live in the negative atmosphere,
and they always suffer, they always suffer. And the people in heaven, they always live in the
positive atmosphere, and they are always satisfied. And the people on this earth sometimes
live in a negative atmosphere and sometimes in a positive one.
Now when we meditate and get in touch with God, then we stay in the middle. And sometimes
we use negative and sometimes we use positive energy. Sometimes we use this so-called
bad quality to do something in the world, and sometimes we use the good quality to fulfill our
task. Negativity is, to make it short, something bad. Positivity is something good that makes
us satisfied, brings us satisfaction and happiness. And negativity, then we feel heavy,
depressed, et cetera.
Q. Why do we change our minds so often?
M. Maybe because our environment is always changing, we have different encounters, and then
we change too.
Q. Can we let meditation happen also in our daily lives with open eyes, when resting our
consciousness on God, and directing it fully to Hirm? I mean, during our daily work?
M. Yes, it can be done during work. But when we really meditate, at least at the beginning, we
should close our physical eyes, in order not to be disturbed by the many movements in our
environment. But later, when you have reached a high level, then you can also see heaven
with open eyes. You experience just as much as when you have your eyes closed. That also
comes in time and with practice.
Q. How can one know where one goes after dying, and when do we reincarnate? How long does
it take to be reincarnated?
M. It’s different and individual. Someone who meditates can go Home immediately, to heaven, to
paradise. And for other people, they go in different directions. Sometimes they go to heaven
and stay there some hundred years, or some years. That depends on their present life, what
they do in this life. If that which they do is good, then they go to heaven, and if they do a lot of
bad things, then they must go to a repair shop. We call this hell, and there we repair all the
physical, psychic, and mental shortcomings.
Q. Do You believe that there are UFOs? Do they have influence on us?
M. Yes, they do exist. There are many planets that produce UFOs. And sometimes they come to
our planet in order to gather information. Or maybe they want to advertise, so that in the future
they can sell us their UFOs.
Q. Is everything predetermined? Why do I know many things in advance before they happen?
What does that mean?
M. There are some people who possess this ability. Maybe in a previous life you practiced such a
method to be able to look into the future. And when you incarnate back into this world, you will
have this ability. That’s why you see something in the future.
Q. I work in a hospital cleaning the kitchen. Can I be qualified for initiation?
M. Sure, that’s only an occupation. If you don’t feel so at ease, then you can change your
occupation, but later. When you get a more suitable, better position, because maybe you
won’t want to cook fish or cut meat anymore. Then maybe you won’t feel good about it. After
initiation we are more advanced spiritually and we become more sensitive than before, and
maybe you won’t feel good.
Q. What level is one in after initiation?
M. That depends on you. During initiation, the Master power knows which disciples need which
treatment. And that’s why two people who sit next to each other have different inner levels,
and see different levels, as they have different backgrounds. The level is determined first
because of their past lives, and also because of their present sincerity with regard to their
spiritual direction that differs also very much among people.
Q. Where does depression come from? Is it produced by one’s own self?
M. By the self and also by the environment. But indeed, especially from the self, since we
ourselves have created, chosen, our present environment.
Q. How do I know, during the Sound and Light meditation, that the Sound and the Light come
directly from God and are not products of my own imagination?
M. It’s not as easy to produce this Light as you imagine. That’s why most of us do not see this
Light. If most of us were able to simply produce it, then I wouldn’t need to say anything. It’s
not so easy. So when the Light comes, it is from God. And moreover we feel it. It is not the
Light that is so important, but the Light is like nourishment for our spiritual life. Just like we
take food to keep our physical bodies in good health, we also take the Light and the music of
heaven to nourish our soul, to reawaken our wisdom.
When we see the Light and hear the Sound, then we feel better, different from before, better
and better, very loving, very intelligent, more and more tolerant, and more and more of all
good qualities. And then we know that the Light is right and comes from heaven. You will feel
it. You feel newly born, energetic, and very happy. And only the true Light and the true God
quality can bring us into this state.
Q. Thank You.
M. You are very kind to me. You have loved me a lot. Thank you.
Q. What am I doing wrong when I always get dizzy during meditation?
M. Maybe you are meditating with a meditation system that isn’t for you. Then you can look for
another one. Try with us, yes. Maybe it’s better. We have no dizziness, just vertical and
straight ahead.
Q. Everybody is born innocent. Why are there big injustices that others have to cope with, their
living with handicaps, mistakes, blind, deaf, mute?
M. Yes, we have discussed that. Our life is infinite. We always return and we have forgotten what
we did in earlier lives. And then we complain that it isn’t right.
Q. How can I deal with fear? Will I become careless through suppression of it?
M. It’s not easy to deal with fear. Only when we become enlightened, are we the lord of the
manor and then we control all our emotions. That’s a better way. Otherwise, we are always
buried in fear and we can’t avoid it. Before, I also had a lot of fear, and I still have fear. But the
earlier fear I was unable to dominate or control, but now the fear is under control. For
example, I’m afraid to fly, not of the flying itself, but the small space in the airplane, and so
much smoke, and a lot of other things. It makes me very tired and sick, physically, and when I
travel that isn’t very good for the disciples. I cannot serve them with all my energy, and that
was my fear. But in spite of this fear, I travel, as I do not let the fear control me. We’re afraid
but we can deal with it, handle it through enlightenment. Without enlightenment, everything is
so difficult. With the enlightenment, everything is very easy; really, I’ve discovered it for
myself.
Q. Will we still become enlightened if we are not initiated, but meditate and follow the precepts?
M. Yes, if you know how, you should meditate. The initiation is inside, not outside. But we still
give instructions so that you know how to meditate, what to avoid and what you should
observe. And that helps very, very much. The five precepts are not everything that you need
and the meditation is also not the most important thing for initiation. Rather, the Master power
during the initiation connects us to the heavenly power. It’s not a visible energy; it’s not a
physical action. I don’t do anything during the initiation, but you get enlightened, immediately.
And you can’t do it with words or fulfill it through activity. Initiation is also important.
Q. Is God love, and good?
M. Love and good? Yes, that’s right. [Audience: Not only!] Yes, more!
Q. Even more?
M. For those who know, yes.
Q. God knows everything about the future, about the past, and present. Hes made Adam and
Eve on earth.
M. That’s what we’ve heard, that’s right. We’ve asked Hirm if that’s correct.
Q. Okay, and Hes knows that humans would sin. If Hes knows everything, if Hes knew
everything, then why did Hes plan so badly that people must suffer so much and live like
now?
M. Yes, agreed. Hes created it, and Hes told Adam and Eve that they shouldn’t do this and this.
Hes not only created but also taught. Hes taught the two that they should not do this and this.
There are two possibilities. If you don’t do this, then such and such happens and you
experience paradise. And if you do it, then such and such. God isn’t so one-sided like a
streetcar that can only go straight ahead. Rather, God gives us flexibility and that’s why our
lives are so lively, full of surprises, and interesting. If God had wanted to make everything only
so straightforward, that you should be like this and this should be like that, then we wouldn’t
be able to move, we couldn’t choose, and our lives wouldn’t be so interesting. That’s why God
gives us this free will, so that we can choose.
God isn’t so dictatorial. God isn’t a dictator who determines everything, who forbids
everything, and who exactly arranges everything before. Our lives would then be so dead, not
interesting, and our intelligence would have no chance to develop. We also learn through our
mistakes. So we must accept everything, and choose what is favorable for us and not always
make God responsible. That’s everything that I think. Do you agree? [Applause] Good. You
think that God is very clever and very interesting. There is no more time. I wish you all the
best. [Applause]
BRING HEAVEN INTO OUR LIVES 24
The ‘inner language’ flows more fluently through me than any other language. Similarly, many of us
are expert in worldly conversations and works but forget our heavenly way of expression. The more
we concentrate and work in the world, the more we are experts in the worldly field. If we never
remember to polish our knowledge of heaven, then we will be further away from our roots.
Many people have asked me, ‘Why have we never heard of this method of Light and Sound
before?’ I told them that there are many things that we haven’t heard of before, or do not know,
maybe because we are not interested to know. That’s why, even though it’s available in Berlin, not
everyone wants to find out about it. Even a hundred years later, there may be a man in our
neighborhood who still does not know what heavenly Light and Sound are.
The kingdom of God is where we truly come from
We are in the world twenty-four hours a day, and seldom think of or remember heaven, which is
where we truly come from. Heaven gives us all the true happiness that we so much lack and seek
24. Public lecture, Jens-Nydahl Primary School, Berlin, Germany, May 4, 1993 (Originally in German).
in this world. If we could only contact this heaven, all things we seek would reveal themselves
because the power of creation has been bestowed upon us before birth.
We seek satisfaction and happiness through the outside world, and seldom find it there. Even if we
find it, it never lasts, and sometimes brings with it a lot more sorrow and disappointment. It is
because the shadow of the thing is not the real thing. True beauty, knowledge, and virtue can only
be found inside. Beauty, knowledge, and virtue, by human standards, are only reflections of the
original quality. That’s why we are never completely satisfied with the outside world. There is
always something missing, and this, consequently, breeds greed, attachment, anger, and hatred.
In order to quench our thirst for Truth, beauty, and virtue, we sometimes think we have to
accumulate more wealth, a higher position, and the like, but find disappointment in many of these.
We work harder and harder, believing that we will achieve perfect happiness one day through all
these material possessions.
Wisdom, beauty, and virtue already exist within us
The enlightened ones know that all wisdom, beauty and virtue area already at hand within us if only
we would take the time to discover this fact. Initiation is the turning point, when we face inward to
find all that we ever sought outside. The Light of heaven will shine forth in all the corners of our
being revealing the Truth, beauty, and virtue within us, and the inner music will accompany our
soul to the end of our path of rediscovery. We’ll ride on the waves of true love, back to the state of
noble being before we were born, in the glorious Light and carried on high by the power of
heavenly music.
The heavenly music spoken of in the holy scriptures of different religions, such as the ‘Word’ in
Christianity, the ‘Shabd’ in Hinduism, the ‘heavenly music’ in Chuang Tzu, the ‘Tao’ in Tao Te
Ching, et cetera, is the only real teaching direct from the kingdom of God. It is the language of
universal love and great intelligence. All teachings come from this silent Sound; all language
comes from this universal language. That’s why the initiates of a high level on this path speak all
languages within the ‘soul sphere.’ That’s the level of the Master, the one who has mastered the
language of the kingdom of God. We all possess this wisdom, the wisdom to understand all things
above this shadow world, to be omnipresent and to function as the most perfect being in the
universe, if only we desire to remember again what we truly are.
Masters are those who remember their origin, and out of love, share this knowledge with
whomever seeks it, and take no pay for their work. They offer all their time, finances, and energy to
the world. When we reach this level of mastership, not only do we know our origin but we can also
help others to know their true worth. Those who follow the direction of the Master quickly find
themselves in a new world, full of true knowledge, true beauty, and true virtues. All beauty,
knowledge, and virtue in the outside world are there to remind us of the true world inside. The
shadow, however beautiful, is never as good as the real object itself. Only the real thing can satisfy
our soul, which is the master of the house.
All the functions of the body will stop the moment the soul leaves the physical vehicle. Just think,
we spend most of our time focusing on this body, and little or no time on the real self which is our
eternal beloved. That’s why we need to distinguish the true man from his shadow. After initiation,
the Light from within will shine forth to show us the kingdom of God, to lead us to our real Home.
And we will find our true state of being with such happiness that we never knew before in this
world. We will overflow with all the beauty and virtue that we tried hard to cultivate but never
completely achieved before. The heavenly teaching, through the inner language, will revive all the
wisdom that we possess but were so far unable to use. Then we will be the most satisfied person,
and nothing in the whole world could offer the same effect. All these are just empty words if we are
without real experiences. Therefore, only after initiation and daily practice, can we truly understand
their meanings, and truly enjoy the limitless pleasure of a state of being high in the kingdom of
happiness.
We have the choice and the chance now to step into the glorious side of life, which we deserve,
instead of staying in the shadow, lamenting about the hard fate of our life. We do not have to run
away from life to find heaven but we should bring heaven into our life. This is the true purpose of
immediate enlightenment. This is the true liberation we can experience while still in this physical
world. Once we earnestly practice the exercises taught during initiation, we attain a balance
between heaven and earth, being able to carry out earthly duties and to recognize the heavenly
kingdom simultaneously. Since we have various earthly duties to fulfill, we should finish them as
much as possible. However, our foremost duty on earth is to bless it, so it may become a paradise,
so that all living things can lead a pleasant life, while developing simultaneously into higher
consciousness, step by step. In other words, we serve to aid in the evolution of the universe by
awakening and using the God power within us.
It is for this reason that we require the initiation that leads to immediate enlightenment, bestowing
upon us the power that we can apply directly to best serve the world. Merely developing and
unfolding bodily or physical power and offering it to the world does not suffice. That’s why our world
still remains as it is today, even though all of the humankind is yearning for higher development
and a better world. It’s high time we rediscover this, the greatest power in us, as soon as possible,
so that our life on earth will change for the better and the coming generations may grow up in a
better environment. When we watch the present miserable state of our world, we discern only too
well the absolute necessity for immediate enlightenment, not just to benefit us and our generation
alone, but to be the best legacy we could leave posterity. That’s true love in action.
Q. Do I obtain direct access to God through initiation?
M. Yes!
Q. How can I perceive the divinity in me and bring it to life?
M. After initiation you know your greatest strength, and step by step, you recognize your true self,
and that’s what you’ve asked.
Q. What is guilt?
M. When we offend against God’s law or our higher consciousness, we feel guilty. And that’s why
it is perhaps best that we observe the law and the ten commandments, and then we don’t feel
any more that guilty!
Q. And what is forgiveness of guilt?
M. Actually we don’t have guilt because God has brought us into this surrounding, and this
surrounding is so cruel, so difficult to survive. Therefore, I have got the way to bring you to
heaven, and if you go there, you can ask God directly why Hes did so.
Q. What is Truth?
M. Are we able to express something like that with language? No, isn’t it so? What do you think,
yes or no? [Audience: No!] No, all right, thank you very much! But we can experience it. We
can’t express the Truth in worldly language, but nevertheless we can experience and feel it in
ourselves.
Q. How many levels of enlightenment exist?
M. At present there are five. And when you reach the fifth level, you become a Master. After this,
there are many more levels which we can walk through and experience, alone and
independently. Then we don’t need a Master anymore. From the fifth level on, we can go on
our own.
Q. Jesus said, ‘My Father and I are one. He who sees me sees God.’ Has Jesus been God?
M. Yes – yes and no. He is one with God, but He was born from God, and therefore yes and no.
He was in this world, He was one with God, and nevertheless separate from God because He
still had to fulfill His duty. And to fulfill such a duty, He had to be a bit separate from God so
that He could understand our worldly sorrow and feelings. So we can say that He is one with
God, and, at the same time, not one with God. He has both worldly and divine sides, so that
He can connect both worlds.
Q. Do the high and low Sounds in my head on both sides have a meaning?
M. First I would have to listen to them, too. [Laughter]
Q. What is true music, and how can I recognize it?
M. Do you mean the inner music and heavenly music? We recognize it through an initiation.
Then our heavenly door will be opened and we can hear all the songs from heaven.
Q. What is ecstasy?
M. Oh, when you are drunken! [Laughter]
Ecstasy is a state of bliss in which you are one with God. Then you don’t see anymore the
misery of this world and the separation of our existence from the kingdom of God.
Q. Why shouldn’t we do spiritual healing when we practice the Quan Yin method?
M. Always you ask something like that! Well, briefly said, when you want to become a doctor, you
shouldn’t interfere with the nurses’ work or take care about it. This is briefly said. Otherwise, it
would take too much time.
Q. Where can I go to learn and practice Your exercises?
M. You can register right after the lecture, and then we will call you. Stay here, and the initiation
will start straight after that.
Q. Do You plan to come to the former socialist states, for example, to Poland?
M. When I am invited, yes, but I have no disciples there. We have already a lot of Polish
disciples, but they are in America. I go where I am invited; I don’t go anywhere where I am not
welcome.
Q. Other teachers demand strict asceticism. Is this self-torture necessary?
M. No, no, that’s not necessary, but it is only about your level of enlightenment. If you are very
enlightened, the attraction of the earthly needs isn’t so strong and we can live on without
sexual activity. But sex is not forbidden, and sexual abstinence is not necessary to receive
enlightenment. Sometimes when we exert ourselves too much, our spirit is harmed or gets
confused. We have to lead our lives more spontaneously and naturally. It is better this way;
too extreme is good for no one.
Q. Do heaven and hell exist?
M. Yes, they do. I have visited both, and a lot of our disciples have, as well. But normally we
don’t go to hell to pay some visits because it is not that good, the surrounding is not that nice.
[Master and audience laugh.] Sometimes it is necessary to save someone from hell, so we go
there, but we don’t stay long. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. I respect Master Ching Hai with my whole heart. Out of my trust, I want to ask, does a
‘Supreme Master’ exist at all? And if yes, which are the criteria for that?
M. This, the people ask again and again. ‘Supreme Master’ is the name of our Father. You also
can call yourself ‘Supreme Master,’ according to the name of our Father. You haven’t used it,
but that is not my fault. [Applause] We are all ‘Supreme Masters.’ Low ones do not exist. If
you forget your highest position, that is a bit sad but it doesn’t matter – one thousand years
later, you will remember it. [Master and audience laugh.] [Applause]
Q. Why is there neither man nor woman in the internal worlds?
M. That depends on the level you have reached. There are some levels where we are still men
and women. But on a higher, or the highest level, there do not exist male or female things.
Q. Unloved by my parents, I was raised very much against myself, and have had thirteen years
of schizophrenia. How can I be liberated?
M. In our society, there are so much suppression and many unfavorable situations. Sometimes
we can’t stand it anymore and are somehow confused in our head, but then we need to come
back to a normal way of thinking. Because we have God’s power in us, we can’t allow
ourselves to descend to such a low level. You don’t have to allow yourself to be like that; you
have to be strong. We are children of God; we can’t be mad. Why should we become mad as
children of God? You have to keep your dignity, and do not allow any excuse for yourself.
M. [Master laughs.] Oh, God! That’s what I ask myself as well! And I ask myself also, why I
should sit here and have the trouble with you – and sometimes it even doesn’t work!
Perhaps we want to become acquainted with each other, and that’s why we took this body –
to sit here and chat with each other. Maybe that is the meaning of life. I can’t think of anything
else. [Applause]
Isn’t that funny? Yes, some people think that life ends when we die, and this would be all. We
are born, go to school, then we work, beget children, earn money, and then – broken! That’s
really very meaningless! The meaning of our life is to bless this earth so that other beings can
develop further to higher consciousness. But if we don’t fulfill this duty, we have to come back
until we have learned it.
Q. Please, who is God? And where is Hes? [Audience: Hes is very busy!]
M. Very busy? [Master laughs.] No, God is not busy!
Now, you look at your neighbor, on the left or right, it doesn’t matter. That is God sitting there!
And that Hes is. [Applause] Yes, we have forgotten who we are.
Q. How long does the way to mastership last?
M. That lasts very long! For example, as long as from here to Munich! It depends on your effort,
and it depends on your background. When you have practiced well in your past lives, it is
faster. Otherwise, it takes a couple of years, or ten years, or levels. If we don’t reach
mastership here, we can go on learning in heaven. No problem. There are a lot of schools in
heaven!
Q. Jesus was baptized in the fire of the holy ghost. Why did He have to ascend first to heaven,
and send the holy ghost?
M. He didn’t ascend to heaven; that’s only expressed in a religious way. When we are initiated,
our soul may rise to heaven but not the body. The fire mentioned in the bible is not the fire in
the worldly sense, but it is a kind of Light, and Jesus did not go to heaven with the body but
with the soul. After the initiation, there will be many of us traveling to heaven and coming back
again. We can practice this every day.
Q. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the Truth, and the life.’ He also said, ‘I am the Light of the world.’ Is
the Truth of which You are speaking a different Truth? Is there a different kind of
enlightenment, or does one experience the same Light?
M. Yes, one and the same Light. About what Jesus said, they forgot the end. He said, ‘I am the
way, and the Light of the world, as long as I am in the world.’ When he is gone, there will
come the comforter, another Master.
Q. How can we protect ourselves against hostile and destructive energies, released through
meditation, without the right teachings?
M. Without the right teachings, it is a bit difficult and dangerous because we have this strong
power in us. And when we don’t know how to deal with it, it can be very fatal. It is better if you
have a Teacher.
Q. How can I get rid of my headache during meditation?
M. I don’t know! Take an aspirin or something like that. [Loud laughter and applause.]
Q. Is our lifetime temporally exactly fixed, or are we able to change the moment of death with our
own action?
M. We can change the length of our life when we are enlightened. But enlightened people don’t
do it because they immediately go Home.
Q. What do You think of hunger as a method of purification of the body?
M. That is a bit too extreme, but if it’s useful for you, it’s okay. Formerly, when I was very deep in
meditation, I didn’t eat for one two, or a few weeks, but that wasn’t good for my body. I don’t
think my body became better through it; afterward, it was as small as before, [Laughter]
maybe smaller. If you are a bit ill and the doctors tell you to fast, listen to them, but you have
to do it under medical observation, otherwise it might be a bit dangerous. I don’t use it for
body-purification.
Q. Would I still have bad thoughts after initiation?
M. Yes! [Laughter] If you are still on a low level, they still exist but they will be getting less when
you rise higher.
Q. Which duties do I have after initiation?
M. Not any! Only meditation! Meditation is not a duty, but food for our soul. As we commit
ourselves to eat, so we also have to meditate.
Q. And which skills do I have after initiation?
M. You demand so much and you haven’t worked yet! Yes, skills, we have a lot. But we don’t ask
for initiation to get skills, but to recognize the kingdom of God and to bless the world with our
divine power.
Q. What do You understand by karma?
M. I? Nothing; there is no karma for me. [Master laughs.] I don’t understand it. But in the holy
bible of the Buddhist and the Christians, it is said, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ That’s
karma; it is the law of cause and effect.
Q. Is not the external world only the reflection of the inner?
M. Yes, but a poor reflection, a very poor one – as is our shadow. When we are standing in the
sun, our shadow is not that beautiful, even if you are a beautiful girl. And our world is such a
shadow of the true world.
Q. I am afraid to miss the goal of my life. Please tell me where is my proper place, what is my
concrete task in this life, and where and how shall I commit my energy?
M. Enlightenment! Enlightenment is your task, the most important task! Another task is just a
sideline.
Q. Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism have their own gods; therefore, there are a lot of gods.
Which God shall I believe in? What and who is God?
M. First, we shall see our own God, and then we can believe in Hirm. [Applause]
Q. Immediate enlightenment – is that actually possible? Until now I have always read that
enlightenment will come after a long period of preparation, mostly after several reincarnations.
M. Immediate enlightenment is possible, and if you don’t believe it, stay here and during initiation
you will experience it. And concerning the idea that enlightenment needs a lot of preparation,
yes, you have prepared yourself already a long time. So many lives you are already here, now
it’s high time!
Q. How long shall I eat vegetarian, refrain from lying, and so on? Till I get the initiation, and later
on too, or what?
M. Of course it doesn’t end with the initiation, but starts with it. You can’t reach the heavenly goal
with lying, stealing, and such kinds of actions.
Q. Can Master Ching Hai remove blocks that obstruct people in meditation?
M. That depends on the obstructions and the person who has them.
Q. A philosophical question: Why am I myself, and not somebody else?
M. Because the position of someone else is already occupied. [Applause]
Q. When do we start with the initiation?
M. Oh, it is that urgent? We can start immediately, when there are no more questions.
Q. What is the heavenly language? And what are the worldly tasks?
M. The heavenly language is the inner teaching directly from God. We hear it after the initiation
and then we know what it is. Worldly tasks – there are so many! Shall I make a long list, or
what? What a question!
Q. My son has an epileptic illness. Could my son be healed, and how?
M. You ask the wrong person, I am no doctor. Go to a hospital and ask there. I am only
competent in enlightenment. Please ask me only spiritual questions!
Q. What can I do against depression?
M. Go out and drink a cup of coffee or dance! What shall I say? [Audience: Eat vegetarian.] Yes,
eat vegetarian and meditate if you like it. You may have thought that any worldly thing can
help your depression, but that doesn’t help. That’s true. You are more enlightened than I.
Q. How can I come in contact with my inner guide or my inner self?
M. Through initiation and daily practice of meditation.
Q. Is God able to heal sickness if Hes is asked or when Hes is asked to help with the healing?
M. Sometimes, yes. If people pray very deeply and sincerely to God, then sometimes it
succeeds, not always.
Q. Do evil spirits who can influence us exist? And if so, how can we protect ourselves?
M. Think always of God. If you don’t want to meditate, think always of God.
Q. When I receive the initiation, is it possible, when I want it, to break the connection with the
Master?
M. The connection will be dissolved anyway at the end of the way. When you reach the fifth level,
you don’t need to have anything to do with any Master, but not before that.
Q. You have said that above the five levels of enlightenment, there are more levels. Could a
highest level be reached? What is this highest level, and have You reached it already?
M. The highest level is just a term in our worldly language, but actually there doesn’t exist such a
thing like a roof above our head because the kingdom of God is boundless and endless.
Q. What consequences does suicide have for a seeker?
M. We should not do it at all. That is not good! If you commit suicide, you are on a very low level
of consciousness, and if you die in such a moment, you stay always on that level, or a very
long time in suffering. You can’t come out of it; therefore, we should have hope and wait
patiently for the next day, because the next day might already be better. We should never
commit suicide!
Q. How is the earlier karma released during initiation by the Master?
M. The power of the Master erases the former recording. It’s like with a computer: What you have
written down, you can also erase later. It’s very easy, no problem!
Q. Isn’t it the responsibility of every one of us to pay his own karma?
M. Yes, but how? We have collected so much! If you want to pay it all alone, it is not possible. It
is impossible to erase the karma because it is that great. We must do it only with God power,
otherwise, it doesn’t succeed.
Q. Isn’t it possible that the Quan Yin method can be shorter than two hours and a half so that it
fits better into everyday life?
M. They are just like going to a shop and bargaining!
You work eight or ten hours a day to earn two to three thousand Marks and don’t complain at
all. But if I offer you the kingdom of God for two and a half hours a day, then you don’t want it.
[Applause] Yes, I have to praise you for your asceticism.
Q. Why do we avoid the true words of God and try to follow other ways? Are we allowed to invent
new, modern religious for people and nations if it is already written in our hearts and in the
holy book of God?
M. No, no one invents a new religion. Religion has two aspects: One is the written theory, the
other is the unwritten essence. And if we only occupy ourselves with the written theory and
forget the important unwritten essence, then that is not perfect. When we only read about the
Light and the heavenly music but don’t see the Light and the heavenly music with our own
experience, then of course it’s not enough. Therefore, we don’t create new religions of any
kind, but we only fulfill the other half of the religion for you. In every scripture of the different
religions, they talk about Light and heavenly music, but we don’t hear it and we don’t see it.
So it’s only half of the religious order, and in the initiation, we offer the other half. This is the
real Light, the real music, that is already talked about in all these religious scriptures. We only
fulfill the religion; we don’t make a new one.
Q. If we don’t show our gratitude to God, is it because of God? Is it natural, or is it because of us,
that we suffer? [MC: A quotation from a book.]
M. We don’t have to show our gratefulness to God because Hes knows everything, if we are
grateful or not. But we have to find God. To find God is much more important than to show
Hirm gratitude. Hes doesn’t want gratitude. Hes wants us to be one with Hirm.
Q. Will God be angry if I demand too much?
M. No, not at all. God can’t be angry.
Q. Will God be angry, when I want too much of Hirm?
M. No, God cannot be angry!
THE SPIRIT THAT DWELLS WITHIN 25

Good afternoon, my brothers and sisters, I am very honored to be in your country again, and to get
to know so many thousands of people. Today we will discuss the most important part of human
beings. Your country is very prosperous, so we don’t have to discuss politics or the economy
anymore.
To be a complete human, we have to understand two parts. The first part is the physical
dimension. We need food, clothing, and all kinds of attentions in order to survive. This is just like a
car. It needs fuel and care, and then it can run, but it needs a driver in order to run properly. The
drive of this body is the most important; that’s what we call the Buddha nature or the soul. Most of
the time we take too much care of the physical and forget the spiritual, and therefore we have
many problems in our lives. It is just like if we only take care of the car and we do not take care of
the driver. Now most of us feel unhappy and incomplete because we don’t take care of the other
half of our self. Even though we know that the most important is the spirit and not the body, we
have neglected the spirit.
The spirit is what we call the Buddha nature, or the God nature, within us. We all know that after
this spirit leaves the body, the body cannot function. Therefore, we should think again, and try to
know how to take care of this spirit. The spirit is the owner of this house; everything, every activity,
every thought, every inspiration, comes from this spirit. If we only take care of the physical
dimension and forget the spirit, then of course we will be very unhappy because we lack
something. And in order to be happy, we think we must have more possessions, more talents,
more education, and a higher position, et cetera, but these things are also in the physical
dimension. Even if we have more possessions or a higher position, they are still in the physical
dimension. We are still taking care of the physical only; therefore, we are still not completely happy
because the spirit is still hungry. Now, in order to find the so-called ‘nirvana’ or the inner kingdom of
God, we have to take care of the spirit. And also, we have to know how to do it.
Why immediate enlightenment
Some people ask me why immediate enlightenment? I said, ‘Because we don’t have time to wait.’
Today, with the technical advancements and with economic demands, we cannot afford to take a
long time for enlightenment. Also, immediate enlightenment has existed since time immemorial. In
the ancient times, we didn’t have enough advanced communications in order to know where this
immediate enlightenment could be found. But today, even if someone is enlightened in America or
in India, we can know through the press, television, and many of the other communication systems.
Therefore, we should take advantage of this age of technology and avail ourselves of this most
precious opportunity.
Many people, after enlightenment, have found their own complete self. That’s why they are always
happy in any circumstance. Immediate enlightenment is possible because we already have the
Buddha nature, or the kingdom of God, within us. When we know where to look for it, it’s already
there. But even if we know where to look, sometimes the force of illusion prevents us from finding
25. Public lecture, Third Olympic Gym, Seoul, South Korea, May 8, 1993 (Originally in English).
our true nature. If there is someone, who has already found it and shows us where to look for it,
then we can find it very quickly. It is just like in every science, we need someone who knows and
shows us.
In the process of immediate enlightenment, we do not have to do any ascetic work. The Master,
the one who has experience in this field, will help us in all ways, and even teach us how to go from
this world to the higher dimensions. And this will cost nothing! The journey from here to heaven is
free because you already have it within yourself. That’s why the Buddha said, ‘You have the
Buddha inside yourself. Everyone has the Buddha nature within themselves.’ And Jesus said, ‘The
kingdom of God is within you.’
Why is it that we have the Buddha nature and the kingdom of God, and we cannot find it? It is
because we live in this world of the physical dimension, and the physical dimension has pressure
and influence upon our knowledge. That’s why we are under pressure and we cannot find our true
nature. Therefore, if there is someone who knows how to push away this pressure for a moment,
then we can see it. Like in every study in this world, we need someone who has experience in this
field. And when that person is willing to help us, it is very fortunate. I have found someone to help
me, and who has trained me now to help you.
Most of the problems in this life are unsolved because we do not use our real wisdom. The moment
we turn inside and use our real intelligence, everything will become different. Just like when a
driver sits in the car and operates the car, the car will run smoothly and correctly. And if the driver
is not inside, and we try to push the car, we try to hit the car, we try to kick the car, everything, the
car will not go very far. This world has not become heaven because we have not used the
heavenly power within each of us, and we have not become as advanced as the life in heaven. It is
our fault. Nevertheless, we can go to heaven every day and learn some wisdom, and be trained
again in our ability to help this world.
Cross the border into the heavenly dimension
We are connected with the kingdom of God, or the Buddha’s land, through our spirit. If we keep
this connection every day, we will understand what great wisdom we possess. Then naturally,
every problem in this life and everything that we could not solve before, we will begin to be able to
solve. And we will live in a kind of heaven while we are still on earth. Even though we have not
been able to turn the whole world into heaven, we live in our own heaven. When I say ‘heaven,’ I
mean the higher dimension, like Buddha’s land or the kingdom of God. The border between this
physical level and the heavenly dimension, we can cross. It’s just like the border between two
nations, and then when we cross it, we are in another country. Sometimes the border is so thin, like
the width of a paper.
When I was invited by the United Nations in Geneva to make a speech, I lived in a small house
next to the French border. When you walked within one leg on each side, you were in both
countries. And many people just walk to France to buy vegetables and come back. They told me
that in France the vegetables and other foods are cheaper than in Switzerland, in Geneva.
Similarly, we can walk to heaven and come back anytime if we have a passport. The ‘passport to
heaven’ is invisible, and you are provided with it already within yourself. During the initiation, the
Master, the experienced friend, will show you where it is.
Our real self belongs to heaven, belongs to nirvana. The Buddha said, ‘The Buddha and all
sentient beings are equal, and have the same qualities.’ The Buddha is the one who has found it,
and we will find it. I am here to show you how to find your great Buddha nature, or the great
kingdom of God. Because it’s already within you, it’s already your possession, it’s very easy to find.
Many Koreans have already found it; I have found it, so you will also find it. If we have found this
thing called ‘Buddha nature,’ we will never be wanting anything again. But we should be sincere.
We should understand clearly that we are the ones who decide our destiny. We should know that if
the Buddha said, ‘We can become Buddha,’ we will be Buddha.
If you have already found your Buddha nature by yourself, then it’s fine. If you have not, then let
me show you. It is so easy, and if we forget how to look into it, it’s a pity. The other day I wore two
earrings, and one I put down and the other one is still here. [Master points to Her ear.] But I had
been looking all over for that earring until later I found out that it’s here. [Master points to Her ear
again.] When I looked in the mirror, I saw that it’s here. When you have initiation with an
experienced Teacher, it’s like you are looking into a mirror that is very clear, and everything will
show in it. You’ll see your own Buddha nature shining because it has been always there. That’s
how easy it is.
Sometimes we hear that people take many years, many lifetimes, in order to become Buddha. It’s
true, because we look in the wrong direction. If I look all over the place for one thousand years, I
will never find my earring. Except when I look where it stays, then I’ll find it immediately. So to take
a long time to get enlightenment, or to have enlightenment immediately, is up to us. We can
choose to go on with life, and try to find the Truth ourselves for many hundred thousands of years,
or we can choose to have it right now.
We have read in many scriptures that the Buddha nature is bright, is beautiful, that the kingdom of
God is glorious, is eternal happiness. We have heard that the saints have seen Lights, have heard
the Sound of God, have heard the Sound of Buddha, during their meditation. We have heard that
the Light from heaven is sometimes brighter than a hundred thousand suns, but we have never
experienced this. Some of us, yes, some of us have. So that’s why we don’t know what heaven,
what Buddha’s land is. If we truly want to know what is spoken in the scriptures, we have to
experience these similar things. We can do this through initiation, at the first instance of initiation,
and we can experience that day by day. And then we will experience the greatness, the love for all
beings that we’ve never known before in our life.
We will know the state of nirvana that the Buddha described as ‘desirelessness.’ And even if we
have a lot of possessions, a high position in society, we are not attached to them. We still rule the
whole nation, but we do not bind our heart in this work. We may even be more successful in
worldly business and enterprise, but we will not have the tormented feeling and the
competitiveness that we used to have. We can have a lot of possessions, but we can just give
them away if necessary. And if we live a very simple life without many possessions, we are still
happy as if we are in heaven. It is because we know that there are greater possessions in heaven;
we have attainted the state of ‘desirelessness.’ If we have attained that state already, it’s very good
for us. If we have not, then we should learn, because with our limited brain knowledge, we cannot
serve the world in a perfect way, and we cannot liberate ourselves after we leave this physical
dimension.
Many of the saints in the past, the Masters in ancient times, are respected and worshiped by
people because of this great wisdom, but every one of us has the same. The difference is that the
saints can use it, and we don’t use it. We can live next to heaven, but we never go there, just like I
lived next to the border of France, but I never walked across. Just across the street but I never
walked over because I was busy having to take care of the guests, having to take care of the
initiates, and having to prepare to give a lecture for the United Nations. Similarly, we are living next
to heaven all the time, but we never walk across because we are too busy working every day. It is
our good intention that we become busy because we want to take care of our family, we want to
improve our nation, and we want to establish peace in this world, but we have forgotten to use our
great wisdom for these purposes. That’s why we work very hard, eight hours, ten hours, but many
times we do not achieve what we want to achieve. Just like we try to push the car, we pull the car,
we try all kinds of wires and all kinds of strengths, but we don’t go very far because we forget to
find the driver, the one just who sits in it and operates it.
I am here to find the driver for you, to prove to you that you are the driver of this car. Everything will
become better in your life when you find your true self. We will serve the family, the nation, and the
world even much better. You would think that the enlightened person doesn’t have to do anything,
just sit in a cave and meditate all day, but it’s not always true. If he has nothing to do, yes, he sits in
a cave, but if some people need him to help, then he works. Before enlightenment I was not so
busy like I am now; I didn’t even earn so much money like I do now. I worked in the Red Cross and
earned very little, and even then, I gave it to the world, to the temple, and all that. And I didn’t know
how to paint, I didn’t know how to do interior designs, but now I can do all these, even though I
never learned. It is because we have all the wisdom and talents within us, and whatever is
necessary for our life and for the world, we will use them.
An enlightened person does not need too much money. Actually, I don’t have to earn any money,
but because people demand all around the world that I go to them and give lectures and all this,
therefore I have to use the money to buy airplane tickets, for example. And many poor people and
people who are the victims of earthquakes or volcanoes, sometimes they ask for help, and I use
the money to help them. So what I mean is that whatever we do after enlightenment is for the
public, for the good of mankind. Before enlightenment, sometimes we want to help mankind, but it
is almost impossible, and after enlightenment, even if we do not intentionally try to help, we will be
able to help. [Applause]
I will give you one more example. Someone is in prison, and the freedom area and the restricted
areas are only separated by one door. But this one door makes a lot of difference. The people
outside that door can go around, can do anything they want, but the people inside that door are
very restricted and miserable. Whatever the people in prison do is within the prison. It doesn’t
matter how good their intentions or how talented the prisoners, they only work for the prison, and
they cannot benefit the world. But the people outside, it doesn’t matter what they do, they do it for
the whole society, for the world, and they are free. The people in prison have to sweep the floor, to
clean the toilets, et cetera, and they look just like the people in the outside world, but the motive
and the benefits are entirely different. Similarly, if we are not yet enlightened, whatever we do is
restricted in this world, and only for this world, and sometimes not even work for the whole world.
But after we are enlightened, we work for the whole cosmos, even though we do not have the ego
or intention to do it. And when we are in the world, even though with the best intention, sometimes
we cannot serve the world perfectly. Just like the person in prison, he works because he is forced
to work. He gets paid very little or nothing, and whatever he earns he cannot use to help the fellow
prisoners. Sometimes he cannot even help himself. Therefore, enlightenment is just like we walk
out of a prison, and from then on, we can make use of all our talents, our intelligence, our best
intentions, to serve the free world. And whatever we earn from outside, we can help the prisoners
inside also.
Initiation is the opening of the door of prison, allowing us to walk out into a different dimension and
then we are free forever! And of course, we take care that we don’t commit a crime and come back
in again. Therefore, we are advised to keep the five precepts, and to eat a vegetarian diet. This
vegetarian diet and the five precepts cannot make us become a Buddha or God, but they help to
protect us. For example, if a citizen keeps the law within the nation, keeping the law alone does not
make a citizen become the president of the country, but the one who transgresses the law has
difficult becoming the president. [Applause]
So I will stop here, and if you have any questions, you are welcome to write down.
Q. As I read in the small book, You said that if someone has initiation, five generations will get
liberation. If someone is married, does it mean from the marriage side or the other?
M. It’s their side.
Q. I wondered, there are several points that we should follow when we get initiation, and one of
these is that you do not heal other people with your spiritual power. Yet Jesus Christ helped
other people to cure their diseases. Why should we ignore the pain of other people?
M. When you become Jesus, you can heal, but not yet.
Q. Do You think it is possible to cure all kinds of mental diseases by meditation?
M. In some cases, when the person still can understand the teaching, yes.
Q. I wonder why we should not do meditation by controlling our breath?
M. The breath is still in the physical dimension, and if we use anything physical, we will only
attain physical results.
Q. I have tried to follow the Buddha’s teaching by reading the Lotus sutra, and reciting the name
of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva. What is the difference between repeating ‘Quan Yin Bodhisattva’
and ‘Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih’? Can you do both? Is it compatible?
M. Yes, you can do both. The difference is the Quan Yin Bodhisattva is not here, is gone, and I
am still here. [Applause]
Q. What do You think of the future of the earth? Will human beings survive in the long run? What
should we do to help?
M. The future of the world is in your hands. If all the people follow compassion, having a
vegetarian diet, and keeping the five precepts, or the ten commandments in the bible, and
gets to know the kingdom of God, or the Buddha nature, right now, then the future of the world
will be very bright, and like heaven.
Q. Could You tell me the difference between Buddhism and Christianity?
M. There is not much difference. The Buddha has the five precepts; Christ has ten
commandments that are more or less similar. The Buddhism and Christianity both teach
people to be good citizens of this world, and also at the same time, to get to know heaven. But
that’s only possible when the Buddha and Christ were alive because they were experienced in
this field. And now they are gone. We have to look for another. Just to read the theory is not
enough. [Applause]
Q. Animals and vegetables are all alive, so why do You only ask us not to eat meat?
M. Okay, then you die! You eat nothing. It’s fine. Is that okay? [Laughter]
The Buddha ate vegetarian, and Jesus Christ ate vegetarian, why not us? We practice
meditation, to help ourselves and to help our world, not to be a fanatic. Anything extreme is no
good. And I tell you that when we cut a branch of a vegetable, they grow three, five branches
more, but when you cut the animal’s head, it doesn’t grow three heads. So it’s okay to eat
vegetables. [Applause] You see all the trees beside the roads, they cut them and they grow
very big. They won’t die.
Q. Although we tried very hard to get enlightenment, still we don’t get it. Why is that?
M. You don’t know where to look for it. That’s why I have to come here, such a long way from
Europe, to show you. [Applause] That’s why I had to try hard to get up now. It was a time
change and I was very tired. I wanted to sleep before I came here.
Q. Could You explain the relationship between Buddha and the God who created the world?
M. God is only one, and Buddha and Christ are the messengers sent from God. And there are
many others to suit the different needs of different times and different nations.
Q. Now I am practicing breathing control and I have a teacher, a guru, who taught me this. I
happened to read Your book at the bookstore. Is this breathing control compatible with Your
technique?
M. You should not mix too many methods. That will cause confusion to you physically and
mentally. Besides, I told you that breathing is still in the physical dimension. We cannot use
physical means to attain the nonphysical heaven. Just like we cannot use a bicycle to cross
the sky to the United States. We have to use an airplane.
Q. How many people in this world have the same kind of spiritual attainment as You, and how
many are there in Korea?
M. In Korea, I don’t know! [Laughter] And in the world, I have to go and ask. I have not made a
research about it. And in Korea, I came only for the second time. You know better; you are
Korean and you don’t know, how do I know? [Applause]
True renunciation
Q. I am now about to leave home to become a monk. Do You think it is a good way to follow?
M. If you are happy about it, yes. Make sure you don’t become a monk because you want to run
away from difficulties and the responsibilities of this world. Make sure your motive is as pure
as the Buddha’s motive. The Buddha left home to become a monk because He wanted to be
free in order to find a Teacher. He was so restricted in the palace that He could not meet any
enlightened Master, so He had to free Himself to wander all over in search of an enlightened
Teacher. But if we have found one enlightened Master at our home, at our doorstep, we don’t
need to leave home. The ‘leave-home’ purpose is only for that, so make sure you know what
you do.
Q. What is the difference between the various inner changes that occur during Your practice and
the kundalini phenomena?
M. There are too many that I cannot tell you in five minutes, but you can have the same
experience if you want. I’ll share with you at the time of initiation and you will know every day
more and more.
Now, the second question concerning kundalini: Kundalini is a force that is lying dormant at
the end of the spine and through some yogic exercises, it will be awakened. And it will give a
lot of psychic power, magical power. But our method includes everything, just like when we
awaken the driver, the whole car functions.
Q. What kind of Sound is the Quan Yin?
M. That is the direct teaching from heaven. It’s our true nature.
Q. How can I love You more? The reason I ask You this question is because loving one’s Guru
perfectly is for me the same as loving all people.
M. This kind of love is not to be forced, or to be described in words or actions. It will come
naturally.
Q. Now I am practicing the transcendental meditation (TM) taught by Maharishi Mahesh yogi.
What is the difference between the TM and Quan Yin meditation?
M. There are many things different. Firstly, we don’t charge money like in TM. I charge nothing
for my teaching from now unto eternity. And second, they teach people to levitate the body,
hopping around, and I teach people to ‘levitate’ their soul, their wisdom, their real self.
[Applause] But I do not say this to encourage you to come to me because if you are happy
there, you stay there. Everything has its purpose. Also, because you ask me, I have to
answer; otherwise, I respect all kinds of teachers. They all give their best to mankind. So
choose whatever you like best and whatever you think is most suitable for you.
Q. As far as I know, Shakyamuni Buddha also ate meat, so why do You not allow us to eat
meat?
M. Shakyamuni never ate meat. He ate meat before He left home, but not after. The thing that He
ate is a mushroom that is called ‘pig’s feet.’ In the small booklet, ‘Why we have to be
vegetarian,’ I have explained very clearly, so please, go home and read it.
Q. Shakyamuni is a human being who has Buddha nature. What is the difference between…?
M. English, I can read. [Master takes the question from the MC and reads the question aloud.] ‘Is
the human being the same as the Buddha nature? What is the difference?’ There is no
difference except that Shakyamuni knows that He has a Buddha nature and other human
beings do not know.
[Master reads the continuation of the question.] ‘Why don’t Shakyamuni and other saints
appear in this world? Where are they now?’
If they appear now, we don’t see them because we have to see with the Buddha’s eye. They
appear all the time. Many of my disciples see them, and if you want to see them, after the
initiation or at the initiation, maybe you see, also.
Q. According to Jesus, ‘God said, don’t believe in other gods; only believe in me.’ Is this wrong?
M. No, God is only one. Jesus’ God, my God, your God, everyone’s God – only one!
Q. Why is it that this kind of very easy method to get immediate enlightenment is introduced so
late now?
M. Better than never. It’s not late.
Q. You said that the state of the Buddha’s spiritual level is not the highest one. What is the higher
spiritual state, and what is the difference between the Buddha’s state and the highest one?
M. No, Shakyamuni Buddha attained the highest level. But the name Buddha, when you call Him
a ‘Buddha,’ it’s not the highest name for Him. In this world we don’t have a better name, so we
call Him a Buddha. Buddha comes from the world ‘buddhi,’ and ‘buddhi’ only means intellect.
When you open the intellect, you become a Buddha. What I mean is, according to Sanskrit
letters, Buddha is not the highest name for the most enlightened person. The Buddha is one
with God, one with the most high, not only at the intellectual level. [Applause]
Q. Can dogs go to heaven?
M. Yes, but not a very high heaven. They go to dogs’ heaven. [Laughter and applause.] You
worry about dogs even, and don’t worry about yourselves.
Q. The Buddha nature is very near us, but why don’t we enlighten easily?
M. Yes, it’s very easy, immediately. Just come and I’ll show you. I told you the story about the
earring.
Q. I was even more interested in You since I heard that You are female, You are a woman.
Almost all the saints and masters who attained enlightenment were males, and also the
leadership positions in every sector are occupied by males. What is the reason for that? Is
woman inferior to man?
M. No, a woman is not inferior to man. A woman can also become Buddha. Santa Maria, Santa
Monica, ‘Santa et cetera.’ [Laughter] And in Buddhism, for example, in the Lotus sutra, there
is a girl of eight years old who became Buddha. The first chapter of the Lotus sutra – I don’t
know if it’s the first or not. You go home and read it again. Have you read the Lotus sutra?
[Audience: Yes.] Is it correct what I say? [Audience: Yes.] Yes, thank you. [Applause]
Most women are busy with children and taking care of the husband and the household. That’s
why even if they became enlightened, it’s difficult for them to go around and preach, or the
same with any occupation in this society. But nowadays we have woman president, woman
prime minister, woman every thing. Most women like to be at home because their bodies are
not strong like men. I also like to stay at home, and my body is also not very strong, but I think
I have to serve the world, so I forget my own comfort. [Applause]
Q. What does emptiness mean that the Buddha talked about?
M. Emptiness is a kind of nirvana, another word for nirvana. It means you are empty of all your
desires. Even the desire for nirvana also vanishes because you are then the nirvana.
Q. Is there a difference attained in enlightenment between Zen practice and Quan Yin? Can we
get the same kind of attainment?
M. Originally it was not different, but as the time went by, people lost the essence; therefore, it
became different. And consequently, the level of attainment of enlightenment, of course, is
different.
Q. If You die while I am still practicing, will it still have an effect if I practice the Quan Yin
method?
M. If the Master dies will the student still get the help? Yes, no problem, because the connection
is already made and it will never break. The Master will continue to take care of the disciple
after this world to many worlds, because the Master is not the body. The Master only takes
the body in order to connect with the people in this physical world, because it needs to be
physical. [Applause]
Q. Why do human beings exist in this world, and what kind of meaning does this world have?
M. When someone asked the Buddha this question, He did not answer, but do you want an
answer from me? [Applause]
The human being exists in this world because we stepped beyond the door into the physical
dimension. And now if we want to go back to the nonexistent world, then we step back. And
we can step back through the process of initiation. That’s why we need immediate
enlightenment. It’s okay that we stepped into this world because we can bless the world with
the God power within ourselves. But now we are tired, so we should go Home. That’s why
some people want to go Home and some people don’t want to. Those who don’t want to go
Home are not tired.
Q. Is there any way to get rid of our ego?
M. Ego. [Master sighs] The ego is nothing but the accumulation of many different ideas and
habits from this world. When we know our true nature, we will know the ego is false, and it will
go alone.
Q. In Christianity, they believe in eternal life and resurrection. Jesus Christ said, ‘If you believe in
me, you will live after you die. And when you live, you will never die.’ What do You think of the
eternal life? Does this mean we can keep our physical body forever?
M. No! The physical body, no; the soul body, yes. This physical body is only the clothing for the
real body. And it’s the real body that lives forever. When a Master is alive, like Jesus or
Buddha, when we believe the living Master, of course we will have eternal life because the
Master will help to lead us into eternal life. The Master will show us, teach us what to do. But
after the Master is gone, we have to look for another Master. Then we will have the same
result.
Q. In Korean Buddhism, immediate enlightenment means perfect enlightenment. So Master, You

said at initiation immediate enlightenment is possible; does this mean perfect enlightenment?
If so, after initiation, why do we need to practice every day?
M. That is a misunderstanding. People who have enlightenment still practice until they reach the
complete enlightenment. In Zen Buddhism, there are two kinds of enlightenments. One is
gradual enlightenment and the other is sudden enlightenment. We offer the second, the
immediate enlightenment. Enlightenment and perfect enlightenment are different, just like
enrolling in college the first year and completing graduation are different. [Applause] [MC: No
more questions.] Thank you for your love. [Applause]
ABOVE THE INTELLECT 26

Good afternoon, my brothers and sisters in Korea, I am very happy to be here again for a second
time. [Applause] According to all the religious scriptures, we are all one; we are brothers and
sisters, so I am glad to see my brothers and sisters today in a different room. The world is a big
house and we have so many rooms, and because we are very busy with our daily lives, we do not
have much chance to see each other. If everyone in this world realized that we are all brothers and
sisters, then there should not be any discrimination and war.
26. Public lecture, Pusan Sajik Gymnasium, Pusan, South Korea, May 15, 1993 (Originally in English).
In each nation, we should always take care that the moral standard is kept intact. There are many
nations that are very civilized and developed, technology-wise, but they have forgotten or
neglected to keep the moral standards. Therefore, there are many very regretful events that
happen in such nations. I am pleased to see that the Korean people keep their ethical tradition
intact, even though Korea is a very developed and civilized society. I am so pleased that your
nation has developed, and not at the cost of moral value. This is good for our generation and the
future generations. To be stable in ethical standards is not to be labeled as old fashioned. To be
conservative and to be developed at the same time is possible. That is also due to the leadership
of the country, also the open-minded spirit of the people who know how to unite together and
support a good government. That is what makes a country peaceful and prosperous.
Since ancient times, many kings of nations were very wise and very compassionate, and many of
them have been enlightened persons, enlightened saints. The more enlightened the king, the wiser
he is, and the better he knows how to rule a nation. If you see that a nation is well established and
morally stable, you can see that the king of that nation is very enlightened, very wise. If everyone in
this world is enlightened, then we don’t need to use any microphones or loudspeakers; we can
communicate from inside.
The universal communication center
There is one place, one center, in our being, which is the center of all communications. If everyone
turns to that point, we will be in touch with each other from inside. That’s why, in the heavenly
dimension, people do not have to speak and they understand each other perfectly. That’s why
when you read in the Buddhist sutra, for example the Amitabha sutra, it is stated that the beings in
that land don’t have to use any language. In this world, we can also achieve this kind of inner
communication to some extent. We will achieve this degree of perfection when we reach
Buddhahood or Mastership after enlightenment, or after we practice for some time. It could take
many months. It could take many years, or it could take many lifetimes. It depends on what kind of
path we choose, and what kind of Master we have. When we have the fortune to pick up the best
method, and a good Master, we can achieve that very quickly.
The true spiritual attainment is above the level of the intellect. Most of the people in our world are
under the influence of emotion and intellect. If we are too much attached to this world, then we
have not even achieved the level of intellect, and so we will see that many people are very rough,
very violent, and have very little love. Some people have also very little emotion, and have too
much emotion, then they are mostly on the first level beyond this world. If they have too much
intellect, then they have to pass through these two levels at least, to achieve the so-called spiritual
understanding. We can reach that if we have a way pointed out by an experienced Teacher.
When we pass through, or break through, the two levels of emotion and intellect, we have no more
influence from the human emotion and intellectual understanding. Then we will begin to be free
from the karmic influence of our previous lives. We can do this through very hard meditation
practice or very deep prayer, but it takes many, many years, maybe many lifetimes, and that is not
even the highest level. But if we have a very good friend, a very experienced Teacher, then we can
do it in one lifetime. It’s just like there are schools that teach people to learn something in a slow
way, and in some other schools teach people to learn things in the express way.
The teaching of heaven comes without language
The method that we offer today is the express one because the Teacher in this direction knows
how to erase our karma. Our mind is just like a computer that records everything that we do, we
think, and we collect. That’s why we cannot forget whatever actions we have done whether good or
bad, and this in turn, will determine the course of our life. That’s what we call karma. In order to
free ourselves from this recorded information, we have to know where to push from this recorded
information, we have to know where to push the button to erase the whole thing. An experienced
Teacher knows how to do it, and we can learn to do it also. These things are not like technical
lessons. It’s not visible to the senses of the body; therefore, we have to do it in a different way – a
silent way.
When we take initiation, the Master will not speak anything, but you will see the Light of heaven,
you will hear the teaching of the Buddha. The teaching of heaven doesn’t need language; it is the
communication of the universe, which all beings can understand. In complete silence, we will
communicate and understand each other perfectly. That is the way of heaven.
The way of the world is to be done through different language and relies on many different types of
technical equipments. Still, sometimes we have difficulty in understanding each other; therefore,
we have war, we have conflicts, we have a lot of unsolved problems in this world. The only way to
turn this world into heaven is to do it the heavenly way – that is, to keep the heavenly way of life,
the moral standard, like in the old times with all the wise kings and all the wise citizens, and to
learn the teaching from heaven and to live accordingly. There is a direct link to heaven within us if
we know where to push the right button, but because this button is invisible, we have difficulty in
finding it. The Master is someone who knows where it is and can show us how to do it.
There are many ways to reach heaven, but there is one accurate way and quickest way. Heaven
and nirvana can be obtained while we are working in this world; therefore, most of our fellow
practitioners are just ordinary beings. In our bodies, in ourselves, there are many different places
for different users, and there is one place for the connection with the Buddha’s land or heaven.
That place is a little bit above the eyebrows and in the center of our so-called brain. There are no
physical instruments, or ways in this world, that can tough that place; the only way to be able to
open it is through heavenly power. That’s why heaven has to send some beings from time to time
to help us remember how to do it.
We are actually always in touch with heaven, but because of too much karma, we are unable to
see it. Therefore, someone who has acquired this power can help us to open this. Someone who
has learned how to do it, we call that person a ‘Teacher’ or ‘Master.’ The Master is the one who
should never take anything from this world, but who always has to give.
The Master opens the royal telephone line to heaven
This place within us is the only one place with which we can establish our contact with the higher
dimensions, and only the Master knows it. If we push just a slightly different place, the result is
different. Just like in our home, we have a telephone, and each set of numbers has different
connections, and only one is connected with the president. If we don’t have someone from the
presidential palace, we would not be able to find out this number and we would not be able to talk
directly with the president. Even though everyone has the same telephone apparatus and the
number of the president is also within these telephone numbers, not everyone is able to talk
directly with the ruler of the nation – only a few. If we know a good friend of the president or good
officers, maybe we can do it. Similarly, we can only get in touch with heaven when we know
someone who knows heaven. When I say, ‘heaven,’ please understand that it is also Buddha’s
land or nirvana. Nirvana is the name for heaven in Sanskrit. Of course, there are different levels of
heaven, and through the guidance of a good Teacher, we can pass through different heavens and
go to the highest place.
I am willing to give you all the help that you require so that you can reach the heaven that you
desire. And this is unconditional; you will never be obliged to anything before, between, and after. I
do this because some of you are very earnest, very sincere, and want to go back to where you
belong – that is, the kingdom of God. I do this because many of you desire that the world will
become a better place for our many generations to come. I do this because the world citizens
desire that our world have no more wars, have more peace, more prosperity, and more love
between each other. And also, because this is the best service that I can give to you, my brothers
and sisters. I’m just like a travel agent who helps you to emigrate to another country, when you are
not satisfied with the native country, or when you would like to go abroad to learn something
different, something new, from another nation, in order to go back and serve your country. The only
difference is that our agency charges no fee whatsoever – never, ever, ever.
We have to go to heaven daily in order to learn something from heaven; we cannot learn it here.
With the things we learn from heaven, we can benefit our life, and we can benefit the world in
which we live. We can learn from heaven by using the direct line that will be reestablished at the
time of initiation. When we use this line, we can always understand and know what is the best for
the world, and what is the best in the universe. Just like we have a university in our world, we have
also a university in the universe, and in the heavenly university we can learn many things that are
not available in this world. That’s why, since ancient times, the sage is very wise, and he knows
many things.
We can become modern sages if we know how to learn the secret of the universe. And that is what
we call enlightenment. Enlightenment can be gained immediately, or it can be gained slowly.
‘Slowly’ is when you follow any kind of method, or anything, and you try many efforts to reach this
enlightenment slowly, because we don’t know where the button is to push. We can get this
enlightenment immediately if we have an experienced friend who helps us to push the right button.
Just like if we know the number of our friend, we can always dial it and we can always get in touch.
But if we don’t know the correct number, or we forget one or two numbers, we always try different
ways but it’s not easy to get the correct line to our friend. Maybe we do it hundreds or thousands of
times, and then accidentally we will find the number, but it’s very difficult and tiring. Meanwhile we
pay a lot of money for wrong numbers, and exhaust ourselves. Also, enlightenment has many
different degrees, from the lower to the higher, and with faith and devotion, we will be able to reach
the highest, even in this lifetime. This is not very difficult when someone knows how to do it.
If you truly would like to go back to heaven where we came from, if you truly want to change the
world into a better place, then enlightenment is the thing that is very necessary. Most of us work
only with the knowledge of the computer brain, but not with the knowledge of heaven. That’s why
we work very hard, we earn a little, and our world is not as ideal as we want it to be. So the
conclusion is that many of us would like to offer the best to this world, as well as to the whole
universe, and to improve ourselves. We are here to offer service to these noble people, those who
cannot be satisfied only with material possessions but who would like to have something higher,
more noble, from the higher dimensions, or from the kingdom of God.
Because there are so many thousands of people here, I will stop my speech now. If you have any
more questions, you will have the time. I will answer all of them. Thank you for your attention.
[Applause]
Q. Is Your enlightenment the same as Shakyamuni Buddha?
M. Yes, we can get the same enlightenment as the Buddha at the time of initiation. When the
Buddha first got enlightenment, He saw the stars from heaven inside. Did you read this?
[Audience: Yes.] At the time of initiation, you can see also the same thing, but that is only the
beginning. There are many other higher experiences than just the stars. All these we can
have through the practice of the Quan Yin method.
All the Buddhas, all the saints, practiced this method since ancient time, and everyone who
practices this can become a Buddha, sooner or later. That’s why the Buddha said, ‘I have
become the Buddha, and you will become the Buddha.’ He did not say that He is the only
Buddha. If you learn the same method, you will achieve the same results. Just like everyone
who learns in the medical college will become a medical doctor. Don’t look down upon
yourselves because you are Buddhas.
Q. You said in Your book that one of the five precepts is not to kill any sentient beings, but I am a
farmer and when I cultivate something, I have to use chemicals or some drugs to kill the bugs.
What will I do with the insects or bugs like worms?
M. The law of the universe is that we should not kill because that will have karmic effects on us,
but in this case of necessity, you just have to do what your duty requires. And when we
meditate, this small karma will be cleansed. That’s why, even after enlightenment, we still
have to continue to meditate, otherwise, we would just get initiation and not need to do
anything. Because you have to take care of the people’s health, you have to do this kind of
thing; it’s not because you are very fierce or not compassionate. The insects are very small,
so the karma is not much, and if we meditate, this karma will be nullified. Otherwise, when we
walk, when we breathe, when we wash our hands, everything is killing. Even if we eat
vegetarian, we also have karma, but very, very little.
Q. Do You believe that Jesus is the son of God, or just the messenger from God? Another
question is, can all Christians get liberation and go to heaven?
M. Yes, Jesus was one of the messengers from God. When Jesus was alive, whoever believes in
Him, whoever follows Him, will go to heaven, and go to heaven permanently, because the
Master was alive, there is a power from heaven through the Master. That’s why Jesus said, ‘I
am the Light and the way of the world, as long as I am in the world.’ He did not say, ‘I am
forever the Light and the way, even if I am not in the world.’
Q. Would You explain the state of enlightenment?
M. As I said already, enlightenment has many different levels. If we reach a lower level, we
already feel very nice and very free. When we reach the highest state of enlightenment, we
will feel completely free and completely without desires.
Q. Could You explain about the beginning of mankind, and their evolution?
M. It’s a long story; we don’t have time to explain it today. But I have explained it sometimes in
different cassettes, so maybe you go out and look for them, or I suggest you get
enlightenment, and find out yourself. Firsthand experience is better than secondhand.
Q. What is the most important sutra in Buddhism?
M. Every one of them is important if you understand what is inside. Otherwise, they are just
empty words, and they make no difference to you.
Initiation burns all karma except fate karma
Q. If we get initiation, You said that You just remove all previous karma. Is it true, and how is it
possible for You to remove all the karma?
M. It is true, and it’s possible! I have explained it to you. It’s just like someone who knows how to
erase information in a computer; it’s just a question of expertise.
Q. Why do you leave the karma of this life?
M. Because otherwise, you will die immediately! And it’s no use being enlightened if we die
immediately. We have to use the enlightenment to help the world, to help mankind, before we
leave the world, and to repay the kindness of our brothers and sisters. Without them we could
not grow up, without them we have no food, no clothes, no cars, no airplanes, et cetera.
Q. What is heaven and what is hell?
M. There are different energies generated from all beings in the universe, and different energies
create different dimensions. Good thoughts generate energy, and the good energy creates
heaven. Bad thoughts, bad actions, et cetera, generate bad energy, and that bad energy
creates the so-called ‘hell.’ That’s why we are requested to keep the five precepts, and to live
a life of loving compassion, to be a vegetarian. The more good energy like this, the more
heaven, and the less hell. Heaven and hell are all our own making.
Q. Why do we have to get the initiation if we want to get enlightenment? Can You teach us in
public about how to get enlightenment?
M. Yes, I’ll teach you during initiation. Initiation is only a name for when you sit there and learn
how to do it, just like you enroll your name in the university and start your study. I cannot tell
you in language because the initiation is done in silence. Only the soul understands, your
Buddha nature will understand, and the Buddha nature or the soul does not need language.
Whatever I tell you now in language, is just an introduction to this silent teaching; just like
whatever I tell you about water is not water itself. Enlightenment is never done through
language.
Q. What is the origin of the mind?
M. We came from a very high level, from heaven or nirvana, and when we came down here, we
went through many different levels of consciousness. When we passed through the second
level, counting up from this earth, there we picked up the mind. The mind originated from the
second level of consciousness. Therefore I told you, if we want to be enlightened, we have to
pass through even the mind, we have to pass through the mind level.
The computer and the person who handles the computer are different. During the so-called
initiation, I do not talk because the Buddha speaks to the Buddha. The person speaks to the
person and doesn’t speak to the computer. The computer doesn’t need to know it. The
computer only knows what we type inside. The computer cannot register anything between
the two persons, and the computer cannot negotiate a business. So we negotiate Buddha-
business only with wisdom. All the languages are useless. They are only useful in this
mundane world, but not useful in the Buddha level.
Q. How did You get enlightenment and why did You leave home to be a monk?
M. That’s my personal problem. It doesn’t concern you. What concerns you is how you will get
enlightenment and when? You ask too many useless questions. [Applause]
Q. You said Jesus and Shakyamuni Buddha are one, and also Christianity and Buddhism are the
same, but why do they teach different things?
M. They don’t teach different things, but you understand differently. After enlightenment, I
promise that you will understand the same thing from the different religions.
Now for the basics, for example the Buddha taught the five precepts and sometimes the ten
precepts, beginning with your neighbor, you don’t have extra sexual relationships, et cetera.
And the Christians have the ten commandments: Thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, thou
shall not tell lies, thou shall not have the neighbor’s wife, et cetera, similar things.
Basically, good religions teach people to be good citizens of this world, and to find heaven at
the same time. So if we follow the teaching, and we can find heaven at the same times, then
we are truly religious, we are truly Christians, we are truly Buddhists. Otherwise, if we
continue to debate over religious theory it doesn’t do us any good.
Q. Do You know another planet that has other sentient beings like human beings?
M. Yes, many numerous, too many to count, as many as the sands of the Ganges river.
Q. You are already in the state like the Buddha, the fully enlightened state, and if I get the
initiation, would You promise You will take me to that level?
M. Sure. [Applause]
Q. There are so many spiritual leaders in the world. What is the difference between getting
initiation from other spiritual leaders and getting the initiation from You?
M. If any so-called Teacher can give you the signs of heaven immediately, like you see the Lights
of heaven, you see heavenly mansions, you hear the teaching from heaven, like Sound, like
the music from heaven, then that Teacher can help you; if not, then come to me.
Q. As far as I know, Hui Neng got instant enlightenment by the Diamond sutra, not by the Quan
Yin method. What’s the difference?
M. As long as you know him, you don’t need enlightenment!
Q. Not by the Quan Yin method. He understands that he got enlightenment, but not by the Quan
Yin method.
M. How do you know? You were not there. I know that he got enlightenment through the Quan
Yin method, and after you got enlightenment you will know that, also. These things I have
explained sometimes in some of the books or some of the cassettes. I have compared
different Masters like Quan Yin Bodhisattva, the sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, and Shakyamuni
Buddha, et cetera, for your reference. I think it’s in the first ‘Key of enlightenment’ book in
Chinese, and maybe translated into Korean. But this is a very long speech if you have to
compare notes so maybe you refer to my books.
Living Master is the bridge between physical and spiritual worlds
Q. What’s the difference between a living Master with a physical body and the so-called Master
without the body?
M. The living Master with the body is the one, who can speak to you, answer your questions, and
help you when you are in trouble, and the Master without a body cannot! That’s the difference.
A living husband and a living wife can live with you, but a dead husband or a dead wife
cannot. Because we are living in the physical world, we need a living, physical Master, and
when we pass through the physical level, we don’t need the physical but we need just a
spiritual Buddha.
The physical Master connects us with the spiritual Buddha in the higher dimensions and there
we can learn many things, and later become Buddha ourselves. If we are physical, we cannot
hear the spiritual Buddha. If we are in the physical body, we cannot contact the spiritual
Buddha. The Master is like a bridge between the physical and the spiritual worlds.
Q. In Korea, so many Buddhists today practice the koan. So what is the goal of that? Is it
possible to liberate with this kind of practice?
M. The koan means you ask yourself a question, a very difficult question, until you completely
understand it. It may be possible that you solve this and get liberation, but it’s very tiring, takes
a very long time, and is very difficult. In the old time, many Japanese monks and Zen
practitioners killed themselves when they could not solve the koan. But with our Quan Yin
method, you get enlightenment immediately without a headache, without much work, and
without having to kill yourself.
I don’t like to sit here and criticize what is good, what is not good; I just offer you what I think is
the best, but every meditation practice helps people in different ways. You have to make a
choice yourself; you have to know for what practice you feel the most attracted, for how much
percent. If you feel attracted by koan practice, then it’s for you. If you feel attracted by our
method here, about 70 percent, 80 percent, then this method is for you. Everyone’s affinity is
different.
Q. You said that below the ajna chakra the concentration is not good, but the pranayama (cosmic
energy) is concentrated in the manipura chakra.
M. The stomach, the solar plexus, yes, and then?
Q. So it’s not good?
M. It’s a little bit lower level of chakra. In the ancient time, people live until seven, eight hundred,
or one thousand, or more than one thousand years. They had time to practice from the lower
chakra to the higher chakra, and to the solar plexus, and then to the heart center chakra, and
to the throat chakra, and then to the eye chakra, and to the crown chakra.
Chakra means a power center, an energy center in the body, which connects with different
powerhouses, different power levels, in the universe. But all yogis understand and know
precisely that eventually, after all, they have to go to the third eye chakra. So why take so
much trouble? That’s why I teach you to begin from here, [Master points to Her wisdom eye.]
from the third eye center, third eye chakra. We don’t live long enough to just play around, and
we’re too busy taking care of our jobs, our family, our national business.
Q. Some spirits stay in my mind, so some ghosts disturb me. How do I overcome this situation?
M. You are possessed because you allow some other spirit to take possession of your body or
your mind. Just do not allow it anymore. If you let someone stay in your house too long, it’s
difficult to get rid of him except when you are strong. You can be the owner of your house
again. I suggest that you have to know that you are the Buddha, you have to get
enlightenment, and the illegal tenants will leave alone.
Q. We are supposed to get rid of any desire, but if we like to get enlightenment, can it be just
another desire?
M. Okay, then you don’t get enlightenment, if you are so good!
The desire of enlightenment will leave us afterward, when we have got enlightenment. When
you are hungry, you are supposed to want food, and after you are full, you don’t want it
anymore. The only way to get rid of all desires, including the desire of enlightenment, is to get
enlightenment. If you say enlightenment also is a desire, then you scold the Buddha. The
Buddha tells us to get enlightenment. He, Himself, also desired enlightenment. Only after He
became Buddha, He said, ‘Now I don’t care about Buddha, I don’t care about nirvana, I don’t
care about enlightenment.’ I think you worry too much. [Applause] [MC: Master, there aren’t
any more questions and the time is up.]
No more questions? Oh, good, fine, then I will take leave of you people, and if you want
initiation, you stay here, and they will give you information about this. Thank you. Thank you
for your love. [Applause]
LIVE A BALANCED LIFE IN THIS WORLD AND HEAVEN 27

The Japanese understand English better than Chinese? Yes? Because there are so many Chinese
here, they have requested that I speak Chinese, but I thought that the Japanese understand
English better, so maybe I’ll speak English. The Chinese will have to listen to English and
Japanese. If I am in China, I will speak Chinese. I feel already very sorry that I cannot speak
Japanese to the Japanese people, because like this, we can have more direct understanding. I
have tried to learn Japanese. I have tried. In America, I bought cassette tapes and videos, and
books in Japanese. It’s expensive, and they have promised me I can speak Japanese in three and
one-half weeks. It is three and a half months already, but I can’t speak anything! So maybe three
and a half years later, I can.
Good afternoon, I am very happy to meet you today, the supposed-to-be one of the most intelligent
races of people in Asia and in the world. Some people told me that they have a test, and the
Japanese IQ’s are very high. Is that true? No? If what I speak today you can understand
immediately, then that means your IQ is very high. Because what I speak is not concerning
mundane business, economical affairs, or political business, but it’s concerning the matter of the
world beyond our intellect. If we want to be successful in this world, it doesn’t matter in which
aspect, we need IQ, we need training, and we need ambition.
Now, if we want to understand something about the world beyond this world, we need all these
things plus something more. That something more, we already have within ourselves, that is our
wisdom. If we do not try to remember our wisdom, try to develop it, try to recognize it, then our life
is a little bit empty, and we feel kind of not fulfilled, not completely balanced.
Study in the heavenly university
If we look around in this world, we see everything is created in a kind of balanced manner;
therefore, there is day and there is night, there are women, there are men, et cetera. And also
when we work very hard every day, we need sometimes to go out in nature and relax and do
something different from what we do every day. So when we want to find happiness in our life, we
should live a balanced life. Many of us live a life of too much materialism, and we have forgotten
the real spirit, the real self, inside us. That’s why we have tried very hard, but our world has not
progressed very much. Maybe we have progressed in some aspect, and then we regressed in
some aspect. That is because we have forgotten the more important part in our life that is our spirit,
our wisdom.
In the whole universe, everything must be in balance if it is to survive, if it is to prosper in the

highest sense, in the highest level. In our world, we are much more preoccupied with the material
27. Public lecture, Chinese School, Tokyo, Japan, May 22, 1993 (Originally in English).
aspect, and that’s why we could not understand heaven. In heaven, people are too much
preoccupied with the kind of spiritual aspect, and therefore they could not understand man. So, in
order to live our life in this world and understand heaven at the same time, we should try to balance
our life so that the spiritual part of our self will be kind of blossoming and also the worldly part of us
will be more developed.
While living in this world, we still can understand and contact heaven. In heaven there are higher
teachings for us that we can make use of in order to help mankind to develop in a more civilized
manner in all aspects. Our brain is just like a computer, a first-class computer, and according to
what information we give to the brain, it will come out. So now, what we pick up in this world is not
always the best information and not always the highest quality of information. We have to go to a
higher dimension in order to pick up better information, a better quality of information and give it to
our brain, and then in turn, the brain will give it out to the society or to our daily life activity.
The other day I was interviewed by a newspaper journalist. I am often interviewed by journalists of
different newspapers in different countries and most of the time, I have noticed that the majority of
them have a kind of not very positive tone, not very positive kind of questions or attitude. Not
necessarily because of me, but it’s just their job; they are used to this kind of talk, not because they
are negative toward me. It is as if they have no fun in their job or nothing makes them happy in this
world. So I ask them, I say, ‘You always ask me questions. Now I want to ask you one question.’ I
said, ‘Why do the journalist people often have a very negative outlook on life? Or when they go to
question someone, it seems like they have a kind of negative feeling, or tendency toward some
negative questions? And also, most of the time, why is the news more negative than positive?’ So I
was answered that because they find nothing good to report, nothing good in the society, only
negative things, so they have to report what it is.
But I do not agree that there is nothing good in the society, or there is much more negative than
positive. I do not think it is so bad. Most probably, we are more attracted to something that is a big
upheaval, or very tragic, very drastic, so the newspapers would like to report these things to us.
This is all right, but then in the long run, it will affect our attitude, our spirit, and our outlook on life,
and then everywhere sometime we go, we see similar people, similar types of situations, and
immediately we expect something negative. This is how our brain picks up information in this world
largely due to television, due to newspapers, books, et cetera. I have heard that sometimes
because the young people see some criminal scenes reported on television, later they imitate it,
and then it breeds more crimes.
One time I was in America, and I went through the bookshops to look for some spiritual books, to
see what people print and what people read today. I was very disappointed to look the whole day
and find very little valuable spiritual guidance, but low-level books were plentiful. Sometimes a
whole, very thick book only reported some very bad, very, very terrible action of some kind of
group, or some kind of cult, or something like that, and it even described in detail the terrible things
or a group of a few people, but when it’s printed into books, millions of people will know about all
these negative things. If our brain is always overloaded by this kind of bad information, then this
information will, in turn, feed out to the society or to our environment. That’s how we see our
society in some parts of the world become kind of very degraded in morality and in spirit.
The brain computer continues to pick up information regardless if it’s good or bad, and there is
much more bad information than good; therefore, our spirit is very tired, very degraded, very
discouraged, very frustrated, very weak. That’s why sometimes if someone, some person who is
truly good, truly pure, comes to us and wants to help us, we sometimes have doubts, and
suspicions, and think, ‘How could it be a such good thing? I have never heard of it. We don’t have
this before.’ And then, a very few truly good persons finally also give up because they can’t
convince us that they are truly good and we also don’t give them time, don’t give them a chance, to
prove their goodness.
Most of the journalists would be more interested in the way I look, or the way I wear my clothes,
than what I offer in spirit. I don’t say all of them, but the majority. And also they had the feeling, not
only journalists, many people, many other people, they had the feeling as if to wear make-up, or to
wear nice clothes, is something not good, something not good for the people with wisdom, or with
enlightenment. I do not blame them for their attitude; I just feel sorry for our society that breeds
such kind of thinking. I just feel sorry that our people have lost the sense of dignity, sense of
beauty, sense of appreciation of beauty, Truth, and grace, and worst still, even feel proud of it! In
the old time, our traditional dress was beautiful, women were truly women and men were truly men
– very beautiful, very dignified. Nowadays, we do not see much of these signs of beauty on the
street because if some woman appears to be beautiful, then she attracts many criticisms.
When I first came here today, I saw only one or two people wearing kimonos on the street, I always
look at these things and I like it so much. A Japanese woman who wears a kimono is much more
beautiful than one wearing other clothes. I saw two women walking together, one wearing different
clothes and another one wearing a kimono. Even though both of them look beautiful, the one with
the kimono is extremely beautiful, very distinguished! But in this society today, maybe we do not
have so much time to be beautiful and everyone just learns with each other. We all rush around
and forget to keep ourselves in the way we used to be, or the way we want to be. Then, finally,
everyone accepted that it’s okay to be ‘not beautiful.’ It’s okay to wear just casual clothes or any
kind of clothes.
Even I, myself, dared not to wear beautiful clothes today because I am afraid to shock you. Even
though I thought, ‘Today is a very important occasion, and I should show my respect to you with
my beautiful dress or traditional costume.’ Also, I feel that as a guest of a nation, I should dress
more properly to remind you even of the life in heaven – the life we used to have before we came
to this world. But I saw so many outside wearing just ordinary clothes, very conservative, so I dared
not wearing anything beautiful to you. This is the same as what happens in our society. This is only
one example to prove how we are intimidated every day with our actions, our thinking, and our
habits.
The same, therefore, if we only learn from information of this world, we will not learn of the highest
quality. We have heard that we have heaven, that we have many different dimensions of highest
intelligence, higher civilizations. So why don’t we go and have a look? Actually, heaven is within us;
the most intelligent source is within ourselves. If only we take time to turn inward daily sometimes,
then we will find this highest quality, and our life will become truly happy. We can solve many
problems in a better way, and we don’t have to work so hard, but we achieve the higher result, or
the best result, because we make use of our wisdom, which is already within ourselves.
The cause of failure
Why do sometimes we find ourselves wanting this thing, or wanting that thing? It is because, deep
within the recess of ourselves, we have all these already planned in us. But why sometimes are we
not successful with our wish? It is because we don’t reach deep enough in this treasure to find
what we want, and what is our right to have. Even though our subconscious told us that we should
have this richness, we should have this success, we should have this and that and other things
more glorious, our brain has no power to achieve it for us. As you see, our brain is dictating
everything in our daily activities, and if the brain only picks up these surrounding information, as I
have told you, how can it achieve something above these things, above this information, above
these abilities that it has picked up every day?
The Japanese people have been more successful than other people in Asia, or in the world,
because at one time the Japanese have learned some higher information, some better way to
preserve and to improve, their country’s economic security. Japan was put in a position in which all
the people in the nation must unite together and listen to the wise advice of a few persons at that
time. Now this proves that whatever the brain is taught, it will give out the effect. Suppose we have
not had these few wise persons in your government at that time and that your nation had not been
forced into this circumstance, Japan probably would not be the way it is today.
Even though we have intelligence, the brain needs to be taught. The way of true happiness and
success can be found only when we turn inside and go to a higher level of consciousness, pick up
better information and use it in our daily life. As you see it, it doesn’t matter how intelligent a race of
people, it doesn’t matter how powerful a nation, every now and then, we fail; we come down
economically, politically, and in every other aspect. Every best plan to rescue a nation, or the
world, will work out only for a certain period of time, a certain number of years, and then it fails
because the situation changes. Whatever plan we make is according to what we have picked up
from the situation and from the environment, and we work accordingly. Therefore, even though we
are still very diligent, or our technical equipment is still the best quality, our economy sinks
sometimes because we use only limited information, and then we can only have limited results.
Therefore, the best politicians, the best economists, the best scientists are not always the best
answers to the world. In this period of world economical struggles, we should truly look into the
resource of our salvation, wherein lies the answers to, ‘What to do now?’ We cannot blame
ourselves for not working hard enough, we cannot blame ourselves for our flawless equipment, we
cannot blame ourselves for our economical talent, but where do we fail then? And it’s not the first
time that one nation or another fails. It has happened many times repeatedly, and it has not
happened to only one country, but it happens to many countries, to any country, despite the best
effort, the best people, and the best brains of the nation.
I suggest the answer is that maybe we are not very balanced in our life. We are always forced to
look into the immediate solution, and forget the long term effects. Every one of us knows that our
brain has not been used completely, even the capability of our brain has been used only to some
percent. Why don’t we try to use the rest? We use only about 10 percent of the brain, but what
could we do with the other 90 percent! We have a solution, we have a way to use the rest of the
brainpower, and that we can measure very fast after a few weeks, after a few months, that we have
truly progressed, that we are truly in touch with the rest of our brainpower.
That’s the method that we would like to offer you, free of charge, and free of every obligation. That
is, you have an obligation to improve yourselves; that’s the only obligation. We have proved this to
ourselves that it is successful; millions of people around the world have proved it to themselves, so
it’s definitely successful. Now I would like to offer this to you, the intelligent Japanese, so that
together we can help the world to become a better place for our later generations. I have presented
to you very scientifically and logically without all these mysterious myths of meditation, Himalayas,
Buddha, or whatever it is, because the Japanese are very scientific and very intelligent. If what I
have spoken appeals to you, then you may try. If not, you lose nothing. Only you remain as you
were yesterday, working very hard, gaining very little, and not understanding why the world has
become like it is, not understanding why we cannot solve many problems, not understanding why
despite all this economic stability, or success in scientific research, our life is not happy. It’s not
truly happy, as we wanted it to be.
If we try the method of contacting our main power, our real power, then our life will change
because we realize who we truly are and what ability still remains unused within ourselves. There
is no end to our abilities, no end to our happiness, if we turn within and look for our treasure. I am
offering this to you as one of the brothers or sisters who has discovered or rediscovered something
nice, something good, and wants to share it with the family members. You share with me also what
you discover, or what you invent, so I have a Toyota car, secondhand.
When I first came to Japan, I wanted a car because we don’t know the place, and where we live in
the mountains, it is very difficult to go out to shopping. So I went to buy a car. And if I buy a
firsthand car, I had to wait three months. So I told the owner, ‘What! In three months, I have to go
out of the country already! What for do I need the car then?’ So I had to walk around and ask him,
‘How about this car?’ and all that, and he said, ‘Oh, this is secondhand. You can have it
immediately!’ But Toyota is a good car, a Japanese car anyhow. And Japanese car is good. So
even though secondhand, I didn’t have to repair it up to now. It’s more than one year already, and I
don’t even have time to drive it now and again. So these are the good inventions, good work that
the Japanese people offer to the world, to other brothers and sisters in different countries. It’s just
an example. There are many more.
When I was in high school, I had a Honda. The first Honda that you produced, I had. My family had
three Hondas, the first ones from Japan. That was back in Au Lac when I was young. Now, in a
similar manner, I offer you what I have rediscovered, and that’s all – there is nothing to question.
All the things that the scientific people offer to the world, or the Japanese people offer to the world,
cost some money because it needs money to produce them. But my discovery doesn’t need any
money to produce, also you already have it within you and I just point it out to you, so we don’t
need to charge you anything. Of course, there is some finance needed for my airplane tickets, for
equipment, and for this hall, for example, and for the staff members, but these I can cover myself
so there is no need to charge again.
So thank you for your attention, and you may ask questions. [Applause]
Q. Is there any difference between the supernatural capability of men and women?
M. No! No, no. Is there any scientifically proven difference in ability between man and woman? Is
there ever? Has it been scientifically proven that men and women are different in brain
power? Any proof? [Audience: No.] Okay, if no, then no difference.
The reason why most women are not out in the society is because they are busy looking after
the children and the family. They sacrifice for the family. But today it’s different already; we
have a woman president, a woman queen, a woman minister, all famous and very capable, as
much as men. But maybe women are physically weaker than men, so to do some things,
maybe men, in some physical aspects, are better. For me, I also feel physically sometimes
disadvantaged when I travel a lot. I feel very tired, and I would prefer to stay at home, but
because for the benefit of the world, for my brothers and sisters, I have to go and travel, even
though I don’t like traveling.
Q. When anyone attains enlightenment, would he or she know that immediately, although the
person may not be able to see it physically?
M. Yes. Many people, thousands, millions of people in the world attained enlightenment, and you
can attain it right now, after this session. This is not something physical; you don’t have to use
the eyes, but you will see, you don’t have to use the ears, but you will hear, and then this
super hearing and seeing continue after the initiation. After you learn how to use it, you know
how to use it, because this is not learning with the brain, but learning with the super
intelligence, with our own wisdom, our real Self!
Enlightenment denotes Light. We will see Light with the opening of our wisdom. When our
wisdom eye opens, we can see many things; we can see heaven just like we use these
physical eyes to see physical things in this physical world. And we can hear the teaching
directly from the higher dimension. It’s not language. It’s the pure teaching without language.
It sounds like beautiful music. That’s why we have music in this world, because we imitate the
real music from heaven. And you will know it immediately; as soon as we sit down together,
you will know it. That’s why we call it ‘immediate enlightenment.’
Some people have that after some time of deep thinking or deep meditation, but with this
method, we have it immediately and it lasts forever. Of course, everyone’s level of
enlightenment is different somewhat, but everyone will get enlightenment at the time of so-
called initiation. And we will become wiser and wiser every day; we are training every day.
The training doesn’t take a lot of work, just sitting like meditation, very relaxing, resting, and
you will receive the wisdom through this way. Actually not receiving, but rediscovering,
because everything is already within ourselves, but we are too busy, and we forget it.
Use the power behind the brain
Q. What developments do You expect or anticipate would happen with Japan in the future, and
also for the world, and how should we cope with this situation?
M. The future of Japan lies in the Japanese hands. I can only offer you the way, so that you know
what is the next movement, what’s the best movement. I cannot tell you what is the best
movement, but I only offer you a way so that you know what is the best. Just like a doctor will
teach you how to use certain medicine for certain sickness, and later you have to do it
yourself. He cannot always stand around and determine for you which patient you give what
medicine, but you learn this skill, and you decide.
With enlightenment you will be able to know what is the next movement, what’s the best
action, and how to change when the situation of the world changes. We have this intelligence
within us, the 90 percent of the brain, not the brain, but the brain power. That’s different. What
gives power to the brain is different from the brain, just like a computer and a computer
programmer.
The majority of the people in the world do not try to use the power behind the brain, and that’s
why our world is not a very highly developed planet. There are more, very civilized planets in
this universe because they use more of the brainpower than we do in this world so they can
produce UFOs, for example, and we cannot. I have watched one Japanese film in which they
provide documents about UFOs. UFOs are not the highest developments, highest inventions,
in the universe anyway – just like airplanes on our planet, just faster.
We use airplanes for intercontinental travel and they use UFOs for interplanetary journeys;
that’s the difference. But these are just material developments of some more civilized people.
We ourselves, don’t need any instruments, don’t need any vehicles, to travel. We can travel in
the whole universe in just many seconds without any UFO, airplane, nothing!
We have read in many fairy tales, or religious stories, that there are people who go to different
Buddha’s lands, or heavens, et cetera, and come back. These are not fairy tales. These are
true things, and people still do these nowadays. Our disciples do that every day, some of
them; some of the highly-developed disciples go back and forth between heaven and hell,
anywhere they want, in just a matter of seconds or minutes.
Q. Where did I come from, and where will I go?
M. That you have to find out. I will show you the way to find out.
Q. Is somebody who is physically handicapped entitled to this method of teaching and

exploration of his own inner capabilities?
M. It depends on the handicap degree of that person, so this we have to check individually. But in
most of the cases, no problem, because we don’t use the physical to practice, or to learn, we
use our real power. We have many handicapped students. I just say, in most cases, because
in some extreme case I do not know of yet, it may happen. Just to make sure what I say is
true and workable.
Q. Master, what do You think of the theory which says that human beings lived in previous lives?
M. These are true theories, as far as we are attached with our habits, our attachments, our
thinking, and our ambitions. But if we do not feel concern with all these material things, then
we truly never die, are never born, never come back, and never go anywhere.
Q. Would it be possible for me to have some contact with so-called heaven, as You described,
even without having received from You this initiation?
M. If it is possible, it would have already happened. You don’t have to ask me this question. To
some other people, it might happen due to many conditions, but it’s not always lasting, and it’s
sometime dangerous.
Q. If You can go anywhere in the universe within seconds, why did You use an airplane, or buy
and use cars?
M. Because you cannot see me otherwise. You cannot see my real self, you have to see my
physical body only, and my physical needs physical transportation. I have two parts, and you
have two parts: One is physical, one is spiritual. I use the spirit to go to the spirit world. I use
the physical body to go into the physical dimension. Otherwise, I don’t need to be born, even.
My spiritual part goes anywhere without hindrance, without needing an airplane, without
needing a passport, but my physical body needs all these things. While I am sitting here, my
spiritual body goes to different places in different countries and different planets to help
different people in different situations, and that you cannot see with your physical eyes;
therefore, I have to present to you my physical presence. After your wisdom eyes opens, you
will see me sometimes in your house, in your country without an airplane ticket. Some people
see me before initiation even but that’s very rare, not many people.
Q. What do You think of this telepathic kinetics method used in China?
M. You mean Chi Kung?
Q. Yes, Chi Kung.
M. It’s one of man’s abilities. It’s one of man’s many multiple super abilities. The method I teach
you includes this ability. That’s why many Chi Kung masters came to take initiation with me.
They thought I am a Master of Chi Kung. But actually I didn’t learn Chi Kung particularly. It’s
just that we have so many abilities within us, and when we are enlightened, it’s opened, and
everything comes out.
Q. The purpose of an animal’s life here is to be eaten by human beings. If human beings stop
eating them, they would all be dead, and turn useless. Don’t You think so?
M. No, we can eat animals if we want to. We are stronger than animals and more intelligent, so
animals are helpless against us anyhow. But the question is whether we should use our
strength and intelligence to abuse those weaker than we when we have other choices to
survive. Besides, we raise more cattle, and pigs, and chickens. Therefore, they exist more
than they used to be. And according to scientific research, the money, the time, and the lands,
used for raising animals are weakening our planet economically and financially, even health-
wise.
It is said that even many wastelands, many deserts, are the result of animal-raising in the past
because wherever cows are raised, that land is forever unable to grow crops. We need a big
landmass to be able to feed the cattle or the animals. And all the wastes of the animals pollute
our water in lakes and rivers because of the fertilizer that goes also into the field to produce
grass and all the stuff for animals also. And all the antibiotics and medicines that go into the
animal’s system, all the water to wash them, and all the hygienic measures, all these cost a lot
of money and manpower. In the long run, it’s a loss of business for the world. It’s no good for
us. It’s not my right to tell you what to eat, but according to research, eating animals is no
good for us whatsoever, economically, financially, politically, health-wise, and everything else.
I am not yet telling you about the moral obligation and the guilty feelings that go with the
animal diet. I am just telling you scientific-wise, the scientific aspect.
Inherently, we all have a great love within us, great love for all things that move, therefore if
we eat animal flesh, subconsciously we feel very guilty. It breeds sickness and all kinds of
uncomfortable feelings and unhappiness in our life. That’s why we suggest that if you want to
find the true happy life, the true free, carefree life, you should refrain from eating living beings.
Q. This question is twofold. One is, You have stated in many publications appearing here or
there that You are a Himalayan Master. What do You mean by this? The second question is,
in the present social mechanism, it would almost be impossible for us to live a vegetarian life.
M. Okay, then you don’t be vegetarian. It’s up to you; it’s your choice to live the way you like to
live.
My disciples call me a Himalayan Master because I was in the Himalayas, that’s very simple.
For me, I can be ‘anywhere Master;’ if I live in Tokyo long enough, they’ll call me ‘Tokyo
Master.’ It’s just a name, no big deal.
Q. By attaining enlightenment, one will continue inside his or her body, a consistent emergence
of new cells and these old cells will be purified; therefore, will this process help heal illness?
M. This helps in many aspects, but we do not concern ourselves so much with the physical body,
because there are many illnesses that will be cured by medicine anyhow. We should come for
enlightenment because we want to rise higher into the spiritual dimension, and not to still
hang around and attach to the physical aspect. Many people get healed with this process, but
if you come for healing of your physical body, I suggest you don’t come because your level is
not high enough yet. Maybe you wait a couple of a thousand years, and then you are ready.
Q. Atomic power generation has resulted in many troublesome accidents. This has happened in
many different countries, and all these adverse effects of atomic generation have been
affecting various races and nations. What do You think is the best way to keep this tragedy
from happening?
M. Get enlightenment. Next?
Q. That’s all.
M. That’s it, good. Thank you. [Applause]
REDISCOVER THE SUPREME POWER WITHIN YOURSELF 28
Good evening. I have always spoken Chinese when I was in Hong Kong, so today I will make a
change. Since there are so many English-speaking persons in the public, I will speak English
today. Is that okay? [Applause] And by the way, you have not enough places so you are welcome
to come to the stage, some place is too small. We wanted a bigger place, but they told us it would
take a half a year or so, and we didn’t have time to arrange something so long. When you are
settled down, I will begin my lecture. [Master laughs.] Just relax like you are watching television; it’s
no big deal! After the lecture, if you still have the patience to stay around, I will go and let you have
a look at my small physical body, if you wish, because it is not possible for you to see me now.
[Master laughs.]
I would like to share with you something that is more important than my physical outlook;
something that you probably already sensed all your life up to now, but some of us might not know
what it is. There is one supreme power, which when it is known by someone, then that person
knows the truest happiness from heaven and earth. And even if that person is a king of a nation, he
would be willing, if possible, to forsake the kingdom, and just to stay somewhere and enjoy that
newfound bliss. That’s the reason why as we read the history of spiritual practice we have found
that many kings or queens, princes, princesses, or high officers left their kingdom or their positions
in order to have time to enjoy, or to make research deeper into this supreme power, this eternal
bliss, within themselves.
And some other people, even though they have not had the opportunity to enjoy this bliss, when
they have heard about this discovery, they have, some of them, also forsook their wealth, their
position, or whatever properties or benefits they have in the world in order to go and search for this.
All of us, more or less, are searching for this supreme happiness. We do it in different ways, by
different means – some renounce the world and go to the Himalayas to search for an enlightened
Master, some are praying every day in the churches or in the temples, and some are doing some
ascetic practices or charitable works in hope or finding this eternal bliss that is promised by all the
scriptures or all the saints of old. Many have found it; many have not. And even though there are
those who have not gone into the retreat of the mountains, who have not become monks or nuns,
or who have not done anything so-called spiritually, these people actually unconsciously while
living in the world are also searching for this supreme power, this wisdom, or what we call God,
Buddha nature, or the Tao. They are searching for what the scientists are still trying hard to prove,
and they give it many different names, proven or not proven.
The paradoxical nature of God power
Yesterday I was interviewed by a very kind and very intelligent journalist from an English
newspaper. He asked me what do I think about the Hong Kong people, because the Hong Kong
people are probably written about, or noted for, their enthusiasm about finance. Well, he put it more
bluntly. He said, ‘All the Hong Kong people have got is money.’ That was what he said to me. So
he asked me what I think about it. I said that it’s just the situation in Hong Kong. The place is very
crowded, and everything is expensive. The soil here, the land here, is more expensive than gold,
so they just have to struggle for survival. It’s easy to get money in Hong Kong, so people also try to
28. Public lecture, Main Hall, Tsin Sha Tsui, Kai Fang Welfare Association, Hong Kong, May 28, 1993 (Originally in English).
get as much as they can. But it is easy to spend it also, so they have to get more, as much as they
can. So the situation breeds the mentality of people in all the different countries.
But then, apart from that, there is a power that drives people into wanting this thing and that thing.
What is that power? That is God power; that’s a very holy, supreme, pure power of love and
wisdom. And of course, it is very paradoxical that God power should drive people into wanting
material possessions and fame. I have tried to explain that we are not the body, we are not the
human beings that we think we are; we are wisdom, we are love, we are extreme holiness. And
this extreme holiness, this supreme power, is always within us. That’s why, when we die, even
though we still have the whole body intact, we cannot function. It is because that supreme power
has left the body.
While we are in the body and we are interrelating with the surroundings, with the society, with other
people, and with the circumstances, we identify ourselves with the body, and with the actions that
we do, and with the habits that we accumulate. Then we think that we are the body, that we are
this human, and that we are that person. And while thinking thus, of course, we will have to fulfill
our work according to our thinking, our position. And then we forget, by and by, that we are the
supreme power and that we are not the body. But meanwhile, this supreme power, the supreme
wisdom, keeps always reminding us that we are that, we are godly, we are supreme, we are not
ordinary weak, helpless human beings. Therefore, there is always a struggle going on within our
soul, or within our heart. Even when we are in the highest position, or when we possess the largest
property on earth, we are still not happy. The more successful we become, the more empty we
feel. This we know according to our conversations, sometimes, with great businessmen, with great,
successful persons.
What makes us always want to be in a higher position, or possess more power, possess more
property? That is this wisdom, the supreme power. Within us, this spark of life, of wisdom, of God,
is always alive, and always urging us to remember what we truly are, how great we truly were. It
tries always to tell us that the life we had before in heaven is more glorious, more satisfying, more
powerful, and in heaven, we have everything at our disposition without having to beg, without
having to work for it. It is always trying to remind us like that within our subconscious.
That is the life we had before we concentrated ourselves, our thinking, and our energy in this
material existence. And that is what makes us unhappy in this life. Then we think, ‘Oh, then, we
must have more power, more political power, more economical power, more possessions, or more
love relationships, et cetera.’ We think maybe these will bring us the happiness that we are lacking;
therefore, we spend all of our time, energy, enthusiasm, and thinking power into acquiring more
power, more possessions, or more love affairs, et cetera. But then, the more we accumulate, the
more disappointments, and we keep looking for more, looking for more, and then we find that
nothing truly makes us happy in this life. This disappointment sometimes breeds further violence,
further greed, further attachment. And consequently, sometimes it breeds wars between nations, or
breeds disagreements even between good friends or good family relationships.
The only way to achieve this everlasting and stable happiness is to find our true self, our true state
of being. Many people, millions of people, have found it, and they lead a different life – not
physically, just mentally, spiritually. Physically, they are still the successful businessmen, the pure
politicians, the best congressmen, or maybe, the good housewives, the good professors, in their
own businesses, but to them, inside, the change is tremendous – the change that only the person
who has realized godliness within himself knows. Sometimes the outsider people have also noticed
that this person has become very different, but they do not know how different, and what different,
and in which way he is different. But the person who, has realized the godly quality or even part of
his supreme wisdom, understands very well where he has changed, and how he has become
better. The way he talks, his outlook about life, and his interrelationships with other people are all
different from before enlightenment. These people, even though they do not wear any monk’s
robes, are truly renunciates. They renounce even monkshood in order to serve the society, in order
to preserve their family happiness, in order to sacrifice for the welfare of the whole world, of the
whole universe.
Normally after enlightenment, after we have a taste of enlightenment, we would like to just stay
alone somewhere and enjoy that every day. But then we still have obligations to the society
because through the society’s love we have grown up, we have our education, and then, even we
get enlightenment. Therefore, we have to give back what we earned, what we discovered, in order
to work shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters, and bring enlightenment into the world.
If everyone, after enlightenment, just stays in the mountains, Himalayas, in a cave somewhere, and
enjoys himself, then soon the world will have less and less enlightened persons. And our great
wisdom, which we have now discovered, is not much use in a practical sense to the world. We
should bring heaven to our earth, instead of aiming to go to heaven alone. That’s the reason why
some of the brothers and sisters of the enlightened circle come back into the world and share the
message with the brothers and sisters, and do their best to make everyone become a saint. And
then we do not need even to go to heaven, we make the world become a paradise.
We have always been looking for peace in this world, and many nations, and the United Nations, et
cetera, have tried their best to make reconciliation between broken ties, between the countries that
are having conflicts with each other – sometimes with success, sometimes without. Yesterday the
intelligent and very gentle journalist also asked me one more question, whether I have a wish, and
what do I wish? I said I don’t have any wish. So he said at least world peace or something? I said
world peace is not possible at the moment, so I don’t wish for an impossible thing. It’s not because
the United Nations has not tried its best. It’s not because many presidents or politicians are not
pure in their motives; it is because many of our brothers and sisters have not truly found peace
within themselves, and they are forever still searching for happiness and true peace without. I
mean ‘outside.’ And so long as we still have these brothers and sisters who are trying to look for
peace and happiness outside of themselves, we do not have true peace and everlasting peace in
this world. Therefore, most of us know that despite all the finance, all the time, all the energy spent
in making world peace, we often fail. Even if we succeed, then outcome is only temporary, or if we
succeed in having peace in one country, the next country will break out in war.
I very seldom read newspaper, except when I am on a long flight and am too bored. To just try to
forget the smoke around me, I read newspapers. And every time I read newspapers or magazines,
I read about wars, criminals, violence, recessions, inflation, anything that is no good for us. Even
for religions’ sake, people make war with each other, so can you imagine, how do we live in this
world? Yesterday I watched some news in the airplane while on the way to Hong Kong, and there
was only violence, poverty, and hopelessness in different parts around the world. So I just shook
my head and talked to the neighbor. I said, ‘This is the world in which we live? This is not true.’
Sometimes I myself personally feel discouraged in my work also, even though I do not prepare for
success or reject failure, but when I look at the news and all these happenings in the world, I do not
know whether we can help, whether there is hope.
Yesterday the journalist also asked me that I have so many disciples around the world, do I feel
happy about it? But I do not. I do not, because it’s very little compared to the population, and the
bad atmosphere that we have to cleanse in the world. I am far from being proud of having many
disciples, and far from being happy that I have so many followers. But anyhow, with your help
perhaps we can make the world better, if not the best place. So I’m not coming to be your Teacher.
I am just coming to probably ask your cooperation, because you have this supreme wisdom and
the supreme power within yourself. You are the Supreme Master in the universe, why don’t you
use this supreme power to help the world, or at least help yourself in your struggle to find peace
and happiness? One more person who finds happiness means one less person miserable in this
world, and the more the better. Many of you in the audience have already grown to a ripe age of a
gentleman or lady. And most of you must have realized by now that position, money, fame, love
affairs, do not bring lasting and true happiness.
Why do not we try to return to where we came from, to regain our supreme position, to rediscover
our supreme wisdom, which can do anything – anything at all? The reason why I have many
disciples is because I have found this wisdom, because I have realized my true self. I have nothing
else to offer except that. I don’t have a lot of money to buy my disciples. I don’t have any big,
beautiful temple at all to attract them. I don’t have any position in society to impress them. I have
nothing. What appeals to them is the pure Truth that I convey every time. They know this is the
Truth because they have the Truth within themselves, and so when I present that, it matches.
[Applause]
My disciples claim that they have seen me with a lot of miraculous power rescue them, help them
in different parts of the world at the same times, and every incredible thing, they credited to my
power. But actually all of us have this power, I tell you in all honesty. Most of us are too busy
clinging to our little intelligence, our little education, our little craftiness, that we have learned from
childhood, from the society, from school, and we are too proud of these to let go in order to know
our true power. That’s what prevents you from knowing your greatness. That’s what makes a
difference between perhaps me and you. Only because you think you are different, only because
you allow this thinking to exist, otherwise, there is no difference at all whatsoever between Jesus,
Buddha, and any other great Master, and your very own self.
Remember our greatness through the Quan Yin method
There is no need to worship too many Masters, no need to worship Buddha or Jesus; just be one.
Just remember you are great before you are entangled in this physical mass. If you do not
remember, we have a way to make you remember, and that is the method we call ‘Quan Yin,’
whatever the name you want is fine. It is the way of awakening our memory of our true origin, and
once awakened, we will never forget again. Once you have found this happiness, you hardly lose
it, hardly ever, except if you deliberately ignore it, refuse it because of some reason, because
maybe you don’t like me.
There should be no personal liking when you seek enlightenment. Whether you like the teacher or
not, if his English is good, he is good for you if you want to learn English. So if you want
enlightenment, come for enlightenment alone. Don’t look for personality, or don’t look for the
appearance of the Teacher, whether it’s male or female, short or tall, English or Chinese, it’s not
important. Of course, if we have a companion or guide who is nice looking, maybe talented,
humorous, beautiful, then of course, it’s better for us; otherwise, it is not very important. But we
must remember that one person can never satisfy everyone’s tastes, therefore, that is not at all
considered as of the utmost importance. The most important question is whether that person can
give you the promised enlightenment, and immediately or not.
Yesterday the journalist asked me why the disciples always follow me. I had forgotten, and I didn’t
know why it is. Perhaps because what I promise, I give them. If I promise them Light and music
from heaven, promise them wisdom, promise them happiness, loving happiness, more and more
every day, then that will be so. If I promise them God, then they will see God. And now, in this
lifetime, not waiting until we die. If I promise them heaven, they will see heaven in this lifetime, and
not after death – oh, after death also, sorry, sorry, that is for sure! [Applause] If we wait until we die
in order to know heaven, or to know ourselves, it might be too late. We might not know it at that
time, who guarantees?
Of course, everyone’s level of enlightenment will be different, and according the inner Teacher will
teach them to their best advantage. The real teaching is not always the same for everyone, and
more important is that you don’t have to always stick around the Teacher every day. You can learn
it at home the initiation the line is established, just like you have applied for a telephone line in your
home and once it is connected, you can use it all the time. And you don’t need to go to America to
talk to that beloved person, but you can stay at home and talk to her.
Of course, sometimes you meet each other face to face; that would also be better, nicer for both of
us because we are still in the physical dimension, and sometimes we need the physical contact.
But it’s not always necessary in spiritual practice. The physical contact is sometimes necessary
because the disciples are still in a not very high level, and still like to see the Teacher in person.
And later, when they are in the higher level, they still like to see the Teacher in person, because it’s
nice to see a good friend. And all attachments for worldly gain and profits, fame and name, will just
minimize day by day until they become none, and then we do things without personal motive,
personal profit.
Okay, I am supposed to stop now, but if you have any questions, I may continue according to the
program. So, please, ask questions and be quick. Thank you for your enthusiastic support and
attention. [Applause] I feel very comfortable with you. You are a very loving crowd.
Q. What is initiation?
M. I have mentioned it already, but if you want, I will tell you again. It is the beginning of our
Homeward journey. It is the beginning of the awakening of self-realization. At the time of
initiation, I do nothing to you and I speak nothing, but you will realize what you long to realize.
And then you will know what to do every day to regain more knowledge of your great self, of
your true self. From that day, the inner Master always stands by you, twenty-four hours a day,
to help you in any circumstances that require help, in this world as well as beyond this world,
until you reach complete realization.
The initiation, therefore, is done in complete silence, and is difficult to describe to you in
language. We will give you some instructions, like how to sit, do not waiver, do not move, and
things like that, but this is not initiation. The true initiation is in complete silence. Because
these things are beyond this physical world, we don’t need language. Language is helpless in
the spiritual dimension; otherwise, I would have written a book. I’d just sell in the market and
everyone would get enlightened for a cost.
Q. Is the Quan Yin method a religion?
M. No. Otherwise, I would call it Quan Yin religion, no? I would say that the Catholics cannot
come, the Buddhists cannot go near, the Muslims are forbidden, the Taoists are not welcome.
I would make a new one. On the initiation form, we stated that you do not need to change
your religion. You do not need to join a new one, do not need to invent a new one, or do not
need to change anything. The Quan Yin method just helps you to realize your true worth,
that’s all, and the religion is just half of it. For example, every religion talks about two sides:
One is the physical, moral standard, and the other one is heaven-realization. Most of the
religions nowadays offer only the half of the physical moral ethical standard, but do not offer
the heavenly realization. I just added the other half, so you can affix it to any religion you
want. We don’t fight for religions in heaven.
To make war is our habit, the nature of some persons, some of our brothers and sisters, so
even they make war to fight for heaven. They are afraid that heaven is so small that if all the
Buddhists come up, the Christians would have no place, or if the Hindus go there, the
Muslims will be ‘kaput,’ have no place to stay, so they have to fight with each other for
heaven. But we don’t have to. All religions are fine, as long as we realize the essence of that
religion. In any religion, the essence is the same. I offer the essence, not religion. Suppose
different companies advertise for milk. They have different names for milk, like ‘Denmark’s
best milk’ or like ‘Second best to mother’s milk.’ The names are different for milk, but it is the
same. And I offer the milk regardless of what names you want to put on the label for your
company.
Q. Do You know Chuang Tzu, and what do You think of him?
M. Chuang Tzu. Oh, that guy died about a few thousand years ago. What do you want to know
about him? Anyhow, I have many tapes talking about Chuang Tzu. If you are interested, you
can ask the people outside. The price is not profit-making; it’s only the original price, and we
are losing business anyhow. If you calculate everything else, then we lose business. So the
price is very cheap. You can take some cassettes home and listen to what I said about
Chuang Tzu. I cannot talk about a person who is so great in a few minutes, so please, get
some tapes outside and listen, all right? We are good friends.
The anguish of a Master
Q. I know I shouldn’t be concerned about Your appearance, but I have never seen a spiritual
Master wearing makeup. Why are You putting makeup on?
M. Why not?
Q. I think You look better without.
M. Oh, yes? Thank you. Sometimes I look better without, and sometimes I look better within. It
doesn’t concern you. What I do is my business. Too many problems explaining all these
troubles. [Applause] When I wear the Buddhist monk’s robe, they say, ‘Why do You wear
this?’ And when I wear the other, they say, ‘Why do You wear that?’ And when I wear
makeup, ‘Why do You wear makeup?’ And when I don’t wear makeup, ‘Why do You make
Yourself ugly?’ I have no end to all these childish and stupid questions.
I’ll tell you why I wear makeup. The most practical reason is that too much light hurts my skin,
so they told me. And also it sweats and the television doesn’t look good for you. So they
complained; they told me that I should put some powder on. And now I put some powder on,
and it looks white like a dead person. So then I have to add the not-natural blush because my
natural blush is covered by the powder already. So I have to add more and more every day,
and there is no end to all this business. I do all this because of you, so don’t worry about it.
[Applause]
There are worse things I do for you; this is the best thing already. The worst things, you don’t
know. You don’t know the things I have to suffer. So this is nothing much, probably the
reputation suffers only. There are other kinds of sufferings you do not know, so I can never tell
you enough. Don’t worry about my things. Just worry about your enlightenment because it
concerns you the most. You sit here with a thousand watts every day, then you will know what
it’s like. It hurts your eyes. It hurts your everything. If you have to sit here, then you’ll know;
five minutes, you don’t like it. So don’t ask too many stupid questions. Ask enlightening
questions; ask that I may help you to improve your outlook, your inner beauty. That’s the best
way to ask a question.
Q. Is it possible to introduce Your message to children? Also, thank You to the hidden person for
his almost perfect and natural translation in Cantonese.
M. The children can learn also. From six years old, they can get initiation, but only if they want it.
The children have also the supreme wisdom as much as we have so we don’t force the
children. But if they like it, they can have it.
Q. How does initiation link or complement meditation, or are they both independent?
M. After the initiation, then you know how to meditate. That’s the link.
Q. Does it matter who teaches meditation?
M. It does matter. If the person has no experience in going back to heaven, then how can he lead
you to heaven? If the Teacher knows the way to heaven already, of course, it is best for us –
not anyone at random.
Q. When you have close relatives who are old and near the end, and they are deaf and illiterate,
and not intelligent, how can you convey to them the message, in order that they achieve inner
peace at the time of death?
M. Just convey it, and see how he reacts, because you never know who is stupid and who is not
intelligent. Maybe we are the ones who are not intelligent. Sometimes it is like that. We
underestimate someone.
Q. You made an in-depth study on the Bahai teachings. Can You please share a few of Your
views on the Bahai faith?
M. Bahai faith originally means brothers, brotherhood. So it’s just the name for those who were
enlightened at that time when the Bahai faith started. Now later on, it left the name, just like
other religions. So every religion has its good points.
Q. Is the Quan Yin method the same method as taught by the Quan Yin Bodhisattva?
M. Yes.
Q. I feel so much love for everyone and everything, but it is difficult to go out in the world to deal
with separation, rudeness, unkindness, and maybe just the indifference. I take a deep breath
and try to find the love every time, but I feel like I bleed. How can I respond to others in the
same loving way always?
M. Yes, it’s difficult, because of the collective karmic atmosphere around those persons that you
are dealing with. Try to look at him or her as the supreme power within themselves, and forget
the habits that they accumulate, forget the manner that they have been influenced by the
surrounding and the society. But if you cannot, it’s fine. Try again next time.
Q. Why is there no conflict between God, Christ and Buddha? God said there is only one God.
You cannot worship other gods.
M. Yes, Buddha did not tell you to worship other gods, did He? Buddha is also a messenger from
God, but the God He knows is different from the preconceived idea of the god you know.
That’s all. There is only one God, one all loving, all pervading, all omnipresent power; that is
what we call God. We are offspring, and Buddha is one of the offspring. When a person is
enlightened, he reaches the state of Buddhahood or Christ. That person is one with the
almighty power and there is no separation between the original and the offspring. At that time,
there is God or there is no God; there is no difference to that person at all. He might not know
there is God because he and God are one. Of course, he knows, but he doesn’t discriminate
the way we do. The way we look at things is different from the way an enlightened person
looks at things.
Q. Could You kindly tell me how to control the wandering mind?
M. That takes some practice and time. That’s why after enlightenment, after initiation, we suggest
that you still have to meditate every day. Otherwise, the habit of a wandering mind has been
for a long time, and it’s difficult to get rid of it overnight. So we have to keep repeating the
experience of enlightenment until it becomes our nature.
Q. If we do not adhere to the precepts very strictly, how will this affect our meditation?
M. You will, of course, have less experience, less feelings of tranquility, and less heavenly vision,
but try again. We are humans and sometimes we fail, but we should try again. The difference
between a saint and an ordinary person is that the saint doesn’t make the same mistake
again. So make a mistake okay, but don’t make it again.
Q. If we chant the Buddhist mantra and get into samadhi, is this good or bad?
M. Good. It’s good. That means that you have good concentration, but it might not be a very high
level.
Q. Initiates must be vegetarians, but can they cook meat for their family, or buy meat for their
family to eat?
M. Yes, they can. If the family insists on this non-vegetarian diet, then you have to do your duty.
Q. Is meditation related to religion? And if you obtain your goal in meditation, do you think we
need to keep our religion, and why?
M. At that time, you are the religion. So whether you keep it or not keep it, you don’t think like that
anymore. I just tell you now that you don’t need to change your religion because you still feel
attached to religious names and form. If I tell you to forsake all religion or everything, then you
will revolt. But at that time, after the great enlightenment, you become the religion yourself.
You are the symbol of all purity, precepts, and holiness; therefore, that is the essence of all
religions. So no need to say whether I am still a Christian or not a Christian. The name is not
important, anymore. At that time, your outlook is different.
Q. What is karma? Is it assigned by the karma lords, or is it our choice? Is it the chain reaction of
our actions and thoughts, or something else?
M. Karma is nothing but a consequence of all our actions. If it is a good action, it bears good
consequences; if a bad action, it bears bad consequences. Karma is a Sanskrit name for
consequence of action. It makes a big deal because we don’t translate it into English
correctly. If we steal some money, our karma is to go to the police station or to jail. That’s
karma. That’s the meaning of karma. If we eat too much, then the karma will be that we feel
very uncomfortable, heavy, with indigestion. That’s the meaning of karma.
Q. Ching Hai Master, I am from Singapore, my father is from Singapore, my mother is from Au
Lac. I come from Singapore just to offer You some roses, so may I?
M. Sure. He waited a long time. There was a flower offering before and he didn’t come. I have
noticed that he was there. Come up, please. Let him come up, please. Why did you wait so
long? Thank you for your love and the roses. Let him have a way, please. Sorry that you had
to wait so long. Thank you. [Applause] Yes, I am happy that someone is not concerned with
my makeup, but only with my teaching. Your actions and your questions bespeak your inner
level. So be careful what you ask, and don’t reveal your inner low level.
Q. I have two questions here. Do I have to be a vegetarian before I come for initiation?
M. No, you are vegetarian after. If you are before, of course it would be better. But since most of
us are not, so I have to take what it is. So be vegetarian after the initiation immediately. It’s too
late now to have your last beefsteak!
Q. The other question is, do I owe You anything after You have initiated me?
M. No, you owe me nothing, because whatever you will get, is what you possess inside; the
kingdom of God is within you. I don’t give you anything. I just try to tell you how to remember it
every day, and help you to remember it at the first instance, and you can continue to do it.
Q. To attain complete enlightenment, must one be initiated?
M. According to history, yes.
Q. Must we have a Master to be initiated?
M. If you can do without, then it’s fine. I’m just afraid you forgot how, so I just help you. You don’t
need to call me a Master. You don’t call me anything. I am not the Master really; I am not the
body, anyhow. People just call me Master because they learn with me, they call me Teacher
or Master. Anyhow, every time you call me the Master, you should remember that you are the
Master. You have this Master power within you, and you have to try to awaken that, and to
make use of that. So it’s also useful to call me Master to invoke this memory within yourself.
That’s the only best thing about it; otherwise, there is no need.
Q. Before birth, we are not enlightened; after death, is there a method to reach enlightenment?
M. Yes, secondhand. Suppose your relative is initiated, then from death, you rise to life. Because
of the bloodline, because of the karmic relationship with each other, you are helped by some
degree.
Q. When people die suddenly or before they expect to, is it possible for the soul or
consciousness to stay behind?
M. You mean to linger around the physical relatives? Yes, it’s possible. These people are those
who are reluctant to depart. It happens not only by sudden death, but by many different
deaths also, if the attachment is too strong still. They just linger around and make trouble,
make noise. [Laughter]
This is because the true self has not been liberated from the astral body, and that person
mistakes this astral body for his physical self. And then because of the strong desire and
attachment for the pleasures of this world, he tries to regain that by all means. He lingers
around the relatives, friends, or beloved ones, and sometimes makes noise and disturbs
people. But that’s not for long because the astral world also has policemen. They will go
patrolling, and then catch them back and put them to the place where they belong.
Q. Okay, I think You answered the other question. She was asking how to remove the person.
M. They will be removed after some time; just be patient, or get enlightenment. Then they will
remove themselves very fast.
Q. How long will the initiation process take tonight?
M. It depends on how many people. The original instructions normally take about half an hour or
an hour, and then you sit for meditation maybe for one hour in silence; that would be a couple
of hours. But sometimes it will take longer because of the number of applicants. We need to
take down the information of your address and all that for the follow-up, and to send you more
information, because sometimes you need to know many things during your daily practice,
and we couldn’t satisfy that in one night. In the physical level, yes, but not spiritually, we don’t
need that. Also, in case we have some retreats, seven days or three days, and if you want to
participate, then we will inform you if we have the address; therefore, the paperwork takes
some time, that’s all.
Q. To be initiated, do we need courage?
M. If you need, yes. To some people, they just need nothing; they just walk in. To some people,
they need courage to put down their so-called etiquette, their preconceived ideas, and their
attachment to some religious preconceived expectations. So of course, to these people, they
need courage. Also, they are afraid their family will not welcome them after they become
vegetarian. Some people are afraid that their business will not go smoothly if they cannot go
out and have dinner with all the other partners, et cetera, but these are not true. Nothing
should be an obstacle, if we truly want something. In many countries, different kings have
even renounced their kingdoms just for one woman. Don’t talk about big-deal heaven and
earth and anything else – just for one woman, and if we couldn’t do even less than that for
heaven, then we should ask ourselves whether it is true courage, or what should we call that.
Q. Do all the founders of the religions still exist, for example, Quan Yin, or Shakyamuni Buddha,
or Jesus?
M. They exist in some level of consciousness. Otherwise, they do not exist at all; they have never
existed as individuals, and they never will. Just like the Masters who have been on our earth
physically, they are originally not physical, anyhow. Sometimes, if we are enlightened, we
don’t see the Master sitting here speaking; we just see Light and nothing else. The whole hall
is Light – no person, not even you!
There are different levels of existence, and they exist according to our understanding of
existence. For example, after initiation, and not even after initiation, at the time of initiation
sometimes, some of you will see Jesus, some of you will see Buddha, and talk to them, or not
talk to them. It depends on the power of your samadhi whether you can hold on to that level
because you have ascended to their etheric level, astral level, you can converse with them or
see them. But when you go above that, you see no more, understand? It doesn’t mean that
the Master is in a lower level, but because in a higher level, there is no personality that exists.
Q. Are there higher states than paradise?
M. It depends on how you term ‘paradise.’ If you mean paradise is somewhere beautiful, glorious
and you have everything to your satisfaction, these are not higher levels of paradise. And the
very high paradise, it is not possible to explain in language. So we just use ‘paradise’ or
‘heaven’ as general terms to describe somewhere eternal, blissful, and holy, somewhere
beyond this world. But of course, there are different levels of heaven, and with this method,
we go to the end. We pass through five heavens and go to the highest one.
There are more heavens than five, but we have to pass at least five in order to realize the
Truth, to be completely free and enlightened. Just like from here to China, mainland China, we
have to go through different stations, maybe five bus stations at least, in order to reach the
mainland border, the border only, but then you are still in mainland China. You begin to
explore the mainland of China.
Q. Can the power of forgiveness dissolve karma and spare you from the consequences?
M. Yes, yes, definitely. That’s why, thou shalt not kill, that’s why we should be vegetarian, so that
all these animal deaths are forgiven, and then we don’t get the revenge afterward. We cut
asunder the chain of cause and reaction; we stop it there. We stop the wheel of karma.
Surmount all obstructions to get enlightenment
Q. My family objects to me taking initiation. What should I do?
M. We have numerous families, life after life. So think about it. Next time when you are born
again, you will have another family, and you will be obstructed again, and next time you will
have another family, and you will be obstructed again. Think about it. Do what you think best
for yourself. Talk to your family, beg of them, kneel there three days, do whatever, hunger
strike. Do what you think is best in your family’s circumstance.
I wanted to leave my husband to go in search of enlightenment because I thought I couldn’t

find it at home. It’s difficult to find a Master at home. We have to go out and look for one
everywhere. So I thought that I’d leave home and go to find it, it’s easier. It’s freer, and I can
go anywhere I want, and look for one, and stay there until I am enlightened. That’s what my
imagination said. And then he didn’t want it. Of course, he didn’t want it. We were married just
two years, and the love was still very passionate, so he didn’t want to let me go. But I had to
talk to him, two months, and he signed a contract; no, he tore the contract of our marriage.
Two months, so maybe it takes you three months, or two years, but you have to work for it.
And even when I was in the Himalayas, he still chased after me. So you have to find a way to
run away! You have to find a way to free yourself. No one else can do it for you. I had all the
Buddhas on my altar and Jesus on the other altar, but they didn’t help me. I had to do it
myself. Talk to your family.
Q. If some people in China invite Master to visit and lecture, is that possible?
M. It depends on the situation in China – whether the government is wise and tolerant enough to
accept me there, and if they will not think I am a threat to their power.
Q. Are magical powers supernatural powers?
M. They are not really supernatural powers. They are natural powers. We naturally have them,
but we forgot how to use them. After initiation, and then after you practice a long time, you
have many magical powers coming back to you, but these are in the psychic level, astral
level. Therefore, we advise to refrain from using them, to abuse them too often, or too
obviously. Because then we will feel attached to these powers, and then we remain in the
psychic level or the astral world, just like children get attached with toys and forget to go to
school.
Q. How do these powers affect the highest Truth? Are they of any use?
M. I have already answered.
Q. What is real love?
M. I don’t know if I can say it in language. I only know that we can have it if we are enlightened,
the unconditional love, love without wanting anything in return, that we have more and more,
accordingly to the degree of our enlightenment, daily in the practice of meditation.
Q. Can homosexuals learn the Quan Yin method?
M. Yes, there is no homosexual Buddha nature. You are only identifying yourself with the
physical frame. That’s why you think you are a homosexual or a heterosexual; otherwise, we
are not the physical body, so don’t worry. These conditions, these ideas that you condition
yourself with, will drop away by and by, as you learn to realize how great you are, and what a
real self you are. So don’t worry about these conditions. These are just accidents that happen
within the soul’s journey to eternity. These are just unwelcome diseases that happen to fall
upon us and attack us now and again during our journey to eternity. This is no big deal, no
sin. Don’t worry about these things. But of course, you keep to one partner at a time, yeah?
Q. The Quan Yin method, can it help us be liberated from the wheel of transmigration, the cycle
of life and death?
M. Sure, in this lifetime. After initiation, you are liberated. Your five generations are also liberated
together with you. Those who are already dead will go to heaven. And more, not only five.
Q. By learning the Quan Yin method, after death, to what heaven will we go, or will our own heart
create its own heaven?
M. We don’t need to create any more heavens. Heavens already exist, in plenty. But many are
empty, so we have to immigrate there. To which heaven, depends on how your practice goes
while you are living. For example, after initiation, you practice and you have reached the third
heaven, then that’s where you go after you die. The Master continues to teach you until you
are completely enlightened and become the Master yourself.
Q. Is our presence here at this lecture tonight enough for us to attain immediate enlightenment?
M. To some, yes. But most of you are too deep in the physical level that you truly need an official
initiation. Because now you are listening to me and your attention is outward, not inward,
therefore, the initiation is almost impossible. Some of you would have some taste of
enlightenment during the lecture already, but even then, you need the follow-up, and you
need more instructions in order to know how to keep this enlightenment everyday.
During my lecture, many people see Light and hear music from heaven, or see the vision of
enlightenment, of heaven, or of saints, and of many things. But still they should take initiation
for a deeper research, or further clarification of how to meditate, and how to keep our energy
in a pure state, and protect ourselves everyday.
Q. I have low blood pressure. Would it be a problem to my heath to be vegetarian?
M. You should worry about a low level of consciousness. If we have a low level of
consciousness, even if we have a high blood pressure, it doesn’t balance. [Laughter and
applause.]
Q. Beings from outer space, are they also created by God?
M. I am sure, yes. I forgot to ask them, but I am sure they are also created by God. [Laughter]
Q. For those, who do not believe in God, will they be forever in hell? Why?
M. No, it depends on what they do in their life. God cannot blame someone who does not believe
in Hirm because he doesn’t see Hirm. So I offer you the way to see God first, and whether you
believe it or not later is your business.
Signs of enlightenment
Q. After enlightenment, does that person himself know he is enlightened?
M. After enlightenment, of course you know you are enlightened. It’s very obvious. But maybe
one or two do not realize that, just because they have too many preconceived ideas about
what enlightenment would be and they expect too much, expect like a big electric shock, or
flying in the air, or something like that. But even these persons, slowly, after few days, will
also be in the state of realizing that they are enlightened after all.
There are signals for enlightenment. There are signs, special signs. Enlightenment means you
are enlightened. You have Light; Light is flooded into you. So you will see some Light inside at
the third eye; we use the third eye. At the initiation, the third eye will be opened by the Master
power, and then you will see Light. Your inner soul will be awakened, and you will hear the
heavenly teaching, without using physical ears, the teaching in the form of music, melody, not
by language. These are some of the signs of enlightenment. There are more, and day by day,
we have more.
Q. What is the way to make our heart peaceful?
M. I talk already two hours, and you still ask what is the way. It’s the only way, enlightenment.
Find your true self.
Q. Can anybody, by being vegetarian and meditating, open and find by themselves without this
Quan Yin method?
M. Find it by themselves? Very difficult, because vegetarian doesn’t mean Buddhahood, doesn’t
mean enlightenment; otherwise, all the cows would have been Buddhas before we were born.
It is just a means of compassion. Vegetarian is just a way consciously to preserve our great
love for all beings.
Q. What is God? Does Hes create us?
M. If not, who does?
Q. How many are there? Can we be God?
M. It must be a child who asks this question. You see, suppose there is a God who creates us
and that comforts us for the moment at least, until we see Hirm after initiation or during
meditation, then you can ask Hirm yourself whether Hes has created us or not, and how many
gods are there. There is a power that creates all things; it’s not a person. We call that power
God.
Q. After initiation, we can still be living with our family, and become a mother and father. Does
this mean we have to change only in our mind?
M. No, just stay where you are, and do what you used to do. These are only the outside duties.
We have to do them, and we should do them better than before. No need to run away from
home. I did, but I was not enlightened then; you can’t blame me.
Q. The last question. When we buy some captive birds and animals and release them in order to
gain merit, is this any help to us?
M. When you buy them and release them, the sellers go and catch them back again, because
you buy them and pay a lot of money. So most often it’s like that. These are… [Master sighs.]
I don’t want to say things about the customs in the society. Some people have to make
money, so don’t ask me to tell things that are not very profitable. Suppose we see something
in bondage, and of course, we like very much to free it because we feel compassion for that
being, whether man or animal. At that time, we have merit already. Not that we do it to earn
merit, then it is like business. Buddha doesn’t do business. God does not do business. God
doesn’t care how many birds you free because it’s still in this sky in Hiers universe anyhow.
All belongs to Hirm. Who frees whom? Where to? What for? So just get enlightenment, that’s
the best merit you can get. [Applause] So free yourself, this is a chance. If you don’t want to
free yourself forever, then at least you are free from this room because the lecture is finished.
Thank you. [Applause]
ENLIGHTENMENT: THE WAY TO GET OUT OF THE LIFE AND DEATH

CYCLE 29
First, I congratulate the Malaysian people for having such a beautiful country. And because your
country is very stable and safe, I mean compared to many other countries in Asia as well as in the
Occident, I will not talk about the mundane things that you already have enough of. We will talk
more about the spiritual side. Your country and your people, due to the wise ruling of the
government, already receive more or less enough material comforts, so I will just congratulate you,
your country, your government, and then we will go straight to spiritual topics. [Applause]
There is a way to rise above the human standard. After we have achieved the best success and
the highest peak in our material endeavors, we will wonder, ‘What’s now?’ At that time, we
probably would try to find the way to understand some higher, more intelligent, and more satisfying
answers. We would try to find these answers. But sometimes, because we have been too busy
during our daily life and we have been too preoccupied with material problems, if suddenly we want
to find something else above materialism, we will find ourselves in difficulty.
[The Chinese translator translates incorrectly and Master speaks in Chinese.]
No, what I mean is, that we have been too busy during our daily life, too busy in material aspects.
We put too much of our energy in them. Now suddenly, we want to find something else above that.
It’s too sudden; hence, we will find ourselves in difficulty. We don’t know how to manage it. That is
what I mean. The translation should be more flexible and mild. The way we put it, it is as if people
are very stupid, and that is not what I meant. A slight deviation in translation can make a difference.
I feel that you are not very cautious in using the right words and language.
For example, some time ago, I said to a disciple, ‘Please call the meditation center in Kuala
Lumpur and ask them if they could reserve two rooms in a hotel for my guest. He is coming later,
and can’t make it on time. Moreover, he is not a local personal, and doesn’t know how to make a
reservation.’ That’s how I said it, in a very courteous manner. But my disciple said, ‘Eh! Who are
you? Let me tell you. Master wants you to…! You have to reserve two rooms, and I want you to
do…’ this and that! Ayah! My heart throbbed when I heard this! [Laughter] I said, ‘If you talk in that
manner, no one will want to work with you.’ The message was the same but it sounded as though
he was giving a command. That’s not how I said it. I asked him to check and see if he could
reserve two rooms. It’s not quite the same as giving an order like ‘Master wants you…! You
should...! You must…! You…!’
[Master speaks in English.] I’m just teaching the Chinese how to use words so that it delivers the
same message but it doesn’t sound like you’re ordering people, or making people feel stupid –
except when you’re in anger, or you have the reason to do so, that’s different.
[Master speaks in Chinese.] Unless you are angry, or have a good reason to speak in a very
straightforward manner, you should speak in a courteous way, and use more elegant words.
29. Public lecture, Heavenly Queens Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 4, 1993 (Originally in English).
Cause of man’s decreasing life span
That’s the reason why, sometimes, we have to go and find someone who is a so-called Teacher, or
an enlightened friend, in order to help us to clear these answers which bother us in our daily life.
Apart from our struggle for survival, we have spiritual questions. This is the reason why we need a
good friend, an enlightened friend, or we call them ‘Teacher,’ or ‘Master,’ or ‘sister,’ or ‘brother,’ or
whatever. If we have to take time to find out ourselves, it will also probably bear fruit after some
period of time. But sometimes we don’t even have time to allow this to gradually happen, so we like
to find a quicker way, a quicker answer. That’s why some people of the enlightened circle will offer
us some answers.
In such a short span of our lifetime, we’ll usually live up to one hundred years of age, if we are
lucky, we need kind of immediate answers to many of our questions. And these questions include
the urgent spiritual questions. In the olden times, our life-span would be up to eight thousand
years, or sometimes many, many decades that we should live our life. But because we began to be
involved in a kind of ‘life-shortening process,’ our life span became shorter and shorter as we took
different reincarnations. From one reincarnation to the next, our life span becomes shorter and
shorter.
I will tell you what is the life-shortening process. Maybe you want to know. In the beginning, when
men first appeared on this planet, they did not need to eat anything, and they lived in glory. Light
and heavenly music, those were their food and they lived for a long time. Then they saw something
like foam appear on the sea. After sometime, they started eating these things, and later they had
no more of this foam, but there were some other things that had appeared, so they kept on eating
them, not because they were hungry, just because they were curious in the beginning. They
wanted to know what it was like. Some of the people just tasted it, and thought it was good, so they
began to eat them, and then everyone else came and ate them. They ate all kinds of vegetables,
and this foam, which were sweet and very fragrant. Later, when all these things were less in
supply, they began to eat the animals. That was when our life-shortening process began. We have
been cheated into this so-called cycle of karmic law; therefore, our life span becomes shorter and
shorter with each reincarnation. We have only one hundred years now, and perhaps, if we continue
with this kind of life-shortening system, our life will be even shorter.
[The translator translates incorrectly, and Master says to the translator in Chinese.] I didn’t say
‘killing animals.’ [Laughter] Don’t put words in my mouth; I speak very mildly. I feel the Chinese
speak very harshly. I mean, if we get involved in this kind of life-shortening system, then our life
span would become shorter and shorter. If we continue to do so, naturally our life span would be
even shorter in the next reincarnation.
Therefore, we have discovered that even with our best medical inventions, and our discovery of the
best system of healthcare, our life is still not secure.
[The translator translates incorrectly and Master talks to the translator in Chinese.] No! I said that
our life is still not very secure. Never mind; try to listen as much as you can. [Laughter] Talking to
the public is not the same as chatting with someone. When you stand on the stage with people
staring at you, you can’t beat it. Sometimes when I am sitting on the stage, people randomly throw
criticizing questions at me without much compassion. Why don’t you try coming up and standing
here for five minutes? You will be exhausted.
[Master speaks in English.] I said that she [the translator] translated not well, because she fears the
public. It’s difficult to stand on the platform and look at thousands of eyes. So many of the people
will find difficulty in this kind of situation; she is not the only one. So forgive her.
Enlightenment is very scientific
The only way to get out of this life and death and life shortening cycle is enlightenment. We need
enlightenment to liberate ourselves. It doesn’t matter even if we can lengthen our life by medical
treatment, it will not be that long; it will not be forever. Also, enlightenment affords a person to be
more noble, to enter the circle of sainthood, of the Buddhas, of the greatest mind of the greatest
scientific discovery. Actually, enlightenment is only very scientific. It’s not a superstition. We don’t
even have to talk about faith, religions, or anything of the sort. It is very, very scientific. We don’t
even have to have a religion to get enlightenment, because we have this enlightening nature within
ourselves.
Most of the time, we use very little of this enlightened power. [Master talks to the translator in
Chinese.] I said that we use very little of the enlightened power. I didn’t say we are ignorant.
[Laughter] A little deviation in the translation makes a great difference. It makes it sound as though
I look down upon them. This is not what I mean. I said that most of the time, we use only a very
small fraction of our wisdom, the power of enlightenment. This is not the same as ‘ignorance.’ I talk
to my disciples in this way, but I talk to you in a more modest manner.
Most of the time, we know that we use only about 5 to 10 percent of our brainpower. [The translator
translates ‘percent’ as ‘Pa Sen.’] You call it Pa Sen in Chinese? I don’t know if I can bring
enlightenment for you today, but I can bring you some laughter at least. [Laughter] Yes, laughter is
what we need also.
If we reach the ultimate limitation of our brainpower, then at that time, we reach complete
enlightenment. So it’s very scientific. Most of the enlightened saints are the great scientists, that’s
all, very great scientists. They know the laws of the whole universe, and they can make use of
them for their own benefit, for the benefit of their disciples, as well as for the benefit of the whole
world. And anyone who studies with them will slowly also discover their own greatness, their own
wisdom, and then become the Master, the so-called ‘Master.’ It has nothing to do with religion. It is
just because, probably, the Buddha had discovered this power, and the people who followed to
study with the Buddha called themselves ‘Buddhists.’ Shakyamuni Buddha had found this power,
and the same with other Masters – like the people followed Christ to study with Him and to find
their own wisdom, and later, they also called themselves ‘Christians.’
Then the same thing happened with other enlightened Masters, the other great scientific minds,
and that’s the root of our present-day religions. Before Buddha was born, there were no Buddhists
or no Buddhism. Before Christ was born, there was no Christianity. Before…, oh, I dare not say…
I’d better not mention other religions. I’m afraid if I say that, then they would probably think I offend
the Muslims, or whatever. That’s the reason why we’ve just had these religions recently. Now you
know why, you know the reason. The same is true for any other religion as well. I respect all
religions, but I don’t need to mention all of them.
In order to know ourselves, we should find a way to discover our own treasure, our own wisdom,
not to just follow the ritual, the tradition, of a religion. That would not be enough.
[The translator translates incorrectly, then Master speaks in Chinese.] Hmm? [Laughter] That’s not
what I said, ‘If you follow a religion and only follow the ritual or tradition of that religion, it would not
be enough, not enough!’ Wrongly translated. Oh, no wonder many people criticize me, all because
they don’t translate properly. [Laughter] It’s very troublesome, as our language is insufficient.
The language in this world is never sufficient to describe the heaven inside ourselves. The true
heaven, the true wisdom, is to be transmitted in silence and without language. That’s why, during
initiation, or the transmission, we don’t talk – therefore, no mistakes. [Laughter] That’s why all the
disciples will get enlightenment – and immediately, except those who sleep or who just think of
money at that time, then, I cannot help them. [Master and audience laugh.] But most of the time,
the Master power will even raise them up and give them an experience of enlightenment. This kind
of method is not described in any books at all because the transmission must be done from mind to
mind, from heart to heart, from a spiritual standpoint, and not with language, or with any actions.
[The translation on the last sentence sounds funny. Master and the audience laugh, then Master
speaks in Chinese.] Normally, the Chinese language is very elegant. The way you (the translator)
say it makes it sound less elegant. [Laughter] The Chinese language is very beautiful, very precise,
very perfect.
I said, ‘Normally, the Chinese language is very perfect and very noble,’ but she (the translator) has
made it a little bit less noble.
In order to find our real self, many people do different kinds of practices, different kinds of
meditations, different kinds of penances, but the best way, the quickest way, is to go through
someone who already has had this experience so they can show us quickly. It is just like
everything in this world, if someone has already experience in some field, and that person teaches
us, it would be faster and safer.
[The translator translates incorrectly and Master corrects in Chinese.] I said, ‘a person’ not ‘an
enlightened Master.’ When you (the translator) say that, people will think I regard myself as an
enlightened Master, hence causing trouble for me. [Laughter]
In this world, when we discover something new, or we have some new invention, we normally offer
it to mankind at large – the same thing with enlightenment. Therefore, since ancient times, the
enlightened person normally would offer his discovery, his experience, to the people of his
generation.
[The translator translates incorrectly and Master corrects in Chinese.] I didn’t say ‘enlightened
Master.’ I said ‘a great, enlightened person’ normally would offer his experience and his merit to the
people of his generation. I use very modest words. [Master laughs and says to the translator.] Why
do you keep bringing up to the term ‘enlightened Master’? An enlightened Master is also a person.
It’s just that he has discovered more of his power. That’s all.
An enlightened person is also a person, and then that person has discovered some super quality,
which is inherent in himself, and herself, as well as in every other brother and sister. Therefore, an
enlightened person is also a person, but he has more ability, more understanding. Sometimes we
expect an enlightened Master must be like this, like that, and like the other – maybe the nose
should grow on top of the head, or something like that. Therefore, when we see an enlightened
Master, we sometimes feel surprised, ‘Oh, She looks like me,’ or ‘He looks just like my father,’
something like that. But we forget that even in mundane affairs, everything is like that. Just like, for
example, a medical doctor looks like your brother, perhaps, but his brother did not learn medicine,
he has not studied medicine. But if he studied it, then both would be the same.
Now, a doctor just looks like every other person but he has a different ability because he has
learned it. So we respect him, and we come to him for help when we have problems with disease,
or we’re uncomfortable somewhere physically. An enlightened person is like that. That person has
studied the spiritual field and has mastered this spiritual understanding. He has experience in this
field, so if we have some kind of spiritual discomfort, then we will go to that spiritually experienced
enlightened person for help, to ease our spiritual problem, to ease our mind.
[Master speaks in Chinese to the translator.] Again, I didn’t say enlightened Master! Some of them
(the audience) are very allergic to the term ‘enlightened Master.’ Don’t keep mentioning this term.
That’s the reason why we are here, in case you need any immediate healing for your thirst for
spiritual knowledge. This knowledge is for the common good of mankind, not my property, so
anyone who is interested in claiming his spiritual inheritance is welcome. Come to me and I will tell
you how to get it. In the first place, it belongs to you. I didn’t say I was giving you anything; I will just
show you how to reclaim your spiritual property. These things are yours also. Therefore, there’s
nothing to really teach you. I just show you how to reclaim it, to rediscover it, because you have the
greatness within you.
Otherwise, we just live our life day after day, and then we work, earn money, eat, sleep, we make
children, and then we die. [Laughter] Our life seems meaningless, and it’s a waste. If we want to
truly discover the meaning of life, why we have come into this world, why we have become human,
why we have to be born, and we have to die, et cetera – all these great questions if we want to
have the answers, then enlightenment is the only way.
I think you will have many questions for me, and then I will explain further, so I will stop here. And
thank you for your loving attention. [Applause]
Q. Do You love Your students equally and the same, regardless of their levels of attainment? Will
Master take care of Your students even if they do not practice well?
M. Well, that’s my business. [Laughter] Why do you worry about my business? [Laughter] That
means you want to come and you are already prepared not to practice well, and you want to
get assurance from me, right? You should not come with this attitude. You should come with a
very determined mind to do your best – not always to expect, but to offer, because this
business is for your own sake.
Of course, I love all my students equally, if that’s what you want to know. But that’s my
business. Your business is to do your best in order to get the best out of yourself, not for my
love. Even if I love you, and you are lousy, and your level is low, what good is that for you?
You are important! What you get is important for you whether I love you or not.
[Master corrects the translator and speaks in Chinese.] If you are diligent in your spiritual
practice, it’s good for you. It doesn’t matter whether Master loves you or not. You achieve your
greatness power by practicing diligently. That’s what’s good for you, not asking whether
Master loves you or not. Your level remains the same, whether I love you or not. For example,
I love you very much, but if you don’t practice diligently, you will still remain at the same level.
That’s not good for you; therefore, it’s good for you to do work. Master loves you all the same,
but working hard is your duty.
Q. If some people have defamed Master in their previous lives, but are initiated by Master in this
life, will they still have a tendency of resisting Master’s teachings?
M. Yes, they will, but they will change gradually and develop a positive attitude toward Master.
There are some disciples or non-disciples who will still slander and criticize Master. If they
continue to do so, it’s not good for them. They have to change.
Q. Can You explain the five different levels of consciousness?
M. I don’t have time now. You can read some of my booklets, okay? Or get initiation and I’ll
explain better, because we can’t explain such things in a few minutes. It takes a little bit longer
time. In the lecture at the United Nations, I have explained some about the five levels of
consciousness, so please, read it.
Q. If Master is not personally here, how can we be enlightened?
M. After initiation, you will be more and more enlightened each day. We are not to be married to
each other, that we have to stick around physically all the time. We practice inside, and the
Master can help you every day through space and time, despite the space and time. The
Master will not be separated or restricted by space and time. After the initiation, we are
connected. We do not practice with the body; we practice spiritually. And we can always
communicate spiritually.
Q. Where do we go when we die? [Laughter]
M. Wait. [Laughter] You be patient. You will know soon enough.
Q. Are miracles real?
M. Yes and no. They are real to the people who receive them, but they are not real to the whole
universe because nothing ever happens, nothing ever changes. Everything is already there.
Q. Is it important to know who created man or mankind?
M. It’s not. It’s important to be enlightened, and then that question will be clear by itself.
Q. Why do humans always want to lengthen their lives, and why are they scared of death when
in this world everyone is suffering, whether physically or mentally, and they have to struggle
so hard for life?
M. Because inherently all of us want to know where we come from. We want enlightenment. That
is the true reason for fear of death. They just don’t know why they have fear of death, but they
know that they have not been enlightened, and that their mission in life has not been
accomplished. Therefore, the enlightened person never fears death because he knows that
he gets what he came here to get, and then he can go anytime. Only the unenlightened
person has fear of death, an enlightened person never ever.
Q. If we miss the initiation tonight, who can give us the initiation when Master is not around?
M. When I am here in person, you can be initiated immediately, and you don’t have to be a
vegetarian for three months before the initiation. If you decide to be initiated after I leave, you
must purify yourself and keep a vegetarian diet for three months before the initiation. Then I
will send my disciple over to give you the instruction, but I’m still the one who gives you the
actual initiation. The Master doesn’t have to be physically present to give you the initiation.
Q. Unity of religion. How is this achieved?
M. Oh, we don’t bother. We’re not here to unite the religions. [Laughter and applause.] In our
group, the religions are automatically united, because we have different religious
backgrounds, people like Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam sometimes. So
automatically, through enlightenment, people realize that all religions are one. Otherwise, you
try, by all means, and people still don’t like to be united, so just leave them alone.
Q. If I want to practice spiritually at home, what should I do? What method could I use?
M. I will tell you what to do during the initiation. Then you can follow the instructions every day.
It’s very simple; even a child can learn to do it. It’s just like after you have learned how to
cook, you can do it every day without the teacher being next to you.
Q. Would it help me to become enlightened if I prostrate to the Buddhas, and recite the sutras
every day?
M. Perhaps not. That’s why you are still asking this question. [Laughter and applause.]
Q. What is rebirth?
M. Rebirth means that you carry out your desires and your tendencies on to the next incarnation.
You’re reborn again after you die.
Q. A few years ago I left home to practice a spiritual life, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I
came back to lay life. Now I am working, but I find life very meaningless. Can You help me?
M. Get enlightenment. We don’t need to run away from home to find a meaningful life, but we
should find life meaningful through enlightenment. After enlightenment, we know why we do
all these things. They are just the give-and-take of karmic situations. And then we know many
other things, and we can handle life very well.
Q. What is the spiritual world?
M. After initiation, you’ll know.
Q. Please teach me how to stop worrying unnecessarily? [Laughter]
M. I can’t do that in five minutes. It’s impossible. You teach yourself. I only tell you how to teach
yourself, and you do that every day through practice. And your worrying will be gone because
enlightenment with the Light of heaven will shine through all situations. Then you’ll see things
more clearly with your spiritual power and you’ll stop worrying. Otherwise, you will always
worry; it doesn’t matter how much I teach you.
Q. Why must people get married? Why do people have so much frustration? [Laughter]
M. You don’t have to get married if you don’t want to! You ask nonsense! [Laughter] Marriage is
one of the causes of frustration. [Master and audience laugh.] But many people are happy, too
after getting married. If people want to get married, they just get married. Why do you ask
such questions? The Chinese really have nothing to do but they like to ask such questions.
[Laughter]
Reincarnation and karma
Q. Could Master explain reincarnation and karma?
M. Reincarnation means that we still have desires to continue in this material world because we
have something that we wish to fulfill. We have something we wish to accomplish, and then
we take another birth again. We are born in another physical body, and we carry this desire,
ambition, and tendency with us. Only when we have no more desire, no more ambition, then
we don’t need to be reborn again. So that’s what it is.
And karma means simply the consequence of every action that we take in this life. That’s all.
Very easy, yes? We do some good things, then the good consequences will come. We do
some not very good things, then not very good consequences will rebound to us. And that’s
all. Very simple. Karma is just a Sanskrit term for consequences of actions.
Q. What do I have to do if I have already taken another master, and have already been initiated
by him, though I have not become enlightened yet?
M. Well, then you should look for another one. [Laughter]
Q. What method of meditation do You follow to feel enlightened?
M. The one that I will teach you.
Q. Once enlightened, would a person still encounter problems?
M. Yes, yes. For those who have just got enlightened or who are partially enlightened, of course,
they will still have some problems. The more enlightened you are, the less problems you will
have.
Q. What are the prerequisites to become enlightened? How can I receive enlightenment from
You?
M. Just sign up for initiation today! [Laughter]
Q. Please clarify enlightenment?
M. Enlightenment implies Light. So, during the process of enlightenment, you will see Light from
within, very bright, sometimes like a thousand suns, sometimes a little dimmer. It’s according
to your level of consciousness, according to your belief in your great self, then you see the
Light greater or a little dimmer. And besides that, we will hear the teaching from the highest
level of heaven, and that sounds like music, but from inside. We don’t use the ears to heart it.
We use the wisdom to observe it, and use the wisdom eye to see the heavenly Light. And also
sometimes, we can see heavenly mansions and heavenly beings so we see ascended
Masters like Buddha, Jesus, or other great scientific minds, other Masters.
Q. When a person makes a mistake, has realized the mistake, and wants to repent, how would
this sin be wiped off?
M. Repent until you don’t remember the sin anymore, and then that’s wiped off. Otherwise, wash
it with water and soap. [Laughter]
We don’t have any sin, actually. In this world, we have many situations that force us into doing
something that sometimes is against our conscience, and that’s what we call sin. But if we
have enlightenment, this Light will clean all the darkness. It doesn’t matter how much
darkness we had before, once we see the Light, all darkness is gone, and all sin will be wiped
off in the presence of God at the time of enlightenment.
Q. How can one live a meaningful life?
M. By being enlightened! Being enlightened will make your life meaningful. An unenlightened
person simply eats, drinks, plays, enjoys life, and then dies.
Q. Is it possible to lessen one’s karma just by chanting Your name? Will You fulfill our spiritual
and worldly needs if we pray to You?
M. Yes, sometimes. But you should rely on your own power instead of mine; it’s better. You’ll be
more independent, instead of depending on me. No doubt, you can depend on a spiritual
Master for blessings in the spiritual field, as well as material comforts, but it is like borrowing
money. It’s not your own. And besides, you have only enough power to sustain yourself and
not to help others. Whereby if you are enlightened yourself, then later you can help other
people to be enlightened also, and you help five generations of deceased persons to go to
heaven, liberated by your enlightened power. That would be an even greater purpose.
Q. Where does fear come from?
M. Because you don’t know where your greatness lies.
Q. Please explain the characteristics and the excellence of this method (the Quan Yin method).
How can one get into it?
M. You have read too many books. Our method cannot be explained so much by words. I can
only say that during the initiation, you will be enlightened immediately. At that time, you will
get into our so-called method. In our method, no words are uttered during the initiation. This
method cannot be described by words.
Q. Why are nations fighting among themselves?
M. How do I know? [Laughter] I’m not a politician.
There are many different motives. Different motives, but the deepest reason is karma – the
consequences of our killing. Even killing animals produces war also, in the long run.
Q. Please tell us about the Quan Yin Bodhisattva’s method to meditate and cultivate to improve
ourselves for benefiting all beings.
M. The Quan Yin Bodhisattva practiced the Quan Yin method, which I will teach you at the time
of initiation. All of the enlightened Masters in the past practiced this method.
Q. What is the universe really all about? What is the purpose of our existence?
M. I have told you already that after initiation you will understand. This kind of question cannot be
answered in one minute.
Q. Two months ago, I listened to a Buddhist friend reciting the ‘Namo Amitayus Dharani sutra.’
Soon after that, I suddenly felt a kind of energy inside me, and I vomited out all the food that I
ate earlier. Why did this happen?
M. Are the sutras really that disgusting? [Laughter]
Q. Once I was meditating, and after about thirty minutes, suddenly I started to cry. Tears poured
down my cheeks. It was pathetic. I knew it wasn’t I crying, but I had no control. At that time, I
was clear-minded that it wasn’t I crying. Why?
M. Perhaps, there were some negative forces, negative beings, in your body at that time. They
couldn’t stand your ‘miserable’ way of meditation. That’s why they cried out. [Laughter] Maybe
that’s what happened. If you don’t know it yourself, how would I know?
Q. Is God an enlightened being?
M. I don’t know. That, you have to go and ask Hirm. [Laughter]
Q. If a person has no religion or belief and he is a free thinker, is this wrong in life?
M. No problem. I said already that we can get enlightenment without religion. So it’s okay. He can
think what he wants to think.
Q. I would like to be initiated, but my husband is against it. I feel so helpless. Could You please
advise me? Master, I am learning Your convenient method of meditation. Several times during
meditation, You took me to some places and my soul was crying. Why? I would like to thank
Master deeply for taking care of my two children and me. I wish You good health and success
in spreading the gospel.
M. One can have inner experiences even by just practicing the convenient method. And we will
feel that we are free! That’s why you are happy and grateful. If you are afraid that your
husband is against it, then you should talk to him nicely and use your womanly charm!
[Laughter] You should think of a way. Otherwise, when you come back in your next life, you
may still have a husband. You will have obstacles in every lifetime. How long will it take until
you can practice without obstacles?
If you don’t have a husband, then you may have a wife; you will get married in every lifetime.
Most people get married; it’s unavoidable. Therefore, you have to figure out a way! When I
was going to leave home, my husband didn’t like it. He loved me so much that he wouldn’t let
me go. I persuaded him for two months until he had no choice. I reasoned with him every day
for two months, and he finally signed it, the separation papers. [Laughter] Okay, you figure it
out.
Q. How can we handle the problem of feeling between men and women?
M. Get married! [Laughter] It’s such a simple question, why ask me?
Q. Do You believe that God is the creator of all things, living and nonliving things?
M. Yes, I believe, but it depends on what you think about God, and what you understand as God.
There are gods who create humans, I mean the body and the brain, but this is not the creator.
The creator is unknown, has no form, and is in the nameless region. We can’t even reach
Hirm with human thought. We have to go above the fifth level, the sixth, the seventh level, et
cetera, in order to sense this so-called creator.
Q. I am already baptized as a Catholic. Can I get initiation from You? If yes, doesn’t that mean I
will be baptized twice? Is that okay? If I can get initiation, can I still receive communion at
Sunday morning’s mass in my Catholic church? Please comment.
M. Sure! To be baptized twice is better than none. [Laughter] Just make sure that you are
baptized.
Q. Sometimes when I meditate, I can feel there is heat coming down and through my body. What
does it mean? Please explain.
M. I don’t know what kind of meditation you do. So you have to clarify it. There are many different
so-called meditations.
Q. I come from Indonesia and I bring my father who is already 71 years old. We come to get
initiation from You. Please, have compassion to let him get initiation.
M. He is already passed the age. Normally, we don’t recommend that an elderly brother take
initiation because it’s a little bit difficult for him to sit a long time, and also the vegetarian diet
might not be easy for him to adjust to at his age. We worry about his health. So tell him to wait
until next birth. [Laughter]
But anyhow, he can practice the convenient method, and the Master power will help him be
liberated all the same. For his age, don’t worry, he doesn’t need initiation. Okay?
Q. If I stay home to practice spiritually without going to a Buddhist ashram, does it make any
major difference?
M. The Buddhist ashram was originally a place for group meditation for those initiated
practitioners. That’s what it was originally intended for, just like our group meditation center.
After they were initiated, they grouped together to meditate once every week or every two
weeks. They would listen to the Master’s teachings and ask questions. The Master would then
send some disciples to answer their questions. Thus, they encouraged one another to
practice more diligently. During group meditation, the blessing power is very great and they
can progress faster. This is the original purpose of the Buddhist ashrams. Otherwise, you may
also ask those Buddhist ashrams of yours, but I won’t be responsible.
Q. According to the ‘Secret Doctrine,’ is it possible for a man to be reborn as an animal? In the
West, certain theories regarding transmigration of souls are held to be false. Is this true?
M. Actually, there’s nothing mysterious about it. You see, if a human being behaves or desires in
a manner below human dignity and standard, that means he regresses, or he consciously or
unconsciously, wishes to experience again the animal status of life, of being. So the law of the
universe will grant you whatever you wish.
Therefore, if we have a lot of tendencies to be reborn again, we’ll be reborn again. And if we
want to get enlightenment, we want to liberate from this material life, then we get
enlightenment. And if we want to be living below the human standard, then we’ll be granted
that experience. That’s all. It’s not forever. It’s just until you satisfy this longing, and then you’ll
be going up again. So, whatever you want, it’s okay. It doesn’t matter.
Q. Is it the responsibility of all in humanity to give birth, to maintain the continuity of human
beings? If I have chosen to stop giving birth in order to concentrate on my practice, am I being
selfish? Am I depriving another soul of the choice of being born, so that I can practice the
Quan Yin method?
M. No, it’s up to you. If that soul doesn’t come through your body, it will come through another
one. You have the choice, and he has a choice also.
Q. If there is karma, where is the beginning? How did the soul get to exist in the body in the first
place?
M. You get enlightenment, and all these questions will be answered to you.
Q. When God was creating people, why didn’t Hes make all the people good, instead of having
half as good ones and half as bad ones, resulting in an unpeaceful world, with wars going on
every day?
M. When God created us, we were all good. In the beginning, every one of us has this original
good nature. Later, we became unrestrained by our own choice. We did many bad things, and
the consequences came later. We have to bear these consequences, which we call karma.
For instance, God said that we should not kill, we should not steal, we should not tell lies, we
should not commit adultery, and we should not drink alcohol and gamble, et cetera. We know
we shouldn’t do these things, but we still do them. We kill, eat and drink indiscriminately, and
do all sorts of bad things indiscreetly. Hence, we end up with all the ill consequences. That
has nothing to do with God.
Q. I hear a kind of voice. I don’t know whether he is God or Buddha. Sometimes he tells me not
to eat meat anymore, and switch to a vegetarian diet. At certain times, I wonder what kind of
person I am, actually. I want very much to unravel this mystery. Occasionally, I would faint
away for a few hours, and then wake up again. Please tell me why these things happen to
me?
M. In that case, you should be a vegetarian, learn to meditate, and get enlightenment. Then you
will find the answers to all these questions.
Q. What method can we use to get immediate enlightenment?
M. This method. Yes? Is it written? Is the Quan Yin method written there? [Master turns to look at
the backdrop.] No? Isn’t the Quan Yin method written? Use the Quan Yin method. I will teach
it to you later during the initiation.
Q. Does enlightenment represent attaining Buddhahood?
M. Attaining Buddhahood? Not yet, not so fast. Enlightenment is the beginning of learning to
become a Buddha. It’s like going to college at first. After you have finished your course of
study, then you graduate. When we are completely enlightened, then we could say we have
attained Buddhahood, not when we just get enlightenment.
Q. How many levels of enlightenment are there?
M. Five.
Q. Is the pure land method the safest, the most convenient, and the best method?
M. Pure land, that place! It depends, because in certain places there are still beings whose levels
are not very high. Therefore, even in the pure land, there are still various levels of
enlightenment. We can only be safe when we have attained Buddhahood, when we have
attained perfect enlightenment.
Q. Why is it that I could occasionally see in my dreams the causes and effects of my previous
lives, and also see some gods or ghosts in front of me? Also, a god beside me told me that he
wanted to take me back to another world.
M. Such visions are not very reliable, because sometimes the Asura beings try to fool us in this
fashion. Therefore, first you have to be sure what kind of god he is. You can ask him which
world he came from; ask him if he is really a god or the highest Master. When you are sure,
then you can go with him. You must not be fooled.
You can see the causes and effects of previous lives, because perhaps you had practiced
before, and now you still have that ability. That is why you are able to see some. But being
able to see the cause and effects is not a very high level; it is only of the second level. But that
is already some achievement. It is already something.
Q. Who is the Master when we are dreaming in our sleep? Is it illusionary? Does it manifest
randomly and coincidentally, according to individual causation, or is it the manifestation of our
true nature?
M. Dreaming is not of a very high level. Also sometimes, it is like the Chinese saying, ‘What is in
our minds in the daytime reflects in our dreams at night.’ Therefore, sometimes our dreams
are born of our desires. It is not entirely that simple.
Q. What is the difference between the nature of visible and invisible beings?
M. There is no difference at all. However, those invisible beings we usually see are the Asura
beings, the so-called demons, not deities or fairies from high levels.
Q. Are there ghosts and gods in this world?
M. Yes, there are! [Laughter]
Q. Master, You have talked too little tonight; we have not heard enough! [Laughter]
M. What can we do? Originally I was not planning to come here this time! So do not say, ‘I have
heard enough or not enough.’ It so happens that I have been very busy lately. I was not
supposed to be in Malaysia or Thailand in the first place. I was forced to come by the
disciples. Malaysia and Thailand were not included in my world lecture tour this time. This is
your extra bonus, so don’t complain.
Q. Master, from a Buddhist standpoint, is Your process of enlightenment against the teachings of
the Buddha?
M. Nonsense. [Laughter] According to Buddhism, there are two kinds of enlightenments: One is
immediate enlightenment which we call ‘sudden enlightenment,’ and the other is attaining
enlightenment slowly, called ‘gradual enlightenment.’ Sudden enlightenment means that one
attains enlightenment immediately, and gradual enlightenment means that one attains
enlightenment over a longer period of time. What we offer you is ‘sudden enlightenment.’
Don’t talk nonsense! How can you say this, and still call yourself a Buddhist?
Q. Are extraterrestrials Bodhisattvas? [Laughter]
M. Bodhisattva don’t look that ugly! [Laughter] At least, they would look like me. [Master laughs
and audience applauds.] The so-called E.T., or those not very good looking ones, are robots;
they are the extraterrestrial robots, not real beings.
The extraterrestrial beings themselves are actually quite good-looking, but they are not
Bodhisattvas either. Perhaps they are beings of a higher level; some of them are from the
Asura world, and some of them are from the second realm. They are able to make the UFOs
and sell them to other planets. They are more advanced than us with regard to their
machinery, and are more civilized than us. That is all. But they are not necessarily higher than
we spiritually or in their spiritual practice. They are just more advanced in the field of
technology, more advanced with their science.
Q. If samadhi does us harm, how should we react?
M. No, it does not do you harm. It depends on what you call samadhi. It’s best that you study with
an experienced Teacher, so if there is any samadhi, it’s safe samadhi.
Q. Can You give enlightenment to people of different karmic developments?
M. Sure. Normally, we don’t have any karma, as I told you. It just depends on how you cling to
the karma that you are having.
Distinguish between a real and false Master
Q. In this world, there are also so many schools of thought, to the extent that some people are
being led to evil ways. For example, what has just happened in America – the mass suicide
recently. Please tell us how to differentiate between the rightful and the evil spiritual leaders
before we decide which one to follow.
M. You have to see what is the motive of that Teacher. Does he want to truly serve the people,
for the people’s sake and happiness, or does he want to serve himself? Does he demand
anything from you? Does he want you to do anything for him? For example, if you practice
and close yourself in a compound and threaten the world with many things, including using
violence, and arms, guns and all that, inside your so-called spiritual compound, then you must
know this is not the way.
You never saw Jesus or Buddha with guns, or with anything that harms people. They would
rather just die instead of harming other people. So now, you must know that a so-called truly
spiritually enlightened person must be selfless and demand nothing from the public, including
leaving home to serve him or to be with him, even. All these you have not seen from me. For
example, I don’t demand you to leave your home, I don’t demand you to leave your
profession, I don’t demand your money, not even one penny, and I don’t demand you to do
anything for me.
You just meditate and find your own greatness, find your own position, your true position. And
if you don’t want to do it, it’s fine. You’ll never have a phone call from me saying, ‘Hey, come
back!’ If you walk out, you walk out. Nothing, no obligation whatsoever. You just do it for
yourself. And I do this for you only. Therefore, I only sacrifice, I only give, and I don’t take
anything. I don’t demand anything, no obligation, nothing from you, except that you meditate.
And even that, if you don’t, it’s fine. Never, ever have any problem. You lose nothing, you fear
nothing, you are bound to nothing. That’s a very free choice, so that, at least, you lose
nothing. And you have nothing, no obligation to me. That’s very safe for your side, at least.
[Applause]
Q. What are the purpose and mission for us in this world? How can we find the answer and what
must we do to complete our mission here in life?
M. We have to be enlightened in order to bless this world, and to know what we should do.
Q. Why do You ask us to sincerely recite, ‘Namo Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih’? Is this the only way
to be saved and liberated? Is it a form of self-glorification?
M. Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih is not my name. It’s the name of the greatest creator, of the Father.
I am Hiers daughter. I just have the same name. Just like you are the daughter of Mr. Wang,
then your name is also Miss Wang.
Wu Shang Shih is not my name; it’s your name also, but you don’t know it. You deny your
glory, and that is your problem. Don’t ask me to deny my glory. But I don’t ask you to recite
the Ching Hai Wu Shang Shih name. It’s my disciples who ask you to recite it, if you want to.
It’s not an obligation – if you want to. They think that they recite it and it helps them, so they
want to share this goodness with you. You take it, or you leave it. It doesn’t glorify me
anymore, because I’m already glorified. I know my glory. I don’t need you to praise me.
[Applause]
Q. I’m a Chinese Muslim. Can I get initiation and enlightenment? I really want to, because I
believe You. I have spent a lot of time reading Your books for the past three weeks.
M. Welcome. Yes, by all means. [Applause]
Q. When I am worshiping the Buddha in the temple and thinking of the Buddha in my heart, I feel
an ice-cold current generating from somewhere in my body. What is this, actually?
M. This is not good! Usually, the yang force will make us feel very warm and comfortable. If you
feel chilly, then it is probably not right.
Q. Master, in one of Your lectures, You said that only a living Master can lead the disciples. My
question is, what will happen to Your disciples when You pass away?
M. That’s a very understandable question. You see, I don’t pass away because I was never born;
it’s just that my physical instrument gets rotten sometimes, just like your car after twenty
years. After initiation we are connected with each other spiritually because we are not the
body.
You and I are not the body; therefore, after you leave the body, the body is still there, but it
doesn’t function. So you have to understand, basically, we are not the body. I just borrow the
body to connect you with the spiritual power. And even though my body passes away, you are
connected, and that is important. I never die because I never lived in this world – never lived
physically, just the physical instrument that we borrow for some time. So don’t worry when I
go. When the physical body goes, I’m always there. Once we connect, we’re never apart.
Q. I stay near a cemetery. Can I learn Your method of meditation? If so, will I experience a lot of
underworld beings’ disturbances? [Laughter]
M. No. If you don’t experience it now, why would you experience it after enlightenment? Perhaps
they’ll come and thank you for bringing the enlightenment into the cemetery.
So good night. Thank you for your love.
THE HEAVENLY MELODIOUS TEACHING 30

Good evening! I’m very honored to be in this royal country again because your country makes the
guests, the visitors, feel very comfortable and feel at home in the first instance. Today I have the
feeling that I would like to stay in Thailand forever. I don’t want to go home. [Applause] I feel so
touched by the spirit of brotherhood and nobility of the people of Thailand. When you come to
Thailand, you cannot help but also feel yourself very noble, very graceful. You cannot bring
yourself to say something which is not polite, which is not noble, or bring yourself to do any kind of
not noble or not gracious action.
A beautiful country fulfills the Buddha’s teaching
That is because Thai people are very much educated in a beautiful and noble tradition. They have
a very age-old culture and very stable moral standard. It is maybe because of the teaching of the
Buddha. I think it is. Of course, there are also influences from different religions in Thailand, but I
think the Buddhist teachings are the basic root of the social order in this country because the king,
the queen, the royal family, and the government of Thailand respect and believe in the teachings of
the Buddha. When I first went to another country, I saw that they keep the tradition of the Buddhists
very strictly. I thought that was good, but when I came to Thailand, I see a little different tradition.
Here, for example, anyone can become a monk for one week, three months, one year or forever.
It’s up to him or her. No one would blame him or degrade him if he came out of the monk’s order.
Now, I think this is even better.
This means that the Thai people have truly understood the doctrine of equality from the Buddha,
and of the liberal spirit that we should obtain for ourselves, and also grant others the same
privilege. We should not try to find the Buddha nature from the outer appearance or dress, but we
should look right through into the soul of mankind. That is why Thai people are so beautiful and
open. This is when I see the benefit of temples, of monks, of nuns, and of the teachings of the
Buddha. To be a Buddhist by name is not as important as to understand the essence of the
teachings of the Buddhist doctrine. I’m very happy to find that such a people exists on this earth.
On the way to this lecture hall, I was deep in prayer for your country. While I was sitting in the car, I
said to the Buddhas of the ten directions, please bless your country, bless the people of Thailand
because they are so noble, they are so pure, and so sincere. This prayer came from my very heart.
I wish your country more prosperity, more nobility, and more enlightenment. If one day I decide to
stay here for some time, I hope you will welcome me as a Thai citizen. [Applause] I have already
tried very hard on the first day. Yesterday, I promised some of the Thai disciples to wear Thai dress
30. Public lecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, June 12, 1993 (Originally in English).
because they wished me to do so. I hope I didn’t make a very bad example of your tradition,
because your tradition is very beautiful. I can only try my best to make an imitation of it. [Applause]
We all come from a glorious origin
In most of the countries of the world, the old, ancient traditions were very glorious, very noble. It is
because we came from a very glorious origin. In the old times we could communicate with heaven
easily. We could see all kinds of glory of the heavenly beings, of the Buddha’s land people. We
could hear the teachings of heaven in the form of speechless communication. This kind of
speechless communication very much resembles our classical music of today, except that when
we hear this musical melodious teaching, we will soar into heaven and our treasure of hidden
wisdom and creative power will open. This is much better than the physical music of our world.
When I say music, it is because there is no better word to compare. Otherwise, this is a kind of very
powerful energy which will kind of draw us upward into the higher dimensions of the universe. Our
Quan Yin method is named after this quality of the heavenly teaching; Quan means observation,
and Yin means this musical Sound.
In the old times, when people still had very convenient connections with heaven, we always heard
this music. Therefore, we tried to make many musical instruments which have lasted until today,
and we have many kinds of imitations of the heavenly teachings. We have the church bells, the
harp, the flute, the piano, the zither, et cetera. When we go to the church, we see all kinds of
musical instruments; when we go to the temple, we have also different kinds of musical
instruments. When our relatives or friends die, the church services or temple services resound with
musical accompaniments. That is the leftover from the age-old glorious heavenly tradition.
The heavenly music comforts our souls
A long time ago, there was a king in China who was very compassionate. He asked one of his wise
advisors what would make people in hell feel more elevated, more happy. So the wise minister said
to him that if they could listen to the big bell sound, they would feel elevated, feel good. So the king
ordered them to make big temple bells and then told the people to resound them every day.
Because the hell people actually could not hear the inner bell, at least they made the outside bell to
remind them of the inner musical melodious teaching. So such a similar tradition came from such a
compassionate person. Therefore, when people pass away, we try to accompany them with
different kinds of music, hoping to comfort the souls of the departed.
Now, if the man-made physical music could comfort the people when they depart from this world
and could comfort the hell beings, then we can imagine how much greater a comfort we would get
while we are still living if we get direct original music from heaven. Therefore, many enlightened
beings from higher dimensions in the universe sometimes come down to our world and try to give
us this connection with the Buddha’s land or the highest heaven. Once we are connected with this
teaching directly from the Buddha’s land, or from heaven, our life changes forever because we
begin to enter into the golden dimensions of the higher beings, like Buddhas or saints of different
degrees. Therefore, when the Buddha came to our world, He said, ‘I come to make you become a
Buddha.’ Jesus came and He said, ‘Whatever I do, you can do also.’ The same is true for the
founders of different religions who brought the message of equality among all beings.
But what is it that makes us become a Buddha? If it is all the teachings from the Buddha that make
us become a Buddha, then we would have become a Buddha a long time ago. Similarly, if all my
teachings, which are recorded by my disciples and printed in books, could make you become
enlightened, then I don’t need to come. I would just send the books to your house, and we, the
disciples and I, wouldn’t need to spend so many days and a lot of energy and money to organize
today’s lecture. So we remember when the Buddha transmitted the dharma, meaning the essence
of the teaching, to His fourth disciple Mahakasyapa, He said, ‘There is no words for it, no language
for transmission. My doctrine, my teachings are nonverbal.’ The same is true with different
patriarchs of the Buddhist system, as for example, the sixth Zen Patriarch, Hui Neng, of China.
Similarly, with different religious systems, we have to get the essence of the Master, not the letter,
not the words; it is the essence we have to get.
The Quan Yin method is the way to help us to get this essence without language. This method is
very ancient, since the time that we appeared on this planet. We came from a glorious dimension
and we have to go back there because our work on this earth does not last forever. So, for some
people who feel that they are ready to go Home, the Quan Yin method will be exactly for them.
How do we know that our time has come? When we feel that this world has no more attraction for
us, when we feel that everything here doesn’t satisfy us, when we see that everything here doesn’t
offer us everlasting happiness, that is the time to go Home. For others who do not feel the same,
but feel they still would like to stay in this world, that they will want to do many things, and feel
satisfied with this world, for them, the time has not come. Each one of us has a different mission for
this planet. For some of us the work is finished and we feel we cannot stay here any longer.
Nothing appeals to us anymore. We long to find something, but we do not know what it is. Even if
we have great possessions of property, of fame, and of respect in this world, we still feel there is
something missing.
Searching for the inner treasure
That’s the reason why the Buddha left home. That is the reason why many monks, many nuns,
forsake worldly attachments to lead a wandering ascetic life – in order to find this missing
substance in their lives. Some will find it, and some will not. So whoever has not found this
essence yet, we offer to help, be it a monk, a nun, or a lay person, because our inner nature does
not discriminate the robe, the place, the position of the human being. That’s why, when the Buddha
was alive, He had different kinds of disciples: Some were monks, some were householders. There
was one householder whose name was Vimalakirti. He was wiser than many of the monks in the
circle of the Buddha’s disciples. [Audience: Was he a male or female?] Male, but don’t worry,
females can also become Buddha.
In the sutra called the Lotus sutra… Sutra means bible, the Sanskrit scripture. The Buddha spoke
many things and each time they recorded it into a book which is called a sutra, or we can call it a
scripture. Sutra is the Sanskrit name for scripture. Sometimes because we speak in English
terminology, we forget to translate into modern English. Just like ‘Buddha’ is the Sanskrit name for
an enlightened Master. If you do not translate, it sounds foreign and it sounds very farfetched.
When we say ‘enlightened Master,’ it sounds closer, and that maybe we can obtain it.
In that Lotus scripture, the Manjushri Bodhisattva mentioned that a girl of eight years old had
attained Buddhahood – a girl. Bodhisattva means enlightened saint. So you see, to be a lay person
and to be a woman is no problem for Buddhahood. Similarly, in Christianity there are different male
and female saints. So we don’t worry about man or woman. What I say to you has proof from the
ancient scriptures, not from my own making. If you do not believe, you can go home and search in
these sutras and have a look. In any temple you can find this sutra; in any church, you can find the
records of different male and female saints.
The essence of the teachings is not possible to be conveyed in human language. It can only be
transmitted through inner wisdom and through silence, but in silence we will see the Light of
heaven, we will see Buddha’s land, we will hear the melodious teachings from the higher
dimension. Everything that is spoken in words is only an introduction to the true teachings. Just like
when we talk about the lotus flower, it is not the flower itself. When we talk about the king or the
queen of Thailand, these words are not the king or queen, just an introduction, just talk about them.
It’s nice to talk about the king and queen, but it would be much nicer for us to see these noble
people in person. Just like ordinarily it’s nice to talk about our beloved, our girlfriend, boyfriend,
wife, or husband, but it’s better for us to be with them, to see them personally. So it’s good to know
that Buddhas exist, that Buddha’s land is there, that heaven is somewhere, but it would be best if
we can experience these ourselves.
That is the reason why many people would like to receive initiation, to get enlightenment, because
they want the real thing. If you are among those who want to see the real thing, we are willing and
we are happy to help you. It’s very easy, even children can do it, if we know how, because we
already have it within ourselves. If I have this paper in my hands, I can see it any time, but if I am
too busy looking somewhere and busy with something else and forget the paper is in my hand, of
course I will not see it, even though it is in my hands.
Enlightenment is our nature
It has always been there; our enlightened nature, our wisdom or the Buddha nature, is always
there, even before we are born and after we die. This is our true person, our real self; this body is
not. That’s why, when our real self leaves the body, the body just lies there. It cannot move one
inch. What happens to us in life, be it happiness or suffering, only happens to this physical
instrument; it doesn’t happen to our real self. But because we forgot our real self and we identify
ourselves with this instrument, we experience suffering or happiness. So Buddha said that there is
a way to end the suffering. That is the way of enlightened saints, the way of the Buddha.
To end suffering doesn’t mean we run away from suffering; it doesn’t mean we run away from the
world. We just make ourselves stronger so that the suffering seems like nothing, so that even when
we experience the most severe blow or upheaval, we feel that for only a few minutes. Then the
next minute, life becomes normal again. To end suffering doesn’t mean we never suffer again after
enlightenment. It just means that we are strong enough to withstand suffering and to be detached
from happiness. Then we can rise above all changes in this ephemeral world in order to recognize
the real.
This is the way that Buddha taught His disciples more than two thousand years ago, and this
tradition continues forever. As long as there are human beings who wish to return to the source,
who wish to become enlightened and to end the suffering, there will be the teachings of the
Buddha or the great saints.
A logical, scientific and easy method
We are happy to present this teaching to you if you would like to rediscover it for yourselves. It’s
very logical, scientific, and very easy because it comes directly from heaven. Only everything man-
made is difficult, everything natural or heaven-born is easy. For example, to have a child with full
intelligence and the full qualities of a human being is easy for a couple. For all the scientists, the
greatest minds in this world, it’s difficult, even expensive, but for a married couple, they just do it
with love – no need for research, no need for laboratory equipment, no need for time, money,
nothing. Everything from heaven is easy to obtain. It’s just that we forgot. So if you want to
remember again, we’re happy to help you.
Thank you for your loving attention. If you have any more questions concerning enlightenment,
please let me know.
Q. What is wisdom?
M. Wisdom is what we call Buddha nature or the kingdom of God within ourselves. This is the
greatest intelligence resource from which all intelligence comes. When this wisdom is opened,
we know everything without knowing, we can do everything without doing, and we can be
anywhere at the same time without going anywhere. When this wisdom is opened, we have
almighty power, omnipresence, and all knowingness.
Q. Can everyone reach Buddhahood or nirvana?
M. Yes, but it depends on your sincerity, your diligence, and also your background merit.
Q. After we have attained enlightenment and we die, where do we go?
M. It depends on where you are when you are alive. For example if, during our life we have
attained third level of enlightenment or the third heaven, it’s not the highest heaven, when we
leave this world, we will go to the third heaven. Then our Master will continue to teach us and
we can gradually also rise up to nirvana or the highest dimension of heaven. If we have
already reached nirvana in this lifetime, then after we leave this world, of course we will go to
nirvana. Nirvana is the Sanskrit word for the highest heaven, what is termed the kingdom of
God in Christianity.
Q. This is the first time I have been to Bangkok, but in my dream I have seen these lecture
surroundings before. Is this something to do with my previous life?
M. If you have affinity with a Master, any Master, then sometimes the Master will give you some
sign of recognition before you see that Master, so you know this is for you. It is just a proof, a
signal, for your recognition; therefore, you have seen this lecture before you even came here.
That’s just the blessing from the Buddhas to let you know you’ve come to the right place and
met the right person. Many people have had similar kinds of experiences before they met me
in person; sometimes, even seventeen years, twenty years, ten years ago, before I even
appeared in the public for the first time.
Q. Master, can You see the future? If You can, could You tell us when the end of the world will
come?
M. I don’t want to see the end of the world. I want to see that you help me to preserve this
beautiful planet. The future is in your hands, so you make it beautiful or you make it worse; it’s
up to you. [Applause]
We should not think in this negative way about anything. We should always try our best to do
good, to think good, to speak good, and then the future will be good. [Applause] Is it not easy?
For example, before I came here, I put on a beautiful dress and I put on nice jewelry because
I wanted to appear beautiful before you. I made the decision to be beautiful. I could have also
made the decision not to be beautiful and appeared to you in rags, dirty clothes, unkempt hair,
and looking lousy. So the future is yours.
Q. After initiation we are not allowed to heal other people’s sickness; what is the reason behind
this?
M. It’s not that you are not allowed, but you’re advised not to. It’s better for you. After
enlightenment, you don’t have to do any actions to heal people. They just get healed
automatically if they think of you, if they pray to you. That is better for both sides, because if
the people know that you healed them, they will be attached to you. They will worship you
instead of trying to find their own healing power. They will rely on you instead of relying on
themselves. That is slavery; that is dependence. That’s not the teaching of equality, and it’s
not the teaching of enlightenment.
When you heal without doing anything, your ego will not become bigger and that’s good for
you also. Many people claim that they are healed by me when they pray to me, but I never do
anything. Therefore, I cannot be proud; I cannot take credit for anything. If we are proud of
any achievement, we walk the road of illusion, of maya. So I try to teach you the way of
egoless practice, the way without pride. [Applause]
Q. Why does having sex outside of marriage mean we cannot reach enlightenment?
M. I did not say you cannot reach enlightenment. I just said that you are advised not to. The more
disciplined you are, the stronger your mind-power, the stronger the concentration, and the
more powerful you will be. You can reach enlightenment, but you might not be so fast if you
are too much divided, if your attention is too scattered on different material matters. Extra
sexual relationships bring trouble, bring strain, bring unhappiness, into the family relationship
and atmosphere. That divides your attention.
Also lately, scientists have discovered that people who have extra sexual relationships outside
of marriage tend to have more heart attacks, more diseases, and a shortened life. That comes
from a restless conscience. Therefore, whatever I tell you is also very, very scientific. This I
told you long ago, but the scientists just discovered lately.
Q. Is Your initiation method the same as in Taoism?
M. In the ancient time, originally the Taoist way was the Quan Yin way, but today, Taoism is
different. Many Taoist sects have only the written and oral doctrines; they don’t have the
speechless transmission, and the same is true for many other religious divisions.
Q. The business life means hard work, confusion, and confrontation of problems the whole day.
How can we provide the time to study meditation, because I think it needs time?
M. You can find time, anytime you have time. Business and obligations in this world, we have to
fulfill anyhow. Even if you are monks or nuns, you still have to do some kind of business, do
some kind of work in the temple. So there is no priority, no privilege for anyone.
Do you think we, this group, I and my close disciples, cross our legs all day long and do
nothing? If that were the case, you would never see me tonight. I had to work for the airplane
tickets for a lot of people, for all the equipment, and for all the staff members that you have
seen. We all have to work, so don’t have the illusion about a life in the Himalayas with nothing
to do.
Enlightenment must be also useful to the society. Otherwise, what is the use? So do your
work and try to meditate in your free time. If you try your best, the Buddhas, God, will know
your efforts and bless you all the same.
Q. Could You explain about the cycle of rebirth?
M. When we still have desire for anything in this world, we will be given another human body or
another kind of body again, in order to make us satisfied. That is the cycle of rebirth. Or when
we owe someone something, we have to come back and repay. Therefore when I teach you
meditation, I also tell you to keep the precepts and make sure you don’t owe anyone anything
financially, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. Therefore, we keep the vegetarian diet,
so we don’t owe any living beings their life. [Applause] Thank you for understanding.
Q. To see God and attain enlightenment, are they the same or different?
M. Yes, the same. God is enlightenment, and when we are enlightened, we are able to know
God.
Q. Is it sinful to give meat to the dog we raise at home?
M. The dog can be vegetarian also, then you don’t have to share his karma. Or you don’t have to
have a dog. It would save you from the problem.
Q. How can we know that what we think is not wrong?
M. Whatever you think, if that doesn’t hurt someone else then it is not wrong.
Q. Can we go to heaven by just eating vegetarian food?
M. You go to heaven if you behave according to heavenly rules. Vegetarian food is just one of
the rules. Otherwise, you will go to vegetarian heaven and see all the cows there. [Laughter]
Q. Who are You, Master Ching Hai?
M. I am what you think me to be. [Applause] I am different according to individuals, but I never
change. According to your understanding level, so I will be.
Q. It relates to that question: Where are You from?
M. I came from the exact place that you came from. [Applause]
Q. And what do You want in Your life?
M. It’s difficult, because I don’t remember if I want anything. I used to want before, but now I
forgot. Before enlightenment, I used to want many things. Like you, I wanted to be successful;
I wanted to graduate with the best marks; I wanted to have a good husband; I wanted to have
a harmonious family. Finally, I wanted enlightenment. Now, I want nothing. [Applause]
Q. In meditation, I see the white Light in the middle. Can You explain about this?
M. It depends on the brightness of that Light. If it is as bright as a thousand suns, then you have
reached the third level of enlightenment. If it’s still very dim, then you have to try harder. There
are greater Lights than this white Light. Only those with the initiation will experience the
greater Light.
Q. If we have killed someone, and practice the Quan Yin method, can we be delivered in this
life?
M. Yes, you can, if you repent and don’t do it again. You did it because you did not understand,
or because the circumstances forced you to do it. So it will be forgiven if you understand now
and try to keep the precepts.
When the Buddha was alive, someone killed 99 people and wanted to kill the Buddha to make
it one hundred. His previous teacher had taught him to do that. But when he came to the
Buddha and then the Buddha enlightened him, he knew it. He repented and the Buddha
forgave him, and he became an Arhat (liberated) in a very short time. We have the same
method to cleanse all the sins.
Q. How do we know our original self?
M. Get enlightenment, then you’ll know everything.
Q. Why is it that as the scientific world learns more and more, it comes close to religion?
M. Religions originally are very scientific. It’s just a science of life. Therefore, many enlightened
Masters know a lot of things before the scientific discoveries. For example, the Buddha said
that in a glass of water, there are numerous sentient beings. The scientists refer to them now
as bacteria. The Buddha knew that more than two thousand years ago. It took a lot of time
and research before the scientists confirmed that. The enlightened person sees with the real
wisdom eye and the scientists have to see with instruments.
Q. In order to get initiation, people have to eat vegetarian food for their whole life. This is very
difficult. Don’t You think that it prevents a lot of people from doing or practicing good things?
M. Yes, it’s difficult, but we don’t have to always do easy things. These are reserved for babies,
children. If we are grown up, we do something difficult because we are strong. But it’s up to
you.
We have two kinds of methods. One is called ‘the great way’ and the other one is called ‘the
small way.’ The great way is initiation, fully vegetarian, keep the precepts, and you can save
five generations and give them liberation, and save anyone that’s dear and beloved to you. So
one person enlightened, many people benefit. The small way is that you are enlightened
yourself, and benefit your very own self. The small way you can have as the expedient,
convenient method. My disciples can teach you, if you ask them. In this method, you don’t
have to be completely vegetarian; you try as much as you can to eat vegetarian to lessen your
karma. Karma means the bad or good effect from your action.
Q. How can we know that we attained enlightenment?
M. We know, but we don’t know. Buddhahood is not candies or cake that you can define, ‘Oh! I
got a cake.’ But we know, the Buddhas in the ten directions know, the whole world knows, and
the whole universe knows. When you attain Buddhahood, there are different signs. Without
your knowing, you have all healing power, almighty power, and all pervading power. That
means you can appear in a thousand and one places at the same time while you are sitting in
your house. That’s one of the signs of Buddhahood, a very important sign. You can help
different sentient beings in different parts of the universe, not only this world, but different
heavens and hells as well. Your disciples will know that you are the Buddha.
Initiation into the Quan Yin method of meditation

Supreme Master Ching Hai initiates sincere people longing to know the Truth into the Quan Yin
method of meditation. The Chinese characters ‘Quan Yin’ mean contemplation of the Sound
vibration. The method includes meditation on both the inner Light and the inner Sound. These inner
experiences have been repeatedly described in the spiritual literature of all the world’s religions
since ancient times.
For example, the Christian bible says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.’ This Word is the inner Sound. It has also been called the Logos, Shabd,
Tao, Sound stream, Naam, or the celestial music. Master Ching Hai says, ‘It vibrates within all life
and sustains the whole universe. This inner melody can heal all wounds, fulfill all desires, and
quench all worldly thirst. It is all powerful and all love. It is because we are made of this Sound, that
contact with it brings peace and contentment to our hearts. After listening to this Sound, our whole
being changes, and our entire outlook on life is greatly altered for the better.’
The inner Light, the Light of God, is the same Light referred to in the word ‘enlightenment.’ Its
intensity can range from a subtle glow to the brilliance of many millions of suns. It is through the
inner Light and Sound that we come to know God.
The initiation into the Quan Yin method is not an esoteric ritual or a ceremony for entering a new
religion. During the initiation, specific instruction in meditation on the inner Light and inner Sound is
given, and Master Ching Hai provides the ‘spiritual transmission.’ This first taste of divine presence
is given in silence. Master Ching Hai need not be physically present in order to open this ‘door’ for
us. The transmission is an essential part of the method. The techniques themselves will bring little
benefit without the grace of the Master.
Because we may hear the inner Sound and see the inner Light immediately upon initiation, this
event is sometimes referred to as ‘sudden’ or ‘immediate enlightenment.’
Master Ching Hai accepts people from all backgrounds and religious affiliations for initiation. We do
not have to change our present religion or system of beliefs. We will not be asked to join any
organization, or participate in any way that does not suit our current life style.
However, we will be asked to become a vegetarian. A lifetime commitment to the vegetarian diet is
a necessary prerequisite for receiving initiation.
The initiation is offered free of charge.
Daily practice of the Quan Yin method of meditation, and the keeping of the five precepts are our
only requirements after initiation. The precepts are guidelines that help us to neither harm
ourselves nor any other living being. These practices will deepen and strengthen our initial
enlightenment experience, and allow us to eventually attain the highest levels of awakening or
Godhood for ourselves. Without daily practice, we will almost certainly forget our enlightenment
and return to a normal level of consciousness.
Master Ching Hai’s goal is to teach us to be self-sufficient. Therefore, She teaches a method that
can be practiced by everyone, by themselves, without props or paraphernalia of any kind. She is
not looking for followers, worshippers, or disciples, or to establishing an organization with a dues
paying membership. She will not accept money, prostrations, or gifts from us, so we do not need to
offer these to Her.
She will accept our sincerity in daily life and meditational practice to progress ourselves to
sainthood.
The five precepts
1. Refrain from taking the life of sentient beings. *

2. Refrain from speaking what is not true.
3. Refrain from taking what is not ours.
4. Refrain from sexual misconduct.
5. Refrain from using intoxicants. **
* This precept requires strict adherence to a vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet. No meat, fish,
poultry, or eggs (fertilized or non-fertilized).
** This includes avoiding all poisons of any kind, such as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling,
pornography, and excessively violent films or literature.
The Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings on line

Real Video / Multi Languages
www.Godsimmediatecontact.org/video/
(in U.S.A. with Windows Media Video & Real Video; Available in multiple languages).
Sample Booklet of Master’s Teachings
For a free download of Master’s sample booklet, The key of immediate enlightenment and eternal liberation
(available in 60 languages), please visit:
www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/publication/sample/sample.htm
www.Direkter-kontakt-mit-gott.org/download/index.htm
www.Godsdirectcontact.org/sample
E-news Magazine
Found in April 1990, the E-news magazine provides up-to-date, detailed reports of Master’s work and life
during these years.
www.Godsdirectcontact.org
E-Book
Free download of The key of immediate enlightenment – Questions and answers 2. Just go to one of the
following Internet sites then double-click the file from your desktop to open the book. (Total file size is
approximately 14MB for one executable file and 5.5MB each for 3 zip files; no special software is needed to
open or run it.)
www.Godsdirectcontact.org/ebook/download/
(U.S.A.) (download 3 zip files)
www.Godsdirectcontact.com/ebook/
(U.S.A.) (download 3 zip files)
www.Godsimmediatecontact.net/
(U.S.A.) (download 1 executable)
Quan Yin WWW Sites
For more information about publications, as well as information about the Quan Yin method of meditation,
please visit the following websites:
www.SupremeMasterTV.com/
www.Godsdirectcontact.org/
www.Godsimmediatecontact.net/
www.Godsdirectcontact.com/
www.Godsimmediatecontact.com/
www.Godsimmediatecontact.org/
www.Remembergod.org/
www.Askmorenow.com.au/
www.Edenrules.com/
www.Loveocean.org/
www.Mycelestialpets.com/
www.Thecelestialshop.com/
www.Loveoceancreative.com/
www.Lovinghut.com/
How to contact us
If you wish to learn and meet with Supreme Master Ching Hai for immediate enlightenment and
eternal liberation, please contact our local Meditation Centers. For the latest information on our
liaison practitioners worldwide, please visit the following URL:
www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/cp/index.htm
Headquarters
P.O. Box 730247, San Jose, CA 95173-0247, U.S.A.
P.O. Box 9 Hsihu Hsiang, Miaoli Hsien, Formosa (Taiwan 36899)
Supreme Master Television
Email: info@SupremeMasterTV.com / www.SupremeMasterTV.com
Tel: (1) 626 444 4385 / Fax: (1) 626 444 4386
TV Program Videotapes ‘A Journey through Aesthetic Realms’
Email: TV@Godsdirectcontact.org
Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Company Limited, Taipei,
Formosa (Taiwan)
E-mail: smchbooks@Godsdirectcontact.org / www.Smchbooks.com
Tel: (886) 2 8787 3935 / Fax: (886) 2 8787 0873
Love Ocean Creative International Company Limited
Email: info@loveoceancreative.com
Tel: (886) 2 2706 5528 – Fax: (886) 2 2707 7727
Address: B1, No. 5, Alley 30, Lane 78, Sec. 2, Fusing S. Road, Da-an District, Taipei 10664,
Formosa (Taiwan)
S.M. Book Department
Email: divine@Godsdirectcontact.org / Fax: (1) 240 352 5613 or (886) 9 4988 3778
(You are welcome to join us in translating Master’s books into other languages.)
News Group
Email: lovenews@Godsdirectcontact.org / Fax: (1) 801 740 9196 or (886) 9 4672 8475
S.M. Celestial Company Limited / The Celestial Shop
Email: mcj@mail.sm-cj.com / www.sm-cj.com – www.thecelestialshop.com
Tel: (886) 2 8791 0860 / Fax: (886) 2 8791 1216
Spiritual Information Desk
Email: lovewish@Godsdirectcontact.org / Fax: (886) 9 4673 0699
Loving Food Company
Email: lfhealth@ms32.hinet.net / www.edenrules.com (on line shopping)
Tel: (886) 37 723 886 – Fax: (886) 37 724 065
Address: 1499 Chung-Hwa Road, Ho-Long Chen, Miaoli Hsien, Formosa (Taiwan)
Loving Hut International Company Limited
Email: info@lovinghut.us / www.lovinghut.com
Introduction to our publications

The Key of Immediate Enlightenment
* A collection of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s lectures.
* Available in Aulacese (Vols. 1-16), Bulgarian (Vol. 1), Chinese (Vols. 1-10), English (Vols. 1-5),
French (Vol. 1), German (Vols. 1-2), Hungarian (Vol. 1), Indonesian (Vols. 1-5), Japanese (Vol.
1-4), Korean (Vols. 1-11), Mongolian (Vols. 4 & 6), Polish (Vols. 1-2), Portuguese (Vols. 1-2),
Spanish (Vols. 1-3), Swedish (Vol. 1), Thai (Vols. 1-6), and Tibetan (Vol. 1).
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment – Questions and Answers
* Question and answer sessions between Master and spiritual practitioners.
* Available in Aulacese (Vols. 1-4), Bulgarian (Vol. 1), Chinese (Vols. 1-3), Czech (Vol. 1), English
(Vols. 1-2), French (Vol. 1), German (Vol. 1), Hungarian (Vol. 1), Indonesian (Vols. 1-3),
Japanese (Vol. 1), Korean (Vols. 1-2), Polish (Vol. 1), and Portuguese (Vol. 1).
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment – Special Edition
* A collection of Master’s lectures during the 1993 world lecture tour.
* Available in Chinese and English (Vols. 1-6).
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment – My Wondrous Experiences with Master
* Available in Aulacese and Chinese (Vols. 1-2).
The Key of Immediate Enlightenment – Special Edition / 7-day Retreat
* A collection of Master’s lectures during a 7-day retreat in Formosa, 1992.
* Available in Aulacese and English.
Letters between Master and Spiritual Practitioners
* Available in Aulacese (Vols. 1-2), Chinese (Vols. 1-3), English (Vol. 1), and Spanish (Vol. 1).
Master Tells Stories
* Available in Aulacese, Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.
Aphorisms
* Gems of eternal wisdom from Supreme Master Ching Hai.
* Available in combined language editions of Chinese/English, English/Japanese, English/Korean,
French/German, and Portuguese/Spanish.
I Have Come to Take You Home
* A collection of quotes and spiritual teachings by Supreme Master Ching Hai.
* Available in Arabic, Aulacese, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, English, French, German, Greek,
Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Romanian, Russian, Polish, Spanish, and Turkish.
God’s Direct Contact – The Way to Reach Peace
* Available in Chinese and English.
Coloring Our Lives
Of God and Humans – Insights from Bible Stories

God Takes Care of Everything
* Illustrated tales of wisdom by Supreme Master Ching Hai.
* Available in Aulacese, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, and Korean.
The Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Enlightenment Humor – Your Halo is Too Tight!
Secrets to Effortless Spiritual Practice
Living in the Golden Age Series – The Realization of Health – Returning to the Natural and
Righteous Way of Living
* Collected excerpts from the lectures of Supreme Master Ching Hai.
The Dogs in My Life (Vols. 1-2)
* Stories by Supreme Master Ching Hai.
The Birds in My Life
The Noble Wilds
* Available in English.
Supreme Kitchen – International Vegetarian Cuisine
* A collection of culinary delicacies recommended by Master and fellow practitioners from all parts
of the world.
* Available in Aulacese, Chinese/English, and Japanese.
Supreme Kitchen – Home Taste Selections
* Available in Chinese/English.
DVD, VCD, Video, Audio & MP3
* Almost all of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s lectures, interviews and talks with groups of
practitioners during the past decades have been recorded and are available on audio or
videotapes, as well as VCD and DVD, subtitled in multiple languages. Detailed catalogs of
Master’s videotapes, audiotapes and books are available from www.smchbook.com. All
publications are offered at near-cost prices. Direct inquires are welcome; please contact your
local Center or the Formosa headquarters smchbooks@Godsdirectcontact.org with any
questions or requests.
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s Art World:
Poetry
* Wu Tzu poems (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
* Silent tears (in Aulacese/Chinese/English, Filipino, French/German, Korean, Portuguese, and
Spanish).
* Traces of previous lives (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
* Pebbles and gold (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
* The lost memories (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
* The dream of a butterfly (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
* The old times (in Aulacese and English).
The Collection of the Art Creations
* Series of paintings by Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Celestial Art
* A collection of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s creative works.
Musical Creations
* Collections of music and songs composed by Master.
* Poetry recited by Master Herself.
* Available on CD, audiotape, videotape & DVD.
Benefit Concerts
* Long Beach, CA (1996), Washington, D.C. (1997), and Hollywood, CA (1998). These benefit
concerts held in honor of Supreme Master Ching Hai, feature Her poetry set to music by world-
famous composers and performed by renowned singers and musicians.
Specially Recommended: ‘One World… of Peace through Music’
* Benefit concert held at the Shrine Auditorium in 1998.
* Available on video, CD and one exquisite book (in Aulacese, Chinese, and English).
An Evening with the Stars – With Hollywood Celebrities
* Available on DVD.
Paintings, Lamps, Clothing and Jewelry Design…
SM Celestial Fashion Album
* Appreciate Master’s art work online www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw
Beautiful gifts for yourselves and your loved ones
Animals are celestial beings, just like humans. We can talk to each other from deep within. Love is
our common language, the celestial language.
The books entitled The Dogs in My Life, The Birds in My Life and The Noble Wilds share the loving
feeling between any pet and their Master. The deeply personal relationship between a human and
an animal companion is intimate, touching and full of unconditional love. Reading these books
helps us to build an interactive intimacy with our own loving pets.
We invite the readers to experience the beautiful and blissful love between a humanitarian and
spiritual Teacher and Her noble, loving pets. Supreme Master Ching Hai has millions of adoring
fans around the world, but none so close as Her own loving pets.
Book descriptions
The Dogs in My Life
In the newly released The Dogs in My Life (Volume 1 & 2), the first publication lovingly written and
personally designed by Supreme Master Ching Hai, readers will rediscover the simplicity of the
love and rejoice in the sincerity of friendship, as exhibited by the 10 canine friends, with names like
Benny, Lucky, Happy, Goody, and Hermit. Learn about the Scholar, Fruity, Princissa, Chip Ahoy,
the Shadow Hunter, and others; listen to their engaging tales. They all have diverse life stories and
distinctive personalities, yet their devotion for their ‘human pet’ is unequivocal, and their humor,
intelligence and many other noble qualities are truly from the same source.
The Birds in My Life
Following The Dogs in My Life, Supreme Master Ching Hai wrote another book entitled, The Birds
in My Life, for the twenty-three beloved winged members of Her household. In this beautifully
illustrated book, each feathered creature is described in a biography lovingly composed by Master,
together with pictures from the bird’s daily life and captions with ‘bird talk.’
Each of these beautiful birds comes from a different background and has an interesting and unique
personality. Some of their stories will move us into tears, while others may make us smile. Their
cute mannerisms have brought much joy and laughter to Master. Hidden inside these tiny
creatures are highly developed and loving souls. Master said that She has often been touched by
the expressions and actions of the birds, and even inspired by them. She hopes that all of us will
understand other living beings such as birds, and love and respect them as equals.
The Noble Wilds
With a rhythmic, meditative tone, the words of The Noble Wilds flow gracefully along the pages,
complemented by the luminous photos of God’s creations in nature. Turning the pages, one is
transported to Amoura, the place where the lady lives and is visited by cherished beings of the
wild. The lady is none other than Supreme Master Ching Hai, and The Noble Wilds is yet another
of Her simple but deeply touching gifts. Written, photographed and compiled personally by Master,
this precious gem opens the door to a world of unique beauty. Here, the reader can witness
firsthand the noble spirit and dedication of our co-inhabitants whose homes are under the open sky
the swan, the goose, the squirrel, the beaver and even a tiny garden snail. Although generally shy
of humans, these animals allow themselves to be photographed, and indeed can even be seen
eagerly approaching the lady’s gentle offering of favorite foods. The love conveyed is unlike any
other full of dignity and grace, yet as deep and enduring as the eternal. All books are printed by soy
ink for environmental protection. Such ink is not only nontoxic but also very helpful for environment
of the Mother Earth, which is a good example of ‘time to act.’
Through these books, we will understand how deeply our animal friends can feel and how
intelligent they can be. They are absolutely loyal to partners, friends and human caretakers. They
can be very sensitive and tender in expressing their love, and when they lose a loved one, they
suffer the same sadness as humans do. That’s why Master Ching Hai says, ‘If humans could love
each other that much, peace and happiness would be ours forever.’ These three hundred pages of
wonderful pictures and stories will lead us to a world populated by beautiful birds and help us
understand their lives, their deep emotions and thoughts.
Read The Dogs in My Life, The Birds in My Life and The Noble Wilds, and fall in love with some of
the most special beings on earth. The Dogs in My Life, The Birds in My Life and The Noble Wilds
are also available online at: www.amazon.com/dp/9866895084/ ;
www.amazon.com/dp/9866895149/ and www.amazon.com/Noble-Wilds-Supreme-Master-
Ching/dp/9868415233.
These books are beautiful gifts for yourselves and your loved ones. Have them delivered as soon
as possible to our doors and begin experiencing God’s love and blessing flowing on every page!
Celestial Art
Celestial Art is a distinguished volume in which the author interprets artistic creation from a spiritual
perspective to reflect Truth, virtue, and the beauty of heaven. As readers are invited into the
boundless world of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s celestial art and uplifted through its resonance
with the divine, they will be profoundly touched by the deep emotions of a poet, the subtle touches
of a painter, the unique ideas of a designer, and the romantic heart of a musician. Above all, one is
blessedly introduced to the wisdom and compassion of a great spiritual Teacher.
Supreme Master Ching Hai personally named this book Celestial Art, to bring the beauty of heaven
to this world. The works of art collected in this book symbolize a noble way of living in real practice.
As a collection of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s creative works of art throughout the years, this book
is presented in exquisite color photographs and simple yet profound comments by the author
Herself. She speaks of the natural process behind Her creativity and Her source of inspiration,
revealing for readers an appreciation of the true meaning of Her works. She also shares ways to
help us develop our own creative talents. Although Supreme Master Ching Hai never received
formal training in the arts, She is gifted with refined creative ability. Many of Her works, inspired by
spontaneous intuition, are natural, expressive, and tenderly graced with divine love: ‘If we can find
our Truth, virtue, and beauty again, then the material world will become more meaningful to us and
the world will be more beautiful. We can find the Truth in this illusionary world because we can
always track down the real thing by following its shadow.’ says Supreme Master Ching Hai.
About the author Supreme Master Ching Hai
Supreme Master Ching Hai is a world-renowned spiritual Teacher, artist, and humanitarian, whose
loving assistance extends beyond all cultural boundaries. Born in central Au Lac (Vietnam),
Supreme Master Ching Hai studied in Europe and worked there for the Red Cross. She soon
realized that suffering exists in all corners of the globe, and Her yearning to find a remedy became
the foremost goal in Her life. She was happily married at the time to a German physician, and
although it was a difficult decision for both of them, Her husband agreed to a separation. She then
embarked on a journey in search of spiritual enlightenment. Eventually, in the Himalayas in India,
She received from a true Master the divine transmission of the inner Light and Sound, which She
later called the Quan Yin method. After a period of diligent practice, She attained the great
enlightenment.
Soon after Her return from the Himalayas, at the earnest request of those around Her, Supreme
Master Ching Hai shared the Quan Yin method with others, encouraging them to look within to find
their own divine greatness. Before long, invitations arrived from the Americas, Europe, Asia,
Australia, and Africa for Supreme Master Ching Hai to give lectures. Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
compassionate heart has also been reflected in Her meticulous care for the less fortunate in
different circumstances. The funding generated from Her artistic creations has enabled the support
of Her mission of comforting God’s children in times of need. More recently, Supreme Master Ching
Hai has authored books that have become number one international best-sellers, namely ‘The
Dogs in My Life,’ ‘The Birds in My Life,’ and ‘The Noble Wilds.’ These volumes reveal many
insights into the deep emotions and thoughts of our treasured animal co-inhabitants, highlighting
their gracious spirit and unconditional love.
Wishing to acknowledge others for their actions and influence toward developments of goodness in
the world, Supreme Master Ching Hai founded the Shining World Leadership Award in March
2006. Since then, She has also established other prestigious awards, such as Shining World
Compassion Award, Shining World Hero and Heroine Awards, Shining World Honesty Award,
Shining World Protection Award, Shining World Intelligence Award, and Shining World Invention
Award. This honor is bestowed on individuals, nations, and organizations – such as the second
President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Janez Drnovšek, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Save the
Children – whose exemplary works have significantly contributed to the harmony, beauty, and
sustainability of our earth. Supreme Master Ching Hai is among notable pioneers in our society
today who wisely and courageously express concern about climate change. In fact, for more than
twenty years, She has talked about preserving the environment. She catapulted the Alternative
Living and SOS global warming campaigns to promote a benevolent lifestyle without animal
products. ‘Be Veg, Go Green, Save The Planet’ is now a well-known motto that originated from
Supreme Master Ching Hai. In our era, Supreme Master Ching Hai is truly a selflessly dedicated
individual, tirelessly helping world citizens create a bright future for our beloved planet.
Veganism in religions
THE BAHAI FAITH BUDDHISM
‘Regarding the eating of animal flesh and abstinence therefrom, know thou of ‘… All meats eaten by living beings are of their own relatives.’
a certainty that, in the beginning of creation, God determined the food of (Lankavatara Sutra (Tripitaka No. 671))
every living being, and to eat contrary to that determination is not approved.’
(Selections from the Bahai’s writings on some aspects of health)
CAO ĐÀI CHRISTIANITY

‘... The most important thing is to stop killing... because animals also have ‘Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: But God shall destroy both it and
souls and understand like humans... If we kill and eat them, then we owe them.’
them a blood debt.’ (1st Corinthians 6:13, Holy Bible)
(Teachings of the saints about keeping the ten precepts – Abstaining
from killing, Section 2) ‘And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath
of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people
with a very great plague.’
(Numbers 11:33, Holy Bible)
CONFUCIANISM ESSENES
‘All men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others. The ‘I am come to end the sacrifices and feasts of blood, and if ye cease not
superior man, having seen the animals alive, cannot bear to see them die; offering and eating of flesh and blood, the wrath of God shall not cease from
having heard their dying cries, he cannot bear to eat their flesh.’ you.’
(Mencius, King Hui of Liang, Chapter 4) (Gospel of the Holy Twelve)
HINDUISM ISLAM
‘Since you... cannot bring killed animals back to life, you are responsible for ‘Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other
killing them. Therefore you are going to hell; there is no way for your creatures. Do not allow your stomachs to become graveyards of animals!’
deliverance.’ (Prophet Muhammad, Hadith)
(Adi-lila, Chapter 17, Verses 159-165)
‘He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other
creatures lives in misery in whatever species he may take his birth.’
(Mahabharata, Anu. 115.47. FS, page 90)
JUDAISM JAINISM
‘And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that ‘A true monk should not accept such food and drink as has been especially
sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood (flesh); I will even set prepared for him involving the slaughter of living beings.’
my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among (Sutrakritanga)
his people.’
(Leviticus 17:10, Holy Bible)
TAOISM SIKHISM
‘Do not go into the mountain to catch birds in nets, nor to the water to poison ‘Those mortals who consume marijuana, flesh and wine – no matter what
fishes and minnows. Do not butcher the ox that plows your field.’ pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell.’
(Tract of the Quiet Way) (Guru Granth Sahib, page 1377)
ZOROASTRIANISM TIBETAN BUDDHISM

‘Those plants, I, Ahura Mazda (God), rain down upon the earth, to bring food ‘The offering to the deities of meat obtained by killing animate beings is like
to the faithful, and fodder to the beneficent cow.’ offering a mother the flesh of her own child; and this is a grievous failure.’
(Avesta, Venidad Fargard 5-20) (The Supreme Path of Discipleship: The Precepts of the Gurus, the
Thirteen Grievous Failures, Great Guru Gampopa)
‘Everybody knows that vegetarian diet is good for health and to save the planet. They will be awakening
their own great, compassionate, loving, self-nature. And then their level of consciousness will rise up
automatically. And they will understand more than they ever did. And they will be closer to heaven than
what they are right now.’
(Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with Sydney Center, Australia, August 17, 2008)
Benefits of a vegan diet and

harms of meat consumption
Benefits of a vegan diet Harms of meat consumption
 Lower blood pressure. Some diseases related to meat consumption production

 Lower cholesterol levels.  Swine flu
 Reduce Type 2 diabetes.  Blue tongue disease
 Prevent stroke conditions.  E.coli
 Reverse atherosclerosis.  Salmonella
 Reduce heart disease risk by 50%.  Bird flu
 Reduce heart surgery risk by 80%.  Mad cow disease and pig's disease (PMWS)
 Prevent many forms of cancer.  Listeriosis
 Stronger immune system.  Shellfish poisoning
 Increase life expectancy up to fifteen years.  Pre-eclampsia
 Higher IQ. Some of the costs of meat eating
 Conserves up to 70% clean water. Heart disease
 Saves 80% of the cleared Amazonian rainforest from animal  Over 17 million lives lost globally each year.
grazing.  Cost of cardiovascular disease is at least USD1 trillion a year.
 Free up 3,433 billion hectares of land. Cancer
 Free up 760 million tons of grain every year (half the world’s  Over 1 million new colon cancer patients diagnosed each year.
grain supply).  More than 600,000 colon cancer-related mortalities annually.
 Consumes 1/3 less fossil fuels of those used for meat  In the United States alone, colon cancer treatment costs about
production. USD6.5 billion.
 Reduces pollution from untreated animal waste.  Millions of people are newly diagnosed with other meat-related
 Maintains cleaner air. cancers every year.
 Saves 4.5 tons of emissions per United States household per Diabetes
year.  246 million people are affected worldwide.
 Stop 80% of global warming.  An estimated USD174 billion spent each year on treatment.
Obesity
Plus more…  Worldwide 1.6 billion adults are overweight with 400 million more
who are obese.
 Costs USD93 billion each year for medical expenses in the
United States alone.
 At least 2.6 million people die annually from problems related to
being overweight or obese.
Environmental
 Use up to 70% of clean water.
 Pollute most of the water bodies.
 Deforest the lungs of the earth.
 Uses up to 43% of the world's cereal.
 Uses up to 85% of the world's soy.
 Cause world hunger and wars.
 80% cause of global warming.
Some of the costs of milk consumption
 Breast, prostate and testicular cancer from hormones present in
milk.
 Listeria and Crohn’s disease.
 Hormones and saturated fat leads to osteoporosis, obesity,
diabetes and heart disease.
 Linked to higher incidences of multiple sclerosis.
 Classified as a major allergen.
 Lactose intolerance.
Alternative living
Change our life
Change our heart
Change our diet
♥♥♥♥♥
No more killing
Be healthy and loving
Examples of nutritious, life saving food:
Foods Protein concentration (% by weight)
Tofu (from soya). 16%
Gluten (from flour). 70%
Corn. 13%
Rice. 8.6%
Soy beans, kidney beans, chick peas, lentils, et cetera. 10 – 35%
Almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazel nuts, pine nuts, et cetera. 14 – 30%
Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, et cetera. 18 – 24%
 Concentrated multi-vitamin tables / capsules are also a good source of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.
 Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants and contain high-quality fiber for maintaining good
health and a long life.
 The recommended daily allowance: 50 grams of protein (average adult).
 Calcium from vegetables is more absorbable than from cow’s milk.
 To diminish the real threat of a worldwide pandemic from bird flu;

 To avoid the danger of mad cow disease (BSE) and pig disease (PMWS), et cetera; and
 To stop the continuing gruesome sacrifice of billions of our sweet domestic animals, marine life and feathered friends
daily.
It’s wise to change to a vegetarian diet for good:

 It’s health;
 It’s economy;
 It’s ecology;
 It’s compassion;
 It’s peace; and
 It’s noble.
For more information, visit our websites: www.Godsdirectcontact.org / www.SupremeMasterTV.com.
What’s new and exciting on the Internet?

Enjoy heavenly teachings by Supreme Master Ching Hai
as well as constructive, inspirational and entertaining programs!
Watch live online TV at:
www.SupremeMasterTV.com
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(From Asia to North & South America, from Australia to Africa, from United
Kingdom to Ireland, and from Middle East to Europe).
With over 60 languages and 42 subtitles!
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Rediscover Our Supreme Wisdom - 1993 World Lecture Tour

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Supreme Master Ching Hai

A Master from the Himalayas

Contents and original words in this book are permeated with

The heavenly cardinal Supreme Master Ching Hai 7

A biography of Supreme Master Ching Hai 9

Rediscover our supreme wisdom – 1993 world lecture tour

Initiation into the Quan Yin method of meditation 411

The Supreme Master Ching Hai’s teachings on line 413

How to contact us 414

Introduction to our publications 415

Beautiful gifts for yourselves and your loved ones 418

Veganism in religions 421

Benefits of a vegan diet and harms of meat consumption 422

Alternative living 423

Supreme Master Television 424

The heavenly cardinal Supreme Master Ching Hai

A biography of Supreme Master Ching Hai

Rediscover our supreme wisdom

WHAT MAKES A COUNTRY GREAT 1

To develop appreciation, get enlightenment

People of spiritual consciousness make a country great

Midnight strolls on the beach

Q. Master, must one have a living guru?

Attaining peace of mind through the Quan Yin method

Q. Master, what is Buddha nature?

Q. Master, can You teach me how to meditate correctly?

Q. How do we achieve power through meditation?

Q. What is the highest nature? Is it a state of being or feeling?

Q. Is the Quan Yin method the same as Zen?

Q. Master, what does one experience after death?

Q. Master, are UFOs true? Who are these people?

M. Yes, exactly the same.

Q. Can You please explain the process of initiation?

M. Sure, welcome, please.

Q. Is our present life related to our past life?

M. Get initiation! You will see Him again. [Applause]

Inner food nourishes body and soul

Q. How can we enlighten a selfish person?

Q. Master, can this meditation cure our illness?

Q. Does everyone who is initiated get enlightenment?

All religious scriptures advocate a vegetarian diet

Q. Is there a law of karma in the universe?

Q. What is a mantra? Is it the same as Quan Yin meditation?

Q. How can we get rid of war and reach eternal peace?

M. It relates. Without the soul and spirit, you can’t live.

Q. Master, is fate predestined?

Q. Why can’t God prevent wars?

M. After enlightenment, you can stand anywhere!

Q. Will one get possessed while meditating?

Q. Does spiritual practice mean escaping from reality?

BACK TO THE GOLDEN ERA 2

Why we cannot achieve perfection in our work

We are the temple of God

Learn by our mistakes and preconceived ideas

Let great burdens fall from our shoulders

Solve the problems of this world at their roots

Back to the Golden Era

Only enlightenment enables one to see the Truth

Everything comes from God

Heaven on earth is possible in this lifetime

Q. Is it possible to open one’s wisdom eye through meditation?

Q. What was the world like before the appearance of humankind?

Q. Master, how can one dissolve one’s karma quickly?