Some people there, [in the refugee camps], have said they would rather die than go back. I don’t want to interfere in international political issues. But these are our people, who are trapped like “bird(-people) in a cage” or “fish(-people) in a bowl.” Now they can’t go back, nor can they stay. They’re “stuck between a rock and a hard place.” That issue makes me very uncomfortable. I don’t dare say, it’s pointless to keep talking about it. Saying this seems strange, like lifting someone’s shirt to show their back.” It makes me very sad to say this. But let’s not blame anyone, I won’t name anyone, even if I have proof, I won’t say. We practitioners should not speak badly of others. In fact, it’s not entirely their fault; it’s the collective karma of sentient beings. So we can’t blame anyone, see?
It’s the fault of the whole world, collective karma – a powerful force. It’s not something that one or two people, or even one or two organizations, can break down. That’s why I told you that everyone must practice spiritually on their own. I did not entice you by saying that I can practice for you, and once you receive initiation, you can just sleep until you die, right? You have to practice yourself. You yourself have to understand why you need to practice spiritually. You have to understand why you are caught in the cycle of reincarnation. You have to understand why you need to let go of this world in order to save yourself. The Master, the Buddha, or Christ is only here to show us the way to understand these things. It’s like a math teacher: he shows you how to learn math, but you have to keep at it. That’s how you really understand. The same goes for a music teacher, see? Whether they are Beethoven or Mozart, it’s the same. We still have to learn by ourselves to get familiar with many songs, practicing every day, all the time, until we master them.
So why did the Buddha, or Christ, come into the world but couldn’t save all of humanity? They couldn’t even save everyone who lived during Their time. Why? Because the people must follow the Buddha’s path themselves, not rely on the Buddha to practice for them, walk for them. Why do you benefit? Why do you feel more deeply connected and better as you practice more? Because you are following the path that I show you. You gain the benefit because you walk the path, not because I walk it for you. That’s why the refugee issue is so difficult. Not all refugees are aware of their need to let go, understand? They are still mired in the concepts which cause humanity to remain in the reincarnation cycle. Many people in the world are like that.
But Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is improving now. Do you have any questions? Do you want to ask me anything? I hope things will continue to improve. It seems like it’s getting better, day by day. Let’s hope the government there becomes more enlightened every day. That they will increasingly prioritize the welfare of the people above the interests of the party, not that the party is a priority. The people come first. Many political parties forget that – they forget that the people’s welfare should come before the party’s. It’s not just the Communist party; any other political party can forget. They use all their power to strengthen the party but forget that the party exists for the people, not the people for the party. That’s the trouble. The higher they climb, the more they forget. Sometimes they sit there and forget. Once they have power, they forget, but that’s not how they started. Sometimes they start out with a hunger for fame and fortune. But sometimes they have very high ideals, but once they sit in that position, they forget. Day after day, they work so hard that they forget everything. They forget whether the cart should be in front of the ox, or the ox in front of the cart.
OK. Do you want to ask me anything? Spiritual practice, politics, personal issues, family, society, international matters – anything? Nothing to ask? Oh. You were there? (Yes, Master.) Yes, she also went to the Bahamas with me. Right. Yeah, we were a big group. Sick. He was also sick. (Yes.) He’s a strong man. He was sick, got a headache after he came back from the airplane. It was terrible because the weather was bad. The day I flew on that small plane to the Bahamas, the weather was bad, so it kept... The plane was moving up and down, like that. Sometimes it felt like we dropped a kilometer down to the ground and then climbed back up again. My intestines went up to my head, and my head went down to my feet. (…) was there too. Now I just noticed her. Do you want to ask me anything? No questions at all? Sorry to disturb you all with this surprise meeting. (We are so happy to hear You speak, Master.) Just looking a little bit at me to be satisfied, right? (We’re so happy, Master.) Yeah.
Last Sunday, I wanted to visit you. I felt pulled strongly, but I just sat there resisting, saying, “I’m not going. I’m not going, not going.” You can’t force people all the time. Well, this Sunday, it seemed like the pull from you all was a little stronger, just a bit stronger. I even mentioned it to the people nearby, saying, “Wow! Today, it feels like the energy from (…)? Center is pulling me very strongly.” But I was determined, sitting there and not going. Have you ever seen a buffalo(-person) being pulled? But he digs his four legs into the ground and refuses to move. Yeah, it was like that. The gravity is strong. It’s called the gravitational pull of the Earth. But why was this Sunday so strange? (Because it was a one-day retreat, Master.) (Group meditation.) One-day retreat, huh? (Yes, one-day retreat.) How come everything ended by 11:30 AM for a one-day retreat? (That’s Saturday.) The whole day Saturday? (Yes.) No wonder I felt so restless, uneasy, and melancholic that week.
(Dear Master, someone sent You two letters, but I didn’t dare give them to You.) Send them to Miaoli. Why give them to me? I don’t have a bag to carry around all your emotion. I’ve said already, don’t give me that stuff or you’ll get scolded. There’s nothing special about it at all. We’re just ordinary people on this Earth – there’s nothing special, especially in spiritual practice. I’ve said it before; if I start accepting letters, then hundreds of people will send them, and then I’ll be riding in a limousine, and people will slander. I don’t care, send them to Miaoli, OK? I will answer them in order, first come, first served, no cutting in line. Like waiting in line in America.
Don’t talk nonsense, or it might affect you. Don’t be their accomplice. When you ask something, ask for the greater good, not just about your small personal matters – it gets tiresome. (Right.) Too narrow-minded. In spiritual practice, we should be broader. Always thinking “me, me, me” – it’s exhausting. You can smell the heavy energy. See, now I am getting irritated. You need to understand the goal of spiritual practice, which is gradually becoming broader, more open. We think about others more. Always “me, me, me.” “My problems, my family, my children, my wife, my husband, me. Then me again.” What is it, “me”?
(Master, if I could speak about my spiritual age… I wanted to tell You that I’ve received so much blessing from You, and I feel indescribable happiness.) Then what is there to ask? There’s nothing to ask. (My question is, I want to help my friends who are still suffering.) OK. Then you do it. (I chant Your name so they can receive Your blessings, meaning they can feel the immense power from You. But I read in one of Your books that if our spiritual level isn’t high enough, when we try to help others, we might take on their karma. Is that right, Master?) Yes. (So, will that happen to me if I do it?) You will. If you’re afraid, don’t do it; if you do it, don’t be afraid. (Yes.) A Bodhisattva has to sacrifice for others. What’s there to fear? If you die, who cares? Going to hell, bear it yourself. (Thank you, Master.)
No, when you do something, don’t think you’re the one doing it, understand? Do your best, but don’t think success or failure is yours. So you are not sad when you fail, and when you are successful, don’t think that was your effort. That way, there will be less karma. That’s the true spirit of a Bodhisattva. If you do it and still worry about this and that, then just forget it. Who else wants to ask something? Where? Raise your hand, so people know. I thought somebody wanted to ask something? Oh, it’s you again? I am also very scared! I help so many people – what if something happens? I’m scared to death! Never mind, once I do it, I keep going. Now, after doing it for so many years, the karmic burden is already very heavy. If it gets a little heavier, it won’t make a difference. For example… Never mind, I won’t talk more. Where? Anybody will ask any question? No more questions?
Don’t be afraid. Just do your best. Buddha and God bless you. You are not the one doing it, so don’t be afraid. What can we really do? For example, if I relied on my own strength... Madame Thanh Hải, 38 kilograms, 1 meter 49 or something. What can I possibly do? Oh, just hearing that, it sounds frightening. A tiny person with little strength but still wanting to do all kinds of things. I don’t rely on my own strength, so I am not afraid. There are Buddhas of the ten directions, past, present, and future, and [Lord] Jesus, God, and all of Them – why should we be scared?
But sometimes They “abandon” me, leaving me alone. “You do it by Yourself. Go ahead, We are watching.” They stand there and applaud. Buddhas, God, and [Lord] Jesus just stand around clapping, like They’re watching a show, to see how far I can take it. It’s like when we were kids, you know? Our parents... When we were little and hadn’t learned to walk, but they made us walk. We walked all wobbly, and they stood there cheering and clapping. Then we reached out our hands for help, but they just kept pulling their hands back. They let us stumble and fall, and stood there clapping. It’s like that, like that. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are like that, too.
Yesterday, I read something in the “Người Việt” newspaper, or some other Aulacese (Vietnamese) newspaper – “Người Việt,” or “Ngày Mai,” I forgot. This time, they bought a few Aulacese (Vietnamese) newspapers for me to read. I asked for a few Aulacese (Vietnamese) newspapers to read. There’s a very funny story here. Since I was talking about God and Buddha, I’ll tell you this very funny story. Did you translate for the people who don’t understand Aulacese (Vietnamese)? Yeah? You do? OK. There was this man who got lost in the African jungle. His plane crashed; the plane malfunctioned, and he got lost in the jungle. He fainted, and when he woke up, he opened his eyes and saw that he was surrounded by spears, knives, swords, and bows, with a group of naked tribal people standing there, all staring at him. He thought to himself, “Oh God, I must have come to the end of my life.”
Suddenly, he heard a solemn, divine voice from the sky, “No, your life is not over yet. Follow my instructions. Now, grab the knife from the tribesman right next to you and stab it into the heart of the tribal chief standing in front of you.” He did exactly as the voice instructed. He grabbed the knife from the man next to him and stabbed the chief right in the heart. The chief fell dead instantly. Then the divine voice, the same solemn and clear voice from above, said, “Now your life is coming to an end.” You got it? You got it? The English got it? Isn’t that funny? Isn’t it funny? (Yes, it’s funny.) Yeah, I read that and translated it for the attendants – and they laughed so hard. They said, “Oh God! Master, even God is...” What? (So “cruel,” right?) No, “Very ‘naughty’?” I said, “God is ‘mischievous,’ so be careful not to stand too close to Hirm.” It’s cute. It’s very cute. Very nice.
Photo Caption: Sadly, Some God Children Don’t Seem to Be Like GOD, the Parent
