Sometimes God, or what we call the Creator, or Heaven and Earth, gives us things that seem unfortunate or look like misfortunes, but in fact they are blessings, they are grace for us, you see? Just like in the old story called “Sai Weng Losing His Horse,” losing the horse prevented his child from falling or something like that, falling from the horse, and later he didn’t have to be drafted for the military, or things like that. Do you know that story? (Yes, we know.) You know it? If not, go home and read it. Exhausting! Don’t pretend. So when practicing spiritually and reading these stories, we have to apply them in our own lives, not just read them to show others that we are educated. But we must understand that these old stories, from past practitioners, were meant to advise us to be content or to find inner peace and happiness.
We shouldn’t rely on material things as if they were eternal. If we keep thinking about the physical aspect all the time, well, it’s our choice and no one will say anything, but we should know that our level is low. That’s why sometimes when I travel, like to Mexico… Last time I went to Mexico, why do I like them? Because they don’t ask about material matters at all. They don’t sit there asking me, “Why are You wearing clothes like this?” “Why is Your hair so long now?” “Why are You wearing earrings?” Or “Why aren’t You wearing earrings today?” For example. They don’t ask about those things; they just accept it all. Completely accepting me being like this is fine. They don’t pay any attention to material matters. Because in their hearts, they only want to ask about spiritual matters. Their level is already high, so when they ask, I can tell where they stand. (Yes.)
As for those whose level is focused on material things, wherever they go, they deliberately look from head to toe. Then they ask questions that don’t matter at all. For example, if I go to a beauty salon, I could ask like that. Or if I meet a beauty queen, I could ask like that too. That’s their profession. But if I want to learn the Way, whatever others are busy with is none of my business. If we pay too much attention to material matters, it means our level is still at the material level, not yet higher. It’s not that anyone is criticizing us. But sometimes being asked about those things over and over makes me tired.
So when I went to Mexico, the people there interviewed me, and the press only asked questions about the practice and spirituality. And the disciples from other groups from meditation or other major religious schools, they also came to learn and consult with me, and they only asked advanced topics on spiritual practice, nothing about material matters. That’s why I liked it so much; I said I wish I could stay there permanently. Because there, when I speak, it’s wonderful, as if I’ve never spoken that well before. I also felt very happy that I can bring out the higher-level stuff to teach them. They listened and were very delighted. So, I gave a lecture for just a few hours, yet about 250-something people applied for initiation. When asked if they had inner vision, (inner Heavenly) Light, 99% raised their hands.
Not yet, not yet. And the 1% also had, but it was different, not that they didn’t have inner vision. They said they saw some realm, not the Light. I said, if there is a realm but no Light, how can you see it? Closing your eyes without the Light, how can you see the realm? They said, “We can only see mountains, hills, rivers, and lakes, is that OK?” Poor things, asking such silly questions. Just an example. But when asked if they could see me, two-thirds raised their hands, seeing me within. And there’s more. And the other third said they only saw [Lord] Jesus, Buddha, and all that. So do you know why I like to be there? Hey, it’s true. You know. It’s true, huh? (Yes.) You were there, huh? (Yes, it’s true.) (…) was there. People who know English... Hey, you know. You’re the guy, the handsome guy there. Stand up. You know it’s true. It’s true. Yeah? Is that the truth? I’m not lying, right?
That’s how it was in Mexico. Raising their hands, everyone raised their hands, and I felt so relieved, so satisfied. And they asked only questions that made me very pleased, very joyful. They asked with sincere interest in understanding the Truth, not to provoke, not out of curiosity about my personal life, or my personal benefits, or about my clothes, or my hair. And… I won’t mention which country. And there are many people from you-know-what countries, who so often ask only nonsense. (Yes.) Almost like they would split a hair into three to see what’s inside. (Yes, understand.) They mostly immerse in the level of impermanent material things. So when I hear someone speak or ask something, I can tell their level already. (Yes.) No need to look inside – listening from the outside is enough. Something like that.
But let me tell you, there’s something special that makes learning my Method different from others. There was a woman who had been practicing meditation for more than 10 years, and she was also vegetarian. In her house, she also worshipped Singh Baba. But do you know what she asked? I was talking in general, sometimes I said God, sometimes I said Buddha Nature, and she asked, “I have been meditating for more than 10 years, but my teacher never mentioned the word God, never spoke of God, so why do You say there is God?” They asked, “Does the Buddhist scripture mention God?” Something like that. I said, “Oh God, you’ve been practicing for over 10 years and you’re still like that? Especially practicing meditation. Do you know what it means to practice meditation? If you meet a demon, you slash the demon; if you meet the Buddha, you slash the Buddha. And you just sit there saying Buddha, or God.”
When you practice my Dharma Method, not my method, but the Dharma that I teach, after a few days you can already see the difference. (Yes.) The difference is immediate, right? (Yes.) You no longer sit there clinging to empty terms like that. No more arguing over useless matters like that. (Yes.) You no longer cling to issues about this clothing or that clothing, but look directly into the inner mind of that person. (Yes.) You look at the reasoning of that person, whether what they say is reasonable, so that your mind can become clear, open, and progress to a higher level. Instead of sitting there arguing over messy issues that are meaningless. The whole world is immersed in ignorance, suffering, war, destruction everywhere, and yet people sit there arguing about this clothing, that clothing. Or saying if there is no Buddha, there cannot be God, and if there is God, there cannot be Buddha. How strange is that? (Yes.) How long would you keep arguing before it ends?
Humanity is already suffering so much, yet people still sit there and start religious wars. If they cannot fight with weapons, they fight with words. It is still fighting. The belligerent attitude, the warlike spirit, must be put down before one can say, “I go seek peace, or I build peace.” One must treat material matters as if they do not exist, stop paying attention to them; only then can one’s spirituality rise a little. For example, if a house has two or three floors, and you keep staying on the first floor, how would you know the second or third floor? (Yes.) That’s how simple it is. If you are always focused on material matters, it shows you are still in the basement. The basement down there. You haven’t even reached the first floor yet, so how could you speak of the third or fourth floor? (Yes.) So… that’s enough. It’s too late now. After I talked for two or three kilometers already and they applaud.
That’s why sometimes when I hear someone speak, I immediately know. So you see, there are many sects (schools), many people practicing meditation. But when you go around shopping and listen to their conversations, you can tell what they are like. You can tell whether their Dharma method is beneficial or not. Or whether the leader of that sect (schools) has enough wisdom to guide their followers. And we go around and talk just for fun, to see if we are making progress, not to provoke anyone. Or sometimes, we don’t go at all. No need to go, why bother, seems as if we’re craving something. But if you happen to have doubts about something, then go and see for yourself. If you say our method is not good, then go see the others out there.
And if you already have enough faith, then you don’t need to go. But even when you don’t go, you will still meet them. (Yes.) Usually, we run into them outside all the time. (Yes.) When we meet and talk, then we know right away, immediately on the spot. You all are very sharp now. Just listen to one sentence, you can tell they’re from Astral level. No need to be initiated, you still know what level they are at. You know immediately, right? (Yes.) (It’s because we are Your disciples so that we’re good at this.) It’s not that we’re better than anyone, but no one is better than us. Occasionally, we get a little arrogant for fun, otherwise people might think we are not skilled.
So you see, this story is used as an example for me to explain a little and remind you. Sometimes you already know, but some may forget, so I just give a little reminder. Actually, when you practice the Quan Yin Method, you are being taught. If you follow my instructions exactly, you will keep making progress and will not need me to lecture you. No need to ask trivial questions. So when you’re a new initiate, it’s best not to ask anything at all. Keep your mouth shut and earn the reward. Then two or three years later, you can ask. (Yes.) Asking then will be more appropriate. But after two or three years, you won’t have any more questions. Both teacher and disciples are content. But when they first start practicing, people are usually very eager. Wow. Usually without wisdom, they don’t even know how to ask. Once a little wisdom is opened, then they ask everything like… “Learn martial arts to fight the teacher.” Asking all sorts of nonsense. But fortunately, I also have some skill. Otherwise, I will end up fainting from these kinds of disciples. They just “strike” wildly, hitting the spots that shouldn’t be hit. So tiring.
But I’m also happy that sometimes when I see other groups, and then look back at ours, I feel very glad. Those who can’t get along with our group, can’t follow our rules and catch up with our fast evolution, naturally drop out. I’m actually happy about that, I’m not sad at all. Just like a grain of sand, such a tiny speck, but if it gets stuck inside the mechanism of some system, it can cause the whole machine to stop or break down. So it’s better to just remove it, no problem at all. Losing one person but gaining a hundred is not a loss. Otherwise, if that person sticks around just dragging his feet, we will all have to wait for them. When a hundred or a thousand people have to wait for one person, it gets frustrating. And besides, that stops the whole group from making any progress.
Sometimes you see a whole group of people together, everything’s fine and joyful, then suddenly one person pops up, does something strange, and I have to scold them, and the whole atmosphere changes, right? For example, when I went to Hawaii, I gave a talk there, and many Americans got initiation, even more than the Aulacese (Vietnamese). It was great, everyone was happy and laughing every day. Then one day, I was giving a fun talk for the new initiates, there were also some Aulacese (Vietnamese) there, old initiates too, everyone was listening attentively. And this Aulacese (Vietnamese) woman was not paying attention, while I was talking smoothly, she suddenly raised her hand and said, “I want to say something, I want to ask something.” She asked, “I have eight mouse(-people) at home, what should I do?”
Why put mouse(-people) in cages? And being kept in a cage causes suffering to them. Thinking you are saving them by putting them in a cage, can they bear it? It’s like refugees placed in a refugee camp, what good is that? Saving them that way is no help. You may save their lives, but if you do not give them freedom, you have already half strangled them. (Yes.) Yet she was so proud: “I saved those mouse(-people). If I release them, the cat(-people) will eat them or people will kill them.” Then go find a place with no cat(-people) and no people to release them. Who could bear it when being locked in cages. Then catching them and putting them in cages is your problem, why ask me about it? As if she wanted me to praise her for that. I was telling a funny story, everyone was laughing and listening attentively, and suddenly she dropped an “atomic bomb” in the middle of it. Dropping random “bombs” like that is exhausting. That’s how it is for new initiates, but if she had been initiated for a long time, I would have shaved her head and sent her to a monastery.
Photo Caption: The Stages of Life Might Differ, The Stages of Spiritual Height Too.
