A Truly Happy Person

Master Ching Hai tells strory

This is a folk story passed down by the Jewish people. There was a very rich man who had plenty of property. One day, he suddenly fell seriously ill and couldn’t recover. Since he was very rich, his family invited many famous doctors from places around the country to cure him, but none succeeded.
The man’s health deteriorated and he seemed to have no hope of getting healed. Just when his family was in utter desperation, a spiritual practitioner who came from afar passed by and told them, “If you can find a very happy person, take his clothes and let your father wear them, then he’ll be cured.”
Upon hearing this, the rich man’s family set off in all directions looking for a happy person. However, after searching high and low, they could not find a truly happy person. The so-called happy people they found weren’t perfectly happy in every way so they couldn’t be regarded as truly happy people. The family carried on searching until they finally gave up. Nevertheless, one of the rich man’s sons was extremely filial. Unable to bear separation from his father, he was determined to see his father healed. Thus he left his hometown and went to faraway places, with his mind set on finding a truly happy person.
One day, the rich man’s son became exhausted by his tedious journey. Dusk was falling so he tried to find a resting place and came upon a cave where he decided to spend the night. As he approached the mouth of the cave, he heard a resounding voice from within saying, “Oh! I’m such a happy man! I had such a wonderful day today. I’m happy every day! Everything is fine with me. I’m delighted and happy with everything! I’m the happiest person in the world! I’m a truly happy man!” These words were repeated over and over, accompanied by joyful laughter. Finally, the voice said, “Oh! I’m sleepy now. I’m going to sleep in happiness. Even if I were to die now, I would still be very happy!” (Master and everyone laugh.)
The rich man’s son rejoiced to hear this and thought, “I’ve found the cure for my father’s illness!” He then quickly slipped into the cave, hoping to find the person and take his clothes from him. But when he went inside, he found that the man was completely naked! (Master and everyone laugh.) He wasn’t wearing anything! The son stood there stunned, not knowing what to do.
Seeing his disappointment and frustration, the happy man asked, “What’s wrong?” And the rich man’s son replied, “I failed to find something that I’m looking for.” So the happy man asked, “What are you looking for?” The rich man’s son replied, “My father is critically ill, and a spiritual practitioner told us that if we could find a truly happy person, we should take off his clothes and let my father wear them, then he’d be cured. That’s why I’m here to take your clothes. I never dreamed that you wouldn’t be wearing anything!” The happy man said, “Sigh! If I were wearing something, I wouldn’t be so happy now!” (Master and everyone laugh. Everyone applauds.)
What he meant was that if he possessed any property, he would be burdened and wouldn’t be so happy. Precisely because he had nothing, he was free of any pressure, not having to worry about losing anything, about his things being stolen or destroyed. He also didn’t have to worry about what to do should he not have a certain thing the next day. Since he had nothing to compare with others, he didn’t have to worry about other people having something better. Therefore, he was free of worries. He didn’t have to worry about anything, such as people stealing his things or hurting him. That’s why he was so happy.
This story is quite relevant to spiritual practice. It doesn’t mean that we’ll be happy if we don’t have any property; it also doesn’t mean that we’ll have worries or be happy if we have a lot of wealth. Whether we’re happy or unhappy can’t be measured by our wealth. It mainly depends on our heart. If we have some wealth, but we don’t cling to it and we use it in the right place, then we can say we possess no wealth and aren’t attached to it. Suppose we have no wealth and can’t earn money, but then we say that the grapes are sour because we have no grapes to eat (Master and everyone laugh), then we’re not truly happy people.
The man in this story most probably was a truly happy person. We can tell from the way he talked. In fact, true happiness at heart is not to be derived from wealth or poverty. However, for most people, excessive wealth can easily lead to bondage. Even if they hate to be bound, sometimes, they will still be bound unknowingly. They have to take care of their wealth, develop and manage it. Besides, they worry that others may take possession of their wealth, that they may arouse jealousy, or that their wealth may be squandered by their children; many conditions worry them. It’s not that we’re being greedy. However, if we do have some property, we have to manage it. If we don’t have anything, then we don’t need to bother.

Those With Kindred Spirits Attract Each Other

Spoken By  Master Ching Hai, Hsihu Center, Formosa December 30, 1994 (Originally in Chinese)

This is an Indian story. There was a man whose name was Ayah. He was originally a slave, but for some reason, he was later appointed the Prime Minister, and the King liked him very much. Because of this, other officials were jealous of him. They tried many ways to make the King get angry with him, so that he would not be in such an important position any more. But, no matter how hard they tried, it was in vain. The King liked him all the same, even more.

One day, those officials asked the King, “Your Majesty, please tell us why you like this slave so much.” The King replied, “Sure, I have a reason. You will know in time.” About two or three months later, the King summoned all his officials and told them, “My dear officials, I will hide myself in the royal garden tomorrow. You should start searching for me early in the morning and find me before sunset. The one who finds me will be rewarded with a wonderful present.”

Hearing that, the officials were all very happy, and wondered “Ah! What present will the King give us?’ After they went home, they kept on thinking about the present and imagining what kind of present they might get the next day, so they did not sleep a wink. The same night, the King gave orders that the next morning, all of the most beautiful girls, who were experts in singing and dancing, should perform on each of the roads leading to the palace.

The next morning, the officials set off early to search for the King. But, on seeing those beautiful girls singing and dancing on the way to the palace, they could not help being attracted, and were gradually lured away to enjoy the performance. All the officials was thinking, “The road from here to palace’s royal garden is quite near, and it is small. It will just take a few minutes to find the King. No need to be in such a hurry .  I can enjoy the singing and dancing first.”

Being convinced of what they thought, they further indulged themselves in the performance until it was very late, about sunset. After realizing the time, the officials hurried to search for the King, but the sun had dipped below the horizon when they arrived at the royal garden. At that moment, they felt very ashamed and disappointed, since they saw Ayah, that slave, had already been with the King for some time. “Oh, why did you come here so early?” the officials asked, “Didn’t you see people singing and dancing on the road? So beautiful! You didn’t see?” The slave said, “Who was dancing? I didn’t see anyone. In the morning, I came here right from home, and I never saw anyone singing and dancing. The only thing I kept thinking in my heart was how I could quickly find the King. I had been thinking about him since last night, and I could not afford to wait even one minute to search for him.”

Then the King said to the officials, “Now you know why I like Ayah so much. It is because the only one he loves is me. In his eyes, the whole world does not exist. No matter how beautiful a girl might be, no matter how glorious a banquet might be, no one can win his heart. It is just like those who have kindred spirits, they attract each other. He loves me so much that I cannot treat him other than myself. I just cannot help loving him.”

This story is to remind us that we should devote ourselves completely to God, to Buddha without swaying one way or the other. Don’t be tempted and let the worldly attractions lead us astray, away from our destination. Only in this way can we receive the grace of God. If we only think of God and our hearts house only God, then we are one with God. There would be no need to pray to God or to request anything from God, since everything is created by our mind. If we only think of God in our hearts, we become God. Do you understand?(Everyone applauds.)

Methods of Healing Illnesses

Spoken by master Ching Hai at a group meditation, Hsihu, Formosa on June 11, 1995.
(Originally in Chinese)

There is a method that heals all illnesses; that is, meditation and loving others, two simple things only. If we just sit there every day worrying about this and that illness, we get sicker and sicker, feeling worse and worse as we practice. Some modern scientists have stated that we should not find an excuse to stay home just because we suffer from a little cold or flu. It is not necessary! Just go out and work. If necessary, take some medicine, wear more clothes to keep warm, and then continue with your work. In this way your system will improve as you force yourself to resist your sickness.

Help other people if you have time. Help your neighbors or orphans and widows. Observe their needs and render help accordingly. Don’t spend time worrying about your own feelings; because, the more you worry, the more exhausted and sick you get. It is good for us to think of others. If we die while we are caring about other people, it is also a great honor. I have told you many stories; you should practice their principles in your daily lives.

A Magical Chair

Master Tells Story
Hsihu Center, Formosa December 31, 1994

Long ago there was an old man. He lived at the foot of the mountain and was very poor. He had no possessions. His straw hut was his only property. In fact, this person was very lazy so he deserved it! One day he heard that in a certain place there lived a very powerful yogi who had the supernatural power to create anything he desired. After hearing this, the very lazy person, who did not want to work, wished to go there to ask the yogi to use his supernatural power to create things for him so that he does not have to work anymore. After thinking in this way, he left.

He walked a very long way to the mountain cave where the yogi lived. When he saw the yogi he prostrated. The yogi was quite nice, he politely entertained him and asked him about his purpose. The lazy man said, “Respected and beloved master, I am a very poor person. Besides a small straw house, I have nothing else. Now I am very old and not able to work, so please, compassionate master, please help me. Grant me some possessions to live on. I know you have a lot of supernatural power. You can immediately create anything you desire. I believe you are able to help me.”

That yogi closed his eyes and sat there quietly without a word. Perhaps he was too tired listening to all of this. This old man than continued to ask him. After requesting for a long time, this yogi reluctantly gave him a chair and said, “After you go home, anytime you think of something you want, you can sit on this chair. But you have to wash your hands, face and take a bath before sitting on the chair. Then think about anything you desire. This way you will surely get it.”

After thanking the yogi, the old man took the chair and immediately rushed home! After reaching home, he did not waste a bit of time. He immediately washed his hands, face, took a bath, then he sat on the chair right away. At that time he was very hungry, so he immediately thought about food. Then food immediately appeared. Oh! Very beautiful, very nice and a very bountiful meal. So he enjoyed all the good food until he was very full. After eating he felt tired and desired a bed to rest. Immediately a bed with a thick mattress appeared. He lied down to sleep, but he could not really rest, because in his heart, he was always thinking of wanting things and money. He jumped up from the bed and sat on the chair. Now he started to think about transforming his straw hut into a palace. As he was thinking this, the straw hut immediately disappeared!

This old man’s palace was very beautiful with jewels all over. The doors were made of gold. The floors and the ceilings were made with gold, even the pillars were of gold inlaid with very precious jewels. Thus he was very happy and felt very comfortable. He continued to think, “Ah! Such a big palace should not be without any servants.” He just thought and many servants appeared waiting for his commands. Later he thought, “The servants, the palace cannot be without money!” He thought of a lot of gold, silver and money. Suddenly all these appeared together. It made this old man very happy in deed. But he suddenly became worried. He thought, “Ah! My palace is so beautiful, with so many possessions, if it happened that an earthquake should come, what to do?” (Master and all laugh.) He just finished the thought and the earthquake came. His possessions and the palace were squashed into the earth.

What does this story tell us? Our mind has to be clean and pure first. It is not good enough having supernatural power or power of practice. Therefore we have to clean our body, speech and thought before having the power. If we have the power but our body, speech and mind are not clean, precepts are not kept properly, then we could do bad things. Our own power could hurt ourselves. Sometimes this power could hurt others. Thus since ancient times, those masters, before taking in any disciple, would test the disciple for a long time until his body, speech and mind were completely clean before giving him the power.

The Master often tells you not to practice supernatural power. The ordinary people outside can practice the supernatural power easily. They do not have to keep any precepts and do not have to be vegetarian. When we still cannot control our mind, if we think about bad things they appear at once, because at that time we get whatever we think. The power in the universe is immense, but we should know how to use it. Otherwise, it can cause a lot of harm, harming ourselves and damaging the world. Some disasters we see in the world are sometimes not necessarily the karma of the people, but due to some people who practice supernatural power. They practice towards the bad direction or because of their messed-up thinking, they then mess up the world. We can say that these people created trouble or were possessed by the negative power. Really there are such people.

Thus when we practice we have to think about God every day, think about those fully charged names of the Buddhas to protect ourselves. Sometimes it is not entirely our own karma that causes our obstructions, but sometimes it is the negative, Maya power around us that affect us. Therefore, we have to always remember our goal, remember the power of the most high, and recite the five Buddhas’ names to protect ourselves. Thinking a lot about God Almighty, our mind becomes clean and then we do not desire anything. To us, at that time supernatural power would be of no use, because we would be one with God and there would be nothing we could not have.

At that time, we would be very satisfied inside and we would know that after we have left this illusive world, we would go back to our homeland where we have everything. Compared to that place, this world is junk. Nothing could be offered to us here. After our soul has returned many times to the homeland to take a look, our mind would understand and would be very stable. Then we would not want anything. Even if we want we would only want those things that are good for others. Our heart would be very kind, always thinking of positive things. Once thinking about positive things then the positive things would come.