To Love God Is To Keep His Commandments – part 3

So God, the Father, the Supreme, the most compassionate, the most loving, the Almighty, could not possibly have such a defying nature and would never make war against His children or sometimes kill His children in thousands just for some small mistakes. That cannot be the true God. These are only the imagination, the characteristics of human. We should go back to the true God. The true God is all loving, all wise and all forgiving. This is the God that Jesus wanted to present to His people, and this is the God that I also want to remind you of. The true God resides within us and there is no other God besides Him.

How to find this God? By reverting to the principles – that is, all loving, all forgiving, all compassion, and all wisdom – by repenting our previous misdeeds committed through ignorance, and by resolving not to commit them again. With such a true repentance the Light of God will sprout forth again, and all our past sins will be forgiven. That is the true baptism; not by water but by the Holy Spirit, by the Light of wisdom and logic. That’s why nowadays when we are baptized by water, we don’t see any Light from God and we do not feel free of our sins and suffering; because the principle is not imposed upon us, wisdom is not opened for us, and deep repentance is not evoked within our souls.

At the time of the true baptism, or what we call initiation, you will see the Light of God, you will hear the Word which was God, which is mentioned in the Bible: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So the true baptism should bring us in contact with this Word or with God. That’s the difference between the true baptism and ordinary baptism. We may use water or we may not use water; it makes no difference. What is important is the impression that the baptism evokes within ourselves.

Therefore when John the Baptist baptized people and when Jesus preached, people derived more benefit than when all other priests did the same. It is because John the Baptist had inspiration, sincerity and devotion to God. And when Jesus preached His doctrine, it was inspired by His own deep conviction, His own enlightenment and His own love for God – a very pure love and pure wisdom, which was different from the ordinary priests of His time.

Jesus’ love and wisdom will not be contaminated by any worldly gain or any desire for worldly fame and power. His life was simple and true, true to every word that He preached. He did not preach because He wanted to be famous or He wanted people to respect Him, but He preached because of His love for God, His true love for humankind and the true desire that He wanted to bring the true Light to people in order to eliminate their suffering.

Once we understand why we suffer, we can change it. It is only when we do not understand, then we continue. Similarly when the doctor diagnoses the condition and knows where the sickness is, he can cure it; but the most important thing is that the patient himself should know how to live his life in order to stay healthy for a long time. In order to stay healthy in body, we should know some hygienic rules, we should know what food to eat and what exercises to do so that we can prevent most diseases. In order to stay healthy in spirit, we should know what the Law of God, the Low of Nature is, so that we can stay healthy in wisdom and become “God-like,” because God made human in His own image. The Bible tells us: Be you perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.

If most people had followed this advice from the Bible, the world would have become Heaven long ago. But most people do not follow and do not respect the Law of God. Therefore we incur much suffering for ourselves within any nations. The most important and the first law of God is: Thou shalt not kill, and that we even misunderstand. We couldn’t even keep the first commandant. In the Bible it is written that the priests at Thanksgiving killed many lambs, sheep, goats and good ducks to make an offering to God, and that this was even done at the site of the holy temple, making God’s abode become a slaughterhouse! So God protested. He said: Who told you to dill all the sheep and goats to make an offering to me? You should wash yourself of this innocent blood, and don’t commit this sin again. You should repent of your sin!

Can you imagine a beautiful temple with great and magnificent pillars, with shining roof, with large rooms, spaces, coral yards and splendid structure? It should be a place for gathering for wisdom, and for worshiping the most High; but at that time, the temple became a slaughterhouse and all the priests smelt blood and smoke from roasted meat. I don’t think intelligent people would say that it’s very holy. Moses laid down the law, Thou shalt not kill that which is from God. But even then they broke it.

So we cannot blame God for the miseries that the world has to suffer from time to time. If God, who is worthy of our reverence and love, has to depend on roast beef, roast lamb and roast sheep for survival, if He has to live from our sweat labor and earnings, from some people who are too poor to even afford meat themselves, then we can imagine what kind of grace, what kind of blessing that He, as such a dependent God, could give us? Even ordinary people wouldn’t do that, so how would a God do that?

Many good-hearted people often help others from very pure, unconditional love and don’t expect anything in return. How can we imagine a God who always demands gold, silver and roast beef, and doesn’t even give anything in return? If He demanded beef before He  gave any favor, this must be the trickery which came from the priesthood, not from God.  Even if God truly wanted it so, after we gave Him all the beef, chickens and whatever,  He should have, but still didn’t return the favor. He could have said, “OK, it’s fair enough.” But He didn’t. He didn’t even return anything at all. Oh, that God! The proof that He didn’t return anything is that, those people who made offerings are still suffering from sickness, from misery, from sorrow and from everything else, like any other mortals. Even the priests in the temple also have to suffer like anyone else.

Therefore, some people made a fool of God. That’s unfair to Him. The question lays in our own misunderstanding; not that God has an unmerciful and greedy nature. God has laid down the Law that we have to obey, not for God’s sake, but for our own sake. In English we always say, “For God’s sake you have to do this, for God’s sake you have to do that.” But now I say, “For our sake we should do that, for your sake you should do this.” We should correct that saying. I don’t know if in your country you also say “For God’s sake,” You do this, too?! Oh, I am sorry, but I have to speak the truth.

The Company of Saints and Others

From the beginning of recorded history we can see that vegetables have been the natural food of human beings. Early Greek and Hebrew myths all spoke of people originally eating fruit. Ancient Egyptian priests never ate meat. Many great Greek philosophers such as Plato, Diogenes, and Socrates all advocated vegetarianism.

In India, Shakyamuni Buddha emphasized the importance of Ahimsa, the principle of not harming any living things. He warned His disciples not to eat meat, or else other living beings would become frightened of them. Buddha made the following observations: “Meat eating is just an acquired habit. In the beginning we were not born with a desire for it.” “Flesh eating people cut off their inner seed of Great Mercy.” “Flesh eating people kill each other and eat each other … this life I eat you, and next life you eat me … and it always continues in this way. How can they ever get out of the Three Realms (of illusion)?”

Many early Taoists, early Christians and Jews were vegetarians. It is recorded in the Holy Bible: “And God said, I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat; but for the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food.” (Genesis 1:29) Other examples forbidding the eating of meat in the Bible: “You must not eat meat with blood in it, because the life is in the blood.” (Genesis 9:4) “God said, Who told you to kill the bullock and the she goat to make an offering to me? Wash yourselves from this innocent blood, so I may hear your prayer; otherwise I will turn my head away because your hands are full of blood. Repent yourselves so I may forgive you.” St. Paul, one of Jesus’ disciples, said in his letter to the Romans, “It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine.” (Romans 14:21)

Recently, historians have discovered many ancient books that have shed new light on the life of Jesus and His teachings. Jesus said, “People who have animals’ flesh become their own tombs. I tell you honestly, the man who kills will be killed. The man who kills living things and eats their meat is eating the meat of the dead men.”

Indian religions also avoid the eating of flesh. It is said that, “People can’t get flesh without killing things. A person who hurts sentient beings will never be blessed by God. So, avoid taking flesh!” (Hindu Precept)

The holy scripture of Islam, the Koran, forbids the “eating of dead animals, blood and flesh.”

A great Chinese Zen Master, Han Shan Tzu wrote a poem which was strongly against flesh eating: “Go quickly to the market to buy meat and fish and feed them to your wife and children. But why must their lives be taken to sustain yours? It’s unreasonable. It will not bring you affinity with Heaven, but make you become dregs of Hell!”

Many famous writers, artists, scientists, philosophers, and eminent men were vegetarians. The following people have all embraced vegetarianism with enthusiasm: Shakyamuni Buddha, Jesus Christ, Virgil, Horace, Plato, Ovid, Petrarch, Pythagoras, Socrates, William Shakespeare, Voltaire, Sir Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Emile Zola, Bertrand Russell, Richard Wagner, Percy Bysshe Shelley, H. G. Wells, Albert Einstein, Rabindranath Tagore, Leo Tolstoy, George Bernard Shaw, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, and more recently, Paul Newman, Madonna, Princess Diana, Lindsay Wagner, Paul McCartney, and Candice Bergen, to name a few.

Albert Einstein said, “I think the changes and purifying effects that a vegetarian diet have on a human being’s disposition are quite beneficial to mankind. Therefore, it is both auspicious and peaceful for people to choose vegetarianism.” This has been the common advice of many important figures and sages throughout history!

The Path of The Great Masters

Excerpt from Master Ching Hai Lectures

When Master comes to the earth, not only the disciples are uplifted and shown the wisdom, but the whole of mankind will also be purified and uplifted to a higher level of consciousness. Therefore, many Masters have graced our earth, and the world has become better, as it is today. But even then, it has not reached the level of the heavenly understanding. It has not reached the same consciousness like many others worlds in the universe.

If we want to reach the same heights as the ancient Masters, we have to follow the same path they took. It is so simple. It is just like if you want to become a doctor, you have to attend a university, and follow the curriculum. The graduated doctors will teach you how to become one. Similarly, to become Christ-like, we must practice their method, we have to contact the inner light and Word of God. And I can offer you this method, freely, without any conditions, without financial, physical or mental commitments. Only your devotion is needed. Your devotion to your own practice according to your own time schedule, and arrangement by your own free will. That is all that is needed.

Now, why is it that we could not keep the ancient disciplines left by the ancient Masters? It is not because we do not want to, or that we do not make any effort to do so. It is because we do not have enough power, we are tired, weary of existence. Sometimes we must work hard just to survive in this ever growing standard of civilization. And we also face even more ‘civilized’ temptations, so we must also adopt a more ‘civilized’ approach to guard ourselves if we want to regain our self-respect and wisdom. Because sometimes it looks like we are lost in the whirlpool of existence and pressure, and we seem to lose ourselves. Actually we do not lose our body or desires, but we lose our self-control. This is why it is said in the Bible, ‘What benefit is there for a man who gains the whole world and loses himself?.

But we do not really understand the meaning of losing our soul. We think, ‘What? On the contrary, I lose nothing. I gain more and more every day.’ If your employer gives you a promotion or if you decide to have another child, you only gain an additional small burden. Some burdens are bearable, others are adorable. And the more you engage in material activities, the more you lose yourself and the less you know yourself. And what should you know about yourself? Well, that we are the most powerful beings in the universe. All sacred scriptures talk about this. Buddhist texts state that human life is the most precious of all. Muslim scriptures say that we are guests on earth. This means then that our home is elsewhere, and that we are much more than our physical body.

But it isn’t enough to believe it. You must follow a kind of personal training, and use your critical capacities and your wisdom to discover the superior levels of existence, and to adopt a more elevated way of thinking and living, that will transform you. Your internal power will do anything that you wish to accomplish. You will then know God and will be able to say, ‘God acts through me,’ and repeat what Jesus said, “I and my Father are one”. Then we will no longer feel loneliness and hardship.

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Why We Need a Living Master – part 3

Excerpt from Master Ching Hai Lectures

Q. So what would you like to say about yourself in relationship to what you can offer people?

M. I myself couldn’t offer much except for my body, speech and mind whenever God wills to use it to offer it to people, to His children who love to be near Him, or to be next to Him. I can only be ready to be used. I cannot offer anything much (laughter) I am only like you. What can a body offer?

Q. Could you perform some miracles so people can increase their faith in your teaching?

M. Miracles, what do you want? I give you some money, yes? And then what do you do with it? What good would that do to you eternally? I advise you to find your own power, your own miraculous power, instead of relying on mine, instead of coming to me only for magical powers, in order to get your own right back, the Kingdom of God, your own wisdom, your own birthright, your own heaven, your own Kingdom. That is the best and the highest ideal of a human life, not miracles. Miracles are very short-lived.

If necessary I will show you miracles, but not for show, not to get your applause. Whenever necessary during your practice, you may encounter some obstacles, some bad influence. At that time you will know I can make miracles. I can, but I do not use them at random just to let you know how great I am. I do not need that. I want you to have very correct attitude, correct thinking, a correct idea in practice and that is to go back to the most high, to gain back our highest wisdom, not to hang on to these children’s games, to these plastic toys. You will have everything, ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto you.’ Do not ask for small things, ask for great things. It befits you more because we human beings are the greatest in the universe. So ask for the greatest only, that is most befitting to your position, to your dignity and to your birthright.

Q. Master, you travel all around the world and cannot stay here to teach everyone, so in your absence whom will we have to follow?

M. We do not follow a teacher, we only follow the teaching. So we can never go wrong. When the teaching is okay, then we follow the teaching. We have to see if the teaching is correct. You see if my ethics are correct or not, if whatever I teach you I follow or not. For example, I teach you not to eat meat and I also eat vegetarian. I teach you not to steel and I also do not steel. I teach you to give away in charity and I myself give away in charity. I teach you to love people and I do love people and help people. I take no money for teaching I give, I earn my own money, so you have nothing to lose at all. You can only gain.

Now also, every moral standard described in the Buddhist scriptures, and in the Christian Bible, I convey to you again. So, I teach nothing new, nothing immoral, nothing unethical. So you may be safe to know that your teacher won’t teach you anything amoral or unethical, anything outside of the scriptures. I teach you everything from the scriptures. From ancient times, the ethical conduct hasn’t changed. I teach you the same, and I do the same, so you know at least that I am not a bad type! So now the teaching is correct, right?

And the meditation will provide you with wisdom and peace of mind. It doesn’t matter which technique, it will help you somewhat. So there is no exception about our technique. I only tell you that it is the fastest, that is all. You don’t have to believe me. I only tell the truth. If it is fast, I say it is very fast. I am also a nun. I am not allowed to say lies. Even average people don’t say lies, so what would a nun tell lies for? And I have no reason to do this, because I don’t need your money. I don’t need anything, and I do not even live here. I profit nothing from you. I may even leave tomorrow and you may never see me again. Good-bye! So I have profited nothing. So from this standpoint you are safe.

So, you follow the teaching, don’t follow me. The teaching will always be with you, and you do not need to follow me in person. In case you want some personal advice about your meditation progress, you may write to me or you may telephone to ask me. Nowadays no need to stick with the Master, you can go to Taiwan or wherever I stay. My body is only an appearance, a house, an office so that you may see me. If I were to only use my spiritual body, you couldn’t see me at all, you couldn’t hear me. So how could I convey the message to you? So I have to use my body, right? So, no need to fear that when I go away, you will have no one. You always have someone. You might even see me appear in your house, just like this, if you are sincere and high level enough. You will see the Master come to you, and you will see the Master all the time when you need. No need to cling to the physical body.

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FINDING THE LIGHT – The Kingdom Within

Excerpt from Master Ching Hai Lectures

There is a better life, a more perfect life inside. Once we are perfect inside, our outside life will be perfect too. We can use our wisdom and power inside to make our work more efficient, faster and more beneficial to the world. So actually, if we want to be in any important position or to be successful in any field, we must get the proper power to work for us, not our minds. There are two levels of power: the first level, the power level, is the mind. The other higher level is all grace, love and miracles. By miracles, I don’t mean changing the weather but we can do that too!

Scientists have proven that we only use 5% of our brain. Fancy if we could use 100%! The one who can use 100% of his brain, that is a Christ, a Buddha, a Lao-tzu or whomever you believe is the greatest brain power in the world. They are the ones who know the secret power in the world. They are the ones who know the secret access to the whole kingdom of our intelligence, what we call the Kingdom of God. Everything lays within ourselves. No one has been born without this Kingdom of God, just like the waves born from the ocean. Now, is there a way to gain control of this 100% of our intelligence? Yes, there are many ways, some take longer than others, some are more difficult than others. Some people do prayers, fasting, austerities. This we read in book of ancient wisdom, how people sacrificed everything to find God. But nowadays, if we follow this rigorous path, it is too hard, too time-consuming. We cannot just go in the jungle and leave society behind. In the ancient times, people had less desires and less comforts in life. Nowadays, we have more temptations due to comfort. They had less temptations and more free time to practice and find God.

How to find God? By reverting to the principles, that is, all loving, all forgiving, all compassion and all wisdom, by repenting our previous misdeeds committed through ignorance, and by resolving not to commit them again. With such a true repentance, the light of God will sprout forth again, and all our past sins will be forgiven. That is the true baptism; not by water, but by the Holy Spirit, by the light of wisdom and logic. That is why nowadays when we are baptized by water, we do not see any light from God, and we do not feel free of our sins, wisdom is not opened for us, and deep repentance is not evoked in our souls.

It is not as difficult to find God as it is to make money, I may tell you! When I was earning money, it was very difficult, working very hard 8 to 10 hours a day, and even that we squander away very fast. But if we are careful, we can make ends meet and save a little bit more for old age. But if we find the Kingdom of God, it lasts forever. Whatever intelligence, wisdom, happiness, joy we find, it will always be ours, never, ever will it be squandered way, never, ever can anyone steal it away from us.

Everyone has the inborn heaven because the heaven is within us. Everyone has it and can find it. This I may assure you, that you may find it also, and immediately. The moment you want it you will get is as quickly as that. But this nature has to be nourished every day, just like seeds need to be watered in order to grow. You can know your Buddha nature today, but you will become Buddha after some practice. Because we have been ignorant for so long, it takes a long, long time to wash out our habits, our lack of confidence in ourselves. We are used to people telling us what to do, that we are sinful, etc. After we get enlightened our head becomes clearer, we will experience how great we are, we will become more confident. We will know day after day with the practice of the Quan Yin Method that we are truly Christ, Christ-like or God-like, because God made man in His own image. He didn’t make man to become a slave, we and God are made of the same essence, the only difference is whether or not we find it. God make everyone equally, some people found it and became great like Christ, like Buddha, and others have not found it and groveled in darkness life after life.

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