In this episode, Master explains that a meaningful contribution honors both our nation and the world, and emphasizes that formal education is unnecessary for self-realization.
As for whom I help – it’s my money. I help whomever I want. That’s up to me. (Yes, Master… generally…) No, that’s not what I mean. Yes, please wait a moment. (Yes.) Sometimes when we help someone, they can only receive it if they have the merit. And there also has to be affinity, right? (Yes, there has to be affinity.) (Yes.) We already talked about that earlier. (Yes.) It’s not as though we can just help anyone we want, right?
I only give help; I don’t take anything. What would I need money for? I live in just a tent. I don’t have a car, and now I don’t have a house either. When I come here, I just stay at someone else’s house for a few days. What would I take money for? Now, what would I even need money for? If I had some job or business, then I might need money for business and such. I eat one or two meals a day. Wherever I go, I get rides in my disciples’ cars and stay at their homes. And when I return, I stay in a tent. So what do I need money for? For example, what do you need money for? For business or something, right?
And even if I needed money, eventually I would just give it here, give it there, give it elsewhere. It’s not really my money anyway, so why worry so much about it? No matter whom I help, I’m also helping Âu Lạc (Vietnam). Why do we keep thinking so narrowly? If we keep everything tightly to ourselves like that, no one will know about us. We have to integrate with the broader public.
I’m from Âu Lạc (Vietnam). So no matter whom I help, people will know that it was an Aulacese (Vietnamese) person who helped them. People keep worrying only about money, without thinking about honor or universal love. For example, if I help everyone, people will say, “Ah, the Aulacese (Vietnamese) people love everyone. They help everyone, not just Aulacese (Vietnamese) people.” See? Wouldn’t that bring honor to Âu Lạc (Vietnam)? What do you think? (Ah.)
That kind of honor can’t be bought with money. Once money is spent, it’s gone. But what we do to bring honor to the world and to our country will last. That is a real contribution. You are educated. Just think about it and you’ll understand right away, right?
For example, if an Aulacese (Vietnamese) person does something good that earns support for Âu Lạc (Vietnam) around the world, do you think that would be good for our country? Instead, we only think about feeding ourselves. Then it’s all gone. Tell those people that they’ve seriously misunderstood. No Aulacese (Vietnamese) person has contributed money to me. It’s all my money, or funds sent from Taiwan (Formosa). That’s the first point. Second, no matter whom I help, I’m also helping the Aulacese (Vietnamese) people. We live in this world. Generally speaking, and specifically regarding Âu Lạc (Vietnam), if the Aulacese (Vietnamese) people have a good reputation, then the world will come to know Âu Lạc (Vietnam), right?
So tell them they need to think more broadly and further ahead. Look broadly and look far ahead. If we look at things too shortsightedly, it’s difficult to get things done. So many people, because of that shortsightedness, have caused harm to the Aulacese (Vietnamese) community. One newspaper attacks another newspaper. Or one group attacks another group. Everyone wants to be the boss, to be in charge. No one thinks about the common honor of the country and its people. For example, if I were to behave the same way, what would you think? Would I still be worthy of being a Master? Today I’m a little “excited.” Because as soon as he came in, he attacked right away, struck right away. Checkmate right away, checkmate right away. (Oh, no. I’m just asking as a journalist, to help clarify things for the public.) OK, OK. I know. (Yes.) I know. But those kinds of issues make people a little uncomfortable. (Yes.) Because they keep asking over and over. Everyone asks those questions. (Yes.) Because those are the issues they’re most concerned about. (Yes.) Because ordinary people in this world generally have somewhat similar levels of understanding. So wherever I go, everyone asks those same questions. I start sweating just hearing them (As journalists, we’re just questioning that reasoning to help clarify things.) Yes, I know. OK, I know, I know. Yes. But you’re not the first one.
(Yes. May I ask, Master, many people say that Your followers are highly educated and hold advanced degrees.) Some are highly educated, and some have less education. (I see. So Your followers come from all walks of life.) All kinds of people. (I see.) Yes, yes.
(Then, Master, could You explain why people with less education follow You and why those with higher education also follow You?) For the same reason: to find their true Self. That true Self is neither poorly educated nor highly educated. (Yes.) They have been wise, lifetime after lifetime. (Yes.)
I help them rediscover that inherent Nature, and they find it. They discover it gradually, a little more each day. So they’re happy, they like it, and they follow. This is something you don’t need formal education to understand. Just like the Six Patriarch Huineng, He had no formal education, (Yes.) yet He was still wise and enlightened. Whereas Shenxiu studied extensively and knew a great deal, and even followed his Teacher for 30 years, yet he still wasn’t at the same level as Huineng. That’s just an example.
You wrote this article, and the other one was written by Mr. Lưu, right? OK. So the humorous one is the one Mr. Lưu wrote. And this one is the one you wrote. (Mine is funny too.) Ah, yes, very funny indeed, very funny. (It’s quite amusing too.) Very creative. (Is there anything Master disagrees with?) No, no. I completely agree. I agree with everything. Did everyone enjoy the meal earlier? Was it to your taste? (Yes, it was very delicious, Master.) (It was very delicious, Master.) Really? Was that delicious? (Yes, really very delicious.) Ah, that’s good.
(Master, during this visit, do You plan to meet and talk with Your disciples and with larger groups of people?) Yes, yes. I had just arrived from the airport at around ten-something, nearly 11 o’clock, last Sunday. I returned on Sunday and immediately spoke with the disciples. They were waiting at the Meditation Center. (Yes.) I went straight from the airport to visit them. Seeing them every day would bother them. Better let them get on with their work. On Sundays, they gather together anyway, so I took the opportunity to go over and visit them. (Yes.)
Only if I come once in a while and happen to be there on a Wednesday or Thursday would they have to arrange a gathering so we could meet. Otherwise, if I stay longer, I just let them carry on as usual. (Are You going back to Hawaii this time, or going straight to Taiwan [Formosa]?) There are invitations from so many places, so I probably won’t be able to return to Taiwan (Formosa) yet. Taiwan (Formosa) has invited me too. Now that Taiwan (Formosa) has seen that America gave me an award, they’ve also invited me back there to receive another award, something related to my profession. What do they call it… something spiritual, an award for spiritual work. And this was a worldly award, but they said they wanted to honor me for my spiritual work. I said, “Oh, no need for an award! Why go to all that trouble?”
Why did I come to America? I explained that it was because there have been so many disasters here lately. I came here to receive the award, and also to establish more affinity with them. (Yes.) Otherwise, in the past, whenever I came to America, I wanted to leave right away. Whenever I came here, I couldn’t stay for long. (A couple of days ago, there was an earthquake here.) Oh, is that so? (Yes.) I feel there is some kind of force here that is not very good. This land is very, very good, but sometimes a lot of bad karma has been created. (Yes.) So I thought I would accept the award for their benefit, not for myself. To sow good affinity for them. If they honor me, then their country will also receive honor.
You know the saying: you reap what you sow, right? That’s what we say in Buddhism. Ah, [Lord] Jesus said the same thing: “Whatever you sow, you will reap.” If they honor me like this, then they will surely receive honor in the future. Because they are sowing a bright, positive cause for themselves. I came here to receive the award for the sake of the American people. As for Taiwan (Formosa), I’ve already stayed there for a long time – six, seven, eight years. Everything has already had time to sink in, and so many people already know me. Now so many of them are already practicing spiritually and sincerely. There’s no need to go back just to receive an award. That would be unnecessary. You understand, right? (Yes.) That’s why I haven’t gone back to Taiwan (Formosa) to receive the award. There is no rush for that. I wouldn’t make a special trip there just to receive an award. For example, later, after I’ve finished all my work in the United States, after I’ve gone around visiting the disciples and visited all the places that sincerely invited me, and then happen to pass through Taiwan (Formosa) on my way back, for example, Then, while I’m there, if they still want to give me the award, that’s fine. (Yes.) But I wouldn’t specially leave the United States and rush all the way back to Âu Lạc (Vietnam) just to receive an award, and then rush back again. That’s roughly how it is. So I haven’t gone back to Âu Lạc (Vietnam) yet, understand.
For now, I’ll probably continue traveling around the United States for a while longer. This time, I feel at ease staying here. It just feels like that. There are times when we simply can’t do things before their time. Before, whenever I came here, after just a few days I wanted to leave. Sometimes I was very patient and managed to stay for two or three weeks. Now I feel I can stay a little longer. (Perhaps it’s because of that affinity.) It is due to affinity that they honor me. (Honor.) They honor sincere spiritual practitioners. (Yes.) Then they receive the blessings from that. (Yes.) How could they not, right? (Yes.) The key people receive more merit. And the people – the entire nation, the whole country – who support it will all receive blessings. (Yes.)
(Master, here in the United States, there are many White Americans who follow You.) Yes, yes. (Were there many of them?) Yes, quite a lot. (Yes.) But these days, not many of them meditate because there are fewer of them than in Âu Lạc (Vietnam). Usually, they meditate at home more. They’re too lazy to go out. It’s because of me. It’s also my fault. Why? Because in the past, when I came here, I spoke only Aulacese (Vietnamese). (Yes.) They would sit there listening to the interpretation, and it was exhausting for them. (Yes.) Many of them didn’t even bother to interpret. They would sit there listening, so happy and enjoying it so much that they completely forgot that they were supposed to be interpreting. That’s one thing. Second, I didn’t stay here very long. (Yes.) Usually, whenever people came to see me, the Aulacese (Vietnamese) would completely surround me. And the Americans would stand outside. They wouldn’t push their way in; they weren’t used to doing that. But the Aulacese (Vietnamese) disciples weren’t shy at all. As soon as they saw me, they would rush in and surround me. So the Americans standing in the back eventually became discouraged. So if I stay a little longer, they’ll become more diligent and improve in their spiritual practice. (Yes.)
This time, the Americans have helped me a lot during my visit here. For example, it’s not a matter of money. Rather, they spread the word or invite their friends to come, and so on. Sometimes they also contact the press. (Yes.) They do it on their own; I don’t even know about it. Sometimes they arrange events or programs and then tell me that there’s this or that happening here. Then I go. That’s how it is. (Yes.)
If something is worthwhile, then I go. For example, visiting veterans and things like that. They fought for our people and protected us. Regardless of whether what they did was right or wrong, when those young people went off to fight, they did so because they had high ideals. Who would want to go otherwise, right? So I went to thank them. (Master, did You donate US$200,000 for that?) Yes, I also donated US$200,000. (To the veterans?) To veterans nationwide. Yes. Was that reported? (That one wasn’t reported.) I didn’t know anything about it. (The Malibu one was reported, but the veterans’ one wasn’t.) Oh, really? (Yes, the Malibu one was reported, but the veterans’ one wasn’t.) How come nobody buys or reads the newspapers or anything?
(So the donation to the veterans was just this time, or…?) Yes, just recently. (Yes, just recently?) Yes. Because when I was in Hawaii, I had already promised that if I happened to meet them this time, I would let them know.
(And I remember that in Hawaii, Master had promised US$200,000 for the veterans.) I didn’t promise US$200,000, but I did promise that I would give something. (Yes.) Since I happened to meet them, I gave it to them right away. (So You’re donating US$200,000 now?) Yes. Yes, it’s already been done. (Master only stopped by for about five or six minutes, spoke briefly, and then left right away.) That’s right, that’s right. Because I had to catch a flight. (You had to leave right away.) Yes, I had to catch a flight. (Do you know what date the newspaper was published?) (That was about a week ago.) Nobody bought it, you see? I didn’t know anything about it. (Maybe they did buy it but just didn’t notice.) Is that so? (Sometimes news like that… takes up several columns.) Do you have that newspaper? (Near the metro.) (Sometimes after it comes out, people don’t notice it.) Threw it away already. That’s right. (In the metro.) Really? (In the “Metro” section.) Ask someone to look through the recent newspapers and see. (Yes.) You all say it was published all over the place, but I didn’t know anything about it. Let me take a look and feel a little proud for a change. Let the ego rise a little. Being criticized all the time is tiring too. Give it some vitamins so it can get back to work. (But the ego is one of the things forbidden by Supreme Master.) That’s alright. We use it; don’t let it use us. That’s all. (Yes, that’s right.) (That’s what’s important.)
Nothing is inherently good or bad. It depends on how we use it. (Yes.) Even poison can be used to treat illness, you see? (Yes.) (So, that means Master donated US$200,000 to Malibu fire victims, and also donated to the veterans?) No. (No. The donation was for the general fire relief efforts?) General fire relief. (The recent donation to Southern California was US$200,000. And another US$200,000 went to the veterans’ association for the entire United States, making a total of US$400,000.) Yes, that’s right. Altogether, it’s US$400,000. (US$400,000 altogether.) I told them to contact Taiwan (Formosa), and provide the bank account details so that we could send the money there. (Yes.) I don’t carry bundles of money or cash around with me. Just giving them a written pledge is enough. They’ll get in touch and let us know which channel to use.
Photo Caption: “Delicate, Elegant Wild Forest Grass-Flowers Shielded by a Loving Giant Friend”
