striving To Earn Money Is A Duty, Not A Sin
Hsihu Center, Formosa. June3, 1995.Whatyou should detach is the attachment for power and fame, not tobe detached from money and fame.
The thing is that we had better strive, striveto have a better life all the time, not because we are materialistsbut because life should have joy and abundance in all things andin all aspects. We do not have to give power and finance to thenegative class of people. You understand what I mean? If, forexample, the good people don't strive to make income for themselvesor to have some power within a society then all the power andthe finance go to the negative power, all the bad people. Theywill in turn control the good people and the good people can donothing; can not even spread goodness. So to me, to earn money,to make a business, to strive in your life to earn a good standardof living for your family, yourself and your country is a duty,not a sin.
I do not encourage my people to stay in poverty,and to give all the power and finance to the negative system thathas no morals, to people who have no morals, who have no responsibility,no feeling, and who have no sense of sharing with other people.For example, we who are practicing moral standards, if we havemoney we always share with other people. We help people in disasters,we help the victims, we help the refugees, we help the poor, wehelp the needy, we help the sick and the orphans and things likethat. So, it's very good to have money, very good. It's not capitalism.It's the power of finance that we must have and also the power,sometimes, of social activities.
If you are a politician, you should stay inpolitics and be a good politician and fight for your country andfor the standard of living of other people. If you are a businessman,you must be a successful one. Always strive to be successful.Earn as much money as God gives you and then you can share. Moneyis very easy to use. If you don't have it then you can say, "Ohwell, I don't care about money. I'm a practitioner. Money forme is untouchable." You can not do that, you know? Can nothave such an attitude like, you don't have then you're lazy toachieve and then you say,"Oh, no, I don't care. I renounceeverything." It's not true.
In the old times, the so-called practitioners,they always renounced many things. It's okay. You can do thatfor a while. But I don't think you should do it all the time.No? Well, I think you can, why not? Everyone becomes monks, weeat the air (laughter) and drink the dew in the morning and afternoon.That's it. What do we need? Actually, the practitioners don'tneed so much. What we eat is just vegetables and what we weardoesn't have to be always beautiful, truly. We don't really carefor outside appearances, we really don't.
Sometimes, I put some make-up on, wear someclothes, and after three or four days, I'm so happy just to gonext to the river and wear nothing, just be alone and be natural.Sometimes, the make-up and the clothes make you feel tired. Theouter requirement of beauty and decency sometimes makes you tiredif you are not used to it. Especially for the practitioners, wejust like to feel natural. Sometimes we even feel that havingno hair, no clothes, and things like that would be very, veryrelaxing. But if we want to do it for the sake of beautifyingthe world or to work in the society, it's also okay.
So for us, the so-called practitioners, wereally don't need material comfort. We really don't. And that'swhy it's easy for us sometimes to think,"Oh no, why shouldI earn money, I don't really need anything anymore." It'sa very easy way out. But when we come to think about it, if westill live in this world, many people depend on us, our family,our children, our parents, relatives, and friends. Sometimes theyneed our help. If we are not in a position to help them, who will?Because only very rarely do people in this world want to helpthe poor and needy.
Truly the people in this world very rarelywould give anything, even in ordinary circumstances. So that isthe way of working of the negative power, to make the people becomegreedy and grasping. Whatever they have is mine, mine, mine. Theynever let go. Even when they have more than enough, more thanthey can ever count, more than they can ever recognize how muchthey have, they still want more. No one else can have it. Therefore,if the so-called good persons, positive people, like the practitionersof moral standards, the practitioners of the Way, the Tao, theTruth, don't have money, who will help those needy people? That'sit. That's the difference. That's why we need to earn money andmake good business. Not because we need it but because in thisworld we can make use of this useful equipment, money, power orpolitical standpoint, then we can help the people.
Make The Best Use Of Power To WorkFor God For example, if I am a president of the UnitedStates -- if, huh? (Laughter)-- then I would have taken in allthe refugees a long time ago. The Au Lac people, the Cubans, theHaitians, the Chechnyans and the Bosnians, whatever. Then I wouldtell my people how to take care of them. I would tell you.(Applause)You would. Even if each one of us just take one of or two persons,that'd be fine and we'd take care in no time. It's just becausewe are not allowed to do that even. We don't mind any of us, anycountry, all of us, the practitioners, my fellow practitioners.I believe all of you, if I'd say one word, "Please take careof this person or this family," everyone of you in Korea,in China, in Au Lac, in Formosa, in America, in France, in England,anywhere, you would immediately do that. Is that not so? (Everyoneanswers,"Yes."). And then we'd have no problem, really.Instead of feeding them in the camps, we would give them the moneyto start their businesses or training and then they'd be on theirfeet in no time. Later they'd help other refugees. Then the worldwould have no more problems, right? Yes, really no problem.
That's one issue, the refugees. Another issueis abortion. We don't have to kill babies. I have written to theUnited Nations and other countries and said that we don't haveto do that. We can create a special social care system, let thesechildren be born and then give them to those who have no child.At the moment, there are so many difficulties in adoption, somuch red tape and bureaucracy. Many childless couples long tohave children, not one but two, three, four adoptions; and anyrace, they like it. So why are we killing this rare species?
I think as long as we go on like this, we arekilling ourselves. Later it's we, the human species, who becomea rare species that must be protected. Now birds, many junglecreatures like lions, tigers already have become rare species.Later, human beings will become even rarer, because now no onecan have two children, for example, in many countries. It's forbiddento have more than one child or more than two children, etc. Andany other children have to be wasted. Kill them. This doesn'thave to be, right! We can just exchange. You don't have children,I have too many, you take some. Very easy. Why not? That's twoissues. Now, at the moment the world's two worst issues are refugeesand abortion. I think it's very easy.
Suppose I am the president of some powerfulcountry. I just want to tell you one example like that so thatyou know that social power and financial power are not to be renounced,as long as you live in this world. Not because we want them. Justbecause we don't want them, we have to have them. If we give thesepowers to the people who want them, they always abuse them. Justbecause they want them so much, they will always abuse them wheneverthey get them. Just because we don't want them, so we can usethem in a very fair, peaceful, and useful manner for the wholeworld. You understand what I mean?
So, the problem is that many of the so-calledpractitioners, they like to renounce. It's the easy way out. Likefor me, it's also easy not to have to teach people or not to haveto receive you here, having problems, etc. I do know. What shallI do? I don't always take the easy way out. You see what I mean?For example, I'm your teacher. I don't have to work. No, I don't.I don't really because I don't eat that much. So, wherever I wantto go, I say, "Look, if you want to invite me, give me aticket, give me a hotel, give me this and that." You'd doit immediately, right? (Audience: "Yes!")
Master Sets A Good Example PracticingWhat She Teaches Well, I don't take that easy and cheap wayout, I do it myself. I earn my own money and I do it myself. Whateverreally, really, truly I need, then I ask you, but just small things.For example, like a disaster somewhere. "Please go and checkfor me because I'm in another country now, I cannot go there.Go and have a look and if there is anything we can do, alright.Or if you can help them, help them. Or if you don't have enoughfinances or manpower, we will help you." It's always likethat, right? It's actually asking you to help yourselves, to helpyour people, also to demonstrate your loving power and the wisdomthat you have acquired through your daily meditation. That isall I ever ask of you.
I never ask you to do anything for myself,even though I could do that anytime. Is that not so? So, whateverI do, it's just like a teaching for you. I don't always tell you,"You do this, do that." You just look at my actionsand that's enough lessons already. There's no need to teach youanything really. It's just because you come here now and againso you expect me to tell you things, talk to you about stories,and explain to you this and that. But actually, you don't needto ask me to say anything. I don't even need to tell you anything.Everything I do is just what I teach you. Everything I teach you,I do.
It's very easy to say, "Oh, I'm a master.Why do I have to do work? I don't touch money. I'm pure. I'm aboveall things. I never touch money -- let it contaminate me or polluteme." I can do that. All excuses are welcome. Most of theso-called gurus mesmerize the whole congregation of their so-calleddisciples, and tell them whatever they want, and they do anything.But I don't do that.
Whatever I teach you is really good and pure,and good for you, good for the society. And whatever I do is whatI teach. What I teach I do, right? (Audience answers: "Yes.")I just want to tell you that even I myself can have it easy. Idon't. Just because I believe that I must have the power and thefinance to help the world, not to take the power and finance ofthe world for myself. I have to give them the power and the financethey need, not that I take the power and the finance from them,for my own personal benefit and glory. So in that case, I workfor my ideals and beliefs. That's why I also ask you to do thesame, if you can and if you want to. Only if you want to, becauseI believe there is logic; but of course you don't have to do anything.If you believe the same ideal and you think it's logical thenyou do it. I just want to explain to you why, why we cannot shunmoney, why we cannot despise political positions, because theyare good tools, they are good instruments to work for God, towork for the betterment of the world at large. Understand now.
Many people think because I'm a Master, whydo I still make money and all this? Of course, I know they saythat, but because they're ignorant, because they're stupid. Otherwise,they can see why I do it. I don't have to. If I were to take justone hundred dollars from each of you, I'd become a billionairein one day. No problem. I don't have to work. So, because I amnot a materialist, because I don't care for position and money,that's why I work. Not the opposite. If it were the opposite,if I cared for position and money, I'd always control you. I'dmake each of you give me some money every month. Everyone wouldbe willing to do it, is that not so? (Audience answers: "Yes.")You'd give more than that, not just $100. Even if I took one dollarfrom each person, that's all, from all my followers, in one dayI'd collect millions of dollars, understand or not? One day only.And everyday everyone would give me one dollar only. What wouldI have? Do you know?
Okay. Now. If anyone asks you why I make money,you already know why. Just because it's the right thing to do.It's the correct way to live our life honestly, earning our moneywith the sweat and labor of our own talent and our own endeavor.We put our labor, our talent, our work, our time into the productionand then we can earn the money and then we can give it away. IfI really want money, oh, this is the stupid way to do. This isa stupid way for a Master who has millions of followers, to goand paint a picture for many days and blind Her eyes with oilcolors or to cut materials to make clothes and then go all overthe world to advertise in such a stupid way. You know what I mean?It's a stupid way. Most of the masters in the world never work.They don't have to, only me. I'm the most stupid one.
So, truly, if they think I am materialisticand want money and position, they're stupid. The people who thinklike that really misunderstand very, very, badly. Is that notso? Just in Formosa would be enough. I want everyone to give meone day one dollar. Formosa would be enough, I don't need allyou foreigners. I don't. I can buy hundreds of Rolls-Royces. Icould build a paradise for myself anywhere I want in no time.I can buy, no need to build, building takes too long. Who doesthat? Masters don't build houses. Can not touch these materialthings, right? I don't even need to touch money, just tell thedisciples buy me a house or buy me a palace over there. Immediately,it would be done. No need to stay in Formosa, in Sweden, in Switzerland,in France. Any castle I fancy, I'd have it right away. Is thatnot so? Don't have to talk about foreign disciples, Formosa'senough, for example, yeah!
Soit is stupid that I go and try to make moneythis way and then people think I will make money from you. Thisis a stupid way. If I'd try to make money from you then I'd justput it here. I don't have to go around the world like that, doingall kinds of things. So, now you know. If you still have any doubtsin your minds, cut them out. It's no good for you, it will makecancer inside, a lump. It's very, very bad for your health, foryour spiritual health.
The world is upside down. All the masters whodon't work, who don't do anything, their disciples just offerto them anything and they praise them, "Oh, holy, holy, holyman. Never touch money, no material, nothing." It's not true.It could be. But this is just one of the ways, it's not the onlyway. It's not all the masters who like to do that. It's not allthe people who don't touch money, who just sit there and let peoplefeed them, who are holy. It's not that way. But actually, I thinkI'm doing the things a little bit stupid in people's eyes, becauseall the masters don't do that. The disciples feed them enough,really. Why do they have to work and do anything. But I want togive you a good example of all perfection development. You don'tonly develop a moral standard and wisdom but you also make useof that moral standard and wisdom in daily life. Express it.
Use Your Talents To Beautify TheWorld If you have talent and wisdom, then you cando all things. You have to beautify the world and make money foryourself. Take care of your own living so you don't burden otherpeople. And if you have really good moral standards, then of courseyou have compassion and love for all the needy and desperate beings.And of course, you would lend a helping hand to anyone, regardlessof race, color, creed, beliefs, and religious system, even yourown enemies. So, that's how we know. That's how other people knowthat we truly have wisdom and moral standards. Otherwise, howdo they know? And how do they teach themselves? You tell everyoneto do good things, to have wisdom, and then you yourself don'tshow anything.
Just like an English teacher. If you neverspeak English, you never write English, and you keep telling allthe students, "You must yourself speak English. From today,whenever you see me that is when you learn from me. And then youjust speak English by yourself because everyone knows how to speakEnglish." But the teacher never shows any examples, neverspeaks even ABC, never writes down any English words, never speaksany words. So how do the students know that he is an English teacherat all. Maybe he's even deaf and dumb -- can't speak anything.Maybe he can not even read nor write. So, a teacher is not onlyas good as his word but must be as good as his actions. Is thatnot so?
At least you understand me. Many of the peoplein the world they don't know. They think the opposite. If I sithere pretty and you all come with flowers, food, everything aroundme, and bow to me really flat on the floor, things like that,then I am a holy person. Because I don't do anything, I don'ttouch money, that's when I am holy. Really useless holy, yes.(Laughter) And the people who strive to do good for the world,with their own hands and efforts and work hard for it, then manypeople scold or criticize them, thinking they are materialisticand they want power and things like that. Power, I have enoughalready. Materials I could have anytime; don't say one day. Justone hour, one minute is enough. Just the time for people to taketo put the money in, that's all. Each person one dollar I haveenough to live my many lifetimes of reincarnations. Not only onelife. I put money in the Swiss bank and then when I reincarnateagain as the next Tulku (a high Tibetan lama), living Buddha,Rinpoche (another Tebitan term for a high lama), whatever, (laughter)I know where my money is. Other reincarnated lamas supposedlyknow their last lives, so they know everything that belongs tothem from the umbrella to the beads. They are supposed to, no?You know, huh? Okay. It's very nice that I just put money in theSwiss bank, and if I remember that account number, it will helpme a lot. (Laughter)
Don't Let The Negative Power ControlsYou We must work. God has sent us here with equalopportunity, power and talent. So, if we don't grasp the financesand the power from the world then all the negativity will graspit. We are under their control. The negative power wins, and thenwe can't do anything, we can't complain and say that God doesn'thelp us. God does, God sends us here, sends you here and evengives you opportunity to study like everyone else, the same asthe negative power. This is just like a competition, you knowwhat I mean? Both have opportunity, talent, and ability to takethe same thing.
So, if you renounce it, of course, then thenegative power will take it. They said, "Sorry, we don'twant it." And then in this world, if we have no power, nomoney, what will we become? Beggars, of course. That everyonecan be, but mind you, nowadays, even beggars cannot survive. Manygovernments don't like beggars, you see, even if you want to beg.If you renounce everything that doesn't mean you are safe. Yougot it. Many put beggars in a home and you are not free to doanything that you want. You can't have this and you can't havethat and you have to do many things not according to your will.And in the home you must eat meat and you cannot eat vegetarian,etc., etc. So, what do you do?
So, it's not that you renounce everything thenthe negative power will leave you alone or will give you peace.It's not true. Fight. You have no choice really. Take away yourwrong conception about money and fame. What you should detachis the attachment for power and fame, not to be detached frommoney and fame. You know what I mean? The desire for it, that'swhat you should renounce, not the money and the fame, just thedesire. Now so many people who practice spiritually have thiswrong conception. So now you should not have this kind of wrongconception any longer since I have already taught you and showedyou why logically. Not that I force you to believe me talkingnonsense, but it's really logical. Is that not so? Okay. Now youknow.
Renounce The Desire Not The WorldItself So, don't laugh at our brothers and sisterswho are in Parliament or who are in Congress. They are doing theirjobs. They're doing fine. Many of our brothers and sisters arein high political positions, as well as very famous and successfulbusinessmen. I never tell them to get out of them. If they getout, I even say,"Why, are you crazy?" Yeah! Some ofour brothers and sisters, just after initiation, renounce. Don'tbecome Congressmen anymore, don't run anymore, and don't do anything.I say,"What do you want to do now? I don't need such a uselessperson around me. I have too many already. (Laughter)
We renounce the desire for the world, not renouncethe world itself. Because the world is a part of us, a part ofour relatives and friends, brothers and sisters, so we can't renouncethe world. That is the wrong word. We renounce the desire foranything in this world, that's all we must renounce. Then youdo anything you want. Earn as much money as you can, be in ashigh a position as possible, and use your power and finance tohelp the needy people. That's the right thing to do.
