setGOOD EXAMPLEWe can change our world. We can save ourworld, instead of killing others for our own survival. We shouldrebuild our way of life - live a moral life, be a vegetarian,cultivate ourself mentally and physically; and there will be immediateresults. Our world will be changed at once if everyone is plantingtrees instead of cutting them down, then we would be saved verysoon. Within ten years, the world would never be the same, withoutany problem.Truly there is Hope, but only with the cooperation of everyone.
..... Wehave to set a good example for the world in every aspect, includingthe relief missions, spiritual practice, handling friendshipsand the relationship between Master and disciples. Only when absolutelynecessary, then we use stern methods. Is it not better if we cantreat each other in a refined and noble manner? The creation ofheaven should start from here!
People in high positions in particular, shouldcare more about their qualities. As an official, one should behonest and upright. A government servant must work diligentlyfor the nation, sacrifice for the well-being of her people. Spiritualpractitioners or the liaison persons for Master, etc., shouldalso mind the manner and quality in their acts and speech, sacrificefor others instead of enjoying personal comfort. Parents, theyshould take care of their children of course, make them comfortable,but not spoil them badly. Children, naturally they should be filialand obedient to their parents and elders.
The teachers should fulfil their responsibilities,provide moral and ethical lessons for the students. The basicA, B, C lessons, that everyone can teach, are not enough. Thegreatest responsibility of a teacher is to teach the childrenabout ethics, the superior qualities. This also applies to theparents. Just feeding and dressing the children are not enough.If everyone fulfills their responsibilities - the parents protecttheir children well, the children are filial - the world wouldbe in great peace, beginning with the family. Then, all the naturaldisasters and war calamities would diminish.
..... Q. Hi. I see so much destruction going on around me,environmental destruction.
M.True.
Q. Cruelty. Cruelty to animals.
M.It's true.
Q. I just wonder how You perceive this and what Youcan recommend to people who are trying to release themselves fromthis world in the spiritual fashion, to help them cope with theirsurroundings and cope with all the devastation that is going onaround them. And do You think that going beyond this world isenough for us to recognize what we are leaving behind, or do Youfeel we in this plane have a duty to try to alleviate the suffering?And will it do any good?
M.It will. It will. At least for us, for our conscience so thatwe feel we are doing something and we have tried our best to relievethe suffering of our fellow beings. I do all the same. Whateveryou ask, I am doing. I did, I do, and I will. I have told youalready, our finances are distributed to different organizations,sometimes, or different countries, when there are in disasters.And I would not like to boast much about it, but since you ask...And for example, we gave one million dollars US to Philippineslast year for their release of their... relief of their Mt. Pinatubo.And we helped the flood victims in Vietnam, and the flood victimsin China etc. And we are trying to help the Vietnamese refugeesnow to release...to.... to help with the U.N.'s burden, you understand,provided the U.N. wants us to help. But we are trying. Yes, understandnow? We help them with financial support, and also we could relocatethem if the U.N. lets it happen - with the blessing of the U.N.Understand? Yes, so we do all these things that you have requestedand also because, since we are here, you understand, we mightjust as well clean our environment as much as possible. Therefore,we help with the suffering and we help with the moral standardof the world. Yeah? Both spiritually and physically. Yes. Becausesome people don't want to take spirituality from me. They onlywant to take physical help. So we help them physically. And that'swhat we do, that's why I have to earn money. That's why I don'twant to live on people's donations. Understand? All my monks andmy disciples have to work, just like you do. And then, apart fromthat, we help spiritually also, understand, and help with thesuffering of the world, help to relieve the suffering of the world.We have to do this. Doesn't mean we sit in samadhi all day longand enjoy ourselves. That's a very selfish Buddha (enlightenedbeing). We don't want to have him here. (laughter)
