Pearls Of Wisdom

Entering The True World

Excerpts from the talk given by the Supreme Master Ching Hai
at a group meditation in Los Angeles, U.S.A.
April 4, 1993. (Originally In Au Lac Language)

Sometimes the sufferings in life make us feel tired. Only then can we give up our material desires. Otherwise, we could never be totally fed up with the world. Seeing only this world, you will not know how superior and how beautiful the inner realms are. Then how can we give this world up when we are supposed to? Do you understand? Not until this world gives us great suffering, makes us feel pressured, makes us feel heart broken, do we then start to have the desire, the question in our minds, "Is there another world that is more beautiful and lasts longer than this one?" Then the power of the universe brings us a light of hope, and lets us meet a guide, who will lead us to a more beautiful realm. Therefore, sometimes, pain and suffering are also blessings from the universe.

Sometimes it is also very good that an enlightened Master's physical body is ephemeral because if a Master lives forever, we will rely on him. Subconsciously we rely on: "Oh! If I don't see him today, I will see him tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow, then next month. If not next month, then next year. He will still be there. He won't die. What should I worry about?" Then we no longer have the desire, the sincerity to seek the inner Master, and only rely on the outside Master. So we make no progress in our spiritual practice. Do you understand? Sometimes, it is also good for you that I do not see you often.

So whatever arrangements God has made are fine. But sometimes the arrangements are not satisfactory for our mundane minds, so we say, "Oh God! If I were You, I would do it differently." And then we start to mess things up. Sometimes we blame God that Hes has made a mistake; but in fact, we do not understand the Truth. We do not know that God has done right, because we see only the outside, not the inside.

Life in this world is only a shadow cast by the true world. Therefore, only when we meditate, do we feel happy. We see that this world is without disasters; nothing can affect us, feeling that our body has disappeared. It is because we have already entered the Creator's true world which is perfect, flawless, free of pain and suffering. We experience pain and suffering because we are still in the false world. Similarly, there is Buddha's Pure-land wherever you go. That is why even when you are sitting in the bathroom, you can also see Buddha's realm appearing, and perceive that this world is the Buddha's world. This is the meaning of the saying: "When one's heart is pure, the land is pure".

If you don't practice often, or have not entered into deep samadhi or reached the majestic realms, you can only see the outside world. When we practice diligently or enter samadhi, we can see the worlds inside. We will know that the outside world is the shadow of the true world, and we can see such beautiful and wonderful realms inside. We can see the true realm just as we were sitting there. Thus, it is said, "Buddha (the Almighty power) is in our heart."

So if we are still attached to any aspect, even though no one blames or scolds us, we should know that our levels are not high yet. We have to know ourselves, reflect upon ourselves, make progress, and cut off our shortcomings. That is all! We need to know that we must become our own enlightened Master. Except ourselves, no one is our Master.