You May Not Know

A person asked a Zen master, "Killing one's parents is the greatest sin. Suppose a person has killed his parents. Could his karma be eliminated by repenting to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas?" He continued to say, "However, if he killed the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, then he would have no place to repent!"

The Zen master answered, "Yes! Exactly!"

Do you think this is correct? (A: Yes!) Because of ignorance, we slay our own Buddha, not allowing Him to live, not giving Him the opportunity to use His almighty power, and depriving ourselves of something to rely on. This is our ignorance.

Therefore, not practicing the Quan Yin Method, and not knowing our Buddha's power, are the greatest sins. There is no way to save us then! (Master laughs.) Even if we have killed an enlightened master, we can still be saved because we can find another master! (Master laughs.) Killing our Buddha nature, killing our rights, our almighty power and greatest position are the greatest sins. Understand? (A: Understand) Therefore, whether a person, due to ignorance, refuses to learn to realize the God within, or due to ego, refuses to learn to realize his own wisdom, both are bad; both are the gravest ignorance.

Even after we have practiced, we still have to mind our ego. If, in doing anything, we think that we are doing it, instead of the almighty power of the universe or the power of the Supreme Master doing it, then we will be in a trouble! It is because we have confined ourselves in our own personal room, and stopped ourselves from being unified with the great harmonious universe. Naturally, we will be very lonely and weak in power. Such a slight fault in concept could make a great difference, so we say everything is created by the mind.

Our concept must be correct. If a person has intense longing in seeking his inner self, understands a lot of the teachings, and is good in spiritual practice, then this person is not bad. If a person comes because of superstition, he doesn't understand the teachings, then perhaps his cultivation would not be very fast. Later, when he listens to someone who is good at debating, he will be pulled away easily. It is because his foundation is not firm.

Therefore, Bodhidharma said that there are two doors: One enters from teachings, the other enters from action -- which means meditation. One is using the teachings, while the other is understanding the teachings. One must first understand the teachings before he can use them. It is still not a high level by just meditating blindly everyday and believing in the Master's power. So, some people will fail when they are tested! If we have a very correct concept and understand the teachings very well, we definitely will not fail. It is because we know why we believe. Understand? (A: Understand!)

Our mind is not an insignificant matter. It has created the three realms. It is difficult for you to ask it to keep quiet. The mind needs to understand, so we have to practice! Otherwise, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas might as well use their magical powers, then everyone just unknowingly goes to the Western Paradise, taking along their kittens, puppies and children. Then there is no need for all this suffering. Since the three realms have already been created, we must eliminate them ourselves. But with what? They can only be eliminated with the power of realization, of enlightenment. To destroy them doesn't mean incinerate them with fire. No (laughter), but by our inner realization.

In the original form, the three realms don't exist and have no attraction. It doesn't matter whether they exist or not, as long as they have no attraction to us! For instance, we may be watching television, but we have lots of things on our mind, so we don't know what the television program is talking about though we are watching it. Later, when someone asks you how is the drama, you would wake up and say, "Oh! I was not watching just now!" (Laughter) Sitting in front of the television but not seeing anything -- that happens to us sometimes. Right? (A: Yes!) Similarly, all within the three realms was created by ourselves. The method to destroy them now is by ignoring them. We know they don't mean anything, and there are better things. (Applause)

Talk about my disciples! Some of my disciples follow me really faithfully; they are more intelligent. Asides, from our experiences, disciples who have good inner visions would follow to the end. They overcome any test. I can have hair or shave it, I can wear jeans or other clothing...they simply follow. They understand from within, not depending on my words and teachings. They receive my teachings directly from within. Disciples having better inner experiences are more loyal to me. They are so relaxed and happy. In spite of how I treat them, scold them, love them, give them plenty of things or nothing, they still follow. They understand from inside that Master is teaching them the correct things.

The ordinary or moderate disciples may lack a deep foundation from their practice in previous lives. They came back, but their habits have not been rectified. They don't research deeply. They don't really want to understand or be diligent. After I have taught them, they only meditate occasionally. They meditate when they are tired or in distress.

Normally they don't. They hardly think of Master. When they are in trouble, they pray to the Quan Yin Bodhisattva or the Amitabha Buddha. If nothing else works, they would try praying to me. (Master laughs.) If this works, they may continue to practice. In case there is no response, or the response is not up to their expectation of receiving a million dollars immediately, they would stop practicing. (Laughter)

The lowest disciples are those who lack wisdom, and do not have many inner visions. Perhaps before they got the initiation, they would even laugh and leave when they heard someone preaching this Truth; they wouldn't believe. When Sakyamuni Buddha was alive, also five thousand people once left His preaching lecture.

It is not the real Truth if no one laughs at it. Why do they laugh? Because they have never heard of such a theory. So, except those who have great wisdom, ordinary people would leave laughing. This is simple and reasonable.