OK, can we meditate now? There’s no time to remember how many kids each person has. Remembering all this is exhausting! It’s all just worldly matters. Alright then, everyone go home and stay well, OK! We’ll see you again next time. We’ll definitely meet again. Did any of you feel tired coming here? (No.) No? (I pray that the Supreme Buddhas and the Supreme God bless Master to travel the world and save sentient beings. I also pray the Buddhas... to bless the land of Âu Lạc [Vietnam].) Thank you. (You’re welcome.)
No problem. I have no problem. I am fine, really – nothing at all. (Yes.) There’s no problem at all. Just seems like today I’m a bit sleepy, that’s all. (Yes.) (Look at Master’s eyes.) Can’t even keep them open. I got up, took a shower, put on clothes and everything just to look a bit more energized – but my eyes still won’t open. (Master works too much.) It’s not just being sleepy, maybe... (Master’s tired. Maybe our karma is too heavy.) Maybe it just wants to enter samadhi, huh? I have to try pulling it back to this world. (Yes.) It doesn’t want to come back. (Yes.)
I keep thinking about the Aulacese (Vietnamese) refugees, there’s not a single day I forget. Thinking about these things really makes me a little sad. We bring money to buy them out, but they won’t let us. So many different governments – not just one. But I heard Âu Lạc (Vietnam) has eased up a bit, right? (Yes.) Seems like something has changed... Now they’ve opened up a little, right? Because they’re too poor – if they don’t listen to others, they’re doomed. But still… even if the regime changes, if the economy shifts without a change in spirit, it won’t work.
(Yes, Master, Âu Lạc [Vietnam] seems to be doing quite well these days. Yes, it seems quite comfortable. Many people don’t even want to go to America anymore, Master. People over there seem to be doing business comfortably now, unlike in the past few years.) Now they’re even pleading – Âu Lạc (Vietnam) seems to be begging foreigners to come in and work there. (Yes.) They’ve started having some interaction and exchanges, so that’s probably better. (Yes. But Master, I see that in Âu Lạc [Vietnam], people really want to practice. If they get to hear about You, they’re fascinated, they love it. From children to adults, they all really like it.) You say that, but I still can’t go back yet. (Yes.) Let’s wait till it’s stable, then I can return and pull everyone up in one swoop! You all go back first, spread the Teaching gradually so people get to know. (Yes.) I don’t need to return to Âu Lạc (Vietnam) to save the Aulacese (Vietnamese) people. (Yes.) If I return and something happens, then no one... (That’s right.) We’ll lose everything. (Yes, and we’ll be left behind, poor us.) It’s not like I am afraid of anything. (Yes, yes.)
But maybe in the future, things will loosen up a bit. (Yes.) Let’s call our country Âu Lạc, no longer call it Việt Nam. (Yes.) Vietnam just keeps “eliminating” the Southern people. (Yes.) It sounds like chanting a curse or a hex. That’s why for thousands of years there’s never been peace. (Yes.) The South keeps being wiped out – always the North invading the South, right? (Yes.) Don’t want to say “Vietnam” anymore – call it Âu Lạc. (Âu Lạc, Âu Lạc.) Âu Lạc means peaceful living and happy livelihood. (Yes.) Our country was originally called Âu Lạc. Such a beautiful name, and they keep changing it randomly and carelessly. Change to Việt Nam or Đại Việt or whatever – till now, it’s been constant destruction.
(Master, may I ask You something? For example, when we meet someone and say, “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật [Namo Amitābha Buddha],” now instead of that, we don’t need to say it, He’s gone somewhere. Now we say, “Thanh Hải Buddha [Ching Hai Buddha].” Yes, “Nam Mô Thanh Hải Buddha [Namo Ching Hai Buddha].” Is that OK, Master? It sounds better. That other Buddha is gone – disappeared. We call You as Buddha, isn’t that better? And our Master is even closer, right, Master?) Yes. (Alright then, from now on, when we meet someone, we’ll say “Thanh Hải Buddha [Ching Hai Buddha].” Because “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật [Namo Amitābha Buddha],” I don’t want to say that anymore, don’t want that, He disappeared.) But it depends on people’s freedom –we can’t force them. (Yes, Master. I mean just among fellow practitioners, Your disciples.) That’s fine. Say whatever you want – as long as it doesn’t harm anyone; if it’s beneficial, it’s OK. (Yes, yes, yes.)
(Master, can I tell one more thing? Like for example...) Time’s up! If you don’t want to leave, how can you keep talking? (Just a little bit, Master. Just a little... Like, for example, there’s a king who does charity and good deeds, he gives away things, Master. He gives, saying it brings him blessings, though he doesn’t really know. And on the other side is Master – way up on a high mountain. If anyone wants to visit Master, they go. If someone wants to visit that king, they go. Visiting the king, you get money. But visiting Master means climbing that mountain full of wild animals. If you’re lucky, the wild animals don’t eat you, and you actually reach Master – that’s good. But if you’re unlucky and the animals eat you, we’d still go visit Master, just let them eat us. Let them eat us. If they eat us and we die, we’ll go up there and Master will teach us. We’re not into money to go visit that king, right, Master?)
Who’s foolish enough to give you money? What kind of king is that dumb? Usually, we have to bring money to the king, not the other way around. Kings don’t give money to the people, it’s rare. Don’t dream. (It’s because we love Master so much that we say that. Just making an example.) I know. I know. I know. Alright, go home now. Go live with the American king who has money. (He’s not as great as our Master King.) Huh? (He’s not as great as Master King – our Buddha Master.) Master doesn’t want to be a king. Doesn’t want to be anything! Thank you for coming to visit. Today my eyes just won’t open. (Then Master should rest. You’re too tired already.) No, I don’t feel tired. Just my eyes won’t open. (Maybe Master didn’t sleep much – last night You couldn’t sleep?) I didn’t sleep until 2 or 3 AM. It’s like that every night.
Call our country Âu Lạc, it will bring peace sooner. I’ve been telling you to call it Âu Lạc for months already, right? Now the country is starting to shift a bit, more like Âu Lạc. Call it Âu Lạc, not Việt Nam anymore. Maybe it will change. Every day we keep chanting it like a curse. Because it’s Âu Lạc, it’s not supposed to be called Vietnam. Most people just say “Diệt Nam” (Eliminate the South). So it’s always “Diệt Nam,” always eliminating the South. That’s not good. Seems like it’s not auspicious or lucky. (Yes.) Let’s just call it Âu Lạc, OK? (Sounds good.) Even if others don’t accept it, it’s fine. We fellow practitioners can still call it that. (Yes.) The name Âu Lạc carries a mental image of peace and prosperity. (Yes, yes, Âu Lạc.)
Saying “Diệt Nam” is like chanting a curse. (Yes.) “Diệt Nam” all the time, our country hasn’t had peace for thousands of years. (Yes.) Every other country had at least a few hundred years of peace. Our country never had peace. If not destroyed from outside, then destroyed from within. And always from North to South, right? (Yes.) Always the North invading and eliminating the South. Even China came from the North. Alright then? We’ll call it Âu Lạc, OK? (Yes.) OK, everyone go home safely. Peace and prosperity. (Peace and prosperity.) We are descendants of dragons and fairies, we’re not afraid of anything. (Yes.) We will fly. (With Master here, we have nothing to fear.) OK. (Yes.)
Now are you back living with your husband or still separate? (I’m not back yet, Master, taking it slowly.) Still living separately? (Yes, Master, I’m still outside, but I visit my husband every week and bring the kids. Now he’s very happy, Master. Just taking it step by step.) Feeling better now? (Yes, I feel great.) You’ve changed your karma? (Yes, yes. I feel happy.) Alright, that’s good. (Yes, yes.) Harmony is good – more friends, fewer enemies. (Yes.) If we can tolerate outsiders, even more so we should be able to tolerate family, right? (Yes, thank You, Master.) Sometimes we just have to use a different method. (Yes.) If you hadn’t left before, he wouldn’t have become so peaceful. (Yes.) He used to beat the kids constantly, injuring their heads. (Yes.) Kept hitting them till they got dumb, how could they study like that? (Yes.) Right? (Yes, thank You, Master.)
Luckily you grabbed your pillow and left. Only after you left and returned did peace come. Strange, huh? (Yes.) That’s when people start respecting you. Sometimes if we bow too low and endure too much, people don’t respect us. Understand? (Yes.) It’s not about wanting to fight or break up the family. Sometimes we have to adapt to the situation. (Thank You, Master.) We have to act according to each specific case. It’s not that Master always teaches you to endure. You can’t just let people keep beating and yelling at you endlessly. (Yes.) Master’s disciples are all Bodhisattvas; you can’t just let ordinary people beat you. That would cause them to accumulate bad karma. (So true.) They take on karma for themselves. (Yes.) We must adapt to the situation. Enduring doesn’t mean sitting there, bowing your head, and obeying everything people say. (Yes.) Must be flexible to do, then it will be good. (Yes.)
Today there are some English newspapers, anyone who wants to read can go out and grab a few to take home. (Yes.) (Brother Tùng brought some back.) Oh, he brought some, huh. Alright then, everyone go home safely. (Yes.) Thank you! (Yes.) (Master, please take care of Your health.) We’re always together, there’s never really any separation. (Yes.) It’s only the physical tools and distance that separate us – not our hearts. (Yes.) (I also know that Master is always close by...) Yes, if there’s time, I’ll come visit, it’s OK.
Now let’s slowly teach and support each other. Master teaches you from within, helping your soul grow. On the outside, it’s just scolding or teaching basic moral principles. (Yes.) Just human ethics. (Yes.) But the inner Teaching is what really matters. So whether Master scolds you or loves you, praises or rewards you – that’s just outer, human moral guidance. Just practical life advice. But the inner Teaching is always about the spirit, the soul. That’s what’s eternal. (Yes.) That’s what truly matters. (Yes.) Outer issues are just practical things. Sometimes you didn’t receive full education, or weren’t taught in the right way, so Master reminds you. But outer issues, personalities, and common sense are not that important. (Yes.) Though they are still necessary so we can live peacefully together.
(Master, dear Master, I received initiation more than a year ago. In my spiritual heart, I have always revered You. Always, I long for You – long for the Supreme God, the Original Buddha, and the Buddhas of the Ten Directions to bless You with good health, strength, and well-being. Always, in my heart, I carry that wish.) Thank you. (So even though I’m far from You… There’s an old saying: “A day without seeing You feels like three years.” “One day without seeing You feels like three autumns.” That is truly how I feel from the bottom of my heart. Today, I am happy to finally say the words I’ve held back for so many years. Words to express my feeling of love – the love of a Mother. A Supreme Mother. A Master Who is not only a Spiritual Teacher, but a Living Buddha, and to me, the Supreme God – because I’ve had those inner experiences. I thank You, Master. I am grateful to You, Master.) Good for you. Good for you. Your level determines how you see Master.
Photo Caption: Bringing Wellness to the World. (That Includes Self)
