(“Respected Master, I am very interested in Your spiritual teachings. How could I acquire some of Your books in Spanish here in Costa Rica? Thank You for Your response.”)
(His question is, “I’m very interested in Master’s teachings, but because of the language barrier, may I ask where I can find Master’s publications in Spanish in Costa Rica?”) They’re not published yet, but they will be in future. We have English publications. (We haven’t yet prepared a Spanish edition. We have books in English, but we’ll translate them into Spanish later.) But here we have disciples who can speak Spanish. I have audio tapes and books published in Chinese. When you go to group meditation, they will explain each of them to you. Then it’s the same. (Thank You.)
(“Master, initiates cannot take in things that are harmful to us spiritually. What about music or artistic activities – do they violate the precepts?”) No. But you should listen to more refined music, like classical. Don’t listen to the low kinds of music — those that drag us down. That kind of music is best avoided. They can pull us lower. For example, sometimes we hear songs where they cry and make noises, saying, “I love you, how can you leave me?” – that kind. Don’t we also shed tears? We also feel miserable and sorrowful. So if we listen to music, we should choose the more elegant kind, the kind that uplifts our spirit. Then it’s fine.
(“Master, when we boil water, there are microorganisms and bacteria. They also have life. Would this be considered a sin?”) Yes, but can you completely stop drinking and eating? You can’t. That’s why I said just being kind or keeping precepts is not enough. Because we can never keep the precepts absolutely. This is a world where beings have to kill each other in order to survive. That’s why I tell you about this Quan Yin Method. Because it can cleanse the guilt, the everyday karma that’s unavoidable, so that we can go Home freely.
(“Master, in vegan food there are vegan chicken, vegan duck, and vegan fish. After eating those, will there also be karma?”) No, no. no. Those are for beginners, new to the vegan diet, to give them some psychological comfort, so they don’t miss (animal-people) meat and fish(-people) too much. But as we progress in spiritual practice, we just eat whatever is available. We also shouldn’t make vegan food into the shapes of fish- or chicken-, or pig(-people). However, we can make them for others to eat, or sell them to others, to playfully “trick” them into eating vegan food. That’s also good.
(“Master, in what sense, or to what extent should we respect the principle of non-killing? Should we refrain even from killing an insect that could harm us?”) (“Master, in what kind of situations should we follow the non-killing precept? Should we even avoid killing the insects?”)
OK. As to insects, we have to take good care of our environment and hygiene, so that insects do not breed as much, then we don’t have to kill so many. However, for farmers, sometimes it’s unavoidable to use insecticides. Of course, there will be karma. But it’s unavoidable. That’s why we should practice the Quan Yin Method, in order to cleanse the unavoidable karma.
(“Master, when someone causes us physical and mental suffering, repeatedly harming us in daily life, and we silently endure without opposition, without resisting, is it a form of moral cultivation and spiritual practice? Or is there another way to approach the so-called personal moral cultivation and the practice of spiritual discipline?”) It’s very good. It’s good to endure. It’s possible that in our previous lives, we insulted him, threatened him, or slandered him. So now he comes back to scold us. So, we should endure. Sometimes it’s our own karma, from past lives. That person may not be truly wicked. So, yes — it is right to endure humiliation.
(Master.) (“Master, how can I know when it is the right time for me to take the monastic robes?”) (What he means is, “Master, could You tell me when I can become a monk?”) Whenever you want, you can become a monk. (You can take the monastic robes [become a monk] whenever you want.)
It depends on whether your parents are against it. If you’re married, does your family have financial problems? Do they agree to it? Then it’s OK. Why did he ask in Spanish? Is he Spanish? (Yes.) Who is it that wants to be a monk? (Who is interested in taking the monastic robes [becoming a monk]? Please stand.) (Thank You.)
He hasn’t become a monk yet. Why are you clapping? (You haven’t even put on the monastic robes yet, and you’re already getting applause.) This will only make his ego grow big and hinder him. Are you married? No? Then will your parents agree? (Do you have problems with your family or father?) No, then no problem. (Then, welcome.)
Tonight, you can become a monk. You want to be a Catholic priest or a Buddhist monk? (Are you Catholic or…) Do you want to be a Buddhist monk, or a Catholic priest? (Buddhist.) Buddhist. Welcome!
You can come with us. No problem. You can come to our place. Back in Taiwan (Formosa), I have more than sixty monks and nuns – about half of them are male, and the other half are female. Or, do you want to become a renunciate under someone else? (You speak English. No English.) Let him talk. Then you listen to the translation. (Sorry.) (I speak Spanish, not English. I don’t speak English.) No problem. I will have a disciple translate for you. (I’ll translate for you.) In Taiwan (Formosa) we have Spanish-speaking disciples. (In Taiwan [Formosa], we have disciples who speak Spanish. Don’t worry. Maybe...) Here also. (I can help you.) You can speak. No need for a microphone. Just speak like that. What does he want to say?
Don’t laugh at him. He might think you’re laughing at him, not in a good way. No, no, no. Yes. He’s very sincere. (I need a Spanish- Chinese interpreter. Yes.) Yes.
(Mother, I’d like to tell You that I’ve waited a long time for this moment.) (Dear Master, I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time. I’ve been waiting for You for a long time.) How did you come to know about me? Have you been waiting for me for a long time? (How do you know that you’ve been waiting a long time for Master?)
Why? (Why?) (Since I was a child, I’ve been trying to explore and search for spiritual things.) (Ever since my childhood, I’ve been seeking spiritual things.) I know. (I’ve seen the reality of life, and that the world passes by very quickly.) (I think that in this Saha world [world of endurance], everything is just fleeting; all will vanish very quickly.) Impermanent, yes. (Everything is impermanent.) Yeah, yeah. (That’s why I believe and I’m sure, that the only thing that matters is attaining enlightenment. Everything else is garbage.) (I think the most important thing is enlightenment, to find a Master who can teach enlightenment. This kind of enlightenment surpasses everything in the world, which is like garbage. Because nothing is more important than enlightenment.) Yes!
(I recognize that I am a sinner and have committed many mistakes.) (I often feel that I’ve made many mistakes.) (But deep down inside me…) (Deep in my heart…) (I feel that my path is the path of the spiritual life.) (Nevertheless, deep in my heart I often feel that the path that I am pursuing, on my spiritual journey, is one where I’ve always been searching for something that I truly need.)
(I know that You, as a Mother, can see whether I am fit or unfit to follow the spiritual life, and I humbly await Your response and acceptance.) (Very well.) (He said that Master is like the Holy Mother. He would like to ask: Should he receive initiation from Master now? Has the time come for him? He asks Master to please kindly and compassionately answer him.) Yes. (I have decided to give up everything. To give up everything, no matter what I have to leave behind.) (I’m ready to give up everything to follow Master, if You will grant me initiation.) Certainly. (I hope my time has come, and if not, I will wait with great faith.) (He said, whatever Your answer may be, he’ll be happy. He doesn’t care whether it’s the right time or not. He just wants initiation from Master. Is that alright?) Alright! (You will be welcome.)
Whether it’s the right time or not depends on our heart. God doesn’t force us. Hes only shows the way. If we want, Hes guides us. If not, we stay here. Regarding his wish to become a monk, the path of a monk is a long one. I’m very touched to see a young man aspiring to become a renunciate — even if it’s only for one second, one minute, or one hour, it’s a tremendous merit. (The path to adopting [renunciate] habits is a long one. I’m very moved by your decision, and I want to congratulate you.) You can try. (You can try to see if it works.) You can try.
I have many monks. (We have many male disciples [monks].) They’ll welcome you and accompany you. We’ll teach you Chinese without any condition. No need for any money, education, or talent. Becoming a monk means dedicating our body, speech, and mind to God. To Buddha, yes. We will accompany you and help you. Tong, representing all the monks in Taiwan (Formosa), will welcome him. (Welcome.)
He said, “Welcome.” He represents all the male monks in Taiwan (Formosa). (Tong.) (So he is a representative, a disciple of mine…) (It just happens that this time we’ve brought new clothes.) Oh! (To welcome you, I bring a new cloak for you.) OK. He can become a monk after initiation.
Yes, yes. OK. And we’ll make a nice celebration, and everybody is welcome to come – eat fruits, pray, and meditate. Yeah! Everyone is welcome to come. Please speak louder. We’ll have a celebration. Everyone is invited – to enjoy fruits and vegan food, and join meditation and prayer. Yes. Both initiates and non-initiates are welcome. But you’ll need to leave your address, so we can let you know the time.
Photo Caption: All Beings Depend on Each Other to Exist. It’s Natural to Love All.
