I still never am used to people. I told you already I was very shy and I’m afraid to see the public. In India, I always hid myself. Even when I wasn’t a Master yet, people took notice of me. Maybe because I was the only Oriental there, or maybe I looked “weird” I don’t know. Looked like E.T. or something. Yeah. I always attract attention since I was a child, I’m very shy, very shy. That’s why I don’t want to see people. So I guess I just have to get used to the crowd. But even then, it’s not always my desire. I just do it, that’s all. I control my feelings and emotions, that’s all. But it’s not that I truly, very much like to always be in the crowd.
Why do we talk about this? Oh yes, yes. So, for example, this weekend, before the weekend. I said, “OK, everyone can come and stay. We’ll make the house empty for you.” But when people start to come and then the door starts to scream and the trees start to be cut down and all that, and I start to feel trouble. That it’s too many, crowded and people expect to see me every day. And then I start to... Oh, I said to the monk, “OK, can you tell them to go now? Go out and come back on the weekend.” And then afterward I said, “Oh no, we cannot do that. It’s too much trouble for the people to go and come back again.” I said, “OK, let me be patient for a while.” So I told him, “OK, let them stay until the weekend.” And then I told myself, “OK, it’s only the weekend, and then you’ll run away. Don’t worry about it. You will quit forever.” I told myself. That’s how I lived over this weekend. That’s how I over-lived it. And then this morning I wanted to run away again. And I said, “Never mind, just one last morning.” And then I’m going to tell them to book the ticket immediately, tonight. That’s how I talked to myself in bed this morning.
Because sometimes it weighs you down, hearing the problems of the people, which are hopeless sometimes. And the world is full of suffering. Everywhere you turn, everything you hear is just suffering, suffering. And you feel frustrated. Standing by. And don’t know how to help for the fastest relief. Of course, if you tell them to meditate, eat vegan, keep discipline, then the things will U-turn, will take a better turn. But they don’t have the patience to wait. And I don’t have the patience sometimes to see them suffer in the mean time. And then I thought, “Oh, can I really help people at all? Is it really helpful, what I told you, or not? Is my presence really necessary?” I asked myself, “Whether it is successful?” (It’s successful. Very successful, my Master.) It helps you? (Yes.) (It helps a lot.)
(And I was hearing about You 25 years ago. Would You like me to talk, Master?) You heard about me (Yes.) 25 years ago? (You coming. Your coming.) I wasn’t here. (No, I was... when I was a kid, I was hearing about Your coming. Would You like me to talk?) OK, if you want to. You don’t need to, but you can. (I will do my best to talk in English, but it’s better that I talk in Aulacese [Vietnamese].) Alright, you talk in Aulacese (Vietnamese), and he will translate. Try to translate. (Yes.) You speak Aulacese (Vietnamese). (Yes, Master.) Make it short, precise.
(Yes. In 1945, when the whole world was at peace, suddenly Âu Lạc [Vietnam] began to experience war.) OK, slow. Slow. (Yes.) He has to translate. (In 1945, when Âu Lạc [Vietnam] was at war… A prophet spoke of the birth of a living Buddha. This living Buddha would harmonize Catholicism and Buddhism.) (Some fortune teller told me of the beginning of a Living Buddha. The Buddha will come to make a compromise between the Christians and the Buddhists.) No. Different religions, not only Christians and Buddhists. (Yes, mostly like that. That means there were all kinds, but mainly the two – those two major religions at the time that were present in our country and in the world. Master, besides that, he also predicted many things that now...) You talk short, so he can translate. (Those two were the two biggest religions in Âu Lạc [Vietnam] at the time, and he [the seer] also said many other things.)
(Master, he also predicted many things that haven’t yet been published or come true. We’ll have a chance to talk about them later. Right now, I’d just like to present one thing: for a long time, we’ve been searching, searching, searching continuously. Master, recently, Supreme Master Ching Hai showed me a very strange path. I’d like to present it to you, and perhaps...) (And I’ve been looking for a long time. And recently, the Buddha, Master Ching Hai, inside me has told me something.) (I humbly ask permission. Recently, I went searching for the place that the prophet spoke of, where the birth of that living Buddha was foretold.) (I’ve been looking for the place where the living Buddha was born.)
(Master, The Supreme Master Ching Hai has taught me that all things came from the [inner Heavenly] Sound and [inner Heavenly] Light.) (The Supreme Master Ching Hai inside me has taught me that everything came from [inner Heavenly] Light and [inner Heavenly] Sound.) (Master, since 1945, I have heard those Melodies – that is, those [inner Heavenly] Sounds.) (Since 1945, I heard the [inner Heavenly] Sound.) (Respected Master, not only I, but many others have also heard those Sounds, that Music. With Your permission, I’d like to clarify it even more.) (Not only me, a lot of people also heard that musical Sound. I’d like to describe it more in detail.)
(Respected Master, during the French colonial period, students in Hanoi managed to create some melodies. Unexpectedly, those melodies have lasted and are still around to this day.) (The students in Hanoi made a song and even now, that song is still popular.) (Yes, respected Master, if You allow, I would like to present it gradually. If there is any shortcoming, I humbly ask for Your understanding and forgiveness.) (I’d like to explain it little by little. And if I make any mistake, please forgive me.)
(Master, that song begins in French, composed to the melody of musician Lưu Hữu Phước. With Your permission, I will sing that song in French, and everyone will see that it is not unfamiliar to the people of Âu Lạc [Vietnam].) (That song was created by the musician Lưu Hữu Phước in French. And I’d like to start in French.) (If Master permits, and fellow practitioners also allow, I respectfully ask for permission to sing it right here.) (If You will allow me and if the other initiates allow me, I would like to sing that song.)
(Master, in one more year, I will be 70 years old. But thanks to Your Blessing, I have been rejuvenated.) (In a year, I’ll be 70 years old. But thanks to Your Blessing, I have become a child again.) (And so, I respectfully ask permission to sing. If there is any shortcoming, I ask Master and fellow practitioners for your understanding.) (I would like to sing and if I have any mistake, please forgive me.) (I humbly begin.
Oh students! From the ground the tenacious call Pressing and strong, echoes in space. From the ports of Nam Quang To the slopes of Cang Mù, from the ruins of Angkor, To the coast of Annam, a voice rises joyfully: To serve the dear Fatherland! Always beyond reproach and without fear To make the future better. Joy, fervor, youth Are full of steadfast promises. Students of Indochina. To serve and to discipline, It is our goal, it is our law, And nothing shakes our faith!
I respectfully ask Master for permission to thank the fellow practitioners who cheered for my humble and drizzly voice. Master, that melody – I’m sure the fellow practitioners here recognize it as the tune of our national anthem. At that time, Master, the student brothers translated that song into the Âu Lạc [Vietnamese] language.) (I thank You for Your appreciation for my voice, that sounds like a rusted pipe. Since 1945, the students have translated it into Aulacese [Vietnamese].) (Yes, Master, the very first song was “Tiếng Gọi Sinh Viên [The Call to Students.”
Oh students! Rise up and answer the call of the nation, With one heart, let’s go, go, go to pave a new path. For the homeland of old, never forget through thousands of years. Brothers from North and South, let us unite together. Our youthful spirit, pure like a shining mirror.
Yes, that’s the end, Master. I’d like to share with You that the students made that song their own – they turned it into what’s known as the “March of the Youth (Thanh Niên Hành Khúc).” They simply changed the word “youth” to “student,” and thus it became the “Student March.”) (That song was called “The Calling of the Students.” And then later, the students had changed the word “student” into “citizens.”) (No, no, it was “youth.” It started as “students,” then was changed to “youth.”) (Yes, the youngsters.) (Yes.)
(I also sincerely share with You, Master, that I’ve never known anything about musical notes. But the other day, I somehow managed to compose a song – thanks to the suggestion of a fellow brother here. A fellow brother whose name I’ve forgotten, but he told me, “Just create whatever you can, just do it.” So it was through his encouragement that I did it. And I sent You the tape yesterday, Master. If You allow, I would also like to ask permission to sing it here for the fellow practitioners to hear.) (And I didn’t know any) (Note, music note.) (musical note. I didn’t know anything about music, but one monk here has advised me, “Whatever you can do, just do it.” And I tried to write a song. And I gave a gift in a tape to You yesterday. If You will allow me, I would like to sing it.)
(I respectfully dedicate this song to Master and lovingly offer it to all my fellow practitioners – who now are dearer to me than anyone else in this world, even more than my own blood relatives. The song goes as follows: Oh, fellow practitioners, we have received the Transmission of the Inner Light and Sound, With one heart we follow the Master, Who leads and guides us in the Dharma. Long ago, the World-Honored One left His palace to save the people. Today, our nation’s people – millions – have gone abroad. So that the people of the world Can understand the Truth, And how karma and evil deeds prolong suffering. Making it hard for sentient beings to evolve. Liberation – we vow to move forward, to follow in the Master’s footsteps, To bring all beings up to Heaven. Oh Master, I will be vegan for life. Oh Master, I will meditate on the Inner Sound and Light every day. Diligently seeking liberation, cultivating my Buddha Nature, So that one day I may be worthy of ascending to Nirvana.)
Photo Caption: God Takes Loving Care of Any Blade of Grass, Every Leaf of the Trees!
