Some diseases are like that. It could come on very quickly, entering before you even realize it. Then, suddenly, you collapse and pass away. That’s how it is. Some diseases are even faster. In just a few hours, your internal organs are all ruined, and then you are dead. Or the bacteria keep eating your flesh, until you become a rotten piece of flesh, and then you die. Very fast, very painful. Some are like that. Therefore, sometimes there’s no need for war, no need for anyone to kill us. Our karma will probably destroy us very, very quickly. Then, if we encounter a good doctor but don’t trust him, of course it’d be even faster.
Since this doctor was already very famous, having revived a dead person, the duke still didn’t believe him. That’s why it’s troublesome. Therefore, sometimes you ask me, “How is it that Master is so wonderful, yet people don’t believe it no matter what? Those people go back to advertise that they don’t believe.” That’s how their destiny was; they were destined to die. Just waiting to die. It’s no use telling them anything. This is a physical illness, sometimes it can still be felt, yet at other times it cannot be felt. Let alone the karmic illness, how could we possibly feel it? We have no idea when it will come, when it will trouble us, we don’t know at all. (Yes.) Like this illness, it came all of a sudden. Even the patient was unaware of it. It’s not that Duke Huan of Tian Qi was very arrogant, but because he really didn’t know. He didn’t know that he was sick.
Mostly we sentient beings are like that, don’t know what illness we have. That’s why we must wear masks in the kitchen too. We have to pull the masks up over our noses. (Yes.) Not just hanging them down here. I’ve told you before. Some people wear masks just for fun, covering only half. He just has one, just in case I pass by and see it. He has one on. (Yes, yes.) Some people hang it here. (She.) Yes? (Yes.) Thinking it’s fine as long as they wear it. We wear masks to block some of our bacteria. In case we are ill but not aware of it, we can protect thousands of people from getting the same disease. Therefore, we have to wear a mask to “kill” our nose and mouth completely. Not “die”; but “wear.” Wear it! Don’t “kill” the nose. I’m sorry. My Chinese is rather… rather poor. I spoke too much English just now. These few days, I’ve been practicing English too much, and forgot my Chinese. Then, after being with you for a while, I’d forget my English. No matter how many languages I speak, it’s never enough.
Because when we breathe, bacteria can sometimes come out. Also, when we talk, our saliva can spray out, or come out when we breathe out. Even if we do not intend to spread anything, we still could infect others. It’s just like a surgeon, completely shielded. We can breathe inside, though more difficult, of course. But if you look at the doctors, they have to wear them every day, sometimes more than ten hours. Depending on how long the surgery takes, he has to wear it the whole time. Sometimes, he just stands there, cannot walk around, because he can’t leave during the operation. If he goes away, leaving … the knives and scissors over there, go on a vacation? Take a break? Understand? (Understand.) When you are cooking, you can still turn off the fire, walk away for a while and then come back. But it’s not possible during an operation. The patient would bleed too much, and the body is exposed to air for too long; it’s dangerous, etc. And too much anesthesia… (Anesthesia.) Sedatives. (Anesthesia.) Anesthesia is not good for the body, his heart rate needs to be monitored, and so on, cannot let him lie there for too long, in a coma for too long. So sometimes, things are really tough for doctors.
We only come here once in a while, wearing a mask for a short time; what’s the big deal. Just don’t let the mask break, then it’s good. Got it? (Got it.) To prevent others from getting sick. (OK.) Of course, we’re not able to prevent too much. If it’s God’s Will, we can’t do anything. But since God has invented face masks, it means Hes wants us to wear it. Then we just use it. When we truly have done our best, and Hes still “wants” us to die of illness, then it’s our destiny, we just accept it. It’s not that bad to be liberated sooner. But some of our guests, they don’t want to die so soon. So we should refrain from being too “compassionate.” Just wear your masks. Then whoever wants to die, he will find his own way.
The story reminds us what sentient beings are like. No matter how many enlightened Masters have come, no matter how reasonable the Master’s Teachings are, no matter how logical, they just don’t listen. They just don’t listen, don’t get it. Although we feel it’s wonderful when we hear it, they are like stones when they hear it. No, no. The stones here can listen. What I mean is, just like a cement block. Because we haven’t seen the cement block nodding. For example like that. So, Duke Huan of Tian Qi probably was destined to die. That’s why even when a good doctor was there, a miracle doctor, also could not save him. He already came to his doorstep, but he refused his help. He killed himself. The doctor went there several times. Don’t know how many times. Let me count. One, two, three, four, five! (Five.) (Five times.) Five times. Five. Five times. Five times, and he still didn’t let him cure him! Yeah, you see.
Likewise, sometimes you go to a place to spread the Dharma (True Teaching) several times, spreading my teachings. You run around that place several times, and that person is standing there, but not responding. And I have lived here probably for ten years, our neighbors also don’t respond. Amazing. Both of us are amazing. I just keep on saying what I have to say, and they just keep on doing whatever they’re doing. Both of us… waiting to see who is more amazing. It’s not that the Buddha had supernatural power, and could just force people to be liberated. It’s not because a doctor has the ability that he can force the patients to be healed. So, it depends on whether we want to be saved or not. (Yes.)
You’ve been asking: “Why doesn’t Master save all sentient beings?” This is the same as asking those doctors: “Why don’t you save all patients?” Some patients don’t want to come. They won’t come and are not willing to let others save them, etc. Even when they come, they don’t want to be treated. Sometimes it’s like that. Sometimes in the hospital, he’d hit the doctor and run away. His relatives or friends brought him in, begging the doctor to operate on him and cure his illness. He hit the doctor, “liberated” himself, ran outside and died. Just like that. Sometimes his destiny was like that.
The same with sentient beings. It’s very, very difficult to teach them. So, we simply do whatever we can. You already have a lot of blessed rewards. You have this opportunity, as well as enough wisdom to recognize your own blessed rewards. That’s already very good. As for others, we can’t care too much about them. We can only do our best to introduce. I’m also the same. Even Shakyamuni Buddha couldn’t save many people back then. Indian people have been vegetarians since long ago, and it’s a sacred place. Everyone knows. There are many spiritual practitioners and many monks. But, it was also the same. He probably had thousands or tens of thousands of disciples only, not many. OK. Alright. Good night. (Good night.)
Tomorrow there’ll be no more. Tomorrow you’ll be moving back home. Thank God. From tomorrow you’ll say, “Ah, from today on, we don’t have to meditate for 15 hours. Every day we can meditate for 2.5 hours as usual. Wonderful.” Then you won’t complain anymore. (Thank You, Master.) Good night. (Good night.) (Thank You, Master.) How is your stomach? (Thank You, Master.) (Good Night, Master.) (Thank You, Master. These few days, You’re the most hardworking.) No. No. No. (Good night, Master.) Just the time is a bit tight, not hard work. (Good night, Master.) (Thank You, Master.) (Master, sleep well.) (Master is so beautiful.) (Master, I love You.) (Bye-bye.) (Good night.) (Bye-bye, Master.) (Good night, Master.) Do you see me? (Yes.) Have those in the back seen me? (Yes.) Yes? (Yes.) You are here, and I am asking those in the back. Can I go over there to see those in the back? (Yes.) (Give way, people on that side.) OK. OK.
(So beautiful.) (Master is so beautiful.) (Very beautiful.) (Yes. Very beautiful.) (Master is very beautiful.) Every day, I hear you say this like reciting a mantra. Every day they say, “Master is very beautiful. Master is very beautiful. Master is very beautiful,” like reciting a mantra. Then, it’ll come true. Then, at least I’ll believe, I’d think that it’s true. (It’s true in the first place.) (More and more beautiful.) Yes? (Absolutely true.) (Yes.) Just the clothes. (Truly beautiful.) Really? (Yes.) OK. You enjoy it. Children love it most when their mother looks beautiful. (Yes.) We feel very proud. Don’t we? (Yes.) Life is already so boring. If coming to see this Master is also boring, we might as well die. OK. Good night, everyone. (Good night.)
You’ve been so good these few days. (Thank You.) Probably because it’s raining and there’s nothing we can do. So, there are pros and cons. Raining is also not bad. Then everyone can huddle together to stay warm, and can listen to the translation, etc., which you could not do before. When I sat in the front talking to the foreigners, you were like deaf people; you have ears but don’t understand. (Good night, Master.) And, because of the rain, you can sit under one roof, listening to the translation, etc. Not bad. These flowers planted here are destined to die. Why were they planted in the middle of the road? How pitiful.
(Good night, Master.) Good night. (Good night, Master.) No matter how cold it was, it has all passed. Tomorrow you’ll be liberated. (Good night, Master.) (Good night, Master.) Good night. (Good night, Master.) Goodbye. I mean good night. See you tomorrow. (Good night, Master, good night.) (Bye-bye, Master.) (Good night, Master.) Put it on the chair. (Hallo, Master.) Do you see me? (Master is very beautiful.) (We can see You.) Do you see my clothes? (We can see Master.) (So beautiful.) Time to sleep; there’s not much time left. Good night. (Master, good night.) OK? (Still OK. You can come again.) (Master is amazing.) (Good-bye.) Those in the front, squat down. (Good night, Master.) (Good night, Master. Good night.) (Good night, Master.) (Good night, Master.) (Bye.) Bye. Cry again? Why are you crying? (Because I’m so happy.) (Good night, Master.) (Good night, Master.) (Master, good night.) (Good night, Master.)
Photo Caption: “Size Not Matter, We All Love Being 2gether”
