So, don’t you ever worry that somebody does you wrong, and then they get away with it. Except when that is your karma. Sooner or later, they will know it. So, we just have to be patient in every circumstance, and then we’ll see how justice will work in the end. It works very fast, very fast.
Why do we advocate non-violence? You all know very well. Even in the name of religion, there’s too much bloodshed already in the world. You read in the newspapers, you see on the television more than I do. I only read occasionally, when necessary, only [watch] television now and again, when I need to, very seldom. Mostly I have to see the video cutting. That’s my television show, and it’s a lot of work already, a lot of work. And now they want me to see the subtitles of the Aulacese (Vietnamese). Oh, I said, “How can I do that?”
Too much work, so you have to do it, all of you. The distinguished English scholars must work together. English and Aulacese (Vietnamese) scholars must apply your name to the Center and try to work together to polish the English subtitles or the Aulacese (Vietnamese) subtitles. You must help me, because I’m loaded with work. I sometimes hardly have time to sleep or eat already. Apart from spiritual work, sometimes it’s demanded that I do mundane work as well, business-like or even for a disaster. Because I also have to teach you compassion and love towards our fellow beings. Because when you are in a disaster, they will also help you. Doesn’t matter if they don’t help, but we have to, right? We have to do it, because everyone is our brother and sister. Also, it’s not that I want to teach you intentionally, but it’s just the way it has to be done.
If you see somebody needy or in distress or in a disaster, we have to render help whenever we can and whatever we can. Not that we can take care of the whole world. And I also told you already that only when people need, do we give. Not when people come to us out of greed, because of a greedy motive, or because they see we have money, so they want to also take something. And that we have to see. That’s no good for them. And it’s no good for us to irresponsibly just give away the hard-earned money. Even if it’s our fellow practitioners, we can’t do that. Luckily, our own group, [among] our own true practitioners don’t have such kind. Rarely. I don’t see one. But some other groups may have.
Sometimes they come to me for financial support. Sometimes I help, sometimes I don’t. It depends on how truly needy they are. Sometimes people come and try to get something out of us. It’s sometimes not much, or sometimes a lot, depends. But I said to them, “We have to come to God without condition. And then you will not complain why God doesn’t help you. You come to God and you expect money first. God is not a banker. Maybe you should go to a bank manager.”
So, one or two of the Aulacese (Vietnamese) – I don’t know if it’s a true story – it’s printed in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) that some of the refugees said they wanted to come to me because they want to get to a third country. To get initiation so that they can get immediately refugee status and go to the third country. That is abusing the blessing power. I never promised, right? I never promised you that you get initiation from me, and then you’ll become a citizen of America. Right? (Right.) Did I ever promise? (No.) No. And I didn’t say you will become a millionaire. (No.) Overnight. No. Or win the lotto. No, nothing like that. (Right. Yes.) I just promised you liberation from all greed. And if you come to me, still hiding the greed in your pocket and don’t let go of it. Well, that’s what you get. What you hide inside is what you keep and that’s what you get, nothing more. Because the practitioner is the one who wants to go home, the one who wants to go to Heaven, who wants to be saintly, who wants to be strong and of help to others – not the taker, not the beggar, not abusing other peoples’ love and good will.
…But you are not laughing, not even looking at the audience. You have to look, to laugh, to make people happy, right? (We do laugh, Master.) Where? The young girls in our group are used to laughing. It’s strange that the older women don’t laugh. The young ones laugh, but the middle-aged ones don’t. Maybe because they’re older, and feel burdened by family responsibilities, so they can’t laugh anymore? The younger girls laugh, especially those who aren’t married yet. Maybe they want to be noticed? But the middle-aged ones, married, are settled. Secure. They don’t laugh anymore. Or maybe they’re too tired? The children keep them busy all day, so they can’t even laugh, their faces are twisted.
Do these young girls also dance every day? (Yes.) Oh, where are the middle-aged women? (I think her sister just went home, Master.) There are some young ones, some old ones. (Yes.) Why did these people come to greet me today, but the others didn’t? Or whoever wanted to come would come? (They were selected.) Selected? (Yes, sister called us.) (Honestly, Master, some were selected to come to greet You.) Did they have to be selected, too? What’s so special about these people? Except for my Master, is anyone special? (Right.) Who’s special? (No one’s special, but if we get the chance to come, we don’t argue.) Just follow orders without question? (Yes.) (We ran quickly.) Run quickly, huh?
Why are the men and women not equal as spiritual practitioners? Why are the women more and men are few? ([Because] the men don’t dance.) (The men don’t dance.) No, not true. What for do you bring out the ones who dance? (There’s more dancing to come.) (Yes, there’s dancing. But I think there are only two or three people dancing.) Oh, so you picked the dancers to come out [to greet me]? (No, Master. It’s like we selected people by random, Master. The men were assigned to guard the gates around here.) Oh, really? (Standing right here.) So the men just stand without sitting? (Yes.) Why do they have to guard? Oh, is it for group meditation? (Yes.) Are there outsiders? (Yes, we have to keep an eye on the outside.) (Watching people coming in.) Are there outsiders now? (There are two outsiders.) (Yes, Master, just a few people, walking and sitting outside the fence, Master.)
I thought it was someone special, but it’s just the dancers – how disappointing. Because last time, you wore something nice, but today, it looks all black. (Master, that’s green.) Green? (Yes, green.) Green, not black? (Yes, green, Master.) What kind of green is that? (Dark blue, navy blue.) Navy blue? (Yes.) This looks more like a “blue pot.” A bronze pot that people cook with charcoal. (Yes.) That’s it. (Yes, Master is going to rest.) That’s it? (Yes.) Time to go out then? (Yes.) But I don’t even know what to say out there. I don’t know what to say anymore. To hand it over, huh?
(Master, we’ve made a video with subtitles in Aulacese [Vietnamese], Master.) (I don’t know if […] mentioned that yet?) He mentioned it already. Just one video, why do you keep bragging about it? (No, it’s because […] wants Master to review it. If Master approves, we’ll continue. If Master disapproves, we’ll stop.) Let me see the draft. (Yes.) I’ll take it back and review it later. (Yes.) Bring it over for me to see. (Who should I give it to, Master?) You can show it here; I will watch it before going home. (Yes.) I’ll review it first, then go. (Yes.) You should give me the draft to review. (Yes.) After I review it, you’ll make the corrections? Or do you expect me to sit there and watch the whole thing from start to finish? (I think […] kept the draft, Master. But I brought two versions of the video, one master copy and one regular, Master.)
You should review it yourselves. Why do you keep asking me to watch everything? I don’t have time. Translation has so many things to do, just go to sleep instead. Might as well sleep. Did you all gather to do the translation? (Yes. If we can do it, and Master allows us to [continue]...) So tiring! Too many languages. No time at all. I’m only one person, but everything is pushed onto me. You must do your best and do it well. Find someone who translates well, then review it together, understand? (Yes.) Waiting for me to review everything takes a long time. Watching a whole movie takes hours. (Yes.) Even reviewing a draft takes a long time. (Master, just take a quick look, check the technical part, see how […] did it.) Technical stuff isn’t important. Translation is what matters, not the technical part. (The sentences, Master.)
You guys keep making mistakes, it’s too tiring. Sometimes, even after I corrected it, it still ends up wrong. Normally, I already correct the magazines, but they still print them wrong. For example, “cao cung,” they printed it as “cung cao.” (Yes.) The idea was to have “cao cung” first, followed by “vô cùng” underneath. (Yes.) They put “cung cao” under “vô cùng,” which doesn’t make sense with what’s above. They thought I had written it wrong and “corrected” it for me. (Yes.) This kind of thing happens all the time – it’s exhausting. Talking about Aulacese (Vietnamese) [issues] could go on forever. Hardly anyone helps. Those who renounce (“leave home”) soon “enter home” again. They “enter” [their] home again. They stay for two or three months and then run away. I didn’t even get a chance to scold them yet. Such a waste. If I’d known they were leaving, I would’ve scolded them in one go. Or maybe it’s because I didn’t scold them? Maybe because I didn’t scold them, they left, right? Maybe they have some kind of mentality that likes being scolded? Maybe because I didn’t scold them, treated them too kindly, they couldn’t handle it? Next time, whoever comes in, I’ll scold first and see what happens after. Maybe they’ll stay longer. Let’s go visit the Bodhisattvas.
Photo Caption: Nature Splendor Is to Remind One of Heaven
