With a deep affinity for the United States, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) has visited the country on numerous occasions, offering spiritual wisdom, hope, and vital humanitarian aid in times of need. In November 1993, following Her compassionate support for victims of the devastating Southern California wildfires, Master was invited to several media interviews nationwide, where She shared Her insights on virtue and spiritual awakening. It is our privilege to invite you to this insightful series, titled “Media Interviews with Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan).” In the first interview, Master engages in a candid dialogue with Mr. Duy Linh, the respected reporter, journalist, and Editor-in-Chief of Công Luận Newspaper, in Los Angeles, California, USA, on November 18, 1993. Throughout this illuminating conversation, Master sheds light on the sacred responsibility of media, the true nature of unconditional charity, and the profound art of living a life anchored in kindness and virtue.
In this opening episode, Master explains that living kindly and virtuously does not require membership in any religion and that different religions can live harmoniously together.
(I keep nearly two hundred photos of Master.) That many? Where did you get them? (We took almost ten rolls of film that day.) Oh, really? So you just picked the most beautiful ones to bring over, to show off? Oh, really? So beautiful! The photos were taken really well. Beautiful. The yellow outfit isn’t beautiful, is it? Only the red outfit is beautiful; the yellow one isn’t as nice, right? Oh, really? Ah! The red one is more beautiful, right? The red outfit stands out more, right?
(Will send these to him.) The deputy minister – oh, the mayor, right? (Yes.) He’s a really good man. (Yes, that man is funny and very kind.) He’s a good man, huh? He is honest. As far as I know, up till now. He seems honest and upright – he doesn’t ask for anything. He gave me so many honors without asking for anything in return. It didn’t cost a single cent. But I just happen to have a spiritual affinity to help places in distress – for example, areas facing illnesses. Other than that, I don’t give… It’s strange. There are some places where I help a lot, give a lot, and do a lot of work, yet nobody says a word. They don’t bother me or interfere with me at all. Strange, isn’t it? Oh, really? I looked happy? Why didn’t you all go along last time?
Go ahead and eat first. Have some (vegan) cake. I’ll accompany you. I’ll have water. Drink some water. What a huge cup, my goodness! Is it meant for an elephant(-person) to drink from or what? Is there a smaller cup? This one is so heavy to hold, and I’m small. Something more suitable for my size… (This really is quite heavy.) It’s so heavy, and it’s a full glass! Who could drink that much, oh my goodness! How could anyone drink that much cold water? Hey, give me a smaller one, please. A china or something – looks more noble. Be a little more graceful. That’s way too crude!
OK! Please go ahead and have some (vegan) cake. (Yes.) Go ahead. (We already have.) Come on, I haven’t seen anyone eating yet. (I’m very full.) (We’re almost finished eating.) Really? (Yes.) (I was joking with the kitchen team earlier, asking them to pack some food to go.) What? Give what? (“To go.”) What does “to go” mean? (“Food to go” means taking food home.) (Meaning, taking it home.) Ah, yeah! (Just kidding.) OK, yes. There’s still plenty left. (Oh no, I was just saying it for fun.) It’s fine! Later, take it home for the kids to eat too, OK? (No, I don’t have any [kids].) (But it’s more delicious, than what we had in Hawaii.) (Yes, it tastes delicious and purer than what we had in Hawaii.) That’s because we were already full that day, so we couldn’t eat much. Couldn’t eat, right? That day, I couldn’t eat anything either. (It seems the cooking over there was…) It’s similar. It doesn’t look any better than this one. A little bit shorter but even heavier. You know I’m very small, this kind of thing frightens me. I have to speak English; if I speak Chinese, you wouldn’t understand at all. You might think we’re talking about something behind your backs. The plastic cup would still be better. Alright, that’s enough. No more complaining. Complaining over and over won’t change anything.
They brought something that was really, really big. That’s what they always give me. I feel like complaining today too. It’s terrifying. Every single one is so big and thick! (This is the smallest one we have here.) The smallest? (Yes, this kind of cup.) I see. (They’re all like that. The other three are all so big.) Oh. Oh! They said this is already the smallest one here. In this house, this was the smallest one they could find. This house must be full of big guys living here, right? Maybe some muscular Aulacese (Vietnamese) people are staying here? This is for what’s-his-name... I completely forgot. It’s fine for him to stay here! For big guys like that, right? It’s called lifting weights.
We just call it weightlifting. I can hold both sides and skip weightlifting, right? Holding this is really tiring, you know. (It’ll be even heavier with more water.) Wow! A full glass, not just a little! (Yes.) They know I don’t eat or drink that much, so why make such a huge amount like this? You don’t know that I don’t eat much. Every time there’s (vegan) food or drinks, they bring them out like it’s for a whole army of soldiers. This is like for the army or something. Every time I want something you put too much.
(But I feel that today, sitting here, You can have some peace and quiet. If You went out to eat at a restaurant, You wouldn’t have any peace.) Yes, that’s right. but I was afraid you might not like it. I was afraid you’d say, “Why… why didn’t You invite us to Your home? Acting like…” (Who would dare say that?) Oh, really? But I’m afraid other people might come, see it, and then rush over too. Then they’ll say, “Why did You receive these people and not me?” See? It’s always like that! So, I am very afraid of the public. I only go out when it’s absolutely necessary. I go out once, and that’s it. Whoever wants to see me, let them come and see me all at once. Let everyone see me, and that’s it. If people come in scattered, one by one, it’s very tiring.
(Since the day we came back here, we’ve talked to each other and said, “It’s thanks to that trip that we now think differently.”) Is that so? (Yes.) What thoughts? Are they good? Tell me, let me hear.
(Then Master saw the article written in the newspaper.) Oh, that article was so good! That article was really good, so beautifully written. (Just a short one, a tiny little one.) Written humorously, huh? I gave to you to read, huh? (Yes.) I already showed it to you, right? Then I said, “Wow! This guy, in the future, we’ll have to call him what? What did I say? Give him an award, right?” (Yes, an award.) Award him the title of “Funny Journalist.” The funniest journalist. There are awards for good journalists, journalists who write sharply. (Yes.) Not sharply, but writing correctly… “Articulate,” and in Aulacese (Vietnamese), what’s the correct word? It’s not just “correct.” (Articulate.) Articulate. (Truthful.) Ah! Truthful. That’s right, that’s right! It reflects things truthfully. Ah, that lady is Chinese. She writes well. Ah, she’s quite charming. (So, Master, were You pleased with that article?) Yes, yes! The article was good and humorous too. This girl laughed so much when she read it. Also, there was a Chinese guy in Taiwan (Formosa) who received the award for “The Bravest Journalist.” The award for “The Most Truthful.” Maybe next time we should give this guy “The Funniest Journalist Award,” huh?
He writes very well. His writing is good and funny too. I like anyone who is funny. Should have inspiration. (Yes.) (It’s been over ten years since I last wrote.) Everyone says that article is really good! (I haven’t written for more than ten years; I only wrote a little this time. That’s why it’s very short.) Really? It’s not short; it’s just right. What did (…) say in there? He said, “It’s short, but it’s enough.” Everything is already in there. You wouldn’t even need to go there to know. (Because I quit my profession a long time ago.) Oh, really? Then don’t waste it. Go ahead and write for three, four, or five newspapers. (Now, Supreme Master, please take care of the newspaper. Well, he’s got to make a living before he can write!) You can write for other publications too. It’s a shame to let the other guys write when they don’t do a very good job. Sometimes they write so poorly that it’s a waste of the newspaper, a waste of all those pages. You can write for other newspapers too – it doesn’t have to be for those newspapers. (People don’t pay for it.) We artists can get by on just water. (People don’t pay for it.) What do we need money for?
Wow, printing newspapers like this must be very expensive, right? It must cost a lot. (Yes, it is very expensive, Master. We have to scramble to raise enough money for every issue, so it is quite difficult, because, as You can see, many newspapers here are given away for free.) Complimentary newspapers? (They cannot be sold.) Why can’t they be sold? (When we try to sell them, people do not buy.) (People don’t buy them.) (They are used to how newspapers operate in America, which relies on advertising revenue.) Really? (And as You see, businesses are really struggling these days.) (It is very difficult. What do they do? (They work on it.) (They make it colorful like that.) (They have to spend money.) Oh. (Before You came down, we were just talking about the night they were making the cover with Your picture on it. I had to stay up all night there with them.) Why is that? (Otherwise, they would ruin it.) (Afraid they’ll mess it up.) Oh, really? Poor thing. How touching. No wonder the cover is so beautiful. Did anyone notice? (It is more beautiful than the original.) Yes, it is more beautiful than the original. I did say that. Someone must have told you, right? (Someone told you.) Someone must have told you. (No one has said anything.) Is that so? (Yes.) Oh, really? I hardly look at it, and it’s even more beautiful than our original version. The disciples also thought someone said that.
(This time, when Master returned to California, did You find that the Aulacese [Vietnamese] newspapers were taking a different direction? Really? Are they different? (Different. There are so many newspapers.) So many of them, or what do you mean? (Yes.) Do you mean there are many of them, or that they write differently? (They write differently.) (There are more than forty newspapers.) So now they write differently? (No. But they write about...) Is it all about me? (About Supreme Master Ching Hai.) Different? (Around six papers.) Oh, right. Oh, really? Oh right, let me see. (Here is “Vui” magazine.) Oh, “Vui.” (“Tình Thương” magazine.) “Tình Thương.” (The “Vietnam Press” newspaper.) “Vietnam Press.” (And the “Vietnam Post” newspaper.) “Vietnam Post.” (Four papers.) Five papers – ah, four papers.
(…framing the issue clearly.) Meaning, clarifying the issue, right? (By whose side? Really? I hadn’t seen it. (It was an old issue.) Ah, I see. (About four or five months ago. The thing is…) Oh, that’s wonderful. (The issue is expressing opinions. For example, if someone supports Master, how should one support You? If someone opposes Master, what are they opposing?) Ah, they have to say what they oppose. (Say it clearly.)
If you oppose someone, you should speak properly. They just keep criticizing without stating what my fault is. What am I guilty of? (But according to... Master, why do You think so many people oppose You?) Who knows? (Yes.) We don’t even know what they’re opposing. If we knew, at least we could explain.
(Because some people who follow Buddhism are wondering which Buddhist school Supreme Master belongs to? Or if...) Why must I belong to Buddhism? (No. I mean, is it something different?) Yeah. (Yes.) Yes. But, for example, if we’re Buddhists and we speak badly of other religions, then we create division and hatred. That would be terrible.
(So it means that Your teaching does not have…) Yes If we follow Buddhism but create division, then that’s no longer Buddhism, let alone anything else. For example, if a religion advocates killing people and robbing people, or doing all kinds of wrong things, you see? Take Christianity, for example. Usually, I talk about how these two religions share the same principles, because there are so many religions and we can’t talk about them all. Let’s look at Christianity and Buddhism. In Christianity, don’t you see the Ten Commandments? The ten prohibitions? Do not kill, do not steal, do not speak divisively, do not commit adultery, do not lie. You see? “Love thy neighbor,” you see? Or love your fellow human beings, right? No religion teaches anything wrong, so why should I speak badly about any of them?
(Supreme Master, it’s because people want You to call Your teachings a form of Buddhism.) I don’t know, I wouldn’t... It should not be labeled as anything at all. (Oh, so it is a different sect?) There is no sect at all. Teaching people to live kindly and virtuously does not require any sect. (Yes.)
Why does everything always have to have a name and a label? We are practicing spiritually already, which means entering the realm of formlessness, right? (Yes.) It is already said that “The Four Elements are all empty,” so why make everything so complicated? Then they keep giving things different names, this religion and that religion, leading to all this fighting, tearing each other apart. That’s not spiritual practice at all. This isn’t politics. I don’t like doing things that way. (Yes.) Why is it that those who follow me, regardless of their religious backgrounds, can get along so harmoniously with one another? They completely understand the Truth, that it’s all one, so why care about what religion it is, this religion or that religion? I have already explained this many times; it has been mentioned in magazines and books. After the Buddha passed away, we call it Buddhism. After Lord Jesus passed away, we call it Christianity. After Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) passed away, we call it Islam, you see?
Before that, did those Masters belong to any religion to attain enlightenment? Before Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment, did He follow Buddhism? (Right.) You tell me, sir. There was no Buddhism then, was there? So what did He follow to attain that? Before Lord Jesus was born, was there Christianity? Then what did He follow in order to become Christ? I don’t like having to explain all sorts of things like that. Whoever wants to follow can follow. If they come, they can learn and understand. And if they don’t want to, that’s fine. Nobody is forcing anyone.
(We would like to ask to clarify…) Yes. I know you were just asking. I am talking about those people, not arguing with you.
Photo Caption: “Grateful for Longevity”
