(Do you need a resume to become a Quan Yin messenger?) A resume – no, we don’t. We don’t, but it’s a hard life. […] It’s a bachelor life, and you travel a lot. You have to endure a lot of training, like humiliation, hard work, endurance. Some of the Occidental people do come to us, but somehow the mentality is not prepared, and… I don’t know what. […] You can ask some of the Quan Yin messengers there if they accept you and then that way you can go. You try to train for a while to see if you’re fit. […] There’s a person called Tong. If you pass his test, you might. It’s severe. Take care of those Occidental whiteflakes if they want to try. […]
Next one. Next one. Quick, quick! (Thank You, Master. I have two questions. When I was initiated, they mentioned that we shouldn’t eat food that’s been offered to local gods or food that’s been blessed by other masters. And I’m going to be going to India. Can I eat [vegan] prasad [religious food offering]?) Yes, you can. (OK.) But just don’t seek particularly… What I mean, it’s like some people they worship deities and all the idols and all that, and then they eat it because they think the idol blessed the food. You don’t eat with that kind of attitude. Because we already know better. We know that we are spiritual beings and God is within us. There’s no need for a statue to bless our food or any being who doesn’t even practice veganism or meditation or blesses you just because he’s famous, just because everybody else is going to seek his blessing. You should not do that.
You should have a discriminating mind. Not that you discriminate between all beings, but you should know there are levels. And your level has been raised up already; don’t just do such foolish things again, things like that. Alright? But if some people offer you something vegan, you can eat them. In India, they offer vegan prasad everywhere you go. And if you want to starve, it’s fine. If you want to eat it, it’s fine. But don’t think it will bless you and make you better or anything like that. You recite the Five (Holy) Names and eat the food. Bless the food yourself, (OK.) and then eat it. Alright? (OK, thanks.) You’re welcome.
(And also, when I meditate, when I see the [inner Heavenly] Light start to come, I immediately start to think... It brings me out of my concentration. I think, “Oh, there’s the [inner Heavenly] Light, and I’m meditating,” and I lose the Light immediately.) Oh, I see. (And it’s been this way for about a year. So I feel like I’m not getting deep enough in the meditation, or something. I can’t really contemplate the [inner Heavenly] Light at all.) You cannot? (No. When I see it,…) When you see it, you get excited, right? (Yes.) We all do. We all do. You just try to calm down next time. (OK.) Yes, suddenly, it disappears because, “Ooh, ooh, it’s coming!” You scare the (inner Heavenly) Light out of your life. Just try to be calm. Tell yourself to be calm and steadily recite the Five (Holy) Names, and look at it – curiously and lovingly like you watch television. If it goes out; you wait for it to come back again. (OK. Thank You.)
Yeah? (Yes, Master...) Should we have all the females first and then the males, or what? Or just like this? OK, then let them. Let them. Otherwise, their egos get hurt again, and… we’ll be in trouble. Yes, sir. (Yes. Master, I’ve got some friends in West Africa who are very interested in Your philosophy. But there are only two Centers in the whole of Africa which are in...) Two what? (Two Centers. Yes.) Two Centers? Yes, yes. (...which are in South Africa. And from west to south is very, very far.) I know. (And they are very interested. And I wonder if You’ve got some plans to open some Centers out there?) You open one. Why not? Can you? (No, because I live in Canada. I’m not in...) You’re in Canada? Then what for you’re interested in West Africa? I cannot do anything about it. (Well, Master, they are my friends and...) Later. OK? You go back there and spread the news or whatever whenever you can if you go there sometimes, and then later there’ll be a Center. Have to start somewhere. (Yes. I used to send some of Your pamphlets there. So when they read it, they were very interested.) Yes. When they’re ready, God will come. (Yes.) OK? (OK. Thank You.) If they send a letter to you requesting something, then we will send people there. Then you send to us. (OK. Thank You very much.) You send the letter to us.
Behind there, and then there, and there. (With all respect, Master, thank You for allowing me to come to the retreat, Master. Thank You very much. I’m wondering if you need a resume to become a Quan Yin messenger?) You want what? (Do you need a resume to become a Quan Yin messenger?) A resume – no, we don’t. We don’t, but it’s a hard life. I don’t know if European, you know, Occidental people can bear it. It’s a bachelor life, and you travel a lot. You have to endure a lot of training, like humiliation, hard work, endurance. Some of the Occidental people do come to us, but somehow the mentality is not prepared, and… I don’t know what. You can try. Are you a bachelor still? (Oh, yes.) Oh good. You can try. You can ask some of the Quan Yin messengers there if they accept you and then that way you can go. You try to train for a while to see if you’re fit. OK? You can take care of him? OK, alright. There’s a person called Tong. If you pass his test, you might. It’s severe. Take care of those Occidental whiteflakes if they want to try. Cook them well until they become black. Just to try for a while.
Next one, please? There was one in the front here. You see, huh? You look. (Hallo, Merry Christmas.) OK, Merry Christmas. (One of the reasons I was so attracted to You[r teaching] is because You’re so pluralistic. You accept, You have...) I am what? (Pluralistic.) Oh! Pluralistic. (Yes. You see the equal opportunity to become Buddha in a woman and a man, and people from different countries. Yesterday, when I was meditating… I was a few minutes late, and they had some area in the front reserved for people like me – with a package like mine, body like mine. This old Chinese man, he looked like a good man. They put him in the back, and it made me feel a little bit sorry for him or thinking maybe, “Why is this going on?” And I just wanted to ask You.)
You don’t know? I told you already. (All I heard was that You had a request that the European people sit in the front.) Yes. (But I wanted to ask You…) Well, if you want to push shoulders with them and rub elbows, you can go to the back; it’s alright. And queue for blessed food, or things like that. Yeah, go right in. Welcome. No, there are sections for different people. You understand? And you, the European people, have longer legs, OK? (Yes, we do.) You need more space, and you move a little bit more slowly and awkwardly. Whereas the Chinese, the Aulacese (Vietnamese) or the Asian people, they can fly over your head. And you’re not used to crossing your legs for long and all that. So, I think you deserve a little bit more space and attention and a little bit of special treatment until you get used to it. Then you can run and fly with the Chinese, it’s alright with me – but not until then. The Chinese should give you more time to adjust to our kind of custom. Yeah? (OK. So I...) So, I think they understand, and they should not come to the front and take their place with you. He should get out of your place. So don’t feel sorry for him; he already knows. I already announced it before.
(OK. I have a related question, then. It’s very difficult for me to do the Quan Yin because of an injury to my back and also because of the way my body is put together. I was wondering if it’s absolutely necessary to sit in that fashion.) No, no, no. Didn’t they tell you in the initiation? You can sit in any position you want as long as you’re comfortable. (You don’t have to have your…) Sit on a chair and put on a table, whatever. That’s for your own benefit – (OK.) to strengthen the (inner Heavenly) Sound and return the energy to where it belongs. (OK.) Instead of dispatching it all over because every day we’re working, and all the energy goes out. And when you sit in that position or do the Quan Yin, the energy comes back. OK? (OK.) Alright? (Thank You.)
Don’t feel sorry for the Chinese, or I’ll send you back to China. There’ll be more Chinese to feel sorry about. Also, besides, the Chinese people, especially the Taiwanese (Formosans), they have had me for 15 years. They’ve seen enough of me. And many of you… I hardly ever come here. Americans or Europeans I paid very little attention to in the last 15 years. So I think it’s about time I should give you more privilege and attention, that’s all. Don’t feel sorry for people who already ate up to here. You’re starving. Eat! I am never… That is very loving, very loving and kind, but don’t think that I am ever unfair to people. I’m very, very fair; I know what I’m doing. I don’t treat people discriminately. I just know what to do for the best of everybody.
It’s very difficult also to single out the European and the English translation and all that. You understand? It’s more organized if we have groups and different people together so it’s easy to take care. For example, children. We all love children, I especially. But if we let them run around here every time or have them with their parents all the time, and after five minutes, “Wah!” and another 10 minutes, “Woh!” And then they run around and tickle you. How do you meditate? Or how do you enjoy the program? Because children are different. They’re restless. They are very energetic. They want to run around; they want to shout. So it’s not appropriate to have children too young in the retreat. Something like that – you see what I mean? So, whatever we do, there is a reason for the best of everybody, for the children as well. Don’t worry about it. But that’s very kind of you.
