So, I really like the Buddha’s time, the nuns, the monks didn’t have to do much. Just go out taking alms once a day, and then you’re finished for the whole day. You can meditate. You can listen to the Buddhas. Nowadays, you have many comfortable things, but you don’t have time. Nowadays, we cannot go begging for alms because I don’t think many countries allow that. And in India, not everybody offers to monks, I saw that.
You don’t stay in Yeongdong Center? No? Yeongdong? (Jiri Center.) City Center. (Jiri Center.) Have a city Center? (Mount Jiri…) What did she say? (The Jiri mountain. It’s in the mountain.) Mountain? (Yes, it’s not Yeongdong. Jiri Mountain.) Offerings to the monks. Tell them it’s just a symbol. Oh, they’re hiding under there. Oh, man! Look at this, different! (Thank You, Master.) You’re welcome. Hey! (Wow!) Not you! Wow! (Sorry. Sorry, Master. I got excited.) OK. Never mind. (Oh my God!) I don’t know what’s the big deal, a few (vegan) cakes? For the monks, because they don’t go out and buy good things for themselves. You eat all day, every day, in your house, anything you want; you go out any time you want. It’s different. The monks, they don’t go out and buy things. They don’t have money that much. Maybe they’re working and saving some money to come here. But, otherwise…
Oh, what do they do there? They’re working? (Master asked what you are doing in Mount Jiri. What kind of work are you doing in Mount Jiri?) (Planting vegetables… Planting vegetables, that we use in daily life…) (Ah, just like a farm…) (Yes. Greens, vegetables.) They’re planting vegetables? (They grow vegetables.) All of them, same place? (All of you?) (Yes.) (Yes. All of them.) Do they sell also, or just for themselves? (Are you selling those vegetables?) (That’s for ourselves.) (For themselves.) For themselves, that’s why a lot of work to do? (So do you have a lot of work?) (Yes, I have to pluck up the weeds…) (Yes, a lot. They have to pick out the grass…) What do you want to say? (And that area is wide…) (I love You.) (I love You.) Love you. Oh! Thank you. Chile.
You stay longer, or you go tomorrow? (Next Sunday.) Next Sunday. Good, very wise. Good! Of course, if they plant vegetables for themselves, there are many things to do. Must water, must take the weeds out, must shade from the sun, and must harvest – a lot, a lot of work! Yes. Tell them. Oh, they have translation. (They already have translation.) No, this one doesn’t have the earphones. (You have to water the plants and protect them from the sun when you are farming, so you will have a lot of work. Yes, so…) But it’s healthy. (However, it’s healthy work.) Working in the sun and fresh air. (As you bask in the sun and breathe the air, fresh air.) And eating your own vegetables. (And you eat your own vegetables.) Very organic! (There are many weeds growing as it is spring, so there is a lot of work to do.) (Because it’s spring, there’s a lot of grass coming out, so there’s a lot of work to do.) Sure, sure. Even in winter, they left also very quickly. So, in winter also grow something else. (Even in winter, you go fast, so you must have work, says Master.)
The monk, what does he do? (What are you doing in Korea?) (I work in the temple, in the Zen Center. Meditation Center.) (Meditation Center. He is in the meditation Center.) Which one? (Which Center are you in?) (I’m from Jeonju Center.) Yeoungdong? (I’m in the temple.) (In the temple?) (In Beobjusa temple.) (Beobjusa temple. Temple, he is in the temple.) A temple, not the Center. OK. He has everything he needs? (Do you have everything you need?) (Yes, I do.) (Yes, he does.) He did not have any red envelope from me, right? (Did you get the red envelope?) (Yes, I received that.) Have? Already have? (Yes, yes.) OK. Not red envelope, but some money inside, like mostly I offer them? (The red envelope which has money in it. Did you get this?) (I got the money, money only.) (He only received the money.) Only money, yeah, that’s what I am asking! But, like the envelope, or just the one coin for New Year? That’s different. (Ah, OK. Yes, the envelope.) OK. How about do any of them not have? (Thank You, Master.) (They did.) All of them? She did not have. Yeah, I saw her today, new. Somebody will bring it to her. You guards go find the person with the money. The person in charge of my money. I don’t know who’s in charge. If you can’t, go find… the foreigners from yesterday. Ask them if there’s any extra money there. Thank you. Somebody will bring. Quickly, they are leaving tomorrow! Busy nun!
So, I really like the Buddha’s time, the nuns, the monks didn’t have to do much. Just go out taking alms once a day, and then you’re finished for the whole day. You can meditate. You can listen to the Buddhas. Nowadays, you have many comfortable things, but you don’t have time. Nowadays, we cannot go begging for alms because I don’t think many countries allow that. And in India, not everybody offers to monks, I saw that. When I was there, there was one monk, he said he didn’t eat anything for 14 days. Nobody offered him anything. And then he had to sell something, maybe it was just to make a living, but I saw him selling tobacco pipes made with ceramic. I was at that time also young and judgmental. I also didn’t have much money anyway. I thought, “If he sells this kind of thing, I don’t give him any.”
I should not have judged him like that. I should not. But I was too young and very, very “precept-ridden.” I thought, “If he sells things like this, it’s harmful to others. He doesn’t deserve my money.” I didn’t have much anyway, but I should not have judged him like that. So now I don’t judge anymore. If I see Thai monks, Buddhist Burmese monks, or any monks who don’t even eat vegetarian, I always offer to them, with all my love and reverence. I do not judge anymore. But I was younger. I was 29 going on 30, something like that. You’re young, idealistic and strong-headed. I apologized to him in my heart. I still did not forget it. I thought to myself, “I should have offered him something, no matter what, because he didn’t eat for a long time.” I don’t know, maybe his karma, but I should not have judged any monk like that due to his situation. If you see that, also please don’t judge. Just give what you can. The monks, they don’t have money, that’s their lifestyle. Mostly they don’t have. I don’t know how they have money to come here.
(How did you get the money for coming here?) Somebody help? (Somebody helped you?) (Well, I have saved a little each month. I put it together.) (Every month, a little bit of money comes in, and there is a little help.) OK. Enough to live? Enough? (Is that enough to live each month?) (Yes, it’s enough to live.) I wish that it was so easy, like visa and paperwork were easy. I would take them all to come here and live, or live in Hsihu. She translates correctly? (That’s what I want. It would be nice if that happened.) (She wishes it would happen.) Maybe I’ll think about it. I will try and see if any way I can do it. (Oh!) No! No! I said maybe I’d think about it. I don’t even know. I’m not the government, man! I’m not the President of Taiwan (Formosa). Even if I were, I would have to go through the law. And you have to have a reason to be here. Even Buddhist monks, you have to prove it, you have to take exams and all kinds of things. Life is not like your Master saying, “Everything is done!” and it’s done. You put too much pressure on me and you think I can move mountains. Maybe I can, but I cannot move the law.
Ah! So quick! So fast. Thanks a lot for responding so fast. Offerings to the monk. Amitabha. Thank the Buddha. Thank the Buddha. (Thank the Buddha.) Thanks a lot for coming so fast. Did you tell him to? Did you give the instruction just now? (He heard it.) He heard it. Wonderful. Was I speaking Chinese just now? (Yes.) Thanks a lot. Thank you. Is he new? I’ve never seen him before. (He’s been around and working for a while.) He’s been working for a while. OK. Thank you. Thanks. OK. I’ve done my job today. May I leave now? (Thank You, Master.) Take a break. (Thank You, Master.)
I haven’t seen my dog[-people] for two days. But now it’s safe. I feel like I can stay with them longer. Oh, my God, what a relief! I was crying, my heart was broken for many days – a week long. And I was thinking I was never going to see them again. Oh my God! It was the most painful time in my life. And more painful than when I left my former husband. I don’t know why.
Why are you laughing? (Thank You, Master.) Ciao. (Bye bye.) (Thank You, Master.) Thank you. (Thank You.) Thank you. (Thank You.) Love you. (Thank You, Master.) Meditate for your country also, for peace in your country. (Yes.) Every little blessing helps. Every little blessing, every little prayer helps. Why are they there? What for? Working team? (Working team.) Can’t they come in? (Master, I love You.) Love you. I love you, too. (Hallo, Master.) Hallo. (Master, I love You!)
