(Dear Master, it seems this brother, unknowingly, slandered the Vimalakirti Sutra, because just now, Master explained it so clearly. And I couldn’t find any mention of the Second, Third, Fourth Levels in the Vimalakirti Sutra, for sure, nothing like that in this sutra.) Nothing. The sutra often spoke of the Srotapanna or Asaiksa Level, Perfect Enlightenment Buddha Level, etc… They said something like that but not the Third, Fourth Levels. (Yes.) Meaning it’s kind of similar to our path. However, at that time, those who practiced with the Buddha, the highest level they could attain was called Perfect Enlightenment Buddha, meaning they don’t have to learn anymore. Pratyekabuddha. Pratyeka means not having to learn anymore, don’t have to come back anymore. And the other ones normally have to come back four lifetimes before they can become a Buddha.
But, you know, four lifetimes may span thousands of years. Because it’s not like when we die, we reincarnate immediately, right away. After 100 years then death, then another 100 years, then 400 years. It is not like that. Before we can reincarnate, we have to do so many other things, or stay in some kind of hell to pay karmic debt for a thousand years, or many hundreds of years. Or you stay in some Asura worlds to rest for four or five hundreds of years and do some frivolous things, before coming back. That’s why we say one has to come back in four lifetimes before becoming a Buddha – for the ones who are at the Sotāpanna Level (the first stage), for example. Some come back and in two lifetimes become a Buddha. Some come back and become a Buddha in one lifetime. Some have to come back four lifetimes; some many lifetimes [before they can become a Buddha], something like that, Meanwhile, four lifetimes are many thousands of years.
So, Uncle, if you like that, then you come back, don’t practice with me. Practice with me, you go up in one lifetime only. Those who became Pratyekabuddhas (individuals who independently achieve liberation) already practiced before. They came to Shakyamuni Buddha to listen to His preaching, normally it’s like that. And those who followed normally already had four, five lifetimes. Whoever has enough patience. [With] me – immediate enlightenment! I am very tired. I won’t go back and forth, three, four times like that. To eat so much rice, and to sit until my back aches. I have to buy ashrams, and things for the ashrams. For you, too. My goodness, so tiring! Forget it! Whoever doesn’t want to go, then stay back. I go, and go forever!
That’s why you see, right? Is there any teacher that works as hard as I do? I do anything, I get it done so that I can go [Home]. Now, whatever is asked, I’ll do; I’ll do anything. No matter the hardship or suffering, I’ll still do it. There is no sacrifice that I would refuse. You just don’t know what I have to do. (Yes.) You only see that I am sitting here, folding my legs, talking, laughing, and teaching. That’s all. It’s not just that. Otherwise, it is too easy and anyone can do it. There are silent sufferings which you don’t know about. But I have to do everything, to get it done. I won’t want to come back anymore. Too exhausting! (Yes.)
(Master, I’d like to make some confession and like to ask for Your suggestion. I want to be a theatre artist, and I often work with a lot of dancers and actresses, actors and musicians. And in this area, I often see artists have a very hectic side of their…) What? (I often see those people I work with. They always have like a very hectic side of their lives. Like as an artist, like actors, and actresses... for example, like they often smoke pot and do lots of stuff just to get out of their own personal frustration. And sometimes I wonder about, well, as an artist... we always wonder, we want to be open minded, try as many things as possible. But since I’m following the Quan Yin Method, that sometimes I feel like I wouldn’t be able to do that. Of course, I know that I shouldn’t do it in a way, but sometimes they will have this theory like you have to be really out there, to try something in order to be a good artist. So, sometimes I got very confused so I’d like to ask Your suggestion and support.)
OK. These people, they are confused. They feel very empty in their life, after they try all their best to please the public. Of course, then they’re empty. And because they don’t know anywhere else to turn to. When they call to the Buddha, Buddha doesn’t answer. When they talk to [Lord] Jesus, Jesus just hangs there. So then of course they try something to quickly fulfill their emptiness inside. Any kind of work for the public, gives you this empty feeling in the aftermath. You must know. That’s a great sacrifice that every artist must make. But, you... (So, should I change careers?) No, no, no. But you have your Master. You have the Quan Yin Method, you have the meditation, which is quicker than the pot (marijuana), that fulfills your inner satisfaction and peace. Why do you need this cheap substitute? You tell them. You should lead them instead of let them lead you. You are the light. You don’t follow the darkness.
(Sometimes I just feel like… it’s just like I’m so alone among these people.) No, you’re not alone. (It’s just...) You are there to lead them. You’re there to bless them. You are there to give them what they don’t have. You’re there to be their strength because they are in darkness. You’re the only light. And you want to dim yourself and go into the darkness too? Shame on you. God put you there so that there is one light in the darkness. You talk to them, tell them there are better ways, more noble ways, less damaging, more fulfilling. They are lonely. They need you. You must be strong. OK? Be thankful.
An artist’s job is very noble. You make a lot of people happy, make their time pass quicker when they watch a good movie; it’s educational. When they watch a good theatre performance, it’s educational. And then so, of course whatever we give, we empty out. That’s why they feel more lonely. The artists feel more lonely after the big applause of the people. They feel more empty. I know that. Every Sunday, I know that. After every group meditation, I know that. I empty too; I empty everything out, so that you feel fulfilled and happy. But I feel often also very lonely and empty, not to talk about artists. You see what I mean? But I have to be strong, so you have to be strong. We are there to be strong for people to lean on. We are there to show the way, to have a beacon of light. Don’t be tempted to go the easy way. And then you fall, and then you will regret and bring a lot of people down with you. OK?
You know your mission, why you are there. You’re not only an artist, you’re a saint. I hope that I helped you. You are a saint, remember. Forget your outward mask as an artist. You are a saint in disguise to be there, so people feel better. Talk to them about something more noble, more meaningful. Even though they reject you, their minds record it. Give them more good recordings than what they have been recording up to now. Up to now, they record all the negative things. So you have to replace that with a better recording for their minds, whether they accept it or not. The mind still records it, and later it will germinate. It will bear fruit. You don’t have to take credit for anything you do. Just do it. Alright. Next one. (God bless You.) God bless you more. Thank you. God bless you more. OK. God bless you more.
Every time you talk to somebody or you please somebody, even though it is very good, but it takes something out of you. That’s for sure. That will be refilled later, only if you know that. But some people don’t know. Some people take longer, and they want a quick result. They feel just such a tremendous rush of emptiness upon them. And they just get confused and panicked and lonely and other people tell them, “Oh, you just smoke this and you’ll feel like in heaven.” Then they try that out of curiosity, out of weakness, out of frustration. And then they will go down the hill, and they cannot stand up anymore. That’s the problem. Anything, you can try, but how will your life be later? So, we have to understand, every choice we make is free will, but the consequences are different. God lets you try anything you want, but you have to know because you have wisdom. You have to know what choice is good for you.
OK, then if [there are] no more questions you go home. Don’t let me ask. If you want, you have to ask first. Come on, quick, quick. (Yes, Master. I just would like to thank Master very much, so very much for Your sacrifices for us.) No problem! (We don’t know what else to say. And I have a question regarding meditating on the inner [Heavenly] Sound. Dear Master, do I need... for example, when I am on a plane or in a car, I cover my head, can I…? In public spaces, can I…?) Yes, yes. (Yes, thank You, Master.) But it is certainly more convenient to do it at home. Only if it is too inconvenient, then you can do it in the car.
OK. Is there anything else? You understand everything I said, right? (Yes.) You’re very quick now. When you first came, I talked long hours, you didn’t understand anything, and now you understand very quickly. OK, finished? Go back home. So that’s why… I tell you something else, by the way. See, because she mentioned about the loneliness of the artists. After they have been praised and supported by the whole public for their performance, they came home feeling lonely because they have tried their best, all their energy has to be poured out in order to perform it as real, to please the public. That’s why they’re empty. Just like when you work hard about something, you feel exhausted later physically. And when you think hard about how to solve some problem, you’re exhausted mentally later for a while. And then you need rest, you need recharging.
So, that’s why you should be grateful to your family members because they’re always there for you. It doesn’t matter how hard the world treats you, how many problems you have, when you come home, you’re not too lonely because of your family members. That’s why I told you, treat them like Buddhas. Don’t take them for granted. That’s why I say you have to reconnect with your family every time you come back from retreat, every time you come back from work. Because they are there for you, they are a supporting pillar for your life – mentally, emotionally. Do not treat them as a burden or as a kind of nuisance for you. Because you never know when they’re gone how you’ll feel in times of trouble. You’ll feel very, very lonely. You have no shoulder to cry on, you have no one to talk to. You can, of course, talk to friends, but they’re not always there. Not there 24 hours like your family members. They have their family – the friends – they have their other friends, they have their other problems. You can come to them only once a while, now and again.
So, God put your family members there to help you and you to help them. You must understand this. And don’t think that, “OK, my wife is a nuisance,” “My husband is a pain in the you-know-where.” Do not think like that. Treat them with respect. Because after all, they’re also Buddha, they’re like us. They just choose a different way of life and that’s their freedom. They have to learn their lesson, they have to learn the way they want to learn, they have to explore every corner of the universe that they want to explore. Me, maybe we have done it already, now we’re fed up, we want to go Home. But they have not done it, they are not fed up yet, so they do their things. Respect them anyhow. And maybe because of your sincerity, your love, they will turn around. So, love your own people. Bye.
Photo Caption: “Tender Message to the Hard Surrounding”
