Any other questions? How did they go home yesterday? Did they climb, walk, or run? (Taxi.) Taxis. Oh. She is sitting there. I can’t understand what she’s talking about. (I am very happy to have formed a connection with You, Master. When I was in trouble and desperately needed You, and when I desperately wanted You in my heart, does the absence of a response mean that I was abandoned?) (She said she is very happy to know Master and to learn this Method. If she asks for Master’s help, and doesn’t get any help, does it mean Master has ignored her?) I won’t ignore her. It’s just sometimes I know what kind of situation is better for her, so I think of other ways to help her. The help will not be in the way she thinks. But eventually she’ll get help. She can pray if she wants. Slowly or quickly, I’ll decide in which way.
(Supreme Master, I wanted to ask a question earlier, but I couldn’t.) (Just now he wanted to ask a question, but he didn’t ask.) Just don’t cry like that. (I’m sorry. I have a second question. Whenever I encounter any difficulties in my life, I would seek help from Venerated Avalokiteśvara Boddhisatva...) (When he had problems on the path before, encountered problems on the path, he’d pray to Quan Yin Bodhisattva for help.) (But from now on, if I encounter difficulties and things don’t go well, is it OK to seek help from You, Master?) (Now, if there’s any difficulty on the path, or when he has a problem, can he pray to Master for help?) Yes, if he trusts me. (Thank You.) You’re welcome. I’ve heard that many people have prayed and they all got responses. You try it, you try it.
I think let’s call it a day. I’m sorry for them. Maybe it’s due to difficulty in listening. Because of the language barrier. It was hard for me too. And I’m also worried that they don’t translate well, causing us to misunderstand each other. But this world is never perfect. That’s why they should try their best to practice spiritually. Afterward, I will directly answer from inside. Then it’ll be better. After following me to practice for some time, these questions will be all gone, disappear. You’ll have no questions at all. You yourself will understand all. Very simple. But because you’ve just begun to practice, if I don’t let you ask questions, I’m afraid you won’t have peace of mind. Otherwise, you don’t have to ask at all. Practicing day by day, your questions will become less and less. Meditate more. Do more meditation on the (inner Heavenly) Sound. Then you’ll have no questions. They all don’t have any questions. After a couple of years, or two and a half years, three years, or just one year. Is there anyone who has practiced for one year, or less than one year… (Less than one year.) Not yet one year. Any other question? No? Good. Less than one year, already don’t have questions. Everyone, be patient. Meditate more, and you’ll improve.
Many questions are important for you now. After a few days, few weeks, few months, or few years, you’ll look like children. You can never imagine. For example, some people asked, why did Shakyamuni Buddha keep an “onion” (hair bun) on His head. I told him, He could keep it or shave it as He wished. It has nothing to do with our cycle of birth and death. Even His attaining Buddhahood had nothing to do with our cycle of birth and death, not to mention the bun on His head. Maybe at that time, He had no money to buy a shaving knife. No money for scissors. That’s all. Or in that place, winter was cold and so He had to keep His hair. It has nothing to do with us.
To be a renunciate or stay at home is all superficial. What’s important is the enlightenment inside. It’s important to renounce in our heart. If you leave home unenlightened, it’s better to stay home and be enlightened. However, I’m not telling you not to respect monks and nuns. What I mean is whether we are renunciates or laypersons, we should not be attached to superficial things. We know ourselves, know our own quality inside. If we know it, then it’s good. If we know it, it’s good. The most important thing is that we know it.
However, I want to tell you something. Korean monks are really very good. They are good even without practicing the Quan Yin Method. Their levels are good. They are very sincere. Very humble. Even when I, a female, come to give a lecture, they also come to learn. They are not bothered by renunciate or layperson, male or female. This is how real renunciates should be. They really have the heart of renunciation. You should respect them. Some renunciates are attached to their clothes, thinking that renunciation is good enough. They are contented with being respected. They have no aspiration to seek the Tao. Those are not real renunciates. That way, they are not as good as you lay people. In this regard, they, as renunciates, are very good.
Any other questions? OK. Say it quickly. (I’ve heard that there is group meditation once a week. When is the group meditation?) (There’s group meditation once a week. Which day is it?) It’s up to you to decide. Any day is OK. Let’s say, Sunday. Sunday afternoon or evening. You discuss it among yourselves. What time do you want? Why does it have to be a fixed time? Because I’ll ask those who understand foreign languages better to come here and translate for you. You can take turns. Those who understand Korean better take turns to translate my video and audio tapes from foreign countries, or books, for everyone to listen, and then make recordings and transcriptions, and then print books for you to read.
This place is ours. You can hold group meditations once, twice, three times. It doesn’t matter. Or you can come for group meditation every evening. Every evening. You can come to group meditation any time. You discuss it among yourselves. If some monks are living faraway, they can stay here. No problem. There are two houses. If in future the place becomes too small, I will rent other places. For the time being, let’s make it every Sunday. Yes or no? Or every Saturday evening. It’s also OK. Which do you prefer? Or make it on Sundays at 3 PM. Sunday afternoon is also OK. (Thursday.) What day? (Thursday.) Why Thursday? Alright. You yourselves.… After I leave, you get together on a Sunday to discuss. Is that OK? 3 PM. Discuss it at 3 PM. You should organize it among yourselves. What time for meditation and who’s going to be the translator. On which day, at which hour. Who’s going to teach (vegan) cooking, and who’s going to deal with what kind of things. You have to organize. It’s your own group, and you have to take care of it yourselves. If there’s anything you don’t understand, the monks or nuns will report to me, and I’ll write instructions for you. Or I’ll make a phone call. But learn to be independent.
Those who haven’t been touched on the head or whoever wants to be touched, come up here. If you like. Come, come. Come here one by one. You initiates can wait. Tell them that if they come here to meditate tomorrow, sit farther apart. I will come to bless them during their meditation. Tell them to go home quietly after I have blessed them. Don’t waste the blessing power.
“Almost all leaves gone, now barely some yellow ones left, NY still holds on to protective canopy-stand way. I am touched to tears.
*It’s exactly like a canopy shape – cannot show all corners due to other trees obstacle.”
Photography and caption-notes by Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) ~ December 8, 2025
