(When we begged [the Korean Embassy] for the first time, he told us to come back the next day. The next day, the gate guard told us that he had gone to a party and would not come back until 3 PM. Then, the following day, the gate guard said, “Why do you guys keep coming back when nothing is being resolved?” We said, “We don’t understand either. Why your boss keeps saying ‘tomorrow, tomorrow’ all the time?” Then, when we met the boss, we said, “Now, what documents do you need? Please tell us.” So he demanded, “Now, you guys don’t have the invitation letter, so our request now is that your Center has to fax to us here the activity agenda, and the location.” So at that time, the sister asked a brother to fax the request to the Center in Korea here, so the Center could fax the agenda to the Korean Embassy [in Poland]. Then that boss told us, “You guys go home. We don’t have time to consider it now.” So on the fourth day, we went again and begged that if he wouldn’t let all of us go now, then at least let two of us go. In our group, there is a sister, who is Aulacese [Vietnamese] from Âu Lạc [Vietnam]. She came to Poland and asked us to help. So the sister told us, “Now, they accepted two passports.” After begging so much, they accepted two passports, but we continued to plead, “OK, now, please let all of us go, because we also have...”)
Exactly like here. (“We only eat vegan and meditate.”) I let you guys see me once, then you ask again for one more time. Then I give it all. (Yes. Then we gave them Master’s Sample Booklet, but in Polish, and they said, “We don’t know how to read Polish.” The next day, the sister asked her husband to give them Master’s Sample Booklet in English.) They are Koreans. How come you gave them in English? You don’t have it in the Korean language? (Because they didn’t know Polish, we gave them the English version instead.) You don’t have the one in the Korean language? (We don’t have Koreans [initiates in Poland].) Yeah, you don’t have any over there. Understand. (Yes. They read it and then told us, “You can go, but you must come back here.” We said, “Yes, we are going. And when we return, we will come to visit and thank you.”) Yeah, tell him that. (Yes.) Next time, you can go easily. (So finally, they let all of us go.) Yeah. OK, go, go. (Yes.) Even then, you guys still made Master work. (We thought Master had arranged for us.) Similar to the initiates in Âu Lạc (Vietnam) who printed books, and said that whenever Master’s manifestation body came, the books they printed would turn out beautiful. I thought she was the one who printed, but she also made me print. Never mind, I am also happy that you guys could come. (Yes.) If you have the patience, you will get it, sooner or later. So pitiful, to go is also suffering. (Yes.)
But when you go back this time, report to him and bring him some gift. (Yes, we also have.) Bring back ginseng. (We already bought the gift.) Yeah, a little gift to bring home. Say, “Thank you.” Then the next time, since he knows that you went and came back, (Yes.) it will be easier next time, [because] he knows that you’re trustworthy. (Yes.) That’s good. Anytime you go, come back and thank him respectfully. (Yes.) Bring back a little gift, and say, “We are back, and here are gifts we brought back from Korea, see?” Show him your air tickets, proof that you went and came back. That’s right. OK? (Yes.) If we are trustworthy, it will be easier next time [to go again]. (Yes.) Yeah, that’s good. OK. And you bring back [Korean] ginseng to please him, and also give him the Sample Booklet in the Korean language. Yeah, he will be pleased. (Yes, we have it.) Bring him back some Korean ginseng, or something that the Koreans like. (We already bought the ginseng.) OK, but... Yeah, alright. (We did buy some (vegan) kimchi to bring back.) Ah, kimchi. It is not easy to buy kimchi over there. (They don’t have kimchi [in Poland].) That’s right. Buy a lot, a lot of (vegan) kimchi, so that they can eat to their heart’s content... (And spicy, too.) More spicy, more “passionate.” Ah, that is right.
(We initiates in Poland, many of us wanted to come here. But we didn’t make much money during the past few years. So this retreat is right in the month of May, which is a good month for business.) OK, no problem. Next time. (So many initiates could not come.) That’s why there are only a few retreats each year. (The initiates really wanted to go very much.) Many times, many [retreats]. You can come to any of them. (Yes.) You can choose which one to attend. And you guys already came here. (Yes.) Very good, very blessed already. (Yes.) Sometimes, people don’t have patience. They apply [for a visa] once, and if it is not approved, then they just give up. But you continued to apply two, three times like that, right? (Yes.) It is very difficult. In this world, it is difficult sometimes. Sometimes, when I want to do something, I also have to go back and forth many times. Life is like that. (Yes.)
What are you doing over there? These people here, I know they are doing business, how about those people on that side? (All the Aulacese [Vietnamese] are doing trading business.) All are doing business. (Sometimes, that is all we can do, because around 30% of the Poles are doing trading business. Therefore, we Aulacese [Vietnamese] can also do business. The whole country of Poland is doing trading business.) That’s good. OK, no problem. How about the initiates in Germany, what do you do? (We are workers.) Workers, and not doing business? (No.) You don’t have business over there to do? (No.) (There are some.) So you can run to Poland and learn from these people, learn how to do business. Over there, it seems like they are doing very good, because they can come to every retreat.
(I have a shop where I sell things, and I hang Master’s picture there. The customers who come in always ask, “Is that you?”) So much alike? (I tell some customers, “This is the Buddha,” to others I answer, “This is my Mother.” Then they say, “So your mom is working as a fashion model?” Too beautiful. Because I display the pictures where You wear Indian clothes, and in the other one, You wear a Japanese kimono. So they all say You are beautiful.) Is that so? (I often wear Your picture, and people ask me, “Who is this?” So I tell them, “This is my Mom.” Then they say, “How come your mom is so young?” I told those Polish people, and they asked, “How old is she? How old is your mom?” “My Mom, this year... can you guess?” They guessed about 20-something. I told them, “She is 50 already!” They didn’t believe it.) Because the people there, they age faster than we do, that’s all. (Master is so young.) Besides, I am beautiful! Nobody praises me, so I praise myself, to have fun. (No, it is true, Master. Whatever dress You wear, You look beautiful.)
This dress, I just bought it out there on the street. (I like Your golden hair.) Golden hair is better, right? (I think it suits You better, Master.) Once in a while, once in a while. (The “Happy Yogi” clothes look beautiful on Master, but not on the initiates.) If you say that, how can I sell them? You are doing business, but don’t know how to talk. (And don’t know how to socialize.) Don’t know how to socialize. Yeah, he should give a compliment, “Oh, sister, you look beautiful in that! Brother, you look handsome!” That way, they will go and buy more. OK, no problem. Who knows, because each person has his or her own style. That’s why I had to walk... Each person has their own way of walking, standing, speaking, sitting, and doing things, and that’s what makes them beautiful, not just the clothes. (Yes.) No problem. Even if you are not beautiful, once you wear it, you will look beautiful. If they see themselves as beautiful, then it is OK.
But we bought a lot; these clothes are cheap, nothing much. Because we bought a lot, in large quantities, we sell them cheaper. (Yes.) Wearing those clothes is comfortable. And this dress, because during the last few days, they didn’t have clothes for me to wear. They didn’t have the normal clothes except those splendid dresses. I am so fed up, so I told them to go out to buy a bunch of clothes. This one was bought on the street, cheap. (It is comfortable to wear like that, Master.) Yeah, these are Korean [clothes], nothing much. (Are You cold, wearing like that? (Do You feel cold, sitting like that, Master?) No, no, not cold. Not yet, not cold yet. Because inside, I have the shirt, (Yes.) which they call... what? Thermal shirt. (Don’t drop a “bomb” to make Master cold.) Huh? (Don’t drop a “bomb,” Master will be cold. Only when they drop the “bomb,” then Master is always cold. Drop the “bomb,” then naturally, it will be cold.) If they don’t drop the “bomb,” then I will be warm? Yeah, if they talk sissy-sassy, then they are wasting my time. (Yes.) There are thousands of people, and if each one talks nonsense like that, I would be tired. (Today, Master gave Her Dharma, so our people are happy today.) Just talk about happy things. Nonsense or rubbish talk make me tired. Always talking about little mundane stuff.
(There is someone who wants to ask questions. That side, also.) Where? Who wants to say something? (One day, there was a person who came in and asked for money.) Yeah. (So I gave him money. Then he came back and asked for money a second time, then suddenly I saw him fold his hands and bow, saying, “Buddha Ching Hai.” All the hair on my body stood up. I didn’t know the reason why, because he is a Pole, so I gave money to him the second time. I don’t know the reason why a Pole folded his hands and bowed, saying, “Buddha Ching Hai.” I still don’t know even now.) Probably because when I went there to give my lecture, they knew about it? (I am sure it was the reason.) Or before that? (But he was a very poor man, so I could not understand how?) At that time, he probably saw the brochure with my picture posted on the street. (Probably it was like that.) Yeah, they are poor outside, but not inside. Looking at the picture on the brochure did not cost him anything, so there was nothing to do with being poor. When we posted the brochure, we didn’t say, “Poor people can’t look.” But rather, the poor people would look more attentively. Yeah, understand? (“Poor people are not allowed to look.”) They looked at the picture and they prayed. (Yes.) Then when he came in and you gave him money, he knew you are with Her... he was happy!
(And only we gave, the other booths or stalls never gave even a penny.) That’s why he thanked only (Master) Ching Hai, then you saw that, you gave him more money. So, more or less, we give to people to make them happy. Sometimes, it is cold outside, and sometimes, if we don’t give, he goes out and dies because of hunger and cold, then we would be very sad. Sometimes, they lie (to get the money), but we don’t care. (Yes.) What if they were honest? (Yes.) Just give. (Yes.) I gave all the time, again and again.
Sometimes, when we came in to McDonald’s [to eat French Fries], a disciple said, “My God, how come it was so expensive, Master?” Because I gave to whoever I met, then at the end, it was about four, five hundred US dollars. The disciple said, “Oh God! If we go to eat at a posh restaurant, it only costs 300 dollars, but we ate at McDonald’s, it cost us US$500!” (Eating only French Fries and paying US$500.) We ate French Fries and we had (…to pay 500 dollars.) to self-serve, too. We had to come and get Cola ourselves, but US$500. (Still US$500.) Two, three people came there, and sometimes, if I had small bills, I gave them small bills, but if I only had big bills, then I gave them big bills. So sometimes I gave 100, 200 [dollars]. So it added up to US$500, said, “My God! This restaurant is much more expensive than the top-class restaurants in New York!”
What? (Master, the initiates in Poland are very sincere. But many of them didn’t have enough money to come here.) I know. You’ve said this many times already. (And now they’ve requested that the European initiates come to Poland to attend group meditation there. That day, the Quan Yin Messenger came and asked for Your permission, and I didn’t know the result, but I have pity for them. We can come like this, but them... Anyway, Aulacese [Vietnamese] initiates can still make money to come here. This coming June, they organized a facility in a city to have group meditation there.) Whatever they want, they can do. Group meditation is normal, nothing special to talk about. If you want to meditate, then it is OK. If you need, you can do. It is nothing. OK, no problem. (Yes, so it is OK?) Sure, why not? (Yes.) We sit to meditate, not that we go to rob something. Once in a while, you guys can sit together one day, it’s fine. A one-day, two-day retreat is OK. (Yes.) Three-day retreat.
What do you want to say, comrade? (Master, besides meditation, is there anything we can do to help You? When we go home, what kind of work, study, anything that Master recommends us to do?) You can check what the Center needs, then you can help. You can volunteer to do whatever you can. You see what you can do, then do it, OK? (Yes.) As long as you are sincere, not that you have to do special work to gain merits. You have to be sincere. Whatever you see is worthy to help the Center, and help others to be enlightened, and you can do at that time, and you know you can do, then do it right away. That’s it. Nothing much. Now, what can I say? There is are hundred thousand works to do. Each person has a certain inclination, with his or her different vows, so do whatever you can. What can I do? Too many. Too many children, I can’t teach them all, and I am tired. (You teach all the time, but they don’t listen.) Whatever you want to do, then do it. As long as you are happy, happy inside your heart, then do whatever you want. We work so that we feel happy inside, no need to ask, to talk. (Laughing all the time.) Huh? (Why do I keep laughing…)
Alright, OK then? (Yes.) Let’s go back to sleep, right? (Yes.) OK, tomorrow... (Tonight, I may not sleep, Master.) I will see you tomorrow. (We will leave for home tomorrow, Master.) Going tomorrow? Yeah, that’s very good. (We will leave at 2 AM.) On this occasion, we see each other for the last time (Yes.) before you go. If there is a chance, we will see each other again. (Yes.) Thank you for coming here, it is a long way. (Thank You, Master. We wish You to be healthy, Master.) (Thank You for spending time with us. We wish You to be healthy.) OK, I know. (Fresh, young, beautiful.) Yeah, yeah, all the time. (Next time, when we see You, what hair color will You change to?) I don’t know yet. (Beautiful color.) Green, green. (In the future, Master will change Her hair to blue color.) Ocean blue. (If we don’t know, we can’t tell in advance.) It depends. It depends on different situations, not that we want this color, that color.
(Before I came here, I dyed my hair the same color as Master’s, then... (Now, it is...) Then, before I went, I didn’t know what I thought, so I cut my hair.) Golden hair was cut back to black hair, right? (Now it is black hair.) Why did you cut? (If I didn’t cut, my hair color would be the same as Master’s, but because I thought...) If you want to have the same color, then have the same color. If not, then not. This is not important, because it is the outside appearance. (Yes.) Whatever you like, you do it, for a little fun. (Yes.) But I [dyed my hair] for a reason. Different reason. (Yes.) Whenever we need something, we do it. That’s it. (Yes.) So whatever you want, you do, for fun, not forbidden. Red hair, blue hair, black hair is fine, as long as your heart is golden.
OK. This one, each one of you brings home some. Bring some for the ones at home, (Yes.) at your Center. When you are back, “mix-mix” with other [candies]. (Thank You, Master). OK. Share, share with each other. (Yes.) OK, done. (Good night, Master.) See you in the future. (Yes.) Thank you. It is a long distance and costs a lot of money, but you guys still come to visit. (No problem. We are happy to see You.) Happy? (Yes, so happy.) You see me all the time, but still happy all the time. (Yes.) Thank you, a thousand times. (We wish You good health. Wish You a good night.) God and Buddha bless you. (Yes. Thank You, Master! We wish You sleep well. Good night, Master.)
Germany. (Germany.) Did your daughter not come? (Yes. Here she is.) (I am here.) Oh! You look different from when I saw you the other day. So young? (So young.) (Thank You, Master.) Is your boyfriend OK now? (Master.) Is it still the same? (It’s still the same.) Is he still the same person? (Yes.) Ah, so faithful. That’s wonderful. Yeah. I was looking for you just now. I couldn’t find you here. You look different. Even more beautiful. (Yes.) Maybe it’s your hair. (Thank You, Master.) You look young. (Thank You, Master.) How come you looked older ten years ago? You look so young now. Now, you are so young. Before, you were older than now. (It’s because of Master.) (Because of Master’s Power.) (Master, she has a hot temper.) Hot temper? (Master, please help to cut her temper.) I can’t even cut mine, let alone hers. The Tiger is our zodiac sign and we are very strong. (That’s right. My zodiac sign is Tiger.) Never mind. I know it. That’s the way we are. (Yes.) Like a tiger. OK. Now, it’s done. I am going home. (Yes. Have a good night, Master.) Good night! Bon voyage! (Yes, thank You, Master. Wishing You to be healthy.) (Ciao, Master.)
Photo Caption: The Forest Might Greet You With Pleasant Surprise
