(Excuse me, Master, I’d like to ask You a few questions.) (Master, Steve Brunsman, I work at the Houston Post.) OK. (Nice to meet You.) Nice to meet you. (I need to apologize.) It’s alright, honey. (I arrived here late.) I know you have a lot of work. (I wanted to take a minute or two with You.) Yes, sure. Everybody else, eat please. OK. Or, why don’t you sit here and eat with us. No. Eat or talk, it’s OK. I don’t eat that much. I’m here only for the people. (Can I sit here) Sit down anywhere, please.
(Your path is quite rather easy or “instantly,” maybe the wrong word, but something that... (Inside.) that is inside.) Just get to know yourself.
(Talk to me about that.) You see, we know everything. We know many things in this world except ourselves. So, whoever comes to me, if they try to seek That, Which is eternal, Which is themselves, which will make them happy, then I’ll show them that the only Thing worth knowing is yourself. (I don’t think She means that in mundane ways.) Yeah. So, I will explain because I’m too quick for him already.
You see, the “self” you know now is a Steve-something, perhaps. Right? Born from Mr. and Mrs. so-and-so and graduated in such-and-such university. And with all this knowledge, you learn from books, and from parents, and from teachers, from friends. But that’s not the real you. Because before you were born, you were not Steve Brunsman. And you didn’t have all this knowledge which you call “yourself.” So, when we boil it down to some essential, we have nothing. If we truly cling to this so-called Steve Brunsman the way you know yourself, then you have nothing, actually. Because you only have book knowledge, you have only experiences in daily life, contact with other people or situations. And that’s not you. (OK.) It’s only situation and knowledge.
(Tell me about the path for Your disciples. Do they come to You and where are Your headquartered? Do they have a path of study, so to speak, that would take months or years? How does that work?) It doesn’t work from outside as much as from inside. Actually, while I teach people, there’s no need for language. But we also use language in discourses. Whenever I am required to go somewhere to speak, or speak in my headquarter in Taiwan (Formosa), and when I speak, then people clarify some of their misconceptions, or some of their prejudices, many things they question themselves about. And that is the first part.
And when they’re ready to accept a higher part, then I don’t speak. Then I will just teach them in silence, using their own knowledge to teach themselves. Because all of us have this wisdom inside. All I have to do is tell them to turn around and look at their own greatness and wisdom, and slowly they will recognize that.
(OK. When You do not speak, when a person is at a point where it is not essential for the Master to speak, we are talking about what? A kind of heart-to-heart with…) Yes, yes, yes, that’s it.
(Is this a meditative path that You present?) Yes, we also have to meditate. We turn inward to recognize our real Self. That’s maybe more appropriate to it. (Is it like quickening the spirit, allowing the spirit to start to develop inside of the person?) Starting to recognize your already great Self. One by one.
(Tell me, please, how long have You been teaching as a Master?) It’s seven, eight years now. (And about how many disciples would You say that You have, or how many people have been through this path or Your program?) I think tens of thousands. Or more than that, more than I can remember and recognize. (OK. How about inside the United States? Are You quite active? Do You have many disciples inside the United States?) Must be many thousands, but I cannot have an exact number now. Because I’m also not here that long and not that often. (OK. Is this Your first visit to Houston?) SM: No, no. It’s ... (I think is the second.) Second or third. Second.
(OK. Many people here in Houston think of themselves as religious. People, in a popular sense, consider this a very religious place, (Right.) a place with a lot of churches and a lot of congregations.) Understand. Yes.
(Do You view this as a religious or a spiritual place?) Yes, it is religious in some way. And it would be more complete if the people in such a place were offered self-enlightenment, you know, self-recognition method as well, instead of only listening to the past Masters’ teachings and not understanding much of it. It would be more religious if people truly understood the teachings of the past Masters and also understood themselves. Because that’s what all the Masters taught: Know yourself and know that the “Kingdom of God is within you.”
Many people go to different congregations, but they don’t know where the Kingdom of God is. They heard about It, but they never see It. So, our way is to teach people to know right away where your Kingdom of God is and what it looks like – at least, spiritually speaking. So, you can see (inner Heavenly) Light from God, you can hear God, You’ll be wiser and wiser and more loving each day. Very concrete and down-to-earth experiences – not to talk about it and advertise about it, but to know it, to taste it, and to have more and more each day.
To be a different person – different, but the Self-person, the true Self. Not the one you recognize that you have been from knowledge and from the recognition by the people, but your Real Self, your True Self – before you were born and after you die. What is that person? So we let you know that. OK? (OK, excellent.) Yes. (Thank You very much.) You’re welcome. I hope I wasn’t too fast for you. (Only on a couple places.) OK. You can ask me again. (I’ve got it.) Thank you. Good.
(Thank You again. I appreciate You taking this time. How long will You be staying here?) Up to now, I think we plan for Sunday. (OK, and do You know where You’ll be going after Sunday?) I think… (I understand You were...) go back to L.A. (...in Southern California.) Yes, yes. (Are You headed back there or?) Yes.
(OK. Do You have here in the United States anything like a Center? Is there… And by that, I mean a building…) Understand. We don’t believe in buildings so much. So, whatever we buy – we have bought a few places – in which small buildings, for example, houses or farmhouses, already existed. So, we converted them into places for people to come to meditate, or to ask questions, or to rest, or to taste some vegan meals or watch some Holy teachings. That’s it.
(Do You have these here in the United States?) Yeah, we have. (Where are they located?) For example, the one in LA. And here, they are trying to buy a place to do it, but now they are doing it… (Using a private home here.) Yeah, in private home. (But they have a Center in New Jersey.) Yes. (They have one in Los Angeles.) Yes. And many other places – in San Jose.
(Do they have this... What name is used? Do You use different names for these Centers or?) (They’re all called the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association.) Right, that’s what they call themselves, yes. (Do you partake in some vegan food?) (I would love to. You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m on a tight schedule.) No time. (Steve, it was very nice of you to come by.)
(May I get in touch with you early next week.) (That’s fine.) (Just to do some follow up...) (There’s a doctor who’s here, who might be somebody you want to talk to.) (I was thinking, I may take down a few names and telephone numbers just to contact.) (And I can always give you those if you don’t get a memo.) (OK. Excellent. Thank You again.) Steve, sorry that you couldn’t join us. (I appreciate it.) (Thank You.)
OK. Now we have some gifts for you. Give him some [vegan] cakes or fruits. (Yes.) (Well, You did overtime today, Master.) Never mind. It’s OK. It’s all for the benefit of people. I’m not here to eat or to rest or to play. (You certainly got the Word out.) Alright.
It’s just like stone or wood. But the concept of “no-thought” is something else. Sometimes we get stuck in terminology, but in reality, “no-thought” isn’t like that. “No-thought” means that at that moment, you’ve reached a higher realm. You’ve escaped from trivial, nonsensical thoughts, and naturally, you rise to another level. You connect with your true Self, with your true Nature. At that moment, you no longer need your mind. (Yes.) So there are no more distracting thoughts. You enter a different world, one that cannot be explained with the mind or its language. At that point, it can be called “no-thought.” But that “no-thought” isn’t something you forcefully suppress or bring up on your own.
(When meditating, how can one turn distracting thoughts into “no-thought”?) This is a bit difficult; it takes some time to practice. For some people, it happens very quickly. Some people achieve “no-thought” instantly after receiving initiation. They ascend to a high level right away. They leave all the garbage behind. For others, it might take a few weeks, or a few months, or even a few years of practice.
There’s nothing about it. You have to search for that, understand? But don’t get fixated and say: “I am a very compassionate person. See? Today I gave you five hundred, and over there, I gave five thousand. That’s the kind of person I am.” When you cling to that, that’s the “self.” But that “self” isn’t real. It’s the same as saying, “Oh, I’m so bad, I’m so harsh. I scold my wife; I yell at my kids.” That’s also not the real “self.” If you keep thinking “I am this” or “I am that,” you get stuck in dualities. (I know myself, but…) Yes, exactly. So before the “self” was born, that is the real “self.” Before we were good or bad, before anything existed.
(How can we know ourselves before we were born, Master?) You have to contemplate that. I’m very clear, but… When you meditate long enough, or when you meditate the right way, you will gradually free yourself from those preconceived notions. The notions “I am bad,” “I am good,” “I am smart,” “I am talented,” “I am stupid,” or whatever else – and return to your true Self. At that point, you know everything, but at the same time, you know nothing.
(How can one go from knowing nothing to knowing everything, but...) Well, that’s our true Nature (Yes, that is us...) but we keep forgetting. (Right.) We spend all day... (How do we remember again, Master?) That’s why it’s so challenging to teach students, (Yes.) to work in every possible way. The main goal is to help them awaken, so they can use their enlightenment to understand quickly. Otherwise, relying on the mind takes a very long time. That’s why I’m sitting here now, lecturing to you. I could talk and teach you for five or ten years, and it would still be the same. So first, you have to open up the mind of the Master within. (Yes.) You have to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. Once it’s opened, then when I speak to you, you can listen and understand. That’s why you keep asking, but my disciples immediately understand what I say, while many others keep asking and still don’t understand. It’s because their understanding hasn’t been opened up yet. (You said 7,000 years later?) Something like that. (Wow.) More. More than seven thousand. A little bit more.
What time is it now? (It’s a quarter after two.) Otherwise we never have evening. Because it is all day, all night. (Why don’t You get…) Master needs to rest.) It’s up to you. If you want more questions, you may ask me. If not, then I go. You are important, not me. (My only question on You is…) Enlightenment. (Enlightenment.) OK. I will give you in five minutes. You’ll have it. Don’t worry. OK?
(Has he become vegan yet, Master?) Oh my, he’s been vegan for a long time, (Really?) and has already received initiation. (Oh, really?) He’s already a student, but he’s very intellectual. He’s had many experiences, but he still wants more. That’s just how it is, being a bit spoiled. They’re all like that. It’s just that these two foreigners are a bit more pampered by me, (Yes.) and they work a lot too, that’s all. It’s because of his background.
(Tomorrow at three, and it’s free.) What is that? (Where?) (Tomorrow at three.) Oh. He talked about initiation tomorrow at 3 o’clock. (Initiation tomorrow at three, and it’s free.) And it’s free. Always free. Everything from me is free. Because I owe everything to this world. So I give it all free.
They have some procedure or kind of bureaucracy or something like that – you go on. (Take care of the mundane and…) Yeah. That’s it. So don’t worry. You’re free. Who binds you? Who needs a physical body? (Right.) You’re already gone. You’re up there, and you direct the physical body right now. (Right.) So of course you don’t have experience. You’re gone. Who is there to see the experience? (Whoever is else is seeing their experience.) Only if you are still in there, then you see the experience. (Oh, really?) Yeah. (That’s the way it works.) Yep. Alright.
Ah, it’s nothing. (Enlightened like You, Master.) Yes, enlightened. (I learned a lot, Master. You have to teach [me] a lot. It’s destiny.) OK. If you have time? (Yes.) You can listen to my tape, (I got it.) or read my books that might help you. That helps to some degree. (Yes. Thank You, Master.)
And if you want deeper, then you can go for a real initiation. That’s all. The choice is yours. (Thank You.) I’m always available. (OK. OK.) Either way. So you let him know.
Anyone else likes to take picture? Enough? Make sure it’s good. Is it good? Take one more. (One more? OK.) Yes. In case. (Smile.) Alright. I’m in a good mood today. (OK. Thank You.) Be careful. (Thank You very much.)
I have something for you. (Our Master has something for…) Everybody. This kind of gift is the same thing. Inside, inside (it’s a special gift, it’s blessing.) So let’s them share it. You share with each other. OK? This comes from international background – Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, American, Houston, California, etc. (Thank You very much. Thank You very very much...) See you around six, seven or something. (Alright.) No question is the best question. Alright.
You saw me enough? I have a little trouble with my eyes today, so I have to wear sunglasses. But, if you want to see my eyes, you can look at my picture. (Take care.) Alright. (You know how I am.) Yes.
Photo Caption: We Will Rebuild From Destruction
