relationship WITH DISCIPLESIf you think I am worthy of being your Master, then learn from my example. I am not proud to tell you this. I just tell you the truth at the sacrifice of my image that you might think I am arrogant. But I have to tell you everything, so that you learn fast. I have long ago forsaken my reputation, because many people still misunderstand sometimes. Despite all my sacrifice and selfless service, still people misunderstand. Sometimes the new disciples also. I've long ago become used to no reputation, because I don't need it. Reputation is also excess garbage, because our soul is God, is one with God. God is the most glorious being. So, who can damage God's reputation?! Not with all these empty newspaper words or empty television screen. It's nothing.
So, have no fear because we have nothing to lose. We have never had anything because we have everything. We never lose anything because we have the whole universe. When you stay in a house, that is your house. So, when we stay in this universe, it's our universe. Even from an intellectual stand point, we are the Master of the universe. So do not look down upon yourselves, and remember who you are. You need nothing. You beg nothing. You only give. You give from your energy, from your good quality, from your Godly quality. So don't worry about every little thing that bothers you. Nothing bothers you if you don't let it.
..... Do not always run around to take care of me. Take care of our guests, take care of our brothers and sisters or whoever needs to be taken care of. It is okay. Everyone likes to run around and take care of me, but you don't realize that I am in all of you. For you to take care of each other is like taking care of me. I only need a little amount of attention. I don't need all of you taking care of me, you will run over me! (laughter). You will overwhelm me with love and attention, and other brothers stand around and nobody takes care of them and it is me too, it is me who you left behind or didn't take care of. I feel the feelings of the person. You don't feel it, but I do. So if you don't take care of them, it means that you bother me, because I will know it, and I will be bothered.
..... Being spiritual practitioners you can help a lot of people. Any people related to you are also related to me. Anyone related to me is related to the grand spiritual order. I am not working alone; I have many colleagues in heaven and on earth. We are connected like a network. Therefore, the relationship with one of us extends to the whole group. For example, some people might die in a traffic accident or by assassination, or by committing suicide. Yet, just because they have seen you once, have an acquaintance or relationship with you, or have heard the Master's name, they will be saved and taken to another sphere when they run into trouble.
..... Q. It was said today that our uncommon experiences should not be related, otherwise they'll disappear. But what about our friends and other people? Can our experiences be useful to them?
M. Yes, it will be useful to the people who listen, but it's not useful for the one who tells. You see, our friend just reported about her son's experience. The Master's blessing is only for you alone, so you should not share it with anyone. If you talk about it, the Master will close it up. Therefore it is difficult to be a Master in this world, because of that. It would be easy for me to do some magical tricks here and attract everybody, but I'm not allowed to do that. If I want to do that I'd be a different kind of Master, who cannot take people home. Understand? A real spiritual practitioner could never boast about his experiences and his power. The disciple knows how powerful his Master is at the initiation, after the initiation. And the more he practices, the more he knows how great the Master is, because he receives blessings every day. Miracles happen every day, only the Master is not allowed to do it in the public. Also, because the Master is a very humble person, and never boasts about these things, never uses miracles to attract the followers. This is self-praising and, how you say, publicizing and is not suitable for a Master's manner. And since you learn with this Master, you learn to become a Master yourself. To be a Master the first quality is humility, so you're trained to be humble at the time of discipleship. You must begin to keep quiet about your own attainments, otherwise God will take them back. All right?
..... Q. Master Ching Hai, please explain our relationship spiritually to You. After You die, and one has been initiated, is our flight back Home still guaranteed by Your soul spirit?
M. Guaranteed. As has been said earlier, we are not the body; we are the spirit. So when this body goes or comes, there is no difference, no distance between us. And I have told you already, at the time of initiation, the Method is explained to you so that you can use it for life. There is nothing that can come between anymore, unless you don't want it and you leave. But the seed is still there for next life.
..... Q. If one is initiated by you, do we remain your disciple forever! What is the job of a disciple?
M. The job of a disciple is to become a Master, so you don't need to be my disciple forever. You don't even need to be my disciple because you already are a Master, it's just that you do not know it. So I tell you how to recognize yourself again, that's all.
..... Q. Religion is the belief of the followers. A great Master is a living idol to his disciples. When You arrived at the New Tokyo International Airport, You were formally and warmly welcomed by Your disciples. This impression reminds me of the young folks' wholehearted support towards a movie star, sports star or a pop star. This is also a kind of worship and admiration towards an idol. As a religious leader, do You ever feel like a star?
M. I like peace and quiet, But I cannot stop the emotions of my disciples. They are grateful to me because I teach them good lessons which bring more understanding, brightness, and happiness into their lives. This is similar to being grateful to your English teacher if you have learned English from him. When my disciples become more and more enlightened, they will turn to my teachings rather than myself, this physical body. I personally, however, have never felt like a star; I don't even have time to feel that way. To save sentient beings is an exhausting job. Running from one place to another, smiling continuously, l answering questions endlessly, and getting very tired. I am glad that people like me, but I don't work just to please them.
