But it's very difficult, because we make mistakes very easily and we like
listening to the "serpents". There is no one worse than those
with a sweet tongue. That's why we Au Lac people are afraid of sweet people.
Be careful when someone speaks sweet words to you.
Sugar and candy don't do us any good. Sugar spoils all the vitamins we
consume -- so I was told. So now you see why those who have high sugar
intake, or have a lot of sugar in their coffee, look very nervous -- because
they don't have enough vitamins. Besides, too much sugar causes tooth decay.
Sweet thing doesn't help us. We will put on weight, get high blood pressure
or heart disease if we have too many cookies. They are fatal diseases.
So sweet things are no good at all, and neither are sweet words. But the
whole world is fond of sweetness. That's the trouble. Had the serpent's
words not been so sweet, stupid Eve would probably not have taken the fruit.
But as they were sweet, she bought them and ate the fruit; then dragged
her husband down as well.
Because of this story, people believe women are like serpents, in that
they all seduce men. I dare not say it's wrong, but who was the original
seducer?
The Latter Part Of Eden
When Adam and Eve fell to Earth, they were captivated by worldly pleasures
and virtually forgot about repentance. Since then, they have been mesmerized.
Intoxication alone is still acceptable, but why are they so ferocious?
It is because of what I have just told you. When they wanted to eat a fruit
in heaven the fruit would drop into their hands. Such things never happen
in this world. You shake the tree with all your might or even use a hook,
and the fruit still won't come off.
So, they began to rack their minds, trying to conceive of a way to get
a lot of fruit in the most civilized and speedy manner. They got some inspiration
from the power of the rains and storms. They saw the trees wavering in
the wind, so they imitated and blew at the trees. The trees didn't move
an inch.
Then they began to practice Chi-kung and energy exchanging. At first they
could only bully the small trees. As their Chi grew stronger, they affected
the bigger trees. Consequently, their faces started to look flushed, and
their voices also became very loud and coarse.
Previously, they didn't have to speak in heaven. Everyone could communicate
by telepathy and understand each other's thoughts. Here they had to learn
from the animals because they wanted to defend themselves. It was still
all right when they first came here; but later, the animals smelt them
and threatened to eat them.
Terrified by the roaring animals, they didn't know what to do. So, because
the animals roared, Adam, Eve and their children also began to roar. Observing
that they were more fierce, even the tigers ran away -- it worked! Their
method worked. So they continued and became more fierce, just like tigers
and lions.
If we sometimes see people who are very fierce, you know that was how they
first learnt it. Originally, they practiced it to protect themselves, but
gradually it became a deep-rooted habit. That is how we became like we
are today -- fierce and raucous Buddhas.
If people still remembered what they were like in the very beginning, they
would speak in a softer manner. When they don't remember, they roar. So
now we know it is only our habits that make us speak softly or loudly.
Then came the whistling sound of the wind, very much like the rumbling
sound of tigers and lions. However, Adam still couldn't talk to his wife,
because they didn't have to speak in heaven. As soon as other people thought,
they understood. Not a word was required.
When they fell to Earth, their power was gone. It was different when they
were deprived of the blessing power. Once they left this power, they got
lost in the secular world. Therefore, they needed to speak. Then they felt
the shame that estranged them from each other. They dared not hold each
other's hands or do anything. It was not the same anymore.
So, they began to charm each other. In doing so, they had to learn from
the animals, because they could no longer communicate inside, and they
didn't know how to speak either. They observed the animals and imitated
their voices. That was how they learnt their A-B-C's.
Having no one else to learn from, they could only imitate the chaotic behavior
of the animals. When they were up there, they learnt from God, from the
immortals, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings), which was
much more elegant than the human world.
When they first came, there were no other humans, because they were our
ancestors. They didn't have an enlightened master to teach them here, so
they had to teach themselves. However, their wisdom had been severed and
forgotten! As soon as they left the spiritual center, they got lost and
couldn't return. They were intoxicated by passions and sensual pleasures!
The secular world is full of worries which made them forget their wisdom,
so they had to take care of themselves. Having no teachers, they learnt
from the wind, the rain, the fearful thunder, the sun, and the extreme
phenomena of hot and cold. They learnt everything from nature.
They also learnt from the animals, how to protect themselves. Sometimes
they were not really angry, but when the tigers came roaring, they also
roared. They imitated them so well that they started to look like them.
They were not really fierce at heart, but sometimes Adam would forget and
roared even at his wife. His wife also roared back at him. So the two acted
in the same way. Human language was initiated from there, which was a compilation
of animal sounds.
We shouldn't blame ourselves really; we should blame God for giving us
such a severe punishment. Anyhow, God is impatient in the first place.
Hes has the greatest patience, but Hes is also the most impatient. Hes
is the most merciful, but also the most apathetic. Hes has two faces. Hes
is the most Yin and the most Yang; the most gentle and the most forceful.
This is what makes Hirm so interesting.
It is similar in our world. If there is only sunshine every day, we cannot
bear it, and the crops will not grow. We need rain. However, if it rains
constantly. It is very inconvenient for us who live in tents. So, both
are essential.
However, although we are aware of the law of the Yin-Yang equilibrium,
it is still unbearable when the effects come to us. We know there are rainy
days and sunny days; there is winter and summer. Nevertheless, we often
complain about the hot, sticky and humid weather of summer.
When it rains, though we know it is essential for agriculture, we still
cannot stand it. Especially when we are having a 1-day or 7-day retreat
or gathering. Everyone is completely wet, the steel cups are filled with
rain water and cannot be used to drink Oolong tea. (Laughter)
The same also applies when we encounter trials in our spiritual cultivation.
The Master has told us a hundred and eight times that there ought to be
trials, and that we should keep a balanced mind, see good and bad things
as the same, and take praise and reprimand equally.
However, when we are being scolded, we still pull a long face, feel hurt,
and show all our protesting gestures. One here and one there, with many
little signs. We show all our hands and feet in protest -- against whom
we don't know, even when there is no one watching us.
History Of The Earth
Actually, there weren't any extreme climatic conditions on our Earth. There
weren't any hot summers and cold winters. There might have been some rain,
but not so distressing. Our climate used to be more pleasant. There were
sunny days and rainy days, but it rained only when necessary. It was not
that cold and humid, and it would dry when the sun came out. Summertime
was not that hot.
Our climate now is a result of a war that we waged against heaven. We didn't
listen to God, and wanted to challenge the angels just after we had learnt
a few things. Therefore, they destroyed our weapon system with another
powerful weapon, and locked us up in here. That is why we cannot get out
of the three realms.
The angels set up a protective layer surrounding our Earth, just like the
magical spell that confined the Monkey King. We are imprisoned by this
invisible control. Every moment, the beings in heaven are observing us,
and they won't allow any of us to advocate revolutionary ideas as we did
before!
That is why the machines we have now are lousy ones; we cannot invent really
good things. But we have started doing it again. In the last century, we
have built atomic bombs based on our past-life memory. Instead of feeling
remorseful, we are creating trouble again.
Therefore, the angels are monitoring us continuously, and they keep warning
us with a chain of calamities. Besides, our resistance also generates a
destructive power that will destroy ourselves. When we are angry, don't
we feel heartache, physically irritated? When we are in trouble and cry,
don't we feel very exhausted just like when we are exhausted from working?
(Audience: Yes.) This is how we are hurting ourselves.
At that time, the angels prepared to destroy us. Their attack was so forceful
that the Earth was struck slightly off its orbit, which resulted in the
extreme hot and cold climate of today. After that, the angels locked us
here. In addition, we ourselves generate this kind of ambiance, so we live
and die by ourselves.
Although God has confined us here with Hes magical spell, Hes still keeps
an eye on us, fearing that we might sneak into heaven. Some people tried
to liberate themselves through meditation, but they ended up being possessed.
Who are the devils? They are the guardian angels.
Observing us trying to escape, they think we are trying to revolt and fight
again, so they push us down. When we come back, we are like an idiot, separated
from our soul, extremely confused, and unable to recognize anyone. People
call this "being possessed".
They forbid us to go up. So, if we get out ourselves, they regard us as
revolutionaries, and take prompt action to keep us from ruining the universe.
We are under constant observation, and we cannot go up alone without the
guidance of an enlightened master.
However, there are some very sincere people, so the Buddhas often come
to teach and encourage us: "We know where you are hiding. Quickly
come out and surrender; you don't have much time. You will be forgiven.
This is the final warning!"
Some enlightened beings go out and put up posters, distribute leaflets
and sample booklets just to edify us. There are people who really repent
and want to be liberated from life and death. They really want to get out
of this barrier. If we are truly sincere, we can enroll, observe a vegetarian
diet for three months, then a master will come and accept us. This is the
initiation. Other people still cannot go out!
Here we are just like prisoners. Some prisoners behave better, and they
are not that evil in nature. Their offense is light, and they truly repent
and behave well; so they can be released when a lawyer comes to help them.
This is what happens to the initiated people.
If we truly want to get out of jail, the Buddhas will open the gate and
take us out. Other people are not allowed; they must first repent, and
stop producing atomic bombs. Only a small group of people who really repent
and want to get liberation can break through this intangible barrier.
We are not supposed to go out. If we stealthily escape, there will be graver
consequences when we are caught. We will be condemned to a small cage where
we can neither stand nor sit, and forbidden to talk to anyone.
Similarly, those who attempt to seek liberation by themselves will face
an even more tragic end. They will become more strange than before. Originally,
they could still understand something. After they meditate by themselves,
they do all sorts of hand and feet mudras and talk nonsense. Their minds
become confused and run amuck.
Like the prisoners, if we escape and get caught by the police, we will
be treated more harshly than ordinary inmates. We will be chained, locked
up in a small place. There is no light -- very dark. Severe criminals are
jailed there, and they are not allowed to talk with anyone. The situation
is worse than before we escaped.
The initiated people are those who are sincere about getting out. If you
are not really sincere, and you have cheated the Buddhas, later you will
be thrown in and locked up again. The enlightened beings have nothing to
lose; it is we who have to bear the consequences.
The two-and-a-half hours of meditation each day is to remind us, and to
let God know that we are very sincere, that we are determined to go out.
God tests us to see if we always remember or not. We have only said once:
"I want to go out!" One statement is nothing. Besides, there
is no proof. It is not enough! Therefore, we must repeat it every day.
Because we were so bad before, God wants to make sure that we are truly
sincere this time. For two and a half hours each day, we have to recite:
"I want to go out. I want to go out. I really want to go out. I am
determined to go out!"
It is the same when we want to marry someone. It is not enough just saying:
"Doctor So-and-So, I want to marry you!" We have to show it by
our actions, present gifts, and chant every day: "I really want to
marry you. I definitely want to marry you."
Furthermore, we have to prepare for the wedding ceremony to show our sincerity.
We must work towards that, step by step. Similarly, we have to meditate
for two and a half hours each day and keep chanting until we are "married"
to God.
Don't Take The Devil's Apple
Adam and Eve ate just one apple, yet they incurred so much karma. Do you
have any idea how much we have eaten in our lives?We have eaten everything
including cows, horses, chickens, ducks and pigs. How can we endure so
much karma?
Adam and Eve shared only one apple, each taking only one half of it, but
ended up falling from heaven down to Earth. Then they had to endure great
pain, tiredness and hardships to earn their bread. Their descendants, generation
upon generation, were involved in this karma as well, not to mention the
additional karma we create by ourselves.
What I mean is, anything that is not given by God bears karma. Its price
and interest are beyond imagination. That's why we have to offer the food
to God and recite the Holy Names before each meal in order to cleanse the
karma. Otherwise, we would be eating the devil's apple. Later he will ask
a lot in return.
That apple was actually created by God and placed in Eden. Why is it that
nothing carried karma in Eden but this apple? Since they were all from
God's creation, why must this apple, of all things, bear such a high price?
It's because God had not granted it to them. They stole it, so it wasn't
blessed by God. They listened to the devil, so it was blessed by the devil
instead.
Not that God had to be fierce with them; not that God had the heart to
punish them, but that they belonged to the devil once they had eaten from
him. At least they became his subordinates, tools, relatives or friends.
In addition, they lost the privilege of being God's friends.
If they had informed God in advance, things would probably have been different.
God might have said, "Well, since you want it so much, all right.
Feel free to take as many as you want." There wasn't anything that
God couldn't do; but because they ate it furtively and received the blessing
from the devil, they brought disasters upon themselves.
Similarly, if you follow me and practice, you will have to keep a vegetarian
diet and meditate for two and a half hours, but it's no big deal. There
are other people who eat vegetarian as well. Besides, they eat only one
meal a day, live in graves instead of mansions, and meditate eighteen hours
a day. Yet they have received nothing from all this effort! What does your
two-and-a-half-hour amount to anyway? And you might eat several meals a
day, consuming more food than non-vegetarian people do!
However, why do you still benefit from it? It's because you get the blessings.
It's because you are doing it correctly, and God has accepted you. Hes
promised, "Okay, if you do these things, I will give you this and
that." However, if you do it alone, who will ever know what you are
doing?
For example, suppose there is a boss who runs a very big store. He hires
you to take care of his business. Then even if you have no customers coming
to you for two or three days, you will still get paid; because he has made
a deal with you by saying, "If you work for me, I will pay you this
amount of money each month. You'll get health insurance, I will take care
of your security benefits, you'll get a pension when you're old, and there's
special financial assistance when you're ill."
Later, the deal is done, and you have to look after the store. It doesn't
matter if there isn't a lot of work to do. You'll even get additional money
when you're sick or have an accident. You still get paid even if you haven't
sold a thing.
However, if there is someone who hasn't been hired by the boss, will he
get paid for standing in the store for fifteen years? Will he get anything
for staying awake all day and night looking after the store? No! Who cares
if he stands there by himself?
Similarly, God has Hiers own system in this world, and some people work
on Hiers behalf. If we get in touch with them, they will introduce us to
God so we are connected with Hirm. If we just follow ordinary people's
footsteps, or even the devil's footsteps, we won't do ourselves any good
even when we have done as much, if not more. You get benefit because we
are connected with a totally different system.
