Let
us first talk about the ordinary sound in this world, and then
we will talk about the supra-worldly sound - the sound of God.
Since ancient times, music has played an important role in our
lives. It would be difficult to imagine how frustrating life would
be without music in this world. Classical music is more mild and
gentle; it makes the listeners feel happier, more peaceful and
benign. That's why there used to be many noble and benevolent
people in ancient times. Modern music is more stimulating. People
who have been exposed to this kind of music since childhood are
very difficult to teach. Such music represents the personality
and demeanor of contemporary people. In mental institutions, doctors
often let the patients listen to soft music to calm their emotions.
When we are bored or exhausted from work, listening to music will
slowly pacify our minds.
Everything
in the Universe Vibrates
Everything
in the universe vibrates, and this vibration becomes sound. This
is similar to the vibrating waves transmitted by radio stations,
which, when picked up by a radio receiver, are converted into
sound. All things in the universe, whether stone, plant or human,
vibrate at their own specific frequency. It is precisely because
of this difference in frequency that it is difficult for animals
and humans, humans and humans, and even husband and wife, to communicate
with each other.
The
vibrations of some people are coarse, and this makes us feel very
uncomfortable when we come into contact with them. Conversely,
some people are very gentle in vibration, speech, and aura and
we feel very comfortable and happy upon seeing them. We feel very
happy when we go to a place where the vibrations are close to
ours. When a person with a bad aura enters a certain place, he
will immediately make people feel very agitated and restless.
It is because his vibrations are low and heavy, or we can say
that he is very vicious, has heavy karma and lots of devilish
hindrances. He is excessively heavy in Yin (negative) energy while
we are more inclined to the Yang (positive) energy, and so we
become incompatible. As a result, we feel agitated and restless.
Not
all places on this planet vibrate at the same frequency. All kinds
of metal ores of different densities are distributed around the
world. Therefore, there are many places where non-spiritual practitioners
find it uncomfortable to dwell. However, to real spiritual practitioners,
every place is a Pure Land, everywhere is the Holy Land. But it
is easier said than done. How many people can really attain such
a level? This disharmonious atmosphere is discernible even to
the average person who does not practice spiritually, with the
exception of a few very ignorant people and those who are as insensitive
as timber. The more advanced one is in spiritual practice, the
more sensitive one becomes, but when he eventually attains the
highest level, every place will be the same to him.
Whomever
we are with, we are affected by his vibrations. If his aura is
very gentle, we too will become gentler. If they are excited,
we will also become excited. We often hear that the Saints shoulder
the karma of the people because They can take upon Themselves
the bad influences or vibrations generated by others, which is
the so-called karma, and give them Their superior vibrations in
exchange. Relying on Their power derived from spiritual practice,
They can quickly cleanse the karma. The length of time required
depends on how much karma They have collected. Before They can
cleanse this karma, They will still be affected. They could get
ill, be defamed, or even killed.
One
such example was Jesus Christ, who was crucified because He took
upon Himself the karma of sentient beings. As for Shakyamuni Buddha,
we might not have heard any story about Him bearing karma for
people, but it was so recorded in the scripture. A man killed
ninety-nine persons and was about to kill the Buddha too. He failed
to do so; instead, he was delivered by the Buddha. This man eventually
became an arhat (liberated saint). If the Buddha did not shoulder
the karma for the man, what happened to the karma that he had
incurred by killing ninety-nine persons? He killed so many people
and yet he became a Saint! Was it not against the law of karma?
It was not, because the Shakyamuni Buddha had immense merits and
infinite blessed rewards, which were sufficient to repay all the
karma for that man without any problem. That man was not exempted
from karmic retribution; Shakyamuni Buddha had assumed his karma.
This
is why since ancient times, anyone who aspires to be liberated
must first find such great Masters. Being a novice in spiritual
practice, it is very difficult to repay so much karma just relying
on our own power. Those great Masters have accumulated great blessings
through spiritual practice over many lifetimes. While guiding
us on the path, They can also carry the luggage for us because
They have sufficient power. Humans have human power, and spiritual
practitioners have spiritual power. This power might be indiscernible
to us but it is so infinite that no physical power can compare.
You have heard that your five generations will be elevated after
you are initiated by me. It is this spiritual power that pulls
them all up. Therefore, this power derived from spiritual practice
is most precious; it cannot be bought at any price or taken away
by even the greatest authority.
Sometimes,
when I go to lecture at a certain place, I feel very relaxed and
can speak fluently. At other times, I may feel oppressed; I feel
very tired and cannot speak. The same happens when I give initiation
to people. Sometimes, it goes smoothly without any problem. At
other times, I feel like I am dying. It is due to the different
vibrations of the people who come to the lecture or initiation.
Their individual vibrations are the so-called karma. What actually
creates these different vibrations? They are created according
to the law of karma, and are related to the karma that we have
incurred in previous lives.
Originally,
we are all enlightened Saints. Jesus Christ also said that we
are all the children of God. Then why are some people so rich,
some so poor, some so clever, some so dumb, some so benign, and
some so evil? The first reason is that, although we are originally
enlightened Saints, we are degrading all the time while in this
illusionary world and so forget most of our wisdom. The second
reason is that we are being influenced by outside situations.
Tangible
and Intangible Worlds
This
world is different from the higher dimensions. The superior realms
will help us progress spiritually, becoming more relaxed and noble.
However, the situations in this world can easily make us regress
and become more foolish and evil. In the paradise in Heaven, we
will have whatever we want without the least suffering, while
in this world we must struggle against nature in order to survive.
Even Shakyamuni Buddha had to beg for food or use the things in
this world to survive. This is a tangible world with forms, and
there are discriminations. There are such things as cold and heat,
beauty and ugliness, man and woman. This
world is different from the paradise in Heaven, which is an intangible
world with no form or discrimination.
Therefore,
when we come into this world, we become outwardly inclined sentient
beings. When we see food, we have thoughts about eating it; when
we see anything, thoughts of like or dislike arise. Since our
mind is constantly occupied by things that we like, we forget
our great wisdom. On and on, we become more and more alienated
from the almighty power of the universe, and become lonely beings.
Originally,
all things are ours, but because we think only about a couple
of things that we like, unknowingly we confine ourselves within
a small boundary. From an entity without any discrimination, (in
the paradise in Heaven, all beings have the same golden body,
and there is neither man nor woman) we become full of discriminations.
As we wholeheartedly love a couple of things or persons, we become
more lonely and severed from the almighty power of the universe.
Our power grows small and will be completely drained in no time.
For instance, a person living in the middle of the Ganges River
is surrounded by water and has an inexhaustible water supply.
Suppose that person is attracted by something ashore, he will
leave the Ganges to go after that thing. As he is too fascinated
by the situation, he forgets how to return to his original abode.
Then, when he is thirsty, he can only look for water nearby, and
of course, that would not be enough.
As
a result, we become weaker and weaker as our wisdom runs out.
When we do not have enough wisdom, we become greedy. Insecurity
makes us want to grab more things, and from this greed, wrath
and infatuation emerge. These thoughts form a special magnetic
field that engulfs us. Since the situation of each person is different,
his magnetic field is also different. Since like attracts like,
greedy or easily excited people will naturally attract excitement
to their magnetic fields. Similarly, gentler people will attract
gentler situations. This is the cause of the so-called karmic
hindrances.
We
often see people who always make a mess of their work. It is because
their magnetic field always attracts destructive power or obstructive
energy, foolish energy, or devilish energy. They simply cannot
attract the great wisdom to them. Some people have very strong
animal instincts, also because of their magnetic field. Or we
can say that their life-after-life habits have not been rectified.
When our magnetic field improves, it indicates that we are beginning
the ascent. The time required for the rectification is related
to our purity at heart. It is mentioned in the scriptures and
the Tao Te Ching that we must have the heart of a child in order
to return to the Heavenly Kingdom.
It
is not easy to change our habits or magnetic field, which absolutely
cannot be done by practicing some breath-counting method or yoga
exercise. Since the development of habits is controlled by the
mind, we must change the mind in order to change our habits. Methods
contemplating on the solar plexus, on bones, water, or breathing
are simply not enough. Only the Quan Yin Method is the ultimate
method.
Sound
of God
This
Sound is the "Sound of God", the sound of our original
nature, which existed even before anything in this universe came
into being. This Sound is the "sound beyond this world,"
therefore, it is inaudible to the hearing faculty of ordinary
humans. However, all sentient beings can listen to it, except
that they will hear different sounds according to their individual
levels. Everything in the universe vibrates, and so they have
sound - even stones have sound. But it is too subtle to be heard
by the human ear; we can only hear it with our wisdom. Therefore,
we say contemplate on the sound rather than listen to the sound.
If all sentient beings have this sound and wisdom as well, then
why can't they contemplate on this sound? It is because they don't
have the key and so do not know where the sound is. Therefore,
we must first find a Master who can open the door for us.
Why
is this sound so important? It is because all things in the universe
are linked together by this sound. All the realms, from high to
low, are linked to each other through this sound. Just now, we
mentioned that the vibrations of some people are incompatible
with others', so they have difficulty accommodating with each
other. For the same reason, our vibrations are not accommodating
with the animals or certain places, and we find it difficult living
with animals or staying in those places. If there are people who
can live in those places, it does not mean that they are better
than we. Most probably, their vibrations are very low or close
to the animals, so they do not feel anything.
Pigs
and frogs can live happily in very filthy places, and this amply
illustrates why some people can live happily in unbearable places
without feeling anything. Their auras can cope with those places;
our vibrations are higher and gentler and cannot accommodate those
lower vibrations. Therefore, we cannot live there, but that does
not mean they are more capable than we are. So, benign people
often have difficulty staying with vicious people.
Should
anyone want to change his destiny, he must rely on this highest
sound. Now we only have a very small portion of it and it is not
very high in vibration. Precisely because our vibrations are low,
we are living in this low-level world together with the animals.
After all, birds of a feather flock together.
However,
there is a type of sound that encompasses all sentient beings.
This is "God's Sound", the sound of Original Nature.
By contemplating on this sound, we can elevate our vibrations
and spiritual level. Superficially, we may look the same as we
did, but our body will emit light. Everyone loves listening to
our lecture and it is easy for us to deliver people, because our
vibrations have become gentler, putting people's minds at ease
and leading them to liberation. Their vibrations will be enveloped
by ours; we will provide them with good vibrations that dissolve
their bad vibrations. When the blood of a patient is not functioning
well, the doctor will replace his bad blood with good blood. When
the water in the bucket is dirty, we have to empty the filthy
water before filling it with clean water. However, before our
vibrations have become good enough, we cannot exchange them for
other people's bad vibrations. Otherwise, the result would be
terrible. We must first practice spiritually if we want to deliver
sentient beings.
Just
now, we mentioned that all things in the universe have the "Sound,"
and all things are created by this Sound. In the "Tao Te
Ching," it is mentioned as the "Name" or the "Tao."
Lao Tzu said: "The way that can be spoken of is not the constant
Way; the name that can be named is not the constant Name. The
Nameless was the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named was
the mother of the myriad creatures." This Name or Tao refers
to this sound or vibration. Perhaps the ancient Chinese usage
was different, but it actually means the same thing. I think you
will be able to understand this.
Tune
In to More Superior Sounds
Everything
in the universe is born from this Name or Sound; we are also part
of it. But because we are human beings, we possess the highest
part of it, and we are most likely to possess all of it. Animals
are not high enough in level to possess this sound completely.
Through practicing on this sound, we can elevate ourselves incessantly,
we tune in to more superior sounds until we are in total possession
of it. Then, we will be able to coordinate with all sentient beings
in the universe. Since all sentient beings are part of this sound,
which we have in total possession, to us every place is the Pure
Land, every person is a Saint, and all sentient beings have God
Nature. Only then do we attain the true realization; otherwise,
all we have is hearsay or "thus have I heard;" we cannot
distinguish whether they are true or false.
Having
personal experience is different from reading the scriptures or
about someone else's experience. We read about others' experiences
when we read the scriptures. Practicing the Quan Yin Method, we
will have our own experiences. We may compare them with those
recorded in the scriptures and see whether we are having the same
experiences as those of the ancient people. Sometimes our experiences
could be even higher than theirs; it does not mean that we are
superior to them, but that their spiritual level might not be
very high when they wrote of this experience. So, we may be slightly
higher than their level at that time.
We
should know how powerful this sound is. All sentient beings have
this vibration or sound, and we influence each other. This world
is different from the Western Paradise in the sense that here,
we have animals, bad people, good people, nervous people, calm
people, happy people, and miserable people. It is a mixture of
different atmospheres that makes it very difficult for us to practice
with peace of mind in such a confused state. There are always
many obstructions or bad influences distressing us. But then if
we can persist in practicing with concentration, we will progress
very fast.
Many
heavenly beings like to incarnate as human beings because this
physical body is essential for pursuing spiritual practice. We
often think that this body is useless, but then we cannot practice
spiritually without it. This body is very precious. Take good
care of it. Take enough nutritious food to sustain it, but don't
be voracious. Protect the body from excessive cold, heat, exhaustion
and overwork. Ascetic practice is not good; it is punishing ourselves,
which is the greatest sin. We are Saints of the past, present,
and future. We ought to respect ourselves. How can we punish ourselves
through ascetic practice? Of course, it is different if the situation
is truly unavoidable.
For
instance, you may have heard that when I was practicing in the
Himalayas, I ate only raw vegetables every day. It was because
of the high altitude. The air was thin, the temperature and the
air pressure were low, and it was very difficult to cook rice
or vegetables. It was much simpler to eat raw vegetables; all
I had to do was to wash them in the water of the Ganges, sprinkle
a little salt on them, and then eat them. I did not deliberately
want to practice asceticism. I once practiced in seclusion in
a mountain temple in Formosa, and there I had a summer retreat
for three months. Every day, I only ate some coarse rice with
sesame seeds and salt, and drank a little water. No one was taking
care of me at that time. Should I have gone to the market every
day to buy vegetables, what kind of a retreat would that have
been? It would have been a "vegetable retreat." (Laughter)
It was due to the circumstance. I ate what I could find; definitely,
I was not practicing asceticism deliberately. Ascetic practice
cannot make one an enlightened Saint; it will only turn you into
a bitter person. Our life is bitter enough, so why should we want
to practice asceticism?
The
"Sound" is the Greatest Power &
Supreme Wisdom in the Universe
To
become an enlightened Saint, we should practice the Quan Yin Method,
and contemplate on this original sound with our wisdom. This sound
creates all things in the universe, and it is the greatest power
and supreme wisdom in the universe. What else can we rely on in
our spiritual practice if not this great power and great wisdom?
Why should we rely on this dark little abdomen (the solar plexus)
or our ephemeral breathing instead? What does it matter if our
body moves slightly in meditation? How could we practice if we
stop breathing when we die?
If
we are practicing spiritually with this great power, it does not
matter if our body moves a little, or is even injured. Since our
own Master has established connection with this sound, Hes has
been liberated and has no relation with the body, and naturally,
we can continue to practice. Hes will continue to take care of
our life and help us to progress. Therefore, we cannot rely on
anything else but this greatest, highest and most original sound.
This most primitive sound existed before we came into being, and
before anything in the universe came into being. And, even after
the three realms are destroyed, it will continue to exist. Only
by relying on this eternal power can we practice spiritually to
reach the state of eternal existence. One can only reach the ephemeral
level if one practices by relying on the ephemeral breathing.
In
the Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha said that all other ways
of spiritual practice are only temporary methods and not eternal
ones. Only the Quan Yin Method is the eternal, ultimate and most
correct method of spiritual practice. We will agree with Him after
we have practiced the Quan Yin Method.
In
the Bible, it is mentioned that the universe, In the beginning
was the Word (Sound), and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. Everything was made by Hirm (Sound), and there was nothing
made that was not made by Him (Sound). [John 1:1-4] The "Tao
Te Ching" also talks about the same. Lao Tzu said: "The
way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that
can be named is not the constant Name. The Nameless was the beginning
of Heaven and Earth; the named was the mother of the myriad creatures."
It was when this "Name that cannot be named" came into
being that the universe and all things were born.
The
Upanishad, the most famous Hindu scripture, also mentions the
same thing. "In the beginning was the word." This sound
existed when creation began. When this sound came into being,
everything came into being. This sound is God; this sound is Creation.
They all talk about the same thing, because in the first place,
Shakyamuni Buddha, Lao Tzu, the Bible, Hinduism, and Islam all
raise the same doctrine. After practicing the Quan Yin Method,
we can understand the scriptures when we study them. When we have
attained the great enlightenment, we will know that all scriptures
actually talk about the same thing.
(Reprinted
from The Key of Immediate Enlightenment, Volume I, Chinese Edition,
Supreme Master Ching Hai, pp. 99-109, 1998)
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