Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Washington D.C. International 4-day retreat, December 24, 1997 (Originally in English)

Actually, in this kind of situation, it is wrong because the lawyer is there to protect the company whenever the situation demands, not always blindly defending the company even when the company is wrong. That is the purpose of having a lawyer anywhere or anytime, not only for a company, but also in the private sector and for any enterprise or any undertaking.

Suppose someone wrongs us, accuses us of something that we have not done, or deprives us of something that we rightfully deserve, then we need a lawyer to defend for us because we do not know much about the law. He is an expert and can argue for us, then we need an attorney. They should be the ones who defend the weak and help ignorant or oppressed people. In cases where a company is wrongly accused and taken advantage of by the employees or by another company, a lawyer should do his best to defend for that company. Then it is OK; that is the best way to use a lawyer. It is not just to have him there so that you always win, and your company always saves money or takes money from other people. Therefore, it is not the lawyer's fault; it is the company's fault.

A lawyer for any company or any individual should strive to understand all the facts, and then defend for what is right, not defending the client, but defending for justice. Then it doesn't matter. But in most cases, people just make use of a lawyer to win a court case without regard to whether it is right or wrong, and this is no good.

If you are a lawyer or intend to be a lawyer and if you are going to work for any company or any person, you should bear this in mind. If your client is wrong, tell him he is and that you refuse to defend him. Or, you can challenge the policy of the company and say that your profession is to defend what is right and just and you cannot go beyond that. If they fire you, then go do something else, sell tofu or something. [Laughter] I told you yesterday that we don't have to live the life of the rich and famous in order to be human beings. The more we strive for outside richness and fame, the more we are slaves to all kinds of wrongdoing in this world. We should always strive to be righteous and right, and then no matter what we do, we will not fear anything.

Forsake the World in Order to Gain Heaven

You remember the story about Rama in India, when he was nominated to be the future king, he was prepared to be king. Then his father removed him from denomination because the Queen became jealous and talked him out of it. So, he was exiled to a very far away country. He was also prepared to go there, and people asked him, "Are you not sad? Why are you not standing up for your rights?" He said: "What for? If I am given a kingdom, then I will have to fulfill my obligations and do my duty the best that I can. But if the kingdom is taken away from me, good, then I don't have to do it. I will have a lot more time to meditate, to think of God, and to do something else." When we look at things that way, we don't feel so confused and do not struggle inside anymore. We don't care, and that is the right attitude for everyone, especially for Quan Yin practitioners.

Before I came to D.C., I had already bought a ticket and so had one of my companions. When we went to the airport, he forgot that his ID Card had a different name on it and he had not brought the new one. The airline would not let him on the plane, and they made so much trouble, so much fuss.

And this is in America where normally people don't check names; I don't know why they did that. I was ready to curse the whole company because it was at the last minute and they told us that we had to go back to get the ID. We were going to be late, and a lot of people were waiting for us here. We couldn't get in touch with them at that time because the telephones and everything had not yet been connected. But then I thought, "No, don't do that. It may be for something good," and then I just smiled. It makes you feel peaceful when you forgive people, and when you think that maybe it is God's arrangement for something else better, or for someone's benefit. It might not be for your benefit, but it might be for someone else's benefit. Whatever it is, it is God's arrangement; otherwise, it would not happen. That is what I think all the time. Then suddenly another lady jumped in from nowhere and said, "You can buy another ticket with this ID card and get a refund on the other ticket." So, there was no problem and we left on time and arrived on time also.

It is not because of the new ticket or anything, it's just the attitude that makes you feel so good. Before the new arrangement comes, you already feel good; you have already made peace with God and with the whole world within yourself. This is a very beneficial way for us and we can think that way because we meditate, because we are calm in our hearts and we don't feel hostile toward any situation or any people, let alone someone who has not done us any wrong, like the client of the opposition. So, as a lawyer or any defender of justice, you should remember this.

We should rather do ourselves harm than do someone else harm, except in self-defense, and then you should do what you think is right. But normally, I just let God do what is right; I don't even bother to defend myself. What do we have that is worth defending, after all? Should I defend myself so that I live longer in this body, or that I eat more in the few more days or few more years that I live? Or do I need to defend my fame? Why do I have any fame and how does it serve me? Of course, it is good if our group has a good name, then it is more comfortable for us, and we can do many beneficial things for humankind. But if it doesn't happen that way, it is all right. I have less work to do and you have less brothers and sisters in the same group. They are also our brothers and sisters even if they are outside our group, so it doesn't matter; we don't lose anything.