It is not that I am heartless in refusing your sincere gifts, but it is my usual practice to reject any gifts. Let me tell you why. As we accept more and more gifts, it will develop into a habit and we will become corrupted. Therefore, I am resolute in not accepting gifts! Our fellow initiates also do not accept gifts or any offerings. Our monastic practitioners do not accept offerings, nor do I - not even a single cent. Therefore, understand this clearly. Do not give me any gifts. Since this person has brought a work of art here, we will leave it at the Thailand Center as a souvenir. Normally I do not accept anything because I want to set an example. (Applause) It is not that a few dollars or a couple of things would do any harm. However, if we accept something today, tomorrow we are bound to accept other things. Having accepted it from this person, we are bound to accept from another person tomorrow. If today we accept a dime, tomorrow we will accept a dollar, and the day after, ten thousand. On another day, we will accept two million. The snowball will keep rolling because it will be difficult to refuse after having accepted once. You have to be honest and upright as well, because this is the way you should be. (Applause) After receiving things from people, we are bound to give them special treatment, and then partiality will arise. I have been treating the rich and the poor exactly the same. I don’t know and I don’t care who is rich and who is poor. That is why I can treat everyone fairly and with the same love. No one can buy me with money; no one can buy me with anything. I am yours, the same for everyone. (Applause) That is why I tell my monastic disciples not to accept gifts. After eating food offered by some people, we have to serve them. When other people come to us, even though they might have better reasons and better merit, we give priority to those people who gave us offerings. This is not right! If we refuse to serve them, they might think that we look down upon them. They might think, “I have given you lots of money, yet you treat me just like the other guy!” Then they will be angry, and from anger breeds enmity. This money, this profit and fame, is no good for us and no good for the world. Therefore, we ought to be honest and upright in everything. You earn what you spend, and refrain from taking people’s things. Understand? (Everyone: Yes!) (Applause) I know you are very sincere. For instance, that fellow initiate personally painted a vase and offered it to me. I understand your sincerity. I do. However, I rush around doing a lot work, and I must stay honest and upright. I have been like this since my youth and I have told you several times. When I was a student, one time my parents were late in sending me money. I went hungry for several days, yet I didn’t ask anything from anyone. Someone left some food for me, but I did not know that because he didn’t tell me. Even when I was without food for three or four days, I never touched other people’s things. A person gave me money and asked me to go stay with him, but I didn’t accept. I scolded him fiercely and warned him, “Get lost! Or I’ll call the police!”
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