Q: Master, please say something about devotion.

M: Devotion? Look at me! I am very devoted to you. That's devotion! (Everyone laughs and applauds.) No need to explain. This day, I just happen to be very tired, very sick. I don't want to see people, but I still come to see you and that's devotion. (Applause) Not for any selfish gain, or for anything for me to be happy, especially not during these days -- it's out of duty, out of love. I do my obligation and make you happy. That's devotion.

Now, if you are a householder and you devote yourself to your family - that's devotion. If you love your wife with all your heart, try your best to make her happy, and do everything she requests -- that's devotion. If you have a friend, and you lay down your life for him or her in a time of need -- that's devotion. You have come all this way, spending all your money on airplane, and spending your time sitting for your own liberation and world peace -- that's devotion. Whatever you do, if it's a good, noble idea and you put in all your effort -- that is devotion.

So, in everyday life whatever you do, if it's good for yourself and other people, put all your best. That doesn't mean you have to be successful in order to know that you are devoted. You don't have to be. Whether you are successful or you fail, if you put out all your best, your most sincere desire, to accomplish whatever you do, or to try to make that person happy -- that is already devotion.

Devotion brings concentration, one-pointedness; and devotion, one-pointedness brings success and happiness to you. Especially if you do it for a good cause, for a noble ideal; because at that time, you concentrate everything on that thing, then you forget everything else, so your mind is very clear. That is also kind of putting down everything. That's also a way of practice. That's also a kind of samadhi.