The Hardworking and Benevolent Prince (Part 3 of 3) Oct. 23-25, 1994

This story is called “Joshu’s Zen.” He started to practice Zen at 60 years old and became enlightened at 80. Maybe he attained Buddhahood or became a Master. One day, his disciple asked him, “Master, I have nothing in my mind. What shall I do? “He meant he was empty inside, and he had attained the level of complete peacefulness. It means that he had attained the highest level, what else should he do? His Master, Joshu, the one who died at 120 years old, answered him, “Then you throw it out. Just throw it away.” The disciple said, “I have nothing at all. What shall I throw away?” His Master became impatient and said, “OK, then take it out.” Understand? If someone has nothing inside, how would he ask such a question? He worried and asked what he should do, it means that he was still full inside. He thought that he was empty, that’s why his Master told him to throw it away, to leave it behind and to let go. He wanted the disciple to know that he still had something. He still had knots, understand? After practicing with me for a while, having listened to all the audio tapes and watched all the videos, they claimed that they had learned everything, and that they had no more desire. They asked what they shall do. Only after being tested outside, would they know that they are nothing. When we think we are empty inside, we have to be careful. Many people, not only the Quan Yin practitioners, but those who practice other methods, are also like this. All believe that they are great. They like arguing and are full of sutra-teachings in their head but claim that they are empty, whether they eat vegetables or meat, it is all the same to them, everything is equal, etc. Actually, they still have ego, and are full of knots in their mind. They have not opened their hearts and minds. In the future, don’t ask me the question - “I’m empty already. What should I do?” If you are really empty, you don’t need to ask. Is it not so? You will have no more questions when you are empty.

The worldly people are all afraid of death. Right? When they hear about death, they are frightened. In reality, it’s nothing fearful. We will all die sooner or later. There is birth, there is death. The most important thing is how we die. Right? Now, we die every day and feel no fear. Sometimes, while we meditate, our spirits go out, leaving our bodies behind - this is a kind of death as well. We don’t fear anymore. Outside people are frightened while talking about death. Especially when you go to any wedding feast, you will be offered no drink if you speak of death. OK.

Death is a normal system. We descend here to learn for a while, about sixty years, forty years, some people four years, four days, or four weeks. How long we are here depends on our lessons. Just like that Zen Master, maybe he had a lot to learn, he lived for 120 years. Some other people come and go very quickly. Some new born babies leave quickly after they learned their lessons. We adults do not know, and we cry when our babies die. In fact, it is good for them.

Our world is topsy-turvy. Death is not a bad thing. What is bad is that we haven’t learned our lessons when we die. Then we have to come again and die once more. It is troublesome. So we have to make sure we die only once. Otherwise, we have to come back life and life. Our habits haven’t been cleansed, and one more habit is added. When our bad habits are accumulated too much, we become a bad person. Those who just come are purer. They have only one or two defects. If they keep on coming back and have not cleaned their old habits, as they continue to live in this world, new habits are added, they will become worse and worse. At last, only the hell fire can burn off their bad qualities. At that time, we say that they go to hell. Actually, it is a kind of cleansing system. Just like sometimes, our tools are not good anymore after having been used a long time, and we burn them. Or we melt them, like iron. Like we melt the car into iron and use the iron to make new equipment. We are also like that - if we are not good enough, God will melt us into a piece, and use it to make another more perfect tool. A new one. OK? Heaven and hell are tools of the Creator, so we can be purified and grow. If we don’t make any progress, then the Creator will help. Hell is a kind of helping system as well.