So the retreat is ending, or near the end. And we’re going to move along to another program. Namely, because I think I can disclose it to you now because the time is coming. I was invited here… What’s that? What’s that? (We don’t know what it is.) (Translator.) What? (Translator!) But why are you clapping? (They clapped.) (We don’t know.) (Ask them.) (We follow them.) You follow them like sheep(-people)? Now you’ve broken my inspiration. I don’t know whether I should disclose it to you or not. (Yes.) Now, give me a kiss. Alright. That’s the Taiwanese (Formosans). They always make noise when it’s not necessary. And they make noise when they shouldn’t make. So we’ll first talk about our retreat. Actually, it’s only a very short retreat, but I think, and I saw some of you are improving very, very fast, very well. Is that not so? (Yes.) Yeah, yeah. Alright, you don’t have to always clap like this. (So happy, Master.) Huh? (So happy.) Happy? (Yes.) Am I happy? (No, we all are.) Oh, you are happy? Oh, you’re happy. It has nothing to do with me. Why should I bother whether you’re happy or not? You don’t have to tell me.
And most of you, have kept the discipline and meditated very well. And then you see the benefit. It’s also a pity that the time is so short. And actually, I wanted to rent a very big yard. Actually, all of you could camp there also. But then we don’t know who the owner is. And we couldn’t get in touch with them. So after today, I think all of you must go – tomorrow. And where are you going? Are you going home tomorrow, all of you? (Yes.) (No.) (Yes.) Yes. Some of you are staying. (Some.) (Most.) Most are going home. OK. And the rest, you have to be responsible for yourselves. (Yes.) (Yes.)
And if you go sightseeing, then remember what I said to you. Don’t touch all the plants because some of them are poisonous, and will give you extreme internal discomfort. And respect the law here, and be careful as always in every, every tourist resort. Even in paradise tourist resorts, you also have to keep your purse stringed together and safe in the pocket. I don’t guarantee any safety if you don’t look after yourself.
And also, sometimes if we are too careless, then we invite people to become bad. If you put your money in your pocket, nobody will think of anything. But if you just kind of spread it out on the table, “Man, look at that! USD100,000! Have a look at that! Yeah. Yes!” And then sooner or later, people will begin to have spinning ideas. And they will start to believe in some theory like, “Everything is from God.” And “Your money is my money.” “You spend it is just like I spend it.” And “The money’s also spent in America, it’s the same US dollars, no problem.” And then you give them ideas. Then they start to have problems. And you will have problems. Therefore, everywhere you go, keep quiet, be careful, and respect the law and order of that country and place. Because even the best places also have criminals. I’m sorry to tell you. But that has nothing to do with the country at large, or with the government, or with the mentality of the people there. (Yes.) Because sometimes other people mix in also, or foreigners, or any people can stay in a different land. So, you better be careful. And that’s the thing. But try to go home quickly to your folks, because they’ll be waiting for you. Maybe they’re waiting for your blessing after a four-day retreat.
Translate for the reporter. I’m afraid that he alone cannot translate clearly for two people. You come over a little bit and translate for him. Because they heard that you are holy persons, and then you meditate, and then you retreat [for] four days with the Master, and then they await your blessed reward when you come back home with the big halo on your head. And then all your body’s shining with (inner Heavenly) Light, brighter than a thousand Suns. So they keep waiting every day, every minute, for the Bodhisattva to return home. So even if a place is beautiful, home is sweet. (Yes.) And responsibility is a priority. We already have something to do, so we stick with it. One or two days are no problem, but don’t stay one or two years.
And take care of your visas and all those expiration dates. Alright? (Yes.) Don’t say, “The Master blesses me. I can do anything I want.” That’s not the point. Even I respect the order of the country. (Yes.) Like in Taiwan (Formosa), if I can stay [for] only two months, then I stay two months. I don’t rely on my fame and my supporters in Taiwan (Formosa) to cause trouble for the law. And when they want to pull down our meditation roof, I let them. And we have no opposition, not even [for] one second. Because why? We fight with the devils. We fight with bad people. We fight with the bad regimes that harm citizens. But we don’t fight with our own government and our own folks. Especially if they’re OK. I mean, relatively OK. Any where’s like that, because the government is not Heaven itself, so they also deem to make mistakes. And if two people make mistakes together, then they make even worse mistakes. So, it’s better in some circumstances, we step back. And let the time work out who is what, who is right, who is wrong. And let time make up for the past mistakes itself. We have no worry.
For example, here we don’t have any meditation hall, we still can meditate four days in Heaven. Right? (Yes.) Yes. And you know, this place is free of charge. (Wow.) Yeah. It’s all given free. But the donation is just because I wanted to donate. Nobody pressured us to donate anything. It was all free, even if you stay one, or two, three weeks, no problem. It’s just because our time planning coincided a little bit with their cleaning date. So tomorrow they have to start to clean. It’s the law in Hawaii and they can’t change that. They don’t have to change for us. Right? (Right.) So actually, originally, we planned for seven days, it became four days. It’s OK, we’re happy. (Yes.)
And the team here and the whole of Hawaii and the government of Hawaii are all taking care of us so that you go through customs like a speeding rocket. (Yes.) No problem, because otherwise the Taiwanese (Formosan), the Japanese, the Koreans, the Indonesians, the Europeans go through the Hawaiian customs, it would take all day. (Yes.) But it takes only a few minutes because we already have their protection in advance. They know we are coming and for what reason. So, you see, the government here is very exceptional. The whole government is at work, not only one or two persons, and to help us. This also belongs to the government, and we can borrow it due to the kindness of the government and personally, of Mr. Fasi, the mayor of Honolulu.
And by the way, I was invited here by the government. Therefore, I came to Honolulu. You have asked me why Honolulu. People come here for holidays but not for meditation. We do meditation anywhere. And this place is like a sanctuary. It’s so beautiful and just like heaven. And people keep it so well and so beautiful, just because it’s raining so it looks like a mess, but it was so beautiful the day you came. (Yes.) And after you leave, it will grow again. But nevertheless, we have to thank the government of Hawaii and the United States for making such things happen. And I was invited here to be awarded a kind of Peace Prize. (Wow!) Not yet.
The Peace Award comes in three names, namely: The first, the government here is going to give me a statue, (Wow!) a bronze statue, and they’re going to put it in a public park for everybody to see. Kept a secret between us up to now. OK. Not many people know. And then second, I’m going to be awarded a kind of.. (A plaque.) A plaque for working for World Peace and self-sacrifice and that, namely like that. And they’re going to name today the day of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. (Yes!) And the third award I will get is: the Honorable Citizenship of America. So it is a very dignified occasion. That’s why you are invited here to share the joy and the honor. Because actually, you are the ones who should get the award. (No!) Because you worked. Without you... (But Master, without Master...) Without you, I’m nothing. (No!) Nobody cares about Master Ching Hai if I don’t have any people who… (We care!) (We do! We care for Master!) Yeah fine, fine. (We are absolutely nothing.) But the thing is, because you are good, (You!) because you’re honorable, so people see that my work bears fruit. (Master’s the Leader.) Therefore, I don’t know how to award you, but we share the award together. Alright? (Yes!)
So in a short time, you’re going to have to dress up and behave yourself on the bus, on the street, and at the party. (Yes.) And everywhere you go, you must keep quiet and have dignity. So don’t make a… because we’re too many people. So, the quieter, the better. (Yes.) If we only had two or three (people), we would not make so much noise and be noticed, but because we’re too many. So not because you’re too happy today, you forget to guard your senses and your dignity. Understand? (Yes.) I have told you this news just to let you know how dignified the occasion is, not to let you be over-happy and then blowing whistles all over the street. OK? (Yes.) So, keep your happiness inside and keep your dignity on the outside. (Yes!)
Photo Caption: God Gift Is Always Wonderful
