Hi. (Hi.) It’s English? (Yes.) Not Aulacese (Vietnamese)? (Yes.) Aulacese (Vietnamese)? (Yes.) All of you are Aulacese (Vietnamese)? OK, let’s speak Aulacese (Vietnamese). Is she Aulacese (Vietnamese)? Good. Take care, comrade. What? So everyone’s heading back tomorrow, all of you? And those who are not heading back yet, come on over as well. Tong. (Yes?) Bring all the Aulacese (Vietnamese) in. Or those who are still here? Have they all gone home? (Those who have gone home include the Aulacese [Vietnamese], Koreans, and other foreigners.) Wow, it’s a mess now. Come. Come. I found this today; this is the one who wanted to see me today. But strangely, he spoke Aulacese (Vietnamese). (Ask […] to contact him.) Why ask (…) to contact him? (We can write a letter to him.) And ask him why did he want to see me? (Yes.) I’d be glad to see him, but at what time? What kind of group does he belong to, etc. OK?
Why are there so many people now? All kinds of… how many are English-speaking? OK. How many are Aulacese (Vietnamese)-speaking? (The Master is speaking Aulacese [Vietnamese].) You comrades came over from Âu Lạc (Vietnam), right? So you don’t speak English? You’ve just arrived, correct? (Yes.) Did you just come from one of the new economic zones? So what language do you want me to speak now? It’s all mixed, like this, terrible. Do you have translation? Oh, that’s bad. I don’t like this kind of mixed salad. Do you have any questions before you go? (No.)
Have you heard anything, those of you from Âu Lạc (Vietnam)? Look here. All the Aulacese (Vietnamese), come up here, first. And the English people, go behind. And after I see you, or what? English, you have heard all day, every day already. You go behind and get the translation. Aulacese (Vietnamese) sit up front. Those from Âu Lạc (Vietnam), sit up front. It’s fine if it’s a bit mixed up. Alright. That’s enough, OK? Let’s stop here. Tell all the Aulacese (Vietnamese) to come over. Tung, do you hear me? (Yes.) Tung. (We’re bringing them.) Bring them all here. Tomorrow I won’t see anyone again; I may not have time. I see them every day by the way. Quick, quick, quick. Contact them.
Those comrades who are originally from Âu Lạc (Vietnam) can also come sit up here; it’s OK. Or are you sitting down there to translate for everyone? Is there translation? Are they translating? Is there any translation? Do we need translation? Is there a translation system? There is? OK, sit there. If anyone can’t understand, translate for them. And these here are all just “out of the oven,” right? Just newly initiated, right? (Yes.) How long has it been? (Four weeks.) Four months. (It’s been a long time for me.) A long time? How long? (I’m in Germany.) Germany? (Yes.) Where are you from? (Australia.) Australia? (Yes. Australia.) Australia? How many people from Australia, raise your hands. Wow, that many? Three guys. Where did the rest of the Australians go? (They’re in the back, Master.) Next time, don’t worry about it, just let them in.
Are they still in there, or already left? Alright, go home and get some sleep. (They’ve all gone home to sleep, Master.) They all went back to sleep already. Oh my God, forgot to call them up too – you comrades take care of it then. In case tomorrow I’m not free. But they’ve all gone to sleep now already, right? (Yes.) Those comrades who are sleeping, wake up and come in quickly Can anyone hear me? When they sleep, they snore like thunder – how could they hear anything. (Samadhi.) What? Can’t go into samadhi so fast? They’re just sleeping and snoring – what samadhi are you talking about?
So, are you able to eat and sleep OK here, madam? How come you look so good now, madam? Last time you didn’t look this young. (Being Master’s “child,” of course I’d look good.) How could “my child” be so old, oh my goodness. The other day there was this guy who was 52 and made me feel very old already. Now you are about 80, if you were my child, that would finish me off. How old are you now, madam? 70? 60? (68.) Only 68? (Yes.) Alright, that’s still OK. But why do you look so rosy and healthy now? (I’m vegan, and I’m also on a diet, Master.)
You’ve been eating vegan so long you don’t need to diet anymore, right? (Vegan, and you’re dieting?) (You’re already vegan and still have to diet?) Why is that? (Because I’m too fat.) Too fat? Not really. You don’t eat that much, you just swallow a lot. It’s not that you eat a lot. (The food is really delicious, Master.) Is the food really that good? (Yes.) Because you cook well. (Yes, it’s really delicious, Master.) Is that so? Then why don’t you just come and cook for me? I’ll eat, you don’t have to. That way you won’t get fat. (Yes.) (When I just started following Master, my child made me cook every week, but I didn’t even know what to cook. Over time, traveling around and watching others cook, I slowly picked it up. Now I can cook fairly well myself.) Is that so? (Yes.)
All of you have good translation? (Yes.) It’s all about eating. Very exciting. Don’t just drop your water around here. I also feel very excited. I have not eaten anything yet, just a little breakfast in the morning, one slice of bread. Because it’s just very early in the morning. And I was... I had lunch! Just, I feel so starving, like I haven’t eaten anything. Now, I’m cheating, no, not deliberately. I had lunch. Fine. I almost forgot about lunch, because we talked with the Governor and his wife, and all the officers, and I forgot. My God, please, I take it back. I have eaten lunch but I’m still so hungry now. Because when it’s kind of a social dinner like this, you don’t feel… you cannot eat so much. When we eat meals with guests and all that. Oh my, you really have to “play the guest” properly. You can’t even eat, just sit there and talk the whole time.
Those people who just came out of samadhi are here. Tong has a system. He can seek them out quickly. They’ll definitely love it, because sleeping is meaningless. Sleep isn’t anything fun, is it? Why not call everyone to come out here and laugh a bit, have some fun? (Yes.) You go home tomorrow, or the next day, it’s the same. (Yes.) You know that Master will not have time to see you tomorrow, right? (Yes.) Anything else you want to ask? If you have questions, ask them all now, get everything off your chest, then go. (Yes, I would like to ask You, Master.) Alright, go ahead quickly. Pass the microphone to her.
So what is it? (Master, every time I attend a meditation retreat, I lose the inner [Heavenly] Sound. I don’t know why. Could You please explain?) You mean there’s no [inner Heavenly] Sound at all? (Yes. For example, when I was in Chicago…) Maybe it was because someone was snoring too loudly, huh? (When I meditate, I don’t hear the inner [Heavenly] Sound.) Is that so? (And the same thing when I went to the retreat in Taiwan [Formosa] last time; for three whole days I didn’t hear anything. Then when Master called out the Americans who couldn’t hear, couldn’t see.) Yes. (And at that time, I was sitting below, but was able to hear the inner [Heavenly] Sound again.) Is that so? (And this time too – for the last three days I couldn’t hear anything again.) That’s strange!
(If I stop meditating, I’ll die.) That is strange? (I really don’t know why. For the past three days I haven’t heard any inner [Heavenly] Sound at all.) Probably because it’s too noisy here. (But at home I can hear it even when I’m not meditating.) Alright, alright. Don’t put your hands and feet all over the place like that it looks ridiculous. (Yes.) I already know. No need to do all kinds of things like that. There are people taking photos too, hand gestures and all. (Oh my, I can’t stop meditating it’s like not eating rice.) Just bear with it. Maybe it’s because people here snore so loudly it deafens your ears. Who are you sleeping next to? (Yes.) Which lady snores so loudly that it made her go deaf so she can’t hear the Quan Yin (inner Heavenly Sound) anymore? Alright, that’s enough, who else has questions. Did you come from Âu Lạc (Vietnam), or are you from the US.? (From the US.) People in America have it too good already – they get to see Master all the time. Those from Âu Lạc (Vietnam) are the ones I really feel sorry for. (I only got to see You a few times.) Only a few times? People in the US. have money, you can go wherever you want.
Anyone else have a question? Anymore “nonsensical” questions? (I’m here, Master. Earlier, while I was meditating, I kept falling over.) Is that so? You were just dozing off, that’s all. If you’re sitting and you fall over, that means you’re dozing off. (But I could hear everything You were saying, Master. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open.) That’s fine, that’s fine. If you’re sleepy, then just sleep, have a good sleep. (When I fell, I jolted awake with a bang. Oh, my goodness, when I sat back up, I fell over again to the other side.) Is that so? (Yes, I don’t know why that is, so strange.) You don’t know, I don’t know either. Why are you asking me when you’re the one falling over? Usually, when we sit for some time we get tired and fall asleep. If that’s the case, lean your back against the table/wall in front and sleep properly. If you sleep leaning against thin air, of course you’ll fall over. Next time, bring a bed with you, alright? There’s that kind of sleeping bed/chair for that, you know? The kind you can flip open and close, the small ones. The aluminum ones, really lightweight. Oh, your chair is about that size.
(I can’t sit on the floor, Master, because of my leg…) That kind of chair, you pull it out and it turns into a bed. When you sit on a chair, it’s normal to fall asleep. (I was sitting on the floor, I didn’t have a chair.) Is that so? (I couldn’t carry one either, because I can hardly walk. So…) Why are you so weak like that? Never mind. Never mind. It’s alright. If you fall, you just sit back up that’s all. From here to the ground is only… how much? (A few centimeters. A few inches.) Just a few centimeters; what’s there to be afraid of? (When I fell and opened my eyes and saw people, I felt so embarrassed!) Embarrassed, huh? Anyone who sees her fall don’t stare, alright? She’s already embarrassed, don’t look. It’s fine. Everyone has their eyes closed anyway, no one hears anything, no one sees anything. Nothing to be afraid of.
(It’s been such a long time since I last got to see You, Master.) Why is that? (It’s been many years.) Where have you been all this time, why didn’t you come visit me and you say that? (I only met You once or twice in Austin during the initiation back then, and that’s been it until now. I’ve really dreamed of meeting Master, but I never had the chance to go because my legs can’t handle walking through mud, and I can’t climb around either.) Oh my, that’s really pitiful! (Every time I wanted to go, I asked fellow practitioners, and they said, “Oh my, the mountain climbing is really hard!” I got so scared, so I just…) It’s not that bad. You see, there are people out there walking around on two crutches, and they’re doing just fine (Yes, when I came here the other day, I also fell.) Sit down quickly, moms, dads, and everyone.
You fell? (When I came this time, I fell badly and hit this side. Over here it’s bruised, and on this side it feels like it got twisted…) Oh my God, are you trying to hold me responsible for everything now? Falling on this side, tumbling on that side, dozing off, and all sorts of things. (No, no, Master, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that I didn’t bring…) Alright, ""mom,"" then just stay at home alright. Come sit on this side, dear. Sit here for a moment. Scoot up a bit so the people in the back can have a seat too. Alright, here’s what we’ll do, OK? When you walk, you carry an umbrella just like mine. (Yes, Master. I do, Master.) You need to use the umbrella as a support. Three legs are steadier than two.
Just sit anywhere, it’s fine. If there’s space, just sit. You can sit up front too, that’s OK. Sit in the front, don’t sit in the back, you guys. Aulacese (Vietnamese), sit in the front. Tong, Tell the Aulacese (Vietnamese) to sit in the front. Don’t walk across the camera and cover up my beautiful face. Why are you so old-fashioned? Alright, so now you guys just woke up from sleeping, right? Now shake your head a little bit, so you’ll wake up more. Open your eyes, blink, blink, blink! Then rub, rub, rub your nose to wake up. Are you awake yet? (Yes, we’re awake.) How can you wake up without rubbing your nose? It seems like no one is awake today. Nobody’s smiling at all! Come on, smile! Anyone who doesn’t smile gets fined five hundred. We’ll keep you here and don’t let you go home.
Photo Caption: “Sincerely Offer Heartfelt Thanks to Heaven!”
