In this episode, Supreme Master Ching Hai expounds on the path of the Inner Heavenly Light and Sound and offers tips on how to identify a real Master.
(I came in late and I don’t know if You might have already answered this. But, let me ask this question anyway. Do You know about Sant Mat or Surat Shabd Yoga?) Yes, yes, I know.
(How does that compare with what You are teaching, and what is Your impression of that?)
Maybe similar. It’s just more extensive in my lectures, more extensive – the knowledge and the explanation. (So, are You saying that You are teaching the same thing then?) I think so, yes. (OK. Is this explained more in Your books which I can get?) Ah, no, it isn’t explained in there. Because the [Quan Yin] Method, you cannot explain, you can only transmit in silence. So what I explain is only a kind of philosophy. (So, Your method of meditation involves inner [Heavenly] Light and inner [Heavenly] Sound?) Right. (OK. Thank You.)
(But, excuse me, it’s safer, too, with [Supreme] Master Ching Hai, and more powerful.) (More powerful than the Indian Gurus in the line of Shiv Dayal Singh?) No, we should not say things like this. (OK.)
See, we do not try to compare anything, because people have different affinities with different Masters. If you feel that Sant Mat appeals to you, that is the right path. If you feel I am more appealing to you, then you have more affinity with me.
(What is Your lineage? Who is Your Master and Your Master’s Master, etc.?) It’s in the Himalayas. The lineage doesn’t come from one person. It comes from God. And it goes through different channels.
(Is there only one Master on Earth at one time, in Your opinion, or could there be many?) Many. (Thank You.)
Because countries are so many. One Master cannot satisfy the needs of all people. (Yes) Also, the physical body has a limit. So when Buddha was alive, there was another Master with Him. Sometimes there are several, sometimes there are more, depends on the need of the time. But sometimes one Master gets so famous that other Master gets in the shadow or more well-established. That’s all. For example, now everybody knows about Buddha, because He has been established since 2600 years ago. Everyone knows about Christ. So, everyone else gets under Their shadows. So, Sant Mat has been established over many decades, since Guru Nanak or something, 500 years ago. Of course, they are more established and well-known, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only lineage that exists. Otherwise, where did the Buddha get that lineage? And where did all the Chinese Masters get it from, and all the Japanese, etc.? At this time, there are more Masters than usual – at this time. In other times, maybe only one, two, or three. At this time, there are many more.
(How does one distinguish among the different Masters? Are there different grades of Masters?) In the same path or a different path? (Different paths.) Oh. (How does one decide who is the One?) Who is the One? (Yes.) Yes. Are you following Sant Mat? (I was initiated in Honolulu.) With whom? (Darshan Singh.)
Oh, yes. Your Master Kirpal Singh would tell you that there are many paths to God, but the path of the (inner Heavenly) Light and (inner Heavenly) Sound is the safest, He didn’t say that’s the only one. (Are You saying that He didn’t say that’s the only path?) No, He didn’t. He said, “The safest, the quickest, (Right, yes.) and the best.” Yes. Well, I would say the same too. But He didn’t say that’s the only one. Sometimes people, through yearning for God, sincerity, or many lifetimes’ devotion, will earn them the fruit also. What we mean is that without contacting this (inner Heavenly) Light and (inner Heavenly) Sound, you cannot go to God. But that isn’t a method. Because it’s not a method really. It’s just how to get in touch with the (inner Heavenly) Light and (inner Heavenly) Sound. And you make any effort to get into the (inner Heavenly) Light and the (inner Heavenly) Sound – and that’s it! You are enlightened. But if you have a Master, who is already in touch with the (inner Heavenly) Light and the (inner Heavenly) Sound, He helps you quicker. That’s all.
It’s not truly a method at all, just the God Power, and the longing and devotion. And because within a Master, there’s great longing, great devotion and great virtues, therefore, it comes to you like a shock and then you are open. But you don’t feel shocked actually, it just means inside, a very silent shock. If you try it all by yourself, it’s hard to get in touch with the (inner Heavenly) Light and the (inner Heavenly) Sound. That’s all.
So whoever gets in touch with the (inner Heavenly) Light and the (inner Heavenly) Sound, and who are so devoted to God, after some time, they become Masters. And then they can transmit the same to others. Because inside them, they have now plenty of (inner Heavenly) Light, plenty of (inner Heavenly) Sound. For example, like you have plenty of money, you can give to people. Capito? (Understand.)
(I have a question basically to what he has said. And the first one is basically about what is the criterion for selecting a Master? Because as You said, now there are many Masters, but there are also many fake ones.) Yes. (And, you open up a newspaper, you’re going to see many masters advertised.) Right. (And what’s the criterion, that people like us can go ahead and select Masters? And the second one is, because there are so many religions and...) First, say the first one and then the second. (OK.) One by one. People cannot remember all this, especially me.
Well, the first question: how to select a Master? If you are somewhat enlightened, and you’ll know immediately who is talking what. And if the Master claims to be the real One, then He can give you some experiences of the (inner Heavenly) Light and the (inner Heavenly) Sound of the Heaven or some kind of Heavenly Abode where that Master has been. Share with you some of His Power immediately, and that’s what you call a real Master. Also, the real Master can appear anywhere and anytime without physical means, without transportation. That is also the second criterion. But before you come to that, you must select a Master according to His or Her speech. Does it appeal to you or not? Is it logical or not? Intelligent enough or not? Does it answer all your questions or not? And look at the virtues of the Master. Is the Master truly without fame and name without desire? Well, that’s the outer. And then the inner is that when you are initiated, then you’ll know whether the Master has God Power or not. And then when you practice, you’ll see the Master appear anywhere, anytime, to help you. And that is also how you know more and more each day. Alright (I guess this is...) Is that OK? Do you think so? You agree? (Yes, this sounds very similar to those... identical to...) Otherwise, how can you identify the Master? If He gives you no money, how can you believe that He has money? So, if He is enlightened, He should give you some (inner Heavenly) Light. It means He gets you enlightened also.
(But there are ones… more often people are very confused by supernatural power. And a lot of these fake masters, they will tell you a lot of things and let you see a lot of things,) Yeah. (and you go with him. And then later on, as Your book says, you get possessed.) Yes. (And then somebody has to come, people like You, to maybe de-possess them. And how do You tell the subtle difference between a Master who is real, can show the [inner Heavenly] Light, and the other one who can’t?) Oh. Also, you have to look into your heart to find the Master. When the student is ready, the Master will appear. It means when your heart is sincere and pure, you will meet a sincere and pure Master. So look into your heart to find a Master, and not outside phenomena, not the advertisements on the paper. See what you want. Do you want God or do you want phenomena? Do you want God or do you want psychic power? Of course, if we truly want God, we pray. If you are not sure, you pray to God, “I do not know You. Please, let me know You alone and worship You alone, and don’t let other people lead me astray.” God surely will hear that, and Hes will lead you to the good Master. Purity and sincerity is the guarantee for you to find a good or a bad master. Don’t you agree? (Yes.) The Master is in your heart.
(OK. Now this is the second question.) Yeah. (Because people have different attachments.) Yes. (And that’s why there are many sects in Buddhism as well as there are so many religions outside Buddhism.) Right. (And, how do You advise people to follow some sect, Zen Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism and Tiantai Buddhism or Christianity? Is there any advice that You can provide people here?) I do not advise anyone to follow anything. So many sects is because there are so many Masters who appeared in many different periods of time. And then people followed that Master and established another sect after He had gone. When He was alive, He didn’t establish any sect at all. He would let people believe what they believed. And did not interfere with people’s background, and social status or faith, I mean, original faith. Because the Master knows all the faiths came from the same source. It’s only established after one Enlightened Master has left the world, and people just form around that personality and make another sect. For example, Tiantai Sect is from the Master who lived at Tiantai Mountain. Lin Jih Sect is the name after the Master Lin Jih. That’s all there is. But after the Master is gone, whatever sect, is of no use. The most important is to get enlightened through any Master at all. Whether He is Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Tiantai or Shingon, you don’t care. Because the Master would teach you the same thing with your original sect anyhow. But you only know this after enlightenment. Or maybe you are a little bit enlightened somewhat, and then you understand the impact. And later, you follow that Master’s teaching, and you will know everything yourself. And you will understand there is no difference between sects and religions. (Thank You.)
(Can You talk about meditation? I don’t know very much about it. Like what do You think about when You are meditating or…?) What do I think about? (Yes, or what are You doing? You know, (Alright.) why are You enlightened?) Alright, alright. Meditation is a kind of listening to God’s advice, God’s instruction. Now, why do we meditate? It’s just to reserve some time for the Inner Message. As we keep always asking for something, praying for something, we must also reserve some time to listen. Just like you ask me a question, now you have to be quiet for a while and try to listen to what I say. Is that not true? Now every day we pray to God “Oh, God. Oh, Buddha. Please, give me that. Please tell me what to do! Please what, please that…” And then we go out, always busy, noisy and talking, and never listen. So actually, meditation is nothing but a process of quiescence.
Just sit there and listen to see what God answers to our prayers, and what the Buddha instructs us to do. That’s all there is. It’s a very simple thing. You ask, and you need an answer. So, when we need an answer, we have to be quiet and listen. That is called meditation, basically like that. (But do You repeat some words… or anything like this?) You must not repeat anything. But then, because most people, they repeat something anyhow. You sit there and you might repeat your husband’s [words from] yesterday. Or you might remember somebody. Or you might think of your business or your money or your anxiety or your vexation… And so sometimes the Master thinks it is fit to let you repeat some Names of God, of Buddhas, to quiet down, just to replace those chaotic excitements. But repeating Names doesn’t bring you near to God. It is your longing, devotion, and the Power from the Master, that help in meditation. (Thanks.) Anything else? (No.) No? Good.
Photo Caption: “Brighten the World Anywhere”
