Quote of The Day (181)
This section contains short teachings extracted from the messages that Sifu Kuan Ming received over the years, since 1979. The quotes contained herein are a collection of the daily quotes for your contemplation.
Knowing oneself is far more important than knowing everything about the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Realising one’s own nature and taking deliberate steps to improve oneself with the intention of removing all evil tendencies and habits is better than knowing the meanings of Sutras and spiritual teachings. Having a warm heart towards others is as good as practising the highest of teachings!
20-Feb-1986 (2)
Whatever you do, make sure there is an intention to benefit others in one way or another. If your mind is not tensed, not too expectant, but gentle and full of faith, Kuan Yin’s energy will flow through you very easily. There is no need to strive to be good, to be in a state of prayers the whole day through, or to forsake the world and live in isolation. Many who have become ascetics have not had any divine experiences; the only satisfaction they feel is the belief that they are holier than others and closer to the Truth.
On the other hand, those who practise the highest methods have no interest in striving to be good and wise, nor do they need to sever all ties with the world or spend the whole day in constant prayers trying to perceive the Truth. Instead, they live naturally and harmoniously with others, rejoicing in others’ happiness and remaining deeply concerned with the miseries of the world so that they are ever ready to lend a helping hand. Such are the ones who have developed the Bodhisattva nature, and Kuan Shih Yin will be with them.
20-Feb-1986 (1)
Each miserable case that you witness is not merely to show what suffering is, but to stir your heart so that you may know what compassion is and develop the Thought of Awakening to receive the energy of compassion.
One cannot be a true Kuan Yin disciple when altruism is absent. One must make selflessness and compassion an active aspect of practice. Seeing misery, and recognising that it affects every living being, helps remind one of the realities of suffering within cyclic existences; it helps to do away with discrimination and nurture the gentle heart.
What the world needs is more people with such kind and gentle hearts, for without them, love cannot manifest.
7-Jul-1986 (1)
To others, the lotus may be regarded as the Flower of Enlightenment, but to you, it shall be the Flower of Compassion of your Heart. For its blooming shall be the result of the compassion that you have for others, especially those who are in misery and pain! Like the lotus whose roots are in the mud and yet its flower is untainted, the Flower of Compassion of your Heart too has its roots deeply embedded in the samsaric soil, and yet its purity is unaffected by it!
(1987 Short Teachings, p1)
Those who are sound in body and mind are the fortunate ones, although many still lack either material wealth or spirituality, or both. No one is born with a fully developed mind; everyone must learn to develop their mind in every lifetime until it is fully perfected. Future happiness rests upon today’s state of mental development, which drives one’s physical behaviour. If this is recognised, why not guard the mind carefully? Each day, spare a few moments to consider the importance of ‘mental hygiene’. Learn to understand the mind, and life becomes meaningful at once!
One whose mind is filled with poisons may be more dangerous and useless than the mind of a lunatic. Both have minds disturbed by different factors, which come in varying guises of ignorance! Many who appear normal are actually quite abnormal, and vice versa. Look, then, into your mind daily, and know yourself!
27-Jan-1986 (2)
Seeing is learning. Learning is what life is for. A learned person will feel the need to learn more, and through this realisation, he will remain humble in speech. This is your year of learning, and so the experiences that you have encountered thus far are to be appreciated. How you benefit from what is directed your way depends on your ability to see through what must unfold before your eyes—sometimes involving you, sometimes not. Wisdom is gained by perceiving the necessity of life’s experiences, and through them, you will emerge as a more useful being!
27-Jan-1986 (1)
This Compassionate Path is the Path for mankind to follow if they sincerely wish for world peace. This is the Path where all are equal, and where prejudices, discrimination, and all forms of bad traits are removed by the Heart of Love and Compassion. I have given you the simplest and most potent prayer to recite: the Mani Mantra. Use it throughout your life and use it with great faith. It will carry everyone across when they are able to utilise this prayer in every moment of their lives.
31-Jul-1982 (3)
To be guided is to be reminded that you are on My Path—the Path of Mercy and the Compassionate Path.
To be on the Compassionate Path is the greatest route one can choose in life because it purifies the entire being of those who walk it. It requires no training, no great prayers, and no high standing in life. Even the poorest and simplest may walk it and end up as leaders.
31-Jul-1982 (2)
The purpose of life is to take up the act of “awakening Bodhi". This is not accomplished merely by studying or praying to the Gods or Buddhas. It begins with the firm decision to free oneself from the bondage of ignorance, and then to set forth the work of removing the defilement from one’s mind—a task that may take many lifetimes of diligent effort to succeed, yet must nevertheless be pursued; otherwise, the samsaric sufferings cannot come to an end. This may be excellent advice, but who will follow it?
10-Jun-1988 (2)
Ignorance
People are crazy indeed! They seek peace of mind, yet they act in confusion They know that doing good for others will bring happiness to themselves and others, yet they act selfishly. They know that by following the right paths of life, they will have peace of mind and happiness; however, they avoid such paths and instead prefer the evil paths. They know that certain acts are bad for their body and mind, yet they fail to restrain themselves. Despite knowing that they have nothing to lose by heeding the words of their Great Teachers, yet they will not make their efforts to attain their goals. When things go wrong, they moan and ask, “Why?” When things are right, they become careless. Ignorance is a fetter hard to break indeed!
10-Jun-1988 (1)
Too many people believe they are cultivators simply because they worship, yet worship alone is insufficient. The act of worship must be accompanied by the proper practice of seeking the knowledge of self-liberation. One must first learn to acquire a calm and pure mind, and one must engage in constant practice to understand the meaning of mind‑cultivation.
Even those who come here to pray with the right intention must learn to attain a mind free from unrelated thoughts, for their minds are filled with such distractions even during prayer and during moments meant for meditation. This is why they have failed to make any inroads into understanding the true nature and the results of one‑pointed concentration in worship.
12-Jan-1982 (2)
There is no need to fear suffering or to yearn for happiness. Such is the thinking of a worldly person, one who has not learned much from life. Those who have learned will come to understand that, in actuality, there is no bitterness or sweetness, because they are one, each leading naturally to the other. To understand this, one must learn to think deeply, preferably in a seated posture, which is most conducive for contemplation.
7-Nov-1988 (2)
The best teacher is one’s own life’s experiences, whether bitter or sweet, for they help to bring about awakenings to the true nature of life. Often, the bitter ones are the most effective because of one’s fear of the pains and disappointments of life. They provide the necessary energy for one to actively cultivate the causes of happiness. In truth, these bitter fruits are necessary, for they serve as medicine for the sick mind—the mind of Ignorance. Although they may appear distasteful because of their bitterness, yet after some time, a change can be felt, and sweetness will be tasted! Life is like that: at the end of bitterness, with right effort and understanding, sweetness is there.
7-Nov-1988 (1)
There must always be time for reflection on one’s life and one’s spiritual aspirations. The experiences of life—whether harmonious or discordant—are the awakeners of the mind. Therefore, they are not to be clung to or feared. Each experience provides an opportunity to learn and to gain the wisdom needed to cut off the dualities that keep the mind in delusion. Reflecting on one’s spiritual aspirations helps one draw strength to take up the difficult practice that brings clarity of mind, which is the true goal of life.
18-Jan-1988 (1)
Losing appreciation for life really means not knowing the purpose of life and appreciating its true worth. Those who cling to life, and are striving to experience as much sensual pleasures as possible, are deluded beings who have lost their true directions. No matter what they do, and no matter how much material wealth they gain, they will not know the peace of bliss. What they have experienced, are experiencing, and will experience, is only relative happiness, which brings no true satisfaction. Because of this, they feel insecure, suffer from fear, and are easily swayed by greed, anger, and delusion. Those who appreciate and understand the purpose of life will not be so strongly afflicted by such emotions and confusions. They will work towards attaining the peace and happiness that is ultimate.
Life is not to be clung to, nor is it to be lived for the sake of gaining worldly possessions; but rather it is to walk the Way that brings calm, removes delusion, and increases wisdom!
11-Jan-1988 (1)
This period of training is to be treated as the most important period of this lifetime. Do not allow difficulties to deter you. Effort, perseverance, patience, and concentration are being practised, and they will lead to the wisdom born of Dharma knowledge. If even such preliminary training in the virtues is found distasteful, how can the perfection of these virtues ever come about? Accept the duty before you, and work joyfully for the benefit of others!
3-Nov-1988 (1)
Everything arises out of the mind. Because of this Truth, those who are on the Path towards Truth must first seek to understand the nature of the mind. It is a difficult search, and not many can succeed, but it is not impossible, as it has been proven by countless beings who have attained it.
Virtues are required to help one see it through. Much more can be said to help the Path Seeker, but the ultimate virtue that guides one over is wisdom. Through wisdom, ignorance is cut off. Through wisdom, all virtues can be put into practice, and through wisdom, the Truth of the Teachings can be discerned. Therefore, all who belong to this Order should pay homage to Manjushri Bodhisattva to seek His guidance to attain wisdom.
21-Jul-1982 (1)
Every day, be well-motivated to work towards attaining liberation for the sake of helping others end their miseries. The pains of life provide the necessary energy for one to break free from the endless cycles of aging, sickness, and death. Pains and sufferings, therefore, should be transformed into occasions for earning blessings and mind training, instead of being viewed as a form of punishment.
27-Dec-1988 (5)
Each time you make an offering to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Devas, Ancestors, or even to a beggar, ensure that you select the best that you have. An offering becomes impure whenever unwholesome thoughts are there. Look into your heart and see what kind of person you really are. If there is discrimination, remove it now, or you will have wasted your years of practice. Unless you have the heart of love and charity—one that gives only the best to anyone—it is no longer a gift, it is not an offering. It becomes merely the act of pushing away something you dislike onto others. If so, where can the merits be?
15-Feb-1984 (5)
The festive day is drawing near and plans for the festival should be discussed. It must be a day of happiness. It must be a day of love and brotherhood. It must be a day of purity, and a day when all kinds of wrong views, wrong speech, and wrong actions are abolished.
This is no longer a day of thanksgiving. Those who hold such a view should only be those who are new to the Order. This is the day when all My true devotees and disciples must make a review of the past and then make their respective vows to live a much improved and purer life in the future.
16-Jul-1982 (2)
Call upon Namo Kuan Shih Yin to be your guide. Stretch out your hands for help, and set aside all forms of pride that bind you to your illusions. Calling Kuan Shih Yin for help is to declare that you are ready for a change in your lifestyle. You must be prepared to be moulded, and your mind must be subject to cleansing.
When you are true and sincere, you will not waste a single moment of life entertaining thoughts that are harmful to yourself or to others. You are walking the Path of Compassion and Mercy, so that even the mosquitoes and cockroaches will cease to be pests you enjoy killing. When this state is attained, you will be ready for greater tasks, and any act of brutality will cause pain within your heart.
You will no longer miss loud company, and you will be content with whatever you have, for the greatest treasure in life will be the ability to think and act like Kuan Yin.
15-Feb-1984 (5)
Many Paths have you tried in the past, yet none have brought real success; that is why you are still within the rounds of existence. I now give you a new Path—one you have not walked before—one that gives you new meaning, new experience, and new hope. It is entirely up to you to take up this Path that I have walked, the Path that many before you have followed and from which they have reaped their rewards. I give you the Bodhisattva Path, which leads you to Nirvana!
8-Jan-1982 (2)
Each time you visit a temple or place of worship, a small bunch of flowers is an ideal offering to add fragrance and beauty to the altars where the most revered images of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas sit. Your flowers remind you that you come with a fresh mind and a beautiful motive of worship, and the next time you come, you will not find your flowers there anymore. This should remind you that spiritual cultivation is like that. Very often you begin with great and noble intentions, but after a short period of time, all is forgotten, and your motivations too are subject to decay—just like the flowers.
15-Feb-1984 (3)
Relax, Rest, and Recharge
In whatever form of action that you do—whether physical or mental—energy is used up. Even allowing your mind to drift into a stream of useless thoughts that keep you half-awake will drain your energy.
Learn to relax, learn to set the mind free, and learn to sleep well so that your body is recharged with energy vital for good health. A tired mind is one of the leading causes of ill health. You will notice that most people who fall sick either do not sleep well or were not sleeping well before their illness arose.
13-Feb-1984 (2)
Let this year be one of learning and gaining wisdom. Avoid useless emotions that cloud the clarity of mind. Look at life squarely and act with vigour in all that must be done, while holding noble motivations. The period of questioning has lasted long enough; set aside intellectual arguments and still the waves of the mind so that awakening may arise.
11-Feb-1984 (6)
Prepare your mind for longer sitting from now on. There is no quick result. How many lifetimes have you lived? Since you are now on the Path of Self-Improvement and Path of Kindliness, be ready to learn without haste, as life’s deeper experiences do not come quickly. It is not necessarily true that only religious practitioners can perfect themselves, though with the right guidance in a wholesome environment, your progress may come sooner.
11-Feb-1984 (5)
When the mind is steady, the afflictions of greed, anger, lust, envy, jealousy, and stupidity will not cloud your mind or cause you to act against yourself and cause harm to your character. Each day should be spent in deep contemplation of these afflictions, for they are poisons to life. Watch the arising of each poison and observe how it affects your body and mind—paying close attention to your emotions and sensations. With patience and the right attitude, you must patiently correct these negativities of life, and that is the essence of cultivation!
11-Feb-1984 (4)
Life should be lived without too many complications. It should be lived in accordance with the conditions that you are subjected to. There is no way to live happily when you are not in harmony with your environment. The wise person knows how to accept and wait patiently for conditions to change—and they will change. In the meantime, he lives with life and not against it, avoiding conflict and refraining from generating ill-will that harms both happiness and appreciation of life’s opportunities.
11-Feb-1984 (3)
While praying for long periods is an attainment, the ability to develop all wholesome qualities is an even greater attainment. Therefore, the purpose of life is to cultivate the right and loving attributes that mould you into someone who is respected and cherished, free from quarrelsome tendencies. This moulding of the character is a kind of inner evolution which the self undergoes. It is a purifying process that elevates one to higher and higher levels of existence until one's true nature reveals itself.
11-Feb-1984 (2)
Having a good nature helps to make one a pleasant person to all. Offering a genuine smile gives others a feeling of friendship. Showing patience with a smile that reflects a gentle nature is one of the finest characteristics a person can cultivate. Furthermore, incorporating generosity and selflessness into your character, you begin to understand what it means to abide in equanimity.
11-Feb-1984 (1)
The disciple of Kuan Shih Yin must not be weak; must not hope and wish only for the easy way of practice. The harder the task, the better the opportunity to improve your spiritual strength, and more unwholesome roots will be removed through such challenges. Bodhisattvas must go through all kinds of experiences in order to understand their root causes, so that you will fear them when you are put into a situation to act foolishly.
This is the year of learning; this is the year of going through unfamiliar experiences so that you may step onto new grounds. Tread carefully and do not rush to conclusions, for outward appearances easily deceive many. Use wisdom, be patient with yourself and with others, and make worship meaningful. 2-Feb-1984 (10)