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.
To expect guidance out of prayers of requests at all times is to become over-dependent on Me, and that is the wrong attitude. Even when help is given all the time, would it increase one’s faith? When help is there at any time, what is there left to pray for? Where, then, is faith? It is not right thinking to expect your problems to be solved through mere praying. You will lose your interest in no time, and you will also become a helpless and hopeless being. (D-820109-4)
Today, the 16th day of the 3rd lunar month, is our Precious Guru Deity Chunti Fwo Mu Festive Day! Om Tsala Tsule Chunti Soha!
The very fact that one has come across Spiritual Paths in life means that one of such Paths must be followed, and if one really puts his heart and soul to walk the chosen Path, there is every possibility of removing such sufferings that abound. Faith and endurance, together with wisdom, will lead one out of the nightmares of life.
Those who are now on the Path of giving help to others, be true to your cause, be true to yourself, be true to your belief, and you will be truly walking the Path of Loving-kindness. (D-820408-1-2)
Complaining about your life will not help. It will be more meaningful if you could appreciate all that you already possess. No one can attain a fully satisfactory life; there will always be areas of discontentment. If you are poor in wealth, you may still be rich in health. But even if you are poor in both wealth and health, how can there not be any stimulus to cultivate a richer spirituality? To such people, I ask: Have you really tried? Have you really understood the nature and causes of your poverty? Have you realised that since the distant past, many have willingly given up wealth and even health in their search for spirituality? Have you not heard of the Buddha? (D-820401-2)
Most people have such weak minds, such poor minds, and such uncontrollable minds that their lives are constantly in a state of agitation and unhappiness. If only they would look away from themselves, forsake self-pity, and learn instead to transform this negative force into a positive one by turning it into compassion for others who are more unfortunate. If only they could realise that there are millions praying for what they have; then they would melt away in great shame. (D-820401-1)
The desire to have more, the lust for others, and the craving for the satisfaction of desires must be kept under control and gradually extinguished. It is necessary for you to understand the difference between your needs and your wants. It is good to begin to examine your mind, to seek the truth, and to recognise the beauty of cultivating a contented and calm mind. As this understanding grows, cravings naturally diminish, and you become grateful for whatever you have, without envying those who possess more. (D-820330-3)
Attachments come in many forms. In this very materialistic world, most people are drawn to accumulating more and more worldly things, which lead not to fulfillment but to greater dissatisfaction. There is also attachment to worldly pleasures, which abound today and give rise to ever‑increasing desires, resulting in greater sufferings. The ‘lesser evils’ of attachment are those found in human relationships with loved ones, and the many other attachments that you cling to will bind you to the perpetual rounds of worldly existences. (D-820330-2)
The more attachments you have, the more difficult it will be for you to cultivate; therefore, the lower your chances of attaining your spiritual goal in life.
So, what are you to do? Are you expected to abandon everything and everyone? This need not be the case, as you are a layperson—a worldly person who has not dedicated your life to the Sangha. But there is a great need for you to understand the meaning of contentment and non-attachment by understanding the nature of existence: that all things are impermanent. (D-820330-1)
A true Kuan Yin disciple is such a noble being that he does not need any praise or reward. He exists in a state of purity and love. He is of his own true nature, and he is not affected by the environment and conditions of life. He is bent towards his noble task of bringing those whom he can back to the right path and those whom he cannot to safety by giving them all the encouragement and help that he can offer so that they are not completely lost. He is living in the practice of the essence of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and he is on his way towards full realisation. (D-831224-5)
Great endurance, great understanding, great perseverance, and great wisdom must be developed before your acts of love can be universal and all-embracing. You will find ways and means to help, but you cannot help all of them. Yet you try and try, and that is how you will arrive at the stage of applying skillful means to help them. To get to this level of awakening, you will have gone through great suffering and severe tests and trials because you have chosen to become father and mother to all. (D-831224-4)
The way to Kuan Yin is not by clever thoughts and words but by selfless and virtuous actions. The way to pray to Kuan Yin is not by sweet words of praise and promises or vows but to act in accordance with life, to live in accordance with nature, and to feel for others as you would feel for yourself. Then you will be on the first rung of the ladder to Bodhisattvahood, and then you will feel the energy of Kuan Yin vibrating within your body, speech, and mind. You will be the only one who feels it and understands it, but you will not be able to cause others to feel what you are feeling or understand what you have understood. (D-831224-3)
The Buddha’s Teachings are the very Teachings that will liberate you from this conditioned existence to the untainted and unconditioned nirvana. Use your time wisely in your pursuit of the Ultimate Goal by studying and practising the Teachings. Avoid holding wrong views which are easier to accept; discard all kinds of hatred that are within you, or you will destroy the essence of the Buddha’s Teachings that you profess that you are practising. (D-831224-2)
Hate not the evil doer who harms you but be very wary of the evil that exists in this world. The conditions of the world of life and death have caused the mind to become deluded, and each person has to patiently remove the hindrances that are within his mind. The Buddha’s Teachings provide you with the means of purification. (D-831224-1)
All kinds of spiritual materialism should be avoided. When the mind is weak, when it is not ready, do not dwell on the practice for any kind of gains; otherwise, confusion will arise and complications will certainly be difficult to remove.
One should avoid hoping to be able to come into contact with any spiritual exposure, for the consequences will be harmful when the mind is not ready but the desire is great. This is ego building. This is wrong understanding and wrong cultivation. (D-831109-5,820610-2)
Set aside a certain time each day for sitting in contemplation or meditation. Only when the mind is disciplined and brought to a calm state—only when feelings and sensations of both mind and body have been subdued—will one enter the true state of contemplation. From contemplation, one should then proceed into meditation. At all times, learn to be extremely patient and strict with yourself. Contemplate the Four Noble Truths and consider how the Noble Eightfold Path can be applied to your daily life and then put into practice what you have resolved to do. This is correct cultivation! (D-820608-1)
Today, the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, is Cho See Puk Tao Sing Kwan, The Spirit of The North’s Festive Day. Om Dika Ranjir Hum Peh!
Depending on one’s own spiritual insight, reading about this Great Lord’s Legends may bring faith into one’s mind or otherwise. Some will treat it as a fairy tale; others will look down on those who believe and pray to Him, but to those who have experienced His blessings, they will stand apart. There is no need to talk further, and there is also no need to force others to pray to Him! While He is real to some, He too can be very unreal to others. This is how the world is—always. Belief and Disbelief - Dualism! Confusion! (D-860906-1)
This is but the early beginning of the building of the foundations for the Contemplative Order. Be not afraid of the obstacles that are there, or its history will be brief and disappointing. The Way has been given; how many will choose to walk it? The Truths have been taught, but how many can truly discern their meanings? One must not just believe and hope that their simple faith will bring them liberation! (D-820607-3, STQ-87-p3)
Divine Energy has been with you, guiding you, protecting you, nurturing you, and comforting you, because there is no one to whom you may turn to for help and assistance. This will continue to be so as long as you are true to the Call to establish this noble Order, which shall prove to others that the awakening of your spiritual abilities is not learned from others but from knowing made manifest from the depth of your heart, which is possible! You may have done much, but much more must you do if the Order is to be well founded! (STQ-1987-p2)
Those who have chosen to follow My Path, those who seek the true meaning of life and the essence of the Buddhist Teachings, should devote themselves to understanding the Greatest Truths of the Universe—the Four Noble Truths—and to practising the Most Noble Path in the world—the Noble Eightfold Path. One must discern the doctrines and live by them in order to grasp the real meaning of the Teachings, and once this is done, one will never turn back. The Path must be practised; otherwise, one will soon lose interest, for the meaning of the doctrine cannot be realised without direct experience. (D-820607-1)
Niang is nudging you to face the world, to learn from life, and to earn your own merits through your very own efforts in search of a wholesome life that will contribute harmony to the world. In time, you will understand what compassion is and what love truly is. By over-protecting you, you may become weak and unable to stand on your own feet or make decisions in life. At that point, Niang’s protection would no longer be compassionate. True compassion empowers you to grow strong and self-reliant! (D-820605-3)
One must learn to accept falling before one can succeed in life. Each time you experience the pain of a fall, you become more careful; you learn to be steadier and more alert. With every fall, you build the resolve not to fall the next time you rise and walk again. That is the rhythm of life—fall and rise, rise and fall—and how far or how fast you progress depends on how fast you learn to get up and try again. It also depends on your understanding that every fall is a lesson: to recognise how and why you fell, and in doing so, to become wiser. (D-820605-2)
Do not expect to be guided throughout your entire life, for that is not cultivation. Motivation can be given, but the effort must come from within. If you are being helped all through life, then there is no need to cultivate or to practise—and without self-help and cultivation, how can there be any real progress? Be glad when you can reach the state of 'no help' and dwell in the state of normalcy that would mean that you are ready to proceed on your own, relying on your effort and mental strength. This is the essence of true cultivation – achieved by your very own self. (D-820605-1)
Look at any image with devotion and reverence, honouring what it is meant to represent. Even if there has been an image which has not been carved or made to the degree of your liking, do not criticise or even comment but realise that even being so imperfect, others have found faith and have chosen it to be suitable for worship. Try to appreciate the effort that the image-maker has put into creating it or be grateful that it is not worse than it can be. Any form of criticism on the effort of others is bad for a cultivator. (D-840120-3)
Learn how to conduct yourself, how to discriminate right from wrong, and how to live by your own free will. The greatest possession in life is a mind that is strong, that is clear, that is calm, and that is able to lead you to the Path of Righteousness. Therefore, whenever you are performing any act that is meant to benefit others, go ahead and do not let others dissuade you from doing it! (D-830308-1)
One must refrain from backbiting and gossip, as these are bad practices that will bring harm to oneself. A true Buddhist must take it upon himself to observe the Five Precepts, which will make him a worthy person for others to be associated with.
Only those who have ignorant minds will fall into the habit of indulging in divisive speech and thereby breaking the precepts that they are supposed to uphold. (D-820601-1)
Refrain from getting involved in debate on religion. This is part of the cultivation; this is learning how to restrain, and this is the training of right speech that argument in religious matters leads to nowhere. Therefore, it is idle chatter, and it is ignoble speech even for the ones who win the argument. (D-820521-1)
There is much to understand about life, but this can only be understood by understanding the teachings of great teachers and practising that which have been proven to be the correct living as shown by them as examples for others to follow.
Getting things through prayers is not the correct attitude, and even if things do happen the way that you wish, will you stop there and be satisfied? Always refrain from hoping for greater blessings just because you pray! (D-820515-1)
Cultivating a Disciplined Mind
Do not be alarmed by the ridiculous thoughts that arise in your mind. Some thoughts may seem enticing and try to pull you into dwelling on them, causing you to lose your control. Whenever you become aware of this, gently guide your mind away from such thoughts, and do not grow impatient with yourself. If you give up too quickly, you have lost the battle before it has even begun, revealing only a lack of discipline. If even the simple habit of training the mind feels too difficult to maintain, how will you uphold the precepts throughout your life? Begin now and set yourself firmly on the path of cultivating a disciplined mind! (D-820511-1)
Happy Kuan Yin Festive Day of the 2nd Lunar Month!
When you are a Kuan Yin Contemplative, your goal in life is to search for the fruition of bodhicitta, without which there can be no goal at all. Anyone who professes to be one from this Order need only be self-reliant, be ever humble, and be prepared to seek and learn from others. No one can help you but your own self, and no one can really discipline your mind unless you are sincere with your practice. Praying for a miracle to change yourself without self-effort is only wishful thinking. (D-831228-2)
The Eve of Kuan Yin Festival of the 2nd Lunar Month.
These messages that I (Niang) give are not only to be read but also to be reflected upon and tested in your daily lives. You must not simply accept them; you must not only agree, but you must put them to the test to verify them. Only then will you arrive at true understanding, and only then will the messages and writings of books be of any real benefit to you. You have this chance of a human life; you have known many Paths, and you had better practise one! (D-820222-1)
Be content with life. Be glad that you are not in a worser condition than so many others. Be happy that you have the realisation that life is but a short journey if you can accept its entirety and that if only liberation from worldly life can be attained, the reward of an eternal life awaits you. (D-820403-1)
Faith, Devotion and Understanding
How you cultivate faith and devotion depends on your own openness, knowledge, and understanding. Understanding cannot be imposed, faith cannot be forced, and devotion must be naturally developed.
Experience shapes your belief—faith grows when something in your life confirms the Path and deepens through lived experience. Openness is the seed of devotion—devotion often arises after practice, not before it. Faith becomes devotion when it stops being about reward and becomes about relationship. Spend your time reading books that offer wisdom, expand your knowledge, and provide the kind of insight that leads to deeper understanding. (D-820430-1)