From this understanding none from this Order will say words that do injustice to any of the good paths that leads its devotees to practise that which is good and righteous. There is no superior path for anyone.
There is only a suitable path for each person until such times when changes are needed. Therefore all those methods of practice which have been passed on to you by good fortune through renown ones, let those be but practices that help to mould you into a new being that is bent on the cultivation of virtue. But do not believe that you have found the supreme method of practice just because initiation has been given to you by the most famous and most holy of men. It is but an exposure and methods of practice which are good and workable may not be suitable to you. It is better to just humbly accept the practice which gives you meaning, which moulds your character, which causes you to be gentle and kind, to be humble and ready to help and serve others. Kuan Yin’s path cannot be confined to any particular method. It is spontaneous and it will arise according to your nature and your past attainments!
Each day, go back to the practice that has found you faith. Do not be too greedy for greater and better methods of practice. Just between you and Kuan Yin, you make your bond firmer, your faith stronger and your life simpler and contented. Let others practise their method of worship of self purification, but if you should be able to remain humble and ever conscious of the spirit of Kuan Yin within you, you will be much more superior than anyone else who knows much more than you. How painful to the ear to hear so-called practitioners comparing their methods of practice, their abilities to recite sutras, mantras and dharanis, how many initiations they have received. How empty they all are!
These past years of exposures have brought new meaning, experiences and changes to your practice. Teachers have come, given talks and advice, brought attention to this little Order. What really has been learned after all? Have other methods of cultivation been more meaningful, forceful and effective that the simple method that Kuan Yin has given to you? Reflect and discover the truth!
If no real improvement has been attained then, be grateful for the most wonderful path that has been shown to you. If other prayers and methods have not made you a even better being that you have been, then such superior method, the method which has been given to you from the heart of Kuan Shih Yin, is still the best method to practise in the Order. But this does not mean that you should cut off from other teachers, to learn other methods of practising. Continue to see and hear, continue to practise any other method that has been taught to you. Analyses and you will realise that the unknown and unusual practice as given to you is indeed your most suitable method of practice that will help yourself and others. Then be ready not to be attached to any teacher no matter how wonderful he may be to you. It has to be your own initiative, your own effort, to know and to improve yourself after hearing teachings and so on. Teachers will always come and go, but your divine teacher will always be within your heart. Know your own heart, then realise the teaching that is waiting for you to grasp.
Each day spend time in the way of worship as you have been taught, generate love and devotion and make links with your Namo Guru who is nothing but the energy of love and compassion. Your own energy need of love and compassion must be cultivated through the practice of developing your guru’s energy in you. Be one with your Guru and all these talks on Bodhicitta will soon be realised and practised. Make it a perpetual thought that it will be your duty to pray for the well being of others even though it will be impossible for you to do so at first thought. But all things are in the mind, created within the mind, so whenever your faith is there, and the great desire to see happiness in others is there, then it is possible to pray for them at every moment of the day! Every moment means every moment, so that you are aware of your duty and that you will pray to relieve sufferings and pains. To inferior minds, this may seem crazy, for it is simply impossible for anyone in the world to pray at every moment of the day and right, throughout existence! But this is possible, by being one with Kuan Yin! Be Kuan Yin, and instill the spirit of Kuan Yin within your heart so that each heart beat will be treated as an “Om Mani Padme Hum”.
Believe in it and practise it and always be fully aware of it! This is the way to merge with your guru and with all. This is what is meant by being one with the entire world. This is the feeling of God! But the word God is hardly accepted or realised by Buddhists and so conflict arises. Let God be the Oneness of Existence, let God be Truth which is all around, let God be Nirvana or whatever names that others choose to call. For you, God is the very Existence itself so that you must live in harmony and in oneness with it! For you God is in you, within you and around you. All things become God so you must not live to destroy them, but to treasure and to preserve... with God there is object, remove this object which is limited in scope and let it be infinite so that the entire Universe becomes God, so that the calmness and silence of space can be felt and all the little battles and sufferings of the world are there to create the Silence of God! Let there be silence despite turmoil and activities through the realisation of awareness of all activities. When mental peace is attained even physical actions will not disturb the equanimity! It may be difficult for many to believe in this possibility, but to some, this is all possible, to these ‘some’ it is possible to be in a state of prayers at all moments of the day and night so that each heart beat can be turned into a state of prayers which will meaningfully benefit all sentient beings! It is this state of mind that can make any life purposeful and beneficial so that it is lived entirely for the sake of benefitting existence. With this attainment God needs not exist any more, everything is already in a state of godliness.
Come back to the simple practice then and do not be confused by all the “Yanas” and all the world religions. Live simply and live in total harmony with the whole, that is the way to the Truth, to Tao, to Nirvana, to God!
As from today spend more time to think over all the past years of practice and all the initiations that you have gone through. Drop any clinging to them and be no more attracted by any spiritual accumulation, which can be much more harmful than material accumulations! Be free, be easy to move ahead. Do not be burdened by possessions whether material or spiritual. The true mind is pure and purity must be free from all kinds of things which are actually defilements! Learn then to accept and to let go and henceforth be free from painful attachments!
Thursday, 7th March 1985 (1st Moon 16th Day)