Because they became engrossed with a new group of people who are practising a religion which require that such foods should be or should not be eaten, that such things must be done or must not be done, due to their initial faith which have not been really cultivated or understood, they foolishly become initiated into the sect and thereby committing themselves to the rules and regulations of that school which they are quite ignorant of. To be committed is to be fully involved and vows made must not be broken. Therefore, those who have committed themselves to some vows should reflect deeply for a period of time and resolve once and for all whether they are able to commit themselves or not. If they are not able to do so, then they should go back to such schools and request for release from such vows as they have truly not been aware of their implications. But those who were fully aware of such rules must not change faith easily because other teachings are simpler to follow and do not require strict discipline.

Those who pray here should not be making any vow created by others. All vows must be self-made out of the feeling of sacrifice; discipline and full understanding of total commitment. That is why this Order is so simple and so meaningful. No one is to watch you in your observances. The path is always there and those who choose to walk it, must do so on their own, making effort and expecting some kind of a discipline that will generate energy and deeper meaning. Those who wish may or may not observe the vegetarian diet on the auspicious days of the month. It is entirely up to them. But those who have gone through the simple ceremony of admittance into Kuan Shih Yin practice, must observe strict vegetarian on the three festive days of the year, which is the least that they can do.

Still, to avoid eating meat is a good habit and it should not be done out of revulsion or out of belief that it should not be eaten, particularly beef! It should not be eaten because of the noble understanding that animals should be given a chance to live and to serve their karma too; it should be because you have understood that each being has feelings and wish to live long and fear pain and death; it should be because you have understood that each being has been a part of your family in the past because all beings have been trapped within samsara since beginningless time, so how could you desire to eat some beings which could have been your father, mother, brother, sister or children in their past existences?

When you have committed to Kuan Shih Yin worship, you are walking the path of compassion and you will need to understand the great sufferings of all beings which are drowning in the sea of ignorance and suffering, that is termed as samsara. You will be aware of this great suffering and you must be moved to save them from these situations. So you will resolve to become enlightened first so that you may return to bring as many beings across to the other shore as possible. You must develop your bodhicitta, creating the great open space where you can absolve as many beings as you can. This awakened heart will bring you the meaning of what Kuan Shih Yin stands for and you will live for the sake of practising the noble virtues of loving kindness and compassion; you will work hard to develop strength and to gain the necessary wisdom. This life will become so meaningful to you that you will have no time to spend in idle search of worldly fulfilments which are nothing but illusions which only increase your desires, developing clinging to samsaric existences. If you have such great attachment, you will never be able to abandon samsara and you will not be able to manifest the great power of bodhicitta, so you cannot go very far in your cultivation. Reflect on this constantly.

So all Kuan Yin devotees who wish to be fully committed to the Compassionate path should always be aware of each moment of life, should always be aware of each vow that has been made for they must be fulfilled before the next compassionate vow can be uttered. So those who wish to partake vegetarian meals may observe this good habit without making any vow for they may be forced by the rule of observation and while observing it, they have regret or the great desire to eat the food that is forbidden in such days. Let cultivation be simple to follow and gradually apply disciplines for practice.

Tuesday, 10th January 1984 (12th Moon 8th Day)