Most do not learn, are not aware that life’s duty is to learn and then to impart his acquired knowledge to others. Even though there are those who know, they do not share what they know. And this has brought about a certain kind of people who are destined to teach and to lead. They become the teachers and they have a great task before them, for teaching leads others to live in the right manner which must be selfless. Those who are able to teach, they must teach from their hearts and not have any self-interest for fame and gain. They must know that life is uncertain and that each person he meets up with, receives his teachings and guidance, will not be with him for long, may die the next day, so that it is their duty to teach sincerely whatever others seek to learn so that their lives can become much more meaningful and rich. Teachers must also be aware of the fact that circumstances in life will always be changing and that they may not be able to teach as they please, expecting followers to be with them for years before any fragment of teaching is given. They must also realise the fact that their own lives are also very uncertain. Therefore each day, each occasion to teach, must be grasped and made use of with gratitude.

Are the students worth teaching? This often crosses their minds. But who can really tell? Until one has received teaching, one cannot move forward and when does one’s wisdom bloom? This is the same as wondering when does one’s own Enlightenment is attained! Teachings therefore are not reserved for the able and good ones, they should bring more benefits to the lazy and weak ones so that they too can become useful beings! Think about that deeply!

So to be a teacher, one is addressed as a ‘Sifu’. He needs not be the most brilliant of man, he needs only to have others wishing to hear him teach and to follow his guidance. The most clever ones may not make the best ‘Sifus’, and there are indeed very many idiotic teachers around. But each has his own followings, due to past links and present karma. There is therefore no need to compare one with the others, and no need to try to become a teacher even when one finds his own intellectual capabilities far beyond many other teachers. There is a need for those who have students following them to be aware of their noble duty towards those who wish to learn from them. No matter what one is teaching, be it skills or knowledge, the task of the teachers is the same - to see to it that their students are learning all that he will and can teach; so that they too, in turn, will impart their acquired skills and knowledge to others; so that this world will have many more skilful persons who are also as humane as themselves.

“Chi-Fu” causes one to become a “Sifu”. Without having gone through the mill of experience and learning, without having developed the skills and other abilities, no one can have others to follow them willingly. So a “Sifu” is one who understands, one who knows what difficulties be ahead for his students, what is so important about being disciplined. Contemplating on the above line we will be able to derive vast knowledge! Then each ‘Sifu’ must go through great ‘Fu’, and this is a fact.

No one can become a teacher without the worries and frustrations, over the abilities and safety of his students. Those who know will prefer to be a follower rather than one who has to shoulder so many responsibilities over others. But many who do not know this true meanings will yearn to become a ‘Sifu’, and not becoming one, are jealous of others, not knowing how fortunate and free they really are. Not having the experience of suffering or ‘chi-fu’, and not being able to take sufferings of many kinds ‘Sow-fu’, no one can become a good ‘Sifu’. But he who is able to do so, becomes a great teacher, one who improves the hearts and minds of others, will rise above the others and become a great ‘Fu’ for he is then ladened with the richness of love, respect and happiness, and his life in turn, becomes the great concern of those who follow him. This explains how a great teacher come into being - from one who cares, he eventually becomes one who is cared. And this bond that he is able to develop is the greatest blessings in life. It will be everlasting and it will form strong links which changed into affinity. For this reason, one is able to find great teachers who have large followings, great politicians who have many loyal supporters and so on. Reflecting on this deeper, one will easily see how relationship and affinity come into being and why hatred and betrayals are so rampant! Life is therefore filled with meaning for those who know, who have the wisdom to realise the truths of life.

He who knows therefore speaks little or not at all! Why? Because there is so much to tell going back to past distant lives, which those who do not know will never believe in the first place, so what is there to tell, how is he to explain? It is best that one should just lead the followers to the path of truth, to self-cultivation, so that they too will eventually know and teach with the least of words! The great ones do not use words freely, for they are able to communicate with their minds!

How have your own disciples been getting along? It’s time to take stock and evaluate whether they are still in the path that they are supposed to be. After all these years, have they improved, in which directions? Are they here out of duty to you, out of habit developed, or out of love to improve themselves? Do they see the need to improve their hearts and mind, have they become more gentle and caring or more impatient and arrogant? Is following you forced or natural? Is praying to Kuan Shih Yin out of necessity or out of the understanding of the path of practice? Are they still filled with pettiness and not being able to rise above such small distractions? It will be a great and happy day when you and them can get together and talk!

Saturday, 24th August 1985 (7th Moon 9th Day)