However, the average person has little interest in learning and reciting such lengthy prayers, no matter how well they are written. They do not have the good roots to receive inspiration or to develop devotion from them. On the other hand, they may even be put off and turn away from worship that leads to practice. There is no need to be in a hurry to learn every prayer just because others say it is efficacious and beneficial. Through affinity, one will be led to learn the prayers that are right for them. In order to encourage others who are new to spiritual practice, it is best that the easiest of prayers, which can be in the form of mantras, be recited when a group meeting takes place. The most important step before the recitation is to give them an explanation of the background of the prayers and their efficacy, so that faith may be inspired. That is why the Mani Mantra is so popular and effective, often bringing about the desired results. Those who hear it find it easy to concentrate their minds on its sounds which carry the vibrations of loving-kindness, compassion, and tenderness. Those sounds are able to bring peace to the mind and inspire faith and devotion.
That is why some people are drawn to tears at the first hearing of these wondrous sounds, or find a new sensation of peace in their hearts. The most important development is not in the development of feelings, but in the instant relinking of past karmic connections that one has developed with the Deity in past lives. It will always require the right conditions to bring about the effects of past causes. It is for this reason that there is no need at all to try to convert others to the faith. When they have compassion in their hearts, they are already in practice, no matter which religion they have embraced. That is why there is no need to compare with others on which is the best or true religion to follow. Any religion that brings peace to the mind of the believer and transforms him into a kind and compassionate being who develops the wish to bring happiness to his fellow beings—that is his religion!
He is a Kuan Yin practitioner at heart! Even though there are people who are not committed to any religious path, yet if they live with a generous and warm heart and do not cause harm to others, these are noble beings whom Kuan Yin will gladly call them Her sons and daughters. They may be playing the great part of showing non-religious people that, even minus a religious teaching, the inherent nature of man is to act kindly towards others; or they may be Bodhisattvas showing those who are on a path the right way to live their lives!
At the right time of life, conditions may appear and bring about this relinking of karmic connections. When will they arise, none may know and how such conditions will arise, none can predict. One should pray that such conditions are happy ones rather than painful occasions. Unfortunately, in most cases, people are brought to a religious path through painful circumstances.
This is not the Deity’s fault, for all worldly conditions arise because of one’s own past causes. The fact is, when people’s circumstances are happy and they are satisfied with their conditions, their minds will look towards the accumulation of further fulfillment in terms of pleasures and other gains in life. It is only when a person has fallen on difficult times and is faced with painful conditions that they naturally look towards the Divine for help. It is then that they are brought face to face with the realities of life—that it cannot always be satisfying. Life on earth cannot be without great dissatisfactions, marked by losses, fears, neglect, old age, illness, and death. When one is used to happier times and is struck by the tragedies of life, it will bring him down to his knees to pray for help from any quarter. This is when he enters into prayer and exposes himself to spiritual circles that did not interest him at all in the past. This entry into the spiritual circle will lead him to the Path according to conditions, and if he enters it, the relinking with the Deity takes place.
This Order provides the spiritual company for all kinds of people and the conditions for them to rediscover their past karmic connections with Kuan Yin. It may be a small and insignificant place, but this is not important at all as long as it can bring smiles to the faces of many, help others to develop love, compassion, confidence, and faith in their hearts, and cause others to take up the recitation of prayers and mantras that are beneficial for the world.
The practice here may not seem orthodox, but it does not matter. The ways to pacify the mind and mould the character are countless, and this Order plays but one of the roles. As long as those who come are sincere, they will develop devotion and all the other wonderful qualities that lead to happiness. As long as those who are chosen to serve will continue to serve with love and care, people will be making their ways here. As long as there are sincere prayers recited and heartfelt hymns sung, this will be a place of tranquillity. As long as you will continue to play the part of holding them together, many benefits will be felt by all!
For the prayers to be efficacious, patience must be exercised and efforts made. One should pray, recite mantras, or sing hymns with great faith and devotion, with a selfless attitude, and the response shall be there. But one must still the mind before he can clearly perceive such responses.
Mantras recited aloud can help to bring about concentration. When recited in a group, they can be inspiring; when sung in unison, they can move the heart and generate good feelings; and when they are recited or sung within the mind, they bring stillness of mind and the generation of cosmic energy to the body!
Friday, 30th September 1988 (8th Moon 20th Day)