Quote of The Day (184)
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.
It is easy for a person to feel grateful for what he has when he is in good health, has no financial wants, and can have whatever he wishes. The real mark of spirituality is displayed when the circumstances of your life are not at their best. (STQ-1996-p49)
Daily bring the Divine Essence into your heart, and soon all your karmic accounts will be settled. It is because of your karmas that you are imprisoned in cyclical existence. Dissolve them, and the Divine Existence is yours. (STQ-1996-p44)
The purpose of becoming a Kuan Yin devotee is to become a real human being and unfold your heart of compassion, just like a flower in spring.
The purpose of being good is not for the sake of collecting happy causes for the future, but for the sake of overcoming the demon of selfishness. (STQ-1984-p107x2)
In living the “spiritual life”, the foremost goal is to search for the knowledge that will promote spiritual awareness and, practising it, spiritual unfoldment. By “spiritual life” is meant the living of a divinely guided life that is wholesome, clean-living, disciplined, and well balanced. Live this life then, and a happy and glorious future will await you. (STQ-1984-p98)
It may take a long time to learn the difficult task of controlling the mind and opening it to the unimpeded flow of intuitive wisdom. But this is not impossible when one has full devotion in Kuan Yin P’usa. This is because a devotee is one who wishes to emulate his Deity whose great compassion makes Her be fully aware of sentient miseries and plights and causes Her to respond to them immediately. (STQ-1984-p26)
Observing silence is a great practice. Do that by trying to avoid engaging in unnecessary dialogues. Speak only when there is a need to, and speak softly, making sure that only sweet and golden words shall emerge from your lips. (STQ-1996-p34)
Open up your heart. Let Divine Energy flow in and attain wisdom with which to see the world with My Eyes, hear the world with My Ears, and respond to the world with My Heart. Listen to your heart’s calling and know that this is Niang’s way of reaching you. (STQ-1984-p26,2006-p102)
Today is the 100th birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! Om Sri Sai Ram!
(1) “The end of wisdom is freedom. The end of culture is perfection. The end of knowledge is love. The end of education is character."
(2) "The secret of perfect health lies in keeping the mind always cheerful - never worried, never hurried, never borne down by any fear, thought or anxiety."
(3) "One who respected his/her parents became worthy of everyone’s respect. The one who did not respect his/her parents was compelled to bow down to all. This inevitable law can never be changed by anyone."
- Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Be fair to all.
Be kind to all.
Be near when your help is needed.
Be far when praise is uttered.
Be ready to fulfill your responsibilities.
Be prepared for criticisms!
Om Mani Padme Hum!
(16-October-1997)
Do not forget the debts of kindness nor fail to learn from your failures of the past. The result of this will be that of a happier future! But this is easier said than done. For most people, it is easy to practise this dharmic point of view so long as things are going favourably, but when things keep going against them, then their gratitude towards life is quickly replaced by complaints. (STQ-1996-p48,49)
Instead of worrying about the future, try being happy to face it! Instead of being unhappy with the past, try to be satisfied with it. Do that and you will be at the peak of spiritual living – you’ll be living in the present! Sincerity is the key to success in your spiritual practice. (STQ-1996-p48, 2006-p100)
Waste not your time on how others are living. Take a good look at how you have lived. Is your life in accord with the Law of Karma? Is it lived with gratitude and wisdom? If it is, then you have lived a spiritual life. You have lived well and there is no need for you to worry about the future. You have done well enough. (STQ-1996-p48)
How does delusion arise? It springs from the idea of believing in an abiding self, that “ego” that is in you. For the sake of this illusory “ego” or “I”, men lust and fight to harm one another, and upon this “self”, they build their imagination and pride. Until the ego-belief mind is destroyed through right understanding, through penetrative thoughts and meditative insight, delusion will rule the mind. (STQ-1996-p44)
Knowing that Light is the Power and Love is the Action, strive then to be Light and Love-filled in this lifetime. Spiritual Love is about loving generously, selflessly, and unconditionally. (STQ-1996-p101x2)
The main purpose of becoming a Kuan Yin disciple is to awaken your heart of compassion. Compassion is often displayed as one brings forth the selfless courage to help others. (STQ-1996-p101x2)
(1) Truth, love, and harmony; Fear, anger, and distrust; Reveal to Me your hopes, fears, and dreams…
(2) Do you know what is it that is preventing you from having a peaceful mind? If you do, then why don’t you just dispose of it at once? (STQ-1996-p26x2
What is the secret to an active and fruitful life? Create a need in whatever you want and soon you’ll work hard to achieve it! When there is a need to do anything, it can be done! (STQ-1996-p26)
Life is precious when one has attained wealth. Life is more precious when one has wealth and known love. Life is most precious when one is able to give love and share his wealth! (STQ-1996-p25)
As long as you live in accord with the Law of Cause and Effect and live a life with gratitude, life will always be good and right. This is simply because Cause and Effect is all-pervading. One acts oneself and faces the effects oneself, tying to oneself and binding oneself. (STQ-1996-p47)
Do not worry too much about this Law of Karma. Do not try to avoid it because there is no escape from it. Instead, try to understand it and live by it, then all will be well. If you are helpful and loving to others, surely you will be recognized! (STQ-1996-p47)
Whether you are a good person or not, ugly moments of life can come. No one is exempted from them. Instead of treating them as tests and punishments, learn to see that they are there to awaken you to leading a new and purposeful life. Then you will begin to see that suffering is there to make you better, not bitter! (STQ-1996-p35)
Like everything that exists in the world, life is planned, has a destiny and a purpose for existing. So, you should not be asking “why are you here” or “why were you born”. You are here because you have lessons to learn and debts to repay, and because you have a destiny to fulfill. Before you took birth, you decided on your destiny, and the fulfillment of that destiny is what you are trying to achieve in this life. (STQ-1996-p44)
Wishing all a very blessed 9th Moon Kuan Yin Festival and the 46th Anniversary of our Order!
Praise to Kuan Shih Yin P’usa
Om Mani Padme Hum!
Hail Kuan Yin Mahasattva
Om Mani Padme Hum!
Flood our hearts with Your Flame
Keep us free from pain
Teach us how to call Your Name
Namo Kuan Shih Yin!
In the Name of Kuan Shih Yin
May evil disappear
May all hearts be pure again.
Om Namo Kuan Shih Yin!
Cut us loose and set us free
Namo Kuan Shih Yin!
Free us from the Wheel of Life
Bring us to Your Land!
Praise to Kuan Shin Yin P’usa
Eternal Mother of Love!
Ta Chr Ta Pei Kuan Shih Yin
May we find peace in You!
(STQ-2009-p2)
Eve of the 9th Moon Kuan Yin Festive Day
The unique practice of this Path of Light and Love is capable of winning you a downpour of Divine Energies and the arising of your own inner energies. Knowing how to make use of these energies will help to bring forth many of your innate good qualities and capabilities. Understanding their workings will help you to bring health and joy to your life and to others. More than that, the right use of these energies will gain you spiritual strength and knowledge that are useful for your life’s journey. (STQ-1996-p29)
(1) Practise mercy that others may be inspired to practise it for its beauty.
(2) Live to do good with the view of promoting goodness in the hearts of others.
(3) Service to Humanity is a spirit of worship. (STQ-1996-p35,34,9)
Serve with Love and without any thought of reward, and you’ll be surprised at how a simple touch by your hand and a glass of energized water can do for others. Healing others, you heal yourself. (STQ-1996-p33,7)
Though most may not believe it, all their requests have been responded to. All that you wish you can attain, but first you must learn to give what you would like to receive. Share freely what you have freely received… (STQ-1996-p29,7)
Being at this period of time when great karmic resolution is happening, suffering will be seen on a wider scale. You can be compassionate towards all those who are in pain, but you must avoid becoming one with their miseries, or you will be so affected by them that you may end up a helpless victim as well. (STQ-1996-p17)
Sitting means sitting with the right posture and paying attention to the body, the breath, and the mind. No matter what you are doing, whether praying, repenting, worshipping, reading, listening, or meditating, adopt the seated posture. It is by doing that that you may adjust your posture to a proper position that will allow you to regulate your breath and compose your mind. This explains the importance of attending to the body if the mind is to be developed. (STQ-1996-p58)
Sitting
"With patience, practice sitting to still your mind so that you may experience its Golden Silence. Practise, practise and practise. Just sit, sit and sit until the stillness of mind appears, until Silence is there!”
This is what is known as the seeing into the nature, or the experiencing of enlightenment. (STQ-1996-p57)
Don’t trust your senses. They are extremely limited. That is why most of the time you are unable to see through your lower eyes and unable to hear through your lower ears! After all these years what have you learned from the practice that you have taken up? (STQ-1996-p19,27)