Quote of The Day (182)
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 there were automatically posted on the front page.
Have faith and do not be put off by the unkind remarks that are made by others. Know that the Divine is everywhere and therefore can be worshipped through any representation that pleases the devotee, whether with form or formless, whether using an idol, a photograph, a cross or any other means of focusing the mind. (2003)
Let others call it idol worship, but as long as in your heart there is reverence and you regard the holy image as being conscious, as a relative representation of the ultimate Deity and not a piece of stone or porcelain, then you are far from being an idol worshipper. (2003)
Better it is to humble oneself in repenting than to hurt oneself in suffering with a sense of guilt, which does not make right the wrong. Many, suffering in guilt, have been known to become ill that medicine cannot heal. Many have been punishing themselves by illness for an act done decades ago. (2003)
Encourage the practice of repentance with regularity. Know that forgiveness is always there if you but ask. Do that with the heart fully open, continually to knock and knock upon the door of forgiveness and do not stop until it is opened. (2003)
It is much better to change the attitude from wanting to receive love, to looking for ways to give love. Then may you change your thought pattern to alter your karmic pattern and then, your life pattern. (2003)
Unless one is honest, one will not be truthful; unless one is truthful, one will not be able to establish a good relationship with others nor win their trust, much less their love. (2003)
Sometimes, it is good for you to remember that you may have been difficult for others to bear. This will help you to see why others are not treating you in a kindly or friendly way. (2003)
Now that you have come to a point in your spiritual journey when you are required to learn to be a friend and helper to others and to establish a right relationship with them, know that only a kind and caring heart is the best tool for you to make use of. For without it, a happy and lasting friendship will not arise and you will revert back to being an island unto yourself and having it will mean that your thoughts will be more loving, forgiving and filled with goodwill. (2003)
Let there be periods of silence in your life if you are to understand why “Silence is golden”, and how to open the door for communication with your whole being, instead of just your mind. Then may you learn how to communicate with fewer words and making every sentence more meaningful and more effective. But know that this is one practice which requires patience, self-control and more patience. (2003)
Couples wanting a growing and enduring relationship should therefore be conscious that they have not come together just to coexist to have a partner in life, but to want to merge together, to meet in the spirit of love-living, helping, praying, meditating, sharing the journey of life together to learn perfect unconditional love and to head for the higher purpose of life together; which is to learn to fulfill one great act in life: to love each other, and to love completely… to practise spiritual love, the love that heals and inspires and balances and illumines. (2003)
Like any living thing that needs water and food to thrive, so too does a healthy, enduring relationship needs nurturing and replenishing love without which it can wither and come to a quick end. Not aware of this is what has caused many couples to fall into disharmony and separation. (2003)
There is only one task, duty and responsibility in your life as of now, and that is to love and care for those who have become a part of your life, and to do that happily and completely. (2003)
Becoming a member of the spiritual family is to say that you are ready to put to practice all that you have learned, which is about developing the noble qualities of your heart. This is to say that you are, at last, ready to play the role of a friend and helper to others, as their guide to greater light and love and, in doing so, win more light and love for yourself! (2003)
If one could view difficulties as possibilities, fate as a chance, then entirely new perspectives will begin to open up. Then illness, for example, seen from this light can show him the way to a life that he had forgotten to live or to lessons he had not “learned” and still need to work on, so that he may finally learn it all. This may then enable him to see clearly that the karma that comes his way, in the form of an incident may be an occasion to restore a karmic imbalance, a kind of retroaction to restore balance, or to correct a certain partiality or an area of his life! (2003)
Why were three cycles of nine years needed to mould you into a faithful of the Contemplative Order? The reasons are many and chief amongst them are that the Teachings have to be given at the appropriate time; they have to be practised and absorbed before they may be converted into knowledge; transformation of knowledge into wisdom can only take place with an inner ripeness; it would not be fruitful if you were forced into the mould of a contemplative; it would be a waste of time to try to encourage you to accept the Way of the Order for even if you would, the acceptance would only be a temporary one. Therefore, it is best that the change from an ordinary worshipper into a practicing faithful should be made in a gradual manner with a bit of teaching given here or an encouragement there! (2003)
In helping others, it is important that you don’t try too hard or pray too hard. Sometimes, making too much effort can lead to wrong result and mislead you from your goal. Know that effort is not necessary in anything you do. Focus, determination and concern may be necessary but do not confuse them with effort. More important is your rightness in intention, clarity of mind, and trust in your work. Having given yourself in the service of the Divine Mother, everything that happens during the time you render help to others, even in your life, is divinely guided, since whatever you are doing is connected with the highest good. (2003)
Know that your calm caring response shall prove to be the best and that other people’s problems are not necessarily yours. Keeping yourself in a neutral state of being can allow you to respond to them as a helpful friend, without getting caught up in their problems, unhappy feelings or illnesses. (2003)
Each time you sit to contemplate or practise self-healing, see to it that the right preparations are done to ensure that your body is relaxed, your emotions are calm, and your mind is clear. Then may you be rewarded with a smooth and benefiting practice. This state of being is especially helpful when you are praying for the well-being of others or sending healing light and love to those who are gravely ill. (2003)
Know that this Path of Giving Heart is one of learning from attending to the needs of others, not of avoiding or turning your back. Know too that if you respond to another’s difficulty by turning away, then you have already abandoned the Path which calls for its aspirant to be fully responsible for their fellow human beings, for better or for worse. (2003)
Whenever someone brings his pain to you, be grateful that life is giving you an opportunity to get back in touch with that truth which is within you so that you may grow in the process. But if this is beyond you and you are thinking of turning your back on him, then try and look at what happens, to see what the result of that shall be, and then to look carefully again into your heart. (2003)
KNOW THAT just as a problem can be a door of opportunity, so can suffering, a door of self-advancement! Realizing this, do not turn your back on your problems and pains or you will never learn how to take responsibility for your problems nor how to overcome your pains. So may this free you from the tendency to turn your back to those who are having problems and pains. (2003)
One of the chief reasons for entering the Family of the Caring Ones is to develop the ability to develop enduring relationships with others, which calls for the generation of such endearing qualities as gentleness, helpfulness, respect, truth, harmony, love and peace. Develop them and you will well be on the way of cultivating the kind and caring heart, which is no different from the Practice of Metta, or Loving-Kindness, a practice that purifies the human heart by cleansing it of greed, selfishness, impatience, anger, judgement and fear, which ruins friendship and life. (2003)
As one who has entered the Path of Light and Love and is reaching out to others, see to it that the love you give to others, even your loved ones, is not tinged with conditions, attachments and ignorance. See to it that only compassionate love is given, the kind of love that is free of conditions and hurt not at all, but is all-healing and supportive and nurturing!
Life must have its lot of difficulties and therefore not easy to live, except for those who have adopted the spiritual view and are no longer attached to the easy way of living.
Hymns are songs of the heart sung by a devotee to the Divine. Sing then and your devotion will be enhanced, compose then and your love and devotion for the Divine will be expressed. Since this is so, begin your Sadhana with a hymn, during your Sadhana, include a hymn, and at the end of it, offer a hymn. Let this be your way of displaying your love and devotion to the Divine and let this fill your heart with Light and Love.
The time of birth and death of every creature is predetermined by Providence. No one can change them, especially the time of death and even the manner of death, not even great saints and sages. This being so, none should wish to live longer or a shorter life for whatever reason, whether for oneself or another.
Be glad that you have entered the phase of experiential learning. Know that every experience you have adds to your share of knowledge from which you draw your wisdom. Know too that all experiences gathered through the Door of the Caring Heart shall win you a sense of peaceful contentment and encourage you to live a life of gentleness, humility, love and forgiveness!
“Life is; Life flows; Life becomes; Life teaches; Life rewards; Life transforms; Life IS.”
And the cycle begins again, ends, and continues to be… When will this flow of life finally comes to an end? With the annihilation of Desire, this Life-process, with all its sufferings will continue no more. This is when Life IS! This is Nirvana – an Emancipation from all sorrows and sufferings! This is when samsaric life is no more and nirvanic life has been won! This is when you have attained the Highest Wisdom. This is when you can be a true Helper of Humanity and all living beings!
The Teachings are not meant to make you a religious person but a charming personality who is kind, caring, helpful, cheerful and tactful towards others. They are meant to teach you how to be true to yourself so that your charming sides may come to the surface. Then may you enjoy a light heart that will bring you goodwill which in turn will bring you good fortune and happiness!
Be careful with idle chatter. Know that this is the door to harmful and careless speech. Often it will lead to needless criticism of another person, making others wonder how could you say such aweful things about the person who is not present. What then is criticism but the finding of faults, the looking for flaws, and the forming of negative judgements, which are the very practices that any practitioner of the good paths will avoid!