Q: Master, I know we are allowed to drink milk and eat cheese, but here in America, cows are treated cruelly. The milk contains a growth hormone and many cheeses are made with dead cows' stomachs. Should we be vegans?
M: If possible. Now and again it's OK; don't be fanatic, but if you can live without it, it's OK, too.
Q: Master, my wife has been a vegetarian for about one year, but ever since she became pregnant she has been craving meat or eggs. What can she do?
M: Ask her. Well, is that a disciple or non-disciple? She is practicing the Convenient Method. OK. That is just an excuse, to blame it on the child. Poor kid. Anyway, she is only practicing the Convenient Method. If she doesn't want to eat vegetarian, we do not force her. Everything in our family here is volunteer. If you are ready to go Home, I show you the Way and how to get there, and what to avoid on the journey to make yourself have quicker and smoother travel. But if you do not feel ready to go Home, you can do what you want, you can eat meat, drink wine, go get married, whatever. It's all up to you. I only teach people who want to learn. If they think they are not ready, it's OK with me. Take it easy; take your time.
Q: Master, I have heard you say many times that when we are initiated, five to seven generations are also saved. Does that mean they will be taken to the same level as the person that you initiate? Or will they be on a different level? And can the initiated person visit them?M: Oh, sure they can, at different levels. It depends upon how sincere they are inside and how much karma they have. But the initiate is free. He can visit anyone anytime, anywhere, no problem. I mean, after they are deceased, or even during their existence, they always can come to visit their people. And afterwards, they will be together all the time, no matter if it's a different level or not. Because you will be existing on different levels, not just one. So if your parents, for example, are on the astral level, which is the lowest of the spiritual levels, and you are on the creative level, which is one level above, then you can also exist on the astral level at the same time, because wherever you go, you earn one more extra level, but you exist on other levels as well, if you want to. So your parents will see that you are always there with them, too. And in the mean time, you are on a higher level, everyone else on that higher level meanwhile can also see you. So there is no feeling of missing or lacking or separation in the spiritual kingdom. It is different than here.
Q: Dear Master, after we have been enlightened and we reach the level of Jesus and the Buddha, are there even higher levels to learn?
M: Oh, yes, yes, much higher levels to go to. That is just the level of general Mastership. There are many more, anywhere you want to go, higher, lower, it doesn't matter. But when you reach Mastership, it's OK already.
Q: Dear Master, you said the roads of Heaven are paved with gold. Also, do spirits need palaces in the next world? I think only physical bodies need palaces. Gold is only precious because we don't have much in this world, but in Heaven there is much, so is it precious?
M: Over there no one cares about gold. It just happens to be there. But that doesn't mean they care to put it there. It is just that kind of level; everything is beautiful, shining, precious and illuminating, not like in this world. The gold of that world is much better than in this world. It just like in a rich house, you go there and find everything that is rich and opulent.
Q: Master, what do you think about organ donations after we die?
M: I don't think anything. You give what you have and what you want, no problem, just like giving money.
Q: Why did God put us through a human existence and all the trials and tribulations to realize ourselves when we were perfect to start with.
M: It's because we want to have fun. You see a lot of rich people; they go on vacation every day, every year, or all the time. Do you see them, people who have big mansions and servants all over the house? What do they do when they go on vacation? Sometimes they rent a thatched hut so small it looks like a poor person's house. And they go out and row boats, sweating in the sun, while they have big yachts that cost hundreds of millions of dollars at home with engines that run, zip, to the moon, for example. We want to have fun. When it's fun, it doesn't matter what we do. We did not recognize our perfect Self until we came here, into the world of imperfection. And that is what it is, to see the reflection, so we can know ourselves. This world is created so that we can know ourselves, know God. It's like a woman was created so that there is a difference between man and woman. If there were no comparison, we would not know ourselves. You got it? (Applause) Same like the rich man, after rowing and sweating in the sun for a month and living in a thatched hut and simple living, he is glad to go back to his palace, glad to go back to his yacht and his airplane and his conveniences and everything that is a comfortable life.
Q: Dear Master, I don't know if I am ready to go Home. I admire You and I have a desire to meditate and know God, yet at the same time there are talents and skills and strengths that I want to develop in this lifetime. Does it mean that I am not ready to go Home? Does it mean I am not at a high enough level to be initiated?
M: No, no, you should just love life; that's good; that's wonderful; you shouldn't wait until you lose all the strength, your talent, your power, and you're depressed and poor and handicapped to get enlightenment. You should do it when you are fully happy and have everything. That's the perfect time. That means you are at a very high level, because you have all this and you have all the blessings, and you still want to see God. You are a saint already.
Q: Master, If a person is initiated, and he practices a little but then he gives up, then a few years later he dies, is it possible for him to reincarnate back into this world or do you just take him up?
M: It depends on the Master, and depends on the person. The Supreme Master Ching Hai will take him up, if he wants to go. Nothing is impossible with this Woman, She is cool. (Applause)
Q: The King James version of the Bible says: "Except you become as a little child, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." What does it mean?
M: That means we have to clean ourselves of all the preconceived ideas, clean ourselves of all the previous karmic hindrances that have saturated our mind, body and emotions. After initiation, the Master cleans you, cleans you with fire, with the spiritual blessing, makes you shining, pure, and innocent again like a kid. Then, that's why you can see Heaven immediately.
Q: Master, you said that karma is caused by ourselves, by our own moral standards and our experiences, so if a person has no moral standards, will their karma be less, because they do bad deeds, but they don't think they're bad? Or if a person has a bad memory and he forgets about some of his bad deeds, does that mean his karma won't be as much?
M: That's a good excuse! (Laughter) Just go rob a bank and tell the police, "I have forgotten what I did. Sorry." Do you think the police will believe it, with all your fingerprints, your face in the camera and everything? It's a nice way to cheat God, but it is difficult. No matter what kind of mental ability we have, what kind of disposition we're in, whatever we do is registered in our subconscious mind and it will never, never, fade away, unless treated by spiritual power, unless you erase it from inside of the subconscious mind. That's how we are redeemed, that's how we become as a child again after initiation.
Q: Master, If I'm unhappy in my marriage, can I divorce my husband? How do I know when is the right time to do this?
M: My God! Talk to your husband! Both of you have to agree on the same thing, then it's OK. That's if you have to leave him, if you have a better purpose, not just to run away from the problem, because the next man you meet might have a worse problem for you. Because the interest increases, the karma.
Q: Dear Master, when initiates return from a three-day retreat, why do people see them as different or changed?
M: Because they have become cleaner, more purified, more radiant.
Q: Dear Master, in my heart I have five dreams of things that I want to happen. I want to get a blessing from Master to be successful in this life. Can a person participate in an international retreat with the spiritual body? How is it different than coming in the physical body?
M: I understand. So she wants to stay at home and then say, "OK, I am going with my heart." That's very convenient. That's a good idea; next time you come here, I'll just say, "Well, I'll be here in my heart. I don't have to appear in physical form." Can I do that? (No.) You answered yourself. It's a wonderful idea you have, my God!
Q: Dear Master, I'm 79 years old, and I was able to see you in Florida for the first time visiting America; this is my luckiest day. Thank you, Master. I would really like to get initiated even though I was told that I was too old. I'm in very good health. Master, please, can I get initiation?
M: You have a lot of good health, but not a lot of time. Don't press me on this. If you want to study in college you have to have some time. There are some things that require time. Go get the Convenient Method; it's excellent already.
Q: Master, I am a disciple from Mainland China, I am very glad to be able to see you before going back to China, and I wish you a happy and beautiful life forever from all of the Chinese fellow practitioners. And I have two questions. The first question is, and many people ask this question-May I travel with you, because I intend to spread the teachings to the Westerners? I'm searching to make a life of service to my fellow humans.
M: You should just stay where you are and serve your family members and your community, and that is serving the world, that is traveling with me. Traveling with me doesn't mean physically, but traveling with the same ideal, same direction, and we'll all get there in time. Because if you travel with me, there are many inconvenient things; your family members will miss you; your society will be short of one diligent, talented worker. Just like a house needs many bricks to sustain its structure, if you take one away, then things will be different. Stay where you are and be a saint.
Q: Master, do the Angel of Maya and the Karmic Master both work together to keep people here in bondage?
M: Yes, they do; they are one and the same. They are good, they are doing their good job, strengthening your determination to know yourself.
Q: Can a person get initiated today, and right away or maybe in a short time be able to help the people that he loves to lessen their suffering?
M: Sure, to a certain extent, right away, because you don't know how many generations of your ancestors are being lifted to higher dimensions out of hell, out of suffering; you don't know. And also, during the course of your life here, you will help countless people.
We are All Children of God It is Important to Practice in Time The Source of Love The Hotel of "Life" is Impermanent Lay Not Up Your Treasures on Earth, but in Heaven Questions and Answers: 1, 2, 3