Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
Prague, the Czech Republic, May 28, 1999

Q: Why do we have wars, disasters and catastrophes?

M: Well, we cause all of these things ourselves. I am sorry to say it, but we are all responsible for whatever happens to us. That's because we are also a part of God, and we have creative power. Whenever we think of something loving, kind and correct, then we create a better atmosphere and we experience a better environment. Just like when you love another person or when you fall in love, doesn't that feel good? Even though you cannot prove what love is and you cannot touch it, you know it's love and you just feel so good.

Everyone around us is also affected by this happiness. We can love everyone else when we're in love. We can kiss everyone else as well, because of the power of our love. In contrast, when we hate someone, we create hatred. When we have jealousy, when we have this lower kind of attitude and quality, we create a very negative atmosphere. That atmosphere in turn affects us and the people around us. And when too many of these negative or hatreful atmospheres are created, they are drawn together by the law of "like attracts like." Then they become vast and more powerful. They can influence even the weather and will influence people's hearts. And that is what causes disaster; that is what causes war.

Don't you notice that sometimes when you are in an angry mood and you respond very sharply to another person, that person in turn also feels agitated and angry toward you? Then sometimes finally you both fight each other, because of this very burdensome and very pressurizing atmosphere of hatred and anger. So when a lot of this is going on in the atmosphere, it becomes real; it materializes in some concrete disaster, like bad weather or war or an epidemic. And this negative atmosphere, of course, will be attracted to wherever is already thickest with this kind of quality. All of the scattered negative energies will come together where there's already the densest 'clump' of negative energy. Then bad things will happen, right there.

So we should make sure in our lives that we give love more and more, that we think before we act and that we stop before we think anything negative. In this way, we will also contribute to the peace of the world. But as mentioned earlier, ignorance is the only thing to be blamed for all these bad things that happen to us. Ignorance and not knowing God--that's the only criminal in this world, or any other world. Because if we are enlightened, if we know God, we are so happy and so blissful that we can never do anything wrong, or we're far less likely to do anything wrong. We are enlightened and wise; we know what's right and what's wrong.

So the best thing anyone can offer us is enlightenment. And that's the best thing I can offer you: more than gold, more than diamonds, more than anything that is the so-called best in this world. Because even if I give you money or if I give you a house, these things will also pass away; they can also be destroyed by war, fire or accident. But if I give you enlightenment, you will be able to do everything you need to do, earn anything that you need to earn, protect yourself and take care of yourself forever. Even if you lose your home or your money, you will never lose your enlightenment or your wisdom. You can always start anew. You can always find ways to survive better and better in this world. So enlightenment is the best gift that God can give to us.