Resting to Gain Greater Strength

No one seems to be taking care of this universe. It's as though no system or organization exists. But God doesn't neglect anything. Not even an insect, a small blade of grass, a little fruit or flower is ignored; instead, they are carefully tended. Therefore, when the time comes, flowers bloom and the sun rises; the weather turns warm when spring arrives or cold when winter comes. The coldness doesn't mean that God has ignored us. It means a rest is necessary or the universe needs a break, just like we need sleep at night.

That's why we easily get tired in winter. We need to take in something nutritious, so that we have enough energy. In winter, leaves fall and the trees look withered. It has to be like this so that the trees can grow new leaves later. All the births and deaths have their meanings. The place where I have pitched my tent is turning green. How beautiful it is! Do you remember when you went to pick persimmons? Those trees had not turned green yet. Now they are all green, so beautiful! That's the way it is. There should be winter so that the trees can wither, the old and dying leaves can fall, and the trees can have a break, trembling and rustling and vibrating for three months. (Audience laughs.) And then leaves will sprout again and fruit will be borne.

There are some flowers that do not bloom with too much watering. Like those plants from the desert, cactus for example. If you take too "good" care of it in the room, it won't live. On the contrary, it should grow in a dry environment, and can grow beautiful flowers when it seems to be dying.

 

Touchstone on the Spiritual Path

Similarly, things do not always go smoothly for those of us who are spiritual practitioners. Sometimes we think things are going well but they really are not. It is not necessarily good for our spiritual practice or wisdom. Neither is it always good for us physically. It does not necessarily help with our progress in a certain aspect. At that time, we may spoil ourselves, relax too much, indulge in too much physical fun and merrymaking, squander our precious time, listen to our minds only, and take little care of our spirit. Sometimes you may be brought to the test, either by Master or fellow initiates, or by outside situations. At that time we think things are not going smoothly and there is much to endure for us to live on. But later on, we will make rapid progress.

Therefore, sometimes when we think that things are not working out in our spiritual practice, business, or life, it is actually the most favorable and beneficial situation for us, because our spirituality will then develop, sprout, and bloom. This is just like giving birth, when you undergo the greatest suffering, isn't it? (Female audience members: Yes.) Therefore, we have to make some form of sacrifice in order to get something in return. Sometimes we have to pay with some effort, and be more independent, in order to achieve breakthroughs. Nothing comes easily.

I have so many disciples, but they didn't come all at once. I searched very hard and long for an Enlightened Master, and went through so many tests. You feel that you suffer when I scold you, but actually it's nothing. The tests I went through were a million times more painful than yours. Your tests are no big deal. You feel upset when tested by me or fellow practitioners. But you dare not do anything when outside people test you. For example, if you are scolded by your boss, you can do nothing. You dare not show your anger, for you are afraid of losing the chance to make money. When you do business outside, you put up with rude and unsatisfied customers. But I cannot scold you because I do not pay you. (Audience laughs.)

We should compare these situations so that we can pass the spiritual tests. When people scold or even slander us, we won't have any problem if we regard it as a test from the saints or God; otherwise we won't make any progress.

Tough Tests Make Good Practitioners

The clothes, the glasses, and other things you wear are made through a laborious and difficult process. The cotton dress, for example, is not like this originally. It is made from cotton flowers from cotton plants grown under the sun; the flowers are gathered, filtered, stripped, pressed by machine or hand, then stretched, boiled, machine processed again, and dried in the sun. It requires a lot of effort and the process is painful. If cotton could talk, it would tell you in tears how hard it has been "practicing"!

You should know when you look at your clothes. You don't have to listen to my lecturing so much. Your glasses are another example. Just think where they come from. How much does the glass have to be heated to make it into lenses? The raw material has to be heated to very high temperatures, liquidized, and cooled in a mold, before it becomes lenses of different shapes and sizes. This is an arduous process, just like it is being forced. And it has to be polished and you have to get your eyes checked before it can be turned into a pair of glasses just right for you! Oh, the sentient beings toil immeasurably!

A small thing, like a pair of glasses takes so much effort, not to mention becoming a saint! You must be joking if you say so! You can't pass even the smallest test! And you get angry when I scold you a little! We should learn to be tolerant. If we can't put up with the scolding of our fellow practitioners, family members, Master, teachers and friends, how can we tolerate it when we have to deliver thousands or millions of sentient beings! They are all different in character and some are vicious. At that time, we will know we are short of patience, and regret not having learned better from our Master.

 

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