Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai during an Internet videoconference,
August 3, 2002 (Originally in Chinese)

I am very happy that we have this opportunity to see each other through the Internet; so, we can get together to discuss questions related to spiritual practice. We truly have great blessings to be born in this era, when we can pursue spiritual practice easily and expediently, and have all kinds of conveniences. Although we can't meet in person, we can talk to each other like this. This is really comfortable; we are really blessed! Let's be thankful to God! (Applause)

Apart from that, we ought to be more diligent in our spiritual practice. This does not mean just crossing our legs and meditating; we always have to remember our noble ideal and remember God. Care not about fame, gain, wealth or the good or bad qualities of other people. Also, do not pay too much attention to your physical needs, or be deceived by the desires of your minds for fame and gain. We only need to persist in spiritual cultivation, and then we will be increasingly able to forsake these material things, and become nobler people.

We should endeavor to be monks of modern times -- monks in civilian clothing -- because we are blissful and unrestrained at heart. Regardless of what people say, we will still know ourselves and know who we are. Only this is most important; only then will we be people with the greatest blessing. Others may praise or insult us, but it does not mean anything to us. The main thing is that we know ourselves and we know our own qualities. Only this is the happiest blessing. It is only we spiritual practitioners who can have this kind of blessing, which cannot be acquired through wealth. Once we have it, we will never lose it because no one can steal it from us. However, no one can bestow it upon us, either. We can only earn it through spiritual practice, and then we will be able to keep it and use it. In this sense, we are truly the most blessed people in the world!