EdenRules.com (Audio)

(English) On a beautiful summer's day, Supreme Master Ching Hai listened as fellow practitioners shared their miracle experiences. A five-year-old saint who saw Master’s manifestation body applying medicine to his wound assured his mother that she could go to an upcoming retreat with peace of mind. Fellow initiates who had trouble getting air travel tickets to the retreat were suddenly successful just before the flight’s departure time. When we are frustrated and even hopeless, the manifestation Master holds us ...

(English) Meeting with fellow initiates, Supreme Master Ching Hai reminded that honesty, virtue, beauty and kindness are all human qualities. However, the quality of a saint is determined by our level, not outer appearance or behavior. To achieve the saintly level, we have to first be a good human being by being honest, kind, helpful and selfless. Unconditional love is a very uplifting power. Every time we do something really unconditional that is just for the recipient's benefit, we get an immediate ...

(Chinese) The Twenty-Third Zen Patriarch Haklenayaśas, named as Little Saint and Little Bodhisattva by many, became a monk at the age of 20, and practiced diligently in the mountains forests for nine years but didn't attain anything. He didn't attain the Tao until he met an enlightened master. Therefore we know that we don't need to practice hard or go retreat for many years in order to attain Buddha nature. We should have an enlightened master to get the key. It's no use no matter how many years or what method you ...

(Chinese) When we attain great enlightenment, we will clearly know that this world is like a dream. At that time, it will be as if we have just awakened from the dream. The dream we have every day is just a small dream, while this world is a big dream that is not easy to wake up from. So we need an enlightened Master to come and remind us. Only through spiritual practice will we wake up some day, knowing that the mundane world is just a big dream; otherwise, we will never wake up, just running from one dream to ...

(Chinese) Where does black magic come from? It comes from our complex mind, bad intentions, and bad thoughts. Originally there was no black or white, but since our thoughts haven’t changed, the power changes to black; if our thoughts change, it will become white. If we train ourselves well, keep our body, mind and speech clean, keep our moral standards, always think of others’ goodness, pray for others’ safety and happiness, and never think about bad things, then our power can benefit others immediately, ...

(Chinese) When we haven't found the Tao , we have to reincarnate in the circle of life and death, feeling lonely and helpless, only able to do certain things. Once we find the Tao, we can do everything, even things we have never learned before. If we truly want to save others, we should find the Tao. That's why the Tao Te Ching says: "Through getting oneness, Heaven is clarified , earth is stabilized , the gods are spiritualized , valleys are replenished , all creatures live and grow, and princes and kings ...

(Chinese) The Eighteenth Zen Patriarch Gayasata once travelled to the country of Yueshi. There was a Brahman, Kumāralabdha, who had questions because of the peculiar behavior of his dog, and wished to obtain answers. This desire led him to meet with the Patriarch and he eventually received enlightenment from the Master. The Supreme Master Ching Hai explained: "The Buddhas and bodhisattvas will use all kinds of methods to liberate sentient beings. Our husbands and wives might also help us to become Buddha. Because ...

(Chinese) In Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha mentioned to Ananda 10 kinds of illusory obstacles created by phenomena during the process of spiritual practice. Do you know what the 10 kinds of illusory obstacles created by phenomena are? Buddha told Ananda: many people would think themselves as great saint when they attain one or two levels, or even acclaim they have become Buddha. Thus they are lying and would go to hell; therefore, we should be cautious. Buddha also told Ananda to promote the Dharma in the ...

(English) Why do enlightened Masters descend to this world all the time? Why should we follow the teachings of the Masters? In a gathering with Association members, Supreme Master Ching Hai explains that even if we come down to help the world through good deeds or spiritual upliftment, we still have to balance our Earthly existence by taking on some karma from our previous lives. However, if our actions are based on the Master's teachings, we will not do wrong or go astray even when faced with our past ...

(Chinese) Master says: Don’t come here and complain that your husband is bad-tempered or your wife is not nice. Spiritual practitioners should be better than them, but you always end up quarrelling with them and forcing them to let you go to the 7-day retreat. One of your brothers from Yilan is a good example. He talked with his wife in a sincere, determined and humble manner about his going to the 7-Day retreat, and proceeded softly and slowly. This is the right way. We do not suppress other's feelings or make ...