Recently
I began thinking a great deal about the nature of spiritual development,
especially after learning that most of the earth’s population
has been elevated to a higher level by our beloved Supreme Master Ching
Hai. My first thought was, “Wow! Fancy that we still need Master
to ‘carry’ us.” However, I soon came to understand
that we really do very little by ourselves.
Although we meditate two-and-a-half
hours a day and adhere to a vegetarian diet, we often fail to reach
high enough. In my own practice, I have gradually begun to have inner
experiences, enjoying the inner Light and Sound, beautiful inner visions
and occasional periods of clairvoyance and telepathy, all of which have
given me hope so that I feel my life has started anew. At these times
I think, “Wow, I’m progressing.” But now I believe
that such “progress” is still at the beginner’s level
and not much above bodily or worldly awareness. How I yearn to fly from
the earthly domain to higher levels, to the Fifth Level, to our original
Home!
Sometimes I even believe I have
sufficient strength to do things without Master’s blessing, thinking,
“Master can have a rest now.” But I quickly learn through
experience that this is not the case, and that without Master I can
do nothing well. It is just in these moments when I feel strong enough
to “go it alone” that I find I must depend on Master more.
In many situations this “proud monkey” has been forced to
admit that she was just a nobody.
For example, at work I was long
popular with all my colleagues and readily accepted as a vegetarian
and spiritual practitioner. So I began to think, “I must be practicing
well because my co-workers like me. I feel ‘strong’ now,
Master. Maybe I can walk alone.” Soon, however, a new person came
to work with me on an assignment, and we disliked each other immediately,
creating a “cold-war” atmosphere in the workplace. We tried
to get along, but simply could not, and I eventually felt forced to
leave the project.
After leaving, I thought about
this relationship, and realized I had forgotten Master’s teachings
on humility and tolerance, keeping only myself and my own righteousness
in mind. Since I had forgotten Master, only the egotistical notion “I
might be strong enough to walk alone” had remained in my mind.
I saw that as a spiritual practitioner, I should have forgiven my co-worker
and not have expected him to treat me kindly. I then begged Master to
give me a chance to go back to the office and work again with that colleague,
and soon he unexpectedly invited me back to the project. This time,
although we were still not friends, the strong antagonism between us
disappeared.
In such situations, it is frustrating
to admit how truly weak the ego is. But when I abandon my frustration,
I can put aside my pride and rely on the strength of the Almighty, realizing
that we must keep Master in mind at all times through Her teachings
and put them into action. Thus, our spiritual level will be enhanced,
we will feel less with our physical faculties, and life events will
unfold naturally like the spring warmth that silently melts winter’s
ice. Even though we ask for nothing, the miracles will come and we will
innocently receive God’s grace. When we rely on the Master Power
instead of our own mind, we can finally progress. The Chinese proverb
“The pure heart is like a child’s, attached to nothing”
describes this state.
Besides maintaining purity of
heart we should also be ever attentive to God, not only while sitting
still and concentrating, but also when we are active in the world. If
we meditate sincerely, but later speak as if we are throwing knives
and stones, and if we think negatively and blame God for not helping
us enough, then what is the use of meditating?
Daily meditation should quiet
our minds so that we can focus on the inner world continuously, even
while encountering negative people and events. When we constantly turn
inward, our happiness supplies enough wisdom for us to work out all
our problems, no matter how stressful. And we come to love other beings
naturally as we love ourselves. Love and forgiveness become our natural
habits no matter what our abilities or skills. Then we can say that
we have made a bit of spiritual progress. At that time, we may begin
moving upwards into the spiritual domain through God’s grace and
Master’s love.
Above all, what we need to do
is cherish — cherish everything that Master bestows on us!
