Selected Question & Answer
Understand Frustrations With The Intellect   Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Tainan, Formosa March 16, 1990 (Originally In Chinese)

Q： How are You, Master? I believe, before You attained the Truth, You must have gone through innumerable severe tests. Can You tell us, when You faced all kinds of difficulties, like feeling depressed or even desperate, how did You detach Yourself from these agonizing feelings to live optimistically while firmly pursuing Your spiritual path and continuing in Your daily life?

M： There were lots of tests! No one is free from trials. Sometimes, the tests were really senseless; sometimes, they were very fierce; sometimes, they were very vicious; sometimes, the tests made You want to die. However, in whatever situation, I always observed carefully and I would say: "Oh! You are in a bad mood today, you want to cry. All right, just go ahead and cry! You are feeling awful today, just let it be. Tomorrow will be different. I am sure tomorrow will not be the same!

I am talking about very logical things, spiritual practitioners or not. Ever since we were born, we have not lived one single day that is identical to another. If today is bad, tomorrow must be good, If it doesn't get better tomorrow, it definitely will be the day after. It may be raining today, but there will be sunshine tomorrow. We can understand this by observing natural phenomena. We shouldn't remain in a certain situation, and then hide behind it. Never mind where we are put, it is okay! We just carry on living there. It is only a kind of mood, and our moods change every day -- for better or worse. I simply take it as it comes.

When pain comes, I feel the pain; when happiness comes, I feel the joy. I am not insensitive. When pain comes, just let it be. I say: " All right! So be it today. I will definitely be happier tomorrow. " Just that. And you ought to keep this in mind. (Applause)

Also, at our most agonizing moments, do not sink with the pain. Instead, try to ponder: " Why do I have such pain? " Observe what you can learn from these painful situations. There must be something! If you observe clearly then all situations are good lessons from which to learn. Having realizations through observing, you will be enlightened and happy tomorrow. Understand frustrations with Buddhi (intellect), and don't let them pass by in vain. (Applause)