Master's Words

Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, 4-Day Retreat, London, U.K.
August 26, 1997 (Originally In English)

It's not that you have to see me every day. No, you don't. You should not. You have to live your life independently. You have to develop your own way of living and your own way of discovering the wisdom of the universe. You have to live. It's risky, make mistakes sometimes; but it's fun. It's growing. If I have to decide everything for you and teach you every little thing every day, you're finished. You'll never grow. It might look peaceful, it might look very easy, simple-like, but it's not the way to grow. So, do not be afraid of mistakes, do not be afraid of responsibility, do not be afraid of experimenting with life. It will help you. It'll help you to have fun, to know yourself.

Do not always ask for a peaceful life, a worry-free life, because that also means no responsibility. No responsibility means no mistakes and no mistakes means no growth. Don't ask always to be with the Master and the Master takes care of everything. That's no fun either. That's boredom. We have to be adventurous also. We have to take initiatives, we have to make decisions ourselves in order to test our wisdom -- where we've gone, how we've grown. We can't just rely on the Master for everything. You have to learn to be a master too -- at least a master of yourself, your destiny. Of course, it's more risky that way but then it's more exciting. Don't live a boring and dull life. Live your own style, it's fine with me. As long as you keep the precepts, meditate, and grow in compassion and love, nothing can go wrong. You don't harm anyone, but you do experience your life, live your life. Don't be too over-disciplined. Too over-disciplined can kill you. Be flexible.