Transformation of Bodies

What exactly is the true self?
You may be a human being in this life; but we don't know
what you will be in your next life.
We stay in this cyclic existence of birth and death and
rebirth, continuously reincarnating and transforming into
many different life forms, transforming and transforming.
But, what are you exactly? In reality, you are not any of
these defined forms.
Perphaps you are a human today, a horse tomorrow,
and you will become a bat the day after.
So, am I a horse or human, ultimately?
Am I a bat or a butterfly?
You have to become detached from unreal appearances
in order to know what is real.
This means that you should first comprehend the whole
truth of suffering, impermancence, and selflessness.
Slowly, you will become detached from the unreal,
and as a result the real will manifest.

Water Flowing into the Ocean

When we are confronted with big and small problems,
or troublesome situations, we should exercise forbearance,
acceptance, and tolerance.
Be like the ocean, which receives hundreds or rivers.
Without making exceptions, the ocean accepts water from
the rivers, the streams, or the sewers, and converts the
water into a single taste - salty.
The ocean contains many different kinds of water.
The practice of Buddha Dharma requires exactly the same
kind of inner capacity;
a mind and heart that is
capable of accepting everything,
capable of dissolving and transforming everything,
and ultimately experiencing and realizing the taste of "Emptiness."

Like Sugar in Water

When we encounter obstacles in daily life,
we should learn acceptance and tolerance
if we want to transform the obstacles into a surge of power.
Use the wisdom of "Emptiness" to transform and dissolve the obstacles.
Let the mind and heart always remain in the condition of
"Emptiness"; wherein anything added into the "Emptiness"
will not affect the "Emptiness."
Thus, let whatever tasks or problems come to us,
be like the situation of dropping sugar into water.
The sugar dissolves, and the problem is gone.

Temple of the Body

Our body is like a temple.
The mind lives inside the temple.
It is Buddha; it is also a demon. How come?
Right knowledge, right understanding is called "Buddha,"
and wrong knowledge, wrong understanding
is called a "demon."
Both Buddha and demon are functions of the mind.
If the mind is bright, clear and awakened,
the whole temple will be bright, clear and glorious as a result.
If the mind is not bright, clear and awakened,
this temple of the body will become
dark, dreary, and without light.

Food

Question: Usually it is said that the "prajna"
method is the most difficult to transmit
Master: It is not diffucult.
Question: But, it is supposed to be the hardest method to teach, and impossible to grasp. Furthermore, "Emptiness" and "Existence" may cause conflict.
Master: Not true.
Polarization of "Emptiness" and "Existence" is the cause of confict.
Actually, "Existence" is the food of "Emptiness."
How could there be conflict?
This would be like saying that
"Bodhi (enlightenment) is affliction."
Affliction is the food of "Bodhi."

Window of the Heart

A house without a window can not let in the warm light of sunshine;
nor can the fresh air circulated freely in such a house.
We people are in a similar condition.
If the window of the mind and heart is not open,
we will feel stuffy inside.
Open up the inner window, so that
your mind and heart can be unrestricted and expansive,
and your inner vision can be clear and sharp.
Once the window has opened up, the inner space of
mind and heart will suddenly be enlightened.
You will be able to see many things in a clearer light.
After this, you will have a better understanding of the
truth about "Emptiness,"
and will better digest all "existing" afflictions.