Rise to the Realm of
Enlightenment Together

~Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai Hong Kong July 8, 1989 (Originally in Chinese)   Q. There are many religious sects in the world today. How do we know which one will lead us to the Truth?

M. You will find the Truth only when you have found an Enlightened Master. The problem is not with the religious sects. All of them are good, but it is best to find an Enlightened Master. [Applause] There were many religious paths in ancient India, but why did people follow Shakyamuni Buddha? It was because He was an Enlightened Master. By following my teachings in spiritual practice, you don't have to change your religious belief. Catholics may continue to believe in Jesus Christ and God; Buddhists may continue to believe in the highest Buddha, who is also God. The highest God is the highest Buddha; the only difference is the name by which they are known. All we have to do is believe in the Supreme Power within; there is no need to change anything.

~Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Costa Rica December 16, 1990
(Originally in English)

If everyone truly practices what the Bible or the Buddhist Sutra teaches, they will never quarrel with each other, and all religions will be happy with each other and celebrate in the same church. The Pope will come to the temple, the monks will go to the church, and there will be no problems.

There's only one religion - that is the religion of God, of love, of understanding. There's only one church, one temple - that is the temple of enlightenment. Come to that temple, and then we will know all religions of the world.

The Esoteric and Exoteric Paths

~Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Hong Kong July 8, 1989
(Originally in Chinese)

Q. In spiritual practice, what is the difference between the esoteric and the exoteric paths?

M. First, spiritual cultivation will be perfect only if it incorporates both the "esoteric" and "exoteric" aspects. However, most people do not practice the esoteric path because they have not found the lineage or met an Enlightened Master who can transmit the method. So, they choose the exoteric path, which is taught openly and can be followed without a change in deportment or moral standards. People who worship the Buddha statue and offer red envelopes (containing donations) at the temples are considered exoteric practitioners, even though they slaughter pigs sometimes. People devoted to the esoteric practice must have high moral standards, strictly observe the precepts, and know many secret methods that have been passed down through the ages. However, the most difficult thing is to find an Enlightened Master who has acquired the esoteric method that transcends worldly language. He can transmit the method to us only after he has graduated from this school of intangible teachings and attained the true method that "can be neither described nor named".

In the exoteric path, practitioners must study many scriptures and learn a lot of Buddhist terminology before they can graduate. They must know what the Buddha, Mahayana, or Mahaprajnaparamita means. They must learn and know all these things to be able to answer people's questions. Only then can they preach the exoteric path. It is more difficult to practice the esoteric path because there are no scriptures to learn from. We rely on our life-after-life spiritual practice, our intense aspiration for the Truth, as well as our sincerity, precepts and diligent practice. We rely on ourselves until we find our own Enlightened Master. Therefore, it is very difficult to graduate from the esoteric path. Shakyamuni Buddha was accomplished in both the exoteric and esoteric paths. He could teach anything and elaborate on any scripture, including the four Vedas. He had no difficulty debating with Brahman believers, or anyone, for that matter. He had also attained the esoteric teachings that cannot be transmitted through
words or expressed in writing. Since He had graduated from this school of intangible teachings, He could transmit them to His believers.

The difference between the two paths is that very few people have accomplished the esoteric path while many have accomplished and graduated from the exoteric path. Ordinary people who have studied in a Buddhist institution for several years are also considered graduates from the exoteric school. So, even lay practitioners can preach and explain to the masses the definition of Mahaprajnaparamita; the Great Mercy Mantra; or the origin of Amitabha Buddha, the meaning of His name, and why we should repeat His name.

In contrast, the esoteric school is very difficult. There are no scriptures to rely on. We can only depend on our God Nature and wisdom to uncover the path. We yearn and practice diligently every day until we attain it completely. Then only can we transmit the path to other people. It is really difficult because it is the true and intangible scripture, the Muni Pearl, our intangible possession that we can only earn intangibly and silently. Not even the Master can help us; He or She can only guide us on the road. We have to devote our own efforts and know-how to use our Wisdom.

~Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
Taipei, Formosa March 6, 1988
(Originally in Chinese)

Q. There are 84,000 methods in Buddhism. The Diamond Sutra says that all methods practice benevolence and they are all equal. However, in the Surangama Sutra, the Buddha said that sentient beings of the "Dharma Ending Period" should practice the Quan Yin Method. Is it because the Quan Yin Method is more suitable for sentient beings?

M. Not only more suitable, but sentient beings should be practicing the Quan Yin Method in the first place. Let's make this point clear. We are born as humans in order to practice the Quan Yin Method and if we do not, then we will not realize what we should do in our human lives. We miss this precious opportunity because we miss this vital point, and then we go somewhere to practice the 84,000 methods all over again. But when we finally reach the gate of the ultimate method and we are born again as human beings, we are reluctant to be detached. We refuse to practice even when we have met the Enlightened Master, and we have to transmigrate again and again.

Human beings are born to practice the Quan Yin Method; it is our obligation to do so. We are born as humans for the purpose of attaining sainthood and the great Wisdom. Our final, most precious, and one and only chance is to be born as humans for the goal of attaining this great Wisdom and being liberated from the other 84,000 methods that bind sentient beings. However, because we don't understand this truth, we don't know what we should do as humans. After practicing the Quan Yin Method, we slowly come to understand why we are born as humans and what our goal is. You may be skeptical right now but you give me no choice. Since you asked, I have to tell you about it. All the other 84,000 methods are useless; they only bind us within the three realms. They bring us blessed rewards, power, and supernatural powers, but still chain us within the three realms. The Quan Yin Method is the one and only method that will take us beyond the three realms. This is incredible, which is why we rarely hear about it.

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