The refugees just came to beg for some little food and clothes, why did they oppress the refugees so much like that, understand? I am for equality. If the communists are doing bad, I will tell them. If the democrats are bad, I also scold them. I didn’t just criticize the communists only. They didn’t understand, and thought I am against communists. I am against the injustice, not against anybody.
So when I heard that message, I immediately went back to Hong Kong, worried that my disciples would not speak well. He came from Hong Kong, so he didn’t know the suffering of the refugees. In Hong Kong, they have all kinds of jobs you can do. Except if you want to be a president, otherwise, you can work any job and earn enough money to live, any job. Any job, any profession, you can apply and get it, any profession.
For example, to do the light job, to work as laborers is very easy, because Hong Kong lacks from many tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of laborers each year. That’s why I said, “Why don’t you bring the refugees out to work?” Have the refugees ever refused? For example, you could ask them to sign a contract, and say, “Now, I let you out to work, even though you are an intellectual person. But we lack of laborers, so if you want to work as a laborer, then I will let you out, and you will become a Hong Kong citizen.” It is so easy; the refugees would not refuse. But they didn’t agree because they were afraid more Aulacese (Vietnamese) people would come [to Hong Kong]. Number one, you let them stay here. We can feed them, and train them for jobs.
Number two, let me have some time to find another country for them to go to. Otherwise, you shouldn’t oppress the people like that.” That was what I meant. Because it was so cruel, I had to interfere, otherwise, this is not my business. But it was so brutal. The women and girls were beaten and their eyes and noses were bleeding. And then those people wrote a letter to me. How could I not feel heartbroken? It was not that I like to interfere in worldly affairs.
And I was in Korea, and they informed me on that day. They meant to ask, “Tomorrow, what can we say? What would You like to tell us what to say?” That was it. They just reported to me briefly, and didn’t expect that I would come back [to Hong Kong], so they didn’t inform me earlier. So I was in such a hurry. I had to call on the telephone all night long. And some places were closed, some were open, but they didn’t open at the right time for us. If I wanted to go back [to Hong Kong] earlier, I couldn’t. If I flew back the next day, it would be too late. That’s why I had to standby, and was in such a hurry to fly at that hour. And that evening, the [Koreans] organized such a feast. They danced and had all kinds of performances, for me, but I could not reject it outright. I said, “Another time, OK. Now…”
And I also didn’t dare to tell them that I had to go back to Hong Kong. If I left abruptly, they might cry so much and hinder my work. I dared not say anymore, just said, “I am a little bit…” After I left and arrived at the airport, I wrote a note to send back to the [Koreans]: “This evening….” They already gathered [for the performance], and then read my note: “I am sorry, I need to go back to Hong Kong for an urgent matter.” I didn’t even dare mention the refugees’ issues. Then their Asura emotion made them cry so noisily. They didn’t understand my heart. They thought, “How come; Master only comes once in a while, yet She left so abruptly like that,” and they’ve already prepared a banquet, that evening. I said, “Save that banquet for another occasion.” I just said that, I dared not refuse outright. So it’s not only you that I refused, so don’t be sad. (Yes.) Forget it! No singing or entertainment at all. When the refugees’ issues are resolved, whether or not they are settled, then we would feel light, and we can eat, sing together.
But for yesterday, I also thank you, thank you. Because you made the atmosphere lighter, and you were happy, healthy, so we forgot some of our suffering, and then continued to fight for the refugees. It was not that we just want to be happy and was singing like that. This year, there will be no birthday, next year either. That means no birthday, no death day, nothing at all. I am very busy, we will consider in the future. If [the refugee situation] improves, then we may have birthday [celebrations]. But if no celebration, it’s OK. Don’t wait until my birthday to come see me. This time, if you don’t go to Hong Kong, you may or may not see me, then don’t wait until my birthday to go see me. If I can’t finish this work, there is no birthday. And there will be no retreat, no 7-day, 8-day retreats or anything like that. Understand? (Yes.)
Don’t wait until that day. If we have, we have; if we don’t, then we don’t. No promises at all. (Yes.) Because last time I promised to have a 7-day retreat, and I already informed Costa Rica to prepare, but now we have to forget it. Even the 7-day retreat, we have to drop, let alone the birthday. (Yes.) Understand, right? (Yes.) Don’t be mad at me. Don’t be upset! (No, we’re not.) If you are upset, you would not have merits! (No, we wouldn’t dare.) Just “threatening” you a little bit. I’m going. (Yes.) Not me, you are going home. I have to talk a bit to the two or three journalists down stairs. (Yes.) OK, bye. (Yes.) (Bye, Master. Please eat and rest early, Master.) See you tomorrow! (Yes.) Tomorrow I will come again and we will talk about internal solutions. If we have any problem or something, let me know so we can solve it. OK, bye! (Bye, Master!)
(I want to go with You.) (I want to say something.) Say what? You want to follow Master? (Yes.) I already told you before. You can follow if you have work to do. I said already. Only if you have work to do. Otherwise, people will say, “That’s Her boyfriend. He follows Her wherever She goes.” Why don’t I bring this guy or that guy, but bring you? I bring along only those with work to do. Sometimes they work all day and night with me. Poor Taiwanese (Formosan) disciples. They’re very devoted to Master. If I don’t sleep, they don’t dare to sleep either. They always work, at any time of the day or night. Aulacese (Vietnamese) disciples couldn’t handle that. If I yell once, they disappear. (Yes.) I haven’t yelled at them yet, just yelled at someone else, and they ran away already. So, Aulacese (Vietnamese) people are hard to use.
But can you stay here to work? Ask the people here. Where is Đồng? (Yes.) Can this guy here help with anything? (Master, he can help.) Can he? (Yes.) Alright, let him stay here for three months and see. Three months, OK? Stay here. Take care of the trees. If any tree dies, he has to pay for its life. Oh, this guy is crazy. In the past, there were three, four, or five guys like this who cut down trees… Alright. If you have work to do, then you can leave now. (No, Master.) Where are the three journalists? (Four of them are downstairs, in the room.) Poor them. Wait a bit, just five minutes, only five minutes. The disciples’ issues, you can talk about forever.
This one here, last time, four or five single guys came during the summer break, to visit me, and by the way, I taught them to plant trees. Sometimes they planted trees in the wrong spots. I had to dig them up and replant them elsewhere for better aesthetics, although planting them where they were would’ve been fine too. When he saw me digging up trees, he started digging up trees every day. He’d pull them out to take a look. There were many trees… It must have been you, right? Or was it the other guy? No, it was you. I remember. He pulled them up, then replanted them, but what’s the point of that?
Sometimes they plant the trees too deep. Sometimes I told the disciples to plant the trees, but they dig the holes too deep and plant the trees so deep. The trees were all buried, except a few leaves sticking out. So I told them… But they had to do it right away. They just planted them, and I went around to inspect, because I alone cannot do everything. So, I told this one to plant three trees, that one to plant four trees, and then I ran around checking. But they planted the trees too deep, only a few leaves were sticking out – the trees would suffocate and die, no? So I dug them up. I told them to dig it up, add more soil to raise it higher (Yes), and then replant it properly.
When he saw me doing that, he started pulling up [other] trees to make them higher. I saw it but didn’t scold him. I didn’t scold him – I just told him not to do it because it would ruin the trees. I told another disciple to tell him. So, he probably doesn’t remember because I didn’t directly scold him. I told another disciple to go tell him, “What are you doing, pulling up trees all day?” Pulling them up to make them higher – but not every tree needs to be made higher. That’s how high your spiritual level is!
But if I scold them, the outsiders will say, “Wow, She’s so harsh.” I don’t dare to scold them. Especially the Aulacese (Vietnamese) disciples – I dare not scold them because they’ve already suffered so much. They’ve been scolded a lot over there, and they’ve endured so much hardship crossing seas and mountains, so I have no heart to scold them. That’s why I rarely scold Aulacese (Vietnamese) disciples – and they’ve become very spoiled. But with Chinese disciples, I scold them without holding back. That’s why they have progressed. As you scold them, they realize their faults and so they respect you and progress. That’s why they stick to me wherever I go. Men, women – they work with me day and night, like Đồng and others. They don’t get paid, and they don’t have fancy clothes. I even tell them to wear nice clothes, but they say, “No, we are renunciates, so simple clothes will do for us.” But I’m the lead role, so…
Since Master can wear beautiful clothes, sometimes disciples like to take nice photos. So occasionally, for special occasions or banquets, I’ll dress up nicely. But dressing up nicely is exhausting – it’s “exhausting beauty.” So every time I come home, the first thing I do is change clothes. I change into something light and old, then prop up my legs and relax. I put my legs up high because those fancy outfits pinch here and pull there – it’s so tiring. And wearing all these accessories hurts my ears and neck. They know this, so they don’t bother dressing up – they just do whatever they want. They don’t have any money, but wherever Master goes, they follow – truly devoting completely to Master and to all beings. Even just dealing with Aulacese (Vietnamese) matters keeps them working day and night. You don’t know this.
You shouldn’t just thank me; you should also thank my disciples. They truly give their all, putting their whole lives into the work. They work day and night without sleeping, sometimes going several nights without sleep. Because sometimes, they just lie down for a moment, and then a fax or a phone call comes through about urgent matters, and they have to get up again. It’s heartbreaking. I am very, very moved by them – seeing these Chinese disciples dedicate themselves even for Aulacese (Vietnamese) matters. But it’s for me that they do this; otherwise, they don’t understand much [the situation]. But sometimes when they read the letters of pleas from the refugees, they cry. They cry and pour their whole hearts into the work. Normally, they don’t cry much. Now they don’t cry anymore. But when they read the pleas from the refugees or the related news, they cried. They say now they understand why Master cries.
Because normally, when I read in Aulacese (Vietnamese), I don’t translate it for them. But lately, due to increasing oppression, I’ve been translating it into English so everyone can understand. And the press demands that it be translated into English – it has to be sent to Miaoli for them to translate day and night. Now there are a few Aulacese (Vietnamese) disciples in Miaoli helping with translations between Chinese, English, and Aulacese (Vietnamese). But you have to know English well to translate from Aulacese (Vietnamese) to English. If you don’t, the translation might be inaccurate, failing to convey the original meaning or emotion – it might even cause harm. Choppy translation. So, it’s very challenging.
And there are many people who want to follow Master, like those “boyfriends” and “girlfriends” who want to tag along, but they’re still in school. I can’t ask them to quit [school] – it would be a pity. That’s how it is. Some people can follow but can’t contribute, and some people can contribute but can’t follow. And the “boyfriends” and “girlfriends” – you still chase after me, do you? (Yes.) You would follow me to your deaths, no? (Yes.) But I don’t let them – it’s not because I am strict or anything. It’s not because I want to save on plane tickets that I don’t let you follow. You’re still in school. Finish school first, and then we’ll consider. But sometimes, in urgent situations, I wish I could bring them over there to work on the refugee issues. That’s all. But I don’t know if they are capable or would be more troublesome, because they’re still students without much real-world experience.
It’s tough; it’s not easy to find the right people. That’s why I keep using the same people, the Chinese disciples. Because I’ve trained them for years. They know how to work quickly, efficiently, and appropriately. Even if I scold them, they don’t sit there sulking and saying, “Forget it.” If I scold them, they still work. Poor them, so sorry for them. They don’t work like leisurely or stop when their shift is over. No, they’re dedicated. They’re truly Bodhisattvas, not ordinary people. But don’t let them hear this, OK? (They have spiritual determination.) Yes, spiritual determination. Compassion for others.
Why are you so beautiful now? Getting more beautiful every day. Looking younger too. Is it because of more spiritual practice? If you practice more and work less, you’ll become more beautiful. Back then, she worked a lot for Master, when there was no one else – she carried all the responsibilities. Now there are more people, so she can rest, retire, and look at her – radiant, fair-skinned, and youthful. You look relaxed and softened. When they were working, their faces all looked like Dharma Hufas. Master’s face also looked like that sometimes. Alright, I am going. (Yes.) You understand everything now, right? (Yes.) Explaining this over and over is exhausting. Alright, go home, have fun. (Yes.) Thank you. That guy… What’s his name again? I forgot. (Yes, Đồng.) Alright, Đồng, go home now. (Yes, OK.) (Goodbye, Master.) See you tomorrow. Bye. (Yes. Bye-bye, Master.) (I respectfully bid farewell to Master.) Go through the back door. (Yes.)
