Table
of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Chapter
1: LIFE ON EARTH
Our Purpose on Earth
The Future is in Our Hands
Moving Beyond Earthly Love
Divine Love
Chapter
2: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Beyond Evil
Karma
Reincarnation
Death and Dying
Chapter
3: FROM RELIGION TO SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
Beyond Religion
The Forgotten Message of Christ
Jesus and Meditation
The Separation from God
The Return
Chapter
4: FINDING THE LIGHT
The Kingdom Within
Understanding God
Enlightenment or the Great Awakening
Three Ways to Obtain Liberation
Immediate Enlightenment
Beyond this World
Chapter
5: WHAT IS MEANT BY MASTERS
How Do We Recognize a Real Master
The Three Types of Masters
Why We Need a Living Master
The Love of a Living Master
The Path of the Great Masters
Chapter
6: INITIATION
The Process of Initiation
The Benefits of Initiation
Being a Disciple
Chapter
7: MEDITATION
The True Meaning of Meditation
How to Meditate
The Quan YIn Method of Meditation
The "Word," the Inner Vibration
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Preface
How
many people have the chance to come in direct contact with the teachings
of a truly enlightened living Master? The preciousness of that opportunity
is explored in the pages of I Have Come to Take You Home. Prepared
originally by one practitioner from Supreme Master Ching Hai's
lectures, interviews and informal talks, this book began as a collection
of personal notes. With the help of many fellow practitioners who
transcribed the English lectures and translated many others, themes
of Master's teachings began to emerge.
Enlightened
Masters, fully conscious of their Supreme Nature within, are perfect
mirrors of the most noble and divine qualities within each of us.
Their spiritual attainment is achieved, not for their own benefit,
but to uplift all beings. Supreme Master Ching Hai is such a Master.
And through transmission of the Quan Yin Method of meditation, known
since ancient times as contemplation of the inner Light and Sound,
She provides us with a way to attain ultimate liberation.
In I
Have Come to Take You Home, Master's wisdom illuminates a
range of spiritual topics discussed throughout its chapters. Many
of these topics are presented in question and answer format. This
makes the material more clear and relevant while at the same time
providing a depth of insight into the Quan Yin Method and other
aspects of Master's teachings.
During
the process of editing this book, working practitioners tried to
highlight the main points of what they felt were the most important
themes whilst still preserving the essence of Supreme Master Ching
Hai's original discourses. But due to the interpretive nature
of their work, some of the wording and hence the meaning many differ
from Master's actual words. Thankfully, Master compassionately
accepted their devotion and has graciously permitted the publishing
of this book despite its possible imperfections.
It is
also most fortunate that Supreme Master Ching Hai has allowed so
many of Her discourses to be recorded, making them currently available
on tapes, DVDs and CDs. Thus, any reader who would like to further
explore the Heavenly and Blissful inspiration of Master's
original words is encouraged to refer to bibliographic references
provided at the end of each quoted passage in the book.
May
the Truth guide you to your own Great Awakening.
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Extraction
from Chapters
Chapter
1: LIFE ON EARTH
"Our life is like
a dream that we haven't awakened from, and when our spirit is awakened
we discover our real nature, no matter how long we have been asleep.
During enlightenment we enter into higher levels of existence and
we see life from a very different angle. Everything takes place
very quickly, without effort or drama. Like in a movie, if someone
dies, we know that it is only a movie."
Everybody
worries about the end of the world. Actually some people predict
it and make many people worry. But even if the world comes to an
end, the enlightened people would never feel bothered, because they
know what this world is, and that it will go one day. But the life
eternal always goes on, and nothing can affect it. Life eternal
is what we are, wisdom is what we possess, love is what our nature
is, and this cannot be destroyed, with any bomb at all. It cannot
be limited by space and time. Therefore, the Masters initiate disciples
without the limitation of space and time. Masters don't have to
always be where the disciples are, but they can help them and bless
them. The disciples will grow into mastership and also do the same.
Chapter
2: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Once we understand why we suffer, we can
change it. It is only when we do not understand that we continue.
Similarly, when a doctor diagnoses a condition and knows where the
sickness is, he can cure it; but the most important thing is that
the patient himself should know how to live his life in order to
stay healthy for a long time. In order to stay healthy in body,
we should know some hygienic rules. We should know what food to
eat and what exercises to do, so that we can prevent most diseases.
In order to stay healthy in spirit, we should know what the Law
of God, the Law of Nature is. We should know this so that we can
stay healthy in wisdom and become "God-like," because
God made man in His own image.
Sometimes, we think that we are the doer
in this world, and therefore we take all the burdens upon our shoulders.
That is why we sometimes get exhausted, and then we get nothing
done. If we get enlightenment, we know if we use it, if we know
how to use the greatest power which is already provided within us,
from which we came, and also to which we will return and in which
we live our lives, then we will have less confusion, less and less
each day, until no more confusion is left in our hearts, except
to do the will of the Almighty. Jesus Christ also mentioned that
'I do, yes, but not I, it is the Father in me who does it.' And
in Hinduism it always mentions 'not I but Thou.'
Regarding
the notion of karma, you must know that there are two types of karma:
human karma and universal karma. Men's laws are governed by an invisible
force that cannot be grasped by human understanding. This is called
in Sanskrit "karma," meaning the Law of Cause and Effect.
It is mentioned in the Bible as "What you sow, so shall you
reap."
Chapter
3: FROM RELIGION TO SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
I do not belong to Buddhism or Catholicism,
I belong to the Truth and I preach the Truth. You may call it Buddhism,
Catholicism, Taoism or whatever you like, I welcome all of them.
Many Masters have problems fighting preconceived ideas about all
religions. I have none. I will tell you that all religions are good.
All religious Masters are good, speaking the Truth and leading you
to it. Stick to your religion and have faith in your own religious
Master. If you happen to find a religious Master in this present
time and in your own religion then you are lucky. If not, then search
in other religions to see if there is any living Master available.
But meanwhile have faith in your own religion,
do not change to that Master's religion. Because all religions came
from God and all religious leaders also came from God to convey
their message in different times and places. All enlightened beings
whether they are Catholic, Buddhist or from any other religion have
all discovered the same thing, the same wisdom, the same ecstasy.
I also found the same universe, and it is actually more a state
of mind, of consciousness, of intelligence and higher understanding.
Buddhism
is like Catholicism. I do not think that the teachings are different.
When you compare the Christian's ten commandments to the Buddhist's
commandments, it's the same: don't kill, don't steal, don't lie,
don't drink alcohol or do drugs, don't take another's wife or husband.
And the rest of the teachings are only details and explanations,
or historical events recorded by the disciples when their Master
was still alive. In the Bible, for example, there are many accounts
of wars, and tribes fighting each other. This doesn't belong to
the teaching but because these events took place when that Master
was alive, they wrote them down.
Chapter
4: FINDING THE LIGHT
Everyone has the inborn heaven, because
the heaven is within us. Everyone has it and can find it. This I
may assure you, that you may find it also, and immediately. The
moment you want it you will get it, as quickly as that. But this
nature has to be nourished every day, just like seeds need to be
watered in order to grow. You can know your Buddha nature today,
but you will become Buddha after some practice. Because we have
been ignorant for so long, it takes a long, long time to wash out
our habits, our lack of confidence in ourselves. We are used to
people telling us what to do, that we are sinful, etc. After we
get enlightened our head becomes clearer, we will experience how
great we are, we will become more confident. We will know day after
day with the practice of the Quan Yin Method that we are truly Christ,
Christ-like or God-like, because God made man in His own image.
He didn't make man to become a slave. We and God are made of the
same essence, the only difference is whether or not we find it.
God made everyone equally, some people found it and became great
like Christ, like Buddha, and others have not found it and groveled
in darkness life after life.
I
have no intention to convince you that God exists. I am only among
you to connect you with God, and then you will be able to believe
me. I do not blame atheists because they do not see God inside of
themselves. Not everyone can believe without proof. For those who
do not believe in God, I offer them the opportunity to see Him through
immediate enlightenment, so that you may discover your own nature,
your own God-self.
Chapter
5: WHAT IS MEANT BY MASTERS
"A real Master will not accept any
donations for his or her own use, because God only gives and never
takes. Second, he or she must give you some proof of enlightenment.
For example, if someone proclaims to have light, then he must also
give you some light or give you the proof that you can hear the
Word of God. Whomever can give you a proof of the light and the
Word of God, that is someone you can believe. Guru means light-giver,
darkness-remover. Otherwise, how would you know if he has anything
to offer?
A false master will always advertise his
little miracles, but a real Master will never do so. If he is forced
to, he will always act in secret. The disciple only will know, and
only when it is necessary, to save him from a dangerous situation,
to cure his illness, to help him mentally or to accelerate his spiritual
progress. The disciple will then know the value of his Master. A
real Master can only give and not take. His disciples are comfortable
but the Master has to suffer. That is why it is said that Jesus
had to uplift mankind and that He had to be crucified. He couldn't
enjoy any privilege. That is why people scolded Him and crucified
Him. Anyhow, once you learn this method, you are protected 100%
by God?s power. The Master alone has to endure all kinds of suffering
so everyone can enjoy. But this is the joy of being a parent! The
children enjoy all the comforts and the parents have to work to
provide all the things, and take all the responsibilities.
Actually,
we don't have a Master in a sense. Only until the disciple is able
to recognize his own mastership, then a so-called Master is necessary
to guide him until then only. But we don't have a contract or anything.
Of course, you have a contract with yourself that you should stick
to the end, and this is for your own benefit. And initiation just
means the moment of first recognition of your greater spirit, that's
it.
Chapter
6: INITIATION
Initiation
means the beginning of a new life into a new order. It means that
the Master has accepted you to become one of the beings in the circle
of saints. Then, you are no longer an ordinary being, you are elevated,
just like when you enroll for university, you are no longer a high
school student. In the old times, they called it baptism or taking
refuge in the Master. After initiation, the light from within will
shine forth to show us the Kingdom of God, to lead us to our real
Home. And we will find our true state of being, with such happiness
that we never knew before in this world. We will overflow with all
the beauty and virtue that we tried to cultivate, but never completely
achieved before. The heavenly teachings through the inner language
will revive all the wisdom that we possess, but were so far unable
to use. Then, we will be the most satisfied person, and nothing
in the world could offer the same effect.
Chapter
7: MEDITATION
Peace has been within us all along. It is
just that when we are too busy, seeking outside, we perhaps forget
this real peace within us, and we encounter some uneasiness or difficulty
in life. If we can somehow find the time, or the sincerity with
which we can sit down, or just quiet ourselves down, and then search
within ourselves, we will find this peace and happiness again. This
is the true meaning of meditation. We don't really have to sit in
a quiet corner of our house only. We can sit anywhere, or stand
in the bus station, or in the bus on the way to work, or sit where
we work, and quietly search deep within ourselves for the true spirit
which always exists. Because we are not the body or the mind. We
are not what we are doing, or what we are learning, and we are not
what we are brainwashed into believing that we are. This is difficult
to explain. I just understand it clearly myself, and many of our
fellow practitioners also understand it.
The Heavenly Music spoken of in all Holy
scriptures of different religions such as the"Word" in
Christianity, the "Shabd" in Hinduism, the "heavenly
music" in Chuang Tse, the "Tao" in the Tao Te Ching,
etc. are the only real teachings direct from the Kingdom of God.
They are the language of universal love and great intelligence.
All teachings come from the Silent Sound, all languages come from
this universal language. That's why high level initiates on this
path speak all languages within the soul sphere. That is the level
of the Master, the one who has mastered the language of the Kingdom
of God. We all possess this wisdom, the wisdom to understand all
things above this shadowy world, to be omnipresent and to function
as the most perfect being in the universe, if only we desire to
remember again what we truly are.
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