Tolerance And Sacrifice
Extract from The Supreme Master Ching Hai's Lecture in Bangkok,Thailand
June 7, 1994
(Originally in English)All the Masters in the past, present or future will try to demonstrate to us the good qualities of a true human being. They try to teach by example not only by talking, and they try to teach us to always be loving, tolerant and always put other people's advantage before our own benefit. That's why when Shakyamuni Buddha was a king, even though He had the highest position in the society, the most respected position, and He had the most power in the country, and He commanded the loving heart of all His subjects, He still sacrificed all this to preserve the lives and peace for His people in His country. Not only for His country alone but also for the uncle's country, because if the two countries fought each other then both countries would have damage in people's properties and lives. That's why He tried to avoid it, avoid the war, not that He was afraid of the other country.
Some people always ask me, the Au Lac people, they ask me whether I should fight the communists or I am pro-communist. They think because I help the Au Lac refugees, I should hate the communists and go over there and kill them, get the gun and shoot them. I tell them I help the refugees because they need help, because some of them are afraid to go back home (go back to Au Lac) so they commit suicide. They die in here and Hong Kong, etc. Because their lives are in danger, I have to help them.
But if I save some refugees' lives and go kill another person's life, then what is the meaning? Also, if we make war in Au Lac then many people will die, the good people and the bad people. And I say doesn't matter who dies, they are all brothers, same countrymen.
So I say to them doesn't matter how bad a government, sooner or later that government will die, will change. The time will come. I think it's better to change people's hearts than to kill them, and I am trying to change the people by teaching them good things, a moral standard and teaching them to find their own wisdom. And if more Au Lac people are wise and moral and good, then even bad government has to change into good government, right? It is better than killing each other, because if you kill a person, his heart is not changed. He will reincarnate again and make even more trouble for you, because he is stronger in his determination. It's just like you put money in the bank, the longer the time the more interest.
So most of the people do not know the best way of destroying the enemy. Just destroy their evil hearts and then they'll be destroyed forever, not destroy their bodies. Besides, sometimes we have made bad karma, good karma with each other. And they come back to revenge and then we come back to revenge. It is always the devil's circle going on. So in this story the Shakyamuni Buddha wants to help us to understand, to be tolerant and to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of other people; it's the best way.
In this respect, we can see that Jesus Christ was also Bodhisattva, a saint, very clearly. Because many of His disciples wanted to go against the government and save Him, but He said, Don't do that.At that time, He had a lot of followers, many people believed Him, many people could die for Him, but He did not use this power to make bloodshed.
Actually everything will take care of itself in time. But meanwhile, we try our best to make life better. But, always try to avoid violence. That is the lesson of all these Shakyamuni Buddha stories, that we have to surrender to God's will, to be tolerant and be patient. When the time comes, everything will change.
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