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“Ananda, if one does not neglect these four matters, and, further, if one does not pursue forms, fragrances, tastes, or objects of touch, then how can any demonic deeds arise?” Means we keep our mind pure, simple, have what we use, use what we have, and have what we need. Need and greed are different. Therefore, we have to keep our minds in a straight line, knowing how much the mind can lead us astray. We have to keep it under control using the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha said, “If there are people who cannot put an end to their habits from the past, you should teach them to single-mindedly recite my ‘light atop the Buddha’s summit’ unsurpassed spiritual mantra.” The Buddha taught many mantras. For you, just recite the Five (Holy) Names and the Seven Gifts. That would be good enough for your busy, busybody lifestyle.
In our modern times, we have many comforts due to splendid inventions of all kinds. Our lives have become more comfortable and convenient. Nevertheless, because of that, we also have to work harder in order to earn them. In the Buddha’s time, it was easier to practice purity of mind, I think. Because you didn’t go too far anywhere. You just ate whatever was inside your community, that was produced. And you’d just interact with each other in your village, in your home town mostly; most people were like that. And things they ate were very simple, and they didn’t have to buy a car, to go out to a big supermarket, to buy a color television. Before, we didn’t even have television, and then we had black and white television, and then later we said, “What? You still have black and white. No! I want a color television. And I don’t just want a normal TV, I want supersize TV, flat screen,” etc., etc. Therefore, we work harder, we’re busier and our minds are so difficult to control to the limit of what we need. Instead of just being satisfied with what we have, we want more and more all the time. Therefore, we are always in need, and when we’re in need, we must think of the way to have what we think we need, and then we forget what is important in life.
We have to keep up with the Joneses and then we forget that we should keep up with the Saints. We should remember what’s important, because this life we will leave behind. Everything we have, we must leave behind, anytime, anyway. You don’t even know if it’s tomorrow or the next day, but it’s just too busy-busy, forget, forget. Thus, we, the practitioners of the Quan Yin Method, always have to remind ourselves what is important, and what is less important. And whatever we can minimize, downsize in our lives, then just do that. So that you don’t have to spend your precious moments thinking of how to get more things. Precious moments thinking of, “I have to go out and buy this and buy that.” To buy, you a need car, you need other people, you need petrol, you need time, you need to earn money. And that’s what costs us a lot of time, a lot, a lot of time, a lot of precious time. And if we are also married, with children and kids, then good luck, good luck to you, because there will be no end to your obligations and duties, and you have to work harder, harder. Being a monk and nun is a tough job, but I don’t know if it’s tougher than to be lay people with families and children and the in-laws and the both sides in-laws and the death anniversary, birth anniversary, marriage anniversary and woe if you forget. I think my life is tough because I work so hard, but it is different.
I work for the world, I work for others, I don’t work for myself. Of course, I do work for myself also, but that is not the point. The most important is the work for the world, for others. So, whenever I go somewhere, or I do something, I always ask, “Is this good for the world? Is this better for the world this way?” “Where do I stay, so that I can meditate better? Where do I stay so that I can get better spiritual merit points to give it to the world?” Always this question. I never ask like, “Where do I stay, so that I can get more food or be more comfortable, become more pretty, or get more things?” Nothing.
