Did anyone swim here to save money? No? Before, when the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng went to seek the Dharma, it was probably very far. Once He left home, He couldn’t return. […] At that time, He probably took even longer than you. I heard He was from Âu Lạc (Vietnam). He was an Aulacese (Vietnamese), so people called Him “southern barbarian.” Âu Lạc (Vietnam) was even farther, right? But where did He go to seek the Truth? Do you remember?
So big. The place is so big and no one sits there. I am sick, don’t go near. OK? I’m sick too long, maybe it’s not a good idea to go too near. I don’t want to wear a mask, then you won’t see me. You back there, old man? You! You think you’re old? You! You just came back? (Yes.) You have a lot of money, huh? (My wife.) Your wife has money, and she lets you go? Where is the wife, raise hand. Oh, you are the wife. What made you marry him? Not because he has money, right? He said you have money so he married you maybe for money. You both are OK? Looks like. You’re a lucky man. Lucky man. (Yes.) How come you are still so many here? Today is Pingtung’s meditation night, right? Is it group meditation today? (Yes.) In Pingtung? No. (Kaohsiung.) Is it group meditation in Kaohsiung? (Yes.) Yeah? (Yes.) Tuesday and Friday? (Wednesday and Friday.) Ah, OK. No wonder there are so many people.
I don’t want to ask you to come up, because you make so much noise and so much dust. If you want to sit here, you should come before I come. Not so chaotic like this afternoon – making a lot of dust, and some people are allergic to dust and they will get sick, cough. Understand that? Especially me, I’m already sick. If too much dust, I get more sick and prolong the sickness. Normally, if I just cough or Have a sore throat and take some antibiotics and cough medicine, in two-three days is finished. Maximum I take antibiotics for five days. This time I keep taking long time already, still it doesn’t work yet, not completely. Because I think I didn’t have a chance to recover. So, you made a very big space now, I feel very cold here now. Normally the foreigners, the monks, the nuns, older people can sit around here. Not now, not any more, not now. I thought you already sat here. Afternoon I saw you all scramble to come up, so I thought you settled down already and then I came, and now it’s empty again. Why, what happened?
Aiya, why was I speaking English? Do you have translation? All the Chinese have…? Why is no one here? Did someone ask them to leave? I was talking to some of the Supreme Master TV team and I just finished, I came to see you. Everybody’s OK? (Yes.) Very good. Then I cannot talk a lot, I just talked a lot already with the guests, the visitors, so I think we meditate. I think we meditate… You have a good look at me, and then we meditate. I’m sorry, I stand up so you can see me. Can everybody see me? The same. The same person as two days ago. As two days ago – I look the same. Any new people?
Are there new arrivals? Raise your hand and let me see. Ah! Mainland China? (Yes.) (Mainland China.) (Shanghai.) No, I mean those who just arrived. (New from Mainland China.) (Mongolia.) Those who haven’t seen me. Where are the Aulacese (Vietnamese)? Âu Lạc (Vietnam)? New? New or not? No new? New people? The new people are here, right? Anywhere else? Ah, you are new of course. Oh, my God, you are hot here. You are hot babes. So hot. I started sweating as soon as I came here. Oh, let me take it off. It’s too hot. What? Not yet. I am not done yet. It’s too hot. Are you hot? Or cold? (Hot.) (Not cold.) Not cold. (Hot.) (Thank You, Master.) Many people, that’s why. Too many people… I feel very hot.
Today is the first time I see a lot of men. Normally, only women a lot, it’s the first time I see a lot of men also. I’m happy. Where have you been? Why haven’t I seen you before? Aiya! No. I was fooled. In the back are all women. I thought this side were all men. I thought I am seeing so many men for the first time. You men should try to catch up. OK? Don’t embarrass yourselves letting the women overshadow you. It’s embarrassing.
Do new people want to come up and see me? (Yes.) I mean those who didn’t see me on Christmas. Slowly, slowly. Come up. Come up slowly. Don’t stir up the dust. I don’t have a mask. Then tell them to stay behind, not to come too close. Let them come up. Hurry, but slowly. New comers only, those who haven’t seen me. New people, come and sit. Slowly. Or there’ll be too much dust. Westerners can also come up if you want, but maybe better stay there. Very squeezing... New arrivals only. Is it true that there are so many new people? Really? Did you just arrive? Ask them clearly. If they are not new arrivals, don’t let them come up! Otherwise, they will cram together and leave no space for the new people. Only those who didn’t see me on Christmas can come up. OK. It’s good. Don’t be like this. OK? Spiritual practitioners should be honest. Don’t deceive me. Earlier I said only elders could come up. But young people were faster. They came and took up the space. Now I say only new people who didn’t see me on Christmas, can come up. Again, everyone crowds up here. Good that we are screening, or there’d be no place for you to sit. I feel sorry like this. We are all initiates. We need to share with others. Understand? Good. OK. Have some more. You have enough? Everybody one? No, some people don’t have. Anybody don’t have? He doesn’t have. You see. Come, come. They like that I touch the items first. Then they will take it. They like it better.
Where are you from? (Mainland China.) I know, mainland China. (Hubei, Guangnan, Wuhan, Jiangsu, Suzhou, Quanzhou, Qingdao, Jilin, Guangzhou, Henan, Hankou, Guang’an, Jiangxi, Beijing.) Oh, Beijing. (Shantou.) Shantou. (Sichuan.) (Kunming.) Sichuan. (Liaoning.) Liaoning. (Kunming.) Kunming. (Inner Mongolia) Inner Mongolia, oh! (Shanxi.) (Henan.) (Shanxi.) (Shandong.) What is it called? (Shanxi.) Shanxi. (Shaanxi.) (Hebei.) (Henan.) Shanxi? (Chongqing.) Chongqing. (Wuhan.) (Mongolia.) Mongolia. (Mongolia.) Yes, Mongolia. Mongolians, raise your hand. Mongolia? Over there, Mongolia?
OK, also far away. Not from mainland China, but still from afar. Is there anyone who needs three or four days to get to Taiwan (Formosa), that kind of distance? How many days? Two? Three? (Three days.) Three days. (Two days.) Two days. (Two days.) Two days. I understand. Three days, three days, three days, two days. Aiya! So far away. OK, I often hear that. That’s why I come to see you. Because some people come from far away, even if I am tired or ill, I want to come to see you. It’s just that I am beautifully dressed so nobody can tell I’m sick. You can’t see I’m sick, right? No. I am healthy and happy.
Those who took three days to get here, how many times have you been to Taiwan (Formosa)? Once, once, once, once. How many first-timers? Raise your hand. Third time. Third-timers, don’t raise your hand. First time? Then take a few more looks. That far. First time? You, first time? OK. First time. That far. How many days? (Two days.) Two days. OK. Two days, two days, two days. Two days is still very far. It’s a long journey. Three days is even longer. Some say four days! Anyone? Yes? Maybe they walked or took an oxcart! In some places there is no horse carriages. So, they take the oxcart. Did they ride an ox? Then swam, right?
But these are already good times. In ancient times, it took even longer on a carriage or oxcart. And swimming was even slower. Did anyone swim here to save money? No? Before, when the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng went to seek the Dharma, it was probably very far. Once He left home, He couldn’t return. So He asked other practitioners to take care of His mom. Then He went to seek the Truth. Remember? (Yes.) At that time, He probably took even longer than you. I heard He was from Âu Lạc (Vietnam). He was an Aulacese (Vietnamese), so people called Him “southern barbarian.” Âu Lạc (Vietnam) was even farther, right? But where did He go to seek the Truth? Do you remember? (Huangmei, Hubei.) Huangmei? (Yes, Huangmei, Hubei.) Hui…? (Huangmei, Hubei.) Hubei, He went to Hubei. Huangmei, Hubei. How long does it take? How many days will the trip take today? Two days? Three days? (One month.) One month? On foot? (On foot, yes.) On foot. Who told you to walk? Nowadays who would walk? Only the mentally ill would walk. Today we have the train, bus, taxi, and car. Mainland China is very rich now. Who would walk? Now we are afraid that nobody walks.
