Worldly sound vs. Supra-worldly sound
Taipei, Formosa. March 6,1986.
Page 2Sound of God This Sound is the "Sound of God",the sound of our original nature, which existed even before anythingin this universe came into being. This Sound is the "soundbeyond this world," therefore, it is inaudible to the hearingfaculty of ordinary humans. However, all sentient beings can listento it, except that they will hear different sounds according totheir individual levels. Everything in the universe vibrates,and so they have sound - even stones have sound. But it is toosubtle to be heard by the human ear; we can only hear it withour wisdom. Therefore, we say contemplate on the sound ratherthan listen to the sound. If all sentient beings have this soundand wisdom as well, then why can't they contemplate on this sound?It is because they don't have the key and so do not know wherethe sound is. Therefore, we must first find a Master who can openthe door for us.
Why is this sound so important? It is becauseall things in the universe are linked together by this sound.All the realms, from high to low, are linked to each other throughthis sound. Just now, we mentioned that the vibrations of somepeople are incompatible with others', so they have difficultyaccommodating with each other. For the same reason, our vibrationsare not accommodating with the animals or certain places, andwe find it difficult living with animals or staying in those places.If there are people who can live in those places, it does notmean that they are better than we. Most probably, their vibrationsare very low or close to the animals, so they do not feel anything.
Pigs and frogs can live happily in very filthyplaces, and this amply illustrates why some people can live happilyin unbearable places without feeling anything. Their auras cancope with those places; our vibrations are higher and gentlerand cannot accommodate those lower vibrations. Therefore, we cannotlive there, but that does not mean they are more capable thanwe are. So, benign people often have difficulty staying with viciouspeople.
Should anyone want to change his destiny, hemust rely on this highest sound. Now we only have a very smallportion of it and it is not very high in vibration. Preciselybecause our vibrations are low, we are living in this low-levelworld together with the animals. After all, birds of a featherflock together.
However, there is a type of sound that encompassesall sentient beings. This is "God's Sound", the soundof Original Nature. By contemplating on this sound, we can elevateour vibrations and spiritual level. Superficially, we may lookthe same as we did, but our body will emit light. Everyone loveslistening to our lecture and it is easy for us to deliver people,because our vibrations have become gentler, putting people's mindsat ease and leading them to liberation. Their vibrations willbe enveloped by ours; we will provide them with good vibrationsthat dissolve their bad vibrations. When the blood of a patientis not functioning well, the doctor will replace his bad bloodwith good blood. When the water in the bucket is dirty, we haveto empty the filthy water before filling it with clean water.However, before our vibrations have become good enough, we cannotexchange them for other people's bad vibrations. Otherwise, theresult would be terrible. We must first practice spiritually ifwe want to deliver sentient beings.
Just now, we mentioned that all things in theuniverse have the "Sound," and all things are createdby this Sound. In the "Tao Te Ching," it is mentionedas the "Name" or the "Tao." Lao Tzu said:"The way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; thename that can be named is not the constant Name. The Namelesswas the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named was the motherof the myriad creatures." This Name or Tao refers to thissound or vibration. Perhaps the ancient Chinese usage was different,but it actually means the same thing. I think you will be ableto understand this.
Tune In to More Superior Sounds Everything in the universe is born from thisName or sound; we are also part of it. But because we are humanbeings, we possess the highest part of it, and we are most likelyto possess all of it. Animals are not high enough in level topossess this sound completely. Through practicing on this sound,we can elevate ourselves incessantly, we tune in to more superiorsounds until we are in total possession of it. Then, we will beable to coordinate with all sentient beings in the universe. Sinceall sentient beings are part of this sound, which we have in totalpossession, to us every place is the Pure Land, every person isa Saint, and all sentient beings have God Nature. Only then dowe attain the true realization; otherwise, all we have is hearsayor "thus have I heard;" we cannot distinguish whetherthey are true or false.
Having personal experience is different fromreading the scriptures or about someone else's experience. Weread about others' experiences when we read the scriptures. Practicingthe Quan Yin Method, we will have our own experiences. We maycompare them with those recorded in the scriptures and see whetherwe are having the same experiences as those of the ancient people.Sometimes our experiences could be even higher than theirs; itdoes not mean that we are superior to them, but that their spirituallevel might not be very high when they wrote of this experience.So, we may be slightly higher than their level at that time.
We should know how powerful this sound is.All sentient beings have this vibration or sound, and we influenceeach other. This world is different from the Western Paradisein the sense that here, we have animals, bad people, good people,nervous people, calm people, happy people, and miserable people.It is a mixture of different atmospheres that makes it very difficultfor us to practice with peace of mind in such a confused state.There are always many obstructions or bad influences distressingus. But then if we can persist in practicing with concentration,we will progress very fast.
Many heavenly beings like to incarnate as humanbeings because this physical body is essential for pursuing spiritualpractice. We often think that this body is useless, but then wecannot practice spiritually without it. This body is very precious.Take good care of it. Take enough nutritious food to sustain it,but don't be voracious. Protect the body from excessive cold,heat, exhaustion and overwork. Ascetic practice is not good; itis punishing ourselves, which is the greatest sin. We are Saintsof the past, present, and future. We ought to respect ourselves.How can we punish ourselves through ascetic practice? Of course,it is different if the situation is truly unavoidable.
For instance, you may have heard that whenI was practicing in the Himalayas, I ate only raw vegetables everyday. It was because of the high altitude. The air was thin, thetemperature and the air pressure were low, and it was very difficultto cook rice or vegetables. It was much simpler to eat raw vegetables;all I had to do was to wash them in the water of the Ganges, sprinklea little salt on them, and then eat them. I did not deliberatelywant to practice asceticism. I once practiced in seclusion ina mountain temple in Formosa, and there I had a summer retreatfor three months. Every day, I only ate some coarse rice withsesame seeds and salt, and drank a little water. No one was takingcare of me at that time. Should I have gone to the market everyday to buy vegetables, what kind of a retreat would that havebeen? It would have been a "vegetable retreat." (Laughter)It was due to the circumstance. I ate what I could find; definitely,I was not practicing asceticism deliberately. Ascetic practicecannot make one an enlightened Saint; it will only turn you intoa bitter person. Our life is bitter enough, so why should we wantto practice asceticism?
The "Sound" is the GreatestPower & Supreme Wisdom in the Universe To become an enlightened Saint, we should practicethe Quan Yin Method, and contemplate on this original sound withour wisdom. This sound creates all things in the universe, andit is the greatest power and supreme wisdom in the universe. Whatelse can we rely on in our spiritual practice if not this greatpower and great wisdom? Why should we rely on this dark littleabdomen (the solar plexus) or our ephemeral breathing instead?What does it matter if our body moves slightly in meditation?How could we practice if we stop breathing when we die?
If we are practicing spiritually with thisgreat power, it does not matter if our body moves a little, oris even injured. Since our own Master has established connectionwith this sound, Hes has been liberated and has no relation withthe body, and naturally, we can continue to practice. Hes willcontinue to take care of our life and help us to progress. Therefore,we cannot rely on anything else but this greatest, highest andmost original sound. This most primitive sound existed beforewe came into being, and before anything in the universe came intobeing. And, even after the three realms are destroyed, it willcontinue to exist. Only by relying on this eternal power can wepractice spiritually to reach the state of eternal existence.One can only reach the ephemeral level if one practices by relyingon the ephemeral breathing.
In the Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha saidthat all other ways of spiritual practice are only temporary methodsand not eternal ones. Only the Quan Yin Method is the eternal,ultimate and most correct method of spiritual practice. We willagree with Him after we have practiced the Quan Yin Method.
In the Bible, it is mentioned that the universe,In the beginning was the Word (Sound), and the Word was with God,and the Word was God. Everything was made by Him (Sound), andthere was nothing made that was not made by Him (Sound). [John1:1-4] The "Tao Te Ching" also talks about the same.Lao Tzu said: "The way that can be spoken of is not the constantWay; the name that can be named is not the constant Name. TheNameless was the beginning of Heaven and Earth; the named wasthe mother of the myriad creatures." It was when this "Namethat cannot be named" came into being that the universe andall things were born.
The Upanishad, the most famous Hindu scripture,also mentions the same thing. "In the beginning was the word."This sound existed when creation began. When this sound came intobeing, everything came into being. This sound is God; this soundis Creation. They all talk about the same thing, because in thefirst place, Shakyamuni Buddha, Lao Tzu, the Bible, Hinduism,and Islam all raise the same doctrine. After practicing the QuanYin Method, we can understand the scriptures when we study them.When we have attained the great enlightenment, we will know thatall scriptures actually talk about the same thing.
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