Activities Retreats 1996  
 

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Group Meditation

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"We have various options in this world. The universe is not as rigid and dull as you might think. So, it's really up to you to decide what you want to do and how much of a load and responsibility you want to handle. You can do it as long as you don't hurt other people. God has a few wishes, but we make the choices ourselves. Otherwise, it would be too boring if everything were predestined. We can change things, but we must make good changes, and then it is okay.

For example, this package of tissues in my hand, I can keep it for my own use, or I can toss the tissues to people in need - two or three of them. I can toss them in different directions. I can also discard the packet in the dustbin and then no one can use it. If I keep it, I am the only one who can use it; however, people can make use of these tissues if I put some everywhere. In this way, I have many choices. It's up to me to decide, and that's all right. It's impossible to say that God has arranged for me to throw this packet of tissues to a designated person. It can't be like that. The universe isn't that monotonous; we have many choices.

All kinds of religions talk about free will, which sometimes brings harm to many people as well as ourselves and makes us transmigrate. If we make a good decision, the result will be good, and we'll reap the benefits. Otherwise, we'll have to shoulder a heavy responsibility that makes us feel uncomfortable and is very tiresome. Even worse, we'll have to come back to amend the things we've done wrong, compensate for the harm that we've done or the losses that all those people have incurred. That's just the way it is.

It's true; nothing is really good or bad in the universe, it's only a cycle. Everyone plays his or her role, and we go back to rest when the time comes. However, this is not an excuse for us to act irresponsibly. Certainly, we must choose to do good things because they will benefit us and others, too; and we won't have to exhaust ourselves with transmigration. There are many obstacles each time we come here. It's not definite that we can fix the things we've done wrong within the periods of time that we're back. Consequently, we have to carry on this way until all has been amended, and sometimes this takes thousands of years."

From "Free Will"
News 101, Pearls of Wisdom
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
3-Day Retreat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
March 27, 1996
(originally in Chinese)

Retreats Schedule

Center/City/Country
Date
Language
Titles
Publication
Hsihu Center
Formosa
February 19-22, 1996
Chinese, English
1996 Ching Hai Day International 4-Day Retreat
Video 525-529
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
March 26-28, 1996
Chinese
Cambodia 3-Day Retreat
Video 540-541
Raising Center
Cambodia
May 11-17, 1996
English
Buddha's Birthday and International 7-Day Retreat
Video 544-551
Long Beach, California
USA
December 25-29, 1996
English
International Christmas 5-Day Retreat
Video 570-573

   

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