"When a master of the, Law meets someone who seeks to follow
the master, that person's faith must be tested. The follower
having ardent faith will accept the truth and there will be
positive results. But if faith is lacking, the truth will never
be understood and study will be fruitless.
What then is faith? First of all, you should not have any doubt
about the master of the Law. Disregard other people's criticism
of the master, and even if you find in the master something
that you cannot understand, don't attempt to judge. Instead,
have faith in the master.
Secondly, follow the master's guidance wholeheartedly, never
asserting your own opinion or being stubborn.
Thirdly, no matter how strict the master may be in teaching
or how severely you may be reprimanded, and even if the master
exposes your mistakes in the presence of others and insists
on undue hard work, accept this with gladness and never be ungrateful.
Fourthly, do not keep secrets from the master of the Law, but
always speak the truth. One who has these four assets is said
to have special faith, and will be able to make of oneself a
vessel of the Law like Buddhas and patriarchs."
2.
The Great Master said,
"People practicing the Way have many different degrees
of fundamental ability, but generally they may be classified
into three levels: higher, middle, and lower.
The higher level denotes those who, upon seeing and hearing
the fight Law, immediately go forward with confidence and with
right judgement and faith.
The middle level denotes those who are neither clever nor stupid
and who continually disbelieve and measure the teacher and the
Law.
Those in the lower level have no ability to discriminate right
from wrong and faithfully follow the master's guidance without
doubting or calculating.
Of the three levels, the highest level is most desirable in
a religious Order. People at this level are very studious and
the religious Order will prosper through their works. The next
most desirable level is the lower one because in it, those with
faith, even if they lack self-confidence, value the Law, have
deep faith in the master and study with the ceaseless sincerity
which will finally bring them success. Those in the middle level,
however, are the most difficult to guide because they lack faith
and sincerity, often underestimate the Law and its masters,
and are forever changing their beliefs. They seldom succeed
in their study or work. Therefore, people in the middle level
of those practicing the Law ought to try to jump to the high
level. People practicing the Law at the lower level sometimes
jump to the higher one; if not, in going through the middle
level, they must be cautious."
3.
One disciple asked,
"I am wondering how I can ever accomplish anything in my
study because I am not only dull, but lack long training."
The Great Master answered,
"Accomplishment in a religious order is not always related
to talent or to the length of membership. What counts is how
much Faith, Courage, Query and Sincerity you put into your practice.
Anyone who is eager in their devotion to Faith, Courage, Query
and Sincerity shall certainly be blessed by the attainment of
the object of their study."
4.
The Great Master said,
"On certain occasions, ordinary people seem to be inspired
by strong faith, but as the days go by, that faith tends to
diminish. It is also true that if one gains or loses power,
or if family harmony is attained or disrupted, one's faith is
likely to be changed. The practice of the great Law is only
accomplished when one can maintain a stable standard, whereby
unfavorable situations are changed into favorable ones, and
in favorable situations, wickedness or arrogance can be avoided."
5.
The Great Master said,
"Those who have high position, privileged power, material
blessings or profound knowledge generally find it difficult
to enter the gate of religious faith. But if any of these people
are determined to enter and serve the public, they may be the
ones who have in their former lives made a vow to do so."
6.
The Great Master said,
"I sometimes find among my followers those who lack faith
in me, who tend to emphasize their own talents and opinions
and who, as a result, do not benefit from their association
with me. What, then, is the difference between them and other
people who have not chanced to meet me? If one practicing the
Law with a great wish and faith has decided to follow my teaching,
that one must not complain or question anything I ask to be
done. Only then will our minds become one and our mutual efforts
will not be in vain."
7.
The Great Master said,
"The reason faith is considered to be the most important
of all assets in the Order of moral training is that faith is
the vessel of the Law, the basic power by which kung-an are
solved and the basis for keeping the Precepts. Studying without
faith is equivalent to watering dead plants: there are no results.
Therefore, first establish a stable faith and then you can save
yourself. The important thing in teaching others is to evoke
faith from people with no faith."
8.
The Great Master said,
"There are two ways to believe in the Three Jewels?
One is through Faith in the Power of Another's Ability and the
other is through the Power of Self-Ability.
The former is to believe in and worship the actual Buddha, Dharma,
and monks in overt ways. The latter means to seek Buddha, Dharma
and monks in one's own Nature and believe in and practice them
inwardly. Since these two ways of belief have a reciprocal basis,
we need to practice both at the same time.
However, when our study reaches the ultimate stage, the entire
Dharma world will become Three Jewels without any distinction
between Faith in the Power of Self-Ability and Faith in the
Power of Another's Ability.
9.
The Great Master asked his disciples,
"How much do you miss me when you don't see me for a long
time?"
The disciples answered, "We miss you greatly."
The Great Master replied,
"I understand you. However, no matter how much a child
loves its parents, it cannot compare with the love of parents
for a child. Likewise, no matter how much a disciple may revere
the teacher, it cannot compare with the teacher's concern for
the disciple. if the disciple's faith and reverence for the
teacher measure up to even half the teacher's love and care,
the Law will surely devolve upon the disciple."
10.
The Great Master said,
"When the disciple desires to learn the Law from a teacher,
one must give oneself wholeheartedly to the teacher and have
faith. Let me illustrate with a story from the past: The Buddhist
master Koojung (literally, 'Nine rice-cooker') began his study
by going to a temple on a very cold day to ask the master to
accept him as his disciple, and was ordered by the master to
install a rice-cooker. To perfect it, he had to repeat the work
nine times during the night, during which he made no complaint
against his master. Hence, he was given the Buddhist name Koojung
and was admitted to become a disciple of the Buddhist master.
Although the master did not exactly preach to him, from that
time on his devotion to the master was remarkable and it continued
for several decades. As the master grew old and became sick,
Koojung served him with all sincerity, and one day, while doing
so, he was quite unexpectedly enlightened. He came to know that
his very self-enlightenment meant the transmission of the Law
from his master. Likewise, one seeking the Law will find the
way if truly devoted in one's faith."
11.
The Great Master said, "As only living trees benefit from the
spring breeze, only faithful people are able to receive fully
the sages' teachings."
12.
The Great Master, as he returned from a sightseeing trip to
Kumkang-san (Mt. Diamond) said,
"The owner of the inn where I stayed at Kumkang-san happened
to be a Christian. He was so devout and enjoyed his life so
much that I could not but ask him about his personal history.
He told me that he had believed in God for thirty years, and
that despite many obstacles he remained thankful. During good
times he thanked God for being good to him, and during bad times
he thanked God for correcting and guiding him. Thus strengthened
by his faith on every favorable or unfavorable occasion, he
lived a happy life. I urge you to reflect upon your own faith.
The Christian man was able to acquire a happy life even though
he relied solely on his Faith in the Power of Another's Ability
without perceiving the source of the Truth. You who are blessed
with both Faith in the Power of Another's Ability and Faith
in the Power of Self-Ability should not stumble during any situation
in life. Since you have acquired a satisfactory and truthful
religion, be faithful in trying to examine your mind so that
through the power of faith you may rule the environment, rather
than be ruled by it."
13.
The Great Master, seeing three women, Chang Juk-Cho, Koo Nam-Soo,
and Lee Man-Kap, who had often come from a distance of a hundred
miles on foot to pay homage to the Great Master at Suktoo Hermitage,
was moved by their faithfulness and said to them,
"Your faith is so extraordinary that I think if I asked
you to, you would swallow dung."
The three women immediately brought some dung, but the Great
Master said,
"Never mind. It appears that you would eat even worse.
At present, this Order is not very extensive or complicated,
so I am able to pay attention to you often, but as this Order
grows, I may not be able to pay attention even to your coming
and going in the future. Check your mind often, and retain your
faith of today forever."
14.
The Great Master chastised Kim Jung-Kak, who was dozing in the
front row while the Great Master preached.
"She looks as ugly as a hippopotamus, dozing in the front
row"
Kim, with a modest smile on her face, immediately rose and bowed
four times to the Great Master.
Then the Great Master said, "I often say unkind words to Jung-Kak,
but her faithfulness never seems to change. I believe she will
follow me in life and in death." And he went on to say, "Between
a true teacher and a follower there is nothing to be hidden
or left unsaid."
15.
The Great Master said,
"As I sat in my room today for a period of time, the face
of Noh Tuk-Song-Ok appeared vividly before me. Because her faith
is so strong, her spirit reached me from beyond the mountains
and rivers."
16.
Chung Suk-Hyun said to the Great Master,
"Although I suffer from many hardships in my surroundings,
I find pleasure in life only through prayer to the Buddha Dharma."
The Great Master said in reply,
"Whether or not Suk-Hyun has discovered the merits and
greatness of Buddha, her praying is one way of finding happiness
in spite of any suffering. If one lives in this way, it is not
impossible to be blessed in difficult circumstances. When I
was on Mt. Bongnae, the people following me listened to my preaching,
and in spite of the hardships of poor housing, poor food and
heavy labor, they enjoyed a happy life just being with me and
hearing my preaching. Likewise, in Yungkwang, the first nine
disciples reclaiming the land from the sea never complained
of the difficult task, but took pleasure from the hard work
to initiate this religious Order. It might have seemed to others
that they were experiencing hardships and suffering, but in
truth they were spiritually filled with happiness, and enjoyed
heavenly happiness on earth. Therefore, if you are already devoted
to the study and work of this religion, you should always endeavor,
with far-sighted faith and hope, to turn hardship into happiness
and live a pleasant life forever."
17.
There was a man who chopped off his hand in token of his dedicated
faith, but the Great Master scolded him severely and said,
"Your body is a necessary asset for carrying out your study
and work. How useless it is to harm that asset to show your
faith. Besides, true faith dwells in the spirit, and not in
the body. Hereafter, no one should ever commit such a stupid
act." And he continued, saying, "No matter how outstanding one's
knowledge and writings may be, or how much one is revered for
something extraordinary that one has done, that alone is not
enough to further the supreme line of our Order. One must dedicate
oneself wholeheartedly to this study and work with unswerving
faith."
18.
The Great Master continued, saying,
One day Moon Jung-Kyu asked the Great Master,
"Of the three young men, Song Kyu, Song Toh-Sung, and Suh
Dae-Won, which one has the most promise for the future?"
The Great Master kept silent and Moon asked again, explaining,
"It is difficult for me to judge because their assets are all
different."
The Great Master said in reply, "Song Kyu should not be judged
by your wisdom. Ever since I met the Song brothers, I have never
had to worry about them. They have faithfully carried out every
order I gave them, without my having to repeat myself. Therefore,
my mind and theirs have become one."
19.
The Great Master said,
"Since sages, the masters of the world, are born with the
great blessedness of Heaven and Earth, if mankind is dedicated
to the sages and their Orders, and they wish for good, their
wish will come true quickly. If, on the other hand, they disrespect
the sages or hinder their work, severe punishment may come their
way. This kind of power is given not only to the sages alone,
but also to those whose minds are perfectly integrated with
those of the sages."
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