We
should not think that we meditate only when we close our eyes and sit there
vexed and with our brows knit. No, no! That's just a kind of practice. We
sit quietly to express our sincerity. Although we can't sit peacefully
sometimes, we continue. We wait for God in our meditation. Sometimes we have
experiences when we are sincere, but sometimes we cannot concentrate and say
to ourselves: "Well, whether I am sincere or not, that's all I can do
for now. Please help me, God."
Therefore, we
should meditate every day and consider it a duty, just like how we eat when
we don't want to. We should make it a habit to think of God as soon as we
wake up in the morning, and think of God again after we get off work and return
home in the evening. Because we are too busy every day, we cannot think of
God sincerely; therefore, we should do it early in the morning after we get
up, and again in the evening after we return home. But this doesn't mean that
we can think of God completely; we just do our best. We do it when we are
working as well.
So it is our greatest
blessing and merit to listen to a lecture by an Enlightened Master. Because
we can see the Master continuously for two or three hours, we can be elevated
by His/Her vibration, or our bad karma can be cleansed to some degree by His/Her
Light, and then we will have inner experiences. Like when you come, you cannot
see me continuously for two or three hours, so you don't get as much blessing
as you would at a lecture. It is such a great blessing to be able to see an
Enlightened Master for two or three hours at a stretch! Not everyone has this
chance. One glance in eons is good enough, not to mention two to three hours!
Beings on some other planets have never seen or heard an Enlightened Master
before. They have had no contact with a Master. Therefore, you should seize
the opportunity to see a real Master for a couple of hours. Many people, initiates
or non-initiates, have experienced enlightenment during my lectures.
So meditation
doesn't mean only sitting. It is meditation when we wholeheartedly concentrate.
That's why you have experiences when you are working. Sometimes we have no
experience in meditation and we feel frustrated, because we meditate with
our ego. That's not the natural way to meditate. But it's okay. You still
get merit. Just meditate sincerely. The result does not matter.
Let me tell you
why you don't have inner experiences when you meditate. It is because you
are not completely free of attachment at that time, and you are not really
concentrating. We think we are, and we frown and wonder, "Why hasn't
the manifestation of Master come?" Sincerity and longing are different
from attachment. However, it is difficult for beginners to distinguish between
them. It does not matter. Just do your best. It counts as long as you intentionally
meditate and think of the Master, no matter whether you meditate well or not,
or are distracted or not. Your efforts will be recorded and you will be elevated
on any excuse. (Audience applauds.)
For example, you
work for someone who sells clothes. Sometimes there are no customers, and
you sit there and fall asleep. But the boss will still pay you for the time
you stay. At other times you are busy the whole day long, and the boss pays
you the same. As long as you come to the store, you get your monthly salary.
It is the same with meditation. You should meditate, regardless of the experience.
Your efforts will be recorded and I will "pay" you someday, so that
you can pay for your "fare" to Heaven. (Audience applauds.)
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