English|Vietnamese
January 26, 1974, Saturday evening
On Being ‘Just This Way.’
Before I leave, I’m going to say some things none of you want to hear. First let me make it clear: if anyone wants to oppose his teacher, he is most welcome to do so. I do not care more for those who don’t oppose their teacher. I do not necessarily regard people who follow my instructions as being good disciples or consider anyone who doesn’t follow instructions as necessarily bad.
I’m not afraid of people opposing me. Why? It’s because I don’t have any sense of self. Whether you oppose me or follow my instructions, I’m just the same. What you do is your business, not mine. Why? It was aptly stated by Great Master Yongjia, who said:
Let others slander me;
I bear their condemnation.
Those who try to burn the sky only exhaust themselves.
When I hear it, it’s just like drinking sweet dew.
Having accepted it, suddenly one enters the inconceivable.
If you slander me, it doesn’t matter. If you criticize me, it’s okay. If you raise a torch in an attempt to burn the sky, you will only wear yourself out, since the sky is beyond your reach. When others slander or insult me, their words are like sweet dew. “Having accepted it, suddenly one enters the inconceivable.” A person who really has this kind of attitude will have tasted the true flavor.
Timely Teachings page
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