Lưu Nguyễn, "If you believe in me but do not understand me, you are slandering me."

The above quote came from the Grand Master DASIRA NARADA. All UHBE disciples have heard/learned this philosophy/lesson before. However, the understanding of each disciple is not uniform; even though, the UHBE dharma has been thoroughly and scientifically explained by our masters.

T he flashy modern physical science is like a terrifying tornado. Many have self-declared to be a dedicated UHBE disciple thinking they can casually stroll along the spiritual journey and not realizing they are caught in a horrific tornado; spinning and getting lost in the labyrinth maze of life full of sorrows. Some would awake and realize the sorrow they are caught in and slowly seek an escape.

Many have felt like they have suddenly awakened. They seem enthusiastic in studying UHBE Dharma. They think becoming a Bodhisattva is within reach. On a quick glance, we see that they have studied the dharma just like us, have contributed in support of the meditation center, and have helped in expanding/developing the dharma. However, looking deeper, we see them get caught in the self-serving and power-grabbing quest that would only destroy the very Bodhisattva seed within them. The crazy and unreasonable greedy thoughts have turned them into an obstructive force hindering those who have just started the cultivation journey.

As a true UHBE disciple, we must have a solid belief in the dharma. Only such a belief would give us the required strength to overcome all obstacles on the road to return to our spiritual home; which means we must place in our faith in Masters Nguyễn Đức Thuận and Nguyễn Ngọc Hải. We cannot conclude issues based on just one perspective or superficial hearsay. We cannot acquiesce or go along just to get along. Our faith is established from our own experience and thorough rationalized insights. Most of us understand the idiom “Everything has a price to pay”. And as a disciple on this dharma road, we must understand: “faith/dharma and life are not always complimentary (or “following dharma could mean going against life/society and vice versa”). To determine if the path we are on is right or wrong, we need to calmly scrutinize it. From the day we started following our Masters in practicing the UHBE dharma, what have we lost and gained? What we have lost are things that made us sick, emotionally unrest, andour life at home stressful. Instead, we have gained a healthy body, calm/peaceful mind, clear thoughts, and gradual subsiding of strife at home; which give ways to a warm and happier family. If this is the cost that each disciple must pay (e.g., exchanging a sorrow life for a bright future), then why the hesitation!

During the return journey, undoubtedly there will be difficult challenges/obstacles along the way. So, how would we know if we have followed the UHBE dharma or cultivated correctly? Each time when adversity comes to us, we need a certain amount of time to turn inward to reflect on it. We handle adversities differently. On one hand, if all aspects of life were advancing perfectly, our relationships with surrounding people tend to get stronger/closer. Our body and mind tend to be more at ease and serene; thus, we know that we're living right! We understand and accept that adversity is just a new lesson, a test, a challenge to help us develop the mind. Such an understanding enhances our spiritual development ina new dimension. We simply let it unfold within the basic framework of the spiritual evolution. On the other hand, if circumstances of our lives increasingly wereworsening and everyone around us were shunning from us; then, our spirit/mind is getting deteriorated and worrisome. We should recognize that the existing way of living is wrong and we have not correctly cultivated ourselves. In such a situation, we should not get mad at other people and blaming everybody. We should critically conduct a self-assessment to achieve a desired result on this long cultivation road. All dharma practitioners in such circumstances must return to the starting point.

The gossips (good or bad) often stir up our internal faith and affect our own conviction to the core. The praises are often given as compliments, encouragement, or just to be polite. We sometimes felt underserving of such praises. On the other end of scale, criticism has a different outcome. Rightly or wrongly, such criticism reveals one’s true feelings through direct verbal expression; it is an opportunity for us to conduct a critical self-assessment. If one would calmly accept such criticism as constructive comment to better oneself, surely the recipient of such comment will succeed in overcoming/correcting such criticism or short-comings. Even if the criticism is wrong, it still has value in that it gives a chance to consider the source; it is like taking a vaccine shot. In short, every criticism is an opportunity that helps us grow and become more polished.

“People could splash water and wet our face but don’t let it wet our soul”. This quote comes from Cô Ngọc Hải in her lectures. Whoever applies it daily would experience internal peace and tranquility in their lives.

The Grand Master Dasira Narada’s road of Parallel Cultivation has helped many escape the societal sorrows. There is countless number of people who have rid themselves of critical sicknesses where Western medicine has failed (or given up). After practicing the Grand Master’s dharma for a while, my body has gone from a sick body to a healthy one; from one dispirited mind into an effervescent soul; from an egocentric into a selfless individual. In human history to date, there has not been any other dharma that could help a person change both physically and spiritually in such a short time. To date, the Grand Master’s dharma remains supreme. Both Masters have guided UHBE disciples based on their own experiences. Their guidance has created a new life force for humanity; consistent with the dharma: “Helping humanity escape the endless loop of sorrows to arrive at the true permanent life; to return humanity to one corner away from the mirage”.

There are many examples where folks have learned many moral virtues but only to follow the immorality. This tendency gives rise to the idiom “Cultivating correctly will lead to Buddha/Saint hood and incorrect cultivation will lead to evil”. As such, there are various types of monks (e.g., from ordinary to extraordinary; from Buddha to evil). A dedicated disciple on the cultivation road can easily get off track even with the guidance of a capable master if he/she lacks the ability to differentiate rights from wrongs. To succeed on this long cultivation road and to preserve the Grand Master’s dharma, each disciple must have a strong desire to get ahead using rational intelligence, selfless spiritual determination, and extraordinary courage. Solemnly apply lessons from the Masters and Grand Master’s intention into our daily livelihood; one would not have to worry about the formation of spiritual fruit as a result.

Lưu Nguyễn