To Be a Saint, Be the Qualities that Are Saintly

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
European Retreat in Hungary,
February 24, 2005 (Originally in English)

Perhaps you're all kind because you learn with me. You think, “I can’t kill anyone,” or, “I'm not eating meat so I'm good.” But you learned that. Otherwise, you might not have been that good. You're trying hard to be good, which is good! But to be good is not enough; to be saintly is not enough. You must be more than that. You have to be more compassionate, considerate, intelligent, helpful, willing, kind and at all times have unconditional love. Especially unselfish love: You have to always think of how to serve humanity at large and how to help the less fortunate. That's really saintly.

Think of how you can do better for others. This is also a kind of meditation. Even at this stage of my life, after the daytime when I’m busy with fixing whatever I see, I think at night of the birds outside and whether they’re too cold because of the cold night. And I think of the foxes and the dogs or the sheep or the goats on the mountain. Wherever I am, I think of the beings and whether they’re warm enough and fine enough. It's just automatic.

So, being kind is not enough. You have to be the kindness. You have to be the compassion; you have to be the love. And then it becomes you so that you cannot be anything else but love. Then, you’re a real Saint. Otherwise, you’re just living a borrowed sainthood, or a granted sainthood. For example, some people study very hard for many years in order to become a doctor, while others just get an honorary doctorate. Maybe you’re like that. It’s fine if you get an honorary, fake or paid doctor degree. But then, be one! Since you have the title, why not be one? Become a real one.

Through Her loving concern and care for previously neglected dogs, Master’s natural saintly example is one we all can follow.

Some people work very hard, study well and then become a doctor. But even if you become a doctor first, then practice and become one. Become a kind doctor or a knowledgeable doctor. Study a little bit more and catch up afterward; that's also fine. You’ve already gotten honorary Sainthood. So, be one! Be one to match it, to make it real. Convince yourself by being a Saint. Walk the way of the Saint by acting like a Saint, thinking like a Saint, feeling like a Saint, helping everyone else, considering other people and giving love. Always try to go in that direction; train yourself in this environment and this saintly domain. Then you’ll become a better Saint.

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