So after Bodhidharma told him that he had no merit, Emperor Wu of Liang was not happy. “I have done all kinds of meritorious deeds. How can He say that I have no merit? This person must not be a Buddhist. He talks differently from the others.” It was because every time Emperor Wu made an offering to a monk, the monk would say, “Ah! How very kind; you will have boundless merit.”
Are you comfortable? (OK.) Your knees might hurt kneeling there. If your wife is to punish you at home, you won’t be able to kneel. OK. Emperor Wu of Liang was also a believer in Buddhism at that time. He believed in Buddhism, but his level was low. He asked Bodhidharma how much merit he had gained by building a lot of temples and making offerings to so many monks. Bodhidharma said, “None.” It was because he did those things out of greed. Maybe he had some merit, but only a little. How much could it be? It was the same as having nothing. If his ego came out and he thought he was the doer, then maya would take it all away. If you think you are the doer, maya will take everything away, leaving you nothing. Then maya will have the merit instead of you.
So after Bodhidharma told him that he had no merit, Emperor Wu of Liang was not happy. “I have done all kinds of meritorious deeds. How can He say that I have no merit? This person must not be a Buddhist. He talks differently from the others.” It was because every time Emperor Wu made an offering to a monk, the monk would say, “Ah! How very kind; you will have boundless merit.” Isn’t that so? (Yes.) Monks do that. But this monk from India does not understand anything. He said there was no merit. What did He mean by that? So the emperor sent Him away.
Later he realized the truth when many miracles occurred, and people said the monk was good. Only then did he realize the truth. He consulted the high master of the realm, and the high master said, “He was right. You really don’t have any merit. Because you did those things seeking blessings, you gained nothing. You didn’t give unconditionally, so you earned no merit. What He said was right.” With regret, the emperor finally realized the truth. He believed the high master, knowing that he would not dare to deceive him. Understand? Chop, right? He would be chopped. So he believed his high master, who had been with him for a long time. The emperor consulted him about everything. The master spoke the truth, knowing he was trusted by the emperor and would not be beheaded. No “chop, chop.”
The emperor was full of regret. He sent soldiers to bring Bodhidharma back, but they couldn’t get Him out of samadhi, even with ropes. He didn’t want to go, understand? So the emperor never saw Him again; it was too late. The emperor couldn’t do anything. Bodhidharma wasn’t afraid to die. When you’re not afraid of death, who can threaten you? Right? Of course, if you have children to raise or aged parents to take care of, you might be a little afraid of death. You would be afraid for their sake. Otherwise, death will come sooner or later anyway. It’s just eating a few more bowls of rice.
I already understood this when I was 17. I knew that living longer meant eating a few more bowls of rice. If you die earlier, you will eat less rice. It’s no big deal. Eating a few bowls less or more is almost the same. When I was 17 years old, I understood this clearly. (You were enlightened at 17.) The thought came naturally; no one told me. It was so clear to me – as clear as the soup I’m having. It’s delicious! So good, so good. That’s why we should do things without thinking about merit. It doesn’t matter if we receive any or not. Since we practice the Quan Yin Method, we have enough merit already. (Just do it with a joyful heart.) Just cook with a joyful heart. (We should do everything with a joyful heart.) Yes, with a joyful heart. It’s very tasty. (Thank You, Master, for trying it. Thank You, Master. Thank You.) Thank you. (Thank You, thank You.) Go back to work. (Yes. Thank You, Master.)
Today is your lucky day – no dad, mom, or girlfriend. His wife often bullies him, but he can use this to defend himself: “See, I’ve been eating with Master. Have you?” Just symbolic, OK? It means we had dinner together. Good, good. Thank you, thank you. (Thank You, Master.) No more soup. (Over here.) We can prepare more soup. Wow! So satisfying. If I knew it was so good, I would come every day. Camera. Oh! The food here is too delicious. You won’t get tired of dining here. No wonder initiates like to come here and eat. (Camera. Cameraman.) Come and eat. Alright. (OK.)
When I went for a blood test because sometimes I need a physical checkup – the doctors thought I was meditating all day. The doctors knew that I meditate. They thought I did nothing all day except meditate. So they advised me to exercise. Oh! They had no idea how much I exercise all day. In my house, I’m running around to get things and take care of different things. I run all day long without knowing how many kilometers. I also feed the dog-people, sweep the floor and clean the house because after they eat, the food scraps on the floor would attract ants and insects if they were not cleaned up. So I have enough exercise. And then I also have to write and exercise my hand a lot. I sweep the floor, write papers, and pet the dog-people. That’s a lot of exercise. And I also run around. So I’m pretty healthy! Try me! Does anyone want to be kicked by me? Who wants to sacrifice himself? I’ll show you. Better not mess with me.
I ate so much today! (So did we! We ate with joy. Yes.) Really? Was it good? (Very happy.) Eating once like this is enough for two or three days. Enough for three days. I didn’t eat anything. Whoever is the smallest one, give him. (The Cameraman) Hey! This is my place. Do I have to pay too? I don’t have any money! (No money to pay! It’s fine.) OK. Thank you very much. Sorry, you guys are working, and I’m just eating. You’re busy working, right? OK. I’ve had enough; let’s go. Not that I don’t have money. (Thank You, Master.) Since I’m the landlord here, perhaps I don’t need to pay. (Thank You, Master, thank You. Master is so beautiful. Master is getting healthier and healthier; so beautiful. I love You. Master, thank You.)
I’m so full. (Thank You.) Lucky that I wore loose clothes today. (Thank You, Master.) Thank you, everyone. (Thank You, Master.) Sorry, you’re working so hard, yet I just came to eat, and then I left. Just took a meal and then left. Where can you find such a good Master? I came and ate to make you happy. What else do you want? Thank you. (Thank You, Master. Master, bye-bye.) Can we do it again next week? (Yes!) OK, bye-bye. (Master, bye-bye.) The way I am eating, one meal per week is enough. (Master, please be healthy and happy. Bye-bye, Master.) Bye. (Bye.)
Thank you for eating with me. (Thank You, Master.) They’re still here. Come. Let them see me one more time. I will wait here. Are you reluctant to leave? What do you want? Come here! (Master!) Come here. Those who haven’t received blessing, come. (Thank You, Master.) The ones who haven’t been blessed, come. (Thank You, Master. Be healthy and happy. Take care.) No, it doesn’t matter who. Come on; anyone can come. Today it’s wholesale. (Great! Wonderful! Thank You, Master.) Come if you haven’t been blessed. (Thank You.) You have been touched? (OK! Master, please take care. Thank You, Master.) Who else hasn’t been touched? (What about the cameraman? Cameraman. Thank You.)
Waiting for the latecomers. Oh! The late ones are coming. Come. Who else? (Everyone’s been touched. Thank You, Master.) I am also happy to touch you guys. I want to touch, but there isn’t enough time, and there is so much work. Thank you for your dedication, your unconditional contributions. (Thank You, Master.) Oh! Those haven’t been touched, have they? (We have!) You just came now. Come here. After being touched, don’t come again. Come if you haven’t been touched. She didn’t touch, she said. She hasn’t been touched. It’s not that she didn’t touch. Yeah! Come. (Thank You, Master.) Long time no see. (Thank You, Master.) Come here. (Our Master is forever young!) Thank you. (So beautiful!) I could have been younger, but I’ve been working a lot and have too many children. (Thank You.) You’re welcome. Come! Who hasn’t been touched? Come here. Who wants to test my kung fu? All good? (Yes. Thank You, Master.) Bye! (Thank You, thank You.) I have work to do at home. (OK.) I have a lot of paperwork to do when I get back. (Oh! Got it.) OK, see you later. (Bye-bye. Goodbye.) I’m so full. Thank you. (Thank You, Master.) I enjoyed eating your food. If you don’t eat, you’re tired; if you do, you’re also tired. (Go slowly! Master, bye-bye! Thank You, Master! Bye-bye!)
