''What to Do About Unfaithful Disciples ''
from Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu Book 256 Paying a Visit to an Eminent Master

An acharya came to ask how Master Lu handles unfaithful disciples. What options are available?
Q: ''There are unfaithful disciples who do not honor the guru, treasure the dharma, and practice diligently, but are fond of fame, lust, personal gain, and telling lies?Master, how should one react to these disciples?''
A: ''Pretend to be deaf and dumb.''
Q: ''If they are given an inch won't they then take all?''
A: ''Give them the entire earth. Just don't think they are capable of taking it.''
Q: ''And when they criticize their guru?''
A: ''Pretend to be deaf!''
Q: ''If they hit their guru?''
A: ''Pretend to be dumb!''
Q: ''Why not show them the ''Fifty Stanzas of Guru Devotion'' and the ''Fourteen Vajrayana Root Precepts?''
A: ''During a long drought, pleasant rain is lacking. The ears of rice in the fields are all dried up. When rain isn't falling, none of the stanzas and precepts are useful.''
Q: ''Do you know when they are unfaithful?''
A: ''I am as aware as a dumb person who eats glutinous rice balls.''
Q: ''Do you take them to court?''
A: ''I have never sued anyone.''
Q: ''Do you have senior disciples decide their punishment?''
A: ''No. It is none of my business.''
Q: ''Does Master get upset or anxious about this behavior?''
A: ''One is only responsible for one's own karma.''
Q: ''What happens if they repent?''
A: ''Then the heavens display a rainbow, and earth embraces auspiciousness.
Drizzling rain washes the cold sky. A faint light covers over the wild scene.''
Q: ''And what if they don't repent?''
A: ''I will just sleep deeply.'' (I can take you to see birds, but sadly there is not even one bird.)
Q: ''What if they say that they are directed by buddhas and bodhisattvas?''
A: ''I don't take heed of their boasting.''
Q: ''But Master! Don't you think they have supernatural powers?''
A: ''Never ever would buddhas and bodhisattvas neither deceive the guru nor terminate ancestors.''
Q: ''So their supernatural powers are fake?''
A: ''Ghosts have supernatural powers too.'' (Many animals, such as dogs, also have supernatural powers.)

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【TBSN Mantra Chanting Event】 Mahabala, the great lineage dharma protector of True Buddha School, protects True Buddha! Massive worldwide mantra chanting energy collection event has been kicked off! All temples, chapters, cultivation venues, and all TBS disciples are cordially invited to cultivate Mahabala Ghost Prohibiting Practice.

Mantra: ''Om, ma-ha-ba-la-ye, hum-hum-pei.''

Pray to Mahabala to guard Root Guru Living Buddha Lian-sheng so he may have ''health, longevity, and stay long in the world.'' Pray to Mahabala to protect cultivation venues and individuals for ''forming and purifying protective boundaries and for accomplishing cultivation.''

【Event Details】
Starting immediately, participants may record their mantra recitation count with the name of participants or participating cultivation venues at this website: http://tbsn.org/chinese3/prayform.php?cid=7. Participants may also email the mantra count, including name and a note indicating ''for Mahabala mantra chanting event,'' to webmaster@tbsn.org. Please choose only one of the above two options to avoid duplication of the mantra count. Thank you for your cooperation.

【Important Notes】
1. Those who attended the Mahabala Ceremony presided over by Living Buddha Lian-sheng in Seattle on Aug. 27, 2016 and received the Mahabala empowerment are not required to request another empowerment for the Mahabala Ghost Prohibiting Practice. The Mahabala empowerment given during the ceremony already includes empowerment to perform this practice.
2. Vajrayana associations, temples, chapters, and cultivation venues are welcome to request empowerment for Mahabala mantra chanting on behalf of their group by mailing a letter requesting this empowerment to the True Buddha Foundation. The empowerment for Mahabala mantra chanting includes empowerment for the Mahabala Ghost Prohibiting Practice. Remote empowerment cannot be bestowed for the Mahabala Uncommon Practice as empowerment for this practice must be personally bestowed by the Root Guru.
3. TBF address and contact info:
True Buddha Foundation
17110 NE 40th CT.
Redmond, WA 98052-5479
U.S.A.
Tel: (425) 885-7573
Fax: (425) 883-2173