Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Chinese,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Japanese,
Korean, Malay,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Greetings and welcome!
It is truly a blessing to
have an enlightened Master
accompany us
on our spiritual path.
But how does
an enlightened Master
train his disciples
to grow in wisdom?
During a lecture given
in Brazil in 1989,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
shared a story that
sheds light on this topic.
There is one Master.
He's very perfect,
the greatest one.
One day he told
one of his disciples
to take two potatoes
and go and eat them.
He emphasized
again and again
that the disciple
must eat two potatoes
all of it together.
So the disciple
took two potatoes from
the Master's hand and
then went to the stream,
sat down and began to eat.
So he sat there and ate,
one potato already,
and then he began
to peel the second potato.
Then came a beggar,
very hungry, nearly dying.
Says, "Please give me
that potato because
you have eaten one
and I have nothing
for many days.
I would die if you
don't give me this potato."
So, now what you do?
You surrender
to your Master
or you surrender
to compassion?
So, what happened next?
Let’s find out through
this dramatic adaptation
of the story as told by
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
“Two Potatoes”
was performed by our
Association members
and friends of
our Association,
from Formosa (Taiwan).
Grandpa,
what stories do you want
to tell us today?
Okay, let me tell you
the story, “Do not
learn from the Master
by outer appearance.”
Do not
learn from the Master
by outer appearance.
The story is like this:
Once upon a time,
there was
an enlightened Master
who trained his disciples
to be wise and
learn how to use wisdom.
One day, his disciple
asked the Master,
Master,
how shall we go about
to become a Master and
a present Buddha like you?
To become a Buddha
or a Master, some
qualities are required.
Master,
what kind of qualities?
He must have at least two
kinds of innate qualities
so as to practice
in a very fast pace.
Two kinds of qualities,
what are those?
First, a tolerance quality
with which he can tolerate
what others never can.
This sounds simple.
Second,
the observation ability to
observe all subtle details
over and over again.
Everyone can do that.
Not exactly,
not everyone can do it.
What do you think?
De Kuang?
I await Master’s more
detailed instructions
for inspiration.
De Kuang,
go to the kitchen and
fetch a bowl and fill it
with some waste matter.
Ah, waste...
Go, hurry up.
The stinkier the better.
Yes.
Master, here it is.
It stinks!
You follow what I do.
It’s so stinky.
Brother, you go first.
Brother, you go first.
Congratulations, you
have passed the first test
but not the second one.
Master, why?
You have passed
the first test
of the tolerance quality
with which you withstood
such stinky and dirty stuff.
Indeed, you have
good tolerance ability.
Ha, I said so! That is easy.
But the second
observation ability,
you did not pass,
because you lacked
the observation ability.
But we did it Master.
We did exactly
the same way as you did.
At least we’d tried
our best to swallow it.
No, no, no.
You only saw
the outer appearance
without discovering
the subtle details.
Master,
what does that mean?
I actually used this finger
to put into this bowl,
and use the other one
to put inside my mouth.
Ah, we were all tricked!
It was not a trick.
It was that
you did not observe
with subtle attention.
I thought so!
How could Master
eat such things.
Master, we admit our fault.
Just now, we thought
as long as we copied
Master’s outer appearance
by remaining calm,
it was enough.
Actually, it took
attentive observation.
No wonder you said that
only with this quality can
one progress much faster
in spiritual practice.
Every one of us
has creative inborn talent
to create things
according to their artistic
and creative abilities.
We don’t need to
copy anyone else
including Buddha, Master
or any high rank bishops.
They don’t look alike
among one another at all.
We don’t need to
copy Master.
We have to find
our own innate self
and be our own Master.
Go rinse you mouth.
Yes, Master.
You got it?
Understood a little.
A little confused.
Oh, that’s alright.
To say it simply,
just try to be yourself
and not copy from others
from outer appearance.
I got it.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
Enlightening Entertainment
as we continue
the presentation
of “Two Potatoes,”
an adaptation
of the story told by
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
will continue.
Finished your candies?
Yes, we finished.
I have tastier stuff here.
More? Wow.
Potatoes. (Potatoes?)
Come.
Take some yourselves.
You have to
eat the baked ones
with the peels.
Grandpa, can you tell us
another story?
One more story?
Okay, let me tell
the story of two potatoes.
Two potatoes, great!
Don’t overlook
such a little potato,
it’s got so much
significance inside.
Significance?
What is that, Grandpa?
Once upon a time,
there was a disciple
who respected his Master
very much
and practiced diligently.
He knew that his Master
was very perfect and great.
Any words his Master said
had special meanings.
He must follow every word
that Master says.
One day, disciples
were cleaning in the yard
and Master called him
to enter into the room…
Vanished are the birds
upon soaring high,
Save a cloud solitary,
floats freely by.
Tired not of reciprocating
one another's gaze,
Thou, and thou only,
Mount Jingting and I.
Under the pines
I asked a boy,
He told me that
the teacher had gone
to pluck the herbs.
It was amidst
the mountains and
in the unknown deep clouds
De Kuang,
Master is looking for you.
Okay, this is for you.
Master, you looked for me?
De Kuang, come over,
here are
two potatoes for you.
Potatoes?
Remember, you must
eat these two potatoes.
Yes. Thank you Master.
But, you don’t leave one
for yourself?
No, no need.
Remember,
these two potatoes
are very important.
You have to eat them all up.
Understand?
Understand, Master.
Go take them.
Remember,
eat these two up.
Yes, Master.
Strange.
Why does Master want me
to eat these two potatoes?
Actually, three or four
can all be okay. Maybe…
Oh, compassionate
little brother,
please take pity on me.
Old lady, what’s
the matter with you?
I am thirsty, very hungry.
I… I had walked a long way
and did not eat
for many days.
Please,
good-hearted person,
you are a Bodhisattva.
Please
give me something to eat.
I am starving to death…
Old lady… I… my Master…
Please, I beg you…
Please give me your food.
If not, then I… I…
Ah, so difficult!
Master wanted me to
eat up these two potatoes.
I’m hungry.
I am about to faint.
Give me the food quickly.
See how pitiful she is.
Master had taught us
to be compassionate
and always share things
with others.
Old lady,
here is one potato for you.
Ah, thank you
for your kindness.
Old lady.
Please eat slowly.
I’ll get water for you.
Old lady? Old lady?
I have to see Master.
Master! Master!
What is so urgent?
Master, I was eating
the potatoes you gave me.
But when I wanted
to eat the second one,
an old lady came
to beg food from me,
and said that she was
to faint and begged me
to give her the potato.
What did you do?
I struggled hard
in my heart because
Master had told me to
eat up the two potatoes.
But I could not stand to see
how pitiful she looked.
So…
So, what?
I gave her the potato.
And then!
And then she disappeared.
Ah, such a stupid disciple
you are.
I clearly told you to
eat up the two potatoes.
Why didn’t you listen to me?
You know how important
these two potatoes are
for you?
Master, I am sorry.
Please tell me.
Ah, De Kuang,
I love you so much and
gave you the best I could.
How could you
let me down?
Sorry Master.
Those two potatoes
are important to you.
The first has the blessing
power of worldly wealth,
success and fame.
The second one contains
the blessing power
of high enlightenment
which will lead you
to the utmost and
supreme enlightenment.
Do you realize that?
Ah, that’s what it is…
Master, then… I…
You thought
it was a simple thing, you
could manage anything
and knew everything.
You also thought
that you didn’t have ego.
But the reality
was not that simple.
We have too many
preconceived concepts,
so most people’s minds
are blurred.
We think we see, but we
don’t actually see anything.
We think we understand,
but not really.
The worldly illusions
are incredible.
Ah, Maya’s works
are tremendous.
Master, this disciple
knows the fault
he had committed.
Please forgive me.
It is destiny.
Maybe it is your destiny
that you cannot get it.
De Kuang,
I feel pity for you…
Master, what shall I do?
What shall I do…?
Master…
It’s really pitiful!
What happen later?
After that, De Kuang
resumed a secular life
and obtained
the first grade in the
imperial examination.
And he returned to
his hometown gloriously
and enjoyed high fame
and noble wealth.
He had a lot of servants
to wait on him.
But, he was not happy
the whole time.
Why?
Because he still had some
worries inside his heart…
Respected master.
Please have a taste of this,
if you please?
Maybe a little bit fruit?
Why is our respected
master not happy?
My heart is
as dark and suffocating
as the raining sky.
Why was he unhappy
with so many servants and
maids waiting on him?
Was it because he did not
eat the second potato
and could not
become a Master?
Then we’d better
eat quickly.
Maybe we can
get the highest wisdom.
That’s right,
quickly, quickly.
Don’t rush, don’t rush!
Slow down.
Actually, deep inside
De Kuang’s heart, the
most important concern
was spiritual practice.
He did not really care
about the worldly fame
and wealth.
So, eventually, one day,
he decisively gave up
all these worldly glories,
position and wealth, and
went back to the mountains
looking for his Master
in pursuit
of spiritual practice.
Wow! That’s so touching.
Vanished are the birds
upon soaring high,
Save a cloud solitary,
floats freely by.
Tired not of reciprocating
one another's gaze,
Thou, and thou only,
Mount Jingting and I.
Clean up quickly, quickly.
Fortunately,
De Kuang did not
disappoint his Master,
and went back
to spiritual practice.
But what would happen
to the old lady?
She was pitiful.
Actually, the disciple could
tell her that this potato
could not be given to you
because of
Master’s command.
Please wait for a while.
I will bring a bowl of rice
porridge for you.
Wouldn’t it be better?
Oh, yes.
Why didn’t I think of this?
We should all go home.
It’s time to go home.
During a 1989 lecture
in Brazil,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
explained the spiritual
lesson of this story
of the two potatoes.
We think it's also very easy
to follow a Master.
No, it isn't easy.
Even to eat two potatoes
you have problem.
So, it's hard
to dream of doing
any other difficult task.
Yes, because we have so
many preconceived ideas.
We have so many prejudice.
They obstruct our way.
Because we think,
"No, no. I know it.
My mother told me so,
my teacher in the school
told me so,
my priest in the church
has told me that.
So we did exactly the
opposite what the Master
desired us to do.
It is truly great,
the illusion of this world.
It cheats us
into believing in anything
that we should not believe.
And we follow
very faithfully,
very nicely and obediently
until there is someone
who is awakened,
enlightened came along
and shake us
out of this illusion.
Thank you
for watching today’s
Enlightening Entertainment.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television
for Words of Wisdom,
coming up next
after Noteworthy News.
May Heaven’s blessings
be with you
on your spiritual journey.
Greetings and welcome! It is truly a blessing to have an enlightened
Master accompany us on our spiritual path. But how does an enlightened
Master train his disciples to grow in wisdom? During a lecture given in
Brazil in 1989, Supreme Master Ching Hai shared a story that sheds light
on this topic.
Supreme Master
Ching Hai: There is one Master. He's very perfect, the greatest
one. One day he told one of his disciples to take two potatoes and go
and eat them.
He emphasized again and again that the disciple must
eat two potatoes all of it together.
So the disciple took two
potatoes from the Master's hand and then went to the stream, sat down
and began to eat. So he sat there and ate, one potato already, and then
he began to peel the second potato.
Then came a beggar, very
hungry, nearly dying. Says, "Please give me that potato because you have
eaten one and I have nothing for many days. I would die if you don't
give me this potato."
So, now what you do? You surrender to your
Master or you surrender to compassion?
HOST: So, what happened
next? Let’s find out through this dramatic adaptation of the story as
told by Supreme Master Ching Hai. “Two Potatoes” was performed by our
Association members and friends of our Association, from Formosa
(Taiwan).