(So are we ready now?) Where should I sit now? (Maybe here.) Move it to the side then. Are people going to stand here? (Yes.) OK, OK. Move it away. Wait a moment so people can concentrate. (Yes.) (Let’s give a big round of applause.) (Respected Master and dear fellow practitioners, today, we are very happy to have the opportunity to sit with Master and enjoy this short musical evening together, something like a “pocket-sized” performance. We sincerely wish Master good health and happiness, and we are very happy to be with Master tonight. Respectful greetings to Master. First of all, I would like to give the floor to […]. He will say a few words to the performance team and introduce tonight’s program. Please welcome him.)
(Dear Master, ladies and gentlemen, all fellow initiates, tonight is a very special night that Master has given us an opportunity to meet Her.) You forced me. (And I know that a lot of you have come here… I’m so nervous. They tried to push me up here, holding two microphones. And we know that many of you have come here from far away to see Master and to visit our Center. So… I haven’t talked for a long time, so… Please welcome our Master and all of the performers from the Centers tonight. Thank you very much for coming.) (To begin the program, our fellow practitioners from Âu Lạc [Việt Nam] will sing the song “Go! Go! Go!” together with Master, accompanied by […] on the guitar. Yes, let’s begin.)
(Go go go) Go go go, go to the future Go go go, go to Shangri-la (Go go go) Go to the Father Go go go, go Home together I forgot. Go go go, go to the Mother Go go go, above the stars (Go go go, go to the future Go go go, go to Shangri-la) You should remember [the lyrics] better. You listen every day. I don’t remember. I don’t listen every day. (Go go go, above the stars) I let them sing. I don’t remember the words, really. (Go go go, go to the future Go go go, go to Shangri-la Go go go,) Go to the Mother (Go go go, go to the future)
It really is a “pocket-sized” performance. I can’t hear anything. If it’s in the pocket, how can you hear anything? It’s OK. We’re all relatives, please forgive them. (Who would like to come up first?) You listen to it every day but still don’t have it memorized? You usually leave the player on and keep listening, but you still don’t memorize it? I don’t memorize it, I don’t remember. After I finish writing it, I forget. I only remember a little. And even then, I mix up the beginning and the end.
(Respected Master and dear fellow practitioners.) You keep saying “respected.” (In the past, it was very difficult for Master to look for the Buddha. After Master found the Buddha and became enlightened, Master brought us the great Quan Yin Method. So now, when we go looking for the Buddha, we don’t have to go far. Right here today, as we sit here, we are sitting beside a very great Buddha. So today we would like to present…) Don’t look like, huh? I don’t look like a Buddha, huh? (We would like to offer Master and all fellow practitioners the song titled “The GOD Seeker.” Presented by a fellow practitioner for Master and everyone.)
(Respectful greetings to Master and all fellow practitioners. Yes, Master. The song I am about to sing is a medley titled “The GOD Seeker,” composed of songs collected from the “Wu Tzu” poems.) Oh my God! You stole my work and now you’re announcing it. I thought you wrote it yourself, turns out it’s Auntie Hai. (Yes, Master. The poem is Yours, and I composed the music for it.) OK, alright. (Yes, Master. This song is a bit upbeat, in a disco or cha-cha-cha style.) Oh, yeah! We like that, we like that, for a change. Is this the musician? A wandering musician. A wandering musician. A singer? Wow! (Fellow practitioners, please enjoy yourselves with Master tonight.) Cute, huh? (Rejuvenating.) Huh? Rejuvenating.
(What is the ego, really? Scampering around in ridiculous pell-mell! The ego is bigger than thousands of people Even the vast Cosmos couldn’t contain! Notorious for passion, greed, and anger Haughty and self-aggrandizing, Competing for might and power. Then in one fleeting moment Oh where to go, hundreds of paths – all so dark! “In a pond, nothing is more beautiful than a lotus Green leaves, white petals, with yellow pistils Yellow pistils, white petals, and green leaves Grown in the mud but reek not of it.” The Bodhisattva’s life is filled with hardship Sentient beings are hard to save, their minds difficult to gauge! Incarnate into the ephemeral Earth Borrowing a temporary body to help the world. While this suffering realm still overflows with tears The Saint’s heart cannot be free and enjoy Nirvana!) Really? Cha-cha, huh? (Yes.)
(When you come home, There will be only grass and flowers Greeting your footsteps! The garden sheds her evening dews, The house bows weighed in loneliness, Murmuring farewell! Even if my heart was made of stone And my feeling of brass, They would be softened and melt Thinking of the pain I’ve left you! Why were we born in this world of woe For you to pine, for me to taste sorrow!? Since which era have we pledged our faithful vows, Thus bind ourselves in matrimony now? Please lift your heart out of the blue web So my mind will also be lightened when we are apart. Praised be the Buddha Whose Light guides my way, And protects you in your lonely days. I’ve been searching for the Buddha everywhere Casting aside riches and comfort, Leaving behind my possessions and beloved! Abandoning life like a roadside inn, Success and fame – are but a comedy show! I’ve been searching for the Buddha’s return But mountains are high and the seas vast, Where can Thou be? The world is in darkness and filled with misery Innumerable beings long for Thee. Namo Maitreya Muni Have compassion for all sentient beings in darkness: Divine halo enlightens the ignorant Descending on Earth to save those languishing!) (You guys, go get ready.) And you call that cha-cha-cha? Oh my God! Oh dear! (Thank You, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.)
Photo Caption: “All Beauties Are to Remind Us of Real-Heaven-Creation”
