Reverend Milarepa went through a lot of hardships to seek the Tao. Most people in this world praise his sincerity, but why does Supreme Master Ching Hai sympathize with his Master? An old man starting to search for a Master in his 70s, how did he become the keeper of the Master's true teachings ten years later? Why was the king not able to receive the grace from the enlightened Master when he came late at night to seek the Tao? The Supreme Master explains to us the importance of an enlightened Master through three stories about ancient spiritual practitioners searching for the Tao.

The enlightened Master knows that we are just ordinary humans, and have been bound too tightly by past influences, disturbed by our preconceived ideas too long, darkened by the influence of society, or confused by the so-called scriptures. Therefore, he takes every opportunity to help us once we show even just a little sincerity, so we shouldn't blame the Master for not using a comfortable method. We should swallow the effective medicine even if it is bitter.

Sometimes Master asks us to do certain jobs that seem illogical or not very interesting. Never mind; we should do them anyway. When this happens, we will not be attached to those habits, prejudices, broken concepts and binding actions. Without Master's guidance, we would really be doing the same actions every day, controlled by outside emotions, cheated by our brain, and bound by past impressions. Truly we are not free, so now we should stand up and make a revolution, a revolution in our ways of thinking against ourselves.

1. Why do human beings reincarnate life after life? And why does an enlightened Master sometimes ask disciples to do the kinds of work that they dislike the most?
2. Why should we not show discrimination or preferences in our daily actions? What kinds of trouble does showing discrimination and preferences bring us?
3. Why have spiritual practitioners had the tradition of going on retreats since ancient times? What is the significance of spiritual retreats?
4. Why are most of us not truly free? How do we reform our thinking so as to become free?
5. Did Milarepa seek an enlightened Master for a higher, noble purpose? Why did his Master train him by using all kinds of seemingly unreasonable methods?
6. Why did Milarepa’s Master often ask him to move to different caves to practice? Should we imitate other saintly beings’ methods of practice?
7. Sometimes we become free from social traditions or habits after practicing for a long time. But why does Master tell us to continue to cooperate with society?