12. Becoming a Disciple(2)

⑪ How did I end up going to the U.S.?

Four Korean Sunims, dressed in our sashes and robes.
With a mix of excitement and nervousness, we waited for Master.

We had made an appointment in advance to tell him that we wished to become his disciples.
Sarah, who had lived in the U.S. for many years, kindly helped as our Korean translator.

Soon, Master appeared, and we all followed him into a small room.

It was a cramped space, cluttered with all sorts of miscellaneous things.
Master sat down in full lotus on an old office chair, while we bowed three times and then took our seats.

As he busily adjusted his sash, he said,
“You have something to say to me? Go ahead. I don’t have much time.”

Back then, Master often said he had “no time.”

I think I spoke on behalf of all of us.
“We would like to become your disciples.”

He smiled gently and replied,
“Small me?”

Then he continued:

“Okay… then you must remember the following.”

---

“First, you do not worry about money. If left home people worry about money, they cannot cultivate. I will take care of the money. You just focus on your cultivation. I will handle the dirty work.”

At that moment, I felt a surge of emotion.
It was such a simple and obvious statement, yet it moved me deeply.

It wasn’t “Don’t worry about money.”
It was “You do not worry about money.”

Not just words—but a real condition where there was nothing to worry about.
In a place where the conditions are truly provided, the statement “you do not worry” becomes real.

“Second, you must learn English. You need to understand what I say. When I scold you or even curse at you, I cannot go through a translator." (laughs)

That made perfect sense.
When a teacher sees disciples make a mistake, he corrects them immediately—and they must understand.
Calling in a translator, softening the tone—it simply doesn’t work.
If Master speaks English, then of course the disciple should learn English.

“Third, you do not know how I teach you.”

At the time, I didn’t fully understand what he meant.
Only later, after listening to more of his Dharma talks, did I begin to grasp it.

A disciple’s ego, once it senses how it is about to be taught, will slip away like a loach.
A good knowing advisor strikes before the ego can recognize—and brings it to surrender.

Ah—how incredible is that? O.O

---

Master then asked Ven. XianXin, who was beside him, to prepare the visa documents so that we could come to the U.S.

And since he truly had no time, as soon as he accepted us as his disciples, he quickly left.

I kept telling myself, again and again:

'I’m so glad I became his disciple. Truly, so glad.'

And the image of Master—smiling gently and saying, “Small me?”—lingered in my mind.

January 2020 — With Master at the relic exhibition.

(To be continued)

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