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This is an Indian story. There was a woman who practiced very well
spiritually. Many people were jealous of her because she was liked and
respected very much. Even the king was jealous of her. Many people
heard about her practice and did not believe that a woman could
practice so well. Therefore, the king asked someone to take her to the
palace, with the intent to insult her. Under such circumstances, being
pressured and pushed too hard, she tried to escape this difficult
situation. She kept trying with her own mind, but in vain.
Occasionally, she remembered to call her master, once or a couple of
times, mostly out of habit, not very sincerely.
She was still trying to use her own power, not believing that the master would save her entirely. While asking for her master's help, she was still trying to struggle, not truly, sincerely asking for her master's help, not leaving everything for her master to take care. That's why her master didn't show up. |
Finally, there was nothing else she could do, she surrendered and relied on her master wholeheartedly. She said, No matter what happens now, Master, please take care of it. At that moment, her master came in the form of a light body and saved her immediately. Most of the time, it's more difficult if we struggle with our own strength. Who is the Master? Actually, it's also our own power, the higher-self, the perfect self-being -- who knows everything, who is omnipresent, and can handle everything. If we use our own mind, we are just relying on that low conscious self -- just ourselves, our past experiences. For example, What should I do when I encounter a certain situation? How should I react when I encounter certain types of people? I have encountered this before, how should I take care of this? This is all using the past experience stored in our mind. However, you should know that sometimes the past experience is different from this one, because the situation is different. Sometimes, just a subtle difference will make it totally different. |
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There is a story in India. It seems that we, Chinese, have a similar
story. One day, the King of Hell organized a very big party. He invited
the ghosts, gods and fairies to come to eat together. The King of Hell
was very naughty (this was his character). He purposely put large
delicacies in the middle, the chairs were very far from the table,
and put very long ladles in the dishes. All the rare delicious food
from the mountains and the sea -- heavenly peaches, grape wine and
everything you could think of -- were there. They were the most
delectable and the best, making everyone's mouth water.
However, the King of Hell had one condition: During eating, one could not bend one's forearm. Normally, one should bend one's forearm in eating. The ladle was that long, the table was so far away, the forearm could not be bent, and yet they were told that they could eat everything. Those ghosts, astral beings complained, quarreled, scolded the King of Hell and then they were all gone! Only the fairies stayed behind to think about a method. In a second, they understood! They began to spoon-feed one another. Thus, there was no violation of the rule, no need to bend the forearm, and yet they were able to eat. There was a difference between the enlightened fairies and the ghosts. |
For us, some ordinary people, if we cannot eat, then we will make destruction so that others also cannot eat. As a result, both cannot eat. This is the quality of Maya. Although we have the human body, some of us are Maya. If our actions are like Maya's, then we are Maya. Without a spirit of sacrifice, what we cannot have, others also cannot have; only destruction. Just like the ghosts, pressuring each other but not taking care of one another. When we take care of others, God will also take care of us. I can guarantee this. During practice, don't be afraid of losing business. One should learn the spirit of those fairies. The ladles were that long, and to spoon-feed each other must be very easy and lots of fun. They must have played happily. Everyone was laughing. But those ghosts went back with empty stomachs, very angry, and could not eat anything. An enlightened person lives very comfortably, because we are able to see through things and think clearly. If we are not enlightened, maintaining our mood all the time, thinking that, I am the most important person, then there will be a lot of trouble! Thinking that there is no other people in the world, only me alone, we have to bear the sufferings; and happiness can also be enjoyed by me alone. In this way, this would be a nonsense realm. |