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 We
are beautiful anyhow. If we have self-confidence, we are beautiful. When I was young, I never thought that I was pretty. I still do not feel that I am pretty. Sometimes when I look into the mirror, I feel that my eyes are too small, (laughter) and my nose is too short. Observing others, I think: "Well! How wonderful if I could have her nose, her skin or her eyes!" I compare myself to others everyday; consequently, I feel that I am not pretty. In fact, we don't have to care about these things, we are all right.
There was a man who had no money to buy shoes, and so was very frustrated. One day, when he was out, he saw a very happy man chatting delightfully with people; he even danced and sang. When he looked carefully, he found that this man had no feet! His two feet were missing, so he didn't have to buy any shoes! (Master laughs.) Perhaps that was why he was so happy. Since that day, he no longer felt frustrated by having no money to buy shoes.
In fact, it is not necessary for everyone to be the same. Roses are beautiful, but if the whole world grew only roses, what do you think? Wouldn't it be very boring? (Answer: Yes) Therefore, some people do not like roses. You are all fond of roses, and say that roses are the best, but I do not like them! I like roses just as much as I like chrysanthemums. Sometimes, I also like the tiny flowers called "impatience," because they don't need much care. (Master and everyone laugh.) They are open everyday, even on rainy days. In cold of winter, or when a cold front prevails, they still stay open, and also in summer and autumn. You simply give them some water while singing, then they will grow. Even if you do not give it any water, it will still grow with a little rain. I only wish we could be like the "impatience" flowers! We don't have to be roses; they are very troublesome and delicate. They bloom only once or twice a year, and are full of thorns. Strange! (Master and everyone laugh.) Just because they are somewhat pretty, they becomes so arrogant; you will bleed if you touch them. Why should it be like this? Not everyone likes roses; they might be beautiful, but people may not like them.
I love the lotus flower; it grows in a dismal and dirty place, but it is very fragrant and clean. When it blooms, the nectar in the blossom is clean like a mirror -- very pure, transparent and beautiful. No bees will come to prick it, no flies will come near; it is very clean. I heard that the lotus flower came from a very superior level long ago. Someone stole it from above and planted it here. That is why it has become so ugly now. (Master and everyone laugh.)
The lotus flowers above are even more beautiful. Some are big and some are small; they look like transparent jade, very beautiful. It will start to fly when you step on it! Wherever you want to go, just think and it will take you there. You don't have to instruct it: "Hey! Driver...." (Master and everyone laugh.) You don't have to tell it, "I want to go to Taipei." Just step on it, and it knows whether you want to visit Amitabha Buddha or the Quan Yin Bodhisattva. It takes you to wherever you wish to go. In the superior worlds, the clouds function in the same way too. As soon as you get on one, it will take you away! When you want to stop, just think, or even before you think, it knows and will stop immediately. There is no troublesome traffic jams like with our taxis here! In the higher level worlds, nothing happens even when one cloud collides into another. There is no need for any traffic regulations. The clouds and the lotus flowers just fly around freely, very comfortable!
Practice more then you can ride on the lotus flowers and clouds. You will fall down if your karma is too heavy -- this I must warn you! (Master and everyone laugh.) It knows who is karmically too heavy; it knows where you want to go and when to stop; it also knows who is not entitled to the ride. These clouds and lotus flowers are not material things, so if we still have any material aspects inside, we cannot match their properties, and would fall down if we try to ride on them. (Applause and laughter.)
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