Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu Center, Formosa (Originally in Chinese) March 4, 1990

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.