When we pursue spiritual practice, all of our potential will burst forth. If it can do good to sentient beings, I will use it; if not, I will dump it in the trash can. I don't need these artistic talents, but some people do. Someone came for initiation after listening to my music, because he was a musician and he liked my music. Some people, after seeing the clothes I designed turned vegetarian, began to practice the Convenient Method, and then came for initiation. He also brought many other people in his profession to receive initiation. This is because like attracts like. When he saw that I design clothes the way he does, he felt a lot of affinity and trust. After reading my poems, some people changed their minds and understood that I was really a person with ideals, that I was not the way people said I was. The criticisms and attacks softened into trust and respect. They switched to a vegetarian diet and prepared to meditate. Someone saw me dance and was delighted. He said to himself, "Well, this person doesn't look so serious. Probably She is very enlightened."

Because he saw that I "dance" worse than him, he felt good. His ego was satisfied a little, but it didn't matter, that he still had a little ego. When he came to practice, I took "good" care of him and let him see who's better. (Laughter) He loves dancing, doesn't care how I dance. He's happy even though I dance like a child, and he's even happier when I'm worse than him. It wouldn't be so wonderful if I were better than him. He would be sad. But seeing me worse than he is, he thinks, "An enlightened master is no more than that. Well, I will learn from Her so that She can never be a threat to my business. She won't attract my customers, so I'll follow Her." (Laughter)

Without any explanation, just seeing me doing the same thing as he does, he feels delighted. All of us are like this. In Bodhisattvahood, this is called "Tong Shih," meaning doing the same thing; it's a practice in Bodhisattvahood. When we deliver sentient beings, we have to do the same things and act the same way as they do. Then they will feel an affinity and will trust us. He will feel that we are like friends instead of feeling isolated, afraid or estranged. We like people we are familiar with. Who likes strangers? The friends we like, we usually find them to chat or dine with. If something happened, we'd ask for their help. (A: Yes!) We wouldn't go and find strangers. Right?

In This World, The More Similar The Better

Because we're used to our friends, we trust them and get along with them. We look like each other and our magnetic fields are compatible. If our magnetic fields differ, we clash. We are most afraid of conflicts. Once there's conflict, we usually withdraw into ourselves. Once withdrawn, we never feel like going over there again. So, in this world the more similar we are to sentient beings, the better it is. Gradually, they'll know where you're different. Just like when you have a big jewelry business, but you live with robbers and beggars or walk the same road as they do. Then you should do things their way. If you don't wear the same clothes as they do but, instead, wear beautiful clothes and a crown with a golden diamond here, shiny and sparkling, wouldn't you be asking for trouble? You wouldn't be able to get along with them, and you'd also threatened your own safety. Whatever we do it doesn't matter to us, as long as we know it very clearly in our minds. A rich businessman has jewels all over. Even his belt is lined with jewels. Doesn't he know he has many jewels? Even if he wears rags like a beggar, or wears special clothes like a robber, he will never become a robber. He only dresses like one. Will he ever forget that he's a jeweler? No way. He wears their clothes just to guard his jewels, to move about conveniently, without attracting too much attention since they walk on the same path, and to be integrated with them so that he can feel comfortable and unthreatened. He can talk with them without causing harm to himself, and he can convert them when the opportunity arises. Wouldn't it be better this way? Why would you flaunt all your jewels and let them know you're different, that you're rich? They wouldn't be able to take it.