Do you know why I tell you not to use magical power? Even if you have magical power, you must not use it. Why? (Someone answers: It interferes with the cycle of cause and retribution.) That’s not cause for much concern. What else? (Someone answers: The ego.) Correct! This is very important! Spiritual practitioners can’t afford to have this kind of ego, which prevents liberation from the three realms of suffering because the “individual” still exists and is separated from the universe. It’s because we have this “individualistic” concept that we transmigrate between birth and death. We have “individual” bodies, which is why we have “individual” problems, “individual” karma and “individual” retribution.

If we don’t have this concept of separation, then we are one with the universe, one with all of Creation. This is the highest level. Perhaps you still don’t understand this level so let me explain it to you briefly. A spiritual practitioner of the highest level doesn’t care about any situation; he’s not attached to any situation. When he falls ill, he’s ill; when he’s soaked in the rain, he’s soaked; when the wind blows at him, he’s blown at. He’s not afraid when there’s a gale; he doesn’t mind when it rains; because all these are merely natural phenomena.

For example, we might not enjoy a gale, but there are places that need wind; we might not be happy when it rains, but farmers need rain for cultivation. Suppose we pray for rain to stay away because it’s better for us, but if rain is precisely what the farmers need at some particular place and in certain seasons, then what should happen? Therefore, God can’t fulfill all our prayers at the same time; some people pray for rain; some pray for sunshine; some prefer strong wind and some love snow. Some people think that it’s beautiful when it snows, though there are people who hate it because it’s very cold. They can’t grow vegetables, they can’t earn a living, or it may be bad for their health. If even God cannot fulfill the wishes of every sentient being, why then should we care too much about it?

There was a king in ancient China. One day, warmly clad in a beautiful, thick fur coat, he sat in his palace looking out from the balcony, and exclaimed, “Wow! It’s so beautiful and enchanting when it snows!” He loved it so he kept praying to God to send more snow, while he sat there enjoying the sight. Later, his officials reported to him that many of his subjects had died of cold and hunger, but the king could not understand. He lived in a palace and thought that snow was absolutely beautiful! Most probably, there were heating facilities in the palace, and he was wearing a splendid, heavy fur coat. Of course, he wouldn’t understand!

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