Source: The Internet
Once, a lady professor taught us that the better the academic results a female achieved the less likely chance she had of getting married. She particularly picked me as an example. She said that a female student like me would definitely demand the other half, to be “taller than me”, to have “better academic achievement than me”, and to have “higher earning capacity than me”. Therefore, this meant one difficulty on top of another.
I immediately defended myself and said, “In fact, my demands are not that high, as long as we are compatible, that’s fine.”
“Compatible?” my lady professor slapped her hand on the desk and sighed, “This demand is far too high.”
I thought that this was the lowest standard, how can it be too high? From then onwards, I did not dare discuss my requirements for selecting a partner. At the same time, I tried to observe what exactly were those low standards in selecting a partner?
Recently I was a guest on television. The host, as a matter of routine, asked what we thought the requirements were for selecting a partner. What was the most interesting was listening to those young women, who talked so freely and clearly, as they broadcast their requirements for selecting a partner: ‘he must earn more than fifty thousand dollars per month, he must have a car, he must have his own house, he must have at least paid off the deposit for the house ….’ So these were the so called ‘requirements for selecting a partner’. The other male guest, who was also unmarried, clearly stated: ‘she must have long hair!’ I was totally puzzled, what was so important or special about long hair? Any woman, subject to a change of mood, could cut her long hair short, could also have long hair by putting on a wig, how could this be a necessary requirement for selecting a partner?
When the television host asked me the same question, I said with honesty, “The most important thing is to have corresponding spiritual energy.” As a result, this stirred up a huge gasp from the audience. They all started debating. Some said that my answer not only reached a record level of difficulty equivalent to the ranking of six stars; moreover, it was deep and mystical.
This is what I think: things like hair, height, income, cars and houses will all change as the external environment changes. In fact, they cannot be relied upon and therefore, are also not important. What truly stays with us in the long-term is the spirituality deep within us, and not the material things which we can physically see. Those who have spiritual energy do not lose their way when they are rich and are not pessimistic when they are poor. They know what aspirations and goals they really want to pursue, hence they are not easily distracted by temptation. Life inevitably has its ups and downs, and only those with full spiritual energy can forever maintain a steady frame of mind and attitude towards life. When partners separate or spouses break up, these are times when their emotions are all mixed and unsettled. I strongly believe that those people who can truly hold hands and walk through the pathway of life together, are those who have corresponding spiritual energy.
This small story about daily life gives us a big inspiration:
The ‘Highly Regarded’ fellow Buddhist spoke to a group of newly refuged dharma brothers, “What type of Master are you planning to look for?”
A new Buddhist disciple said, “I hope my Master has supernatural powers, especially the type with the “Sky Eye (remark: another form of third eye)”, and even better if he is combined with the ability to walk up to heaven or down to the core of the earth (hell). I have a lot of matters which require his assistance.”
A new female Buddhist disciple said, “I hope my Master is smart, handsome and good-looking. He must also have the four manly styles and dignities, but he must be young and patiently listen to my requests.”
Another fellow disciple, who had followed a few different Masters, said, “Frankly, let me tell you, if I told you the names of my previous Masters, unexpectedly nobody would recognise them. I feel sad and inferior. I don’t mind making it clear now. I have come here to look for someone famous. I hope this time I can find a Master who is very well-known, like the ‘famous brand name’, Chanel, Cartier, LV, Salvatore Ferragamo. From this, I will then be famous as well, similar to my own face being glued to gold!”
Someone who came with this fellow disciple said, “That’s right! I hope my Master is a ‘Rinpoche’. Oh! I heard that the accreditation with a ‘Rinpoche’ is a famous and proper sect. I want the one who has prestige high reputation. I don’t want an average or common ‘Rinpoche’.”
One disciple sincerely said, “I want my Master is a wealthy one so that I will still be taught the dharma without paying contributions.” Another one immediately said, “Dharma Brother, I have opposite point of view. I want my Master to be a poor one so that if I pay my contributions, he will then be willing to teach me!”
One male disciple, who was wearing a suit, said, “I have a master’s degree myself and I am now studying for a doctorate degree. My Master must have a doctorate degree, otherwise I will not be convinced. Well, or at least he must have a master’s degree.”
One disciple, who was about fifty-five years old, said, “My request is very simple. I don’t care very much about all those requests that I’ve just heard about. I just want my Master to be a genuine Buddhist cultivator and have enough evidence to prove himself, then it will be enough.”
One young female, who spoke in German, immediately said, “My request is very simple. As long as the Master understands what I mean and I understand what he says, then that’s OK.”
The ‘Highly Regarded’ fellow Buddhist said, “All your requests are not too high. Although my Master does not reach your level of expectations, please do not be discouraged. You will definitely find a superior Master elsewhere, one who will meet all your requirements.”
One female disciple, looking rather mature, suddenly emerged from behind the others and said, “I pay homage to the ‘Highly Regarded’ fellow Buddhist. My request is also not high, just to be compatible with my Master is fine. If it is convenient, please could ‘Highly Regarded’ fellow Buddhist introduce me to your Master.”
“Be Compatible?” the ‘Highly Regarded’ fellow Buddhist clapped his hands and sighed, “This request is definitely far too high!”
