January ninth in the lunar calendar is the birthday of Indra Deva (Xuan-qiong Gao-shang Yu-huang Da-di Lofty Jade Emperor of the Mysterious Heaven). He is well known in the religious circle. He is regarded as the Supreme Deity who oversees the Heavenly Realms and is the master of the "Ling Xiao Treasure Palace". Regarded as the King of all Deities, he is addressed as the Jade Emperor or Indra Deva.

The Jade Emperor is highly revered in Buddhism. He is the master of the Thirty-Three Heavens, King of Deva Loka (Indra) and is also known as Sakra-devanam Indra, which is the ruler of the Kusala (mental virtue) realm.

The God whom various religious beliefs (such as Christianity, Islam, Catholicism) referred to is the Jade Emperor, the Heaven Supreme Highness.

He is the representative of the Heavens.  

On January ninth, I saw the Jade Emperor in my mediation. He was sitting on a nine-dragon throne with circle of lights radiating around Him. The lights consisted of various colors such as red, blue, white, orange and many others. They were dazzling and bright and very solemn in appearance.

Jade Emperor asked me, "Lian-sheng, why do you look so unhappy?"

I replied, "I have already left the crowd and walked into a lonely forest. I cannot see my relatives and I have nothing with me. I feel so useless."

Jade Emperor said, "You should laugh with an exuberant heart."

"Why?"

Jade Emperor replied, "It is inevitable that everyone will eventually leave the crowd. Everyone has to walk the lonely path of reincarnation. Everyone will be separated from his or her loved ones. Everyone will have nothing left. Everyone will feel useless."

He continued, "Even though you have left the crowd, but your heart and soul has already merged with the Dharma Realms (Heavenly Realms) and therefore you should not feel lonely. You have won the applause of the Heavenly Realms and your family is still around you, so you are not left with nothing. The fortunes in the Heavenly Realms belong to you. No one can compete with what you possess. You are not useless either. Your prajna (wisdom) and the supreme right views and right achievements are truly the greatest wisdom."

The Jade Emperor reminded me, "You have said so yourself that those who own the earth lose the heavens. The wealth you possess now is generosity, precepts, patience, diligence, meditation and prajna (wisdom). These are eternal wealth and therefore you will never lose them."

"That is the six paramitas."

"That is correct. These are the wealth of Heaven."

I was suddenly enlightened. And I smiled.

Looking back to the days when I was in Seattle, USA, I had 4 million disciples. The offerings they gave me included the place I lived in, the food that I ate and the clothes that I wore. They even offered me the best cars, such as Rolls Royce and Mercedes-Benz.

In reality, I led a very simple and thrifty lifestyle. I did not spend money unnecessarily. The only expense I had was for petrol, which cost approximately US$20.00.

Looking back all these years, my only expense was on petrol for the car. I had never entered a bank before, never used a credit card and never signed a check.

I did not transact any businesses.

I never bought anything for myself personally.

Would you say that Living Buddha Lian-sheng is really possessing wealth or not?

Living Buddha Lian-sheng had never spend money in this lifetime, would he still be considered as wealthy? Even his under garments were offerings from his Taiwanese disciples, who personally brought them over from Taiwan.

This type of wealth is equivalent to no wealth at all.

How many people can really understand the meaning of wealth? How much money does it take to be regarded as wealthy? Is it when one dresses well? Is it when one has loads of treasures? Is wealth measured by brand named cars and huge houses? Does wealth mean living a lifestyle in leisure?

Eyes or ears cannot perceive wealth. It often disturbs one's soul and one cannot hold onto wealth forever.

I think wealth should constitute the following:

• Health
• Time
• Morals
• Wisdom

These are regarded as real wealth!

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