appearedinherhands.

    Angelicasatfagtheeast.Beforeherwasserydepigspring.Theclearsurfaceofthekeshoneandshimmered,reflegthesurroundingmountains.Thebeautifulpoetesswasgreatlyinspiredandvisionaryandingeniouswordscamefshingintohermind.Sheslowlyrecitedhertestcreation:

    13

    “Proudmountainsfightvaliantlyagainsttheerosionoftime,

    Butcouldnotwithstandthecaressofthespringbreeze.

    Iamlikethelonelyweepingwillowbythewater.

    HowIresistyourtendereyes,softlyrog?”

    Lotuswalkedtowardsthewindow.Shetookherhandkerchiefandthrewitintotheair,whereitbecameawhitecloud,floatinghigherandhigherinthesky.Lotus’heartwasfilledwithhappiness.Ihecloudwasalivinganiswasenergyproducedbymovementsoftheheartandmind.Thebeautiesalctedupondesiresclosetotheirhearts.However,nonewishedforriches,jewelryorpreciousgemsforinthisfabulouslyrigdomofDreamstheywereeverywhereandtherebysideredonandcheapastherodtiledebristhatlitteredthegroundinthemundaneworld,andtherebynotsideredrareorunique.

    NaughtygirlDornajureduparabbit,whichshechasedalroundthehall,ughingmerrily.Amalia,whostillretaiheéofyouthinhersedchildhood,joinedherinrunningaftertherabbit.SheiandYokowereafraidshewouldfalndetoharm,sotheyranafterAmaliaandheldherbythearms.Bythen,AmaliahadpletelyfottenaboutaskingDornatogivebackherflyingbroodusawatchedthenorth-westernskiesandsawonlyaneretchofcloudlessblue.Everythingappearednormal,butMedusaseemedrestless,filledwithasenseoffearanduneasiness.

    KingDimitrisaashappeninginthegreathall.Itseemedtofirmwhathewasthinkingaboutinhisreverie.Heraisedhiscrystalgoblettohislipstotakeanothersip,butfouy.Hehelditoutsaying,

    “Fillitupagainforme,please!”Theinvisiblehandpouredhimanss.ThebeautiesstoppedwhattheyweredoiheysawKingDimitriwasawakeagainandfocusedtheirattentiononhim.KingDimitritookasipofhiswineandsaid,

    “Ladies,yourattentionplease.AndIbegyoutotakemywordstoheart.Theywillbeofgreatbeoyouinyourfuturelives.WhatIwanttosayisthis,“Thoughitisogetheexternalworldoutsideofyou,yourinternalstateofmindbeged.Youmustuandhowtooperatea.Onceyourinternalstateofmindisged,itisequivalenttogiernalworld.”Thesewordsmayseemhardtouand,buttheywillbeverifiedteroninyourlife.”Everyoakenabackbyhiswords.OnlyQueenAishasmiledinacquiesce.

    WhileKingDimitriwaslostinreveriejustnow,hismihroughawindingandtortuousjourney.Hethought,

    13

    “Iennilesshomelessvagabond.Thenbyatwistoffortune,Ibecameblind,avictimoffate.LuckilyIfouer,apcetoliveandshouldbesatisfied,butmytwoloyandhardwservants,imaginationaivity,thoughtotherwise.TheydidnotthinkthatthepcewasgoodenoughandsoworkedhardtocreateaKingdomofDreams–asafe,trustworthyhavenwhereIalwaysretreattoanytimeIwantandbefreeofthechaotidfuriouslypetitivemundaneworld.ButactuallytheKingdomofDreamsishersafenordependable.Thereispressurefromtheskiesaboveandalroundtherearehostile,barbariantribeseyeingtheKingdomfiercelyandcovetously,lookingforwaystoaastheirown.Perhapsiexpaheuniverse,therereallyisisabsolutelysafeanddependable.Ifthatisso,whydon’tImovethisKingdomofDreamsbaundane

appearedinherhands.

    Angelicasatfagtheeast.Beforeherwasserydepigspring.Theclearsurfaceofthekeshoneandshimmered,reflegthesurroundingmountains.Thebeautifulpoetesswasgreatlyinspiredandvisionaryandingeniouswordscamefshingintohermind.Sheslowlyrecitedhertestcreation:

    13

    “Proudmountainsfightvaliantlyagainsttheerosionoftime,

    Butcouldnotwithstandthecaressofthespringbreeze.

    Iamlikethelonelyweepingwillowbythewater.

    HowIresistyourtendereyes,softlyrog?”

    Lotuswalkedtowardsthewindow.Shetookherhandkerchiefandthrewitintotheair,whereitbecameawhitecloud,floatinghigherandhigherinthesky.Lotus’heartwasfilledwithhappiness.Ihecloudwasalivinganiswasenergyproducedbymovementsoftheheartandmind.Thebeautiesalctedupondesiresclosetotheirhearts.However,nonewishedforriches,jewelryorpreciousgemsforinthisfabulouslyrigdomofDreamstheywereeverywhereandtherebysideredonandcheapastherodtiledebristhatlitteredthegroundinthemundaneworld,andtherebynotsideredrareorunique.

    NaughtygirlDornajureduparabbit,whichshechasedalroundthehall,ughingmerrily.Amalia,whostillretaiheéofyouthinhersedchildhood,joinedherinrunningaftertherabbit.SheiandYokowereafraidshewouldfalndetoharm,sotheyranafterAmaliaandheldherbythearms.Bythen,AmaliahadpletelyfottenaboutaskingDornatogivebackherflyingbroodusawatchedthenorth-westernskiesandsawonlyaneretchofcloudlessblue.Everythingappearednormal,butMedusaseemedrestless,filledwithasenseoffearanduneasiness.

    KingDimitrisaashappeninginthegreathall.Itseemedtofirmwhathewasthinkingaboutinhisreverie.Heraisedhiscrystalgoblettohislipstotakeanothersip,butfouy.Hehelditoutsaying,

    “Fillitupagainforme,please!”Theinvisiblehandpouredhimanss.ThebeautiesstoppedwhattheyweredoiheysawKingDimitriwasawakeagainandfocusedtheirattentiononhim.KingDimitritookasipofhiswineandsaid,

    “Ladies,yourattentionplease.AndIbegyoutotakemywordstoheart.Theywillbeofgreatbeoyouinyourfuturelives.WhatIwanttosayisthis,“Thoughitisogetheexternalworldoutsideofyou,yourinternalstateofmindbeged.Youmustuandhowtooperatea.Onceyourinternalstateofmindisged,itisequivalenttogiernalworld.”Thesewordsmayseemhardtouand,buttheywillbeverifiedteroninyourlife.”Everyoakenabackbyhiswords.OnlyQueenAishasmiledinacquiesce.

    WhileKingDimitriwaslostinreveriejustnow,hismihroughawindingandtortuousjourney.Hethought,

    13

    “Iennilesshomelessvagabond.Thenbyatwistoffortune,Ibecameblind,avictimoffate.LuckilyIfouer,apcetoliveandshouldbesatisfied,butmytwoloyandhardwservants,imaginationaivity,thoughtotherwise.TheydidnotthinkthatthepcewasgoodenoughandsoworkedhardtocreateaKingdomofDreams–asafe,trustworthyhavenwhereIalwaysretreattoanytimeIwantandbefreeofthechaotidfuriouslypetitivemundaneworld.ButactuallytheKingdomofDreamsishersafenordependable.Thereispressurefromtheskiesaboveandalroundtherearehostile,barbariantribeseyeingtheKingdomfiercelyandcovetously,lookingforwaystoaastheirown.Perhapsiexpaheuniverse,therereallyisisabsolutelysafeanddependable.Ifthatisso,whydon’tImovethisKingdomofDreamsbaundane