Sati by Christopher Pike Page A

olderand wiser. Does that mean you believe in reincarnation?'
    Sati pulled a flower - it was a carnation - from the vase and played with it.'One carnation should be enough,'she said.
    The audience laughed again. The gentlemanpersisted.' But do we growthroughmany lives?'
    "The past is past. If your past goes back ten years, or tent housand, what difference does it make? You are alive now. This life alone is sufficient to realise me. Don't worry aboutpast lives.Don't worry about future lives. Live now. Enjoy.'
    The originalyoung man raised his hand.'T here are a lot of books nowadays saying this isthe dawning of a new age for mankind. Is this true? Should we be optimistic about the future?'

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    'No,'Sati said.
    The young man paled.' No? Are things going to get worse? Is the world going to be destroyed?'
    'The world will not be destroyed. It has a life insurance policy. That policy is me. But why be optimistic aboutthe future? Why be pessimistic? Why not see things asthey are? What will come will come. All your anxieties reside inthe past andthe future. Your mind feels guilty about something you have done. You worry about what will happen as a result of what you have done. But in the presentthere are no worries or anxieties. The present is always filled withjoy, withlove. If you were to livefullyinthe moment for only a moment,the stress and strain of your entire life would be washed away.'
    Lori, Fred's girlfriend, raised her hand.' But when people say bad things about you, how can you not worry about it?'she asked.
    'What people say about you istheir concern,'Satisaid.' It is not your concern. Don't think too much about l ife. Live it. Don't think too much about others. If you live your life based onthe opinion of others,then you will always be weak. But if you are clear in your conscience, then you will not mind what anybody says about you. It is necessary only that you be naturally helpful to others. And you help others most by being happy. It is very simple.'
    'But when people say bad things about me I get angry,' Lorisaid.' I can't help it.'
    "Then get angry. There is nothing wrong with being angry. It is better than pretending you're not. Just don't hit anybody. But keep this thought in mind at the same time. If you accidently poke yourself in the eye, you do not get angry at your finger. You do not blame your finger. This is because your finger is a part of you. In the same way - and this is notjust some high ideal -you are a part of everybody else. Let your anger flow if you must, but understand it is all directed at yourself. Understand it is also the same with your love. All love is directed towards the self.'
    Lori smiled.'E verything you say is neat.'
    Satismiled.' You are neat.'
    Lori giggled.' You really think so?'
    'Yes.'Sati looked at Fred.' You haven't raised your hand tonight. Do you have a question?'
    'I was wondering if you could talk more about love,"Fred said. He glanced back at Lori, who was still glowing from Sati's compliment.' And relationships.'
    'What can I say about love?'Sati asked.' It is a gift. You cannot make yourself love someone. You either love them or you don't.You cannot make someone else love you.'
    'You can't?'Fred asked. He sounded disappointed.
    'No.'Sati played with her carnation.'B ut you can pre-serve the love that is already there.'
    'How?'Fred asked.
    'Love is like a seed. Bury it too close to the surface and it dries up from the sun's heat. Bury it too deep and it also dies. Here in the West people keep their love too close to the surface. They see their beloved Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    and right away they say,'I love you.'Ten times in a single day they will say this, instead ofl etting that love grow in silence and gain strength. Love can be talked about too much. On the other hand, in the East they have the opposite problem. They don't say anything.