‧Written by Sheng-yen Lu‧
A US Daden Culture Publication

　　One year, winter came early to Seattle, Washington, USA. Early one morning, I looked out the window and saw that the fountain in the courtyard was frozen. Icicles hung down the sides of the fountain. It was beautiful like a crystal chandelier.
　　By evening, however, only three words could describe the outdoors:
　　Cold.
　　Dark.
　　Wet.
　　The temperature was below zero…
　　The house was surrounded by darkness.
　　Wet was the winter rain of Seattle.
　　It was during this winter that I sat inside my study and wrote under the lamp this book, Chatting with Oneself.
　　Allow me to explain this title!
　　I do not have any intimate friends.
　　I do not have any friends at all.
　　I do not have anyone to talk to.
　　I am Grand Master Lu. I have five million True Buddha School students, some of them close and others distanced.
　　Students of high capacity, we chat a little more.
　　Students of medium capacity, we chat a little less.
　　Students of low capacity, we chat even less.
　　Hence, most importantly, I chat with myself. This was how this book came to be.
　　It was not note-taking.
　　It was not writing.
　　It was not creative writing.
　　It was a chat. I asked myself questions and I myself replied.
　　Why did I ask and answer my own questions?
　　Because:
　　“I understand myself the best!”
　　“I know I am a gifted prodigy and one who is truly enlightened!”
　　
　　Question:
　　“Are you mentally ill?”
　　Reply:
　　“Yes. If all sentient beings in the world are normal, then I am mentally ill.”
　　Question:
　　“What do you mean?”
　　Reply:
　　“On the other hand, if I am normal, then people all over the world are mentally ill.”
　　Question:
　　“Are all enlightened people like this?”
　　Reply:
　　“Yes. All enlightened people are mentally ill and beyond comprehension!”
　　Question: “Why is this so?”
　　Reply:
　　“Hahahahaha! This is so absurd! Life is such a joke that I am dying of laughter!”
　　Question:
　　“What is so funny and why are you laughing?”
　　Reply:
　　“Have I laughed?” (Here is the key.)

Living Buddha Lian-sheng Sheng-yen Lu
17102 NE 40th Ct,
Redmond, WA 98052
U.S.A.