THE POWER OF A DIGNIFIED DHARMA APPEARANCE
Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the ultimate goal of observing the dharma characteristics in you as taught earlier? It is to make you invulnerable to all evils. There are many evils around us. For example, in our daily lives, someone, who wants to deceive you, will first try to make you happy by telling jokes, paying for your meals, and giving you gifts to lower your guard. Once your guard is down, it becomes possible for them to dupe you. This is a common tactic. They make you laugh and happy, then they smooth talk to manipulate you.
If you apply the Dharma qualities within you, for example, you will be able to discern whether you’re being swayed by all the sweet talk they present. This is what you need to maintain – commonly known as ‘dignity’ in the secular world. Your dharma characteristics are your dharma body. If you do not want to be deceived, you must first have a dignified appearance. If you act crazy and confused, people will take you for a ride. Con artists always assess if a person can easily be deceived. Therefore, maintaining your dharma characteristics is important. Do you understand? If a person doesn’t appear dignified, they will give others the impression that they are gullible. People are unlikely to approach or deceive a woman who rarely smiles and carries herself with dignity.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 3 Chapter 3