While On The PathThe Greatest Teacher In The Whole UniverseBy Fellow Initiate Yen In Taipei, FormosaMaster is the greatest teacher in the whole universe, the only one who is full of boundless love. All the people She teaches are the most stubborn ones, but She never minds, and never gives up on us. She always wants to give continuously, and never asks for anything in return. When I received initiation from Master, I was reborn. I am most grateful for Master's meticulous care of me before my initiation until now. I teach the grade fives in a primary school in a village in the mountains. This class, well-known in the school for needing special guidance, worked as a bridge for me - it prompted me to head toward the Quan Yin Method and throw myself into the warmth of Master's arms. Everything went smoothly when I taught in a school in the plains. I felt that I was a good teacher, and I was praised by the headmaster. However, ever since I came to this village in the mountains, trials have come. My pupils are full of energy. They are mischievous and do not respect their teacher. Every day it was like fighting a battle. I racked my brain and exerted all my effort, but I was defeated repeatedly. It became a very common thing - me being aggravated to tears by the pupils. What was more terrible was that I got "holiday-phobia". I was frightened of Sundays, because I had to go to the "battle field" at school the next day. My mood was so low that it was beyond words. I even had nightmares (about my pupils)! Under such circumstance, I sought help frequently from two of my colleagues in school, who happened to be Supreme Master Ching Hai disciples. I found that I still could not make a breakthrough, so I thought that I should learn to practice meditation in order to overcome my difficulties. I knew that the sister initiate, before she received initiation, learned a way to meditate with a famous professor. So, in response to my request, she brought me the book written by the professor, and she also "by the way" lent me a copy of the Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine. As I longed to practice meditation, I earnestly read the professor's book. After going through many pages, I still had no idea at all, and I found it boring. So I turned to Master's News magazine, and casually flipped it open from the middle. Miraculously, I saw at once that there was one of Master's lectures on "How To Meditate". I read it in a few minutes and immediately closed my eyes to meditate. I had some spiritual experiences right away. From then on, I loved to meditate everyday, and my soul has made a connection with Master. I became a vegetarian, and began to read Master's books and listen to Her Buddhist chants. My courage grew continuously. Not long afterward, I received initiation. Looking back now, I realize that all this was Master's wondrous arrangement. After my initiation, everything changed - I changed, and my pupils also changed. We all changed for the better. I recall when I first began to be a vegetarian, my pupils said to me angrily, "Teacher, you are already so thin, and do you still want to keep a vegetarian diet!" Whenever they saw my lunch box they would say that it smelled bad. But now they often surround me and my lunch box, and say, "Teacher, your meal smells great!" "Teacher, your meal is very nice and so plentiful!' Frequently they look at my meal and say cheekily, 'Teacher, you can't finish all that, can you?" I then take the hint and share some vegetables with them, which makes them very happy. There is another matter that is even more interesting. I remember that when they first saw Master's photographs, they put on an expression of disapproval. Now, whenever they see Master's photograph they remark how beautiful She is! Once I bought some of Master's photographs for a brother initiate who works at the school. Before I had time to hand them over to him, my pupils had already rushed over, wanting to look at Master's beautiful appearances. I enforce a system to encourage my pupils. After receiving three cartoon stickers from me, they could exchange them for one of the beautiful book markers that I bought in the shops. Once, a pupil said to me that she did not want the book marker. I was puzzled and asked her, "You deserve to have it. Why don't you want it?" She smiled bashfully, pointed at the desk and said, "Teacher, can I exchange this book marker that you bought for one of Master's?" So that was it! Master's invisible love had already blessed this group of children. Later, many pupils followed suit and indicated that they wanted the book markers with Master's photograph and Her aphorisms. Where I have changed most since my initiation is my better understanding about "love". I have also become much more stable. Before, when I was angry, I could not help yelling at the whole class. Even when the class was over, I was still buried in my anger. I had to take out a mirror to see how my face looked before I could calm down. Now, it appears that I scold them on the outside, but in my heart I am smiling secretly. Although there are times when I am actually angry, it does not last long. I do not "get stuck" in that situation as long as I used to. Also, I often reflect - what right do I have to be angry? To us, such stubborn disciples, Master still gives us so much love, endlessly. How much have I given to my pupils? Now, I truly respect my pupils more, and give them and myself a little more space. I exercise encouragement instead of punishment, and humor instead of criticism. The children have learned to love themselves and others more, and they are often grateful. It is as if spring is here in our classroom; the teacher and the pupils are all at ease and close. And all this comes from Master's love. Thank You, Master! Master is the greatest teacher in the whole universe, the only one who is full of boundless love. All the people She teaches are the most stubborn ones, but She never minds, and never gives up on us. She only wants to give continuously, and never asks for anything in return. Any time when I make a mistake, She immediately lets me know and encourages me to correct it. Any time when I need help, She immediately extends Her helping hand. Nobody, including myself, understands me more than Master does. She always knows what to give me at any particular time.
Oh! Master, thank You. Thank You for teaching me patiently and for
everything You have given me. N
A Trip Far Away To The ContinentA Report By Resident Disciples From Hsihu Center, FormosaAlthough fellow practitioners in Mainland China do not lead a rich material life, and have no affinity to see Master in person, they have had many outer and inner experiences and have countless stories about Master's manifestation form taking care of them. From their letters and conversations, one can feel their sincere, zealous longing for the Truth and their respect and love for Master. Come to think of it, the Creator is fair and generous, giving them extra consolation mentally and spiritually.
Advance Announcements Sure enough, many fellow practitioners had inner experiences about the coming of the Quan Yin messengers' visit long in advance. In their dreams Master's manifestation form told them that they could receive initiation or learn the Convenient Method. Some saw strong rays of white light radiating from Master's photographs during meditation. Some fellow initiates who are monks in temples heard Maitreya Buddha laughing loudly several times everyday. Some fellow initiates had a glimpse of how the Quan Yin messengers would look. Even the length and style of their hair, their slim or fat built, and details of their travelling were all revealed to them. These little stories not only encouraged the local fellow practitioners, but also touched the Quan Yin messengers, because Master always paves the way in front, to ensure everything will go more smoothly for the disciples.
Good Inner Experiences The initiates, abruptly increasing in number, strengthen the bright and positive atmosphere of many places. As well, those awaiting initiation have a great appreciation of how wonderful and rare it is to receive initiation, which condenses into a very strong and true faith. Therefore, many people have very good experiences and practice diligently. During every initiation session, many fellow practitioners have visions of Master's transformation form coming to the scene to bless them, sometimes accompanied by the Bodhisattvas from the ten directions, and sometimes bringing the monastic disciples with Her. They saw Master's transformation form giving a lecture, or simply sitting up, or looking around compassionately at the fellow practitioners, or blessing them one by one on their wisdom eye. Our Master, with Her billions and billions of transformation forms, truly manifests and responds to a thousand prayers at the same time. Even prior to the initiation session, Master's transformation form had graced the venue a few times already. Some fellow practitioners also had a vision of Master manifesting in a crystal light body, taking the spiritual bodies of all the fellow practitioners at the venue to another world to give them a spiritual lecture.
Children's Words Also Due to fellow practitioners' diligent practice, even their children have an idea and example of how to practice spiritually. They even wash their hands before they take Master's books, and know that they should not play in places designated for meditation. Although some fellow practitioners' children cannot read, they like to open and look at Master's books everyday. When a child in kindergarten was taught by his teacher that man has two eyes, he shook his head, pointed to his wisdom eye and told his teacher that it should be three. A child who has not yet received initiation naturally kneels in front of Master's photograph and prays for help whenever she is faced with a problem. She also advises her father, who is not a fellow initiate, not to eat meat, otherwise he might become an animal in his next life and will be eaten by people. When people feel sorry for her because she is so young and small and still keeps a vegetarian diet, she responds directly saying, "What is the use of growing only physically, and not in wisdom?!" Age does not make any different to one's Buddha-nature within. Although they cannot read Master's teachings, their simple and pure hearts make it easy for them to obtain communication with Master. Gazing at Master's photograph, a child saw Her walking out from the picture, with a big smile. In his dream, Master told a child that the Quan Yin messengers had arrived. His mother went around to many places to make enquiries, and sure enough, he was able to received half-initiation easily.
A Simple Life Is Good Fortune In DisguiseMaterial supplies are still sparse in the remote areas. However, people living there have come to terms with life and are at ease and contented. Therefore, once they come into contact with the "most precious and correct method", they have neither any problem becoming vegetarians nor even the slightest hesitation in forsaking the meat. Their regular meals could well be only buns, pickled melon and some rice congee, or simply rice mixed with bits of salty dried cabbage. One woman who was awaiting initiation could not even afford to buy any vegetable oil because she did not have a good harvest, so she merely ate cucumber with soy sauce and rice for several months. Although her life is simple, she is able to get closer to the Tao easily.Heartfelt SincerityFellow practitioners here cherish Master's photographs and apparel items, such as the brooches. Because these items can not be easily acquired, they are valued even more. Fellow practitioners' true love for Master often move the Quan Yin messengers. When some of the men talked about "Master", their eyes became red, and they even cried out loud excitedly. "Master" symbolizes love, longing and joy, which shortens the distance between us. After taking up spiritual practice, some sold what they had without any regret, for a plane ticket abroad, so that they could have a glimpse of Master in person. Some people when they come to know that the boundless benefit from spiritual practice can save mankind and the entire universe, they spare no effort in the helping of the printing of sample booklets and promotion products, as well as for other work. There are also people who offer places to be used as meditation centers, to help fellow practitioners practice. For example, a mother and her daughter, who both make a living as farmers, generously provided the new house that they had just purchased, for group meditation. They'd rather moved back to the old and bleak farm house. Due to the enthusiasm of the fellow practitioners in all parts of the country, the spreading of the Truth to benefit sentient beings went even more smoothly.
The Mutual Help And Growth Of In the course of going out to serve others, the Quan Yin messengers repeatedly and deeply felt a further growth in their spirituality, and development in their self-confidence. Especially, they understand even more clearly in their hearts that it is all Master's power at work, arranging and taking care of everything, and quietly dissolving all the potential dangers. Through Master's ingenious and wonderful arrangements, fellow practitioners in different places met with different Quan Yin messengers. Because of these various encounters, the Quan Yin practitioners had thus learned from each other how to adjust, to love, and to be patient and tolerant, enabling them to be elevated to a new plateau and grow up even more on their path of spiritual practice. |