"HAPPY CHING HAI DAY", "JOY TO THE WORLD". These eye-catching English words appeared on the front gate of Hsihu Center on Ching Hai Day. Every time I passed by there during the seven-day retreat, there was an overwhelming joy in my heart. "JOY TO THE WORLD" relays a beautiful and nice message to me, that is "spiritual practice does not mean asceticism." Just like Master said in Her musical composition "GO, GO, GO" that She composed for us, we can practice meditation and enjoy the world at the same time!

Master's Unexpected Tricks

I remember the time when I was just initiated, I was like a seedling in the bud, popping its head out shyly, looking around at the world. I heard that on the third anniversary day of the establishment of Hsihu Center, the Center held a dance party that "broke the world record of all religions." The monks dressed up as girls appearing "delicate and charming," while Master wore a glistening evening gown with Her back exposed, colorful makeup on Her face, and danced gracefully to the music.

At that time, I was still holding on to "religious ideology," and was dumbfounded upon hearing this. A fellow practitioner told me that Master was breaking our attachment to the outer appearance. Feeling prudent and horrified, I immediately consulted Bodhidharma's book on breaking appearances, and obtained the following comfort: "The outer appearance has nothing to do with the inner practice, the Master must have a reason for doing this."

By then I had a kind of an inner feeling in my heart telling me that Master would occasionally use some "unexpected tricks" to scare us -- the pitiful "future buddhas" awaiting to grow up, and that I would eventually come to understand Her painstaking intention!

No Need To Be An Ascetic

Later, Master let Her hair grow, wore makeup, dressed up as Chang Er (Goddess of the Moon), played the Ancient Chinese emperor, painted, wore gorgeous and unique dresses, played piano with Her foot, appeared on MTV, made CDs, designed celestial jewel, held celestial fashion shows, and even gave a performance personally to entertain the guests on Ching Hai Day, and so on. This whole series of unexpected tricks used by Master, seemingly has nothing to do with spiritual practice. However, before I realized it consciously, I became fully "immune" to Her unusual conduct. Moreover, I always let myself go and applaud, my eyes full of tears. Gradually, I have come to understand the meaning of what Master has said: "A simple life is to feel at home wherever you are, with whatever you have, and enjoy it!"

No matter if it was in the Himalayas, the cinerary storage room of a modest temple, in a tent, a hammock or an ordinary house, She has always lived like this. Whether with splendid clothes and gourmet food or simple food, wearing heavy makeup or no hair, She always feels fine. On a world lecture tour, being alone, on retreats or just playing and having fun, She also gladly accepts them all. This is Master. She sees everything as ordinary, and just follows God's arrangements. Having something or missing something, both are fine. She is always at ease, gives of herself, and is joyful in any situation. If we could become like this, why would we need to live an ascetic life style?

Keep Your Inner Purity

When I had just begun to follow this path, I thought I should put down all desires; yet I was able to put down none of them, and forcing myself to let go was really a suffering experience. Now I have gradually come to realize that we don't need to think about "putting anything down" at all. When we indeed have sincerity and faith and keep our inner purity, we thus become one with creation, and enjoy everything the Creator has granted us. This way, we can follow our intuition naturally and smoothly, and our anxieties and worries will vanish like mist and smoke. It will be like what the Sixth Zen Patriarch described: "Originally there was nothing, where would the dust (contamination) cling to?"

In the song "The Ocean of Love", Master says: "Rest in my bosom, then you'll know freedom. Rest in my loving arms..., you will then realize, I am everything that you've ever desired." It turns out that we don't even have to awaken, comprehend, plan, or struggle with ourselves; we just completely surrender to Hirm. Once we offer everything to God, we can simply enjoy and realize thorough happiness and comfort!

Follow Master's Example

Master has said: "If you think like a Buddha, behave like a Buddha, speak like a Buddha, then you are a Buddha!" How lucky we are to follow a living Buddha to practice. Obtaining Buddhahood is not easy; yet it is not impossible, if we can behave like a Buddha when walking, sitting, sleeping, eating, playing, meditating, managing the home, and working. Be like a Buddha in actions, speech and thoughts, then we are truly a Buddha!

Before knowing Master's teachings, I must have abused all five precepts at one time or another. I was living in darkness. Last year, while a friend from Toronto was meditating she thought of me and called, and I was introduced to Supreme Master Ching Hai. It was not until she lent me some of Master's tapes to play on my long drive to work did I sadly discover what I was missing. While listening to Master's tapes, I cried. It was that moment I truly accepted that I could not continue to live on the dark side. My life has changed since that day. I became vegetarian. I used to drink a lot of alcohol and I don't anymore. I firmly believe that the Master had sent my friend from Toronto to look for me.

I attended Master's fashion show in New York. Then I went to the New York Center for group meditation. Fortunately, I was able to sit very close to Master. Absolutely nothing can describe how I felt when I saw Her. After Her lecture, She asked for the lights to be turned down for group meditation. I then went through one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was the first time I experienced being in samadhi. After meditation I knew that all my questions were answered. I had found enlightenment. canvas.

I know that I will do everything in my power to follow the five precepts, meditating more than two and a half hours a day to hopefully experience heaven, and to eradicate the excessive karma. I am full of confidence. No matter what level I am at, there will be the opportunity to attain the Buddha level. I deeply know and have faith that the Master will help us progress on the spiritual path; and once an initiate is sincere and continues on this path, there is no way that you will end up in hell.

Although I am still not a perfect being, I still have an ego, and I still make a lot of mistakes, I know that I can forgive myself. I can improve myself through meditating, go to group meditations, and have meaningful discussions with fellow initiates. And I know that the Master will help me because She is omnipresent, and whenever possible I will go to see Her for Her spiritual power is awesome. She will protect and support me on the spiritual path, make it smooth with fewer obstacles.