While On The Path

From then on, we started to encourage our parents. However, because I did it anxiously with my ego, they initially had different opinions about maintaining a vegetarian diet, meditating, and following Master. Even so, as parents who had doted on us, they respected our choice.

When they came to the USA to visit us, they maintained a vegetarian diet with us and studied Master's teachings as well. But when they went back to Mainland China, they could not adhere to a vegetarian diet, particularly my father.

Their situation remained like that for several years until after the two retreats in Cambodia last year, when my sister and I went back to Mainland China to visit them. With Master's blessings and the support of local initiates, we finally convinced my mother. She made up her mind to observe a strict vegetarian diet. Seeing that her two daughters who had given her a lot of headaches for many years had become more considerate, better behaved, and had overcome many weaknesses after practicing the Quan Yin Method, she understood more about Master's power and the Method; so she wanted to pursue it herself.

She waited until the five-day retreat in the USA last Christmas and then made a decision at the last minute to come to the US to see Master and get initiated. With Master's help, everything went smoothly. She met Master on the same day that she arrived and was initiated shortly afterwards. During that time, my father, who normally could not go without meat, suddenly did not want to eat meat and became a vegetarian. This surprised both him and the people he knows.

After my mother was initiated, she stayed in the US. She lived with me, and our lives were full of miracles. The place where I lived was more than one hour's drive from the local Center. Since I did not have a car and did not have much money, we had to rent a car or take a bus to go to group meditation once every few weeks. So we prayed to Master for help. It happened that a family's baby-sitter wanted to go back to Mainland China, so the family were keen to find someone to replace her. Therefore, my mother got the job. However, she had to take care of her transportation by herself and we could not afford even an old car.

However, very soon, through Master's arrangement, we got a new car. After that, I gave my mother a ride to and from work every day. Every weekend, my mother and I happily went to group meditation. My mother was able to be in contact with other fellow practitioners and they encouraged each other to practice diligently. She has made great progress, so my mother and I feel very grateful to Master.

When we heard that there was going to be a four-day retreat in Australia, we felt excited and wanted to go. But the airplane tickets were expensive. So we again prayed to Master. As a result, three airplane companies offered big discounts at the same time for tickets to Australia. Even the travel agent was surprised and told us that they had never seen such big discounts. Because they were at a special price, one had to purchase the non-refundable tickets almost immediately. At that time, we had not obtained visas to Australia. Since we held mainland China passports, staff at the Australian Embassy told us that my mother would have to go back to Mainland China to apply for a visa. However, my mother was very determined to go to the retreat, so we bought the plane tickets anyway. We sent our visa applications to the Australian Embassy, and our visas were granted the following day.

When my mother quit her job, the family kept her until several days before she left for Australia. Only at that time did she come to know that the previous baby-sitter who had quit her job was not able to go back to Mainland China. This situation allowed my mother to earn just enough money to cover all the expenses for the retreat. These miraculous arrangements made my mother marvel and she realized that every wish is granted and everything becomes smoother after following Master.

My mother, my sister and I boarded the plane together to go to Australia. That was the first time that all three of us traveled together on such a long flight and for a meditation retreat as well. The fact that this retreat happened to be held on Mother's Day and Master's birthday meant a lot to us. From childhood, the rebellious and childish personalities of my sister and I made my mother worry and cry many times. Now we have become better and better under Master's guidance. My mother finally feels totally relieved. From her personal experiences, she knows that Master has been taking care of us with more patience, consideration and love than she did. Besides, Master will take care of us both visibly and invisibly until eternity.

Being brainwashed into atheism for many years and having experienced many twists and turns, my mother has at last successfully attended her first international retreat and has become completely convinced that Master is truly an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent living saint.

From the beginning, the weather during the retreat was very windy and it rained heavily. But once the retreat was over, it became calm and clear. My mother truly experienced the strategy and tactics of a saint and Maya. During the retreat, the wind and rain always stopped or lessened at breaks and meal times.

My mother said that Master truly has magical power. For example, she has suffered from a serious chronic illness for a long time. But each time when she was in Master's presence, she felt that Master was curing her and absolving her of her karma. Master once said that practicing the Quan Yin Method is the most filial thing a sibling can do, and my mother has had deep experiences of this.

A sister initiate from Formosa whom my mother had met during the retreat told her that she envied her because she is fortunate to have two daughters who are very filial. The sister is the only initiate in her family, and her husband and children are not on a vegetarian diet. Upon hearing this, my mother was deeply touched and felt that she was indeed very fortunate to be able to practice the greatest meditation method with a living saint because of her daughters; and be able to be liberated while still in this world. My mother has always loved us deeply; but in previous years we had difficulty communicating with each other, and were not in harmony for a long time. This was an attachment which bound and entangled us. The lack of a mutual understanding caused great psychological pressure and we always wanted to escape it. My mother often felt rejected and hurt. Both of us were tired and suffered. Now we have gradually learned to love each other unconditionally. The power of Quan Yin has made our relationship more and more harmonious and has turned us, worldly mother and daughters, into fellow initiates who can communicate spiritually and promote each other's spiritual practice. Moreover, it has allowed us to have the greatest mother of the universe -- Supreme Master Ching Hai! Thank You, Master!

On Mother's Day, I felt an irresistible impulse to sing a song that my mother taught me:¡¹

Mothers are the best in the world.
Children who have a mother are very fortunate,
Lying in their mother's arms
And enjoying the happiness....

 

May all mothers and children in the world love each other harmoniously, find the Supreme Mother, and be immersed in Her holy love!¡¹

With help from the local meditation center, I viewed more videos, read more books, and listened to numerous audio cassettes. The more I listened and viewed the videotapes, the more I believed that I have an affinity with Master. Soon I became a vegetarian and learned the Convenient Method of meditation.

I prayed every morning and evening during my meditation so that I could receive initiation soon. To my great surprise I received an answer. One evening while reading one of Master's books, I heard a voice say: "Come to me." I did not think much of it and continued reading. The next evening I was reading one of the News magazines and again I heard the same voice say: "Come to me." It was very real and I could not believe that such an experience could happen to me.

I called an initiate and told him about what had happened. I thought that he would laugh at me or think I was crazy. But he listened carefully and advised me to prepare for a journey to go see Master, because he believed that She might be in Australia during the international retreat. However, he said, "You may or may not see Her and you may or may not get initiated." It meant that I had to take a chance.

I did not have a passport and the retreat in Australia was to start in a few days. I wondered how I could get a passport in such a short time since people had said that it would take a few weeks to get a passport and visa. I prayed to Master and began to process the paperwork to send it by overnight express. Master stepped in once again to assure me that I could go to Her. I was very surprised to receive my passport in a few days.

The next step was to send my passport to Washington so that I could get an Australian visa. I thought I would definitely miss my chance to go because it usually takes a week to receive the visa. When I called the American embassy in Australia, they informed me that if I were to fly Quantas Airlines I would be able to get my visa over the phone in five minutes.

There was one problem however: The price of the ticket was very expensive because of the short notice. It was a true test for me. I have never paid such a high price for a plane ticket in my life. But I took the chance. I faxed my flight details to the Sydney Center and left that same day.

When I arrived in Australia, I disembarked and waited for a few hours. There was no one there to meet me, and I began to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake. Had the Sydney Center received my fax? I did not know what to do. I walked over to the phone, but had no Australian coins to make a call. I held onto my picture-pendant of Master and asked Her for help. While praying, I just followed the information signs at the airport without thinking. Suddenly, within ten footsteps I saw two people holding a picture of Master. I felt instant relief and walked up to them and asked, "Are you looking for me?"

They looked at each other and said, "Who are you? We're here to pick up two initiates from Japan. We know nothing about you."

I introduced myself and we all knew that Master had arranged not only for the pick up of the Japanese initiates, but also for me. I was very happy to follow them to the retreat site!

At the campsite, I was told I could not stay because there were no plans for an initiation. So I stayed outside and waited for Master. I did not have a sleeping bag or a tent; but one initiate who had escorted me from the airport helped me to buy a sleeping bag and other things I needed to stay outside the retreat campsite.

There was also a Canadian man who was in the same situation. We became friends because we had the same desire for initiation although we had not been vegetarians for three months. After we heard that Master had arrived at the retreat site, our anticipation grew. At least we would have a chance to see a living Master in our lifetime.

We were very happy to know that Master had agreed to let the two of us receive initiation. When we received the news, it was a further confirmation that She had guided me to Australia. I feel very privileged to have been initiated during this special celebration of Mothers' Day and Master's birthday.

Having become a new initiate, I was allowed to sit near Master on the stage. I cannot forget this precious moment. Sitting near Her and seeing the love and compassion in Her eyes are experiences I will always cherish. Master, you said to me, "Come to me." Yes, I have come to You. Please take me home.¡¹