Spiritual Interludes

The Really Happy Princess

By Fellow Initiate Zheng, Taipei, Formosa

One night, I dreamed about myself wearing a resplendent dress and sitting gracefully. However, my face looked extremely worried and sad, and my mouth was like a crescent moon in the last quarter. When I received the newly released News magazine and looked at the cover photo, I was amazed to see Master wearing exactly the same dress as the one in my dream!

Shortly afterwards, I bought a photo of Master wearing the same gorgeous dress. She was sitting elegantly, with a beautiful, dignified, gentle, reserved, yet magnificent smile on Her face, which warmed my heart like the sun in winter.

Recently, I went to the three-day retreat in Hsihu, and saw for the first time the videotape of the dazzling Celestial Fashion Show. This dress was labeled the "Happy Princess." Only then did I realize Master's intended message -- beautiful clothes and delicious food cannot give us contentment. Only when we are happy within, are we really happy.

Be Humble And Flexible

By Fellow Initiate Valerie, Paris, France (Originally in French)

Several of us French fellow practitioners arrived in Milan with the Celestial Fashion Show work team. In the hotel suite, there were two bedrooms and a living room. Since all the Celestial Clothes were hung in the living room, without hesitation, we occupied one of the bedrooms, without considering whether there was enough room for the Celestial Fashion Show work team and other staff as well to sleep.

Early the next morning, a voice suddenly awakened us: "Are you some big shots to be sleeping on the bed? Others have been working the whole day long, yet they are sleeping on the hard benches in the living room. Do you think you are so important?" With that, we immediately left the bedroom while learning a good lesson: We cared only about our own comfort and not about others; Western fellow practitioners should not always enjoy privileges. We should be humble.

On the second day, the Celestial Clothes were shifted to another room, and the work team moved out as well. Then some long sofas were placed in the living room. Since several more French practitioners had arrived, we offered the bedrooms to them; some of us slept on the living room floor, while others slept on the hard benches, which were so short that they didn't allow us to stretch out our legs. Meanwhile, the long, soft sofas lay idly beside us.

The fellow practitioner who awakened us felt very weird about this scene. She then said, "Well, perhaps you should not occupy the bedroom, but no one forbid you to sleep on the sofas!" So this time, we learned another lesson -- be flexible.

The Amazing Magician

By Fellow Initiate Hwang, Taipei, Formosa

Master! My dear and respected Master! She is an amazing magician. She is a philosopher and poet, as well as a painter, a horticulturist, and a musician. We've further discovered that Master is also an outstanding chef, an ingenious architect, and a talented fashion designer.

However, no matter how Master changes, we all know full well that Her boundless love for sentient beings is always the same. Because Master's love -- Her profound love -- originates from the source of the cosmos; for us, the disciples, our withered hearts are nourished by its nectar; our meek souls immediately find courage; our sorrows suddenly are dispelled, and even the most worrisome faces open up and smile.

Children are filled with more vigor! Adults are more innocent! And the elders are more lovely!

With Master's love, the sunshine feels warmer! The moon looks more luminous! And the air feels refreshing once again!

Desolate mountains become everyone's paradise; everywhere the dreadful human world becomes heaven. Master -- the truly amazing magician -- makes the impossible possible.

Thank You, Master, for Your love. Thank You, Master, for Your magic wand; for letting us witness Your supreme, divine miracle!

An Express Vegetarian
Birthday Cake

By Fellow Initiate Xiong, Paris, France

When I was informed that there would be a birthday celebration in Monaco for Master, all I thought about was preparing some fruit and vegetarian cakes and so on, for fellow practitioners and other guests. I did not think that I would experience any difficulties. The only problem was that vegetarian cakes were not available in France, but I thought it would not matter if the cakes could not be obtained.

Eventually, one of Master's guards called repeatedly on the phone telling me to prepare a sufficient and great variety of beautiful and exotic fruit for decoration. Furthermore, I found out that a vegetarian birthday cake was absolutely necessary! I then realized that the assignment was not as easy as I had imagined. I obviously needed to be very serious and concentrated in undertaking the task that I had originally thought was trifling.

Hurriedly, I contacted some fellow practitioners to prepare the blessed food, birthday presents, flowers, and air tickets. I had only one day to prepare the vegetarian birthday cake. While praying for the blessing of inner wisdom, I had the thought that Master was using this opportunity to teach us how to break through the concept of 'the impossible.'

The next morning, when I first called a number of bakeries on the phone to make inquiries, I received disappointing responses as expected. Having no other option, I visited the bakeries one by one but still encountered shaking heads and a lack of willingness to try. However from past experience, I have learned that each time I work on Master's assignments, no matter how difficult the situation, if I have faith and persist, there is always a favorable outcome. Then, I went into a bakery where the lady owner also refused. However, an elderly lady standing on one side was paying attention to our conversation. I sensed that this could be a turning point in my crisis. It must have been God's blessing that accounted for her cordiality. I approached her and described the style and flavor of the vegetarian birthday cake that I wanted to order.

Indeed, as expected, she promised that a beautiful three-tiered birthday cake would be ready the next day. All she needed to do was tell the baker not to add any eggs when preparing the cake! (The solution was so simple, yet no one, except her, wanted to do it.)

This fantastic vegetarian birthday cake really enhanced the joyous occasion of Master's birthday. Master even shared it with all the staff and the owner of the party venue.

Who would have imagined that there was a story with profound meaning behind this beautiful vegetarian cake? It provided me with an opportunity to learn how to overcome obstacles and experience God's love and support.

A Barbecue Picnic

By Fellow Initiate Liu, Taipei, Formosa

Last year, our company held a barbecue picnic. In order to promote vegetarianism for environmental protection, several fellow practitioners cooperated closely in a vegetarian group, and fully displayed their cooking talents at the picnic. Many of our meat-eating colleagues were attracted to the rarely seen toasted sugar canes, as well as native toasted sweet potatoes, mouth-watering buttered corn, and vegetable soup with miniature oranges. Upon smelling the aromas coming from the food, they gave up meat at the picnic to eat our vegetarian delights, and their praise for our cooking can be heard to this day.

Last Sunday, another barbecue picnic was held in the Tian Hsi Garden, Yang Ming Mountain. It was windy that day and there were a few light orographic showers. In the June acacia woods, caterpillars about to transform into beautiful butterflies were seen everywhere. Upon entering the woods, our surprised screams arose one after another, mixed with the singing of cicadas to create a boisterous chorus and a lively atmosphere. With keen eyesight, the members of our vegetarian group removed many lovely caterpillars for fear that their beautiful future might be crushed by the footsteps of us `giants,' while silently reciting the Holy Names.

Before the barbecue had even ended, some colleagues had to go down the hill to call a doctor because of severe itching all over their bodies. The next day at work, without prior discussion, our meat-eating colleagues all showed us the traces of their many severe rashes, and said, "It's really strange that those vegetarians do not have any such symptoms. Is it true that our flesh is more acidic than theirs?" In my heart, I knew that Master was taking care of us all along. I am deeply grateful to Her.

After both picnics, there were a number of our colleagues signed up in advance to join our vegetarian group at following picnics. I sincerely hope that one day they will become vegetarians as well.

A Short Stay In Hsihu

Compiled By Taipei News Group

As there were many major and minor construction projects going on in Hsihu, a fellow sister seized this rare opportunity to join Master's work, and stayed in Hsihu for a week. The time might have been short, but she learnt and understood a lot. There were two incidents which impressed her the most.

She was filled with romantic illusions when she went to stay in Hsihu, which were proved wrong after she had stayed there. Working in Hsihu, she had to always struggle against herself, challenging the habits accumulated through many lives. The difficulty was not only in facing her own shortcomings, but also in chopping them off and overcoming them. This demanded that she be quick, precise and determined, while upholding truthfulness and beauty.

It is very difficult to know the real situation unless one has lived in Hsihu. However, the numerous tests also brought her fast and tremendous improvement. She is extremely grateful to Master for giving her this chance.

One day, she laid turf with other fellow practitioners. As she seldom paid any attention to plants, she did not think that horticulture was a great science. It was not until she heard Master say, "When laying the turf, you have to sing to them, wish them and bless them to grow prosperously, very green and beautiful...", that the sister deeply realized her love was too small and shallow. She suddenly understood why the trees and plants in Hsihu were more prosperous and beautiful than those in other places! Because of Master's love, they have the confidence to grow!

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