By Fellow Initiate Yeh, Taipei, Formosa
Due to my work, I usually have many opportunities to have contact with fellow initiates, and in the past I felt that I had no problem with courtesy. But listening to Master's discourse during the 3-day retreat once more broke the rigidity and incorrect concepts in my mind.
Master told fellow initiates to fold their hands in greeting when seeing each other, to say "nin" (polite form of 'you' in Chinese) when seeing older fellow practitioners or elders, to be polite and bring the atmosphere of heaven to earth.
After listening to Master's lecture, I felt very ashamed and repentant for my indifferent attitude toward fellow initiates. I deeply realized that practicing is really not just sitting with crossed legs in daily meditation, but also sharing our bliss with everyone. To be courteous is not just an outward smile, an act of waving or folding hands, but an atmosphere, an atmosphere of sharing love.
The 3-day retreat was a baptism. I saw once again my undesirable qualities, and Master cleansed them for me one by one. I sincerely thank Master here for giving me, Her disciple, inner and outer care and joy every moment of my life.
By Fellow Initiate Chen, Hong Kong
Desiring to learn and expecting to gain, I came to the Hsihu Center. Encountering the reconstruction going on there, I took part in it. It was a great pleasure to work while sweating under the sun, particularly for me, who usually works in a freezer room day after day. Before this, every time I came to Formosa, I spent all my time in eating after sleeping, meditating after eating, leisurely and carefree, never tasting the delight of serving fellow initiates. This time, however, I got a chance to dispose of the garbage at Hsihu. Then I realized how time-consuming it is to deal with garbage that is not properly sorted. In fact, it is a simple chore to separate your garbage when disposing of it, if you are a bit careful, and thus enjoy the happiness of providing convenience to others. What a cheerful deal!
By Fellow Initiate Han, Hong Kong
Time has flown by quickly, and Hsihu has taken on a new look in midsummer. The blue sky, the white clouds, and the green lawns; each corner is full of life and vitality. How delightful it is to find such a perfect paradise on Earth!
The Nectar River is flowing incessantly all day long. The murmuring sound of water and the crisp singing of birds, accompanied by a chorus of squeaking summer insects, comprise a marvelous orchestra. From between the leaves and the branches, golden rays of sunshine are shining through. With each visit of the gentle breeze, the silhouettes of the trees and leaves stir like waves in the sea. Amid the glorious flowers, butterflies and bees are dancing back and forth. One can easily be charmed and forget the secular world!
Everything is so harmonious, beautiful and perfect at the Hsihu Center, that even humans and animals can exist together in peace. While fellow practitioners are intoxicated in Master's loving blessing, the little creatures are also influenced by the affectionate atmosphere. Snakes used to give me an impression of ugliness. However, the two huge snakes that I saw at Hsihu were as pure and innocent as children totally absorbed in their fun. They played on the main road, oblivious to the people watching them. Observing the situation, and fearing that the snakes would be harmed by the traffic, I advised them, "It is dangerous playing here. You'd better move somewhere else!" Hearing my words, they immediately turned around and left. Besides those I have seen on television or in zoos, these two snakes were the hugest that I had ever seen. I never realized that they also have a benevolent heart beneath their monstrous appearance!
Another day, I saw white cranes and little birds chasing each other for fun, dancing and singing freely and joyfully. I beheld a great many blissful scenes, which seemed to melt into a dreamlike and poetic painting, illustrating the highest harmony, beauty and goodness. Therefore, it is no exaggeration at all to say that Hsihu is a paradise on Earth. It is my greatest contentment to be able to enjoy a few days at Hsihu once a year, away from my busy and arduous daily work. I wish that fellow practitioners would go to group meditation earnestly and frequently, so that they too could come to this paradise on Earth, and bathe in its loving atmosphere.
At Ease
By Fellow Initiate Kuo, Taipei, Formosa
I can remember when I first registered to work in the Cleaning Group. Because I did not know any of the members, I had to inquire all over the place about its whereabouts. Still I could not find it. I felt like an idiot sitting in a corner musing.
I thought sadly, "Master! Surely this does not mean that I am not qualified to clean toilets?" Suddenly I was startled: Right! If your face still turns red when you ask other people to clean the toilets, then how can you clean? Thinking about the fact that I had been revelling in a high position, living in comfort in my work, accustomed to being spoiled, and unconsciously had cultivated a heavy air of 'the scholar-bureaucrat,' I asked myself, 'would it be terrible if these qualities were not cut off?
Hence, I was very repentant. I prayed to Master: "Master, on account of my sincerity, please give me another chance." I could only inquire once more; if I still could not find the Cleaning Group then it meant that I was really not qualified. Thus I gathered up my courage and asked the fellow practitioner next to me, "Do you know where the Cleaning Group is?" That voice was like Master replying, "Here it is!"
A few months later, I dreamed of myself working very hard cleaning up all over the place in the park with my head wrapped in a kerchief. Now I would sometimes ask myself, "Are you able to clean up a place where a group of handsome, finely dressed gentlemen and aristocratic ladies are plying about and still feel at ease?"