By sister initiate Ling Gao,
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (Originally in English)

As a child, I lived with my grandparents for about ten years, and wasn't aware of what I was going to miss from my life until both of them passed away.

Although my grandparents were quiet by nature, I always enjoyed conversing with my grandpa. Talking to him was like reading a living history book. He even taught me one of his favorite Elvis Presley songs," Are You Lonesome Tonight," when he was 80. My grandpa also brought many historical events to life for me and gave me the inspiration to explore the unknown world. In addition, he taught me that each individual can make a difference in the world.

There was a sense of peacefulness and homecoming whenever I was around my grandparents. Their room was my shelter. Whenever I had problems outside, just looking at them would dispel my sorrow. God was showing me through them that none of my problems was very important, and that life went on no matter what.

Being so young, I wasn't the one who took care of their daily needs. It was my parents who fed them, put them to bed, gave them their baths, and took them to the hospital. However, my parents were too busy, both at work and at home, to have a meaningful relationship with them.

I miss the presence of my grandparents' quiet endurance and wisdom, and regret not spending enough time with them when they were alive. I think the elderly are some of the greatest treasures in this world. The young can learn a great deal from them, and in return can take care of them when they become physically weak. Perhaps God intended it this way, but without spiritual practice and meditating in the right way, people tend to forget, or just don't have enough energy to deal with the responsibility of caring for older people. If my parents and grandparents had practiced the Quan Yin Method, I believe they would have enjoyed each other's presence much more.