By sister initiate Rashida Harris
Seattle, Washington USA
(Originally in English)

One of my biggest struggles in practice used to be going to group meditation. After the delay created by my strong resistance to attending group meditation, I decided to appeal to Master for help. I pleaded to Her in meditation to help me overcome this resistance and to help me identify what was causing it.

Finally, after much meditation, and agonizing over my lack of resolve and faith, I decided to go see Master. She responded to my prayers by allowing me to attend the international retreat in England. (Through many miraculous circumstances, I was able to go at the last minute.) I did not know then why I had such a strong urge to go to the retreat, but now I know. While I was there, Master communicated such love to me that I wept like a baby who had been rescued from the jaws of Godzilla himself. I felt so safe, cleansed and happy that I promised Master I would attend group meditation, no matter what. The message She gave me was so loud and clear, and so filled with Love, that I could not come up with any more excuses.

My resistance was part of an inner lesson that I needed to learn. Thanks to the Divine Love that Master has for each of us, I was able to learn this lesson very beautifully. No longer was going to group meditation an effort. No longer was the drive of 100 miles a burden. I now realized that the blessings derived from my attempts to attend group meditation were well worth the effort. The resistance that had been sitting like a pebble in my heart was lifted. Through the lifting of this pebble, it was not allowed to grow into a rock. Thank You, Master, for helping me.

When Master says that something is important for us to practice, then it is so. She does not tell us anything that is not beneficial to us. There are always some blessings in regard to our growth. Even our lessons are blessings. These blessings multiply as we grow in our practice. We are very fortunate to be disciples of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Going to group meditation helps not only us, but our fellow initiates as well. For others who may have had experienced the same resistance, I hope this sharing might serve to inspire them and allow them to overcome it.