Journey Of Enlightenment

By American Fellow Initiate Christopher now in Formosa (Originally in English)

All of my life has been a constant struggle upstream. Walking many paths, thinking many things, yet never complete nor fulfilled inside. Over a year ago I travelled to India with this unnamed longing inside and wandered, and rambled like a nomad through its infinite landscapes and countless reflections. So innocent and naive, like a newborn child, only 19 years old travelling through such a vast and ancient land.
Because of the nature of India, the depth and clarify of its spirit it was easy for me to open up and let go of my many habits and confused ways of thinking. By this India became the mother that awakened me from my slumber giving me a splintered glimpse at the true nature of things, at the real meaning of God. Eventually I returned to America, and felt so strange, like I shouldn't have left India so soon, as though I had not yet finished school. After awhile I began to regress into older characteristics, and personalities. Until I felt like a caged animal, hungry, yet unable to express my inner longing. I called an old friend on the phone, searching for a connection. He began to talk reverently of some Au Lac master that he was waiting to see. I understood him only vaguely harbouring a small notion as to who this master truly was. Little did I know! But something inside demanded I go see this friend immediately. So I rushed across the country to visit him. After I arrived he again spoke lovingly of this master, of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. He offered me some books to read, lectures recorded by disciples that the Master had given.
Opening these books were like opening a door that had been locked for many ages, so familiar inside, so wondrous and simple, my heart sang with joy, so grateful was I. At long last I had found a true master. After having read so many religious books and doctrines, my mind could never believe that such masters truly exist. But they do, oh for the love of God they do exist! Fortunately for me the Supreme Master Ching Hai was touring America at this time giving lectures. So I rushed urgently to Colorado and waited anxiously for the lecture to be given. During the introduction, while someone was giving a speech on their personal experiences, the Master entered unexpectedly. I did not see the Supreme Master enter the room, but felt a bright, warm flash of light, splash against the right hemisphere of my body, like an ocean wave stirring inside me, calming as a mother voice. I received initiation that same day without any hesitation, so convinced was I.
My practices for the first month were difficult, I struggled, and felt frustrated. Later I realized it was because I expected, and anticipated that I became limited, and at that time I was not yet ready to truly listen. Although the Master being all compassionate and wise, was able to speak into my sleep and bless me during dreams. For that I am deeply grateful. Two and a half hours of required meditation, seemed to be too much at first, a true feat if it could be accomplished I thought. But after awhile it became easier and easier. All my life I had been a starving animal, eating off an empty plate, unable to satisfy my inner longing. And now; can you imagine someone just giving you a plate of real food after a lifetime of eating a mirage? So good! Yeah! And so filling inside. And not even asking for anything in return. But it's so difficult to truly describe this inner joy, one must experience it for oneself to understand the love I feel when I just think of this experience. I moved to Boulder Colorado a few months later, where I joined a group of fellow practitioners, whose sincerity and devotion touches my heart even today. I stayed there and practised, lived a simple life, and felt a wonderful joy spreading within me. Yet even with all this, the beautiful mountains and peoples on top of that, I was still not completely satisfied with living and working for myself alone.
I heard the Master was in America again. Wow! And only six months had passed. I felt so new and evolved in my reasons to be with the Master. I immediately drove to California with a fellow practitioner, and rejoiced wholehearted in the Master's infinite radiance.
It is through the Master that I have begun to learn the true love, the one all pervading love, which is within each and everyone of us. It is really so simple that I have difficulty, because the mind is used to complicated ways of perceiving. Enlightenment is really so natural when you have a Supreme Master to guide you. In fact it sometimes seems almost as if nothing has happened. But, its usually right after that I realize the indescribable magnitude of the Master, and again feel so grateful, so utterly grateful!

Master's Blessing Breaks Through My Meditation Difficulties

By Fellow Initiate Ly Kim Duc in Houston, USA (Originally in Au Lac Language)

When I first received initiation few years ago, I could not meditate well due to the discomforts inflicted on my body. Also, as far as inner experiences were concerned, they did not matter much to me. However, I do care that I could meditate at least 2.5 hours straight without moving or stirring. Therefore, every time I start to meditate, I always say a silent prayer to Master, "My beloved Master! Please let my body get accustomed to this practice."
I always try my best to meditate normally. I believe that whenever we try our best, we will succeed. With that attitude, I enrolled in the seven-day retreat in Miaoli, Formosa. However, I must admit that I was afraid that I could not meditate for many long hours at the retreat.
One night, a few days before the retreat, I could not meditate. My legs were in such pain that I could not sit still. I even tried many positions. Finally I gave up and went to bed feeling very sad because of that. In a half-sleeping, half-awake state, a wonderful experience came to me. I saw Master come and sit next to me by the bed. Master looked at me and rested Her hands on my forehead. I saw Her very clearly, so I grasped hold of Her. I was so ecstatic and happy that there are no words to describe this feeling. After a while, I opened my eyes and I could not see Master anywhere. However, the beautiful feeling still lingered, even for days afterward.
One afternoon during the 7-day retreat, a Formosan disciple stood up to give an account of his inner experiences. He said that this seven-day retreat was very special. He recalled that in his deep meditation, he saw the Van-Thu-Su-Lol Boddhisattva and thousands of Buddhas and Boddhisattvas come to meditate and give blessings to the group. After that session, coming back to my tent, I was recalling this disciple's inner experiences and wondered why some people were so blessed to have such good experiences. I felt ashamed and stood outside my tent and looked in the direction where Master resided somewhere on top of the hill far away.
That night, Master came to my tent in my dream. I was so happy that I grasped hold of Her like the first time. This time She held me in Her arms. I was so excited that I cried a lot. When I woke up, my eyes were still drenched with tears. This feeling so overwhelmed me that when I went to meditate the next time, I did not realize the time went by very quickly. It seemed as if 2.5 hours had passed as soon as I sat down. I just closed my eyes, started reciting the Five Names and the meditation time seemed over before I even finished reciting the Fifth name. After that, the rest of the days went by very quickly. At the end of the retreat, there was a birthday celebration for Master. That night, Master allowed everyone to dance. I did not know how or why, but I got up and asked Master to dance with me personally. To my surprise, Master accepted and danced with me. As I held out my arms to hold Master, I felt a tremendous feeling rush through me. The feeling from the dream and the feeling at that moment were identical. I did not know what I was doing. I did not even feel that I was dancing, even though my feet were moving to the music. However, in my head, in my heart and outside me, everything seemed to be one, all one. I know the feeling but there are no words to describe it.
Up until now, every time I have problems meditating, I always try to recall the blessing of love Master bestowed upon me to still my mind. Our Master is not only the Supreme Master, but She is also the benevolent, all-loving Mother who takes care of every one of us so that our spiritual practice will go more smoothly. Since that seven-day retreat, I always say the same prayer prior to meditating; "I pray to the highest God above, to all the Buddhas in all the directions to bless our Master's body to be in good health so that She will be able to help all the sentient beings."

The Grandeur Of Master Can Only Be Felt When You Follow Her Teachings And Spiritually Practice. Then You Have No More Doubt That She Is Truly The Return Of Jesus Christ

By Resident Disciple Chao From Hsihu, Miaoli, Formosa

When they spread the gospel, the sincere Christians would say: "The Kingdom of God is near! Jesus is coming again!" But people don't know when Jesus Christ will come again or where will He appear. When He comes again, what will He look like? Because when Jesus Christ returns, He would not have the same appearance as He had two thousand years ago to let people recognize Him immediately. People must have the wisdom to recognize him; they must have the perseverance to follow and learn from Him. When we go out to spread the gospel to others and say: "The Saviour is coming! The Kingdom of God is near!" We are genuinely filled with faith and advocacy. We are absolutely confident that the Supreme Master Ching Hai can definitely take us back to our heavenly home, that She will lead us to the paradise of freedom. The Au Lac refugees today reminded me of the story over two thousand years ago, where Moses led the people of Israel away from the cruel reign of Egypt. As Pharaoh tried to inhibit Moses time after time, he only brought onto himself and his people catastrophe after catastrophe. Isn't the bloody history enough to teach us a lesson? While natural disasters are happening throughout the world today, isn't that the result of dwindling morality and lack of righteousness, and truth? Master works differently from Moses in that She does not openly use magical powers, but instead, She uses Her love and compassion to awaken people's conscience in order to uplift the level of consciousness of the entire planet towards peace.
We should really realize this lesson of compassion which God gave to us, and Master's painstaking efforts. Don't ever miss this God-given precious opportunity to nurture our compassion and let righteousness reign.