By Fellow Initiate Li, Thailand
During Master's recent lecture tour in Thailand, She stayed at the J.B. Hotel in Had-Yai while She was in Southern Thailand. This made me think about some of my personal experiences right after my initiation.
That year, I was invited by a friend to come to Had-Yai's J.B. Hotel to hold an art exhibition. I spiritedly put on Master's brooch. The brilliance of Master's picture attracted the eyes of the passing passengers on the train. At that time, I understood that they were coming to look at Master's picture, but the continuing encounters made me feel uneasy. I was only thinking of my own peace and quiet and forgot about letting more people have the opportunity to know Master, so I conveniently took off Master's brooch.
During the art exhibition, because of the experience on the train, I also did not wear Master's brooch. More than ten days passed in the half-month exhibition, and very few guests bought. After all of Master's sample booklets had been distributed at the art exhibition, I again put on Master's brooch. Strangely, after wearing Master's brooch many guests bought. The amount of money earned in the last few days was many times that of the previous days.
One night during this exhibition, suddenly one guest yelled at me, "Last year I asked you to write the word 'patience' for me. It was paid for in full, but I still did not get your calligraphy!" When I looked at him I remembered that on the last night of last year's art exhibition at the J.B. Hotel, someone asked me to write the word patience. Since he was in a hurry, he gave me the money and left. I wrote the word, asked a hotel attendant to give it to him, and closed up. Don't know why he did not receive it. Of course, having paid for the calligraphy, and not having received it, even after he had been patient for one year, no wonder he was yelling at me! I immediately wrote the word and gave it to him. After that, he was very happy saying that he did not know why he came to Had-Yai this time and was also staying at the J.B. Hotel. Of course there was a reason for it.
What made me happy is that Master helped me repay this debt that I had incurred before initiation. This freed me from this burden, so that I could practice with even more peace of mind.
By A Fellow Initiate, Taipei, Formosa
Being a disciple, there is no greater joy than seeing Master manifest during meditation. Last year, while Master was on a world lecture tour, I attended the three-day retreat at the Laiyi Meditation Center. As I was attentively watching a video of Master with everyone in the meditation hall, all of a sudden Master on the TV was looking and smiling at me. Then surprisingly, Master flew out of the screen and instantly became huge and brilliant. She stood among the crowd and kept on smiling and looking at me. Watching this unexpected phenomenon, I was entranced; totally unaware of my surroundings, I stared at Master's manifestation until it disappeared. Coming back from the ecstasy, I then savored the feeling of that beautiful memory. It was so wonderful, not possible to put into words. That evening, due to my extreme satisfaction and joy, I smiled throughout the entire meditation!
One day, I was in the hallway at home and suddenly smelled the fragrance of sandalwood which gave me a soothing feeling. The next day, a sister initiate informed me by phone that Master was coming back and that since it would be national holiday lasting a few days, fellow initiates could go to see Her at Hsihu Center. I understood instantly that the fragrance of sandalwood was a sign from Master in advance. Since then, I have been able to smell the fragrance of sandalwood any place where there is a photo of Master or anything related to Her.
Most of the fellow initiates spent the Double Ten Holiday with Master at Hsihu Center. In the evening of the last day, as people left one by one, I was reluctant to leave. I wished to see Master again and hear Her talk some more, because at noon She only talked briefly and left. It was getting dark. Still longing to see Her, suddenly, She came driving down in Her little cart. Those initiates who hadn't left yet came over to see Her, including myself. Master got out of the little cart and chatted with everyone as we walked. I was walking behind Her and the fragrance of sandalwood from Her continued to float over to me all the while.
Master sat in front of the lecture pavilion and talked to us; we were very close to Her. Suddenly, I saw light beams shooting out from Her fingertips as She gestured with Her hands while talking. It was really amazing! Master talked about when fellow initiates see Her, they always yell at the top of their lungs, "Greetings, Master!" even though they might be right next to Her. It often startles Her and is at times quite unbearable.
I came home that day filled with bliss and contentment. I turned on the tape player to listen to Master's audio tapes as soon as I got home. At the beginning of the tape, coincidentally, I heard Master mimicking the disciple's way of greeting Her, and mischievously She said loudly to them, "Greetings, everyone!" It startled me so much that I laughed wholeheartedly all alone in my room.
Oh, my dearest Master Mommy, You've just played a joke on me! And the
joke made me realize how You feel on those occasions.