By Fellow Initiate Carolyn, Texas, USA
(Originally in English)
With the advent of the television remote control device, channel-surfing has become a very popular pastime in the U.S.A. One day as I was surfing, I came upon a beautiful woman speaking in the gentlest voice I had ever heard. Although my attention was caught momentarily, being a channel-surfer, I passed Her on by. A few days later, She caught my attention again; several days later, the same thing occurred. Finally, I just gave up and listened because I knew there was no choice. She was the Supreme Master Ching Hai telling me how to save myself through Her method of immediate enlightenment.
A few weeks later, I was on a plane, with some total strangers, to an eastern country I could not even locate on a map and certainly had never contemplated travelling to. The purpose of this trip was to take initiation from a Teacher who would change my way of life forever.
Born in a female body of Anglo-Saxon origin, in the western, farming part of Texas and raised in a southern Baptist tradition, the occidental thought system was firmly entrenched in my mind. Nevertheless, when I heard the Master's teachings, I knew immediately She spoke the Truth and that there would be no turning back for me. I threw aside all remnants of my old belief system that still clung to me - it was so easy - and I will never look back.
All of us women, totally different, travelling to a completely strange country, Thailand. We flew for hours and hours. Finally checked into a hotel for a few hours, then resumed our travels to Chiang Mai to receive initiation. When the initiation finished, it was very late. We missed the last flight back to Bangkok and what was worse was that there would be no plane space the next day as it was the King's birthday. We were alone, stranded in a strange country without even a toothbrush.
As we, a Chinese lady, a Filipino lady and myself wandered through the empty building past midnight with absolutely no hope, I even began to doubt my sanity and the soundness of my decision-making. Suddenly and out of nowhere it seemed, we were approached by a young Chinese woman, fellow initiate Yang from Formosa, who asked if we had a way back to Bangkok. It just so happened they had space for us. Therefore, we had a comfortable, air-conditioned, touring bus ride back. Thank you to those initiates who looked after us in every aspect during the tour. The next day when I asked fellow initiate Yang what made her approach us in Chiang Mai, she just replied, "Master Power". Several days later, at the group meditation in Bangkok, I saw the "Master Power" for myself. She sent me Her golden light in the shape of a doorway which I pray will lead this alien to the Kingdom of God.
I now know, beyond any doubt, I have found the Saviour who will lead this alien back Home. And for this reason, all things related to my old lifestyle were so easy to throw away - it was no sacrifice at all - I gladly cast off the ties that bind me to this world and take Her Hand, to go to the Far Land, from where we came.
Fellow Initiate Nguyen, Texas, U.S.A.
(Originally in Au Lac Language)
I can still recall how ignorant I was before I met the Supreme Master Ching Hai. All my previous Thanksgiving holidays were spent in enjoying worldly pleasures. Even the memory of those days makes me feel ashamed. I am so grateful to Master Ching Hai because She pulled me out of the abyss of darkness and taught me to be a real child of God, a noble human being. Now, there is nothing more important to me than meditation. Only through meditation and adhering to the guidance of a living enlightened Master, can we be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and return to the arms of our Father in heaven.
During the Thanksgiving holiday this year, I joined fellow practitioners in sharing gifts and vegetarian food with the unfortunate homeless people. We also shared with them Master's teachings to warm their hearts. I recall in the book "Embraced by the Light", the author narrated her near death experiences. She mentioned her vision of a homeless drunkard, which makes me feel that they are so close to us. Who knows whether the homeless people we met today are not just like the drunkard in that book. Perhaps they too descended from the higher worlds, put on ragged, miserable appearances just to help and remind human beings to love each other, and to guide them back to God's arms. I do not feel these homeless persons are different from me in any way, because I have realized the truth in Master's teachings. It is indeed a fantastic experience sharing an unprecedented Thanksgiving Day with fellow practitioners and the homeless persons, in harmony and bliss.
As I was driving around the city trying to find the way back to the
branch center, the wind became brisk and chilly. I could feel the coolness
even though I was in a heated car. Observing the homeless people shivering
in cardboard boxes, I looked up to the sky outside the window and prayed to
God, prayed to Master to bless them, that they may enjoy peace and bliss
forever.