By Brother Initiate Jian Sheng-jie, Jiayi, Formosa

Since my initiation, Master has taught me many lessons both within and without. Every day I am like a new sprout pushing through the soil to explore a brand new world. An encyclopedia seems to have been imprinted in my heart. When I run into difficulty, I only have to seek within and can immediately find a solution. Each new day fills my life with surprises and challenges. Very often I overcome an ordeal, only to find myself confronted by another the very next day.

Before initiation, I expected everything to be perfect. However, my limited capabilities only brought self-inflicted pain. I often visited temples, gazing at the magnificent statues and hoping to meet the Buddhas in the Pure Land. Or, I would sit alone in the courtyard enjoying my inner peace. My schoolmates loved going to the cinema and recreation areas, but these did not kindle my interest because I felt that something was missing. This went on until one day, a sister initiate gave me a copy of "The Key Of Immediate Enlightenment". In the book was a chapter entitled "The Buddha is not the Anuttara Samyak Sambodi" (the Ultimate Truth). Upon reading it, I was awestruck. I had never dreamt that someone could explain such an abstract idea with such simple words. Later, the sister initiate lent me one of Master's Buddhist Chanting tapes. As I listened to it through the earphones, I seemed to have become intoxicated. I was in such a state of relaxation and peace and it was with great reluctance that I got up after over an hour. I developed an intense longing to receive initiation as soon as possible. Finally, I was initiated at Hsihu on the eve of my final examinations, without having informed my family.

My emotional state after the initiation was exactly as Master had described it: "Filled with bliss. You would give sample booklets even to stray dogs on the street." I became like a preacher, "delivering sermons" whenever I got a chance. This created friction between myself and some of my friends and relatives. Then one day it suddenly occurred to me that they were not deliberately opposed to my faith, they just could not understand why our spiritual group was the way it was. Unlike worldly knowledge that can be accepted through logical reasoning, this path takes genuine inner realization to understand. Having untied this mental knot, I could better understand and care for them. When socializing with people, I no longer carried such a heavy "Zen smell" with me. Master has told us that teaching by personal example is better than teaching through words. True enough, I found that if we can be the epitome of Truth, goodness and beauty at all times, and deal lovingly with people, others will naturally notice it. Their misunderstanding of us and our group will be minimized as well.

Initially, I often envied other fellow initiates for their wonderful experiences. Each day I expected to see magnificent light and great saints. But however hard I tried, my wish was never realized. I began to wonder whether my efforts were worth their while or not. One day, I suddenly realized how silly I was. Why was I making myself miserable just because I didn't have good experiences? The purpose of spiritual practice is not just to have inner experiences, but to make ourselves happy -- absolutely free and happy. If we do attain the fifth realm, what good will it do if we are always unhappy? At best, we can only become 'Miserable Saints'! Having found an answer to my problem, I could face things with an open heart and appreciate their beauty. I came to realize that everything is a blessing from God and a source of lessons for our spiritual cultivation. Therefore, I have become increasingly grateful to God for all His arrangements.

With each passing day my life gets easier and happier. Both materially and in spiritual development, Master has made perfect arrangements for us. Sometimes I might complain and question why Master has taken something away from me, but very soon I realize that She is giving me a chance to grow and progress. If we can make good use of every moment in life, we will know that Master is always helping and tempering us, no matter how far away She is physically.

How lucky I am to have found such a great enlightened Master! Sometimes She is like a compassionate mother meticulously teaching Her disciples how to live a perfect life in every way -- in eating, dressing, living, acting, learning, and enjoying. Sometimes She behaves like a kind father who lectures disciples sternly when they are sluggish, telling them how to use the great, dauntless spirit when they are weak. Something Master once said touches me deeply: "Our vision must be so large, larger than life, must be so noble that we have nothing else to lose. We fear nothing in such greatness of a vision. " How great a vision and how magnanimous a heart She has! We are extremely fortunate to have met such an enlightened Master, one who is not easy to encounter. Therefore, we should learn from Her broad vision and magnanimous heart, follow in Her footsteps, and together we shall usher in a golden era of glory to this world.

Growing Strong In Bliss Welled-Up Bliss There Is No Absolute Fate!