| While On The Path |
The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person
Narrated By Brother Initiate Jindao Lai, Jiayi, Formosa
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Recorded By Sister Initiate Yuqing Wu, Formosa
In the past, I had always been a person who was hardheaded, only believing
what I personally saw and scoffing at things that I could not see. My elder
brother, who practiced Yi Quan Tao, often told me, "If you observe
a vegetarian diet, you will benefit in such-and-such ways." But I
always argued with him about it, even to the extent that, at times, he
did not even want to talk to me about a vegetarian diet anymore. Once,
he gave me some books to read, but they lay unread at my home. Thinking
that I was hopeless regarding liberation, he mostly did not bother about
me anymore.
The Ripening Of My Affinity With Master
I came to know of Master through my brother's colleague, who was Master's
disciple. Once that disciple brought Master's book series, "The Key
of Immediate enlightenment" for another colleague to read, but since
he was not in, the books were left with my brother for several days. One
day, my brother had some free time, so he began reading one of the books.
Thinking that it was not bad, he asked if he might borrow the books. The
disciple readily agreed and my brother went home with the books.
He had finished one of the books and started on another one when I happened
to visit him. Knowing that I was hardheaded, he did not mention anything
about vegetarianism to me, but only showed me one of Master's books, and
said, "This book is not bad. You may want to read it." Unknowningly,
I had affinity with Master! After I had read a part of the book, I felt
that it was truly "not bad" and borrowed it from my brother.
After I had finished reading it, I felt that these teachings suited me
perfectly. Previously, I had smoked more than a package of cigarettes a
day and often drank alcohol, but before I had even finished reading Master's
book, I had decided to give up these habits completely.
Perceiving The Inner Stars
While reading Master's book, I was very concentrated and did not feel sleepy
at all for many nights in a row. Since She mentioned in the book about
the wisdom eye and inner experiences, when I went to bed at night, I concentrated
my attention on my wisdom eye. I had an experience on the second night.
While I was lying in bed, a TV screen seemed to appear before me and an
image gradually formed. Then in front of me, my vision was filled with
golden particles resembling stars. They were very clear, bright and indescribably
beautiful.
Meanwhile, I was thinking that I was sleeping with my wife, but wondered
why I heard her breath coming from beneath me. I remembered that for the
past decade, her breath was always at my side, but now, why was the sound
of her breath coming from underneath me? After I thought about it, the
screen shut off in about five seconds, and my wife's breath was back by
my side. This experience made me realize that human beings truly have souls.
Just as Master has said, "Our fleshly bodies are false and our world
is only temporary."
The next day, I had the distinct feeling that this world was valueless
and that I had better pursue spiritual practice, get enlightenment, and
surpass the human level. After that I gave up meat and started to observe
a completely vegetarian diet. I also gave up cigarettes and alcohol. My
only wish was to get initiated by Master as soon as possible.
I eagerly finished reading all of Master's books in the "The Key of
Immediate enlightenment" series, and having firm faith in Master,
I was very anxious to receive initiation and to learn the Quan Yin Method.
Although I had been on a vegetarian diet for only a little over a month,
I was longing for initiation. So, accompanied by a friend, my wife and
child, my eldest sister and my elder brother, I went to Hsihu Center in
Miaoli. My brother, sister and friend had been vegetarians for a long time
and were qualified for initiation; however, I was not and could only apply
for the Convenient Method of meditation.
Remembering that Master had said in Her book, "If you are sincere,
I will give you initiation," I begged for the full initiation from
all the Quan Yin messengers I could find, and one by one, they all refused
me. I kept begging until I was overcome with dizziness, but still permission
was not granted. Consolingly, people tried to persuade me to learn the
Convenient Method first and get initiation later when I was qualified.
I was deeply disappointed.
Perceiving The Transformation Master Due To Sincerity
Thinking that, while I could not be fully initiated, I must be qualified
to learn the Convenient Method, I waited there for my name to be called.
Alas! To my bewilderment, my friend and all of my family members, including
my child, were all called in for Convenient Method, only I was left, sitting
there all alone. The Quan Yin messenger rechecked the name list; my name
was not on the list. Suddenly, I felt so indescribably disappointed and
sad, as if I had fallen into the bottom of a fathomless valley.
Pondering my situation I turned around to go sit under a tree and suddenly
I saw Master standing by the guard's room at the main entrance. I mused,
"How strange it is. Master has gone overseas. How can She be here?
Maybe I am not seeing clearly."
I rubbed my eyes with my hands and carefully looked again. It was true.
Master was there. I could not possibly be mistaken. Although I had never
seen Her in person, I had seen Her pictures on the cover of each of "The
Key of Immediate enlightenment" books and on all of the News magazines.
Master's eyes were very special. It was Her. She was wearing a hat and
the figure was unmistakably that of Master.
I quickly ran to Her, calling, "Master!" The Figure looked at
me and said to me, You've got it wrong. I'm not your Master." I said,
"Yes, You are! I can't possibly be mistaken." Then Master turned
and walked into the Center. I followed Her, certain of who She was. Although
Master's figure was small, She walked very quickly, so quickly that I almost
could not catch up with Her. People often say that I walk very fast, but
Master walks even faster. When I reached Her side, I could smell a light
fragrance that She exuded which was indescribable. It seemed to me that
it both existed, yet did not exist. Somehow, it made me feel very happy
and cool, and I was filled with bliss.
On the way, Master asked me, "How long have you been on a vegetarian
diet? Why do you want to be initiated?" Then She said that I did not
have to be so impatient since I had been on a vegetarian diet for only
a month. I said that I could be patient for all other things, but I could
not wait any longer for initiation. I also told Her that the Quan Yin Method
was a really good Method and that I wanted to learn it very much. As we
walked, I implored Her to give me initiation, but She replied, "Don't
be impatient. Read more books after you go back home." She said that
those who sincerely want to be initiated would be initiated, eventually.
Master continued to walk, and was walking at a very quick pace. We neared
the bookstore, then passed it, and She seemed to be leaving me behind.
I wanted to follow Her, but suddenly She turned around and walked back
to me. Seeing Her approach me, I could not help kneeling down before Her.
She said, "Please don't kneel down! Please don't kneel down!"
Then She quickly stepped over to the information desk. Stopping there,
She told me, "This brother will help you to get initiation."
Then She said that She had to leave to do something else. I said, "Master,
please don't fool me." She smiled and said, "I'm not fooling
you." She told me to wait there for that brother to finish his work.
Then I saw Master quickly walking in another direction and suddenly disappear
from sight.
Soon afterwards, the brother working at the information desk turned to
me and asked what he could do for me. I said that Master had assigned him
to help me get initiation. He said, "No! Why do you ask me about initiation?
You should ask the people at the main entrance. Please, quickly go there."
Hearing this, I again felt dizzy, but I hurried back to the main entrance.
However, when I got there, I found, much to my dismay, that my name was
still not on the approved list, and therefore, I was not allowed to receive
initiation that day.
What happened later was amazingly wonderful. When I was finally qualified
to be initiated, I observed that the Quan Yin messenger was just that brother
whom Master had said would help me get initiation. While I was thinking
about it, that brother came to me, took my application form, and asked
me some questions. The person who gave instructions during the initiation
was also this brother that Master had pointed out to me. Don't you think
that this is intriguing? That was the process of how I was initiated.
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