One
day, my mother came to visit me from our hometown, and I presented her
with a bracelet made and offered by a Quan Yin messenger. A month later,
my mother visited me again. To my surprise, she told me that she would
no longer interfere with my spiritual practice or what I would like
to do in my life. This was a great change from the previous times when
she had tried every possible means to stop me from practicing spiritually.
After
my initial astonishment, my mother revealed the reasons behind her change
in attitude. She said she had not been very happy one day, so she went
out for a walk, where she met an old man who was an expert in physiognomy.
When the old man saw the bracelet around my mother's wrist, he was amazed,
and asked, "Where did you get it from? It is so powerful and emits
brilliant light." He then walked by my mother's side, chatting
with her.
When
my mother invited him to her house, he sat in meditation for a short
while. "I am a Taoist practitioner and share bonds of affinity
with you," he said. "There is something I must tell you. Your
son is a virtuous person. He is following a very ancient Master from
the spiritual world. The Creator has mapped the course of his spiritual
practice with a unique task and mission. You must not interfere with
his will or intention. Otherwise, you will be working against the Creator's
plans and will incur karma. In this special age in time, the Earth will
be purified. Many beings who have been doing spiritual practice for
many lifetimes will attain spiritual achievements and positions they
are entitled to in the universe. In order not to miss this opportunity,
many heavenly beings have been reincarnated into this world.
Such
purificatory events have occurred twice on this planet before this time,
once in ancient times when the legendary Chinese emperors in the remote
ages (approximately 5000 years ago), and once during the transition
period between the Shang and Chou dynasties (around 3,000 years ago).
But those were very small events. The purification of this present era
will elevate this planet to a highly developed state." The old
man also explained to my mother many other incidents that had occurred
in my life. Therefore, as You have promised, Master, Your almighty power
has conquered my mother's heart.
I don't exactly know
when this series of countless, profound, and mystical stories actually
started. However, I believe it can be traced back to a profoundly loving
glance from You that happened several eons ago. Perhaps that is the
reason behind everything.
I
remember that prior to seeing Your sample booklet, I had dreamt of myself
in a big library where I came across the title, "The Key of Immediate
Enlightenment". I was eager to locate the book but failed. It was
not until I saw Your books for the first time that I realized the dream
was a sign that You had already come. In order to bring out the muni
pearl that has lain hidden deep in my marble brain, You arranged for
the most awe-inspiring miracles to crack this tough head of mine.
You
had my old Lama friend - my closest ally since my childhood days - come
to tell me, "She is the best, the most perfect, and a completely
enlightened Master." This was what the Lama said when he saw Your
beautiful photo. You also had one of my former spiritual teachers, a
compassionate old lady, come to me. "Her light is omnipresent,"
she said, as she looked at Your photo, "Wherever one may be on
this planet, he who recites Her name will be deeply loved by Her, which
is hundreds and thousands of times better than reciting a Buddha's name
or mantra." When I presented a copy of Your sample booklet to another
of my spiritual teachers, she accepted it immediately with these words,
"Your Master is truly great. Since the moment you started thinking
about Her, Her blessings have remained with you constantly." I
had not yet received initiation at the time. And my silent tears began
to flow for You in my heart, up until now....
While
I was waiting for initiation, I was so anxious and eaten up with worry
that I almost lost hope because I could not get in touch with local
fellow initiates. In a crowded temple, however, a thin young man comforted
me, "Taking just one look at the Master is as good as having received
initiation and abhisekata. You will be enlightened at the age of 20
and will have your spiritual attainments in this life as you have wished."
When his words came true after I turned 20, I suddenly realized why
he was nowhere to be found by the time I regained my senses and ran
out of the temple to look for him.
Less
than two months after my initiation, I went to see my former spiritual
teacher who had been honored as the most eminent Tantric monk in Amdo,
Tibet. Through his expression of amazement and thumbs-up gesture, You
completely conquered my heart. Only when I saw him sigh in awe and his
hands move delicately over the sample booklet did I realize what You
had truly given me.
Oh,
Master! The stories between You and me are a thousand times more beautiful
than any myth or legend. How could I tell them all? Even all the most
romantic words in this world would not be enough to describe one-millionth
of a fraction of Your beauty and love! How could I forget Your wonderful
touch in Bangkok? Your eyes were closed, yet immeasurable blessings
flowed through Your fingertips. Your lips smiled as though there were
a thousand suns about to burst into light at dawn. Your eyes were transfixed
upon me, and You looked like a close friend, a good ally, the Almighty
Lord. Just as I find the scene of verdant mountains so enchanting, hopefully
the mountains share the same feeling as they look upon me!
Oh,
Master! I know this is not a simple love story that began only three
years ago. I am elated and rejoice in this love. Along the tracks of
my previous lifetimes, I continue to advance in this history of love.
Oh, Master! I am happy to move along this path and never want to turn
back! 
Between
Master and Disciplesles
The
Early Years of My Spiritual Cultivation