Early one morning, I got up as usual at half-past three to meditate. After meditation, I was going to do some exercises in the gym, when suddenly the Inner Master told me to clear the weeds in my front yard, which were already higher than knee-level. I had cleared the weeds once earlier this year, when the soil was still soft after the rainy season, and it was a tough job. For the several months that followed, I had not done anything to the yard, because it was not my favorite work. Whenever I have time, the only thing on my mind is meditation.

Nevertheless, I thought, "I must obey Master's instructions". However, I didn't change clothes, and was not equipped with any utensils or gloves. Nonetheless, I promptly dashed into the front yard, and soon was terrified to note that the weeds, armed with thorns, had already grown so tall and prosperous that all the other plants and flowers in the area that needed to be taken care of looked dwarfed and subdued. I then attacked the gigantic weeds, eyesores that were very tall and strong. Suddenly, I noticed that I had to wrestle with these deep-rooted and thorny tough guys with my bare hands. Obviously, they were going to make me suffer.

But, barely had the thought crossed my mind when, without much effort, I had completely uprooted a thorny weed that was higher than knee-level. It was incredibly easy! According to my past experience, a spade was the only tool that I could use to accomplish this job. I pulled out the weeds one after another, and felt that the tall, strong ones were not firmly rooted, while the young ones seemed to have no roots at all! In this way, my poor old hands became invincible weapons. Initially, I had estimated that I could only finish one-third of the task that morning. But unexpectedly, I managed to finish the whole job under the morning sun, and without sweating a bit. I had never worked so efficiently before! After finishing the job, I checked my hands, found that they were virtually unscratched, and felt very grateful for Master's meticulous encouragement and care.

In the few months after the rainy season, I had been totally oblivious to the weeds that had invaded my front yard, because I believed in the idea that "meditation and exercise are more important than clearing the yard." To me, the weeds were simply a temporary and harmless phenomenon, so I tolerated their existence. Many people passed by waving their heads in dismay and stealthily scoffing at the untidiness of the yard's owner. Yet I continued to be undisturbed.

The same also happens to our ego, preconceptions and bad habits. Despite the fact that they have already created many obstacles for us, we remain blind to them, or just tolerate them as being natural. Were it not for our spiritual cultivation through the Quan Yin Method and the blessings from Master, they would grow wildly and totally unchecked, just like the weeds in my front yard.