Paradise on Earth

In Florida's seemingly oppressive heat, Master told us that the heat helps us to burn off our limitations and toxins. She reiterated that our heavenly Home is much bigger than the Center and could accommodate all the people, because it has several dimensions and everyone can feel that Master is close by, even when She is seated far away. Master said it is a very auspicious sign that Florida is called the "State of the Buddhas" in Chinese.

 

Master's Animal Friends

Over the past year, Master has rescued five dogs from the local animal shelter, as well as adopted a parrot, a cockatoo and two cockatiels. She said that animals had distinctive senses that are far more developed than those of humans, and that dogs have a sense of smell that is 500 times stronger than that of humans'. So we should not think that animals are not intelligent.

During one of the dinner breaks, Master came to visit us with a beautiful bright blue parrot named Sunny. Master explained that his owner had gotten tired of poor Sunny, and Master's compassion was so great that she had adopted him. While She was talking, Sunny kept his back toward the crowd, and Master asked him if he didn't like the people, to which he replied immediately "Not a lot." It was heartwarming to watch Master's interaction with Sunny. He performed a few tricks after he relaxed and Master thanked him, to which he replied "You're welcome." She said that if She had fruit, he would follow Her around saying "I love you, I love you, I love you" in order to entice Her to feed him.

The exquisite, white cockatoo, She explained, had a very different personality than that of the parrot, and was quite funny. He would often stand on his perch, looking down at the dogs, chanting "Funny dogs!" and would greet Her with a string of complaints if She did not spend enough time with him.

She also brought a white dog with Her that She had named Lucky because She had rescued him the day before he was supposed to be put to sleep. When She saw him, the people at the animal shelter said, "This is one lucky dog." Master found the best veterinarian in the area and compassionately arranged for Lucky to receive proper medical care.

Master explained that She would often put the dog in a room with all kinds of wonderful toys to entertain himself, and yet he would sit at the gate, pining away for Her attention and affection. While She spoke, the dog lay asleep across Her lap as peacefully as if he were in a deep state of samadhi, and it was easy to understand why he would become upset in Her absence, not unlike we Quan Yin practitioners do!

Master said that She found animals were experts in expressing love without words and could give and feel love even better than humans. She even joked that if She were not in Her current line of work, She would consider running an animal shelter.

Our reunion with Master is always sweet but brief. Master said that it was difficult to leave us, too, and that each one of us is like a small tree that will branch and spring and bear a lot of fruit. She asked us to give love to people around us, to be happy, eat well, and come back again.