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[Benin] Fellow initiates from Benin, West Africa recently launched a meditation center and book circulation office in their capital--Cotonou. Last December, they also formally established The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in their country, whereupon they began to broadcast Master's teachings on the radio each day to convey the message of the Quan Yin Method to their compatriots. The Cotonou Center is open Monday through Saturday for fellow initiates and visitors interested in watching Master's videotapes, or reading Her books and News magazines. Each day, visitors and would-be initiates come to the Center to ask or learn about Master's teachings. In addition to attending regular group meditation sessions, fellow practitioners also come to the Center in their spare time to recharge themselves by meditating at additional sessions.

The Center is permeated with wonderful spiritual vibrations, which often make people forget the time. One would-be initiate, a businessman, used to ask materially related questions when he first began learning the Convenient Method. Thus, his financial problems hindered his spiritual growth. However, after several months' of practicing the Convenient Method, he changed considerably. Master's love deeply attracted him. Once, after watching Master's videotaped lectures at the Center, he seemed to be purged of all his worldly troubles and sorrows. He wanted to return to work but was reluctant to leave the Center, which is very tranquil and peaceful. So, he sat on the steps outside for a long while and felt so good that he could not help stepping back inside to read one of Master's books. When he finally decided to leave, he sat down on the steps again, silently enjoying his inner spiritual delight and his first experience of liberation and contentment.

Fellow initiates' countless spiritual experiences within and without are the pillars that build their confidence. This fact is demonstrated by the example of an initiate who practiced the Convenient Method before the Benin Center was established, and used to attend group meditation at the Togo Center each Saturday. When his wife decided to follow Master as well, he took her to learn the Convenient Method at the Togo Center. By the time group meditation ended that evening, it was already nine o'clock, and the couple could not find a taxi at the local station. There happened to be a mini bus leaving for Cotonou, so they got on, but the bus driver kept everyone waiting while arguing with a colleague. Eventually, the passengers lost their patience and got off the bus. But because they couldn't find another bus to take them to their destination, they finally returned to the mini bus. The couple had to squeeze into the front seats beside the driver, for they were the last to board.

However, the driver refused to take them and ignored their reasoning and persuasion. The couple was forced to get off the bus, and waited for more than an hour. They began to complain in their hearts, as they had two young children waiting for them at home. After another long stretch of time, a taxi finally showed up. On their way home, the couple saw the mini bus that they had originally intended to take. It had crashed and the front seats had been destroyed. At that moment, they suddenly realized that Master's incredible power had protected them from this predestined calamity.