In addition, Master revealed that not every spiritual master reaches 100% enlightenment, that there is only one young Master currently living in India who has reached 70% of complete enlightenment (the highest among famous masters!) through practice of the Quan Yin Method, that rarely is there even one 100% enlightened Master in the world, and that our Quan Yin family is very enlightened as well. Master was also happy to inform us that a number of our Quan Yin practitioners have reached a 60% level of enlightenment. One resident first came to Master after already having reached 40% enlightenment, and with Her help, about 10 years later, this person has reached 60%. Master added that gaining 20% is very good progress, and without Master and our precious method, we cannot elevate ourselves to even a 1% level of enlightenment.

Master next spoke of ways to help oneself meditate regularly. If the mind resists meditating, we can give it a message it likes to hear. For example, instead of saying "meditation time" we can say "rest time" or "relaxation time." She also said that nowadays, meditation is very popular as it helps us to become more successful in many areas of life - the physical body becomes healthier, and the mind more developed. When we meditate, all aspects of our surroundings benefit, as in the case of a little dying plant that Master meditated next to. It came back to life and became very healthy and grew very quickly as a result of Master's meditation. But we ourselves benefit the most. Thus, we should view meditation time as the most precious gem in the universe, which no human being can give us. So when the mind hears the words "precious gem" or "relaxation time," it will respond "OK" immediately. When the mind says something, our bodily cells listen because everything is created by the mind. We are our own Masters so we can turn the negative into the positive. For this reason, we should not make the mind feel stressed about going to group meditation because of difficulties with a contact person or some other excuse.

On the night of December 25 Master allowed Chinese initiates to see Her after She had seen the Aulacese, and reminded them that during this precious retreat they should only remember God instead of trying to fulfill mundane desires or resolve family troubles, thus affecting others around them. She said that from now on only those who are sincere about God deserve to attend retreats, adding that She does not simply want to be a nice person, but more importantly, She must be a true Master and Her duty is to convey the Truth from God to us, and not please and entertain everyone as a nice person does.

In addition, Master illustrated how to show love naturally through an event from Her own life that recently occurred in a furniture store during Christmastime, and concluded that when we help others and make them happy, we double our happiness - one source of happiness is the joy of helping others and the other is the joy of the receiver.

On December 26, Master allowed Westerners and initiates from other countries to see Her and apologized for Her strictness, but reiterated that God had instructed Her to be a good Master, not just a nice person. Master then went on to emphasize the importance of pursuing enlightenment in spiritual practice and of being at retreats only with God and not with family or other reasons in mind. She stressed putting down everything to serve God, citing the example of Her own choice of hair color and style based on God's will. She concluded this point by saying, "Life is simpler when you listen to God."

Next Master said that love without wisdom is disaster, and gave the example of some residents who had built a house for Her birds. In the process of construction, they installed windows at the north and south ends instead of only on the west, as She had instructed. So instead of receiving warm breezes through the west window, the birds would feel a chilly wind blowing in from the north that would go directly through to the window on the opposite wall. For this reason, and because of many other minor mistakes, such as poisonous fumes from the glue used, incorrect walls, etc., Her birds could not stay in the new house but had to remain in cramped quarters until these problems were resolved. Using this case, Master showed that we must strive for 100% enlightenment at all costs so that our actions are guided by wisdom as well as love.

On the retreat's last day, the initiates meditated in a long final session, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and 30 minutes before the end of this session Master came to say good-bye and reminded us that She loved us so much that She felt She had to disobey God to come to see everyone at that time, and would pay God back later.

Master also prompted us that in order to make progress during retreats, we must put down everything in the mundane world, leaving our jobs and families behind and writing the word "Dead" on our foreheads. She said that we must decide to make God our number one priority during these times. Then, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of the physical world, Master said that our earthly spouses can leave us at any time, but our Heavenly spouse (God) will stay with us forever. Thus, we must honor the God within us by making Hirm number one during the time of a retreat.

Hearing Master's comments, everyone was touched, and then Master cried, noting that She loves us very much and that She had to be strict only to help us progress. Everyone then cried together due to the power of God's love, in a touching moment of parting.

At retreat's end, the rewards of Master's promotion of a more single-pointed focus on God were evident in the glowing faces of the participants. During the last few moments, Master also said that She knew of our struggles, that She did not blame us for our problems, and that She loves us all very much. Through Master's meticulous care, many felt a re-awakening of devotion to God and spiritual practice. What a blessing for us all to carry into the New Year!

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