Dean
Yang has broadened her vision of education through spiritual practice,
and has also applied her spiritual contentment and love to her work.
When mentioning the changes she has experienced since starting to
meditate, Dean Yang insisted, "Before beginning my spiritual
practice, I was just an ordinary teacher making use of my professional
knowledge and psychological training in my counseling work. But after
starting to practice with Master Ching Hai, I gained a more profound
realization of psychology, and since then I’ve been more able to
apply this knowledge and utilize it appropriately in my job. Only
with the greater love and patience that I gained through practice
was I able to bring my academic training into full play!"
How
has Dean Yang relied on her experiences in spiritual cultivation to
overcome challenges in her work after being initiated by Supreme Master
Ching Hai? In response to this question she said, "Master once
told us that from the day of our initiation we’re connected with
God. I thus put each day in the hands of Master, go to work with the
attitude of learning from my job, and see what I’ll experience that
day. I majored in psychology and counseling so my work is usually
associated with people who are troubled, and their moods often affect
me. However, since being initiated and beginning to practice the Quan
Yin Method, I’ve been able to face the unpredictable nature of my
work and meet daily challenges with a happy mood. My attitude has
become increasingly positive, and I look at life in a more natural
way. As for my counseling work, which is contingent on my clients’
frame of mind, the most common situation is to see an unhappy student
come to ask for help, which often requires putting down a project
or interrupting a meal or break to give assistance. Of course, at
such times I might struggle a bit in my heart, but I then remember
Master, compare my work with Her sacrifices for us, and realize that
the slight inconveniences I experience on my job are nothing."
"Everyone
has times of fatigue and low spirits. So we can’t always be sure
that we’re doing the best teaching for our students through our
speech and actions." Dean Yang, who meditates daily, sincerely
faces the challenges of her career and realizes that endless love
and wisdom from within are the best guidance for both her students
and herself.
On
this topic she says, "It’s very dangerous to live without spiritual
practice! We don’t know what kinds of people, events or challenges
we may encounter each day. As an advisor, I feel strongly about this
as we are unlike other teachers who have routine courses and face
the same students day after day. Although our students are required
to make appointments before they come to talk with us, we have no
idea which part of their psychic experience they will reveal. With
some students, you never know why they suddenly appear on a given
day. Under the circumstances, if you don’t maintain enough love
and wisdom, how can you have good interactions with others? Looking
back over the ages of twenty to thirty in my life, it was really a
great risk! But now I feel very safe as I clearly experience my inner
power by each day contacting God, contacting nature, which gives me
the feeling that I’m continuously walking in the Tao. No matter
what you do, you’ll feel this great power — ‘Hes’ is supporting
you, accompanying you, ‘Hes’ is giving you the best guidance."
The
Expectations of Modern Youth 
The
confusion of values in contemporary society has a deep impact on our
youth as many wonder what course in life to follow. However Dean Yang
points out a specific direction: "During adolescence, a student
basically doesn’t have much confidence in himself and is still searching
for self-identity. Particularly in modern society, people are confused
about social values so it’s not easy for a student to find his or
her own self or be certain about a direction in life! But we do hope
our students or adolescents will gain self-confidence and easily discover
their self-identity. I often encourage them to read positive books
and see good films so as not to let their hearts become filled with
too much sorrow, worry and violent or negative thoughts during this
period of their lives; for these influences can affect their entire
way of thinking. If students have their own religious beliefs due
to family background or other circumstances, and understand that in
nature there is a better and higher power to guide them and let them
feel they are in the Tao at all times, I believe it will be easier
for them to be more positive about themselves."
Spiritual
Practice Benefits Family Life
A
successful career woman often has a happy family life. In our visit
with Dean Yang’s family, we felt the support and respect between
her and her husband, and the inspiration and educational rapport between
them and their children. As Dean Yang said, "My husband and I
have always loved each other; however, since we began our spiritual
quest, our love has grown deeper. There’s nothing that we can’t
share. We’re more than friends. I feel very lucky to have such a
good spiritual partner and to know that we can encourage and help
each other on the spiritual path. We’ve learned to respect and love
each other more since our initiation; so I’m able to treat our children
with more flexibility, unlike many parents who care too much about
their children’s school work and worry too much about their future,
thus affecting the parent-child relationship."
How
does this "teacher mom’s" teenage son, who has been a
vegetarian and spiritual practitioner along with his parents since
early childhood, feel about his mother? In response to this question,
he said, "What I like best is that Mom treats me like a friend.
We can open our hearts to reveal our innermost thoughts. Our relations
are not only like those between mother and son, but like that between
friends who always know what’s in the other’s mind." When
asked about the aspect of his family that makes him happiest, the
young man said without hesitation, "I have a Mom who’s more
‘fashionable’ than anyone else’s!"
Conclusion
Sister
Yang has gained much wisdom from the perfect example set by Supreme
Master Ching Hai, and has applied it both in education and in her
family life. For years, she has felt a deep sense of gratitude toward
Master, whom she has not seen for a long time. As she states, "I
miss Her very much and hope that we can have more chances to see Her
and listen to Her words as we did before. But Master takes care of
us down to the very last detail as She is with us at all times, and
so I feel Her love constantly." Sister Yang’s total faith
in Master makes her feel stronger and more at ease than she was earlier
in her life; the wisdom and love developed through her meditation
practice are the sources of her motivation, enabling her to face the
challenges of teaching and counseling in a more balanced way.
This
interview was aired on Sun TV in serial # 34 and 35 of the A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms TV program:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/hichannel/index.htm
(In Chinese,
with English subtitles)
