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Traveling Nonstop On The Journey Of Love, Master's
Trip To Latin America |
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The
five-day retreat in Korea was followed by a one-week bonus retreat, marking
an extension of this year's Mother's Day celebrations - the trouble of having
too many disciples! (Just joking!) Just as the Korean retreat concluded, the
heart of our Divine Mother was drawn to another shore by the longing of Her
children in Latin America. Master, without much time for a rest, was on Her
way to a reunion with the fellow initiates in Central and South America. Master
had compassionately overlooked Her own fatigue!
Upon seeing Master,
many Mexican fellow practitioners could not control their emotions and began
crying in extreme bliss. Master said that our longing is like a string pulling
Her here. Love is the most attractive power in the universe. Anything can be
conquered by love. If the world leaders understood this power of love, they
would never make war. Just "love your enemy" and then they will drop all weapons
and surrender in no time. Master reminded us to stay in that love forever and
forever. That's all we need.
The second day, Master
gave initiation and answered questions from initiates. Words cannot describe
all the wisdom Master shared with us in such a short reunion of two days. We
felt very much like beloved children intoxicated with Her love and covered with
a soft maternal breeze.
To welcome the return
of the Divine Mother, fellow practitioners in Costa Rica decorated the stage
in the main hall, encircling it with all kinds of fresh fruit, banana trees,
plants, and flowers to create a lovely countryside atmosphere. Further brightening
up the decorations was the genuine bliss rising from the hearts of the fellow
practitioners.
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Latin America rejoices
at Master's arrival
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In sharp contrast to
their usual romantic and leisurely lifestyle of everything can wait until tomorrow,
fellow disciples had their first taste of anxiousness when waiting for Master's
arrival at the airport. " Master is here! Master has arrived!" The shouts from
fellow disciples created a stir in the humble-sized airport when they finally
saw their long-missed dear Master appear in a simple, yet elegantly casual outfit.
She was still Her beautiful self, except, as the disciples noted with a heartache,
for a trace of weariness from the tiring journey. To satisfy the longing of
Hiers children, God has rushed Master around as though unaware of the fatigue
it brings to Her petite body. Upon reaching the Center, Master took a brief
rest before coming out to have a chat with everyone. She laughingly remarked
that She would never again dare to inform initiates of Her arrival time in advance,
for She had felt as though She had been tossed and turned for two days. Even
during the flight to Costa Rica, She had felt as though She was being barbecued
alive by the energy generated by the disciples' longings.
It was a cool evening
in the Costa Rican Center, and thin clouds hung around a radiant moon. The disciples
sat around Master, singing piously for their dearest Mom and serving Her self-baked
vegetarian cakes, which She savored and personally shared with everyone while
praising the initiates for their culinary skills. At every gathering with Master,
initiates are not only filled with love but also have their stomachs well satisfied.
Master jokingly labeled initiates as "FBI" (food, beverage & "I"), meaning,
"we have food, we have drinks, and we have Master!" The next evening, fellow
initiates from other Latin American countries arrived to join the group meditation,
which commenced with a question-and-answer session followed by meditation with
Master.
The Sunday group meditation
was held in the main hall on the hillock in the Center. In the afternoon, Master
joined the initiates in meditation and led them in the recitation of the Holy
Names. While answering questions from disciples, Master elaborated on the true
meaning of "loving your enemy." "The ones who enslave us, the ones who kill
us, the ones who obstruct us going back to God, they are all friends. We're
all friends from eternity. Sometimes they also play bad guy - try to obstruct
us, try to seduce us -- so that we get stronger, more resistance. So we have
to understand this in order to love our enemies. The true forgiveness comes
only when we realize that we are all friends in eternity."
Master comforted a sister initiate who was distressed by family problems by
citing Her own situation as an example. Many people have misunderstood, insulted;
or scandalized Master, yet there She was, nicely seated and wearing a smile
on Her face. The trouble created by just one husband was hardly anything as
compared to Hers! Master suddenly seemed to remember all the negative forces
that pounded on Her like mountains and seas, and yelled, "Enough! Please!" Seconds
later, Master resumed Her speech and provided further encouragement to the troubled
sister initiate, "Everyone has their problem, not only you, and we have to try
our best to use our wisdom to deal with the situation." Master mentioned earlier
that She, too, had to overcome Her own likes and dislikes. She had to do many
things that She disliked for the benefit and happiness of others. Obviously
the hardships and agonies on Master's shoulders are a billion times heavier
than what the disciples have to bear. However, She can quickly push aside these
emotions and feelings, stand steadfast against any attack, and go on Her way.
Fellow practitioners
have matured through these years. A filial brother asked Master whether the
disciples could possibly share Her burdens. To this, Master replied that it
is both impossible and unnecessary because it is not the job of the disciples.
They may bear their own burdens when they become Enlightened Masters. There
is plenty of karma in the world outside, so it is not necessary to share Master's
burdens.
A sister initiate noted
considerately that although Master is an Enlightened Master, She is still in
the physical form of a female. Unable to bear seeing Master always rushing from
place to place, she requested Her to settle down at a selected spot, and she
would visit Her, no matter how far away She is. While grateful for her benevolent
intent, Master explained that everything depends on God's will; but She also
smiling said, "God's will also means, disciples' desire in their heart."
In the pitter-patter
of a rain shower, Master left Her seat and walked toward us so we could take
a closer look at Her. She told us that "whatever problem, try to solve it; and
if you can not, then it'll also be solved in time." "Be happy that you can sit
and meditate. No matter what the problem is, you are much better off than millions
of people out there, billions, trillions. Everything will change by meditation
and love..." Master truly awakened us with Her words of wisdom reminding us
to dissolve our insignificant frustrations into happiness.
This reunion of a few
days was far too short, but Master had been invited to deliver a lecture in
Los Angeles and so She was on Her way again. There is no end to this journey
of love! During Her stay in Latin America, Master devoted every second of Her
time to the initiates and in caring for them. She departed on the morning of
Her lecture in Los Angeles, without the slightest consideration of the need
to rest after the tiring trip. She has given Herself 100 percent to serving
sentient beings, and Her selfless love and spirit of sacrifice have once more
melted the hearts of us.