Mother's Day Special Column

Words From A Practicing Mother

By Fellow Initiate Kuo, Taipei, Formosa

I like to read Master's aphorisms, and take heart in copying them into a book which I always carry with me. In the course of practice in daily life, when I am faced with pains and sorrows, or am wrongly accused, am obstructed, and so on, at the appropriate moment, they always, give me inspiration and encouragement, and comfort my soul. They correct the bad habits that I have accumulated through many lifetimes, as well as my worldly, distorted concepts. I always feel glad that when I was first initiated, although I did not have time to absorb many of Master's teachings, She had already instilled a peaceful state in me, allowing me to naturally use Her flexible method.

It is because of this method, that I have a family of fellow practitioners who are filled with laughter each day, are concerned for one another, and also allow me to have a work environment that is seldom filled with pressure.

Before I was initiated, I had a very short temper. I often quarreled with my husband and hit my children. After initiation, following Master's teachings and instructions, and with Her blessings, I have imperceptibly become gentler. Over time, communications, patience, and prayers have taken the place of arguments. Through Master's compassionate love, I have calmed my quick temper. Also, I have done my best to take better care of my family, and do not force Master's teachings on them.

But in the course of daily life, Her words have been integrated casually, light-heartedly, and naturally into their consciousness. I patiently have left them as tinder, waiting for them to kindle by themselves one day.

Over time, sure enough, I have discovered that my husband has picked up Master's books on his own to read. Because he feels it is really incredible that his strong willed wife has stopped arguing with him, and instead often sits silently by herself for many hours a day.

Recently, my husband was preparing for a special examination for the position as an officer in the justice department. However he could often be seen reading Master's books, which he had placed on top of his exam text books. Before sitting for the examination, he had already decided to be initiated.

One day, when I was straightening our eldest daughter's bed, I was surprised to discover a large group of Master's pictures under her pillow. I don't know when she had quietly fallen in love with Master. She could not hold back and happily told me that Master was very bright and beautiful, that Master took her to play up in heaven, and even came at night to her cover with her blanket. Also, her mathematics achievement originally was not very good. Yet after initiation, her mind started to develop, and she is now considered an excellent math student. Her test results are consistently at the top of her class.

Because my health had not been good and I had been ill for years, my small daughter often saw Master's manifestation body come to take care of her and keep her company. Now she is completing kindergarten, and is preparing to be half initiated. On Mother's day at Hsihu Center, she said, “Mother, after initiation, I will definitely meditate diligently!”

I deeply thank Master. In my long years of illness and pain, I have neglected to take care of my family and my children and yet Mother Master has quietly assumed my responsibilities. Not only has Master constantly taken care of my small daughter's life, but also has taught her inner soul.

Master is the Mother of the whole universe, Mother of my little daughter, and also the Mother of you and me.

A Good Daughter-in-law,
Good Wife and Good Mother

Narrated by Fellow Initiate Wang, Taipei, Formosa
Recorded by Fellow Initiate Shih, Taipei, Formosa

Since sister Wang was initiated, not only have both her father and mother-in-law become sympathetic towards her spiritual practice, but her husband has also now become an initiate. Her children like Master, too. How did she achieve all this?

Through the words and actions of Suma Ching Hai, sister Wang understands that the true meaning of love is to serve others selflessly and to give sincerely. Therefore, she decided to always put her best efforts into being a good daughter-in-law, a good wife and a good mother. Whatever she does, she always tries her best so that her family members will be happy and will not complain. She feels that as long as she continues to give, she will be rewarded one day because human beings are very sentimental. Of course, all her efforts are backed-up by boundless love, patience and wisdom.

For example, sister Wang's parents-in-law are old and they are used to eating non-vegetarian food. Although she does not like to cook non-vegetarian food, sister Wang continues to cook for them because she respects their wishes and doesn't want them to think that she is forcing them to eat vegetarian meals. At the same time, she prays for Master's blessing.

Furthermore, although she knows it is better to pray to one's true inner nature than to pray to a wooden Buddha statue or the tablets of dead ancestors, in order not to upset her in-laws, she continues to participate in the prayer rituals with them. Now, however, during the rituals she offers only vegetarian food, plays Suma Ching Hai's Buddha chanting tapes, and prays in silence for Master's blessing. She told her in-laws that Suma Ching Hai will take their dead ancestors to a higher dimension, therefore, they placed Master's photos on the altar as a gesture of gratitude.

Observing that she is so sincere, sister Wang's in-laws have gradually come to believe in Master, and now, they also offer only vegetarian food when they do their prayers. Moreover, sister Wang's father-in-law recently began entertaining guests with vegetarian meals.

In daily life, sister Wang carries out her housework dutifully. Whenever she goes to a retreat, she ensures that the needs of her family are still met in her absence, makes sure that all household chores are taken care of, and prepares delicious meals to last for a few days. She packs the food in the fridge so that her husband and children need not worry about their meals when they come home tired.

There is also another important point to this story: sister Wang consults her husband first before deciding to go to a retreat. Sometimes, when she has difficulty convincing him, she invites fellow initiates home for a chat. She believes that everyone's affinity with one another varies, and that there is bound to be an initiate who can communicate well with her husband and act as a mediator.

Sister Wang's husband observed the changes in her after she began practicing. She became more filial, did not go against the elders, took care of her family well, and in turn, the family is more harmonious. Therefore, he did not object to her spiritual practice. Indeed, soon after, he too followed her on the same path.

Suma Ching Hai has said: "Spiritual practice should be free, and let others feel free too."

Sister Wang has never forced her family members to do anything that they did not want to do. Conversely, she tolerated things that displeased her and decided to be a good example instead. Her persistent giving has gradually changed her family members' attitudes.

The love, wisdom and flexibility derived from her practice have made her family even more harmonious and have paved the way for them to tread the same spiritual path. These positive results serve to confirm her own level of practice and enlightenment.

God Entrusts To Me A New Life

By Fellow Initiate Lee, Hong Kong

When the doctor told me that I was pregnant, I was very calm and not at all afraid. I broke the news to my husband and we were all filled with joy. We knew that since Master had already set us free from the karma accumulated during our past lives, the one who was to come to our fully initiated family must be a spiritual practitioner as well. He or she belonged to Master, and was a Bodhisattva designated by Her to come for spiritual fulfillment.

Through my body, God brought him into being, and entrusted us to care for him. Our family was filled with joy; from the bottom of our hearts, we felt that a good friend was coming to bless this world with us. Together, we would make the world more beautiful and brilliant.

At the beginning, my husband was worried about how to take care of the child and the added financial burdens. Then one day, while he was on the street, he was injured by a piece of wooden board that fell from high above and, and he began to bleed. As he received five stitches in the hospital, he was enlightened immediately! He realized that life is ephemeral. Without him, the child would still grow up under Master's care. All is not of our doing, because we can't even take care of ourselves. All the living beings are being cared for by God; Hes has arranged everything perfectly for every being.

From my husband's accident, I became more enlightened and no longer complained so much about the world, for I now realized that I had come willingly just like my baby. I used to complain to my mother about bringing me into this world; now I understood that it was not my mother but myself who eagerly wanted to come to follow an enlightened master for spiritual practice. As long as Master is here, we have no fear of anything. Master will take hold of our hands, liberate us from the cycle of birth and death, and lead us to go beyond the fifth world together.

After initiation, every incident makes us more enlightened. Through each occurrence, we understand more about God, and we merge closer to Master as well.

Men Have Motherly Love Also

By initiate Chen, Chiayi, Formosa

To have the opportunity and good fortune to take part in the work of making the celestial clothes this time, I have to thank my husband (also a fellow initiate) and even more, thank Master for Her teachings. Master has said that between husbands and wives, men should try their best to do things that they can do for themselves, and the same with women. Women should not depend on men to do things that they can do on their own. They have to learn to be independent. My husband does not have a man's superiority complex. He will usually help with the domestic work. Consequently, I was able to have the honor of working for Master only with his encouragement and support.

During the days when I was away, my husband had to go to the office, take care of the children, cook, wash clothes, and tidy up the house. He also took time to visit our parents in the country. Who says only women have motherly love? Men practicing the Quan Yin Method also have motherly love. This is all due to the daily teaching of the great Suma Ching Hai. Also, I'd like to thank Her for transmitting to us this method of love, so that we disciples have happy and contented lives. All this is bestowed by our great spiritual Mother. Thank You, Master!

Children Give Me The Opportunity To Learn

Narrated by Fellow Initiate Chan, Hong Kong
Recorded by Fellow Initiate Lee, Hong Kong

After initiation I feel that being a mother is much easier. We keep the five precepts, for example, "no lying." Whatever mother says, children will believe. There is trust between adult and child. Because the adults are vegetarians, the children also eat vegetarian food. Hence they are more cordial and friendly. They don't have sudden outbursts of bad temper. They are reasonable and easy to teach. Compared to other children of the same age, they are much more agreeable and obedient.

After initiation I let inner Master take care of my children. I never need to worry a bit. When they go to kindergarten, all children usually bring their own candies and cookies to school. I worried that my children might unknowingly eat something containing animal products. I asked Master for help. My youngest son would bring home what other children gave him in school and ask me if he could eat it. If I said no, he wouldn't eat it.

Now I feel that giving birth and being a mother is not such a big deal. On the other hand, we should thank our children for coming to this world, giving us the opportunity to learn how to love other people and all sentient beings unconditionally.

The job of a mother is simply to develop a little compassion. This also is the beginning of learning to be an enlightened master. We have to learn to care for our children selflessly around the clock, to pretend to be angry, and to let the children make their own mistakes in order to learn their lessons.

We the initiates are like children in Master's eyes. Taking care of our children is like Master taking care of us. She has to put up with our bad habits, our rebellious attitudes, and at the same time most deeply love and care for us. Now I can understand better Master's hard work and have infinite appreciation for Her.