It was summer already, but it still felt like spring in Hsihu. Under Master's personal design, supervision, and guidance, each corner of the Center gained a new appearance, with everything acquiring a green hue and infinite vitality. Soon after Master returned to Formosa, the project of beautifying and reforesting Hsihu made brilliant progress. The entrance to the Center, the publications area, the mass kitchen, the children's room, and other areas were completely redecorated, which allowed the fellow practitioners to conduct activities in more spacious and pleasant surroundings. This beautiful environment made them feel happy at heart and more comfortable while working.
When fellow practitioners arrived at Hsihu, the first thing that struck their eyes was a pleasing green wall, covered with variously colored creeping flowers, which greeted the homecoming crowd. This project of 'greening the enclosure' was completed overnight so that the next day, a Sunday, the fellow practitioners who came for group meditation and the guests who came to visit the Center were greatly surprised!
Master instructed that the library area be planted with Korean grass and flowers to make it look like a garden. Also, She said that in some places, large stones should be placed as seats, and the walkways paved with gravel or flagstone; moreover, this project had to be completed in one week.
Looking at this large area of land, filled with weeds and rocks, and the small number of workers, we thought to ourselves, "Is it possible that we can complete this task in seven days?" But since Master said that we should finish it within a week, it must be possible. Let's start working, anyway!" Soon after, under Master's arrangement, the overseas disciples at the Center supported us greatly. Even the young resident disciples came to help. We divided the work and cooperated with each other, cleaning the grounds, pulling weeds, buying flowers, removing rocks, making walkways, designing flower beds, and planting grass and flowers, to create the garden together. The majority of the overseas disciples were Au Lac people, and were very enthusiastic, bringing into play their talents and sense of beauty, as though they had known beforehand how to do everything involved in creating the garden. Some of them even used original arrangements to create an excellent horticultural effect, thus making the garden strikingly beautiful. Fellow practitioners from other countries also worked earnestly, applying all of their mental and physical powers to the project. Master used to say, "No matter who built this garden, it would turn out to be beautiful." Thus, it so happened that Master had already silently arranged everything beforehand!
During the process of creating the garden, it happened that several projects were going on simultaneously in the ashram. However, with Master's help, the transportation problems were all solved. Because we needed to purchase so many flowers, we had to collectively order flowers from the southern and northern parts of Formosa; the grass also came from all parts of the province. Some people jokingly commented, "This is really a national garden."
During the work, rocks of many sizes needed to be carried for the purpose of paving the walkways and serving as stone tables and chairs. At the beginning, ten-plus fellow initiates carried the stone tables, exerting strenuous effort, and moving very slowly. Until the final stages of the project, only a few people were able to use ropes to pull the huge stones and easily move them to where they were supposed to be.
Some of garden paths were made of flagstone. While we were contemplating how to work in order to let people walk on the paths safely and comfortably, several of the female Korean fellow initiates had already begun working. They dug out earth from the areas where the flagstones were supposed to be placed, and also used their technical skill, thus allowing the walkways to be natural-looking, attractive, and easy to walk on. They looked very confident in their work, as though they were professionals working with high speed and quality. Originally, people thought that they had learned or frequently done such jobs before. On the contrary, this was their first time, and they learned how to do the work on their own, which was really surprising. This is another example that practicing the Quan Yin Method helps us to develop our wisdom and work more efficiently.
A sister who was in charge of purchasing stones told us that when she visited the local sand and gravel company, the managers there allowed her to choose and scoop her own gravel, which they offered free of charge. This surprised her greatly, as if those people already knew beforehand that she would come to purchase the gravel, and understood that the gravel would be for public use and be placed in God's garden. She understood that this was Master's power at work!
Originally, the fellow practitioners were unfamiliar with how to arrange the flowers in the beds. But after several days they all became more skillful and quick at their work. In addition, the elaborate design of the flower beds by an Au Lacese sister made the garden even more attractive. Miraculously enough, this sister who designed the beds had lived in a city since childhood and led a life of leisure. She had never thought of planting flowers, grass and the like. When she signed up for gardening work, she thought that she could pull weeds or do some similar task. She never expected to do landscape design, which requires many years of experience. She herself could not believe that she could design such beautiful flower beds. She understood clearly that her inner master was working, and remembered Master once said that we have done many things and held various occupations in our numerous incarnations. As long as we make use of the almighty power we obtain through Quan Yin meditation, we can do anything. Through this experience, the Au Lac sister truly realized Master's teaching.
Master was the primary designer in this project. She possesses the Creator's power, which transformed the desolate area into a beautiful and graceful paradise. She let us go all out to 'play' and use our creative powers; however, when we did not know how to do something, She would appear in the nick of time and tell us how. A sister wanted to use white gravel to create a rest area. She had this idea before, but did not know where to put the gravel. It so happened that she met Master, who told her that the white gravel should be placed under the shade of trees, so that it would be cool to the eyes; if it were placed in the sun, it would reflect the sunshine and cause discomfort to the eyes. Originally, the sister had only considered the prettiness and cleanness of the white gravel, but neglected other factors. Fortunately, meticulous Master gave her some timely advice. This sister also realized that good and beautiful things should be placed in the right place to make people comfortable, and a designer should consider all the details of a design. Sometimes, Master taught us the specific details that we needed to attend to when She passed by our work area. For instance, when She saw that a brother was watering flowers, She immediately told him that he needed to water them tenderly. The best way was to water as naturally as rainfall, and at the flowers' roots.
Master always offered spiritual support whenever fellow practitioners needed it the most, thus sweeping away the initiates' exhaustion, bringing them freshness and vitality, and enabling them to continue working with higher spirits. When we were about to finish the last piece of the garden, Master passed by and asked us, "Is it true that you finished this garden in six days?" We replied, "Yes, Master." Master continued, "You only took six days to achieve this. I am very glad." After that She drove her car down the hill, and we became even happier.
Finally, we stopped working, appreciated the beauty of the garden, and indulged in its charm -- from our panoramic view, the green grass looked lush, the trees created a shady place, and the flowers, whether distributed in meandering or semicircular patterns, all exhibited a riot of colors and attracted many butterflies, which danced above them. The flowers called 'impatience,' pink and white plants grouped together, provided the most striking visual spectacle under the sun; the orange and gold coreopsis, swung in the breeze which was most pleasing to the eye; the refined demeanor of the lily and the graceful posture of the sea taro enhanced each other's beauty. The lovely sunflowers exhibited bright and boisterous colors. The curving, simply designed pathways were another aspect of the garden's scenery that led the people admiring the flowers to each of its beautiful corners. The unique flagstone paths were natural and elegant, creating an unusual horticultural scene. All this made us feel as though we were in a royal European garden; but in fact, it was even more like a paradise on earth, which Master transplanted to us for our appreciation and enjoyment.
On the last day, we lined up in a long line to move the stones. That night, some people worked the whole night without sleeping; and others worked automatically like 'robots' after many days of effort. It was due to Master's blessing that many people could work such long hours without feeling tired. Dawn came, and when the sun rose, brilliant, rose-colored clouds appeared, and the birds started singing. The green slope of the hill was very refreshing and pleasant. The flowers were peaceful, warm, and attractive. We wondered whether we were in heaven or still on earth. It was a miracle to produce such a huge garden in one week. Master has told us that when we make periodic advances in our spiritual practice, we will obtain incredible 'magical powers.' We looked at the new garden, and it was obvious evidence of what Master has said. This garden was created by an unimaginable power and accomplished by Master's love and blessing. We learned how to cooperate with one heart and with great efficiency and to diminish our egos and wholeheartedly believe in and rely on Master and our inner wisdom to complete our tasks.
After we had finished all the work, it started to rain continuously. Once again, Master silently took care of everything, because for such a huge, newly finished garden, it would have taken a very long time and much manpower to water the whole area.