Feature Reports
Feedback From The European 4-Day Retrea 4-Day Retreat In The Forest Castle By Sister Initiate Xiao-Yue Shi, Oxford, English

My dream, on the way from London to Oxford, has finally come true. When I saw the rosy sunset floating above the hill beyond, my heart slightly trembled. The beauty of the sunset was beyond words, analogous to Master's love that is so difficult to describe in our worldly language.

Thank You, Master, for arranging everything to let me join the European 4-Day Retreat in France, especially since I've just arrived in England from Mainland China. On the first night of the retreat, as I entered the camping area with the other Oxford fellow practitioners, I still couldn't hold back my excitement. From the bottom of my heart, I silently thanked Master for helping me to fulfill my dream of long ago - to join the retreat.

The location of this 4-day retreat was in a simple and tranquil camping area. Various peacocks settled on the grass along with our colorful tents. The August clear blue sky almost took everyone's breath away. During the daytime, we enjoyed sunbathing and when night fell, the stars twinkled in the sky. In this camp site located far away from the uproar of city life, the atmosphere warmly comforted our souls and the tranquil surrounding softened our hearts. Here, we realized that in walking, living, sitting, and lying, all are the states of Zen.

The reality of this 4-day retreat was simple living, harmonious meditation and highly efficient team work. Even though Master was not physically present, fellow practitioners meditated diligently. Fellow brothers and sisters in the working team forsook some of their meditation time, or even sleeping time, to complete every single task. For example, a sister who was in charge of bathrooms, used her resting time everyday to clean them. While working, she was very concentrated. Even when the 4-day retreat was over and everyone was busy packing their personal belongings, this sister was still silently cleaning the bathrooms for the last time. Being spiritual practitioners, we should possess this kind of quality of sacrifice and contribution to others.

I'm grateful to those people who remind us by their actions that the best way to love Master is to put Her teachings into practice at any time in our daily life.

One early morning when I was on duty as guard, facing the endless sky, I missed Master deep in my heart. Living in this ephemeral world, Master sacrifices so much for us, sharing all our sufferings, and teaching each of us differently according to our character. All of these are just to awaken us, to encourage us to pursue the Truth, and to go back to the source from which we came.

On the last night of the 4-day retreat, fellow practitioners expressed their yearning and love for Master in poems, songs and dances. For an instant, Master's loving blessing filled the entire meditation area and the atmosphere was so familiar to me. Although I have never seen Master personally, I am reassured by the magnetic field of Her love.

Master! Even though I know that the appreciation I have for you cannot be described in any worldly language, still I had to write down some words to pour out my heart, which is full of love and gratitude.

A Self-Reliant And Progressive 4-Day Retreat In Europe 4-Day Retreat In The Forest Castle Your Children Have Grown Up Already!