70/Letters Between Master And Disciples/The Real Self Has Already Been Awakened

Please accept my humble obeisances at Your holy feet. All glories to Your mission of freeing all souls from the grip of Maya.

One year ago today, I was fortunate to receive initiation from You into the Quan Yin family. Today is Independence Day in America. Today, I am celebrating my independence from illusion. You have most mercifully bestowed upon me this gift, and I am in Your debt eternally. I am also celebrating my dependence on the inner Master who is represented by Supreme Master Ching Hai. Many thanks to You, Master.

I am continually amazed at my ability to follow the five precepts. Even though I have made foolish mistakes from time to time, now the precepts are rather easy to follow. As a result, I am much happier than a year ago. I was very depressed for many years about the disappointments in my life due to my identification with this imagined self. Now I am gaining some glimmer of understanding of my inner true being, by Your grace. As this true sense of self grows, I have become more and more happy with life and less concerned about what was making me so disappointed in the past.

I work as a paramedic in S.F. I meditate two and a half hours total a day without fail. However, I have only been able to go to group meditation once a month. Although recently, I have been able to attend weekly. My lust for the opposite sex has dramatically deceased. I am still often overcome with anger and I am getting better at dulling the sharpness of my tongue. I still catch myself telling a lie, but I am getting better.

I read one quote from You in the Suma News magazine in which You said there are two things that inhibit our practice, being over anxious to experience the light and worldly distractions that keep us from concentrating. I try not to be anxious, but it is hard for me. Also, it has been difficult for me to focus my attention on the light and keep my attention from wandering, because I haven't seen the light yet. Because I am so anxious to experience the light, I am often frustrated and doubtful of the process, especially when I read about my other brothers and sisters initiates' most wonderful experiences in the bi-monthly Suma News magazine. Sometimes even, it appears that non-initiates have such visions just prior to meeting You. I become envious and doubtful and wonder what is wrong with me. But when I consider how my life has improved since initiation and daily practice, along with following the five precepts, I realize I have made some progress by Your Divine grace.

In the beginning, I thought many times of giving up. But, I have only a desire to become free of this illusion and help others do the same. I see no other activity in this world that is more worthwhile than helping others get liberated. Your last letter gave me hope and determination to continue. I will never give up hope or stop practicing.

Please bestow the light upon this blind man. I have only humble respect for You, my most merciful Master. No one else has impressed me with the Truth as You have. Only an enlightened master could speak the realized words or insist upon the strict moral teachings without compromise, that You do.

On this American Independence Day, I celebrate one year of liberation by the mercy of Supreme Master Ching Hai and pray that You will never kick me away from Your lotus-like feet because of my clumsy material conditioning.

Dear Matthew Monroe,

At the time of initiation you got enlightenment. Your true Self has been awakened. However your brain still does not know it, since it is beyond its understanding. That's why we need to develop the enlightenment by diligently daily practice. Actually the true Self is always awakened, just we have made some obstructions between. Whenever we can educate and handle our mind, we will know that everything is just perfectly fine.

The inner light goes very fast and you need to concentrate yourself very well to sense it. By purifying your actions, speech and thoughts and always keeping in contact with the inner Master, your concentration will improve. Also please keeping a normal mind to meditate even if you have seen something, otherwise it will disappear just like you have mentioned.

If you have the experience of the inner sound then that means the method you are following is correct. Please do not worry about it. The inner experiences are not the only thing to maintain your faith in pursuing the Truth, but looking at the changes that have occurred in your life after initiation are most important. Just like you said, you have become much happier than before, and there is nothing more worthwhile than following the Master and practicing the Quan Yin Method. Please just continue and you will know one day how great you have made yourself and others since you have received the initiation. So you should not only have faith in yourself but feel glorious and honorable for having entered sainthood.

With my love and blessings.