Initiation is a chance that occurs once in a million years. If you don't know what it means, at least at the time you die you will know. At that time, no one is around you, and no one can accompany you. No money can buy you power. No position can protect you from hell fire. At that time, the Master is the only one that comes to you, and then you will know.

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Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai,
Hualien, Formosa March 22, 1989 (Originally in Chinese)

A Buddha means an Enlightened Master, who is a living being with human emotions. Besides having the emotions of an ordinary human, a Buddha also has wisdom. There is only a slight difference between us and a Buddha; we, too, have wisdom but it is yet to be opened. A person who has his/her wisdom fully opened is a Buddha. Once our wisdom is fully opened, we, too, will become Buddhas.

Wisdom is an intangible power; the Buddha Nature is an intangible quality. Therefore, the power of a real Master is also intangible. Being intangible does not mean being nonexistent. We can feel, know, and understand that this power really exists. Without this power, it would largely be a waste of time practicing any method.