Master's Wonders

 

 

Some Words with the Dead

By sister initiate Truong, Phan Thiet, Au Lac (Originally in Aulacese)

On January 2, 1999, my older sister passed away. I remember that she had spent that morning in a way that was quite different than her usual habit. Instead of meditating upstairs all morning, until about 11, then coming downstairs for her daily hygiene and breakfast, she got up and dressed very early. She put on a new outfit, checked herself in the mirror, and spent some time happily chatting with the kids and me. Then she went upstairs to meditate on the inner sound.

At 8:30 that evening, my younger sister went upstairs to dry some clothes and found my older sister in a kneeling position with her head down. The whole family soon realized that she had died. We had known for the past ten years that she had a serious heart disease.

After her funeral, my mind was incessantly occupied by the cause of her death. Whether I was washing the clothes, cleaning the house, or whatever, my mind was asking: "Wasn't it my fault for being too optimistic about her condition that stopped me from taking her to the medical center for proper diagnosis and timely treatment?" Then, in the midst of such thinking, a thought suddenly came to my mind. It was so overwhelming that I was unable to stop it. It came and went so quickly that I was able to recall just the overall content of the story, not the details and the specific words that were used. In general, it went like this:

"Here I am. I am standing by you in the same time and space even though you can't see me. I am so thankful for the affection that you have given me and all the things that you have done for me."

Sister, what realm are you in now?

"There's no realm at all. I am standing by you now in the same time and space. But, soon, in just a short time, I will be taken to a new and better realm by Master, where I will continue to practice to elevate my level."

Who told you so? Do you know what level you are at now?

"No, because I am not there yet. I will know only after I get there."

Sister, can you tell me what happened between the time I left you upstairs and the time you passed away?

"After you and the two youngsters had gone downstairs, I went to the front room to do Quan Yin. After doing it for a while, I suddenly felt a pain in my chest. I felt suffocated, as if my abdomen were contracted. But it lasted just an instant; I got out of my physical body very quickly. At that moment, I looked back and saw my poor physical body lying there motionless and fully realized that I was dead. I was shocked and dumfounded. It was 8:30 PM when I looked at the clock. Everyone was at work downstairs. The two little kids were innocently enjoying playing with each other. No one knew that I had died until our younger sister came upstairs to dry the clothes and found me there and let you all know."

How about your experience of death? Was it painful?

"I didn't know anything to feel painful about. No sooner did I feel the pain in my chest once, than I was out of the physical body completely."

Did you see light and hear sound as you left you body?

"No, because my spiritual level was quite low. It was normal as I already told you."

So, what was your spiritual level when you were alive?

"Very low. I only saw dim light and heard very low level sounds."

Sister, since I neither burned the clothes you left behind nor put them in your casket, are you sad? Are you cold? Do you feel uncomfortable at all?

"No. Presently, I am very happy in a hundred, a thousand ways. I am also at ease and at peace. The burning of the clothes would have no effect on me. Giving them to the needy would be more appropriate."

Do you feel okay that I gave your money to our younger sister and the needy?

"All that you have done is absolutely all right. If only you knew that all the material wealth in the physical world means nothing in the metaphysical one, perhaps you would give away all you currently have in exchange for easy spiritual practice. Because it is only through spiritual practice that one is able to elevate his level for eternal liberation. I hope that you will practice more diligently to elevate your level higher."

Do you need me to do anything to help or make any offerings to you?

"That's not necessary at all. Presently, I am extremely happy and at ease. If the family wants to make any offerings, then just go ahead, but it's not necessary."

Do you know hat elder Brother and my husband are currently at the cemetery building your tomb?

"I know everything. I am deeply touched, even though it is not necessary for me."

What was your cause and effect? How heavy was the karma from your past life that it effected such a pitiful fate as yours? Do you know why?

"I do. When the time comes, you will know, too. All comes from karmic relations. Since I now know about it, I no longer feel miserable."

(At that moment, my younger sister walked into the bathroom.)

"I was talking to our elder sister just now!"

"Is that right? How can you talk to her?"

"No. Don't tell her what I told you. Also, you should not ever complain about her at all, because I love her the most in the family. As far as mother is concerned, she is quite old. Soon, she will be like me. Don't complain about our mother much, even though I myself was unable to refrain from doing so when I was alive.You should not have frequent contact with the dead. Let them live in peace! Master is scolding you. Each realm has its own law. You should not violate it. Okay, don't ask me any more questions. I am leaving with Master now. Don't ask me any more."

Then there was silence. No voice responded in my mind, despite my continued thinking and questioning. My mind was left blank without one single message coming back in response. A moment later, a feeling of infinite sadness came over me. I had never before experienced such a terrible desolation of loneliness. It was as if I had both just lost the thing that was the most precious to me and also said farewell to the one whom I loved the most and would never see again. I was in that emotion of tragic sadness and desperation until evening, when my husband came back home from the cemetery. Then I felt relieved. For that whole evening and the next day, all of us sisters continuously heard the sound of the Buddha's chanting with Master's voice echoing throughout the house.

On the morning of the sixth day after my sister died, I got up to meditate. I remembered her and started asking questions in my head:

Dear Sister, where are you living now? What is that place like? Do you feel miserable?

Instantly, an overwhelming flow of thoughts came to answer my questions:

"I am now in a place very far away where it is quite good and blissful."

Why did you stop talking to me and where did you go on that day?

"I followed Master to this realm to continue my practice in order to elevate my level of consciousness."

Do you still meditate on the light and sound the whole day like when you were alive?

"Yes, of course. However, since I no longer have the physical body, the practice is a bit different."

What do you do every day? Who cooks for you? Do you go to a grocery store and kitchen to do the cooking and do you have a lot of time to do it?

"No. No one cooks for me. Each one has to take care of his own needs. In the metaphysical world, having meals and moving from place to place is not like in the physical world. Everything is thought forms. Meal preparation and moving do not take much time either. Everyone depends on the universal food supply and just takes enough for his own use. Each day I spend most of the time in practice. I use the remaining free time to listen to Master's lectures and travel around... It is very good and happy in this world."

Can you describe the beauty of the world where you are now living using worldly language?

"All right. If we refer to the imperial palaces of the worldly kings as opulent and luxurious, then the place where I live is much more beautiful and blissful. It is far beyond your imagination. But this place is only a small heaven. Perhaps Master will take you to visit places that are much more beautiful and magnificent than the place I live in. One thing I know is that God will bestow good things on all people who practice diligently. Your duty is to practice diligently; God will take care of the rest. Okay, you have asked me too much lately. Don't ask me any more questions. I have answered all your questions already; is there anything else?"

Please answer one more question. At this moment, do you miss your loved ones in the family? Do you miss the past world?

"Absolutely not! Well, that's enough. Don't ask me any more."

Nam Mo Supreme Master Ching Hai. I pray to the inner Master to let me know of our father's whereabouts. What is our father doing now? Where is he? Is he miserable or happy?

"He has been elevated."

Father, this is your daughter. Do you hear my voice? Where are you now? How is the place you live in? What are you doing now? Do you feel sad and miserable?

"I live in a very good realm now. I am happy and not sad and miserable at all."

What are you doing now? Do you practice spiritually?

"I do nothing, but just enjoy life. I do not practice for I have not had the affinity to do so. However, thanks to your practice, I am enjoying the merits of being taken to this better world."

Where were you before?

"I was in a dark world where it was neither miserable nor happy, but it was quite sad."

How long have you been where you are now?

"Since you began to practice."

Do you miss us?

"No, not at all. Everything has passed. Everything was just cause and retribution!"

Editor's Note: These true stories perhaps would make a better movie than "The Sixth Sense"?!!