My
mother is one of Master Ching Hai's disciples. Under her influence,
my father learned a lot about Master's teachings and gradually switched
to a vegetarian diet. He did so mainly for health reasons-he hoped to
recover quickly from leukemia. But his condition did not improve much
despite his vegetarian diet. With other hindrances getting in the way,
he stopped persisting in his effort.
However, my mother
did not blame him. She continued to play Master's video and audio tapes
nonstop every day. After some time, my father had read all of Master's
books that we had at home. He read them over and over many times. He
had a clear understanding of Master's teachings, and knew that vegetarianism
and spiritual practice are not intended to save one's body, but to liberate
one from life and death.
One
day I saw with my own eyes my father behaving like a child. He held
Master's photo in his hands, and sincerely repented to Her, saying,
"Great Mother, please forgive the mistakes of this child."
At the moment of his repentance, he saw Master's manifestation body.
My father cried breathlessly in gratitude for Her mercy. Under Master's
loving blessings, my father started to be a vegetarian again, and persisted
till the very end.
Father's
disease was diagnosed late and he was found to be in very serious condition.
It seemed that he would die on several occasions. But every time he
was in a critical state, he saw the manifestation body of Master visit
him in the hospital, and even initiate him in his dreams. He said Master
was really great, just like a loving mother. He was very thankful to
Her, but did not know how to express himself. Once he held Master's
photo in his hands and said, "Alive or dead, I will always be Your
disciple."
Just
before he passed away, he was unable to speak. He could only laboriously
make gestures to tell us what he wanted. He kept pointing at the audio
recorder indicating that he wanted us to play Master's Buddha chanting
tape. After we started to play the tape, he passed away with the most
beautiful smile he had had in his whole life. We believe he has gone
to the place he had been longing for-the beautiful Home of the soul.
