By sister initiate Chiu Heng-chen,
Taoyuan, Formosa

In November 1999, I was fortunate enough to attend the Three-day International retreat in Cape Town, South Africa. Before the retreat, I thought that I would be unable to make it. But thanks to a series of miraculous arrangements, I not only successfully joined the kitchen staff, but also enjoyed the bliss of spiritual growth. I worked smoothly and happily, and immersed myself in inner bliss.

When I saw fellow initiates in the kitchen set aside their preconceived ideas and habits to work with selflessness, the kitchen became like Heaven to me. And the familiar scenes made me realize that this feeling came from vibrations in the depths of my heart--my meditative experience and dreams had come true! Repeated feelings of elevation lifted me from the physical to the mental level, and then to pure consciousness, and finally to the spiritual level, where I became one with everyone.

Can you imagine how initiates from many parts of the world could come together to make use of a limited amount of utensils and tools and convert vegetables, grains and vegetarian meats into one delicious dish after another? This was indeed difficult to do. But through selfless devotion and cooperative effort, all our tasks were managed easily. It was touching to see everyone working carefully and devotedly in the pursuit of perfection. The energetic rhythm of knife against cutting board was pleasant music that flowed like a gushing spring. Our happiness was hard to describe. I finally understood that extraordinary treasures also lie in ordinary things. When we are sincere, purified, and happily devoted, every job becomes supreme bliss, no matter how arduous the process may be. Even when my shoes wore out as I worked and had to be discarded, or when I was too tired to move my legs, I was able to gather all my strength again to return to my work post early the next morning.

Thanks to all my venerable working partners, I got to know the pure and genuine side within them. And most of all, thanks to Master's arrangements, I was able to radiate the light of vitality, and satisfy my eagerness to challenge and transcend myself.