Spiritual Interludes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By sister initiate Feng-feng, Taipei, Formosa

Through studying Master's teachings since my initiation, I have come to realize that all objects that our eyes perceive and sounds that our ears hear are illusory forms, and that everything that goes on in this world is but a drama. As such, I typically regard all the aural and visual art forms as merely "dramas within a drama," and am no longer interested in them. However, about two months ago, my husband was captivated by the Korean serial drama "The Last Empress." Every day when the program began, he would go into the bedroom and watch it alone when it was time for me to meditate. However, I always felt that he wanted me to enjoy the drama with him.

Then one day I suddenly recalled what Master told us about the famous ancient Chinese Prime Minister Guan Zhong, who helped Lord Qi Huan rule the country. For the sake of serving China, Guan Zhong often joined his Lord in enjoying worldly pleasures, but at the same time managed the country excellently. Master's discourse gave me enormous inspiration. After being initiated, I was indifferent to worldly matters, and was not excited even when enjoying pleasures. To my family members, who were still deeply involved in earthly affairs, my attitude may have been unacceptable, and thus it created some distance between us. Therefore, I decided to change my way of thinking and watched "The Last Empress" with my husband, even pretending to be very engrossed and occasionally discussing the story with him.

Perhaps because my husband's personal need had been satisfied, he urged me to meditate earlier in the evening, so that I could watch the drama with him on time. As a result, I got more time to meditate. Since then, whatever he is interested in, I simply follow suit. If he is crazy about Korean dramas, I am also; though I constantly remind myself to remain crazy about God as well!

Interestingly, just when the drama series reached its climax, the actress playing the empress was suddenly replaced and she went on to act in another serial. Apart from that, the story remained unchanged and was unaffected by the fact that another person was playing the empress role. This is similar to each of us playing different roles in the cosmic drama. It makes no difference what lifetime we are in and what role we are playing; it is just a play! I can get enlightenment even from watching a drama; I am truly awakened from my dream!

Before we Quan Yin practitioners take off our costumes and bid farewell to the cosmic stage, there is no harm in playing our roles like a nut, or watching the play like an idiot; we just need to refrain from getting engrossed in our roles and the drama as a whole. There is no next lifetime for us anyhow unless we choose to have one.