Instructor Li Zhong-liang delivers a lecture in a laboratory at the Taishan Vocational Training Center.

 

by the Taipei News Group, Formosa
(Originally in Chinese)

For many years, brother-initiate Li Zhong-liang, dean of academic affairs at the Taishan Vocational Training Center, has devoted his private time to educational research and innovation and has achieved excellent results while also managing to perform successfully at work. Especially worth mentioning is brother Li’s six-year journey through South Africa, Malawi and other countries to help establish local vocational training centers. His professional expertise has long been appreciated and recognized, and in 2002 he received Formosa’s National Award for Model Technicians. As Supreme Master Ching Hai teaches, “We work in order to train ourselves, to contribute with love and to repay what we owe this world,” and “There is no better way to communicate with people than through love and humility.” Over the years, brother Li has born these words in mind and practiced them in his daily life and work. In the interview that follows, he shares the experiences and insights he has gained from his career and spiritual cultivation.

 

Unexpected Meeting at Work Leads to Initiation

After searching his memory, brother Li described what led him to begin practicing the Quan Yin Method in 1990. That year, the Taishan Vocational Training Center hired a new department chief, Mr. Huang, who was young, impetuous and arrogant, and often got into disputes with other employees. But unexpectedly, not long after he began his employment, Mr. Huang changed completely, becoming humble, polite, gentle and tactful. Eager to discover what had happened to transform Huang’s personality so suddenly, brother Li could not suppress his curiosity and asked him. The new initiate stated that the Quan Yin Method was the driving force behind his changed behavior. Through this conversation, brother Li was introduced to Master’s teachings and gained new insights into spiritual practice.

Shortly afterwards, the good news came that Master was going to speak at the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, and brother Li took leave from work to attend the lecture with his wife. As soon as Master began to talk, tears rolled down brother Li’s cheeks due to the longing of his soul, and his joy at being blessed enough to meet a living Master. After the lecture, brother Li and his wife decided to seek initiation into the Quan Yin Method. At that time, their oldest son had just turned twelve, and they had a younger daughter and son. But they nonetheless pledged to observe a vegetarian diet, keep the five precepts and follow Master in spiritual practice. So on March 4, 1990, the entire family was initiated into Quan Yin Method.

Brother Li said that after his initiation his heart felt tranquil, and his whole family began to enjoy great harmony as they meditated together and encouraged each other in their practice. Daily activities also proceeded smoothly at work, and even in occasional disputes with colleagues, he could easily end and forget the confrontations.

Helping the Underprivileged through Master’s Grace

Mr. Hong Qing-lin, former president of the Council of Labor Affairs, listens to an introduction by brother Li Zhong-liang, (right) who is also dean of academic affairs, during an inspection tour of the Taishan Vocational Training Center.

In addition, after being initiated, brother Li began to participate earnestly in adolescent counseling, periodically visiting and advising the young residents of a local reformatory and also counseling misbehaving students in his job at the Vocational Training Center. For many years he did volunteer work at orphanages and homes for the elderly as well.

As dean of academic affairs at the Training Center, brother Li was able to participate in the Overseas Vocational Training Cooperative Project initiated by Formosa’s Employment and Vocational Training Administration. He worked as an electrical engineering expert assigned to assist South Africa, Malawi and other countries in developing vocational programs, establishing centers, designing venues, preparing teaching materials, purchasing and installing equipment, and training faculty. All the while, brother Li worked with a spirit of empathy, doing all he could to help the underprivileged develop self-reliance, dignity and confidence.

During this period, brother Li visited over ten nations in Central and South America, Africa and Europe, where he saw many destitute people who needed to learn skills to be able to earn a living and become free from want. Motivated by his inner love power, brother Li traveled from one country to another, committed to helping the local people. In this challenging mission that often involved visits to remote and desolate places, he was extremely grateful for Master’s blessing, which helped him overcome all the obstacles in his path and accomplish difficult tasks.

Developing Wisdom and Talents
through Spiritual Cultivation

For over a decade, brother Li has striven to practice Master’s teachings at work, share Her love and express concern for his colleagues and students. In 1998, his efforts won him the Model Technicians’ Award from the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES), and on December 12, 2002, he was among ten recipients of the eighth annual National Award for Model Technicians presented by Formosa’s Council of Labor Affairs.

These awards for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fields are based on the criteria of commitment to work, compatibility with colleagues, enthusiastic service, creative development of production technology, constant enhancement of work efficiency, excellent professional skills and a thorough commitment to guiding and teaching newcomers. Having been recommended by his superiors, brother Li was selected for the national award from among a thousand nominees. This public acknowledgement of brother Li’s efforts and contributions to society shows that practicing the Quan Yin Method can help us develop our love and latent abilities to benefit all of humankind.

Brother Li has also received two national patents for his inventions, but he attributes all his achievements to the Quan Yin Method and Master’s blessings. Whenever he encounters difficulties in conducting research, he meditates in order to clear his mind and find inspiration. This helps him achieve breakthroughs and transform his ideas into reality, facilitating the invention of many valuable industrial devices. Brother Li’s achievements give testimony to Master’s words: “It’s best that we make good use of our original wisdom, and then everything will come naturally. Our latent abilities, love and pure nature will all manifest, and our innate talents will also emerge all of a sudden. That’s why it’s said in the Bible: Seek you first the Kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you.”

Conclusion

The ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius once said, “Ignorant, we can only take care of ourselves. Enlightened, we can benefit the whole world.” Nurtured by Master’s love and teachings, brother Li continues to embrace and practice the ideal of “benefiting the whole world.” In addition to serving the public in the material domain, he is committed to sharing the good news about the Quan Yin Method so that people with affinity can join the ultimate path of spiritual practice. Brother Li humbly says that he is only following Master’s example and doing what he should do, and hopes that fellow practitioners will also do their best in their careers and disseminate their spiritual power to make the world more beautiful!