A Lighthouse in the Darkness

 

An Interesting Soul-Elevating Course:
Bringing Joy to Trainees at a Drug Abuse Treatment Center

By Taipei News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

Since July Golden Year 3 (2006), our Association members from the Taipei Center have been holding a once a week Convenient Method meditation session and two weekly English conversation classes at the Sindian Drug Abuse Treatment Center. These activities have helped the former drug addicts to rebuild their lives through spiritual power, and they have received very favorable comments from both the Treatment Center officials as well as their fellow trainees. Recently, the Treatment Center even requested that we hold a vegetarian cooking class twice a week.

Madam Li Jing-yi, a Psychological Consultant at the Treatment Center, said, “I am very surprised to see that our trainees can be so focused and devoted while learning. Thank you very much for your endeavors and for arranging such a fun and highly spiritual course.” Many in the Treatment Center, deeply moved by Master's love, have started a vegetarian diet and are preparing to be initiated.

It is clear that God's love has warmed the hearts of this group of people who have been struggling on the border of society. Smiles that were long absent have appeared again on their faces, and they have been very serious about meditation as well as active in their learning. During the session, we found that one trainee had switched to a pure vegetarian diet already for seven days. He told us that every day he meditates before going to sleep at night, and often has visions of colorful lights and comet-like radiant spots. He said, “Master's teachings really make sense. Listening to Her words more can really benefit us!”

All of the fellow initiates who participated in the Truth-sharing work at the Treatment Center have derived great benefit and have been deeply touched. A sister initiate said, “One time we made the English class more lively and interesting by making sandwiches and vegetarian rice dumplings, and then using them as teaching materials. Even the trainees who were usually cold and detached in class became active and earnest that day, especially during the hands-on session where the trainees made the sandwiches and rice dumplings themselves. The continuous laughter that filled the air was so loud that those learning in other classrooms came over to see what was going on. Staff from the Treatment Center also came in frequently to see what we were doing. It was as if we were enjoying a noisy and joyful party. ‘Teacher! Why is this vegetarian sandwich so delicious?' ‘Teacher! I want to become a vegetarian too!' ‘I want one more vegetarian rice dumpling!' The warm responses of the trainees were beyond our expectation. In particular when they said thank you to us after the class, the sincerity and radiance in their eyes was truly touching! Master said that whatever we do, it is all for ourselves. When we make others feel happy, we are even happier ourselves. I am very grateful to God for bestowing this beautiful experience on me.”

A brother initiate said, “Have you ever seen people laugh so happily until they shine? I have seen it, and I see it every week at the Sindian Drug Abuse Treatment Center. Every Wednesday and Thursday on our outings, we bring Master's abundant love and blessings to our old friends at the Sindian Drug Abuse Treatment Center. The sincere gratitude in the radiant eyes of the trainees has brought us to the realization that everything is God's amazing grace.”


Gifts that the trainees gave to the fellow initiates before the completion of the course — a delicate hand-painted pictures of Buddha and a copy of the Heart Sutra.

A Letter of Appreciation from the Trainees of the English Course

(Originally in Chinese)

Our respected and beloved teachers,

We would like to thank our dear teachers for contributing their time and effort to come to our Treatment Center, and also for teaching us with so much patience. Thanks to Supreme Master Ching Hai's grace, we have had the opportunity to know you - the virtuous teachers. It must be the blessed reward of our classmates derived from last life.

To tell you the truth, because you never looked at us in a peculiar way, unknowingly the inferiority complex deep in our hearts has naturally vanished. In our sojourn of life, having this fortune of being acquainted with dear virtuous teachers inside this place, is indeed a rare and beautiful memory of our life.

As time goes by, the completion of our course is near. All classmates are reluctant to part with you, but there is no dinner in the world that will last forever. If we have the affinity, we definitely will meet again. Our dear respected teachers, do you agree? Finally, we wish that our dear teachers, on your spiritual path in life, will soon attain the ultimate level of enlightenment.

Respectfully yours,

All classmates of the English class

 

Another Letter of Appreciation from Classmates of the English Course

 (Originally in Chinese and English)

Our English Teachers:

Thank you for your teaching. All of you go out of your way to help each of us individually. You put a great deal of care and thought into making your lessons interesting, useful and enjoyable.

Besides teaching English, you teach the Truth of life and share your experiences that encourage us to think more about ourselves. You are more than an English teacher. We feel that you are patient with us and tolerant of us. The most important thing is that you, with your true hearts, get along with us, for we are human beings.

During these three months, we learned a lot. Although the English classes end, our learning never ends. We will always remember you.

Signatures of the whole class:

    X-Ray, Eric, Jacky, Linech, James, Sky, Peace,

Akila, Paul, Danny, Blue, Wisdom, Lin Bo-jun