Rescuing The Heavenly Seat

One winter Saturday in Taipei, it had been raining heavily all day. The weather forecast for the next day was for the temperature to drop below ten degrees c, a record low for the year. I was lying in bed, turning about, and groaning. I was so sick that I had not even the energy to get out of bed to take a bath. At last, I found an excuse for myself. I said to Master: "You must forgive Your disciple. I really cannot go to Hsihu this time for group meditation." Finally, I was still unable to fall asleep at three or four o'clock in the morning. I fell into a dream-like state, and distinctly saw someone arranging seats. Master gave an honorable seat to every initiated disciple. I saw the precious seats of some people being removed, and some other seats being taken to another side. The seat of my daughter, who was studying in secondary school with lots of homework and insufficient daily meditation, was also taken and placed to another side. After that, I saw someone taking up my seat and saying: "This person is frequently sick, always thinking of not attending group meditation. Since we do not know whether she will come this time, should her seat be retained?" Oh God! In fright, I woke up just as I was trying to run over to rescue my seat!

Looking at the clock on the wall, it was five o'clock in the morning. Not knowing where my strength came from, I jumped out of bed immediately to take a bath. My husband (also a fellow initiate) was already out of bed, carrying his seat cushion on his back and going to leave without waiting for me. Seeing this, I quickly called out to him: "Are you joking, not taking me along?" Fortunately, that day at Hsihu Center, there was fine, warm weather with a soft breeze and beautiful sunshine. My sickness and pain also disappeared on reaching there, just as if they had never existed! Since then, I can never find an excuse for not going to group meditation.