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 Through the Mid-Autumn Festival 3-day Retreat, Master, the compassinate Mother, let each participating initiate savour life in heaven. Master loved them like a mother, and the disciples adored Her like children everyone was intoxicated in this love! One day in heaven is like one year on Earth. Having a retreat with Master for several days is superior to practicing alone at home for decades.
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The aesthetic Mid-Autumn Festival gave us several days of continuous holidays, while Master also bestowed on us the most desirable gift of reunion -- She granted the request by the disciples to have an International Three-Day Retreat at Hsihu Center.
On the first day, local and overseas initiates reported early in the morning in an orderly and blissful manner. To provide fellow initiates with a comfortable environment for the Retreat, Master had especially instructed a series of beautifying projects to be completed before the retreat began. Many enchanting scenic spots were created in the already tranquil and beautiful Center. The old Main Hall had put on an elegant new look of a Chinese Palace; the kitchen was redecorated to resemble a warm European home; next to the Dragon Boat Lake was a spacious park highlighting both contemporary and classical styles. A zigzag bridge winded its way through the center of the lake, creating a fairy-tale scene. Pebbled paths and many fantastic flowers and plants decorate every corner, making everything so resplendent. Anything that one could see or reach had been made into masterpieces of love, crafted with selfless contribution.
One day before the retreat began, the working staff moved into the Center to prepare for everything. On the next day, after completing the reporting procedure, tents were pitched, the kitchen prepared delicious food to satisfy the 'Bodhisattvas', and just as everyone was watching Master's video tapes, the news came that Master was on Her way back from the airport. Quickly, everyone lined up to welcome Her.
Having flown for twenty-four hours from Munich to Taipei, and gone through tedious transit procedures, Master still looked bright and spirited. She strolled through the crowd, blessing each of them, and cordially greeted everyone. After a short speech, despite the exhaustion of the journey and the scorching sun, Master walked around the place letting every initiate see Her clearly, thus satisfying their longing. Consequently, the Mid-Autumn Festival 3-day Retreat commenced amid this overture of love.
Master said that She could feel the pure hearts of the initiates, so She was very happy. Her bliss was the fellow initiates' bliss, and the noon meditation started in this harmonious ambience.
After a brief rest, Master drove to the basketball field in Her mini vehicle in the evening, and gave a delightful surprise to the initiates who were having their meals there. They put away their eating utensils and sat around Master's car to enjoy a light-hearted chat with Her. Grasping this rare opportunity, everyone was very happy to pour out their emotions directly to Master, who they missed so much. Master then drove to the water fountain, while briefly talking.
On the second day of the Mid-Autumn Festival the weather was hot, so Master considerately advised everyone to find some cool and shady place to meditate. Therefore, along the Nectar River, deep in the Bamboo Grove, at the peaceful Forest Main Hall, and around the Dragon Boat Lake, fellow initiates could be seen meditating with eyes closed while their souls were soaring high in heaven.
At dusk, everyone queued up happily to receive moon cakes and pomelos bestowed by Master, and then everyone got ready to enjoy a grand party. Fireworks of many colours were arranged on open ground to enchant the occasion with resplendent flares.
The music struck up, accompanied by the clamour of fire-crackers. Then beautiful fireworks penetrated the sky stirring every soul. At that moment, Master appeared as a Tang dynasty Empress riding in the imperial sedan chair and wearing the robe and crown. She was escorted by a large retinue of royal guards into the Main Hall with the dignity and majesty of a virtuous and compassionate King. Liaison practitioners from various centers dressed up as chancellors and generals and lined up on both sides; elegant and charming imperial concubines followed behind in their fluttering costumes. Master was smiling and waving Her hands to greet everyone. Many people were so touched that their tears rolled down immediately. With their palms closed, they were intoxicated in a rendezvous beyond space and time, which awakened ancient memories!
When Master sat on Her Dragon Throne on the stage, the performances began. First, initiates portraying diplomats from various countries paid their respects, followed by the ancient beauty Wang Zhao Jun of the Han Dynasty who presented offerings to the Empress. The ancient beauty adored the wise and divine King so much that she roused and descended from heaven to present this tribute.
An English Princess wearing a glorious costume knelt down and bowed. Master remarked humorously, "The beauty does not have to kneel!"
The gift from Fu Sang (Japan) was Sun Cakes. Master laughed, "This was exported from Kaohsiung and then imported again. You see, our native product is so nice! Originally, they are to be served at tea time, but they have become the National Treasure of Japan!"
A Korean beauty, the Captain Hook of United States, and the natives of Peng Lai Fairy Island (Formosa), all paid their respects by presenting offerings in succession, and wished the Tang Empress longevity. Then, they respectfully requested their Majesty to shift to the 'Royal Garden', where the main program would be performed.
A Feng Yang Flower Drum Dance performed by the Dharma Guard Group, who were disguised as females, won the first round of applause. A native initiate from the A-Mei tribe sang sweetly and clearly a beautiful song. The Eight Immortals descended from heaven, and presented Master with the 'Peach of Immortality' grown in the chamber of the Mother Goddess. Master took a bite, and claimed that it was delicious!
Other brilliant performances included instrumentals, Japanese folklore stories, and Chinese and foreign dances, which absolutely fascinated everyone. The National Dance Suite by the Taipei fellow initiates was particularly rich in content, and won thunderous applause. Dreamlike movements complimented the fairy clothes and a bank of clouds added to the mystical mood. Everyone felt as if they were in the Heavenly Palace, and were oblivious of time! Appreciating this series of brilliant performances, the Holy Empress gave them an 'okay' hand gesture. The atmosphere was so joyous and harmonious on and off the stage.
The climax of the night began when the Holy Empress moved to the Zigzag Bridge on the Dragon Boat Lake to watch the fireworks. The night sky was lit up by the colourful flares, which announced an auspicious message: "The True Empress - Enlightened Master - mercifully bestows graces on the whole world."
Master then returned to the Main Hall to give a discourse, while the disciples were rejoicing their great blessing of having a reunion with an enlightened master on a festival evening.
Master said, "Thank you for your great efforts. The program tonight was splendid. I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, and fulfilment in spiritual cultivation every day, just like the full moon tonight." "You, the fellow practitioners, have been meditating sincerely in these few days, and your actions, speech and thoughts are pure and clean. This is why the ambience is so excellent, so that we can enjoy these beautiful arrangements."
Master had been in many grand events around the world, including regal occasions, but She felt our program here was the most brilliant. Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy this marvellous show with us because worldly people are complicated in mind, and they may not cherish it. With deep feelings, Master said that if the world leaders or royalty could come to enjoy the evening with us, they would surely be delighted. And Master added that they would have greater wisdom to manage their countries afterwards. It was a pity that we could only enjoy it ourselves.
The Three-Day Retreat concluded after the meditation session on the morning of the third day. Since it was Sunday, many guests, would-be initiates, and other initiates who could not join the retreat began pouring into the Center, all wishing to see Master.
At noon, Master, wearing a white Cheongsam and with a tall bun on Her hair, came to see the initiates in the Main Hall. Master specially allowed the liaison practitioners from various centers, and the initiates who came to work at the Center, to sit around Her while she talked.
As Master pointed out some historical truths with Her words of wisdom, all the initiates listened with undivided attention as if they were in a trance. Master said that a spiritual practitioner should use wisdom to discover the truth since many historical records may not be true. It needs great wisdom to comment on a person; to judge from the result of his action and not by the action itself, or his outer appearance.
Master also advised everyone to avoid going to extremes in spiritual practice, and to handle things with flexibility. Sometimes, when praised by others, one may feel uncomfortable, tense and uneasy. He needs to always protect his reputation and honour. When we truly want to help people and do things silently, we will not mind about other people's opinions.
Very soon, it was time to say goodbye. Master, the loving mother, could detect the disciples' reluctance to part from Her. Therefore, She gave one more speech in the Bamboo Grove. Master asked us to learn from Maitreya Buddha: greet people with a smiling face, and tolerate others with a 'big belly' (Maitreya Buddha's big belly was said to contain everything). Master said, when visiting the Center we should not bring along any mental garbage to contaminate fellow initiates, and should always smile. Master made an amusing remark: "Nobody wearing a face longer than 20 cm will be allowed to enter the Center."
Happy moments passed by very quickly. Our time together had lasted three days, but why was everyone still very unwilling to leave? Yet, fully loaded with gifts for the soul, fellow initiates packed their luggage and strode off with a firm and swift stride while bidding farewell to the beloved Master. Because : See You next time!
Echoes Of The Three-Day Retreat
By Fellow Initiate Cheng, Taipei, Formosa
All these years, I have been waiting for a chance to participate in the entertainment show.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival evening party, I had the honor to provide a bit of entertainment for Master and the public. The opportunity filled my heart with gratitude. When the applause sounded from downstage and dear Master also gestured with an OK sign, I realized instantaneously that the roles of "performers" and "spectators" were only part of a grand show directed by God where everyone is blessed without any discrimination.
The dance was divided into five different elements: soft and tough, pure and simple, heroic and elegant. The element I was to perform was soft. The movements were not difficult, but trying to express the softness was not simple. If my heart was not soft enough then the act would seem to be empty. If too soft then it would lack vitality and would seem to be too weak.
During practice, I pondered the role for a long time. Only when I performed on stage did I fully understand. In the naturally formed universe, everything would have yin and yang gathering together. The apparent "soft" portion would also have the aspects of toughness. For example, to convey softness one would need great strength in the waist.
Just like Emperor Master, in the midst of Her majestic, solemn, impressive and dignified manner, there is still the element of compassion. Her gaze was firm yet gentle and Her demeanor was elegant yet relaxed!
Suddenly I had realized the problem with my practice and with my life after all these years. It seemed so difficult yet it was so simple - an imbalance of yin and yang.
After the three-day retreat, I felt that I had awakened from a long hibernation, shedding a layer of old skin and smelling the breath of spring. I have been reborn and I am growing.
By Fellow Initiate Kang, Taipei, Formosa
At the evening party of the Mid-Autumn Festival, being a man, I played the role of a female to perform a Drum Dance which originated in Feng Yang in Northeast China. Master helped me change my original rude and impetuous character. I have also realized that all the jobs behind the curtain, including hair-styling and make-up, need a lot of attention.
On the stage, we learned to use lithe and delicate movements to make the dance more beautiful. There were some mistakes in the performance, but they made the audience laughed happily. We completely achieved our objective to entertain.
We may be "ugly ducklings" now, nourished by the great love of the Quan Yin Method, yet with persistent effort we will one day transform into "beautiful swans".
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