Bright Lamp Lighten My Heart

Before knowing Master's teachings, I must have abused all five precepts at one time or another. I was living in darkness. Last year, while a friend from Toronto was meditating she thought of me and called, and I was introduced to Supreme Master Ching Hai. It was not until she lent me some of Master's tapes to play on my long drive to work did I sadly discover what I was missing. While listening to Master's tapes, I cried. It was that moment I truly accepted that I could not continue to live on the dark side. My life has changed since that day. I became vegetarian. I used to drink a lot of alcohol and I don't anymore. I firmly believe that the Master had sent my friend from Toronto to look for me.

I attended Master's fashion show in New York. Then I went to the New York Center for group meditation. Fortunately, I was able to sit very close to Master. Absolutely nothing can describe how I felt when I saw Her. After Her lecture, She asked for the lights to be turned down for group meditation. I then went through one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was the first time I experienced being in samadhi. After meditation I knew that all my questions were answered. I had found enlightenment.

I know that I will do everything in my power to follow the five precepts, meditating more than two and a half hours a day to hopefully experience heaven, and to eradicate the excessive karma. I am full of confidence. No matter what level I am at, there will be the opportunity to attain the Buddha level. I deeply know and have faith that the Master will help us progress on the spiritual path; and once an initiate is sincere and continues on this path, there is no way that you will end up in hell.

Although I am still not a perfect being, I still have an ego, and I still make a lot of mistakes, I know that I can forgive myself. I can improve myself through meditating, go to group meditations, and have meaningful discussions with fellow initiates. And I know that the Master will help me because She is omnipresent, and whenever possible I will go to see Her for Her spiritual power is awesome. She will protect and support me on the spiritual path, make it smooth with fewer obstacles.