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 I can still remember the day when mother, an initiate, had a slight ailment, and we took her to hospital. The doctor on duty was a cardiac specialist. After a thorough check, he said the problem was due to a higher count of leukocytes and a slight enlargement of the heart, hospitalization was not necessary, and observation would suffice.
After a little rest, my mother went through another check-up and the leukocyte count had decreased. We felt assured there would be no problem; and the doctor stressed again that there was no serious problem. He said that my mother could be discharged after the IV drip was finished, and that we should come again the next morning for an out-patient consultation.
The worry experienced by my family members eased, and I silently thanked Master for Her care. However, as I began to feel relieved, Master showed me a vision while I was taking a rest and meditating. The vision message was: "Mother is going to pass away!"
Waking up from the dream, I hurried back to mother's bedside, only to find that she was in good condition, and looking spirited. She even ate some breakfast, and definitely did not look like a person who was about to die. However, the vision was so distinct that I didn't know what to do! I could only quickly find a chair, sit down, and meditate by her bedside; and leave everything to Master.
At midnight, my second sister-in-law and I helped mother to the toilet. Upon coming out, mother said that she felt very tired, and wanted to take a rest. Just as she sat down, we saw her exhale heavily three times. Just like that, right in front of us, with our hands still supporting her, she passed away! The doctors and nurses rushed in to resuscitate her. They queried and looked at each other in exasperation because they couldn't find the reason why.
Finally, they had no option but to tell us that they had done their best. We were so shocked, amazed, and touched - Master has taken care of everything so perfectly and incredibly.
When we went again the next day to get the death certificate, the nurses were still talking about the incident. Though the doctors had all the records on the desk, they didn't know how to complete the forms as they were overwhelmed with doubts.
Even though we have over ten initiates in the family, most of them are scattered in many places; and we hardly knew any fellow initiates who lived nearby. However, the next day more than ten fellow initiates, whom we had never met, came continuously from many places to meditate at our home. Our relatives and friends were very touched by their cordial visits.
They brought Master's love to our home, and made the atmosphere obviously change into a calm and peaceful one. Continuously blessed by the sounds of Master's Buddhist Chanting tape and the meditation of fellow initiates, mother's face began to look soft, and the color changed from slightly pink to rosy. Eventually, there were two distinct crimson spots on her cheeks, which looked like make-up. Her eyes were lightly closed like she was sleeping. Had we not seen it with our own eyes, it would have been hard to believe that she could have such an auspicious appearance!
Even the funeral customs were simplified under Master's loving influence. Everything went so smoothly, as if it was the way it should be. I felt so ashamed then! Though I had been initiated for many years, it never occurred to me that, with a selfless and sharing heart, Master's love could be spread throughout the world. Convey it to each sprouting seed, and each heart will be elevated into ecstasy! I promised myself that from now on, I would selflessly and actively participate in any of the Center's work, and be a competent instrument for Master to use.
On the day my mother passed away, my eldest sister-in-law, who was not initiated, told my niece that once she had gone to a temple to have her fortune told, and the temple caretaker told her that mother could only live to sixty-five, but her life span was extended up to now due to her virtuous deeds. This reminded me of the occasion when I first took my parents to Hsihu.
Upon seeing them, Master told me that father had great blessed rewards, but that mother must take care. Master threw an orange to each of them -- father got the orange, but mother missed hers. Mother was exactly sixty-five the year she was initiated. Until her death, Master had given her six extra years to practice. Master's love is always so boundless, and is given so naturally and silently. Only when the flowers blossom and the fruit are ripe, their brilliance is detected by this group of ignorant children.
On the day of the cremation there was another amazing story which stunned everyone there. The cremation held before ours was of a person from another spiritual group. With great effort, they looked for relics in the cooled ashes, and finally under everyone's expectation one was found. They delightfully took it to be appraised by an experienced person at the crematory. Unfortunately, the result was negative, which disappointed them very much.
After my mother was cremated, and before the ashes cooled, my eldest sister exclaimed loudly that there were relics! Everyone rushed forward to look, and we found many green jade and transparent pieces among the bones. Some of them were still growing like coral. We couldn't resist picking them up.
My eldest brother didn't believe it. He thought that it was already great if there were a few pieces, but believed it impossible to have innumerable pieces of both big and small relics.
We took them to the crematory staff for appraisal and the result was positive. Hearing the news, the former group came over quickly to see what the relics looked like, and asked who was cremated. We said, "Any disciple of our Master, Supreme Master Ching Hai, would have this!"
Totally amazed, they exclaimed, "Wow! This happens even to the disciples!"
When we meditated together on the day mother departed, my brother-in-law saw Master take mother with Her. On the third day, when my second sister meditated at home, she also saw Master take mother's arm, and walk slowly upwards. (My mother's legs were slightly handicapped.) They went through a gate into a vast and bright square with palaces, and then Master disappeared. Mother became very young. She was wearing a traditional Chinese blouse and trousers with floral patterns, with two long pigtails, and was agilely running around.
Later, she saw mother holding a bag, walking back and forth outside another door, as if waiting for someone. After a while, a person, riding on a unique gliding vehicle, came and said, "I am late because I had to handle something. It is almost time. Let's go quickly!" Then they entered another door, and mother changed into a dress made of a light transparent material or something like that.
When mother's body was being taken to the crematory, my third sister meditated on the way and saw fireworks being launched into the sky above, as if it was an evening celebration. How wonderful it was!
On the night that mother passed away, our old great aunt dreamt about taking her to play at the seaside even though my mother seldom went there when she was alive.
My third sister-in-law saw mother in her dream standing on a boat by the sea. The vision was so clear. She had the same dream two days later, only this time the boat had sailed far away. Master arranged everything perfectly. When the relics appeared, the incredible fact convinced all our relatives and friends that Master had taken mother to a superior realm.
Through mother's elevation ceremony, we've had indescribable feelings and unforgettable, marvellous experiences. Everyone in our family seems to have grown into a new person, and the sluggish ones now practice diligently. Even those non-believers were awed; some of whom are even awaiting initiation!
In the limitless space of time, Master's wheel of dharma is ever revolving to wake all sleeping souls. I hope that more members in my family, and more people with an affinity will soon share with us Master's almighty love!
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