I came to the States from mainland China in the summer of 1996, and I was initiated in December of the same year. My father was an educated urban youth and went to work in the countryside in the early 1960s. He was an enthusiastic materialist. He was good at debating and also liked to argue with others. Recently, he retired because of his leg disease, and began to read all kinds of philosophy books that I left at home before I went abroad. Occasionally, we wrote to each other exchanging what we had learned from our studies. My father is a kind of difficult to persuade person. One year ago when I wanted to become a vegetarian, he was the one who opposed it the most intensely. Therefore, this time, I did not tell my parents and relatives about my initiation in advance.

However, one month after my initiation, I received a letter from my father. In his letter, he said, "...I do not quite understand the 'Tao' that you are pursuing. But it was strange that one day in mid-December 1996, I sensed a kind of immediate enlightenment and my thinking had a sudden change. I felt that the 'materialism' that I believed in before seemed not to be quite true, and that there might be an unknown element (might be a spirit) that exists prior to the so-called coming of material into being."

After reading his letter, I was surprised. In Chapter 25 of the "Tao Te Jing," Lao Tze said, "There is a certain thing that existed before the world came into being...It is the origin of the universe. I know not its name, so I inadequately call it the 'Tao'..." In fact, my father realized some of the "Tao" by himself. Although he might have not been enlightened, his level of consciousness has been elevated at least. The fact that he could suddenly give up the materialistic thinking that he firmly believed in for decades and that this happened right around the time of my initiation is truly an amazing thing. I think that this is part of what is referred to by "liberating the five generations" or "elevating the level of consciousness" that Master has talked about.

During the 5-day retreat last Christmas, I talked with a sister initiate about my father's stubbornness. I never thought that he would change. In fact, ever since I met Master, this is not the first magical incident that has happened to me. I feel deeply grateful to Master for Her compassion and great power.

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