 Special
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On May 5, 1997, the working team from the Sydney Center arrived at the retreat venue, as did fellow initiates from all over the world. Initiates came early, aside from meditating together to purify themselves, they also cleaned the camp site and helped actively prepare for the retreat. Under the blessing of Master's infinite love, everyone from the different countries, cultures and ethnic groups, had no difficulty communicating despite the obvious language barrier. With seamless cooperation, they worked and learned together.
The Cataract Scout Park is located in the mountains near Sydney, not far from the Cataract Reservoir. It is a very big camp site that's used for international scout activities. It has some simple facilities and basic structures including: washing rooms, barracks for cold weather, kitchens, dining halls and some crude shelters. Some roads are paved while others are just dirt tracks. The different camp grounds are separated by natural woodland. On the site, we noticed many plants unique to Australia. The deliberate attempts of the local people to protect the environment, and the independent spirit of the scouts was clearly discernible. The natural environment, basic facilities, fresh air and the starry night sky made fellow initiates feel that they were in an ashram, so they very much felt at home, relaxed and secure. Many initiates simply called the site "the ashram", and treasured and maintained it like one.
The 4-Day Retreat Commences Amidst Nectar Rain
Just after three o'clock in the morning, fellow initiates poured into the newly erected meditation hall. Guards quickly moved through the camp sites reminding everyone to attend the meditation on time. At four o'clock, with Master's Buddhist Chanting recording playing in the background, the first meditation session of the retreat began, no doubt with the blessing of all the Saints. The meditation area was a giant marquee built with an aluminum frame and white canvas. During the day, sunlight filled the marquee with a warm, soft brightness, soothing the meditating Bodhisattvas. At night, the light within the marquee made it look like a giant lantern, illuminating the grassland outside. The temporary meditation area looked as if it was made of crystal that its beauty even enticed the rain and wind gods to join us for the retreat! According to our understanding, the Cataract Scout Park Reservoir is the main water catchment area for Sydney. Park Rangers told us there had been no rainfall in the area for the last two years. However, as soon as fellow initiates arrived, the weather turned cold and it began to drizzle. The rain became heavier on the first day of the retreat, drenching the dry, dusty camp areas. Most fellow initiates were not bothered by the cold wind and heavy rain; they seemed to be mentally prepared, and even felt happy for the inhabitants of Sydney. Our staff members reminded everyone to keep warm and had inexpensive and practical cold-weather clothing available for fellow initiates who needed them.
By this time our beloved Master had not yet arrived, so everyone was reminded to meditate diligently to purify our actions, speech and thoughts, and raise the spiritual ambiance of the retreat. This first day of the retreat is a day for two thousand initiates to fight for their spiritual elevation, with Master's loving blessings.
Master Arrives On The Second Day!
Fellow initiates were extremely happy and surprised when Master entered the meditation marquee in the morning. Even those in samadhi quickly opened their eyes to welcome Her. Master first walked through the marquee greeting everyone cordially. Instantly, bliss pervaded the whole place, and the cold wind and rain didn't seem to be a problem anymore. Master's new elegant, short hair-style dazzled everyone. Master said that She realized the working members must have gone through a lot of ordeals in preparing the international retreat, because nothing that benefits the multitude can be accomplished without hardships.
Similarly, Master also had to overcome many obstacles and hardships just to get to Australia in time, but She knew that many initiates had to sacrifice their job, money or the risk being misunderstood by their families just to attend. Therefore, to satisfy our longing, and to give the greatest spiritual help to initiates, She ignored all difficulties and managed to arrive on the second day.
At Master's temporary residence, the retreat organizers had arranged seven guards, two cooks and three drivers for Her. Knowing that many of us normally do not have enough time to meditate, Master would rather they meditate more, thus told these initiates to go to the meditation marquee to meditate. She also hoped that we would treat Her normally, because She is a simple person. Excessive respect or manners always make Her feel tired. Though we have good intentions to take care of Master, not many of us can really understand Her. When there are too many people, complications often arise. Therefore, sometimes Master prefers to look after Herself, which is faster, simpler and trouble free. What She really needs and treasures is less annoyance, so She can have time to enjoy a little peace within. She again asked us not to glorify Her excessively. She pointed out that Her purpose in being here is not just for us to get familiar with Her. She said that making friends is not our goal in life, only God is our real friend, and to train ourselves to become Masters is our main goal.
Afterwards, Master allowed initiates to ask questions, which She answered patiently and in great detail. Knowing everyone's yearning, Master kindly promised to join the meditation sessions as much as possible, and to see initiates in groups so that they could have ample opportunity to ask questions.
That afternoon, Master again, in response to initiate's longing, spoke to us in the marquee, and let the Australian initiates of Asian origin go onto the stage and ask questions. Having settled all their doubts with great patience, She led us in chanting the Holy Names, and taught us the precise pronunciation of each Name. When Master began to chant, everyone felt the tremendous but gentle vibration, which immersed us in the ocean of love and bliss. Over the next few days, after the discourses, Master lead us in chanting the Holy Names again, and told us to teach the new initiates in our respective Centers how to pronounce the Holy Names properly.
Day Three - Boundless Patience, Boundless Grace
That afternoon, in the hall and Her tent area, Master received groups of Au Lac initiates, Korean initiates, Chinese initiates (not from Formosa) and other initiates from Asian countries. Other initiates either listened to Master's words through the translation, or meditated to enjoy Her blessing. To satisfy each initiate, She spoke continuously for hours answering questions. It was obviously tiring.
That evening, Master allowed Formosan initiates to sit on the stage in groups. A fellow sister mentioned about the slow progress in Her spiritual practice, and asked how to improve. Master told her to be more loving to her family members. As her love increases, her spiritual practice will also improve.
For the whole day, and with extreme patience, Master listened to and answered all questions raised by initiates. She even gave some initiates, who needed more encouragement, Her personal belongings. Everyone was touched by Her boundless love and compassion.
Though Master had already reminded initiates to ask only questions directly relevant to spiritual cultivation, regrettably some initiates bombarded Master with irrelevant, trivial matters involving their relatives or friends. Master couldn't help but respond with humorous remarks like, there are so many people and it is so noisy, no wonder your practice is no good! Why have you brought your whole family, you bought only one air ticket; this is illegal!? It is our greatest fortune in innumerable eons just to be able to take one look at an enlightened Master. How can we bear to abuse Master's compassion that She offers us without reservation?
By this time, Master was extremely exhausted both mentally and physically. The hearts of all fellow initiates ached for Her, and we were also very upset by the excess and selfish demands of a handful of initiates. We understand that, after we are initiated, the omnipresent manifestation form of Master is always protecting us, until we become a Buddha. This is the ultimate grace that enlightened Masters bestows on their initiates. And that the physical Master gives any blessings to initiates, it is out of Her compassion, and not an obligation.
Although it was very late at night, however, to give maximum blessings to us, Master again chanted the Holy Names with us before She left. Her patience and love are truly indescribable.
The
Retreat Ends And The Whole World
Rejoices On Master's Birthday
Before the retreat ended at noon, Master again came to the meditation marquee and invited initiates, who had their birthdays on the same day, onto the stage to share the good wishes from fellow initiates. To conclude the retreat, Master concisely elucidated on the theme of "true love". She said that if we truly love a person, no matter his situation, whether he is good or bad, we would still love him.
However, we often fail this test, and forsake someone when he is in a poor situation. Although he is in such a bad situation, we choose to leave him at that moment, which exposes our cruelty. Actually, this is bad for us, Master said, and not to the other party. It shows that our love is not really unconditional, but only given out of our necessity. We must be introspective and check whether we stick to our family or loved ones because of our needs, or out of unconditional love. To learn to love unconditionally is precisely our aim of coming to this retreat -- to prove that we are God. Finally, Master reminded us to take home this true love.
To celebrate Master's birthday, the kitchen team prepared a sumptuous meal for everyone. While enjoying the meal, to our delight and surprise, Master visited the kitchen and dining areas in a motorized golf cart. On the grassed area outside the kitchen, Master ate some food prepared by the kitchen staff. She had a casual chat with everyone, including guests who gathered around Her cart to share in the laughter and conversation. She also greet the guests and allowed them to ask questions too.
After lunch, guests and fellow initiates entered the meditation marquee. The fierce wind that had battered the canvas walls during the past few days had subsided, and so had the chilly rain. The whole place was beautifully decorated with heart shapes that enhanced Master's graceful, beautiful photograph. A soft light shone through the translucent ceiling, illuminating the large picture of Ayers Rock, which is a well-known sacred site for Australian Aborigines, that hung at the back of the stage. The stage was impressively decorated with four pillars on both sides, each embellished with plants and colorful balloons. Finally, as longing eyes beamed out, Master entered the marquee wearing a simple, sky-blue gown that looked so graceful and elegant on Her.
Before the program began, an Australian initiate dressed as a kangaroo walked around the venue, followed by fairy girls and boys waltzing with rare animals found exclusively in Australia. The first performance featured a piece of Aboriginal spiritual music played on a didgeridoo (a long, wooden Aboriginal flute) accompanied by an American Indian flute. The sound was so deep, so rich and unique, that it led the audience into an untouched, natural space.
The brilliant programs that followed were performed by fellow initiates from many countries. It included a dance in which males impersonated females, a fascinating solo and a chorus, a variety of different types of musical instruments, Chinese Tai Chi boxing, Au Lacese pantomime, and various dramas which conveyed profound messages. Many of the performances were originally created by fellow initiates. A group of Indonesian sisters performed a traditional God Dance. Their dancing was so wonderful that they won thunderous applause and cheering from the audience.
A well-known Au Lacese singer offered Master a beautiful song called "Mother's Love". Her singing was so sweet that the audience requested an encore. In responding, she invited another vocalist to join her and they both sang "The Love of Vietnam". The fantastic performance by fellow initiates and our guests filled the winter afternoon with warmth and an artistic atmosphere, and won high praise from Master.
Then came the most important part of the program. With everyone singing "Happy Birthday to You," Master went onto the stage to cut the birthday cakes. Again Master thanked the Australian initiates for their efforts in arranging everything, and She also blessed everyone present and all the mothers in the world. The birthday celebration ended with fellow initiates and guests all satisfied spiritually and physically after sharing the birthday cake and blessed food.
Epilogue
Under Master's boundless love, fellow initiates were noticeably elevated spiritually, as well as being perfectly taken care of mentally and physically. The retreat organizing team were grateful to Master for allowing them to learn from the experience of the Long Beach retreat last year, so that they could work smoothly this time. Those who joined the working team in retreat for the first time were especially impressed by the cooperation of fellow initiates from various countries. The book exhibition, Celestial Clothes and Jewelry displaying fully satisfied initiates' longing for spiritulity and beauty, helping them to elevate in all aspects of their spiritual practice.
After the retreat, initiates who remained at the camp site walked to the Cataract Park Reservoir and found that it was overflowing. Undoubtedly, Australia has benefited from the nectar rain that came due to Master's presence.