Center's Events

A Return To Hsihu Center -- Our Home

Recorded By Taipei News Group, Formosa

When the MC announced at a group meditation gathering that Hsihu was to be re-opened, the meditation hall was shaken with thunderous applause. Knowing that God had answered our earnest prayers to return to our home, we were too excited to keep ourselves from passing the message around.

It was a brisk autumn day with a cool gentle breeze. Crowds of initiates, with cushions on their backs and joyful expectations in their hearts, headed for their home in Hsihu, Miaoli, from which they had been long separated, like innocent children. On the way to Hsihu, a rural scene unfolded before us -- the familiar fields remained green and cows grazed as leisurely as they used to, reminding us that our old home was not far away.

As we arrived at the Center and walked through the entrance, colorful lanterns and ribbons hung from the top of the gate, as well as from which two red paper dragons bravely looked down on us. Inside the gate colored paper cut into various patterns added to the richness of the scene. The Quan Yin family members, left drifting for almost a year, were finally back to their old home sweet home.

The Nectar River ran as usual, only the surrounding trees had become more dense. The trees in the meditation forest hall were a real forest now. We sat in the forest and enjoyed this heavenly bliss, while Master's big photo cast gracious looks, blessing the guests and fellow initiates.

The Rainbow Garden remained a paradise for children at play; the Zigzag Bridge still accommodated initiates in their leisurely walks. For the new initiates, Hsihu had not diminished in her beauty; even a tiny blade of grass was cherished. Many of the buildings were gone, but fellow initiates had learned the ephemerality of this world. What could be more valuable than the serene and peaceful atmosphere in the Center? We have this paradise for us to hold grand group meditations on the holidays and to pray for the stability of world's situation and for world peace. This kind of brotherhood in which we support and help each other is the affinity most worthy for us to cherish in this world.

The kitchen staff set up a makeshift shelter on the basketball court and began preparing the delicious and unforgettable pots of food. During lunch, guests and fellow initiates sat in the shade enjoying their Buddha meal. Before long, loudspeakers broadcast a message that Master had just phoned to say hello. Exultant as we were, we were equally able to appreciate the longing feeling we had all experienced in missing each other. For the past year, we had been millions of miles away from Master and fellow initiates had not been able to gather for a major group meditation for a long time. The recent disastrous rainstorms in Formosa showed that this world needed more positive energy, making the island-wide major group meditations even more precious and necessary.

After the rest, initiates went to the bamboo forest for meditation. The waving trees rustled in the refreshing gentle breeze. Initiates fell into deep samadhi, totally forgetting their existence. Looking at the diligently practicing fellow initiates, it was as if the saints in the Purple Bamboo Forest had emerged before us. (The Purple Bamboo Forest was where the Quan Yin Bodhisattva used to meditate.)

Over the years, it was Formosan initiates that Master had accompanied and taken care of the most. After this separation and ordeal, every one of us has become more mature and more independent, and many initiates felt that the external destruction had not influenced their inner peace and wealth.

With Hsihu re-opening, not only do initiates have one more group meditation venue, but the working staff have more chances to serve the public and cultivate their spiritual practice. Through this experience, God has reminded us of the ever-changing quality of this mundane world; made us grow out of our attachments and appreciate whatever we have now; and as well, that our human body is also an ashram. As long as we apply Master's teachings to our everyday lives and pursue spiritual practice diligently, everywhere can be the Pure Land and every place can be an ashram.