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Echo -- It's Really Great
To Be Home Again!

By Brother Initiate Zhang Bing-Ling, Yilan, Formosa

Ever since I knew that we could visit Hsihu again, I waited anxiously for the day to come. Finally, the Sunday came and I got into my car early in the morning. Filled with bliss, time seemed to pass by particularly fast. In no time at all, I had reached "home"!

After one year, Hsihu, the old home had no shelters left to shield us against the wind and rain, yet every fellow initiate came with a glowing face. Our faith has become even stronger, and we cherish more this paradise after its calamity. We make sure that every precious moment is spent in seeking the Truth. The trees in the main Forest Hall have grown taller and stronger, extending their branches and leaves as if to welcome everyone to meditate. As usual, fellow initiates meditated quietly under the trees, while the peacefulness of the songs of chirping birds in the background perfectly portrayed the tranquillity within us.

When we were meditating in the Bamboo Grove, a breeze gently soothed the leaves, as if encouraging the children of God to meditate diligently. After a while, we received the news that Master had phoned us. This boosted our spirits even more. The whole Center was filled with a exaltation. Extremely excited, I felt a tremendous power spring up from deep within -- reverberating the supreme love and blessing from our compassionate Master.

I recalled what Master advised us at the Sydney 4-day retreat: "We'll always have problems in this life, I tell you; so just accept them and do your best. Do your best all the time...." And also, "In doing anything, we can always accomplish it with love and devotion...." With these encouraging words in mind, I felt even more cheerful. Despite what terrible frustrations and setbacks we may encounter in life, we still have to maintain a firm faith in the Truth, and do our best with love and devotion. There is no need to complain. The best way to repay Master's grace is to maintain a positive attitude under any situation, and work hard to cultivate a part of the Pure Land.

So intimate and serene is every tree, every plant, every leaf, and every sound of the birds and the insects in Hsihu. I just couldn't help exclaiming loudly in my heart: "It's really great to he `home' again!"