Toward the end of last year, I finally ended my agonizing struggle in choosing whether to practice the Quan Yin Method or the Esoteric Method. I decided to follow Supreme Master Ching Hai and take the initiation. My biggest problem then was the vegetarian diet. Although I understood Master's teachings and the meaning of a full vegetarian diet, my old habits and temptations were hard to resist; Istill wanted to enjoy a few sumptuous meaty feasts before starting to observe the vegetarian precept.

On the evening that I planned to eat meat, the pendent with Master's photo that I wore around my neck dropped off. This served as a severe warning to me; and to make sure that I wouldn't change my mind again, I began to practice the Convenient Method.

One day when I was reading Master's book, I came across a passage that says, "The Quan Yin Method is the only method that leads to liberation and sainthood. Both Shakyamuni Buddha and Manjusri Bodhisattva confirmed this truth in the Surangama Sutra." Despite the fact that these were Master's words, I was still a bit suspicious and was curious about what was actually written in the Sutra. I happened to have with me the book, "Modern Interpretation of the Surangama Sutra" written by Mr. Nan Huai Jin. Looking at this thick book, I wondered to myself, "When would I ever finish reading it?"

To my amazement, I just flipped a page and the answer that I sought was right before my eyes, "This is the method that innumerable Buddhas have practiced to attain nirvana. All the past Buddhas have succeeded by practicing this method; all the Bodhisattvas of today are enlightened in the same way; spiritual practitioners in the future should follow this method. I too attained the Truth through this method; the Quan Yin Bodhisattva is not the only one."

I was initiated eventually! All the while I was feeling miserable because I had never seen Master in person, but my thirst was quenched at the Sydney 4-day Retreat this year. Master answered many of my questions during this time. On the last day, Master walked around the meditation hall before She left. I whispered in my heart," I am really embarrassed to have taken so much here, because my spiritual cultivation is so lousy. Would You, Master, please let me express my gratefulness to You?"

At that moment, Master had already walked past me and reached the back of the hall. However, as if answering my request, She suddenly doubled back and slowly passed by me. Overwhelmed by bliss and gratitude, I uttered the words from my heart, "Happy birthday, Master!"

As a polytechnic student, I have always been lousy in arranging my time schedule. Since I had taken many leaves this term, I missed many lessons, and I was on the verge of failing one subject. According to my calculations, if I got less than 70 points on the final exam in that subject, I would be finished! Exasperated, I could only pray to Master.

Apart from chewing down the textbooks fanatically, I also didn't forget to take all the SOS actions which included meditation, writing the spiritual diary, and praying to Master. Just before that eventful examination, I even gobbled down the popcorn blessed by Master that I had brought back from Australia.

With only five minutes to go, I was already seated at my desk when a classmate sitting next to me suddenly asked, "Do you think there will be questions on this page?" I was shocked because I had never even glanced at that page. Consequently, I spent every remaining second memorizing as much as I could.

I could feel myself sweating all over when I opened the test paper. To my amazement, a substantial portion of the questions was from the very page I had just studied! And all the while my classmates and I had thought the examiner would not select any questions from this page. If it hadn't been for Master's timely reminder, I would have suffered a "wipeout".

Ever since I have been initiated, my faith has not always been stable. Sometimes I would even feel frustrated and become sluggish just because Master didn't give me the experience that I wanted. Even then, despite my ignorance, Master still accompanies me all the time and takes care of me. I have discerned clearly that She has never left me.

Through Her patience, I have realized that all the ordeals in life, the agonies and frustrations we suffer, have a lot to do with whether or not we have meditated enough. Master says, "If you have no faith in me, I can only walk behind you; if you have faith in me, I will walk in front clearing the stones and hawthorns for you."

I give myself this advice, "Spiritual practice cannot be rushed. I must not despise myself and give up. I might not be able to move forward quickly, but I also should not be too lazy or lax!" Before we meditate, we should remind ourselves that we meditate two and a half hours each day, not for Master or others, but for ourselves!