By Lu Yong-ming, Initiate-To-be, Zwolle, the Netherlands

Though I practiced magical powers in the past, I was unable to help my family; so I quit this practice several years ago. Apart from working hard to earn a living, I had no other interests in life. At the beginning of this year, I heard about a seminar on Master's teachings. Unfortunately, I arrived late and missed Her videotaped lecture. I was advised by a fellow initiate that only through spiritual practice could I escape the predicaments haunting me, but I was skeptical that Supreme Master Ching Hai would be able to help.

The following day, I decided to become a vegetarian and quit drinking. My colleagues scoffed at me, because they knew I was an alcoholic. They tempted me with liquor and meat, but I ignored them. In the evening, I went to see a Quan Yin messenger and requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation. That night, I lay restless and upset in bed; sleep kept eluding me. Then, when I closed my eyes, I saw many radiant spots which grew brighter and brighter and finally merged into one another. More radiant spots appeared and merged with them; this went on until they shone brilliantly like the sun. This intense brightness soothed me physically.

I went to work the next day and, as usual, stood on the garbage bin, ready to dispose of the litter. Suddenly my feet slipped and I fell! I could have broken my ribs falling in that position, but I landed upright on my feet and suffered only a slight abrasion on my right knee. Since then, I have had no doubt that Supreme Master Ching Hai has been taking care of me, and decided to follow Her with total devotion.

When I went to bed that night, with my eyes closed I saw many eyes floating in the sky winking at me, and then I fell into a sweet sleep! On the third night, as soon as I closed my eyes, the sun, the moon and many stars appeared, flying around in the universe. This was followed by a Yin-Yang duality form, rotating continuously. On the fourth night, Supreme Master Ching Hai and the Buddha appeared to me alternately, radiating brilliant light. On the fifth night, I dreamt of myself going back to my childhood. It was as if I was in kindergarten, and Master was teaching us to read, sing, and play games under a big tree. We really had a lot of fun!

This was brother Lu's experience before he practiced the Convenient Method. On the day he learned the Convenient Method, several other fellow practitioners of the Convenient Method joined him for meditation. Immediately after the session ended, the astral beings that brother Lu had previously followed possessed his body.

Knowing that he was learning the Convenient Method to attain liberation in this life, the astral beings refused to let him go because he had used the magical powers of the three realms. Brother Lu struggled hard, rolling on the floor, performing hand mudras, and gathering his inner vital life force or energy. The struggle finally ended after half an hour, and he sighed with relief that he had finally found his way home. From this incident, we realize the immense power of group meditation. The astral beings only had a chance to slip in after the group meditation was over. Also, we can see that though magical powers might yield some temporary benefits, they eventually bring no end of trouble.

The teaching of the Convenient Method may seem very ordinary with only a brief introduction, but it comes with Supreme Master Ching Hai's incredible power. A fellow brother who witnessed this incident remarked with deep emotion: "Master has to shoulder such heavy karma just for those practicing the Convenient Method. Can you imagine how much She has to take on for the initiates when She promises to uplift five generations of our families?"