By Sister Initiate Pan Pan, Taipei, Formosa

When I was newly initiated, all I knew was to meditate and pray to Master for help if I had any problem. I did not know that I should pray and transfer the merits to others after meditation.

One day, a brother initiate said to me: "We have to know how to pray correctly. We may pray that God gives us whatever is good for us." Hence, after each meditation session, I would pray in this way, that was, if I remembered to pray at all.

At the end of each group meditation session, I always sang along with everyone the Verses for Transferring Merits, but I had no idea what it was for.Neither did I know that there is merit to be derived from meditation.One evening after the group meditation, a brother initiate announced, "Let us transfer the merit of today's meditation to all sentient beings in hopes that they will be enlightened soon."Only then did I know the meaning of "merit transfer" and only then did I realize that meditation could generate merit that could be transferred to other people. Since that day, I have transferred the merits of my meditations to all sentient beings.

One day while I was meditating, I suddenly felt that Master was physically unwell; I was so upset that I cried. Therefore, during that meditation session, I prayed to God to bestow good health on Her.

Of course, I would also pray for myself when needed, but I found that I didn't really have to pray much for myself; in many aspects Master is already taken good care of me. Often it is when I sincerely pray for the world and all sentient beings that I have very good experiences.