Deepest gratitude to Namo Shakyamuni Buddha!
Deepest gratitude to the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva!
Deepest gratitude to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors!
Deepest gratitude to Master Jun Hong Lu!
Standing before you today, I wish to share my journey in Buddhist practice—a path that began with my son’s struggle with autism in 2014. I exhausted every possible avenue: consulting countless specialists, and ‘investing’ a huge sum of money. Yet, despite all efforts, nothing seemed to make a difference.
My son was making no progress in his condition. One fine day, a fellow practitioner casually asked, “Would you consider reciting Buddhist scriptures? It might help your son”. Having already exhausted all other options, I told myself, “There’s nothing to lose—after all, reciting scriptures costs nothing except to invest some time”. And that was how my journey with recitation began.
At the age of seven, my son had the cognitive ability of a 3-4 year-old. He was not able to communicate, read nor write. However, after I began reciting Buddhist scriptures on his behalf, a remarkable change occurred, he was able to read and write. In time, he progressed enough to gain admission into a mainstream school, much to the astonishment of his teachers. Today, he is 16 years old. Not only can he communicate in two languages, but he also often accompanies me to the Practice Centre to chant the Buddhist scriptures. Most heartening of all, the specialist at KK Hospital recently confirmed that he no longer needs treatment for brain development. Deepest gratitude goes to Guan Yin Bodhisattva!
In July 2017, I came down with a high fever. During a routine consultation, my doctor detected abnormalities in my bloodwork and advised me to undergo a more comprehensive examination. Later that afternoon, the results came in—my white blood cell count was alarmingly high, and I was told there was a greater than 90% chance that I had acute leukemia. The news hit me like a thunderbolt. I was utterly devastated.
Due to the urgency of my condition, the doctor immediately referred me to the NUH for a bone marrow test. Given the aggressive nature of my leukemia, there was no time to lose. Even before the test results were available, I was advised to begin chemotherapy right away—without it, I might not survive more than three days!
Two weeks later, the results of my bone marrow test confirmed the diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). My doctor recommended a bone marrow transplant. Until then, my life could only be sustained through chemotherapy. However, finding a fully compatible bone marrow match was a mere 0.01%. By then, it had hit me that I was staring down the barrel of a major life catastrophe.
I made a solemn vow to Guan Yin Bodhisattva:
- to offer 800 Little Houses to my karmic creditors,
- to release 25,000 lives, and
- to share my story to inspire others upon my recovery.
On just the second day of my hospital stay, my husband went to Malaysia to help fulfil my vow of life liberation. Within days, we had successfully released 25,000 fish.
In those critical moments, all I could do was seek Bodhisattva’s succour—and then, a miracle occurred. My brother turned out to be a perfect bone-marrow match. How truly fortunate I was—this could only have been made possible through the blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
On the third day of my hospital stay, I had a dream of Shakyamuni Buddha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva showering me with glaze water. In the dream, Guan Yin Bodhisattva gently told me that the physical suffering I was enduring was necessary to repay my karmic debts.
This life-changing journey saw me hospitalised for a total of 87 days! I underwent four intensive rounds of chemotherapy, each one pushing my body to its limits and subjecting me to unimaginable physical torment. Countless ulcers developed throughout my mouth and oesophagus, leaving me unable to eat or drink. I also endured severe lower back pain and debilitating cramps.
Repeated attempts to locate suitable veins for blood draws and injections also became increasingly challenging. In the end, the medical team had no choice but to insert a central line through a major blood vessel in my neck to ensure that medications could be administered efficiently.
Throughout the course of chemotherapy, I experienced numerous severe reactions to the medication. The blood vessels beneath my skin began to rupture, resulting in blood clots that popped up all over my body. Concerned, the doctor suspected that the cancer cells might have metastasized—raising the alarming possibility of skin cancer.
Despite the pain, I gritted my teeth and endured the suffering, I continued my recitation of the Buddhist scriptures diligently. With the blessings of Bodhisatta, it was eventually found out that it was just a case of my body reacting to the drugs used.
During the final round of chemotherapy, which marked the beginning of my bone marrow transplant, my body was already reaching its limit. Thoughts of giving up began to creep in. Even the doctor took pity on me and, like a Bodhisattva, he gently said by my ear, “You’re still young—you can pull it through”. He decided not to administer the last dose of chemotherapy, fearing that I would be too weak to take it and hence, end up perishing. I owe it to the blessings of Bodhisattva because at the end of it, I pulled through.
That chapter of my life was marked by unimaginable pain. Yet, no matter how agonising it became, I never gave up on my recitation of Buddhist scriptures. Each morning, I made it a point to rise at 5 am, pay respect to Bodhisattva from my hospital bed and diligently completed reciting 49 times for each Buddhist scripture, and consistently completed 5-7 Little Houses.
I must count my blessings for having practised Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door way before this happened, and hence, I understand that:
• cancer is a form of karma-related sickness,
• Guan Yin Bodhisattva is perpetually compassionate towards those in need, and
• the efficacy of the Three Dharma Gems.
My Buddhist practice gave me a renewed sense of hope and purpose every day. Had I not encountered Buddhism, I can’t imagine what would have become of me. As evening fell and the sky turned dark, I stopped my recitation and hence, I truly appreciated that the daylight gave me the chance to recite. After dark, I turned my attention to reading Buddhism in Plain Terms. Prior to this, I would always find excuses by telling others that I was way too busy. Master Lu once said, “Who has the most time in life? Those sick people in the hospital”. Now that I found myself in that very situation, I came to understand the profound truth behind His words. We must never wait until our health is gone to clasp the feet of the Buddha—for by then, it may already be too late.
After undergoing the bone marrow transplant, I entered a prolonged recovery phase marked by symptoms of transplant rejection. From 2017 to 2019, I experienced recurrent episodes of kidney and liver inflammation, high fevers that resulted in repeated hospital admissions. The side effects of chemotherapy caused my lacrimal glands to cease functioning, leaving me unable to produce tears. According to the doctors, this condition might persist for the rest of my life. In 2019, I overcame the physical discomfort, and remained steadfast in participating in every single dharma convention as a volunteer. It was during the 2019 Singapore dharma convention that I was blessed with an opportunity to have Master Lu read my totem. That year happened to be my 369 predestined calamity year. Please take a look at my totem reading session.
Deepest gratitude to Master. I repented for an abortion that I had in my younger days. After offering 56 Little Houses to my aborted child, my lower back pain was healed. Master Lu also revealed that had I failed to overcome this round of karmic calamity, I would not be standing here today—it was truly Bodhisattva who gave me a second chance at life. Master Lu’s spiritual insights were truly extraordinary.
I was advised to offer 380 Little Houses, but I made a greater vow to complete 800. In addressing my 369 karmic pass, I offered Little Houses and the Self-Cultivation Record Forms of the Mantra to Disperse Calamities. As this critical karmic phase passed, I noticed marked improvements in my health. My bodily inflammation reduced significantly, and many of my test indicators returned to normal.
The doctor commented that out of all bone marrow transplant patients that he has treated, I had made the best recovery. Deepest gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Master Lu. If not for my Buddhist practice, it would not have been possible for my body and spirit to ride through this rough patch. I owe Bodhisattva for making the arrangement for me to meet this highly-acclaimed medical specialist so that I could receive speedy treatment.
It was through my dedicated Buddhist practice and the recitation of Buddhist scriptures that my son recovered from his health condition. My husband, on the other hand, might have personally witnessed the efficacy of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, however, it never occurred to him to begin his own spiritual practice.
The turning point came when I was diagnosed with cancer—an ordeal that pushed him to the edge of despair and helplessness. As I fought for my life, he witnessed a series of miraculous events. These experiences inspired him to begin his recitation. Not only has he vowed to become a full vegetarian, he also serves as a volunteer at the Practice Centre. Best-still, he has managed to quit smoking—a habit he had clung to for over 20 years!
I couldn’t be more grateful to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for not only plucking me up from the valley of death, my entire family has been given a new lease of life. I will remain steadfast in my spiritual practice by performing recitation, making vows and releasing captive lives. I pledge to stay true to my Buddhist practice, protect and uphold the Practice Centre and the Right Dharma. To pay kindness to the Buddha, I will dedicate myself to helping more sentient beings.
Thank you all for listening in.
Last but not least, I would like to seek forgiveness from Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Dharma Protectors, Master Lu and everyone in attendance today if my sharing today is improper in any way.
Source: Fellow Practitioner Wong from Singapore
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