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.
Good afternoon to all shi xiongs.
I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity to share with you about my personal experience and true encounters after learning Buddhism.
In a blink of an eye, it’s been more than six years since I embarked on my Buddhism cultivation journey. Looking back in retrospect, I have gained substantially with the attainment of wisdom being the most valuable. This has enabled me to face the onslaught of my karmic obstacles with a calm mind. Having said that, at the outset, I had zero knowledge of Buddhism and did not think of understanding it. All that I wanted was merely resolving some of my livelihood and health-related issues.
Deepest gratitude to our Master who always shower us with his compassionate discourses, with the encouragement of the shi xiongs and group cultivation sessions, laid the groundwork for me to start my spiritual cultivation journey and understand the true meaning of it.
It then dawned on me that suffering is the truth of life. What have we achieved during our short lifetime? We are constantly being assailed by greed, hatred and ignorance, not realising that these three poisons are contaminating and harming us. I, therefore, decided to let go of these human desires. Instead, I chose to pour my heart and soul into Buddhism.
I reduced my living expenses and used my savings to perform life liberations, donations and attend dharma conventions. I was actively involved in volunteer work to preach Buddhism and propagate the dharma. In the process, I reduced my karmic obstacles, while my wisdom increased. This has prepared me to face life challenges with a clear mind, without any arising anger and resentment.
I firmly believe in cause and effect, where there is no innocent victim in this world, and be willing to confront the consequences as a way to eliminate my karmic obstacles. I draw my inner strength from the blessings of Bodhisattva, Master Lu, and shi xiongs (dharma friends).
I went for a major operation, a hysterectomy, in early 2020, as my physical discomfort intensified last year. After all, the tumour in my uterus had been growing for several years. The doctor had advised me to undergo an operation. I implored to Bodhisattva to keep me safe.
Shortly after that, I dreamed of Bodhisattva and Master Lu in succession fashion. Master Lu was very compassionate and loving, while assessing my health situation. He squatted down and told me to turn around slowly. Then, he looked at my stomach and said, “You need an operation. Don’t delay it”. I was very happy when I woke up, knowing that Bodhisattva and Master would give me the best arrangement. Soon after, I dreamed of Bodhisattva telling me that I would suffer in the hospital for eight days.
Although I was not worried and afraid, I took the necessary precautionary steps. It goes without saying that reciting Little Houses and performing life liberation are compulsory. I was scheduled for a surgery on 26 February 2020. I shared this with some shi xiongs whom I am closer with, so that they could help me recite the Great Compassion Mantra on that day.
To ensure a smooth surgery, I burned a piece of Self Cultivation Form which consists of 272 times of the Great Compassion Mantra, and transferred merits accrued from past dharma conventions. I was well prepared for the operation.
On the day of surgery, I was wheeled into the operating theatre at 2:30pm and came out in about three hours. It was incredible that I did not feel any pain throughout the surgery. I never got to use the dosage of morphine that the doctor had prescribed as part of the pain management exercise. All that I took was two tablets of painkillers. My experience was in sharp contrast to what my younger sister went through when she had a similar surgery several years ago. She was overwhelmed by the excruciating pain that inflicted her whole body, except her hair.
Unlike other patients that normally take days to get out of bed and walk, I was able to do so literally the next day. Interestingly, my appetite was good and was eager to have my next meal. The lady patient beside me was surprised to see my post-surgery condition and was curious to know why. I told her that my recitation of mantras had helped me and suggested to her to recite the sacred name of Guan Yin Bodhisattva (圣号).
During my stay in the hospital, I could feel the blessings with warm sensation washing over my body, putting me at ease. My husband helped me recite the Great Compassion Mantra and the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance (Lifo) daily.
Having said this, my negative karma was not about to let me go so easily with a bigger problem lurking around. After the operation, I needed to urinate through the catheter. According to normal procedure, once the catheter is removed, the patient is able to urinate as per normal. However, this was not the case for me. The doctor became very worried and said that further examination was necessary to ascertain whether another operation would be needed.
The examination process was physically demanding on me. I was required to consume huge quantities of water and yet not allowed to discharge my urine. This caused an unbearably bloated abdomen. When the nurse wheeled me to do the examination and while waiting for the lift, I quietly recited the sacred name of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Upon the tenth recitation, my consciousness started to float to the sky that was covered by snowy white clouds with golden glitters paving the front. Two Buddha circles were positioned in the middle of these golden glitters, with Buddha seated in one of them, while the other was a colourful halo. The colourful circle slowly approached me and finally shone into my body.
By then, my consciousness returned to the wheelchair. I knew I would be alright, as Buddha had come to save me. I immediately made a vow to recite two batches of 108 pieces of Little Houses per batch and 108 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (Lifo).
The examination revealed a 5mm hole in the bladder from the previous surgery. Fortunately, the doctor said the hole would heal itself, but before it happened, I would still need to urinate with a catheter for about two weeks, but I could be discharged from the hospital immediately. I remained calm during the conversation, knowing that I had to continue to bear the karmic retribution on top of the hysterectomy.
The hospital-stay turned out to be eight days, exactly as I dreamed. During this period, I suffered from various rounds of pain for having being pricked when the nurse looked for my blood vessels. I also suffered having to bear with a catheter for two weeks upon discharge. In my view, they were the remnants of my big karmic obstacle.
This entire process has made me realise in a profound manner that Buddhism can help us eliminate our karmic obstacles by demagnifying our big problems and eliminating the small ones. Having said that, we still need to experience some suffering, especially physically, to resolve a huge calamity arising from the explosion of one’s karmic obstacles.
Therefore, Buddhist practitioners should not demand for a life without calamities and start blaming Bodhisattva for not blessing us in challenging times. We must have unwavering faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva, believing that Bodhisattva is protecting and blessing us akin to how a mother would do to her child.
We must be brave and have faith when confronting the consequences of our past misdeeds because there will be blessings behind every suffering. Ultimately, our blessings are not only in the world, but also in heaven.
That is the end of my sharing.
If my sharing today was improper in anyway, I seek the forgiveness from Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Dharma Protectors.
Thank you.
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