The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Yilan, Formosa News Team (Originally in Chinese)
It was the end of May 2015. The morning sky was overcast. May is often the rainy month, but something was different. As our Association members from different parts of Formosa arrived at Yilan Center to celebrate the completion of the Center’s renovations, the brilliant sun emerged from the dark clouds as if sensing the special occasion, a bright smiling face sending its warm greetings.
The renovation of Yilan Center was the fruit of 22 months of united efforts and dedication. To carry it out, Master thoughtfully and invisibly arranged assistance from our Association members with expertise in necessary fields. With Master’s invisible support and many of our Association members from Formosa travelling to Yilan to help, the renovation was completed successfully.
A simple but festive ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the lovely pond near Yilan Center’s main entrance. During the celebrations, our Association members recalled precious stories of the Center’s beginnings. One Association member talked about the time when Master stayed in Yilan with a few resident monks and nuns. They pitched plastic tents at the foot of the mountain for group meditation. The monks and nuns enjoyed the blessed time to be with Master. Our Association members expressed deep appreciation to Master for purchasing this land in 1987 and developing it into a great retreat center.
During the earlier days of the Center, our Association members held group meditation inside tents, and Master personally selected large stones to secure the ropes outside the tents. She also set up a big umbrella under which She cooked food and boiled water that our Association members obtained by climbing a long, steep slope. Often times, Master would sit on a wooden bench to receive our Association members and some guests, and would use a big spoon to serve everyone tea brewed from a large soup pot.
Also, when the Center was first built, a natural spring pool was found at the foot of a slope. Master used Her cane to enlarge the opening and increase the water output. A round cement reservoir was also built around it. As Master explained, round represents infinity. After that, our Association members used a big water pipe to channel the water, and water has flowed out continuously year-round since.
Master would frequently travel the bumpy, windy mountain road to visit Yilan. Despite often feeling carsick, She would still physically help with the arduous construction. Working side-by-side with our Association members, Master led the completions of the dining room, kitchen and the main meditation hall. When our Association members gathered to meditate in the dining room, everyone felt the strong blessing power and love from Master.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was not only a celebration of how far this beautiful Center has come, but was also an opportunity to rejoice and express deep gratitude to Master for all the blessings bestowed on Yilan. Our Association members here have several meditation centers, and we also have the Spiritual Blessing Lines and Heaven Gates. Indeed, we have been graced with such a wonderful place with nice hills and waters for spiritual practice. We welcome all of our Association members to come here to meditate diligently together under Master’s ever-loving guidance.
