The Purpose of Being Human, Part 1 of 12, Mar. 17, 1991, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

The United States has been graced on many occasions with visits from Supreme Master Ching Hai. With Her boundless love and compassion, Supreme Master Ching Hai has also provided humanitarian assistance to many parts of country. In 1991, Supreme Master Ching Hai was invited in the United States by sincere Truth seekers to share Her message of the soul’s awakening.

“We’re very delighted to welcome Master. We’re very delighted to introduce to you Supreme Master Ching Hai who will give a lecture today. We would like to offer flowers and fruits to Master.”

“Next, we will have a few introductory words about Master and sharing of my thoughts after one year of spiritual practice. On initiation day, Master explained very clearly about the Three Worlds and the higher realms, and what pitfalls are expected on our spiritual journey, and how to overcome obstacles. Everything was explained very thoroughly and in detail. After the initiation, Master asked immediately who’d had an experience. It was unbelievable. Most of the people with some humility, or depending on their spiritual affinity, all had some proven experiences. So, it’s no wonder Master used the term ‘Immediate Enlightenment, One Life Liberation’ to represent the Quan Yin Method – a method that all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas highly praised in the Surangama Sutra. During this time, I also got enlightened about the need to reduce the baggage if we wanted to go up to higher realms.

After practicing with Master for a while, I felt that my soul was very light, peaceful, and open. Those days that I meditated diligently, I felt my soul blossom with joy. I am so happy to be a sentient being in the cosmos. I love even a bee, an ant. I treasure even a tree branch, a blade of grass.

Today, I don’t know how to describe my happiness after being given this ‘precious, Supreme Method’ by Master. Master strictly forbids Her disciples from disclosing their inner experiences to others. But sometimes, to encourage and support people in their spiritual practice, Master allows initiates to recount their experiences in Her presence. Once during a 7-day retreat in Formosa (Taiwan), a sister saw the manifestation body of Master sitting on a very big lotus. Behind Master, there was a circle as bright as the Sun. In each ray of light appeared countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It was just like one of the scenes recorded in the Amitabha Sutra.”