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True
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Now almost eighty, brother Chen has been initiated for over ten years. Before his initiation, he spent several decades searching for the Truth without success. However, since he has been following Master and practicing the Quan Yin Method, not only has his wisdom developed, but he has reapedabundant fruits from his spiritual practice.
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In 1947, brother Chen became an adherent of I-Kuan Tao (one of the largest faiths in Formosa, incorporating the wisdom of Shakyamuni Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu, and other Masters), and he was thereafter designated as the group's "manager" and "transmission master." For twenty-six years, he also followed master Liu Pei-chung of the Kunlun Sect (a Taoist sect in Formosa) and practiced the use of magical powers. Brother Chen heard about the Supreme Master Ching Hai eighteen years ago but was skeptical at the time. The time had probably not yet come for him to form a bond with the Quan Yin Method.
During this period, the ancient saint Lao Tzu appeared to brother Chen in an inner vision, instructing him to "jump into the sea" if he wanted to find the Truth. Brother Chen, however, misinterpreted the message, and thought to himself, "Well, the physical body is worthless anyway, so if I can indeed find the Truth in this way, I'm willing to sacrifice my body." Thus, he went to Chinshan Beach, a coastal suburb of Taipei, jumped into the sea, sustained a head injury and bled profusely. It took him over a month to recover. Later, the inner light form of Lao Tzu again appeared to brother Chen in a dream, telling him that if he wanted to go "Home" he should go to Taipei to cleanse himself in "pure water." Lao Tzu even asked him to get a photo ready. Again, brother Chen did not understand the message, and it was not until several years later, when he was initiated into the Quan Yin Method, that he realized that Lao Tzu's hints about "jumping into the sea" and "cleansing himself with pure water" meant receiving initiation from the Supreme Master Ching Hai ("Ching Hai" literally means "pure ocean" in Chinese), and had nothing to do with the sea or pure water in the material sense. He realized that only through following Master Ching Hai could his karma of many lifetimes be cleansed. The photo he was instructed to prepare was for initiation registration. But he had been unable to understand Lao Tzu's messages because he was not yet enlightened, despite the fact that he had practiced I-Kuan Tao for many years.
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Four years after having these dreams, sister Tsai, a Quan Yin Method practitioner, told brother Chen that she was following a true living Master, and advised him to follow the same Master since he had great spiritual potential. However, brother Chen was still doubtful and thought, "I'm doing very well in my spiritual practice. How can there be a better path?"
Then, in 1988, brother Chen remembered what sister Tsai had told him so he telephoned her. Sister Tsai again recommended the Quan Yin Method, but brother Chen was still hesitant so he decided to consult Lao Tzu through divination. He made three divinations and the results were all positive, meaning Lao Tzu gave him his consent to receive initiation, and brother Chen was overjoyed. Finally, in 1990, at the age of sixty-six, he received initiation from Master. During his screening interview before his initiation, he was asked what he had practiced previously. His reply was: "Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism." Although at the time he was over the age limit to be initiated into the Quan Yin Method; because of his sincerity in seeking the Truth, Master made an exception and gave him initiation. After he was initiated, brother Chen made repeated divinations to confirm his decision, and the results were always "positive," giving him greater confidence that he had made the right choice.
Because brother Chen had used magical powers for many years, he had a hard time meditating in his early days of practicing the Quan Yin Method, as many invisible beings came to harass him. One day, when he was meditating, his former master appeared to him looking very displeased, and brother Chen said to him, "Master! I'm now following the Supreme Master Ching Hai. If I have made the right decision and have some achievement in spiritual practice, I will help elevate you to a higher level. But if my decision is wrong, you will still be my master." Hearing these reassuring words, his former master was no longer angry. According to brother Chen, the master was practicing the method of "rejuvenation," and though it could bring renewal to the physical body, it was not an ultimate method that could lead one to liberation.