I found solace when I told my problems to my Business Communication lecturer Miss Malini, who is a kind, sympathetic and open-minded middle-aged lady. She consoled and counseled me when I was in my saddest. She is a Buddhist, who meditates, and even believes in faeries because she has a daughter, who can see and interact with the Little People. She introduced me to this shop, which sells Buddhist books and CDs. I bought some CDs with the title �?lt;st1:place>Om</st1:place> Mani Padme Hum�?sang by Immee Ooi. Before I bought the one with a green cover, I tested it in the shop. That very moment when I listen to the music, I was touched deep within. Both my eyes were wet and I wept in front of my best friend, who accompanied me at that time. I didn’t feel sorrow, or embarrassed. Instead, I felt as if a piece of heaven fell into my heart. This is the power of the Mantra of the Great Compassionate One, Arya-avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guan Shih Yin Pu Sa). Immee’s child-like voice and her meditative and blissful melodies and tunes merely alleviated the sacredness of the Mani Mantra.
One night, I kept the CD, which I tested, playing through the night, and at that night I had a dream. I had this dream, which sets me in the hilly terrain of <st1:place>Taman</st1:place> Desa (a residential park, where I used to live when my paternal grandparents were still alive). My childhood home. Memories. Innocence. They came back to me. I was home. In front of me there was this paved road that ascends a hill. I started to walk. While I ascend the road, on my right within the compound of a luxurious bungalow I saw a golden statue of a Chinese dragon with undulating mane and tail. It was huge and its head points upwards. It looked as if it would be soaring the heavens at any moment. As I proceed, on my right side again, I saw a statue of the White-robed Guan Yin pouring the nectar of heaven from his lapis lazuli vase into a spring right under his feet. The water was sparkling like the stars at night. Then I moved on till I reached the top of the hill. The environment changed suddenly. It became a vast grass plain and in the middle of it stands a monolithic cave temple like the Chinese limestone cave temples in <st1:City><st1:place>Ipoh</st1:place></st1:City>. I saw a mass of people, man and woman, young and old, heading towards the temple. On my left was a pond, or a paddy field. Children fell into it but the people seemed not to care at all, and the children swam joyfully with glee and laughter towards the temple. No fear. No danger. No worries. Firs, maples, pines and other deciduous trees grew on top of the limestone structure and all around its compound. Just behind the limestone hill, I saw the most wonderful thing in my life. The gigantic statue of Guan Yin in his (or rather hers) Tang dynasty attire was half-covered by the hill from my sight but still it was a magnificent view to behold. The surroundings and the people were basked under the rainbow-like illumination of the Noble One’s statue. His light was more glorious than the Sun and the Moon.
A few days later, I went to the lady who own that Buddhist shop and consulted her about the dream I had. The lady, who is a Chinese Buddhist, advised me not to focus on imageries. What is more important is the message that the image brings. Too much focus and attention on symbolism and images, which are only illusions, will lead me astray from the Path of Enlightenment. Well, I never thought of attaining Enlightenment before. I was just beginning to seek and experiment with various spiritual paths. I never know that I will come back to the teachings of the idol (Guan Yin) that I’ve had offered incense every morning, when I used to live with my maternal grandmother who told me to do so. However, I listened carefully to her and learned from our affinity. Since then, I got myself immersed in Buddha’s teachings and realized that offering joss sticks every morning at the altar is not the only affair with Buddhism. Buddha said it is good to have doubts in his teachings. Hence, I read about various holy scriptures and analects, including the philosophies of Taoism, which I found extremely similar with New Age beliefs (I meant their philosophies, not the rituals although both are animism). Even so, my spiritual search brings me back to Buddha and found his words were true and pointed straight to all beings common goal in existence that is to end suffering and gain everlasting happiness.
Om Mani Padme Hum
May U Be Well & Happy,
GT
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btw I am 49 yrs now.
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