My mom, Raceli, came here first in January 2010. On her second visit, she brought us along to share with us her wonderful discovery. I was 17 going on 18. At first, I was hesitant to participate. Sitting meditation was difficult to bear, I could feel the pain and during lectures, I found the voice of the former Abbess Jianyong so musical that more often than not, I fell asleep. To avoid further embarrassment, I excused myself from coming and went on with my regular life while my mother and little sister Caitlyn continued on.
As a teenager and at the age of puberty, I am also searching for my place under the sun and trying to prove something to myself. The transition from childhood to a young adult is sometimes confusing. The answers to my questions seem to be so remote that even my mother’s guidance would not register in my mind. Then, in the middle of the same year, I decided to come back to Ocean Sky to listen to the lectures and do meditation, because my mother would often (without fail) share with us what she learned every week and told me that life’s answers are all here.
I even became an Assistant Teacher through the gentle invitation of the former Abbess Jianding and I took that responsibility very seriously. I had fun interacting with the Bodhi Stars that at times they also confide to me. I appreciate the warm and sincere kindness of Master Jianyin and later Master Jianjun, the gracious Master Jianqiang. Our beloved current Abbess Jianshu has a very big heart and is full of wisdom. I had a precious rare chance to talk to her and by just being in her presence made me feel everything is alright and in order. She made herself available to everybody that even children had a grand time talking to her.
One of the biggest factors that opened my eyes and mind as well as lighted my path was when I talked to the former Abbess Jianyong. She talked to me about the sacrifices and rewards particularly of a mother. That was my big “AHA! Moment.” Suddenly, I could see that the giant door in my mind burst open! I quickly flashed back to all the lectures when Shifu talked about karma, the three poisons and attachments. It gave me a wake-up call and all of a sudden everything seemed to be very bright and very clear, like a fresh and sunny spring morning. I am a new man!