At 36 years old, I converted

Today is June 19th of the lunar calendar, the day when Guanyin Bodhisattva became enlightened, and it is also my birthday. On such a special day, I took refuge in Bodhi Mountain with the name of Miao Nian. From then on, I became an official Buddhist disciple.

Yesterday, I was still hesitating. I didn’t want to take refuge here. I felt like I didn’t know the guru very well, and I didn’t feel that I had much connection with my experience here. Moreover, I had read Master Wanxing’s book and was attracted to him, and I had always wanted to take refuge.

Master Wan Xing.

So I went to Yixi and wanted to tell her not to convert yet.

Yeshi turned out to be a top student. After graduating from Oxford University, he worked as a lawyer in a state agency.

Last month, my friend took me to meet my guru, and I met her. She started studying Buddhism with this guru in 2012.

I walked into Yeshi's room and sat beside her bed. My daughter was sitting next to her, jumping up and down. At first, I didn't directly say that I didn't want to convert.

But when asked how she came up with the idea of ??learning Buddhism and how she met this guru, Yeshi said: "When I was in high school, I was interested in exploring the truth of the universe. At that time, I realized that life is either painful or boring.

It's painful to get the first place in the exam, and it's boring to get it. Everything in life is the same, and people's pursuit of power, wealth, and status are all the same. "Later I came into contact with Buddhism and began to understand the way to liberation.

Regarding the guru, although we met for a long time last time, I didn’t ask too much, and I didn’t ask her about it later. But if I wanted to take refuge, I wanted to know more about it, so I asked her directly this time.

Teacher's problem.

Yixi said that her guru was a disciple of the Wish-fulfilling Dharma King, and he was also a Han Chinese whom the Wish-fulfilling Dharma King personally appointed as Khenbu. It turned out that her guru was a Tibetan who could only speak Tibetan and could not communicate. Later, she learned from this guru.

This master was a high-ranking monk who attained Taoism in Tibet in his previous life, so he quickly became proficient in Tibetan and translated many Dharma passed down by Tibetan masters. Whether it is the causes and conditions in the previous life or the practice of Buddhism in this life, he has a lot of influence.

Because of his high status, the Wish-fulfilling Dharma King personally appointed him as Khenbu.

In the past two days, I have personally listened to Master leading fellow practitioners to teach the Dharma very successfully. He is very proficient in every mantra. Listening to it makes people happy and peaceful. I also saw with my own eyes that Master treats everyone equally in the temple.

With compassionate hearts, there are old rural ladies with dark skin and wrinkles, naughty children, and young and beautiful women who come to worship Master. They come and go.

Regardless of whether they are rich or poor, old or young, Master speaks to them in the same tone and explains to them without any discrimination.

In the evening, I listened to Master's talk about refuge and the Buddhist teachings he taught. I basically understood everything I had read. They were all taught in accordance with the Dharma and the Buddha. Moreover, they also talked about Hinayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and Tantra.

The explanations of self-nature are very smooth and complete. Although I am not at his level yet, I am sure that he would not be able to explain these things without personally verifying his practice.

It was past eleven o'clock when I returned to my room to get ready for bed, and I no longer had the slightest thought of not taking refuge for the time being.

I already have respect and confidence in Master, and I have the heart to take refuge, without the slightest flinch or doubt.

Yeshi knocked on the door at 4:45 this morning and asked me to go down together to take the Eight Fasting Precepts. I rinsed my face with water and changed my clothes. I went down to the main hall. Master sat under the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and took the Eight Fasting Precepts for us.

After ten minutes of fasting, we went back to sleep. We lay on the bed and the masters downstairs chanted the Dharma to welcome Guanyin. We didn’t fall asleep much. At 7 o’clock, we went down to the main hall again. I took my daughter down with me. There were 5 of us.

We knelt in front of the Buddha in the main hall, and Master began to recite the Buddhist words of refuge for us.

Later, three or four aunties from the countryside came and wanted to convert together. Master motioned them to kneel down beside him.

Master asked our names one by one, and then gave us Dharma names. He gave my daughter the Dharma name Miaoqing, and gave me the Dharma name Miao Nian.

It took more than 30 minutes to finish taking refuge.

Thirty-five years have passed since I was born, in the blink of an eye.

At the age of 36, I officially entered Buddhism and started practicing Buddhism.