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On December 24th of 1981, the second day after the
arrival of the Dharma Realm University's Visiting Assembly to Asia
at Bintulu City in Malaysia, the multitude of faithful believers
who sought to see the Venerable Master suddenly made the Great
Hall of Buddhism, where the Visiting Assembly stayed, bustling
with excitement. A middle-aged female lay disciple brought along
her twenty-ish daughter to seek visitation with the Venerable
Master. The young girl's visage was comely, but ever since she was
two years old, she lost her hearing and could no longer speak. The
Venerable Master observed that the destiny of her good roots has
matured, so he instructed the mother and daughter to join in the
Dharma Assembly during the evening, when they can take advantage
of the virtuous merits from everyone's sincere transference, which
would help her eliminate her karmic hindrances.
During that night, after the Venerable Master
finished his instructional discourse, he immediately called on
people to bring the girl, Yu-Zhi Chong, to the stage. Under the
watchful gaze of over two thousand people, the Venerable took a
white handkerchief, placed it upon Yu-Zhi Chong's throat, and in
concentration bestowed aid upon the deaf and mute girl. In the
meantime, the Dharma Masters who traveled along with the Visiting
Assembly stood alongside the young girl to teach her in chanting,
"Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva". At first, her reaction was slow
and hesitant, as she carried an absent-minded expression. However,
in less than two minutes, the voiceless girl actually mumbled and
tried to speak, as she made some simple sounds. At this time, the
Venerable Master's loud and clear voice amplified through the
microphone and directed the great multitude: "Let everyone join
together in chanting the holy title of the Guan Shi Yin
Bodhisattva, with the united intention of transferring merit upon
this young girl, so that she can speak immediately."
The reaction of those below the stage was like tidal wave.
Immediately, the two thousand plus multitude chanted in unison: "Namo
Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva! Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva!" The
euphony was soothing and resounding, in a rhythm that was uniform
and orderly. This resonance of the holy title was like waves
coming in with the ocean tide: incessantly and one after another.
Because of everyone's singular sincerity, in a blink of an eye the
entire Great Hall of Buddhism was like roaring with thunder, where
the clamor inspired awe in everyone's mind. There were
indescribable fervor and candor, which cannot be comprehended
unless one was physically present at the scene. At this time,
someone brought the microphone before the young girl, and simple
noises she was making had already turned into rhythmic and
syllabic pronunciations! "Na…Mo…Guan…Shi…Yin…Bodhisattva!" As she
began, she chanted by overcoming great strain, as each word was
forced out of the bottom of her throat. She had to exercise
tremendous effort. However, she was determined to the end, and
each word was chanted with more and more excitement. The Venerable
Master continued to bestow aid upon her. In less than ten minutes,
the girl's voice rose above the chanting from those below the
stage, as she loudly uttered each and every word. "Namo Guan Shi
Yin Bodhisattva! Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva!" Although her
voice still carried a slight unevenness and her pronunciations
were not totally accurate, clearly the mute girl had learned how
to speak.
The faithful multitude below the stage could not
help in becoming amazed upon hearing her voice. Everyone was in
awe. Some were even on their feet, with tears streaming down their
faces out of excitement, as they exalted upon this miracle of
miracles.
The Venerable Master explained, "The girl in a past
life had been a significant government official. She was even a
general once. However, she incurred heavy karma of killing in past
incarnations, where she was especially fond of execution by
hanging, where the guilty criminals' throats were strangulated so
that they died from suffocation. Furthermore, for many life times
she slandered the Triple Jewels and verbally insulted those who
left the common house life. Thus in this lifetime she lives as a
mute. As she illustrates the Dharma in person, everyone should now
realize. Karmic retribution is so severe and harsh, never a bit
trivial! We must all be take heed!" |
