Heng Jyun Shi was born in Hong Kong and moved to Taiwan at the age of one. She studied in the News Editing and Reporting Department of the World College of Journalism in Taiwan. After graduating, she worked as a producer and a correspondent for the Taipei municipal government in the Taiwan Broadcasting Corporation. During her fifteen years there, she was given the Golden Bell Awards for Radio Drama programs by the Government Information Office, Executive Yuan in 1984 and 1986, and the Bright Side of Society Grand Award in 1992 by the Taipei Union of Journalists. She also received over ten other awards.

Curious about life ever since her youth, she consulted various fortune tellers, one of whom told her, "You have no emotional debts and will not marry in this life." In 1992, she dreamt of an elder monk accompanied by two Westerners. Later, she saw a photograph and realized that it was the Venerable Master. She obtained many volumes of the Vener­able Master's books. After reading them, she was deeply moved and knew that she had found her Teacher. When the Master went to Taiwan in 1993, she took refuge and received the Dharma name Guo Zi. During her vacation at the end of the year, she paid a visit to the Master in the United States. It just so happened that the Master was meeting some applicants for leaving the home life. Having practiced eating one meal a day for several days, Guo Zi signed up as well. As soon as the Master saw her, he said, "Don't go around consulting fortune tellers anymore. You are destined for a life of solitude." Upon hearing that, she let go of everything and had her head shaved on that very day. She arrived in the United States on December 16th and left the home life on the 28th, making applicants who had waited years for permission burn with envy.