Guan Yin temple in Penang

[Omar]

Hi all,

This is a slightly modified text I sent to Sifu before, I found it when looking through my archive and thought I would share.

My most astonishing experience (from my point of view) during the intensive chi kung course this January happened outside the course itself.

Although I am eternally grateful, proud and happy to have recieved the wonderful skills transmitted to us by Sifu during the course, these extraordinary results were still on beforehand somewhat expected, I knew Sifu is a great teacher and I tried my best to be a good student.

I recall asking Sifu on I believe the first course day about a strange experience I had on my flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, almost instantly after praying to Guan Yin for good results from the course I felt a massive wave of peace wash over me along with a very powerful burst of deep warmth at my abdomen.
The experience left me quite shocked but with good tears down my face and I imagine a equally shocked side passenger. Never experienced anything like it before or since.

Having grown up in Europe I have been to churches many times, but have never felt anything special there, be it attending a wedding or a funeral. It's just buildings, places.

Also, my father being a from Morocco, I have with him as a tourist visited the magnificent Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, but never experienced anything besides thinking "hey, this is beautiful craftmanship".
It was with that same mindset I also entered the temple in Penang. Boy was it different.

During our first complimentary course tour, to the Guan Yin temple in Penang inside the main chamber I felt the same atmosphere, although not located to a specific spot in my body but all around us, intensely. I had to walk out of the main chamber several times on short breaks or I would have started to cry like a baby. This was a then very strange and disturbing experience, but I cherish it.

After that day whenever I see a picture or think about Guan Yin I become very emotional, why I do not know. I do not consider myself a religious person, but try to aspire to become a spiritual one, and know nothing about this being besides from what I have managed to find on the internet including Sifu's webpage.

I understand Guan Yin is a enlightened being, a bodhisattva, but not why I am getting so emotionally tied to this bodhisattva, instead of for example the Buddha himself. I am not even sure if it was a response I received or just a self genertated effect from being sincere when asking for help.

Once again, thank you to Sifu so much for doing these courses and for accepting us as your students, I am forever grateful.

With blessings,
Omar

[Jonny Say]

Dear Omar

Thank you for sharing the beautiful picture and story. All the best with your practice.

Jonny

[Andrew R]

Dear Omar,

I can relate closely to your experience. I've gone through many "strange" things during my time of paying homage to Guan Yin, and they've all been extremely helpful. I don't really know how I became so fond of Guan Yin, it just happened. I remember the first time I prayed to her, it was magical. With no idea of what would happen or any idea of what I wanted to happen, I went through a very powerful cleansing, like a strong chi flow. She's truly a source of amazing compassion and love, just like she said she would be .

Even though you're not religious (neither am I) don't feel like that means you can't appreciate or enjoy the blessings of Guan Yin, because she transcends religions and traditions. If you feel a pull towards her, go with the flow, and let her increase the smile from your heart .

Andrew

[Kingmonkey]

Hello Omar Sidai

Visting churches whilst Mass was going on never gave me any inspiration to, specially here in Europe, but visiting for example a orthodox church or chapel in greece or the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul allways gave me a shiver through my body. I think it was the spirituality i felt, not the doctrines that were thaught there. Smelling the mixture of incense and olive-oil-lamps in greek churches still gives me a inner calmness although I allways claimed to be an atheist.

May be you allready know that a Bodhisattva in this case is a being that decided to delay full Buddhahood untill al sentient beings achieve Buddhahood.

So in my eyes your experiences might be an attemt of her to help you find your way to liberation.
As Guan Yin is not Guan Yin, thus she is called Guan Yin,and because Omar isn't Omar, therefor he is called Omar. Such it is with everything in the phenomenal world, there is in fact no separation between you and Guan Yin.
Because there is no separation, it is very easy to receive such "glimpses" if you are open to it. What you are going to make out of it is up to you then.

This of course very simplified

If you haven't allready done you might like to read the Heart Sutra or the Diamond Sutra for more insight.

Nomo amituofo
Pat

[Martin Do]

Hi Omar,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. I really eanjoyed reading it .

Kindest regards

Martin

[Guest]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Siheng Omar.

When I left from the Kung Fu course this april, I intended to buy a little Buddha statue at the airport, but I ended up buying a beautifull red statue of Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin.

After my evening practise I sometimes just feel the need to bow down in front of the statue, and i'm not religious either. After a wonderfull practise session I sometimes feel I'm gonna cry to when watching at the statue.
Just because I feel so blessed sometimes

Thank You Sifu for everything.

Namo Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa

[Andrea]

Thank you for sharing your experience and the beautiful picture. Yes the temple in Penang is special . I am very much looking forward to visit it again in September.

As for your experience with Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa, as well as for similar experiences, our souls have links that cannot necessarily be explained when looking at our present life. During privileged moments when our hearts are completely open and receptive, we can perceive things, that normally in our daily "noise" are lost. You might find that when you continue your practice, you get more and more perceptive. But whatever happens the key for all "special" experiences is to enjoy them when they happen and be grateful. When your hand is open you can receive, when you try to hold onto what has been given to you, you cannot receive more.

Andrea

[Kingmonkey]

Hey Omar
Andrea just pionted out to me that I have adressed you as sidai instead of sisook, and I'd like to apollogise for that "fault pas".
I have only looked at your joindate instead of the relation to sigung as well.
I must have been rushing in a bit to fast

So sorry Sissok

sincerely Pat

[Omar]

Actually, I would prefer to be a cute little brother/nephew rather then an old uncle

Thank you for the replies

[Kingmonkey]

There is in fact the possibilaty of being a uncle young by age
young as the dripping water of a newly sprung well...