Inspirational Stories 059
Good afternoon, Dharma friends,
My name is Mattia, and I am originally from Italy. Today I would like to share some of my experience with you about my studies of Guanyin Citta Dharma Door.
My studies on Guanyin Citta Dharma Door and Buddhism began in late July 2012. In 2010, my baby was born. Just like many first-time mom after giving birth, my wife was a little depressed and often cried and complained that .no one helped her. At that time, I was also not happy with my work and I came home complaining about my job and being very nervous. That led to many quarrels between me and my wife; we quarreled frequently, even over very small things.
One day a girl who lives in Australia (a former student of Master Lu), talked with my wife on the Internet. She said: “Why don’t you try to look at this website and learn something about Buddhism. Master Lu and Guan Yin Bodhisattva had helped many people and they can help you too. Give it a try”.
My wife, who was very upset at that time, started to do research on Guanyin Citta Dharma Door and began to pray and read sutras and mantras soon after. I noticed that she changed immediately— she was quieter, didn’t cried anymore and felt more relaxed. One day she told me: “Mattia, I decided to become a Buddhist, because I found my way home at last. I was just like a little girl lost in the middle of the world before and now I know where my home is. I know where my mom (Guan Yin Bodhisattva) is waiting for me!” And I said okay, no problem! She said to me: “You could try to pray too and it’s good for you. You could also look at some videos of Master Lu, which helps you understand better”.
And so I did it as I thought if it works for her it may work for me too.
When I first saw the videos of Master Lu subtitled in English, I said to myself: “Wow, this man is really powerful” and I was stunned. He made me believe Guan Yin Bodhisattva truly exists.
A few days later, I said to my wife: “I decide to become a Buddhist just like you. I thought I finally found out the religion that is right for me”. Many years ago, I was already interested in Buddhism but at that time I did not have the chance to start; but now I felt from deep inside of me that it was the right time to begin.
From then on, I started performing recitations daily, reciting Little Houses, making great vows and performing life liberations. One day my wife told me she has decided to become a vegetarian as all Buddhists and explained to me why, I said, ok, but I want to wait a little bit. Then as days passed I also started eating less and less meat (I quit eating fish since 2003), Guanyin Bodhisattva helped me to change my mind and one day I said: “Huan, I decide to become a vegetarian all my life, too,” and she was surprised but at the same time she was very happy to hear these words. Since then, I have not eaten any meat and have been very happy with my choice. First, because there is less demand in the world and fewer animals are abused and killed, and second because I feel much better physically and I’m happy, I do not miss it at all. I really wish that one day everyone could see the videos of how animals are killed and abused so that people would understand that everyone should become a vegetarian.
I would like now to share with you some unforgettable experiences: when we decided to come to Canada, only 20 places out of the 1000 visas quota to Italian citizens for that year, but I wanted to apply anyway (my wife was worried we couldn’t make it), but I told her, “let’s try, we submit all documents and pray, you’ll see that Guan Yin Bodhisattva will help us”, then we began to pray Chun Ti Shen Chou, and I received the visa on August 4th, the same day as Master Lu’s Birthday!
On the day of departure for Canada, at the airport after check-in, I put all the documents in a case. Later I wanted to take them out, but suddenly I couldn’t find them inside the case. I started to worry. I’ve looked everywhere for it but I couldn’t find them, so I thought we had them stolen and I was desperate, I almost cried. I went to the police at the airport. As I was going to the police, my wife started to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for helping us find the documents. Before I arrived at the police office, she called me and yelled: “I found them!!!” At that moment, I almost had a heart attack. I was so happy then!!!
From this moment, I realized that Guan Yin Bodhisattva really exists and she is always with me. Even though I cannot see her, she is always ready to help when I really need help, which is amazing. Because of this specific experience, I have more faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva and in the power of prayers of the GuayinCitta Dharma Door.
Usually, I am a person who dreams a little, and even if I do, I don’t remember what I dreamed. But I had two unforgettable dreams that I want to tell: when I just started to pray, I dreamed that my wife, my daughter, and I were in heaven in the middle of colorful clouds that are pink and orange, there was a spiral staircase made of cloud and Guan Yin Bodhisattva took us by the hand and told us “Come on.” Another time, I dreamed that I was in the place where I worked before in Italy and my colleagues called me to attend the Catholic Mass on that day. They said to me “come to pray with us” and I said “no thanks, I don’t come because I’m a Buddhist.” And just at that moment, there was a woman beside me who I didn’t know. She was in a blue shirt, smiling, and said, “I know you’re a Buddhist, you follow and pray Guan Yin Bodhisattva” and I replied, “How do you know? “And then she told me:” I see from your eyes. ” The day after, I talked to my wife about the dream .She told me that a few days before she had prayed to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for helping me and getting me to engage more in prayer, because at that time I prayed very little,.I had this dream and it helps push me even harder in prayer.
Becoming a Buddhist and praying to Guan Yin Bodhisattva every day has changed a great deal of my life. I have gone through a profound life-changing progress since the start of my prayers and I am leading a happier life. Since I decided to come to Vancouver and have been here for one and a half year, Guan Yin Bodhisattva has been helping me with every little thing. When I left Italy, I was a bit worried as I didn’t know what to expect ahead of me. However, I was calm because I knew that Guan Yin Bodhisattva would always be with me and that everything would be fine and so it is.
I am very pleased that I have become a Buddhist and I strongly recommend Guan Yin Citta to everyone. Because this is the choice that will change your life, your way of living and your view of seeing things.
Surprisingly, even my parents, who are Italians, have become Buddhists and begun to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva. When Master Lu was in Rome at the end of March this year, my parents took five hours’ train to Rome to participate in the conference despite of their ages. And they felt so happy.
Yesterday, I officially became a student of Master Lu, and I promised to follow his teachings and to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva forever, and I’m happy and proud of it.
Finally, I would like to thank Master Lu for what he has done and continues to do every day for the welfare of other people., and I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Thank you very much.
Mattia