One day while meditating in the True Buddha Quarter, I unexpectedly heard a woman sobbing in the Seattle Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple. Her crying was alternately loud and soft.

After listening more closely, it sounded as if the woman was imploring or begging for something.

Although the True Buddha Quarter is not far from the Seattle temple, it is still not possible to hear such sounds from that distance.

I asked my reverends, "Has someone been crying in the temple?"

They looked at me perplexed.

I asked again, "Do you know who this lady is crying in the temple?"

Finally one reverend said, "Recently a woman has been coming to the temple in the afternoon. She often cries to the Buddhas for a while then she sits quietly, and then she laughs under her breath."

Another added, "We believe she is mentally ill or unstable so we did not want to tell Grand Master about her."

I asked, "How long has this been going on?"

"For a couple of weeks."

I said, "As reverends, we should have compassion. Approach her and be concerned about her regardless of how she reached her plight, whether as a result of ill-treatment, from sickness or hardship."

One reverend said, "We feared that this may cause a repeat of prior malicious experiences where Grand Master was defamed after saving mentally ill beings. We decided that we must protect Grand Master from anyone whose mental state appears unstable like this woman's.  Because of this we did not inform Grand Master of her presence."

I said, "Buddha is the embodiment of compassion and mercy. It is very unfortunate to be mentally ill; besides she might have a lot of resentment towards life. If we are too fearful to be sympathetic towards others, who will be? I personally will never abandon any poor soul, regardless. We should all try to help her!"

I asked the reverends to assist and take care of anyone in the same situation.

If indeed this woman is facing great difficulties, I will also do my best to help her.

Actually it turned out that this pitiful woman had to deal with three big issues:

a. Being single in America without a job,

b. Having two rebellious children, and

c. Having no friends or relatives to depend on.

Eventually she took refuge in me at the cultivation congregation on July 26, 2008.

After reading the Divine Book, I knew immediately what she had gone through in life even though I had just met her for the first time.

A woman cried in the Seattle temple yet I could hear her in the True Buddha Quarter.

It is a mystery!

What if I had not asked and the reverends had kept her presence a secret? Then I would have missed the chance to save her.

I shall continue to fully support and help her.

A poem:

Cultivating Buddhadharma is to enlighten all beings

Saving sentient beings is not for the sake of fame

Never abandon a single being

Such is the nature of the true spirit within