Coordinator, Fundraising Section

As far back as she can remember, Cindy, a staunch Buddhist, has always cultivated a special affinity with the Bodhisattva Guanyin. But her practice was limited to visiting temples and praying for blessings. That was until late 2002, when she first came to Ocean Sky with her husband Albert. Inside the monastery, Cindy felt like she had entered a serene and peaceful world. Attending meditation classes, and listening to Dharma talks, she finally realized what Buddha’s teachings were all about. Her spiritual journey into understanding the True Mind thus began.

Since 2004, Cindy has been one of the Vice Presidents of the Dharma Support Association and also the coordinator of the Fundraising Section. As a volunteer, she goes about her work quietly, disliking showy display and fanfare, much like her personality. In Ocean Sky, Cindy extends assistance wherever she is needed, and is most helpful to the resident Sangha when dealing with institutions outside the Monastery.

Cindy, together with her husband Albert, the president of the Dharma Support Association, is very diligent in coming to meditation classes. She shares: “At one point this year, I suddenly realized I had gained a much clearer understanding of Buddha’s teachings. It felt like I got deeply immersed in the sweet dew of Dharma.” During the exams given at the end of the course, Cindy was one of only two students who got a perfect score on the subject of the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Now that more students are coming to Ocean Sky, Cindy’s advice to the newcomers is “to always respect the compassionate Shifus, to let go of the ego, and practice no self.” She now recalls that she got her own profound advice from the Shifus whenever she was deeply burdened. The wise Shifus had all told her “to put down whatever she was carrying in order to be at ease (放下布袋，何等自在), to practice tolerance (修忍辱), and to keep forming good affinity with everybody (廣結善緣).”

Cindy is ever grateful to all Shifus for their guidance that has brought about positive transformations in her and her husband. Albert, who was impatient and neglectful in the past, has since made up for his lapses. Cindy said emotionally: “I was so moved when, for the first time in our married life, he thanked me for all my unconditional support and sacrifice.” At their recent 35th wedding anniversary, instead of a big banquet, the grateful Albert and Cindy celebrated it by sincerely offering a quiet yet sumptuous vegetarian dinner to the Sangha and Ocean Sky family. Whenever asked to give her reflections on Ocean Sky, Cindy would always state her unwavering faith in Grand Master Wei Chueh and undying gratitude for his profound wisdom and compassion in setting up Ocean Sky in the Philippines.

Regarding Albert’s vow to seek the monastic life, Cindy said quite selflessly: “Before, I had this mistaken notion that monastics lead a hard life. But now that I understand the Buddha Dharma, I realized that leaving home life and embarking on a path free of worldly attachments is the best and purest way of cultivation. How else can one cultivate seriously if he doesn’t leave home life? I urge Albert to seek the Path and his enlightenment at the earliest possible time. When that time comes, I will be the happiest for him.”