關於 very beautiful very powerful翻譯 ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

之前接受邀請寫了些喵喵cos相關的資訊~
不過是純英文的XD
以下是中文翻譯版本唷 :)
並向大家推薦這個粉絲專頁
裡面有好多厲害的coser資訊!!

credits: 絕大部分的照片都是我的朋友們所拍攝的
(再此深深地感謝眾多強大的攝影好友QAQ!)

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*妳是什麼時候，如何開始cosplay的呢?
我第一次cosplay是在2005年，當時還是高中生。
但我當時並沒有足夠的資源，所以afk了很長一段時間，一直到3年前才重新回來cosplay。

*妳第一次cosplay是什麼角色呢?
庫洛洛‧魯西魯，是獵人中的角色。但我是10年前cos他的，現在沒有照片了。
這有點可惜，我正在計畫再重新cos他一次!

*最困難的角色是誰呢?
仙劍奇俠傳中的趙靈兒。她是位溫柔優雅的女士，讓她成為台灣遊戲中"最美的女性角色"。
要呈現這樣優美的角色真的很難。

*妳是否計畫未來要扮演什麼樣的角色，以及哪個類型的角色呢?
我正在計畫要扮成宮崎駿的電影"風之谷"裡面的娜烏西卡。
另外，因為我喜歡玩魔獸世界和英雄聯盟，將來會扮演更多遊戲裡面的角色。

*當妳開始一項新的cosplay時，你的過程是怎樣的?
一件新開始的cosplay，準備是永遠不夠多的。
第一個考量是花費，"這個角色我可以花多少錢和時間"是非常重要的。
接著就是盡我所能用最好的原材料去完成。

*你能提供任何在cosplay時，有關於縫紉、服裝設計或外觀創作上的實用建議嗎?
我喜歡發揮創意，使用簡單和便宜的東西創做出高質感的作品，那對我而言會更有成就感。
但在做衣服時我會選擇負擔得起的最好布料。
較優質的毛布和皮布會比較貴，但成品也會值得那個價。
然後最後一點，"絕對不要"忘記你把大頭針和針頭放在哪!
這些小東西對我的手指和腳趾來說一直都是殺人機器.....

*妳有特別偏愛的彩妝品嗎? 為什麼?
我的保養品和化妝品都是用高絲的雪肌精。
只有粉底是用Make up forever，因為它的遮瑕效果神強大。

*妳都聽什麼音樂呢?
我超愛"Lovelive!學園偶像"!
最近我常常在玩她們的遊戲和聽她們的歌。

*最喜歡的電影是什麼?
我最愛宮崎駿的電影。
我看它們好幾十次了! 而且那些配樂也非常優美。

*最喜歡的動畫?
應該是"海賊王"和"獵人"。
這兩個裡面我很難說到底更喜歡哪一個。

*最喜歡的電視節目?
台灣有個多元談話性節目叫"康熙來了"。
它在台灣很紅，不少人每天晚上都會看它，看了好幾年了!
但這節目最近決定要收起來了讓人很難過。

*有任何一個動畫、卡通、電影或電視裡的場景，讓妳留下深刻的印象嗎? 是什麼呢?
海賊王裡面有一幕，當妮可‧羅賓大哭大叫說"我想活下去!!!"
那段故事太震撼了讓我每次一看到那裏就會哭。

*最喜歡的書?
我最喜歡的書叫做"Q&A"，作者是維卡斯·史瓦盧普。
它後來被翻拍成電影"貧民百萬富翁"。

*最喜歡的遊戲?
魔獸世界。永遠的最愛。
為了部落!!!!!

*最喜歡的飲料?
絕對是可樂。追新番的時候邊吃洋芋片配可樂真的是太美好了!

*喜歡的速食/ 垃圾食物?
洋芋片和可樂。永遠的最佳選擇~

*最喜歡的糖果?
巧克力。它跟可樂和洋芋片也很搭。
(回答完上面三題後我有一點小罪惡感... :P )

*最喜歡的早餐脆片口味?
我早上會吃飯糰當早餐，所以很少吃玉米片。
它是一種在台灣和日本都很普遍的食物，用白飯、肉鬆和海苔做的。

*有沒有什麼事情是妳未來想在cosplay圈中看到的，或任何妳會想去改變的呢?
我有許多朋友都因為工作職業或家庭而放棄了cosplay。
假如有任何是我想在這圈子看到的，那會是一個更開心的環境，讓這些人可以不會受到不實批評地盡情玩cosplay。

*妳成長過程中最喜歡的玩具?
鋼彈系列，尤其是"新機動戰記鋼彈 W"。

*妳最最最愛的角色是誰，為什麼?
獵人的庫洛洛‧魯西魯。
他同時也是我第一個cos的角色。

*妳到了一間倉庫，整個黑黑的，只有角落一點點燈光。妳走了過去，發現有五隻小丑樣子的食屍鬼正在玩跳舞類型的機台遊戲。他們牙齒很尖銳而且有可怕的武器，而且魔法對他們無效。現在他們發現妳然後要攻擊妳，是時候開打了!!!請問妳會選擇變成哪個角色，然後會用什麼方式來化解這個危機呢?
我會想變成海賊王的魯夫，跟他們當朋友，或者用橡膠拳頭揍他們 ;)

*假如妳必須跟一個角色綁在一起一整年，妳會選擇哪個角色，怎麼做?
哆啦A夢! 跟他綁在一起的話一整年完全ok的。也許更久也行。

*妳可以跟你最喜歡的角色一起吃晚餐，並且在晚餐時問他一個問題。妳會選擇誰，問什麼問題呢?
我會想選海賊王的魯夫，然後問他可不可以讓我加入他們 :P

*妳的人生清單中第一項目是什麼?
跟我的愛人一起去南極，陪企鵝玩!

*妳會給剛加入cosplay圈的新人什麼建議呢?
當個真正的cos"玩家"，不要當個cos製造機。去玩妳真正喜歡的，並跟妳真正喜歡的人玩。

CONNECTED COSPLAY. SHOWCASING TALENTED COSPLAYERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD from TAIWAN..
Name: Jasmine
Location: Taiwan
Occupation: R&D
Website: https://www.facebook.com/JasmineMeowCosplay
Credits: Most pictures are taken from my friends.

*When and how did you get started in Cosplay?
The first time I started in cosplay is about 2005, when I was a high school student.
But I didn't have enough resources to support this interest at that time, so I AFK for a long period, and back to cosplay from 3 years ago.

*What was your first Cosplay?
Chrollo Lucilfer, a character from "Hunter x Hunter". But I cosplayed him 10 years ago, and I didn't have any pictures now.
It's a pity and I'm planning to cosplay him one more time!

*What was the most difficult character?
»¯ÆF¨à, a charater from ¥P¼C©_«L¶Ç(Chinese Paladin, PAL). She's a gentle and elegant young lady, makes her been "The most beautiful female game character" of taiwanese games.
It's really hard for me to present such a beautiful character.

*What characters are you planning for the future and type of character are you drawn to?
I'm planning to cosplay ®R¯Q§Æ¥d (Nausicaa), a character from ®c±TÂ@'s (Hayao Miyazaki) movie "­·¤§¨¦" (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind).
Besides, since I like to play "World of Warcarft" and "League of legend", I'll cosplay more charaecters from them.

*What is your process when starting from the begining with a new cosplay?
It's never enough to prepare for a new cosplay.
The first condition is costs, "how much money and time I can take for this character" is very important.
Then use the materials I can get for the best.
Also I'll spend a lot of time searching for the character's posture, expression way, etc.

*Are there any helpful hints in sewing, costume design or any other aspects of your cosplay that you discovered in doing your creations?
I like to do it with creativity. It gives me more accomplishment to use easier and cheaper stuff making high quality products.
But I use the best cotton materials as I can when making clothes.
The better fur and leather might be more expensive, but also the finished effect worth the prize.
And last one, NEVER forget where you put your needles and pins!
These little metals are killing machines to my toes and fingers all the time.....

*Do you have a preferred brand of make up in your cosplay? And if so why?
I use a brand called "³·¦Ùºë" (KOSE) as my care and cosmetics.
Only foundation is "Make up forever" because of its amazing concealer capacity.

*What are you listening to?
I love "Lovelive! School Idol" very much!
Recently I played their games and listening to the songs often.

*Favorite Movies?
®c±TÂ@'s (Hayao Miyazaki) movies are my favorites.
I watched them so dozens times! And the musics are also beautiful.

*Favorite Animes?
That would be "One Piece" amd "Hunter x Hunter".
It's hard to say which one I love more than the other one.

*Favorite TV Shows?
"±dº³¨Ó¤F"(Kangsi Coming) is a Taiwanese variety-comedy talk show.
It's very popular in Taiwan, many people here watch it every night for years!
So sad that they decided to be off the air recently.

*Is there a scene from a anime, cartoon, movie or tv show that left a big impression on you and what was it?
A scene from "One Piece", when Nico Robbin cried and yelled "I want to live!!!"
The story of her was so powerful that made me cry everytime I watched it.

*Books?
My favorite noval is "Q&A", written by Vikas Swarup.
It has been adapted into the movie "Slumdog Millionaire".

*Games?
"World of Warcraft". Forever.
For the Horde!!!!!

*Beverage?
Always Cola. It's so wonderful to have cola and chips while watching new animes!

*Fast Food/ Junk Food of choice?
Chips and cola. Best choice ever ~

*Candy bar?
Chocolate. It would be nice with cola and chips, too.
(I feel a little guilty after these three questions... :P)

*Favorite Breakfast cereal?
I take "onigiri" as my breakfast, so I seldom eat cereal.
It's made from rice, meat floss and seaweed, a normal food in Japan and Taiwan.

*Is there something not going on in the cosplay world that you would want to see or is there something you would want to change?
Many friends of mine has given up cosplay because of their job or family.
If there's anything I want to see would be a happier environment, and let them can cosplay without untrue judgment.

*What was your favorite toy growing up?
GUNDAM series, especially "New Mobile Report Gundam W".

*Who is your biggest character crush and why?
Chrollo Lucilfer from "Hunter x Hunter".
He's also my first cosplay character.

*You enter a warehouse. There is little light, but you are able to find your way around.
The sound of music draws you to a corner of the warehouse. There are FIVE GHOUL CLOWNS, playing a dancing video game.
They have razor sharp teeth and scary weapons. Magic can not affect them; they sense your presence and turn facing you.
They run to you to attack. Time to fight! What character would you want to be to defeat them and how would you handle the situation?
I want to be Luffy (One Piece), making friends with them or hitting them a big rubber punch ;)

*If you had to be chained with a character for one year, what would be the character and what would you do?
Doraemon! It's totally OK to chain with him for one year. Maybe more.

*You can have dinner with your favorite character. And at this dinner you may ask one question.
Who would be the character and what would be your one question?
I'll like to have dinner with Luffy (One Piece) and ask him to let me go with them :P

*What's number 1 on your bucket list? (Something you want to do before you leave the planet).
Go to the South Pole with my lover and play with penguins!

*What advice would you give to people getting started in Cosplay?
Be a real cos"player", not a cosmaker. Play with what you like, and who you like.

【玳瑚師父客人見證】 《不過八月十五的預言》
The Prophecy: Not Beyond Mid-Autumn (English version below)

文 / 李季謙 女士 Written by Ms. Lee Ji Qian

撥電給玳瑚師父的那一天下午，我乘坐的德士，正駕駛在中央快速公路上。那是2006年中秋節的前兩個星期，記憶猶新。眼看我外婆的病情每況愈下，我迫切地想知道外婆還能活多久。那時的我從事空服員的工作，我擔心萬一外婆過世，我在國外無法第一時間趕回來看她最後一面，怎麽辦?

在車上，我不斷祈求玳瑚師父告訴我外婆的壽命還有多久。他不肯，他說做師父的其中一個避忌就是不算壽命，因爲很多人嘴巴說無所謂，知道答案後，心裡卻會七上八下，家人甚至會責怪師父嚇人。那時，外婆已皈依在蓮生活佛門下，我告訴師父家裡只有我和外婆是皈依的佛教徒，我很希望外婆過世時，我能夠為她做臨終關懷八小時，引導她往投極樂。

在電話的另一端，師父沉默許久，一句話也不說。我想慘了，如果師父不肯告訴我，我該如何是好？如何向公司請假？

「不過八月十五。」

什麽，師父，你說什麽？中秋節八月十五？師父，我都還沒告訴你外婆的生辰，你只知道她的名字和生肖，就能斷定嗎？

師父重覆說了一遍，並溫馨地告訴我到時遇到任何問題時，儘管撥電給他。就這樣，我們的通話結束了。

農曆八月十四的早上，在中央醫院復診時，醫生說外婆的血壓忽然降低，需要入院輸血。我便為外婆辦理入院手續，和照料外婆的女傭一直陪伴在外婆左右。幾個星期來，飛行穿梭與五大洲之間，熬夜時差，加上多次帶外婆來往醫院，每一次都花好幾個鐘頭在醫院等待，身心已疲憊不堪。我看著在病床上的外婆，輸血後她氣色開始好轉，醫生說一切穩定。外婆知道我很累，屢勸我回家休息。但師父的預言一直懸挂在我心中，本想留下來陪外婆一晚，但那天的入院來的突然，我沒準備任何衣物。那時的我住在兀蘭，離新加坡中央醫院很遠。我先生在一旁也勸我回家好好休息，才有更好的精神繼續和外婆說佛法及一同唸佛。

我猶豫著。師父為我做的預言從來沒有錯過。但外婆氣色之佳，是近幾個月從未曾有的。我這幾個月，也一直都有修法回向給外婆，可能奇跡出現了吧！

于是，農曆八月十五的淩晨一點二十分左右，我回家了。

早上十點二十分，女傭打了通電話給我。她不大會說英文，只是很情急地說外婆想見我，要我快點來醫院。我天真地以爲是外婆睡醒後，想見我。

早上十點四十五分，表姐打電話給我，哭著說外婆已過世了。那時的我，腦海裡立刻浮現師父所說的「不過八月十五。」 連半天都過不了。我的心一直往下沉。爲什麽我問了師父卻又不淨信他的話？爲什麽我沒有把師父的預言告訴我的家人？爲什麽我就不能在醫院熬多一天？生死皆天定，我怎麽不自量力地以爲自己那點修法回響就能改寫外婆的生死呢？原來人說死前的迴光返照是這麽一回事！天啊！我竟然那麽不孝，讓外婆過世時，身邊只有一個女傭，一個親人都沒有！

在醫院撥打電話給師父時，他很快就接聽了。第一句話一說完，我已泣不成聲了。師父說他一早起床，就不斷地有我外婆和我的影子，他知道事情不出他預料中，因此一直在等待我的電話。師父不但沒有怪我不夠相信他，還提醒我要為外婆做的佛事，也開導我說八月十五是月圓圓滿之日，外婆在這日離去也象徵她的一生已圓滿，她十多年的病業終于還清了，從病苦中解脫了，我應該為她高興。師父知道我性格衝動，再三叮嚀我在外婆停柩期間，勿和家人起衝突。

這也是我第二件遺憾的事。我那時學佛尚淺，包容、平等對待和處事圓融的道理，我無法實踐。我不但在外婆的遺體前爲了她的生後事，向家人耍狠，在喪禮上，因爲不苟同他們的做法，脾氣更是一「發」不可收拾。說什麽佛教徒，真是貽笑大方！我怎麽就沒有好好學師父那般的度量呢？

外婆過世後的那七天裡，家人陸續都夢到她回來和他們敍舊。唯獨我沒有。我很納悶。外婆臨終前，唯一想見的人是我，爲何卻沒托夢給我？她不是有話跟我說嗎？（其實是我多想在外婆面前跟她說萬萬個對不起。）想著，想著，我想到師父常教我在睡前的結界法，保護自己在睡夢中不被鬼魅魍魎干擾盜氣，出國在外也能平安。我睡前也必定會結界，這法非常實用也有真實的法力！

那晚，在紐約的酒店裡，我冒了一個險，沒行結界法。當晚，我就夢到自己在兒時住家附近（也是外婆的舊家）的停車場。我不知不覺走到一輛米色的「馬賽地」旁邊，低頭一看，咦，是外婆，穿著那熟悉的衣裳，坐在駕駛座位上。我叫她，以廣東話問：「婆婆，妳會駕車啊？」（外婆生前沒有駕駛執照）　她轉頭，跟我說：「幫公公皈依吧！」 我答：「皈依啊？好啊！」

我就猛然醒來了，趕緊看時間，是清晨五點多。師父曾說在早上五點至七點之間做的夢是真實的。我梳洗後，即刻撥長途電話給在新加坡的師父。外公已過世十多年，在夢裡，外婆要我為外公皈依時，我已知道他尚未投胎，生前沒聽聞過佛法，更別説往生極樂了。而當外婆提到皈依時，我心裡的直覺說她指的是皈依我們的根本上師，蓮生活佛，絕非他人。最神的是，夢裡外婆的車和家人在喪禮中焚化給她的，是一模一樣的！

師父在電話中花了一個鐘頭的時間，耐心地教導我。他說我得先回到外婆生前的居所，向那裡的祖先牌位請示外公是否真的想皈依蓮生活佛。除了攜帶外公生前愛吃的食物，我也得先上香供養家門外供奉的天公、土地神和門神，祈求祂們允許我外公的魂魄入屋。

回囯後的隔天，我和兩位表姪女一起到外婆家，一一跟著師父的指示照做。我們三人上了香，跪在祖先牌位前，呼叫外公時，不可思議的事情發生了！刹那間，我們三人同時感覺到有股強烈的陰氣從我們背後的大門進來，再看到一個黑影從我們身旁快速地飃過，到祖先牌位的供桌上，頓時，我們全身都起了雞皮疙瘩。卜杯請示外公是否要皈依蓮生活佛時，連續得了三個聖杯！我的夢是真實的！師父教的真管用！

當下，我既讚嘆又感恩玳瑚師父，是他引我皈依蓮生活佛。在他之前，我根本沒聼過蓮生活佛的盛名。因爲我的皈依，我好幾個家人也皈依。師父常說死人的眼睛是雪亮的。外公生前非常疼愛我，沒想到，我和外婆的皈依也會讓他想向佛了！我是多麽的雀躍啊！我讚嘆師父那麽好眼光，有福份，一生只皈依一個上師，而且是一位已開悟成佛的上師，怪不得師父的本領那麽了得。我更感恩他不辭辛勞地廣揚佛法，讓我們這些門外漢能學到人生最大的一件事到底是什麽。

我是一個差勁的弟子，脾氣又不好，兩次被師父「停學」，每一次長達半年，更曾被沒收所有的筆記和課本。但在「停學」期間，師父仍慈悲教導我如何處理外婆的生後事。可能你覺得他是修行人，是玄學師父，不給他錢，他仍然應該幫你消災解厄，給他錢，他更要幫你逢凶化吉。我的看法卻是，自己的問題本來就應該自己解決。沒有人是「應該」幫你的，師父也不是一個你能用錢買的人，更不可以因爲師父沒有幫你這一次或看法不一，便因「愛」成「恨」，來個「秦始王燒書」 般地把過去師父幫過自己的恩都忘得一乾二淨，再來個翻臉不認「師」。這般無情無義的人我看的實在太多了。

這兩天趕緊將這篇個人見證寫完，並翻譯，已此供養玳瑚師父為他的「生日」禮物。農曆八月十五是玳瑚師父皈依真佛之日。他常說這一天才是他真正的生日，皈依學佛前的日子懵懂無意，虛度光陰，貴為佛子後，自己才真正「活」起來，成爲有智慧有貢獻的能人。兒子的事業這麽有意義，我想師父的父母一定會以他為榮。

如果你也像我一樣，曾經請示過師父，卻在信與不信之間進退兩難，希望我這篇文章能給你一點啓發，更盼你不會有我這般的遺憾。

祝大家中秋節快樂。

我在此也誠心地祝玳瑚師父「生日」快樂。謝謝您在無止境的萬難中，仍堅持帶給我們光明。我祈禱，願您的一生有如今晚的月輪一樣地美麗、圓滿、吉祥，願您早日修成正果，速登彼岸。阿彌陀佛。

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It was one afternoon in the year 2006, 2 weeks from the Mid-Autumn Festival. I was travelling along the Central Expressway in a cab when I made a call to Master Dai Hu. The memory was still fresh. My grandmother's health was deteriorating by the day, and I desperately wanted to know how much longer she could hold on. I was working as a flight attendant at that time, and the fear was that I might be overseas and not able to see her the final time when she breathed her last.

During the taxi ride, I pleaded incessantly for Master Dai Hu to answer my burning question. He refused. He said that as a Master, it was a taboo to predict one's life span because the answer would drive many towards anxiety and hysteria, even when they seemed nonchalant initially. At that time, my grandmother had already taken refuge under Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, and I told Master Dai Hu that since my grandmother and myself were the only Buddhists who had taken refuge in the family, I really hoped to provide some form of hospice care, and perform the proper rites during the crucial 8-hour time window after her passing to guide her towards rebirth into the Pure Land.

There was total silence on the other end of the line for a long time. Master Dai Hu did not utter a single sound. I was doomed, I thought to myself, if Master refused to tell me, what should I do? How could I apply for leave of absence from my employer?

"It would not be beyond the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month". Finally the silence was broken.

What, Master, what did you just? You meant the Mid-Autumn Festival? But I had not even tell you the birth date and time of my grandmother. You only knew her name and Chinese Zodiac Sign, how could you be so sure?

Master Dai Hu repeated his prediction again, and told me warmly that I could call him anytime if I encountered any problem. With that, our conversation ended.

This was the fourteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month. The doctor told me that Grandma's blood count suffered a drastic drop, and had to be admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion. After I had done the paper works for the admittance, I stayed with her, together with her maid. I was totally physically and mentally exhausted. Flying around the world had taken its toll on me, with the late nights and jet lags, not to mention the many hospital trips I made with Grandmother over the past few weeks and every hospital visit spanned over a few hours. I looked at Grandma who was lying on her hospital bed. She looked much better after the blood transfusion and the doctor said all was well. Grandma knew I was washed out and kept asking me to go home and rest. Master Dai Hu's prediction was constantly on my mind. I had wanted to stay for one more night to accompany Grandma but the hospital admission that day was unexpected and I did not prepare any overnight bag. I was staying at Woodlands at that time and it was far from SGH. My husband who was by my side advised me to go home to rest too as he felt that I needed to be in a better condition to continue sharing the Dharma and reciting the Buddha's name with Grandma.

I hesitated. Master's predictions for me always rang true. But my Grandma looked quite good, something which I have not seen in months. Furthermore, I have been doing spiritual practices and dedicating the merits to her. Perhaps a miracle had happened!

At about 120am on the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, I went home.

My phone rang at 1020am. It was the maid. She was not really conversant in English but told me anxiously that Grandma wanted to see me, and asked if I was on the way. I naively shrugged it off, thinking it might just be Grandma wanting to see me after her sleep.

Another phone call came in at 1045am, the sobbing and muffled voice of my cousin on the other end, telling me that Grandma had passed away. At that very moment, the words of Master "Not beyond the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month" reverberated through me. My heart sank to the rock bottom. Why did I ask Master for his prediction when I was not prepared to have complete faith in him? Why had I not told this prediction to my family members? Why could I not just stay in hospital with Grandma for that one more night? Life and death are both predestined. How could I think so highly of myself and believe that meagre merits from my spiritual practice was sufficient to rewrite her fate? Now I realized the truth in the saying that a person before his or her imminent death would look as if he or she is well. Goodness gracious! I was so unfilial to had left Grandma alone, on her death bed with no family member but only the maid beside her!

I phoned Master Dai Hu at the hospital and he answered very quickly. Once the first words were spoken, I had already broken down in sobs. Master said that he woke up early that morning with a premonition. He kept "seeing" images of my Grandma and myself, and knew in an instant that his prediction had prevailed and had been waiting for my call. Not only did Master not reprimand me for not having enough faith in him, he even reminded me on the list of things to do for Grandma's funeral. He counseled me, saying that for Grandma to bade this world farewell on the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, it signified that she had lived a full and complete life, and that her karmic debt of suffering from illnesses the past 10 over years had finally been repaid. He said I should be glad that Grandma had been released from her pains and sufferings. Master was well aware of my rash temperament, and reminded me many times not to squabble with the family members during the funeral wake.

This has to be the other regrettable thing in this episode. My understanding of the Dharma was shallow then, and I did not practice the ways of endurance, equality, and did not consider the feelings of others in handling things. Not only did I pressurize my family members over the arrangements of Grandma's funeral, my bad temper flared uncontrollably during the funeral as I was not in agreement with the rest of the family members. All this talk about being a Buddhist turned me into a laughing stock! Why could I not learn from Master, who was and still is always so magnanimous and gracious?

During the seven-day period after Grandma's passing, many family members dreamed of her continually. I was the only one not to have seen her in my dreams. This was very puzzling for me. At the time of her passing, Grandma was calling out for me. Why did she not appear in my dreams? Did she not have anything to say to me? (Truthfully, I wanted very much to say a million sorry to her in person). As I was pondering over this matter, I remembered a demarcation method taught to me by Master, to protect myself against spirits stealing my life essence and disrupting my sleep, and to stay safe while I was overseas. This demarcation was something I always did before going to bed, and it really proved itself as a useful and powerful Dharma practice.

That night, in my hotel room in New York, I took a risk and forgo the demarcation procedure before I slept. That very night, I dreamed of Grandma! I was at the car park, near my childhood residence (also near Grandma's previous residence). I was walking along a pavement and ended up beside a cream-coloured Mercedes Benz. I looked down, and there she was! My Grandma was wearing her usual clothing and seated in the driver's seat. I called out to her and asked in Cantonese, "Grandma, you know how to drive?" Grandma did not have a driving license when she was alive. She turned to speak to me, "Help your Grandfather to take refuge!" I answered, "Take refuge? Ok!"

I jolted out from sleep, and hurriedly looked at the clock. It was five plus in the morning. Master once said that dreams occurring between 5am - 7am were real. I washed up, and called Master who was in Singapore immediately. My Grandfather has been dead for more than 10 years. In my dream, when Grandma wanted me to take refuge for Grandfather, I knew then that Grandfather had yet to go through reincarnation. He did not hear the Dharma during his lifetime, so he could not have been reborn into the Pure Land. When Grandma spoke of taking refuge, my intuition told me that she was referring to our Root Guru, Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, whom we took refuge in, and no one else. The next amazing thing was that the car in which Grandma was seated in the dream looked exactly the same as the one the family members burnt as an offering to her during the funeral!

Master spent an hour on the phone with me, patiently guiding me. He said I needed to return to my Grandma's house and seek answers from the ancestors at the ancestral tablet if my Grandfather really wanted to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng. Other than preparing my Grandfather's favorite snacks, I had to offer incense and other offerings to the Jade Emperor, the Earth Deity as well as the Door Guardians, who were enshrined outside my Grandma's home, and request for smooth entry of my Grandfather's spirit into the house.

A few days upon my return to Singapore, I went to my Grandma's house, together with my two nieces. I followed Master's instruction to the tee. The three of us offered incense, knelt down in front of the ancestral tablet and called for my Grandfather. Something extraordinary happened next! In the flash of an eye, the 3 of us felt a strong Yin energy coming in from the main door, and witnessed a black shadowy figure slid past us in speed, and onto the ancestral tablet. Momentarily, our hair stood on end and all of us felt goosebumps on our skins. When I threw the divination blocks and asked if it was Grandfather's wish to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, the answer was positive with three consecutive yes! My dream was real after all! The method which Master taught really worked well!

Instantly, I was in awe, and at the same time, extremely grateful to Master Dai Hu. He was the one who guided me to take refuge in Living Buddha Lian-Sheng. Before that, I never hear of Him. Because of my taking refuge, a few of my family members followed suit. Master often said that the dead had the brightest eyes. Grandfather doted on me very much when he was alive, and never did I expect Grandfather to follow my Grandma and I in taking refuge and seek the Dharma. I was totally elated! I praised Master for his foresight, and his great fortune of taking refuge in a one and only one Guru Master, one who had attained perfect Enlightenment. It is no wonder that Master Dai Hu has such great skills too. I am also grateful for his relentless pursuits to propagate the Dharma, enabling layman like us to learn, understand and prepare for the biggest event of our life.

I am a lousy disciple with bad temperament. Twice, I was booted out by Master and not allowed to learn from him for as long as 6 months. My notes and books were confiscated. However, even when I did not see Master during those periods, he showed compassion and guided me through the ordeal of my Grandma's passing. Perhaps you might think that it is his duty as a spiritual practitioner and Chinese metaphysicist to show compassion and help others in need even if no money is paid to him, and if money is paid, all the more he should help the clients out of their troubles.

My take on this: We must take responsibility for our own problems. No one owe us any form of help or assistance. And Master Dai Hu is definitely not someone you can buy with money. If he does not render his help to you or both of you have a different opinion on certain issues, you cannot go from having admiration to bearing resentment towards him over that. I have seen too many ungrateful people who erase all the memories of the good that Master had once done for them, pretty much like how Emperor Qin burnt the books, with no trace left and turned their backs on Master, like they had never known him.

Over the last two days, I rushed to complete this testimonial as a present to Master Dai Hu on his "birthday". It was this auspicious day, the fifteenth day of the Eighth Lunar Month, that Master Dai Hu took refuge in True Buddha and became a Buddhist. He often said that this day felt more like his real birthday. Before learning the Dharma and taking refuge, he led a life of meaningless existence, squandering away youth and time. Only when he became a Buddhist did he truly come to life, begin to live in wisdom and gain great ability, while making useful and meaningful contributions to the society. With such a noble career, I guess his parents must be very proud of having a son like him.

If you are to be in my shoes one day, having asked Master for advice but still teetering on the border and unsure if you should believe him, I hope my story will inspire you and not let you suffer the same regrets as I did.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

And I genuinely wish Master Dai Hu a "Happy Birthday". Thank you for bringing the Light to us, despite the endless obstacles you constantly battle. I pray that your life will be as beautiful, complete and auspicious as the full moon tonight. May you soon attain the fruit of perfect and complete Enlightenment. Amituofo.

www.masterdaihu.com/the-prophecy-not-beyond-mid-autumn/