It has been four years since my mother translated at the age of 98. The experiences I had with her, about the power of HU and how it helped remove the fear of dying, are still vivid to this very day.
My mother hailed from a very poor family in China and came to Malaysia with no education at all. She had been a very spiritual person and grew up embracing the traditional practice of ancestral worship in Taoism. She had had a very hard life as a slave girl but in spite of all her hardships, she faced life with love and determination, as she was a firm believer of gratitude and forgiveness.
At the age of 60 when life was a bit more comfortable, she acquired the gift of being able to go into a trance to help those who sought answers to their problems from the many deities in her Taoist religion. She offered this service out of love and not for monetary returns. However, this practice of getting into a trance soon took its toll on her physical health and in her early 80’s she gave it up.
With age, she slowed down physically but was still mentally alert. During my annual visits to Malaysia, I often spoke about Eckankar to her. She referred to Sri Harold as ‘Si-fu’, a Chinese term for Master and had met him in her dreams. She was happy that I had such a wonderful Master.
One day I received an urgent phone call from my sister informing me that mymother was unwell and had requested to see me. I left immediately for Malaysia. At my sister’s place, I found her looking frail and sallow. During my conversations with her, she disclosed to me that her greatest fear was not knowing what awaited her when she crossed the ‘bridge to the next world’. In her religion, there are many stories of hell, torture and severe punishment by the demons of hell’ for misdeeds accrued during one’s life. She wondered if this was true.
As an ECKist, I knew the best way to understand truth is through experience and I replied, “Why don’t you find out for yourself?” She sat up and queried, “How?” Inwardly, I thanked Divine Spirit for this opportunity to share the HU with her. I sat down to teach her how to sing ‘HU”, our love song to God. I was amazed at the beautiful melody that swept through us and filled the room. She enjoyed it immensely and felt at peace.
After that I reminded her to sing ‘HU’ each night before she went to sleep and to say, “Si-fu (mster), please take care me where I am supposed to go when it’s time for me to cross the bridge of life.”
Early the next morning, she asked for me and said, “Son, I dd what you told me to do… It’s been a long time since I had such an uninterrupted sleep. Then she continued, “I met a wonderful tourist guide in a blue suit who took me sight-seeing. The places I visited were so serene and beautiful that I did not want to leave. I asked him if I could stay. He said it wasn’t time just yet.”
She asked me to explain the significance of the dream. I said, “Remember Mum, you asked me about the places that you’d go to after translating. Well those are the places that you’ll be going to. Your tourist guide is my Master or Si-fu.” As I explained, her face lit up and I could see the happiness and radiance in her eyes. “ Keep singing the HU,” I whispered.
I came back to Singapore and a couple of weeks later my mother translated. My sister told me that she had awakened that morning feeling perky and cheerful and had requested that she cook her favourite dishes. She enjoyed her meal and was watching television when she complained of an itch in her foot. As she bent to scratch it, her body slumped and she translated.
I went back to Malaysia for her wake. When I sang the HU and did my contemplation, my mother appeared in my inner screen, smiling and looking younger and radiant. She said, “ I am happy and well looked after by your Si-fu. Please thank your sister for all the years of unselfish care. Tell her I am grateful and I love her.” Then she faded out of my vision.
Later, when I saw my sister I told her what I had experienced and gave her the message my mother had intended for her. Overwhelmed, my sister burst into tears. She told me about the guilt feelings she had carried in her heart – for the times she had to be harsh to mother when she did not want to take her medication or when she constantly craved for attention.
“Thank you for the touching message. I feel like a huge burden of guilt as been lifted from my shoulders,” she sobbed. I hugged her and I could feel the love that was flowing through her as it washed away years of self-imposed guilt.”
It is so wonderful to be an ECKist and a co-worker with the Mahanta. I am grateful for being able to help a Soul cross the borders of death gracefully and without fear of the unknown. It is the most wonderful gift.
