Shortly after Christmas 2002, I was involved in a traffic accident while traveling in Africa. According to my medical report, I was unconscious for seven hours afterwards, and when I regained consciousness, my body ached all over and I could hardly breathe. Being a physician, I realized that I might have suffered a collapsed lung with internal bleeding, a condition normally requiring urgent chest tube insertion. However, long hours passed before any medical personnel came to see me. Finally, a man came and inserted a chest tube, but it was poorly placed so my right lung remained like a flat balloon, and I was still panting like a dog. Also, due to the strong impact I had suffered in the accident, my right shoulder blade was deformed, nine of my ribs were fractured, my right calf bone was broken and I could not move my right arm.

Four days later, a Chinese medical team happened to visit the hospital where I was staying, and an anesthetist in the group was shocked at my condition and worried that my right lung would permanently lose its function if it was not re-inflated at once. So with the limited equipment available, he inflated my right lung with great effort.

Afterwards, while lying on my hospital bed with my whole body aching, I silently told Master, "You're the Almighty. If I recover, it will be Your miracle. If not, that also will be Your will. I know the doctors can't do anything more." Then, incredibly, within two months my right arm began to regain its function so that I could brush my teeth with effort, and finally I was able to raise it completely. And because proper healing requires energy and determination, to further improve the condition of my lung, I have recently taken up jogging.

During my injury and rehabilitation, Master has sent me many gifts. For example, She first caused me to become unconscious so I would not feel the pain of the impact during my car accident. Also, She has made me realize that in death itself there is no suffering. We suffer only if we remain attached to the physical body. In addition, Master has sent medical personnel to assist me at various stages in my recovery process. But surely, the greatest gift of all has been the faith and courage She has given me to face my difficult situation.

Regarding my ordeal, a fellow practitioner asked me repeatedly why it had happened, being more curious about the subject than I was. Later he got his answer during meditation: "The soul wants to record these kinds of experiences."

Everything in our lives has a purpose, and even events that appear to be unfortunate bear the good will of the Almighty. My car accident caused me to observe life from more of a spiritual angle than a physical one. My physical body was injured; but I have been spiritually elevated!

Stories of Life in the Early Years —
The True Essence of Reciting the Buddhas’ Names