I grew up poor in a single parent family. My mother sometimes left the house at night to work, leaving me alone with my younger siblings. On each of these nights, I would see him in my dreams, standing behind my bed protecting me. He is Shakyamuni Buddha. From the time I was small, through my marriage, he was always by my side. My husband worked the night shift at times; on those nights, I too dreamt of Shakyamuni Buddha watching over me.
When I was small, I went to and from school by myself. It was pouring so hard one day, the roads were flooded and children were getting stuck in canals. I was already near home but didn’t know which way to turn. Utterly lost, I cried out for my mother but knew in my heart she would not come to my rescue — she would rather stay home caring for my younger siblings. As the oldest, it was assumed I would fend for myself. How could I, but a child in an intense rainfall, find my home? All of a sudden, a man in simple clothing appeared and swooped me into his arms. Running, he took me home and deposited me on the doorstep. He left without a word. How did he know where I lived?
It was not only until I lived in Treasure Hill and prayed to him at the Guanyin Temple that I realised it was him all along.
Wei Chen Yu, Taiwan
[deity]