Hi Faune,
I don't understand the third eye opening as you have suggested, regarding it as a single event opening initiated by Master Lin.
There 'is' a visualization technique in the Level 3 material that address's third eye opening. Master Lin does roam around during meditations , and may do something relative to one's third eye, or something else. I never saw or experienced that as flipping a switch to open the third eye. Charging it with energy perhaps, maybe opening the crown point, or specifics relative to an individual and their level.
I understand the opening of the third eye as a process. The process that opens it, is your qigong practice. In one's practice, the goal, is to reach emptiness. According to Master Lin, the emptiness goes further than the Active Exercises and Meditations. What that is saying , is that your bottom line is to seek emptiness, and your practice, will open your third eye.
You start, with a focus. The focus, can be a meditation technique, like small universe. If you reach emptiness, you leave the focus, the meditation takes care of itself.
When you meditate, you move through layers. You may see nothing, you might see something.
If you have a strong sense of a message or presence in regards to possibly receiving information, pay respects and ask. Don't get hung up with that possibility or process. The goal, is still emptiness, which involves you, going back to a focus, or whatever, to reach emptiness, regardless of what you are seeing.
I don't see going off to the monastery because you see an image in your meditations.
It is your choice and experience. I have always felt confident in my meditation practice taking care of me, without 'need' of outside help. Guidance is helpful, but if you follow the basics and keep it simple, things take care of themselves. Understanding comes.
Don't feel pressure to solve something in response to seeing something. If you go to this monastery, you may get a specific expanation, but then you will most likely receive more technique, that is someone else's means of focus, to reach emptiness. You could accumulate more information, that is just more information. You are engaged in a practice that can take care of itself.
You have been given a powerful technique,in utilizing a 'master's energy'. This connects you to guidance and help too. You may not be conscious or aware of how that spiritual energy relationship engages with your practice, but it ensures your practice is proceeding in a healing way/good way.
You don't have to travel here to open your third eye. As I said, your practice does that. It is helpful to have a teacher's guidance, and also, you can make progress on your own too. Increased times, lotus sitting, some fasting... All things you can initiate to effect growth and change. If you can make it to a level 3 or 4 class, great. Do that. If you feel close to this system/Master Lin, you should make that happen sometime. You can make that physical connection, then, you still go back to 'your' practice.
I don't feel I have to consciously know everything I experience. I try to stay as neutral as possible, not positioning myself relative to what presents itself. As soon as I take a position, I am reacting to something. Positive or negative, it is still a reaction and I lose neutrality. If I remain neutral, I can see what presents itself more clearly, in the sense of understanding. I stay in the present moment. I stay closer to then reaching a level of emptiness again. I may or may not know something, about something, as a result of my practice at a given moment, or over time.
I find Master Lin's suggestion of "following the energy", very helpful as a meditation focus. For me, it is a feeling driven focus. Images may come up or not, but I return to that focus, if images have brought my mind into play.
love,
gallen
ps. my computer settings were somehow lost, so I had to re-register with a different username...