Aphorisms
Aphorisms

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai (Originally in English) Pusan, Korea May 14, 1993 The more you use your inner wisdom, the more you know that you know. Costa Rica May 29, 1991 When a Master comes to Earth, not only are the disciples uplifted and shown wisdom, but the whole race of humankind is purified and uplifted to a certain higher level of consciousness.

Letters of Appreciation
from American Red Cross

American Red Cross

September 29, 1999

Dear The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association:

On behalf of the American Red Cross and the people we serve, thank you very much for your generous donation of $50,000 made this month to help with disaster relief in Hampton Roads. Both Leon Calhoun our Chapter Chairman and I have already expressed our personal thanks and appreciation; but it was important to us that you hear again how grateful we are for your contribution. Your gift made a tremendous difference in our ability to provide the services we've promised we would provide in times of disaster.

It was a pleasure touring with your representatives first hand through the disaster area and having them see the service center where our caseworkers were set up to provide direct assistance to families in need.

Your donation played an essential role in making sure we had the wherewithal to respond to more than 250 families (and single people) who needed our help the day of the tornado and in the weeks that followed as they repaired their apartments and lives. Our disaster action teams are trained to respond immediately to disasters of this type. They were on the scene of the tornado damage as quickly as our city fire and other response personnel. Your generosity, along with their skills, made it possible to help affected families with immediate shelter, food, and clothing. We have continued to help as the victims replaced bedding, medical supplies and other essentials as families moved back into their repaired apartments or moved to other locations.

I've enclosed the photos we took of our donation presentation ceremony with the Hampton City Council. The fact that with very little warning they took time out of their schedules to meet and greet us is evidence again of the importance of your gift.

Thank you very much,

Heather Livingston

Chapter Manager

from Hellenic Red Cross from American Red Cross

Letters of Appreciation
from Hellenic Red Cross

Hellenic Red Cross

Central Office

Lycavitos 1-10672 Athens

To : The Supreme Master Ching Hai Intl Assoc.

The Governing Body of the Hellenic Red Cross expresses its warm thanks for the contribution of ten thousand American Dollars $10,000 (3.106.355 Drachmas) towards the earthquake victims of Attiki.

Regarding the relevant amount of money an appropriate transaction was made under the code number 441/14-9-99 by our pertinent department and has been registered in our official books.

This certificate can be used for tax relief purposes.

Your sincerely,

The Chairman

Andreas Martinis

from Hellenic Red Cross from American Red Cross

Poem
Leaning Upon You

By sister initiate Hwang Chia-yin, Taipei, Formosa

Against You I lean
In this dark and quiet night.
Upon Your shoulders, soft and tender like a pillow,
Rests my exhaustion.
A lullaby, Your gentle lips lightly hum,
Lulling me to sleep sweetly,
In Your trustworthy arms.

Upon You I lean
Deep in this mystical night,
So safe and secure in Your embrace,
Sheltering me from storms of fear.
Your eyes, radiant as the Polar Star,
Guide this prodigal heart
To a quick return to Your unfailing arms.

Upon You I rely
In this lonesome night,
Cheerful words and laughter, like humorous aphorisms,
Tame my stubborn mind.
The divine voice of wisdom lingers, fragrant as sandalwood;
So unrestrained and free is the night, just like You.
Upon You I rely,
Upon You I lean, in the night.

(Written after the September 21 earthquake in Formosa. Reliance on Master and God makes me feel absolutely safe. I am not afraid anymore!)

Leaning Upon You

Master's Wonders
Sincere Believers are Saved

Combined reports

by the Taichung & Nantou Center News Groups

Wonders during the Formosa Earthquake:

It was early morning on September 21, 1999. Brother Chen, sensing an earthquake, put on his slippers and dashed to the door of his house. In no less than two seconds after he was out of the door, he heard a loud boom behind him as the house collapsed. Except for being covered by a layer of ashes, he was not affected.

Another brother initiate didn't wake up until the quake had happened. Although his house had fallen apart, he was safe and well. Later, he discovered that the ceiling above his bed had not fallen on him because a single brick was supporting it. After he escaped through the cracks in what was left of his house, all he could see were ruins of the surrounding buildings. He believes that Master saved his life.

An initiated couple and their two children were unable to escape before their house collapsed. Nevertheless, each one crawled out of the debris to safety.

A petite sister initiate lived on the 14th floor of a towering apartment building. During the earthquake, the tower tilted and the floors collapsed, causing the fourth floor to become the ground floor. Trapped in her bedroom, she was unable to open the door. At this life and death moment, she prayed to Master for help. The door instantly opened and she was able to run out of the building. Later, she successfully rescued a family of six that lived on another floor of the building.

In the Tung-Shih and Rockhill areas, located close to the epicenter of the earthquake, the houses of some initiates collapsed, but they all felt Master's care taking them through the disaster intact. When the earthquake struck, one initiate heard Master's voice urging him to, "Get up! Quickly!" Another initiate ran barefooted on smashed glass without being hurt. Other fellow initiates and their families happened to have just left areas that later were struck by the earthquake.

Not only were initiates taken care of by Master, but so too were their relatives and friends. One of these was a 70 year-old teacher of a brother initiate, who, although he had not become a vegetarian, sincerely believed in Master. He had never met Master but had seen Her paintings and photos. When the earthquake struck, he was not at all frightened. While his neighbors' furniture was smashed, his belongings remained intact; the electric power to other houses was cut off and the whole area was in darkness, but in his house, it was as bright as a sunny day. It seemed that he had entered another dimension.

Sister Hsieh's parents, both in their seventies, live in Rockhill in a house that is very old. Sister Hsieh worried that her parents' house could not withstand the devastating earthquake and she feared they might be buried in the ruins. Later, she was informed that their house had cracked apart but her parents were fine. The first words her mother said to her on the telephone were: "It must be your Master who has protected us! In the last few months, I have been repeatedly listening to Her Buddha chanting tape. How fortunate I am! Your father and I were sleeping in bed when the cabinet and everything on it fell on the bed, but we don't have any injuries. Many thanks to your Master!"

A Miraculous Photo

At the time of the earthquake, Sister Wu was operating a vegetarian restaurant in Puli. Remaining alone overnight in the restaurant, she was awakened from her dreams by the shattering tremors of the earthquake. She felt the sky swaying and the earth trembling, and found herself in complete darkness. Hearing the rumbles of the crumbling buildings, she was stunned and didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, she saw a photograph of Master flying through the air, immediately, she called out Master's name and began to chase the photo. She raced from the third floor to the second, where finally she was able to catch the elusive photo. Holding it to her breast, she began to search for a way to the ground floor. Just as she was about to step onto the stairs, the faint emergency light illuminated a shattered stairwell. At that point, she thought her life was about to end. The room was dark; broken tables and chairs lay in the corners; shattered glasses and plates were everywhere; her exquisite pendant lamp was swaying in the air. Seeing that she had no way out, she leaned against the wall to avoid being hurt by falling pieces and recited the Holy Names, hoping that her death would not be too ugly.

While reciting the Holy Names, she suddenly realized: "If I'm destined to die, why did Master's photo bother to lead me through the darkness to the second floor?" She immediately pushed aside the swaying furniture and managed to get to the second floor window. At that very moment, a fire engine arrived on the scene and subsequently, the firemen rescued her from the crumbling building. After she had jumped onto the fire engine from the second floor and reached the safety of the ground, she almost collapsed. The only remnant of thought left in her mind was that Master had saved her. Master was the Guide who had led her through the darkness to safety.

My Home Became a Shelter for Victims

Sister Jiang lives in the suburbs of Richland. Her family operates a factory that makes plastic products. She is the only initiate in her family and, although her family members do not identify with her spiritual practice, a happy smile is always on her face. Many times, she has been seen volunteering to work at Master's bookstall. Her favorite saying is: "Everything is given by Master. My only wish is to be one of Her good vehicle."

Last year, sister Jiang purchased a motorcycle from a nearby dealer. Mrs. Hwang, the dealer's wife, was attracted by sister Jiang's easy manner and smile of contentment. She was fond of talking with sister Jiang, who introduced Master's teachings to her and brought her books and magazines of Master's teachings. Both Mrs. Hwang and her husband became vegetarians, and from that time on, whenever they saw meat, they felt uneasy. Several times, Mrs. Hwang planned to be initiated, but had missed the chance because of some mundane reasons.

After the early morning earthquake of September 21, 1999, the most severely damaged spot along Fontsing Road was a mere two hundred meters from sister Jiang's house. When she looked around, she was shocked: buildings were leveled; families were ruined; twisted roads rose above the ground to a height of a two-story building. On the 60-meter wide Fontsing Road, not one inch remained that could be walked upon. The water supply and electric power were cut off. People were frightened in the chilly darkness.

In striking contrast, at Sister Jiang's house, water and electricity flowed as usual; her house stood firm and secure. As many people began to seek refuge at her house, she took out all her warm clothes to offer them. Stepping into her house, many people exclaimed: "Inside your house is heaven; outside is hell." Later, when fellow initiates visited sister Jiang's home, they were surprised to find that her house had become a shelter for the quake victims. Sister Jiang believes that Master saved her house as a piece of "Pure Land" so that the victims could have a bathroom to use, a spot to pitch their tents, and some pure water to drink.

Soon after the earthquake, sister Jiang received a call from Mrs. Hwang, who told her that when the quake began, together she and her husband had prayed to Master for help, then they led their three children, aged seven, five and three years, downstairs through a broken stairwell, crawling out to safety through a hole that was formed when a metal door had been crushed and twisted. Mrs. Hwang expressed her gratitude for these arrangements that seemed to have been made especially in order for her family to escape. Even though her house lay in ruins, she decided to be initiated as soon as her family was resettled. As usual, we always see sister Jiang at group mediation. Recently, when we asked her about the reconstruction of her earthquake-stricken area, she told us that the roads were open again, but some people were still living in the tents that had been set up in her yard. She then repeated her pet saying: "Everything is given by Master; everything is arranged by God!"

Sincere Believers are Saved

Love in Action
Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Report from Au Lac (Originally in Aulacese)

In recent years, disastrous floods have caused much damage in Au Lac. The recent deluge, occurring between July 28 and 30 of this year (1999), was the largest in the region for the last 48 years and wreaked great havoc on human life and property in Binh Thuan City. According to statistical data released by the office of flood protection in Binh Thuan City, as of August 5, 1999, the death toll and number of missing persons caused by the flooding stood at 28. Adding to the country's devastation are the loss of homes and property: 1,128 houses have been swept away by the flood waters while more than 2,000 houses have collapsed; 20,687 hectares of crops have been ruined, 427 km of roads damaged, 67 bridges destroyed, and many schools, gas stations and utility stations, which serve the public needs have been rendered useless.

The people in Binh Thuan have long endured hardships, and now the flooding has left approximately 20,521 people homeless, and without food, urgently in need of immediate relief. Many governmental radio and television stations and newspapers have urgently appealed for assistance; associations, individuals, charitable organizations, and religious groups, from overseas and domestic, have responded with relief measures. From abroad, the Supreme Master Ching Hai, acutely aware of the loss and suffering endured by the people of Au Lac and especially the flood victims in Binh Thuan City, immediately dispatched a representative team to offer relief and render monetary aid in the amount of $US40,000 (valued at $VN 556,400,000).

Upon receiving Master's instructions, the team departed immediately, arriving in Au Lac on August 15, 1999. Under conditions of great difficulty regarding transportation due to floods and torrential rains, we delivered the monetary assistance into the hands of victims in the districts of Ham Tan, Tanh Linh, and Duc Linh, with each household receiving an envelope containing $VN 300,000. In addition, we distributed monetary assistance to local educational groups, people living under extraordinary hardships, the elderly, the handicapped (see the listed table), etc. Special consideration was given to families with relatives that had been swept away by the raging waters.

Among the unfortunate situations we encountered, the most pitiful situation was that of Mr. Hoang Trong Nga whose mental condition had not returned to normal even many days after he had helplessly witnessed the raging current sweep away his mother, wife, and children. His extreme pain was indescribable. The empathetic condolences and helping hands offered to him and the many others in similar circumstances by the various associations and groups helped to somewhat diminish the suffering imposed by the new hardships on these long-suffering people.

Despite traveling to remote places under torrential rains and with poor road conditions, the joy on the faces of the local people, the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the local leaders, and the deep heartfelt appreciation of the local government, made us quickly forget our arduous trip. Although the monetary assistance was small in comparison to the overall damage, it nevertheless expressed Master's love and understanding of the suffering endured by the people of Binh Thuan. Again, we thank God, we thank Master, for bestowing love on suffering sentient beings, and we also thank the local leaders for their assistance in helping us in our mission to help alleviate the pain and suffering of the disaster victims.

We parted in joy and love, and with touching emotion, we said "good-bye" to the people of Binh Thuan City.

Listed Detail Report on Relief Work in Binh Thuan, Au Lac:

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Love in Action
Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong

Report from Hong Kong

[Hong Kong] In recent months, Hong Kong has been continually besieged by typhoons. Behind the prosperous scene of the city's modern buildings are numerous disaster victims with souls longing for help and care, and who are suffering from the flooding caused by typhoons Wendy, York and Cam. After Hong Kong initiates received our compassionate Master's instructions and funds, they immediately spread out to search for the needy victims.

During this time, they encountered personal stories that, one after the other, told an unfortunate and sorrowful tale. Due to the high density of the buildings and the city planning of the urban area of Hong Kong, when floods occur, the waters rush downward toward the village areas in the plains. As a consequence, the residents of these local villages become the sacrificial lambs of urbanization.

During the recent typhoons, many people in one such village were besieged by the flood water resulting in serious pollution of their well water. On behalf of Master, initiates arranged for installation of new water taps and other community modifications, spending most of the relief fund in the process.

One single elderly resident claimed that after fighting the flood waters for an entire day and night, he then had to clean up his little home by himself. He thanked initiates profusely for Master's loving care. Also, a woman whose husband had died a year earlier and was still grieving, insisted on remaining in her home with her children, even at the risk of her life and the lives of her children. However, under the loving blessing power of Master, and on the advice of a social worker, she agreed to evacuate to a safer shelter. Another helpless lady who had recently lost her husband was unable to raise her children and pay for the family's expenses. When she received some monetary assistance on Master's behalf, she was sincerely appreciative.

Thank You, Master, for giving us another lesson in love. It was a precious opportunity for us who are blessed with living in a rich and satisfying environment to experience other people's pain and to be one with them.

During this relief program, Master blessed us all the time, and even telephoned to encourage the working staff members.

Master, thank You very much for the love You showed to the people of Hong Kong.

Contributions from The Supreme Master Ching Hai to Typhoon Victims in Hong Kong, from September to October1999

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Love in Action
Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado

[New York] On September 4th, 1999, Hampton, Virginia, a place where tornadoes are rarely seen, was hit by a major twister. Two local facilities, the Assisted Care Facility for the Elderly and the Retirement Center for the Elderly, were heavily damaged. Also, many private homes were damaged by the tornado and subsequent storm, with the residents having to be evacuated. Fortunately, no one was killed.

Upon learning the news of the disaster, our merciful Master immediately contributed US$50,000 and instructed local initiates to deliver the money to the disaster area at top speed.

Several initiates from the Virginia Center set off immediately, driving all night, and arrived at the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Red Cross the next morning. After being warmly welcomed by Red Cross workers, our initiates expressed Master's love and desire to help the disaster victims. Then Ms. Heather Livingston, the manager of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Red Cross, led the initiates on a visit to the disaster area.

Hampton City is a small coastal tourist city, surrounded by the sea. People there very seldom see tornadoes. This time the tornado attacked without any warning. And many people felt very reluctant to accept it even daysafter the event. In the area through which the tornado had passed, trees were uprooted and cars were blown onto the roofs of buildings; after being damaged by the tornado, many houses were again attacked by a heavy rain storm and become uninhabitable. Due to the high cost of repair, many of these houses will have to be demolished and rebuilt. The financial losses were grievous.

After learning of the arrival of the representatives of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, the City Manager, George Wallas, and other members of the Hampton City Council immediately scheduled a meeting with them. Our initiates, on behalf of Master and Her association, presented a $50,000 disaster relief fund to Mr. Wallas for the local chapter of the America Red Cross. Mr. Wallas then thanked Master and The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for the warmhearted contribution.

During a later telephone conversation with our fellow initiates, Red Cross official, Ms. Livingston, enthusiastically reported learning of our mutual goals of helping vicitms of disasters throughout the world.

American Red Cross

September 29, 1999

Dear The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association:

On behalf of the American Red Cross and the people we serve, thank you very much for your generous donation of $50,000 made this month to help with disaster relief in Hampton Roads. Both Leon Calhoun our Chapter Chairman and I have already expressed our personal thanks and appreciation; but it was important to us that you hear again how grateful we are for your contribution. Your gift made a tremendous difference in our ability to provide the services we've promised we would provide in times of disaster.

It was a pleasure touring with your representatives first hand through the disaster area and having them see the service center where our caseworkers were set up to provide direct assistance to families in need.

Your donation played an essential role in making sure we had the wherewithal to respond to more than 250 families (and single people) who needed our help the day of the tornado and in the weeks that followed as they repaired their apartments and lives. Our disaster action teams are trained to respond immediately to disasters of this type. They were on the scene of the tornado damage as quickly as our city fire and other response personnel. Your generosity, along with their skills, made it possible to help affected families with immediate shelter, food, and clothing. We have continued to help as the victims replaced bedding, medical supplies and other essentials as families moved back into their repaired apartments or moved to other locations.

I've enclosed the photos we took of our donation presentation ceremony with the Hampton City Council. The fact that with very little warning they took time out of their schedules to meet and greet us is evidence again of the importance of your gift.

Thank you very much,

Heather Livingston

Chapter Manager

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Love in Action
Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims!

Report from the USA

[Los Angeles] Master constantly encourages Her disciples to help other people, without discrimination and whenever we are able to do so. Therefore, when word of the devastating earthquake in Turkey reached Los Angeles disciples, they responded with the same love and compassion that Master has always taught them to show. The L.A. Center raised US$10,000 from fellow initiates. This money was immediately given to an international organization working on behalf of the Turkish people.

The following weekend, during a two day retreat at the L.A. Center, disciples brought many dozens of bags filled with clothing, and these were also sent to Turkey. Master arranges everything. We have a sister at our Center whose very good friend is Turkish. He wanted to help his fellow countrymen. Although this man is not a disciple, he definitely possesses a compassionate and loving nature, so he made arrangements to have all of the clothing transported from California to New York, free of charge. From there, all of the emergency supplies were flown to Turkey. During the next week, our telephone message system rapidly announced to all disciples that more supplies were needed in Turkey. This time, disciples brought shoes, blankets, bed linens, sleeping bags, towels, and even toys for distribution to the devastated Turkish people. Once again, a shipment was on its way, sent with Master's Love! The disciples at the L.A. Center have also been praying for the victims of the recent string of natural disasters around the world. Each and every Saturday has been designated as a one day retreat day. In this way, we also provide strong currents of spiritual energy to improve the condition of the ephemeral world in which we live.

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Love in Action
A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece

Report from Greece

[Athens] On September 7th at 2:56 p.m. local time, a strong earthquake of magnitude 5.9 on the Richter Scale occurred in the north of Athens, the capital city of Greece. The center of the earthquake was in the north suburban area of Athens. This was the most severe earthquake to occur in Athens in decades, causing injury and death to more than five hundred people, destroying many buildings and leaving thousands of people homeless. It also caused severe damage to the electric power supply and communication system of Athens. Luckily, some famous ancient Greek relics showed no obvious traces of damage. Upon learning the news of the quake, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately contributed $10,000 US dollars for Greek earthquake relief work through the local Red Cross. A copy of the receipt is shown below.

Hellenic Red Cross

Central Office

Lycavitos 1-10672 Athens

To : The Supreme Master Ching Hai Intl Assoc.

The Governing Body of the Hellenic Red Cross expresses its warm thanks for the contribution of ten thousand American Dollars $10,000 (3.106.355 Drachmas) towards the earthquake victims of Attiki.

Regarding the relevant amount of money an appropriate transaction was made under the code number 441/14-9-99 by our pertinent department and has been registered in our official books.

This certificate can be used for tax relief purposes.

Your sincerely,

The Chairman

Andreas Martinis

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

Love in Action
Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims

Report from Formosa

[Combined report from Formosa] A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter Scale struck Formosa on September 21, 1999 at 1:47 AM. The whole island felt the tremendous shock of the quake. People were shaken out of their sleep, and in great fright some escaped outside, still holding onto their quilts. A chain of continuous tremors followed the main quake. On September 29, an aftershock with a magnitude of 6.8 again hit central Formosa, causing severe damage to the area. To date, the death toll totals more than two thousand.

Upon hearing news of the disasters, Master immediately telephoned to express Her concern to fellow practitioners and victims, and instructed us to take good care of the quake victims. The day after the 9/21 earthquake, fellow practitioners promptly sent NT$10,000,000 (US$312,500) in the name of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, to the special account set up by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China in the Central Bank Treasury for relief of quake disasters.

In addition, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association provided material and cash relief directly to the victims. Groups of volunteer workers from The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Associations in Taichung, Nantou, Chiayi, Changhua and other places delivered relief to affected areas close to the epicenter in Nantou. These places included the Jiji Village Office, the Nantou Municipal Government Office, Nantou City Hall, Wu Feng, Xin She Village, Puli Town, Yu Chi, Shui Li, Zhu Shan Town, Chung Liao Village, the Dali Village Office, and Lu Gu Village. Our relief work also extended to the other most severely affected regions like Dongxi Town of Taichung in middle Formosa, Xin Zhuang City of Taipei in the northern region, and the Dong Qing Mansion in the Song Shan Precinct of Taipei.

So far, it is estimated that the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has contributed relief materials valued at more than NT$3,800,000(around US$120,000), including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, dried foodstuffs, biscuits, rice, oil, salt, instant noodles, slippers, jackets, underwear, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, milk powder, masks, medicine, mineral water, mobile toilets, garbage bags, loudspeakers, mosquito nets, diesel fuel and batteries for generators, clothing, raincoats, torch lights, batteries, and canvas for building shelters against rain and for eating and sleeping. We also purchased fresh vegetables, fruit and food each day to be delivered to the victims for daily consumption.

Depending on the degree of damage to victims' homes, members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association also distributed relief cash and living allowances to them. The rescue team formed by the Nantou fellow practitioners was the first to report to the Nantou Municipal Government, and formed the first rescue team with other participants. Our team was also the first to reach the affected areas.

Fellow practitioners formed relief teams that traveled on foot, and most of the time, these teams were the first relief workers to reach the affected areas. They especially targeted remote areas where the Government and other civilian groups could not provide immediate help, places such as deep in the mountains that were isolated due to rough tracks and damaged roads. From the 23rd to the 25th of September, many of these routes were still gravely threatened by falling rocks. However, our team of fellow practitioners that also included medical personnel, disregarding the dangers and traveling by foot while carrying relief materials on their backs, delivered timely relief to the helpless victims. Around the country, fellow practitioners arranged more than forty light trucks to transport the relief materials; some even formed a team of evacuation vehicles to support the rescue work. To supply generators in the affected areas, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association provided one hundred cans of diesel fuel valued about NT$200,000 (US$6,250).

[Taichung] Due to a breakdown in telecommunications after a massive earthquake that struck central Formosa on September 21, we learned from indirect sources that Master had called from overseas expressing Her great concern about the victims of the disaster and the safety of fellow practitioners. She instructed us to immediately set up a disaster relief center and to waste no time in delivering relief provisions to the earthquake victims. By dawn, fellow practitioners had reported to the Center one by one and volunteered to join the relief team. We listened to the radio broadcasts, and as soon as there was news about an affected area, a team of relief vehicles left to deliver relief supplies to the inhabitants of that region. Fellow practitioners from northern Formosa organized a team of over a dozen four-wheel-drive vehicles to go to Chungliao rural township, where the roads were severely cracked. Medical teams and apparatus vehicles joined the relief work.

While the phones were dead, fellow practitioners set up radio equipment at the Center to communicate with the Nantou Center through radiotelephones and to promptly offer relief aid and provisions. Dharma Guards wearing their usual yellow vests helped the police to direct the traffic with tacit understanding, earning admiring looks from other volunteer groups for their professional assistance in easing the traffic congestion caused by long queues of vehicles carrying relief supplies to the affected areas.

While the relief work was going on, fellow practitioners contacted each other to find out if all initiates, especially those in the affected areas, were safe. Incidentally, everyone was safe except for having experienced a moment of shock. Only one person suffered a slight injury, and the houses of a few fellow practitioners had either collapsed or were rendered unsuitable for residence. All of the initiates had come out of this disaster safely! Following Master's instructions, the Center is taking special care of the disaster victims. Living allowances and condolence funds have been provided to the victims. As to our fellow practitioners affected by the earthquake, they are extremely thankful to Master for Her blessings so that they survived the disaster; They might have lost their homes, but they were free of inner anxieties and humbly declined the relief aid.

Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac

News 106
Great Universal Event
Master Says
Panorama of Events
Media Reports
Letter between Master & Disciple
Front Line
Between Master & Disciples
Master Tells Jokes
Elevation of the Soul
Special Reports
Pearls of Wisdom
Lighthouse in the Darkness
Supreme Art
Love in Action
Master's Wonders
Poem
Letters of Appreciation
Aphorisms

Supreme Art
Master's Art Designs Light Up My Life

By brother initiate Zhanzhong Pi, Ohio, USA

I was born into a poor family, so I did not have much knowledge of gold and gems. Therefore, I never knew their value in this world, and of course, I was never interested in them, nor did I have any desire to own them. Also, I was the type of person who liked reading a lot. So I always put a great deal of attention on spiritual books, and nothing else. However, since the New York fashion show, I have begun to appreciate and enjoy Master's paintings, fashion designs and jewelry because I have come to realize their great beauty and elegance. I just silently look at them, and feel many things. I also have had this experience many times when attending international retreats. I look at Master's paintings and fashion designs in every detail to satisfy my inner longing for beauty.

I have come to realize that whatever Master presents to us, we should just appreciate and accept with an open mind, because it not only reminds us to concentrate on our true inner selves, but also silently removes our obstacles when we just enjoy it. Master's love and blessings are always with us, just like the sunshine constantly sending its light to Earth. If people enjoy it, of course, they will benefit from it. Otherwise, people just shut themselves in a dark room and complain about coldness and darkness, but never know that all they need to do is just open the door and window to let the sunlight come in.

Master's Art Designs Light Up My Life

Lighthouse in the Darkness
Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

By the Kaoping News Group, Formosa

Fellow practitioners from the Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas in southern Formosa recently visited a prison in Taliao rural township in Kaohsiung County, where they held a nearly two-hour seminar on Master's teachings for 320 inmates. The seminar began with an introduction to Master, followed by a sharing of inspiring experiences of mental and spiritual rebirth among prisoners after practicing the Quan Yin Method.

In one of these cases, a Tainan prisoner on death row was blessed enough to learn about the Quan Yin Method and finally receive initiation after a six-year wait. His spiritual practice led to a complete change in his external appearance, and his amiability and compassion drew surprised comments about his miraculous transformation. The inmate received special permission from the prison authorities to attend group meditation at the local Center at selected times.

Another case was at a similar seminar held at Green Island Prison four years ago. One prisoner on Green Island who has been trained in the Convenient Method of meditation admitted that he would not have fallen into wrongdoing had he became acquainted with the Quan Yin Method sooner.

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Lighthouse in the Darkness
Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center

Dear brothers and sisters, Greetings to you! On September 15, you trekked over mountains and sailed over oceans to come to see us with your infinite love. When we listened to you explaining the teachings, we could see that the smiles on your faces were very sincere.

You came to bless us with the Grace of the Supreme Master Ching Hai. During those two short hours, I could see your blissful hearts and the love that flowed from within. There and then, I vowed that, should I be given a chance in this life, I would definitely give this great love to others without complaint or regret, just like you have. I believe that it is more happy and meaningful to give than to receive.

After learning the Convenient Method from the sister, I have been meditating an average of half an hour each day. I feel fulfilled and peaceful in spirit and disposition. Thank you very much for your love.

Wishing you success and happiness, T. Hung

To the Supreme Master Ching Hai: Happy reading!

I want to thank the sisters for their detailed explanations, which deeply touched me and I will remember well. They have motivated me to improve myself, and my nearly extinguished self-confidence has been rekindled. I feel so blessed that I can become a new person, having a bright vision for the future of my life. I am no longer frustrated or disappointed. All this is the result of the sister's painstaking counseling and Master's loving teachings. I have come to understand many truths about living in this world, and the purpose and meaning of human existence. Now I am always thankful at heart and want to repay God's grace. Here I must say again, "Thank you very much!" Your sincerity has saved my perplexed heart. Please accept my highest respect. To all my seniors, I wish you all the success in your lives .

Wishing you all the best, C. Lee

7:30 p.m., September 19, 1999

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Lighthouse in the Darkness
A Trip to Green Island

Report compiled by sister initiate Hwang Jia-yin

Taipei News Group, Formosa

A series of spiritual activities held by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for prisoners and needy households in remote areas

On September 15, the inhabitants and natural landscape of Green Island received a spiritual purification as they played host to heartwarming activities of love and care participated in by nearly a hundred fellow practitioners and Quan Yin messengers. The series of activities included counseling for inmates at the Green Island Vocational Training Center, cleanup of beaches and undersea coral reefs in cooperation with the patrol boats of the East Coast National Park Office, free medical consultations and health checkups, relief fund provision to needy households, and a "Sincere Invitation to a Healthy Vegetarian Feast on the Pacific Coast". (Note: The health checkup offered was far more thorough than free medical consultations. Patients received detailed reports on their medical history, diagnoses, and prescriptions, which could serve as references for further medical treatment or medication at any major hospital in Formosa.)

On September 13, Formosa's Central Weather Bureau issued a special warning about torrential downpours brought on by typhoon York and two other low-pressure centers on the verge of typhoon formation. As a result, the Green Island Airport was closed the next morning. The agencies hosting the event were anxious about whether the activities could be held as scheduled. Fortunately, the airport was reopened at 10:40 a.m., and twenty fellow practitioners arrived to prepare for the event. On September 15, the ferry captain waited for the 6:30 wind and sea forecast before deciding whether to set sail or not. Thanks to the grace of God and Master, the three typhoons changed course after three days in the surrounding waters, and the waves subsided. At six in the morning, we were informed that the ferry would sail as scheduled. Over seventy fellow practitioners and Quan Yin messengers, including the Kitchen Team, Audio Team, Video Team, News Group, Diving Team, Cleaning Team, and Reception Team, set out for Green Island on board a ferry named "Eternal Peace".

The ferry sailed through the rough sea, bouncing up and down as though on a roller coaster, as a strong wind blew toward Green Island from the south. Amidst the rain, huge waves smashed against the coastal rocks and beaches, creating an awesome scene in the misty fog. The gigantic waves did not scare us; and to Green Island we sailed with God's hands firmly at the helm. From afar, the island looked like a solitary ship rocking in the typhoon. We were greeted by Warden Chen Shih-chih of the Green Island Prison, who expressed his highest respect for us with these words, "Truly no rain or storm could stop you! The Eternal Peace is heavier in tonnage, and sails much more steadily." Only then did we realize how fortunate we had been. God had arranged everything perfectly!

Following the Supreme Master Ching Hai's loving instructions, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has served people of all walks of life in society through free medical consultations, health checkups, prison lectures, environmental protection, and relief for the destitute and disaster victims. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association holds annual spiritual counseling seminars at prisons throughout Formosa and has been appointed Honorary Probation Officer of the Public Prosecutor General's Office of the Hualien District Court and the Green Island Vocational Training Center. Earlier in 1999, it received the Minister of Justice Award and an Award from the Public Prosecutor General's Office of the Formosa High Court.

From 9 a.m. to 12 noon that day, about twenty fellow practitioners and Quan Yin messengers presided over an assembly of "prayers for blessings" at the Green Island Vocational Training Center. A hundred and twenty inmates attended and learned the Convenient Method at the assembly, which commenced with the screening of a videotaped program on Master's actions of love around the world, "Walk the Way of Love". In this tape, some words gave us much cause for deliberation: "We should always try and create our own means from which to give to others." "I dream that it (our planet) will continue, but in peace, beauty and love. Yes, that is my dream."

Sister Yang of Hualien read aloud with great emotion a letter written by an inmate to his family: "Dear Dad and Mom, Although I cannot take care of you today, I will take good care of myself in here and make an effort to plan for my future. The thought of your getting older each day fills my heart with regret. I want to assure you that I will never make you shed tears for me again for as long as you live!" These words moved many inmates to tears.

Through proper counseling, fellow practitioners dissolved the mental barriers of the inmates, who began to express their deep feelings for their families and parents, and their mixed feelings of gratitude, remorse, and love. They realized that there were people in society who were silently contributing their efforts without asking for anything in return, just to encourage those in prison to face their family, society, and country with a thankful heart. The assembly also prayed that the merciful Quan Yin Bodhisattva would bless everyone with success and good health, as well as world peace and national prosperity. The prayer contained these words: "Although our journey through life is full of setbacks, we can continue to educate ourselves so we become stronger, and have greater wisdom, stamina, and serenity. In this way, we can love and care for our family, society, and country with a cheerful and thankful heart."

Lin Wen-tzung, secretary of the Vocational Training Center, affirmed the positive influence that our spiritual activities have on contemporary utilitarian society, and especially commended the loving fellow practitioners for their immense assistance to the inmates at the center. Secretary Lin had good faith that the inmates would undergo dramatic spiritual transformation while at the center and after their release. When Brother Yang of Taipei spoke on behalf of Master and all the fellow practitioners of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, he expressed gratitude to the director of the center, Edification Section Chief Hwang and his colleagues, without whose cooperation this event could not have been possible. Brother Yang pointed out that Master is the personification of mercy and love who has come to this world to help those longing for the development of the soul.

On behalf of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, brother Li from Hsinchu presented a monetary contribution of a NT$15,000 fund for cultural and educational expenses, which Secretary Lin received on behalf of the Vocational Training Center. Brother Li said The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association had learned from Section Chief Hwang that the inmates needed spiritual comfort; thus, in addition to fruits and moon cakes, the fund was designated for the purchase of books, sporting equipment, and musical instruments.

During the assembly, a Quan Yin messenger shared her experience in spiritual growth with everyone before teaching them the Convenient Method. It was as though she were seeing her long-separated relatives, she said. Hoping that they would derive the greatest benefits, she advised the inmates to make a new choice in life. People might have erred under the pressure of competition and been expelled by the judge from the world arena, but they still had the free will to choose, to walk in the right direction again. The Quan Yin messenger encouraged the inmates to become new moral persons of discipline and spiritual harmony, and to follow the footsteps of a living Enlightened Master. We can return to the homeland of the Saints only if we walk in the right direction, she said.

At that moment, a heavy rain fell, as if baptizing the souls of these inmates. When the Quan Yin messenger asked the inmates whether they wanted to learn the Convenient Method, the response was overwhelming. The firm and loud voice in which they pronounced "We do" was really touching! After she had taught them the Convenient Method, fellow practitioners walked among the inmates to offer them each a sample booklet and News magazines, and, of course, to give them encouragement and help. Finally, we bade farewell to the inmates while singing "Thankful Heart" and "Wishing You All the Best". Thus ended our mission.

Five days before this event, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association had delivered boxes of pears to the inmates by boat. On the day of the event, we brought moon cakes and vegetarian snacks.

At two in the afternoon, about thirty fellow practitioners and Quan Yin messengers were joined by twenty inmates from the cleanup group at the Vocational Training Center for a cleanup of the beaches. Within an hour, each person had collected at least two big bags of garbage. According to participating initiates, the beaches were polluted by garbage that had drifted across the sea from Taitung. The litter was mostly glass shards and plastic bottle caps. There were also lots of plastic tubes and styrofoam in the bushes; and on the rocks, we found many fishnets and even an abandoned motorbike! Fifteen fellow brothers and sisters who could swim as well as fish dived into the water to clean up the seabed under the guidance of two local diving instructors. They recorded a one-hour videotape for broadcast on the local TV evening news program. In this most beautiful coral reef in the sea around Green Island, the fellow initiates gathered twenty big bags of garbage, mainly aluminum cans and fishing nets from ten meters below the water's surface. They had reclaimed a clean seabed for Green Island. A fellow sister noted that even fish would not go near a seabed littered with garbage. Their efforts paid off. As soon as the seabed was cleaned up, sea horses, tropical fish, and even sea snakes could be seen exploring this newly restored paradise.

Meanwhile, starting from three in the afternoon, a free medical consultation and health checkup were offered to all inhabitants of the Green Island facility at the Nanliao Activity Center. Relief funds were also distributed to thirty destitute households on the list, with each household receiving a living allowance of NT$1,000 and a box of moon cakes. The medical consultations were conducted by a group of seven Chinese and Western doctors and nurses, who were also fellow practitioners. Although the service was originally scheduled to be available until five in the evening, it was extended for another three hours to cope with the stream of nearly two hundred local residents who continued to arrive. We played Master's videotapes at the venue, and the Quan Yin messengers distributed moon cakes and drinks. Many people were reluctant to leave even after they had been treated.

According to sister Yang of Hualien, when the working staff was setting up the venue on the afternoon of the 14th, about forty villagers stopped by one after another to express their anxious expectation. The humble and pure-hearted inhabitants said that everyone in the area had long been aware that The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association was going to hold a free medical consultation and vegetarian feast on Green Island. They were very much surprised to find a group that was capable of mobilizing so many members. On the island were many needy households, including senior citizens living alone and poor families of more than ten people relying on one person earning monthly wages of less than NT$8,000. Life was tough for them! The government and the Lions Club did come every now and then to offer them relief funds, but their activities were very much different than ours, which especially included a heartwarming vegetarian feast!

About two hundred people accepted the "Sincere Invitation to a Healthy Vegetarian Feast on the Pacific Coast". These included Director Hwang De-man, and his subordinate section chiefs and the secretaries of the Green Island Vocational Training Center, Green Island Magistrate Chen Chin-wen and his wife, section chiefs of the administrative office, Warden Chen Shih-chih of Green Island Prison, destitute families and inhabitants of the island, officers from the East Coast National Park Office, staff members of the Green Island Post Office and Coastal Defense, officers from the Green Island Police Station, the staff of the Green Island People's Service station, and the diving instructors. Everyone enjoyed the food and performances presented by our fellow practitioners, humming along with the rhythm in a happy and harmonious atmosphere.

During the feast, Magistrate Chen Chin-wen conferred a certificate of appreciation for "Helping the Poor and the Disadvantaged" to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association in gratitude and recognition of our charitable acts in coming to this small Pacific island to share our love and concern with the needy. Lin Wei-ling, chief officer of the Green Island Branch of Formosa's East Coast National Park Office under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, also conferred a certificate of appreciation issued by Director Lin Fang-ming on The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for "Cleaning up the beaches and sea for the benefit of the tourism industry".

There is a Quan Yin Cave on Green Island. According to legend, the manifestation form of Quan Yin Bodhisattva once appeared there and this is where the local people come to worship. Here we can also find one of the three undersea hot springs in the world, the immeasurable force of which created this fairy island in the Pacific. As the number of fellow practitioners on Green Island increases, it has become clear that as long as we crave eternal liberation and freedom, our wishes will be fulfilled even if we are restrained in body or soul.

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Lighthouse in the Darkness
Meditation and Prison By sister initiate Laura Chen,

San Jose, Costa Rica (Originally in Spanish)

Report from Costa Rica

From July to August, 1999, a project called "Meditation and Prison" was conducted with the help of the Director of the Institutional Penitentiary Unit at the County Heredia Justice Ministry in Costa Rica. The project was enthusiastically welcomed and supervised by the Unit's Director, security officers, and staff members.

It is important to highlight that during our meetings with the Director, the topics discussed were related to the international reports published in the News Magazine, mainly the report: "How Can Meditation Solve the Crime Problem in Prisons?" The experiences spoken of by the inmates involved their achievements in attaining inner peace and discovering their inner being, effecting positive changes in their habits, and better interrelationships and communications with others. The Director remarked that he had learned of Master's teachings in 1997 when disciples had contributed Master's books to the Penitentiary library. The support given by Penitentiary staff members was sincere and kind, enabling the inmates to derive maximum benefits from all the activities. The staff members and supervisors were very attentive and responsive to Master's teachings.

Each month we conduct a program entitled "Supreme Master Ching Hai's Video-Lectures and Convenient Method Training." This task is supported by Quan Yin messengers. The prison has a population of around 150 inmates. At present, almost one third of the inmates have learned the Convenient Method, and many more have approached disciples requesting additional information, magazines, and videos.

Vegetarian Kitchen

A course in vegetarian cooking was begun for the kitchen's chief cook and two assistants. Master's disciples teach them basic aspects of food manipulation and various ways to cook vegetables and grains mixed with soy products, instead of cooking flesh. On August 28, the entire population of inmates enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal. All were satisfied and expressed their happiness while eating the soy based food. At the end, they received the sample booklet "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment," along with the lecture "Why We Must Be Vegetarians."

This course on vegetarian cuisine is scheduled to be completed in four months, and the main goal is to show the prisoners that it is possible to live on an alternative diet that is economical as well as healthy. This project has been coordinated at the institutional level by the Director of the Penitentiary Unit (Prison) in Heridia, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association and the well-recognized Vegetarian Restaurant Vishnu, to gain sponsorship for the soy products and training. The goal is that at least ten days a month, the prison will offer 100atural and vegetarian food.

My Personal Experience

Participating in the project "Meditation and Prison" has been a great experience that has helped me to be more loving toward my neighbors, and to understand that all people are kind; that we must always work with enthusiasm and loving sincerity. We shouldn't care what the situation is, because we all have a mission on this planet.

The inmates at the prison are very sensitive beings and feel Master's love. They have said that when they see Master's pictures and listen to Her speak, they feel a great sense of peace mixed with happiness. During the times when they watch Master's video-lectures, I can feel their deep respect and love. One day, the inmates were watching a video-lecture and at that moment, the kitchen assistants brought in some fruit, but the inmates preferred not to eat until they had listened to Master's last word. An atmosphere of peace and harmony could be felt at that time.

I can feel Master's presence working through the entire organization, and facilitating the resources of the project. Her arrangement has been perfect. Sometimes, I have been amazed because everything is going so well, especially because I know that in terms of human logic, it is impossible. Then I think, "This is a miracle!"

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Lighthouse in the Darkness
Mail from Prison

(Originally in Chinese)

A letter to Master from would-be-initiate Zheng, Portland, Oregon, USA

My dear respectable and benevolent Master Ching Hai:

I, a disciple of yours, would like to open up my heart to You. When I first stepped onto the land of America, I was mercilessly taken to jail because I had violated US immigration laws. I felt very helpless. It was as though God had deliberately set these difficulties out for me to bear. Little did I expect that fate would lead me to You and let me understand Your teachings through Your book, "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment," which we received from our translator, Ms. Chao.

I had never thought that I would one day become a vegetarian. However, after I read Your teachings and started to practice the Convenient Method, I felt myself embraced and blessed by Your endless love at all times. You gave me the courage to face my current difficulties squarely. It has become very easy for me to be a vegetarian. When I was in China, I was raised as an agnostic, and although Buddhism is widely believed in my country, I never paid any attention to it. I always thought that when someone died, he would disappear forever from this world. I did not think that there was such a thing as hell, or the celestial realm, or suffering caused by reincarnation. Yet, deep in my heart, I felt afraid and my mind was haunted by all kinds of questions. If there was truly reincarnation, then wouldn't I suffer in my many cycles of life? I might even be sent to hell. Therefore, I always hoped that I would meet a true Master some day, so that I could discover and experience the mysterious realms of the universe.

Today, I have finally been led to a great Master. Your logical teachings appeal to me very much. Now I have come to gradually understand the suffering caused by reincarnation into this world. I also realize the principle that all sentient beings are equal. Ever since I learned the Convenient Method, I have been meditating for half an hour each day. In the beginning, I could not concentrate on my wisdom eye. When I sat for some time, my wisdom eye would hurt as though it was being jabbed by needles. However, after some time of doing the practice, I have become more settled. During meditation, sometimes I can see an assembly of small lights through my wisdom eye. If I sit for a longer time, I feel very peaceful and quiet within, and my body becomes very relaxed. I feel very much comforted.

Through meditation, I have felt my love grow. I have experienced both the warm and cold aspects of the world, and I understand why we should be vegetarian. It has not been easy for me to have all these experiences, and I will treasure this precious harvest. Master, thank You for Your grace in giving me all kinds of experiences and answers.

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Lighthouse in the Darkness
Out of the Ordinary By sister initiate Yvonne Chao

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

I have been working as a Chinese interpreter for many years, and on January 26 of this year, I began doing interpretation for Chen, a sixteen-year-old illegal Chinese immigrant detained at the Portland Juvenile Detention Center. At first, I was asked to visit him every week in a four-hour session, but I could not find the necessary time in my work schedule. So, I refused the assignment and asked my company to find someone else for the job. Unexpectedly, the Detention Center adjusted the time to suit my schedule, and agreed that shorter sessions adding up to four hours a week were acceptable. Thus the story began. Initially, I was asked to visit this Chinese teenager twice a week. Four months later, my visits were increased to three times a week, and recently, I have been asked to stop by every day, because the Detention Center now has six other illegal teenage Chinese immigrants from Guam. Having practiced the Quan Yin Method for six years, I fully understand that it is the most precious gift on Earth, and recommend it to people whenever I have the chance. I realize that life is ephemeral and decided that the best thing I could do for Chen was to introduce him to Master's superior teachings and the Quan Yin Method.

After I discussed it with him, Chen decided to learn the Convenient Method and has had numerous inner experiences. He has seen the manifestation form of Master dressed in a purple kimono meditating by a riverside. He also has seen with his naked eyes several huge UFOs hovering for hours in the sky outside his room at the Detention Center. He couldn't believe his eyes when he had this experience, and asked several inmates to watch with him, but they could not see anything.

I reminded Chen not to disclose his inner experiences to others, but he just couldn't resist sharing them with the other Chinese youth. When I asked if any of them wanted to learn meditation, five of the six teenagers expressed their interest. In July, these young men and women learned the Convenient Method in a special classroom, and on the next day, three of them, including Chen, resolved to observe a pure vegetarian diet. I was amazed at this sudden change in them.

Upon a special request, the Western chef at the Center consented to cook more rice for the seven juveniles. Unfortunately, the rice he prepared was hard and raw. So, I bought them some Chinese soy sauce to go with the rice to make it more palatable. A week later, when I asked whether they could persist or not, they replied in the positive, and confessed that the sight of meat disgusted them.

Out of love, the responsible person from our local meditation Center wanted to send them some vegetarian food, but that was not allowed under the security regulations of the Detention Center. The only exceptions were their birthdays. When one of the teenagers celebrated his birthday on August 13, our Center prepared a large amount of vegetarian food for everyone in his section. The young people were especially delighted with the vegetarian chocolate birthday cake specially baked by the local American fellow initiates. They are now seriously studying Master's teachings. Apart from reading Her books and magazines and viewing Her tapes, they also watch Her videotaped lectures on the local TV station Channel 33 on Tuesdays from 9 to 10 p.m., and on Cable TV Channel 27 on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Since the Detention Center has a timetable showing Master's TV program schedules, these big kids always ask to watch the broadcast when it is time. And if I am there, I translate the tapes into Chinese for them.

I notice that their faces are now glowing with light, thanks to their meditation, and they have become more mature, intelligent, and compassionate. When I bought them colored paper for origami (Japanese paper folding), they folded many cranes and stars for me, which I presented to others and the staff at the Detention Center. They also folded big, beautiful, heart-shaped picture frames for holding Master's photos, which I had given them to display in their rooms. That was indeed an innovative and artistic idea!

I encourage the teenagers to always be grateful for everything, and to quickly move back in the positive direction whenever negative thoughts arise. Since everyone has the God-nature, we should endeavor to utilize our God-power to benefit ourselves and the beings around us. In return, the young people presented me with three big pineapples folded from paper and bookmarks carrying aphorisms. They also have sent letters and drawings to Master.

Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison

Pearls of Wisdom
Pearls of Wisdom

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hualien, Formosa

March 22, 1989 (Originally in Chinese)

Special Reports
Mesmerized by Your Loving Songs By sister initiate Helen Zeng,

Michigan, U.S.A.

Dear Master,

Thanks very much for Your singing last night! I totally enjoyed it! I listened to Your transcendental musical voice wholeheartedly. Master, Your singing was a very special gift to me! The love You expressed in Your songs reminded me of a beautiful dream I had right before initiation.

In that beautiful dream, I met a beautiful, most loving lady who was dressed beautifully, and talked to me very lovingly and sweetly! Master, I have always been yearning for love, unconditional love! And You showered me with the same all accepting and unconditional love again last night.

When You came to see us, Master, You told us how happy You were and how proud You felt to see us. You thanked us many times for bringing the love of God to the people we met. But dearest Master, Your singing was very intimate to me. Through Your singing, You told me that You love me and I am very dear to You in Your heart!

Master, in my beautiful dream, I was walking alone along a deep blue sea, with beautiful flowers on the seashore. It was a beautiful sunny day with a high, blue sky.

I walked into a house that had no walls around it. It was a very nice and quiet place. I saw many transparent pieces of glass, like books, lying on top of each other. And to my surprise, on each layer of the glass, ants stood motionlessly! They were lined up in rows and columns very nicely. I thought, "How disgusting to have ugly ants in such a place!" Just as this thought bubbled up, another thought came to me from the beautiful lady. Her talk was very sweet like a bell. She told me in a loving voice that each ant resembled each drop of my tears through my countless reincarnations.

Master, Your singing is like the continuation of my dream. I don't understand Aulacese at all. But it seemed to me that in a gentle voice, Master, You told me how miserable You are to see me suffer life after life, lost from my heavenly home. Like a mother, You gently cared for each one of my wounds through Your loving songs. You told me how much You have missed me and how much You want me to go back home with You. You confirmed to me that I have only this lifetime to bear, and then we'll be together forever in heaven. You conveyed to me that You are with me inside my soul, protecting me and loving me. You asked me gently, no matter how hard it seems, to be strong and carry on.

Mother Master, Your loving singing melted my heart and I felt very happy! I started to accept myself and realize that my true Self is joy, beauty, and love, and nothing else! I realized that You love me unconditionally. Good or bad don't belong to me. Like a baby, Master, I was melted by Your love! Through Your singing, Master, You told me that the love from friends, my lover, my child, even from flowers, are the expression of Your love. You started to sing happy songs, telling me to be lighthearted and live a lighthearted life. Then You sang another song, telling me to be forgiving, and be a friend to everyone, for we are all one. While listening and enjoying Your songs, Mother Master, I was like a child devoted wholeheartedly to her dear loving Mother, and in Your eyes and heart, I was Your most beautiful and dearest love!

Master, from now on I want to live the same way I lived last night while You were singing to me. I'll live a life of my true Self - one of joy, love, purity and obedience. Mama Master, I want to live the rest of my life like last night, like Your baby, forever beautiful and pure, and forever adored in Your heart!

We are One in Heaven and on Earth Mesmerized by Your Loving Songs

Special Reports
We are One in Heaven and on Earth By sister initiate Milene Su

Special Report on Mid-Autumn Celebrations

Hsinchu, Formosa

September 24, 1999

The 1999 International Moon Festival held at the Orlando Center from September 24-26 was a unique occasion in the experience of our Quan Yin family. All the initiates who attended wore colorful traditional Au Lacese, Chinese, Korean, Irish, Mexican, Costa Rican and other native dress, as well as pumpkin outfits, warrior uniforms, priest's robes and the like, which created a joyful and festive mood at the Festival. The creativity of the disciples was awe inspiring, and everyone seemed ready for a good time, a familial exchange of good feelings and an experience of Master's infinite blessings amid the natural beauty of the Orlando Center.

All the large trees at the Center were decorated with wide strips of paper in a variety of vibrant colors, and were hung with balloons, paper lanterns, tinsel and other decorations, as well as countless toys for the children. One could not help but feel happy and uplifted in such a setting.

Master came to see us during the afternoon! Wearing a coat embroidered with classical gilt patterns on it, She arrived escorted by a team of sedan chair bearers dressed as ancient warriors. Following the rhythm of the lion dance, Master slowly moved forward, as beautiful fairies sprinkled rose petals on the path She was to tread. At the evening gathering, Master changed into ancient Chinese emperor's attire to enjoy the beautiful moon and moon cakes with us. Even the full moon in the sky appeared bashful compared to Master's golden radiance!

September 25, 1999

Master came to the fair at lunch time and enjoyed some tea at the Chinese Tea Art stall. I was fortunate enough to find myself right in front of Master. She was wearing a pink classical European princess costume, and was talking to the guests in an elegant manner. I gazed at Master, and She gave me a gentle look every now and then. Never had I beheld from another person on Earth a look and expression so gentle and loving. Neither could I find another person who can talk in such a sweet, heavenly voice as Master's. The whole world was nonexistent, except for Master's look and countenance. At that most blessed moment, I felt I could die with no regrets. Oh! My eternal lover!

September 26, 1999

After the evening gathering, Master received fellow disciples from all countries by turn. With great compassion and patience, She answered all their questions, and blessed the new initiates and disciples who had problems. Finally, She said that those who were leaving that day might go on to the stage with Her; I was absolutely delighted! When Master was blessing me, I gazed at Her and saw that She was praying devotedly with eyes and palms closed. Her concentration and sincerity are several thousand times greater than mine! Master stayed with us until after nine in the morning; She had blessed many people. Feeling a little tired, I talked to a resident disciple by my side whom I knew, saying, "Let's go get some breakfast!" But she looked at Master passionately and said, "No! I will leave only after Master has left." Feeling her intense love for Master, tears nearly fell from my eyes.

At lunch time, Master came and moved around on horseback. She had been accompanying us since the gathering the previous evening, and had not had any rest until after nine the next morning. Besides, She had blessed many people. Riding on horseback, She looked exhausted and fragile. Sitting at a barbecue table and holding my bowl, I cried loudly, oblivious of the attention from the people around me. On the previous night, Master had told us that resident disciple Tong Li Shih had left this world, and that She had lost one of Her best friends.

She had expressed human emotions and was very sad. This incident made Her cherish more the moments She spent with us, because She did not know when we might be leaving Her.

This evening's gathering was the last one of the Moon Festival. Master appeared very happy watching the performance. When She looked back every now and then, I observed that Her expression was really innocent! And She looked at me tenderly several times.

Together with everyone, She sang many familiar Aulacese songs. The more She sang, the more delighted and energetic She became, and the louder She sang. I couldn't help wondering: She was so exhausted the night before and that noon, yet She suddenly seemed so refreshed and energetic. In this regard, I would like to quote a statement that a fellow brother once used to praise Master: "This Master is really 'not an ordinary person'!"

Time seemed to fly back to the good old days in Hsihu when Master roasted sugarcane stalks and sang songs with us. Master spoils us by incessantly giving to us more than we ask for. When She walked around throwing blessed food, She also sang a few Chinese songs. It was hard to imagine that after so many years, Master could still remember those songs, and She even remembered the lyrics clearly!

Then a contest broke out between the Aulacese and Formosan disciples; one moment it was an Aulacese song and the next, it was a Chinese song. That was great fun! Finally, when Master was leaving, the Formosan disciples sang a Formosan song, "Wait a While!" It was precisely the song to be sung at that moment! I couldn't help smiling.

Postscript

Each time Master came to see us, She always put on Her best makeup, and dressed Herself in Her most elegant and beautiful clothing to show Her sincerity and respect for us. During the Mid-Autumn celebrations, I could see that everyone had brought out their best and noblest aspect to demonstrate the quality of heaven. I have also decided to get rid of my habitual unwillingness to take the trouble to dress differently than my usual casual wear. Heaven is here on Earth!

We are One in Heaven and on Earth Mesmerized by Your Loving Songs

Elevation of the Soul
Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes

In English

 656 Spirituality Shines through Adversity
 Lecture in Dublin, Ireland   June 7, 1999

In English+Polish Oral Translation

 657 Together We Can Choose a Bright Destiny
     (Tapes 1& 2)
 Lecture in Warsaw, Poland   May 11, 1999

In English+Polish Subtitles

 356 Let God Serve through Us
 Lecture at the U. N. Geneva, Switzerland
 April 20, 1993

 357 Perceive the Truth through Inner Wisdom
 Lecture in Geneva , Switzerland
 April 21, 1993

 602 Our Child Nature Is God
 Group Meditation in Los Angeles, U. S. A.
 September 13, 1997

In English+Spanish Subtitles

 623 Recognize Your Own God Nature (Tapes 1&2)
 Lecture at the Univ. of California,
 . Irvine, U. S. A.    June 2, 1998

In English+Portuguese Oral Translation+Aulacese Subtitles

 645 Connecting Yourself with God (Tapes 1&2)
 Lecture in Lisbon, Portugal     May 7, 1999

In English+Dutch Oral Translation

 647 Experience Heaven on Earth
 Lecture in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 May 9, 1999

In English+Dutch Oral Translation+Aulacese Subtitles

 647 Experience Heaven on Earth
 Lecture in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 May 9, 1999

In English+Italian Oral Translation+Indonesian Subtitles

 646 To Know God We Must Be God
 Lecture in Rome, Italy    May 22, 1999

In English+Indonesian Subtitles

 648 The Way to End the War
 Lecture in Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
 June 5, 1999

In English+Russian Oral Translation+Indonesian Subtitles

 650 We Are Here to Bless the World
 Lecture in Moscow, Russia    May 13, 1999

In English+Bulgarian Oral Translation

 651 Fill Life with Love and Wonder
 Lecture in Sofia, Bulgaria    May 18, 1999

In English+Hungarian Oral Translation

 652 The True Essence of Our Being
 Lecture in Budapest, Hungary    May 24, 1999

In English+Greek Oral Translation

 653 Knowing God is the Highest Virtue
 Lecture in Athens, Greek    May 20, 1999

In English+Czech Oral Translation

 654 The Only Crime is Ignorance
 Lecture in Prague, The Czech Republic
 May 28, 1999

In English + Swedish Oral Translation

 655 Return to the Innocence of Childhood
 Lecture in Stockholm, Sweden
 May 31, 1999

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes

Master Tells Jokes
The Dead Seagull

There once was a kid who went out with his mother onto the beach and saw a seagull lying dead on the sand. So he said to his mother, "Mother, what happened to this bird?" The mother said, "He died and went to heaven." And the little boy thought for awhile and said, "And God threw him back down here?"

Horseback Riding The Dead Seagull

Master Tells Jokes
Horseback Riding

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai

Geneva, switzerland May 3, 1999

(Originally in English)

There once was a man who was talked into horseback riding but he did not want to do it, so he hesitated. The owner of the horse told him, "Don't worry. This horse is very, very well trained, very, very gentle. He will take you over there, beyond the hills and he'll bring you back by himself automatically. He knows his way back and forth - no problem." So the nervous rider said, "Okay." But before he rode away, the owner said to him, "There are only two things you have to do: If you want the horse to go ahead, then say, "Thank God." And if you want him to stop, say, "Hallelujah". So for about an hour, they strolled along just fine, but suddenly they came to a cliff. The horse had begun galloping very fast downhill and they were almost to the cliff. The man became very panicky and then he remembered. He said, "Hallelujah" and the horse just stopped right there, right at the edge of the cliff. "Oh," the man sighed in relief, "Thank God."

Horseback Riding The Dead Seagull

Between Master & Disciples
The Rock that Moves by Little Pumpkin

Recently, I had an opportunity to once again visit the International Garden at the Hsihu Center, Formosa, clean up the environment, and take care of the plants there. A panoramic view of the garden showed a colorful sea of garden balsams and green vines climbing all over. The beautiful scenery in the garden was too much for the eye to take in.

In my return to the holy land, I saw reminders of Master's presence everywhere. Memories of every little episode that had occurred when Master and disciples were there together warmed and touched my heart. Initially, the International Garden was part of the camping area for women residents at Hsihu. After the female disciples moved, one day, one of Master's attendants delivered the message that Master wanted us to grow flowers and plants there, and to leave room for rest and meditation beneath the trees and in the floral landscape. The assignment was to be completed within a week.

We, the several little pumpkins, had just received onsite horticultural training in the garden adjacent to Master's office. We had learned how to cultivate flowers and plants, and to design beautiful landscapes as if they were forms of natural growth. Although we were thrilled by the experience of receiving personal guidance from Master, and delighted that we had the new skill of beatifying the environment for our own good use, we were surprised to have to hand in our report cards so quickly. And we had only seven days to cover such a huge area. How could this handful of little pumpkins accomplish this task?

Don't be worried for us, though. We all know that Master's instructions always tally with God's will. We were convinced then that something special would happen that would help us with the assignment. Indeed, as we had expected, the assignment schedule coincided with an International Seven-day Retreat. Thousands of Bodhisattvas arrived from all over the world and gathered in Hsihu. Thus, whenever we called for help, hundreds of fellow initiates from various countries would pitch in to work. We took charge of specific areas and divided the work among ourselves. Truck after truck arrived, carrying exotic flowers and rare plants from the local nurseries. Effortlessly, we worked and designed at the same time. It was as though we already had a blueprint, and we only had to follow the landscape design and get whatever was required for each site. Even big and little rocks were brought to be set in just the right places. It was indeed unbelievably romantic.

There is a story that few people know about the placement of rocks in the International Garden. As I was in charge of a selected spot at the time, I followed Master's instructions by placing rocks under the trees. Some huge rocks had been pulled and rolled over to their designated spots. Fellow initiates performing the labor were wet with perspiration and gasping for breath. When we were working on getting the very last rock to the farthest position, it rolled and stopped right next to the ideal spot. A tree had been planted there, its branches slanting upward at an angle that would make anyone sitting on the rock feel uncomfortable. I knew that it required little effort to put the rock in the most perfect position, but somehow, I called it a day.

Later, every time I walked by the tree, I would be troubled by that imperfection and feel the urge to move the big rock. As days passed, the thought continued to trouble me. Then, one day, I came to work in the International Garden again. My goodness! How could the rock have read my mind? It had moved to the perfect position, and in one night's time! I had never mentioned how I felt to anyone. The resident disciples could not have moved it. The matter remained on my mind for several days before one of the attendants told me that Master had come to rest under the tree some time earlier. When She saw that the rock was placed in a less than ideal position, She asked the attendants to move the rock to another side. It was really embarrassing. How could I have troubled Master to solve problems for me again!

On several occasions, I had not been able to persist to the very last minute or to perform my work to the very best level. Each time, I resorted to such habitual excuses as "I feel shy about troubling others," "The passable is good enough," or "Just a little imperfection is acceptable." Sometimes, I overlooked certain details. For example, when we were paving the International Garden with little white stones, I was filled with pride in the thought that I was creative and romantic in my approach and was finding a good use for things that might have been trashed otherwise. But Master taught me something very important that I had overlooked: White rocks under the bright sunlight produce an uncomfortable glare that hurts people's eyes. Things would have been much more perfect had I considered these factors as well.

Who is Calling Whom?

Sometimes, we need to have the same little lesson over and over again before we actually learn it. Similarly, when Master wants to bless us, She has to create several opportunities for us before we actually receive the blessings.

Once, Master was preparing to travel overseas. I was performing the duty of an operator at the time. Therefore, She asked me to call and remind Her of Her trip at eleven o'clock the next morning. Since it was a sister initiate's turn to be operator the next day, I asked her to call Master, and she did. However, she told me later that Master was not very happy when She had received the call. I was a bit perplexed, but thought little about it.

After some time, Master returned to Formosa and again prepared to go abroad. She instructed me again to call and remind Her at a certain time, and added, "I asked you to call. It is not the same when someone else calls. Do you understand?" I did not quite understand. I thought Master was unhappy because I had asked someone else to do it the previous time. So, I followed Her instructions this time. Later, I found that my bad habit of oversleeping had greatly improved, and I no longer became dead to the world when I fell asleep. I always used to be late for the morning group meditation, but now I could get up at midnight to meditate if I wanted to. I truly appreciate Master's blessings.

Another Kind of Ego

One day, prior to the release of Master's "Wu Tze Poetry", the books arrived and Master was delighted at the exquisite publication. However, there was one imperfection: The photos did not have any captions. The weekly group meditation for initiates throughout Formosa was to be held the next day. Some revisions had to be made on the new book before it was released. Master called the women residents' office to discuss the captions with me. I had just had tea in Master's quarters, and this was the first time I had had the opportunity to work with manuscripts. My heart soared into the air. Light-headed, I felt excited and proud.

However, I made so many mistakes working with Master that She ran out of patience with me. Master was at a loss, and I heard Her ask from my end of the line, "What is wrong with you?" Apologetically, I repeated, "How could I have been so stupid?" Later, Master said, "It was not stupidity. It was the ego. You were being used just a little, and you felt terrific. That was why you could not do a good job. So let others do the work now!"

Thus, my first assignment with manuscript work ended almost as soon as it had begun. However, it was this experience that led me to truly understand how the ego interferes even when I feel a little happy and proud in my work. This is a very subtle trap. I must thank Master for helping me to realize the truth.

Lesson in Gentleness

In our monastic group, I am well known for my temper, and my relationship with others is often rocky. One afternoon, Master called and asked the head nun and myself to go to Her office with pens and paper after dinner, and we did.

When we arrived, Master was doing some other work. She asked us to sit wherever we liked, and told an attendant to offer us plum cakes and tea and that we should eat them first. After She had finished Her work, She came over to sit with us, talking to us just like an elder sister. She probably sensed that I was being too serious as I straightened my clothes and sat properly. She chatted with us about trivial daily matters, commenting on how dignified and warm our clothes were and how good our complexion was. She also asked if we wanted more tea or cakes. I had not eaten any cakes, and She asked me, "Do you want to take some with you?" I took the soft tissue that Master handed me, wrapped the cakes, and put them in my pocket. Then, Master suddenly spoke to the head nun, "The little pumpkin is quite gentle!" The head nun almost choked on her tea and tried to contain her laughter. Since she did not respond, I said to Master in great embarrassment, "That's not true. I have a very quick temper!" Master said to me with a smile, "How come you have the same weakness as mine?" I answered, "How can I compare with You?"

Since then, whenever I, the little pumpkin, feel my temper flare up, I have remembered Master's hint, "The little pumpkin is indeed quite gentle!" Then my anger is at least half cooled, and my patience grows instead. I can better understand others' situations, and I have become more and more gentle and compatible with others. Gentleness can indeed change our angry hearts.

Thank You, Master, for Your patience in helping me understand myself more and more. Thank You for bearing with the obstructions of our bad habits. Let us pray that God will bless us so we can grow up quickly and become one with You sooner.

The Rock that Moves

Front Line
The Spiritual Community of The Farm: A Hippie Commune that Helped Prepare America for Master

By brother initiate Csaba, San Francisco, U. S. A.

(Originally in English)

I live in San Francisco, the city that about thirty years ago was the hippie capital of the world. The hippies were sincere seekers, who peacefully revolted against war and capitalism. We have all heard about 'Flower Power' and the 'Summer of Love', but I always wondered what had happened to these people: Where did they go? Are they all gone? Recently while surfing the Internet I got the answer: Some of them still live together in rural Tennessee in a spiritual community called 'The Farm'. I found their story to be extremely interesting and inspiring, so I read more and also visited them.

In 1970 a caravan of colorful buses with hundreds hippies traveled through America with the slogan: 'Out to Save the World'. They eventually bought a piece of land in Tennessee and established The Farm, the largest hippie commune in America. The urban kids at The Farm learned farming from their neighbors, and within several years became self-sufficient in terms of food production. They strongly believed that we are all one and held values identical to ours: love, compassion, nonviolence, and charity. They all became vegan and meditated regularly. Free love gave way to lifelong marriages; drugs gave way to abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and even tea. They vowed to stay in voluntary poverty.

As soon as they had enough to feed themselves, they established a charitable organization called 'Plenty', which has carried out many humanitarian and disaster relief projects. They established the first soy dairy in America, and introduced tempeh (an Indonesian style soybean cake). Hundreds of children grew up on The Farm as lifelong vegans. To sustain themselves and spread their message across America, they started many enlightened and progressive businesses, such as 'The Book Publishing Company', specializing in vegetarian and Native American books, and the 'Mail Order Catalog', selling vegetarian food items.

They became famous, and crowds of people visited them. Mother Teresa visited The Farm and called them 'the heroes of the world'; The Wall Street Journal called them 'the General Motors of American communes'. They lead a very simple life, and feel happy and contented in an environment that many in America would consider to be at the poverty level. Recently, some of them heard about Master: Perhaps a new chapter has just begun in their interesting story.

Some of them already have learned the Convenient Method, and plans for inviting a Quan Yin messenger to their area are under way. (They hope to see Master in their community!) They are not just pure, but very enthusiastic as well: They have many connections and friends in the outside world, and already have begun to spread Master's message. They are 'strategically positioned' for Master to reach many people in mainstream America. Below is a portion of one of their e-mails I recently received:

Yes, I have no doubts.... I read every day a little, learn and get more excited.... talking to more of my friends every day. I have a long list to email, call and write about Master. I'm really focused on this and yes, I know, I will be initiated. I plan to email the folks in Tennessee to sign up. Thank you for flying all the way out here to share Master.

The Spiritual Community of The Farm: A Hippie Commune that Helped Prepare America for Master

Letter between Master & Disciple
Lord Vishnu and Master

(Originally in English)

On the night of April 23, 1999, Master appeared in my dream. In the dream (at the spiritual level) Master appeared to effortlessly float in a beautiful blue sky, reminding me of the Hindu God - Lord Vishnu (I was born into the Hindu religion).

She appeared dressed in a long, light gray robe, with Her long, black hair floating against the backdrop of the light blue sky. In one hand She held a spinning discus (like Lord Vishnu) and welcomed me to the spiritual network. She did this by showing me my connection to the higher regions with a whitish silver umbilical cord ascending into the heavens. This, She said, was the connection to the Sound Current.

Ever since that experience, whenever I am in a silent environment, just before falling off to sleep, or on awakening from sleep, I clearly hear the Sound Current. This indicates the Supreme power of Master in granting me a permanent Connection and continued guidance.

Thank You, once again, Master, for this constant blessing.

Your humble disciple,

Venodh Premdeo

Durban, South Africa

Lord Vishnu and Master

Supreme Master Ching Hai News
Magazine Detailed Index

Magazine Index
Great Universal Event
Master Says	Why Do We Have to Meditate?
Panorama of Events	Sri Lanka Mongolia Thailand Hong Kong Formosa U.S.A. Peru
Media Reports	Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai
Letter between Master & Disciple	Lord Vishnu and Master
Front Line	The Spiritual Community of The Farm: A Hippie Commune that Helped Prepare America for Master
Between Master & Disciples	The Rock that Moves
Master Tells Jokes	Horseback Riding The Dead Seagull
Elevation of the Soul	Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest Video Tapes
Special Reports	We are One in Heaven and on Earth Mesmerized by Your Loving Songs
Pearls of Wisdom
Lighthouse in the Darkness	Out of the Ordinary Mail from Prison Meditation and Prison A Trip to Green Island Letters from Inmates of the Green Island Vocational Training Center Master's Grace Shines on Kaohsiung Prison
Supreme Art	Master's Art Designs Light Up My Life
Love in Action	Love and Aid to 921 Jiji Earthquake Disaster Victims A Strong Earthquake Strikes the Capital of Greece Sent with Master's Love to Turkish Earthquake Victims! Hampton, Virginia Hit by Tornado Aid to Typhoon Victims, Hong Kong Disaster and Flood Relief in Binh Thuan City, Au Lac
Master's Wonders	Sincere Believers are Saved
Poem	Leaning Upon You
Letters of Appreciation	from Hellenic Red Cross from American Red Cross
Aphorisms

Media Reports
Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

1. Inch Vortegh Erb, Armenia, Aug. 2-9, 1999

2. Van Hoa Magazine, U.S.A., Aug. 15 - Sep. 15,
   1999

3 and 13. Indochinese News, U.S.A., Jul. 30
   and Aug. 20, 1999

4. TV Channel, Armenia, Aug. 2-8, 1999

5. Nguoi Viet, U.S.A., Aug. 21, 1999

6. Sino-US Weekly, U.S.A., Aug. 13, 1999

7. Suc Song News, U.S.A., Aug. 20, 1999

8, 24 and 26. Sing Tao Daily, U.S.A.,
    Jul. 21, Aug. 12 and Sep. 10, 1999

9, 12 and 35. The China Press, U.S.A.,
    Jul. 23, Aug. 18, and Sep. 11, 1999

10 and 23. Chi-am Daily News, U.S.A.,
    Jul. 28 and Aug. 17, 1999

11 and 27. Viet Bao Kinh Te, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 28 and Sep. 2, 1999

14. Vietnam-Chinese News, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 18, 1999

15. Worldwide Liberty Times, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 12, 1999

16. Nhat Bao Vien Dong, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 11, 1999

17. Vietnam Tin Tuc, Paris, France, May 1999

18 and 29. Chinese Daily News, U.S.A.
    Jul. 26 and Sep. 18, 1999

19, 25 and 28. China News, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 13, Aug. 27 & Sep.20, 1999

20, 21 and 32. International Daily News, U.S.A.,
    Jul. 21, Aug 16 and Sep. 20, 1999

22. Xinmin Evening News, U.S.A.,
    Aug. 13, 1999

30. Chinese L.A. Daily News, U.S.A.
    Sep. 10, 1999

31. The News of Taiwan, Japan, Aug. 10, 1999

33. Zhong Guo Daily News, U.S.A. Sep. 10, 1999

34. Popular Times, U.S.A. Aug. 5, 1999

Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

Media Reports
The Daily Telegraph, U.K. By Aisling Irwin Medical Correspondent

(C) Telegraph Group Limited, London, 1999 The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Tuesday, August 17, 1999

Smoking Linked to Strokes

People who live or work with smokers increase their risk of having a stroke by more than 80 per cent, according to a medical study.

And the risk of stroke to active smokers is higher than previously estimated, because its true extent had been masked by the effects of passive smoking, say researchers.

Active smokers run six times the risk of non-smokers who are not exposed to cigarettes. The research used data from the New Zealand Auckland Stroke Study, which has documented all cases of stroke in Auckland of anyone over the age of 15. More than 2,000 people were involved, including about 500 stroke patients.

It indicates that, of every 500 non-smokers, five will suffer an acute stroke; of 500 passive smokers, nine will suffer a stroke; and of 500 active smokers, 32 will succumb.

The study reports: "Results suggest that passive smoking, known to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, is also associated with subsequent strokes. "This provides support for efforts to reduce the prevalence of passive smoking and to strengthen public health arguments against smoking."

Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

Media Reports
The Times, U.K. By Ian Murray

Passive Smoking ' Linked to Strokes'

Tuesday August 17, 1999

Passive smoking at home or in the workplace significantly increases the likelihood of non-smokers having a stroke, according to new research.

The danger is greatest for men, whose risk of an attack is 82 per cent higher compared with 66 per cent for women.

The study, among 521 stroke patients in Auckland, New Zealand, also found that smokers are up to six times more likely to have a stroke than people who have not smoked for more than ten years.

The Stroke Association said the report by the University of Auckland made existing concerns about the link between smoking and strokes even more worrisome.

Clive Bates, director of the anti-smoking group ASH, said it showed people needed proper protection from passive smoking.

Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

Media Reports
The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. By CORYDON IRELAND Gannett News Service

Reprinted with the permission of the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y. U.S.A.

Was Jesus a vegetarian?

He was likely a member of the Nazoreans, a vegetarian sect of Judaism that opposed animal sacrifice.

Was Jesus Christ a vegetarian? Yes, according to a new book of essays, interviews and recipes by classics scholar Rynn Berry, "Food for the Gods" (Pythagorean Publishers, 1998, $19.95).

He provides an erudite exploration of the world's great religious traditions, all with underlying traditions of nonviolence, tolerance, reincarnation and a disdain for meat-eating. Included: Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism.

Other essays explore the vegetarian echoes still evident in Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Islam and Protestant Christianity.

"All the founders of the world's religions were vegetarians," says Berry, an author and vegetarian who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and teaches at the New School for Social Research. "Part of a holy life is living simply."

Jesus was likely a member of the Nazoreans, a vegetarian sect of Judaism that opposed animal sacrifice, shared property communally and practiced ritual bathing.

And it was likely that his challenge of ritual animal sacrifice - a fixture of traditional Judaism - led to his death on the cross.

"It would be a different world," says Berry, "if people believed their Savior was the Savior of animals as well."

After two centuries, the vegetarian precepts of Jesus within Christianity, linked to a belief in reincarnation derived from the ancient Greeks, fell into disfavor.

But today the vegetarian traditions of the East, spearheaded by delicious cuisines, are slowly winning over the West, if not Western religions, says Berry, who traveled the world to research his book, gathering recipes along the way.

Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

Media Reports
Divayina, Sri Lanka Journalist: Mrs. Anula de Silva.

(Excerpt from the Sri Lankan newspaper Divayina, April 25, 1999)

A Woman Who Searched for the Truth

(Originally in Sinhalese)

Once I heard about a woman who had been searching for the Truth. I came to know about Her through a foreign guest who came to ask me to translate the woman's lecture at the U.N. It happened by accident, but I felt joy while I was reading that lecture because She was a woman. Her followers called Her Supreme Master Ching Hai. I felt joy because the question of whether a woman could be enlightened had been answered for me.

I do not know whether any religious leader likes to see a woman becoming a Master and getting enlightened. It is clear what kind of place has been given to woman in every religion. Though we are told that in Buddhism and Christianity a woman has all the rights of a man, it is clear that she gets only second place. And it is doubtful whether a woman has ever even been as high as second place among many Muslims.

We cannot imagine that even in Christianity a Sister can reach the rank of Pope. Though Mother Teresa was respected by the whole world and was a saint, she received no rank in the Catholic Church. The situation is the same in Buddhism. If the idea that woman cannot be a Buddha is dispelled by a future Buddha, it will be the noblest spiritual gift. But we remember the heated argument about establishing a women's monastic order among Sri Lankan Buddhists. ` Today if a Buddhist nun reaches not only the level of Arhat but even the fruits of Sotapatti (entry into the inner sound stream), our monastic order is well equipped to stamp her as a heretic. Woman has inherited not spiritual fruits but worthless insurance. Nevertheless the above-mentioned Asian woman who early in life practiced both Buddhism and Christianity, ignored the myths in the teachings and became enlightened. Since then, She has guided others on the path, and this is really wonderful to hear because She is a woman. Her followers are not only women, however. Millions of Asian and Western men also listen to Her lectures and meditate using Her Method.

Her name is Ching Hai... Today many followers with different cultural and religious backgrounds have surrounded Her. She speaks in English, German, Chinese, French and Aulacese. She has delivered several lectures at the U.N. and Her answers to U.N. officials' questions clearly show Her spiritual power.

Anyway, we should admire Her spiritual power, because She is a woman. She is telling us that not only God but Buddha also live within us. She is ready to bring to life the Buddha or God in our hearts....

Divayina, Sri Lanka The Des Moines Register, U.S.A. The Times, U.K. The Daily Telegraph, U.K. Recent News Reports on Supreme Master Ching Hai

Panorama of Events
Peru

Report from PeruA Spiritually Oriented Country

[Lima] In Peru, Master's teachings have been widely disseminated, not only in the capital, but also in other cities such as Trujillo, Puno, Cusco, Machupicchu and Abancay. Although some have not had a chance to be initiated into the Quan Yin Method, and only practice the Convenient Method, they nevertheless have attained many benefits, which include living a better life and enjoying an improved mental condition. They all feel happy and contented, with love permeating their hearts, and are able to comprehend many things that they were unable to understand before, and thus are deeply grateful to Master.

Sri Lanka Mongolia Thailand Hong Kong Formosa U.S.A. Peru

Panorama of Events
U.S.A.

Report from California, U.S.A.

Master's Blessings Permeate a Chinese Family Festival

[Los Angeles] On August 28-29, 1999 initiates from the Los Angeles Center participated in the "Family Fun Festival" sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Monterey Park, California, a predominantly Chinese community east of L.A. We also printed special Chinese flyers introducing Master's teachings and distributed them to visitors, along with a generous amount of candy, which was eagerly grabbed up by visiting children.

Through God's arrangement, our booth was relocated at the last minute to an attractive, shady location right near the entrance to the Festival, thus giving us an advantageous place from which to share the message about Master and the Quan Yin Method. Since we were in this spot, virtually everyone who attended the Festival had to pass by our display, and so were blessed through hearing Master's voice and seeing Her image in video lectures that were shown continuously during the Festival.

Throughout the Festival, the weather was excellent and the atmosphere was uplifting, as people casually strolled up to our booth to hear Master's words and converse with us. Colorful balloons and paper lanterns blew in the breeze, as children jumped on a trampoline inside an inflated red and yellow dragon near our booth, adding a joyful tone to the event.

All in all, the experience of Los Angeles disciples at the Family Fun Festival was highly enjoyable, and proved to be a positive way to advance Master's teachings in the local community.

Master's Video Seminar Blesses Koreatown

[Los Angeles] On Sunday, September 19th, 1999, the Los Angeles Center, in cooperation with disciples and residents from the Pusan, Seoul, and Youngdong Centers in Korea, worked on and successfully completed a project entitled "Master's Video Seminar." Prior to the project, a very large and well publicized Korean Cultural Festival took place in Los Angeles from September 16-19 1999.

We took advantage of the large crowds to promote the seminar, as thousands of Koreans attended this very popular outdoor event. In three days, more than 1,000 posters of Master and the Quan Yin Method were put up all over Korean neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and more than 10,000 flyers were distributed before and during the festival! During the wee hours of the night, we traveled to many large Korean shopping areas and taped up hundreds of beautiful posters bearing Master's noble portrait. In the morning, Koreatown was welcomed and blessed by Master's loving glance.

On the evening of Sunday, September 19th, we held the Master's Video Seminar presentation at Huntington Career College, located next to Koreatown in Los Angeles. One of the professors at this college is a disciple from the L.A. Center who helped with many of the details of the project. The college's director is a Korean Ph.D., who tries to practice spiritually and follow a vegetarian diet. He welcomed all of the disciples and allowed us to use the facilities at the college completely free of charge! A Los Angeles mayoral candidate, whose wife is Korean, also showed up for the lecture. In short, the Master's Video Seminar project in the Korean community was more successful than we had ever imagined. Even a week later, there were still more Korean persons seeking initiation. Now, the disciples at the Los Angeles Center have another huge task ahead of them. We all need to provide a firm foundation for our new Korean initiates, so that they will be well cared for during the early part of their practice of the Quan Yin Method!

Report from Indiana, USA

Master's Love Pervades Indiana's Black Expo

[Indianapolis] Recently, the Indiana Center participated in the annual Black Expo, which attracts several hundred thousand people each year, with the majority of visitors and participants being African Americans. Many fellow practitioners from nearby Centers cheered and heartily supported our efforts, but barely had enough time to plan and get all the paper work, fliers etc. completed. Master arranged many things, down to the smallest details, to ensure a smooth and happy event. On each day of the Expo, which lasted three days, initiates took turns working while others meditated in a group at the Center according to schedule. Thus the project had both physical and spiritual support. Our omnipresent Master even sent three African-American initiates from Chicago, Illinois and one from Indianapolis to work at the booth. Many people stopped at our Quan Yin booth to take sample books, pamphlets, and other literature, and many asked to learn the Convenient Method, attend vegetarian cooking classes and receive free News magazines. All in all, the project was a great success!

Vegetarian Cooking Class

Quite a few people signed up for the cooking class at the Expo, but the contact person still had no idea what she should do to run the class. A couple of weeks later, an African-American initiate told the contact person that there was someone from Chicago, Illinois, who would be willing to go to the Indiana Center to conduct our vegetarian cooking class. To our surprise, this lady was also an African-American, a talented chef from a vegetarian restaurant in Chicago, a nutritionist, and a professional teacher with her own vegetarian cooking school! Moreover, her restaurant was the "most famous" vegetarian eating place in town.

God's miraculous arrangement touched our hearts deeply. We all know so well inside that the Expo and the cooking class were nothing but God's will, and that Master helped and guided us in each and every step to bring the message of Love and Peace to the world.

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Panorama of Events
Formosa

Report from Formosa Summer Camp for Destitute Students

[Keelung] Junior high school students receiving aid from the Chinese Fund for Children and Families/ Formosa Keelung enjoyed a rare opportunity to visit the Leefoo Village in Hsinchu on August 22 during their three-day summer camp, jointly held by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Keelung Center and the Chinese Fund for Children and Families. Considering the fact that these students seldom have the opportunity to go on outings, The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Keelung Center especially offered financial help for this trip to bring them some pleasure.

According to the chief delegate of the Chinese Fund for Children and Families, such excursions had previously been funded by business enterprises or private charity organizations, but fund-raising had not been easy this year. Two weeks before the summer camp, the organization was still troubled by a shortage of funds, when initiates from The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Keelung Center approached it and offered their help, which not only solved its financial problem, but also made the summer camp more interesting.

Free Medical Service at a Hiking Event

[Taipei] In September 1999, to celebrate the Sports Festival in Formosa, a 10,000-person hiking event was held by the Sports Committee of the Executive Yuan. And The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association was invited to coordinate a free medical service for the event since it had provided similar services in the past, which had been well received by the public.

The medical service team consisted of twenty-three fellow initiates who were medical professionals, including three traditional Chinese medical doctors, eight Western medical doctors, three dentists, and nine nurses. By public demand, the main services provided were blood pressure measurement and general physical examinations. Additional services included answering medical questions, prescribing medicine, providing health and hygiene information, eye and dental examinations and treatment, urine tests, abdominal ultra-sonograms, and electrocardiograms. New medical equipment was used in this most recent medical service. Moreover, portable dental equipment was purchased especially for this event and was popular among patients.

Master's free sample booklets and News magazines were prepared for the public and were all taken within half an hour.

Tainan Hsinhua Center Inaugurated

[Tainan] During a visit to Hsinhua Center in Tainan three years ago, Master advised the disciples on how to build a local Center and plant greenery. She also instructed that the construction project be completed within three years. True enough, on August 8 of this year, an inaugural ceremony marking the completion of the three-year project was held at the main hall, which Master said should be built to provide shelter from wind and rain.

A number of non-initiates employed to provide technical assistance shared stories of visions they had beheld during the construction process. Some saw the manifestation body of Master blessing the Center and supervising the construction work, while others beheld Quan Yin Bodhisattva towering above them as She sat on the open lecture platform.

The inauguration was scheduled for August 8. However, heaven tested the faith of the Tainan disciples with torrential downpours that continued for three whole weeks. On the eve of the inaugural ceremony, a typhoon struck southern Formosa, but the heavy rain did not deter the fellow initiates from working hard to get everything ready for the thousands of fellow disciples who would arrive at the Center for group meditation the next day.

On August 8, initiates arrived at Hsinhua Center amidst a heavy downpour and gusty winds. The sky was overcast, except for a clear patch of sky right above the Center. There, fellow practitioners saw heavenly Saints showering their blessings on the Center. A coach driver who had borrowed a motorbike to ride to a nearby town was met by heavy rain as soon as he rode into the hilly region off the premises. Only the Hsinhua Center and the nearby vicinity were spared the rain.

While the Tainan kitchen staff prepared a sumptuous meal for fellow practitioners who had come from all over Formosa, local disciples presented an excellent entertainment program for the audience. This included singing and dancing by young initiates, as well as singing, dancing, and musical recitals by grown-ups. The Tainan Chorus, which everyone had missed for a long time, appeared on stage to entertain the audience with many beautiful spiritual songs.

Several songs were adapted from Master's poem anthology "Silent Tears", with music composed by fellow practitioners. Other songs were composed and lyrics written by initiates. While some participants were talented in music, others were housewives who knew little about music, yet were able to create very elegant and inspiring melodies based on tunes they had hummed while doing their laundry. This was a profound demonstration of their intense love for and gratitude toward Master.

As fellow practitioners enjoyed the wonderful food and performance, a blissful atmosphere set in at the Center without being affected by the typhoon. The rain started to fall only as the curtain fell on the entertainment program. In the afternoon, fellow initiates meditated together in the newly built main hall. As soon as they left, the rain came down and persisted for another week before stopping. The wet weather lasted almost a month. Yet the sky above the Center was clear and fine for a few hours on the opening day, allowing practitioners to enjoy the program, and the opening ceremony to be completed smoothly. Only initiates who had participated in the entire construction project could appreciate the wonder behind such a miracle.

Summer Camp and Birthday Party

[Kaoping] Toward the end of August, the Laiyi Center in southern Formosa organized a summer camp for children and a birthday party for initiates, while the book circulation area was redecorated to exhibit Master's Celestial Clothes and Jewelry, and other creative artworks. The birthday celebrations included several entertainment programs; and the young participants sang and danced under the guidance of the sister who had organized the summer camp. These programs made the event more amusing and lively.

At the end of this first summer camp to be held this year, the young initiates demonstrated in their reports the team spirit and rapport that had developed among themselves during their training at the camp. One little initiate received an award for love in recognition of his consideration of the hard work of the sister who worked with the children, by taking the initiative and offering her a soybean drink. The summer camp and birthday party ended with the singing of the birthday song and the cutting of a cake in an atmosphere full of Master's love and blessing.

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Panorama of Events
Hong Kong

Report from Hong Kong

Book Fair

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd. recently participated in the 1999 Hong Kong International Book Fair to introduce the Quan Yin Method and share Master's teachings with larger numbers of people. For five consecutive days, Master's books, paintings, and other creative artworks were exhibited, and Her videotapes played. Passersby stopped to watch the videotaped lectures and purchase books. Many visitors showed a great interest in and requested more information about the Quan Yin Method. A woman who had practiced other methods before immediately requested to learn the Convenient Method, and is now awaiting initiation into the Quan Yin Method. Fellow initiates in Hong Kong participated in the activity, taking shifts to serve at the exhibition site. They also distributed fliers announcing Master's video seminar scheduled for September. Everyone greatly enjoyed working together in a concerted effort to promote Master's teachings.

Vegetarian Cooking Class

In response to Master's loving instructions to encourage vegetarianism, the Hong Kong Center has, for the past several weeks, held a vegetarian cooking class after weekend group meditation sessions. This weekly event has attracted larger numbers of fellow initiates to the weekend group meditation than usual, adding to the increasingly warm atmosphere.

The Center has also compiled "The Vegetarian Food Guide to Hong Kong", which provides details on most of the vegetarian restaurants and wholesale stores in the area. Initiates from any part of the world may request a copy of this publication. Recipes collected by fellow initiates will also be compiled and provided on request.

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Panorama of Events
Thailand

Report from Thailand

A Summer Vegetarian Retreat

[Bangkok] A vegetarian food exhibition was held in late July 1999 to remind people to cultivate blessings and merits as part of the 72nd birthday celebration for King Bhumibol of Thailand. Participants were also invited to observe a non-meat diet during the three-month summer retreat for Buddhists, which was meant to awaken their hearts of compassion and universal love. This meaningful activity, sponsored by the Vegetarian Federation of Thailand at a department store, was intended to foster a common understanding of the benefits that a vegetarian diet can bring to the world, the family, and the individual. Free samplings of vegetarian food were available and a cooking contest was held.

The Thailand Center of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association participated in the event, providing delectable delicacies and screening videotaped lectures by Master on the Quan Yin Method, meditation, and the meaning of vegetarianism. Visitors demonstrated great interest in the lectures and many pulled chairs up to the booth to quietly watch the tapes one after another. Filled with bliss, they later visited the Center to request and await initiation into the Convenient Method. The activity proved to be a success, and for this, much appreciation goes to the sponsors, who are full-time vegetarians and exemplary models of virtue in this Buddhist nation.

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Panorama of Events
Mongolia

Report from Mongolia

[Ulan Bator] Through the intensive preparation of a Quan Yin messenger, fellow initiates, and would-be initiates, the first vegetarian restaurant in Ulan Bator, Mongolia grandly opened on July 15, 1999. The restaurant is located in the downtown area of the city, next to the National Museum.

Since the opening of the restaurant, many people have come and asked about the preparation of vegetarian cuisine, and have bought vegetarian ingredients to cook at home. Some vegetarian tourists from foreign countries were glad when they finally found one vegetarian restaurant in the city. They said that they would tell about this wonderful finding to their friends who are visiting or working in Mongolia.

Exhibition of Master's Paintings

From August 26 to September 6 of 1999, a ten -day exhibition of Supreme Master Ching Hai's paintings was held at an art museum in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. A picture of Master was displayed outside the museum. It was vividly painted by a volunteer artist, based on the picture on the cover of Master's Spanish sample booklet.

Many renowned artists came to the exhibition, and were in awe of Master's various styles of painting, leaving warm comments and signatures in the visitors' book. Many people took sample booklets and News Magazines. A few days after the exhibition, an artist came to the vegetarian restaurant, opened by would-be initiates, to look for the contact person so that he could learn from Master and practice the Quan Yin Method. His sincerity moved everyone present.

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Panorama of Events
Sri Lanka

Report from Sri Lanka

The Voice of Truth Sounding in Sri Lanka

[Colombo] A very famous translator, after helping us to proofread the Sri Lankan sample booklet, agreed very much with Master's teachings, especially concerning vegetarianism. She also admired Master's work and efforts as a lady Master towards helping humankind. She then wrote an article in a very popular local newspaper about Master.

After the article was published, more people came to know about this famous Lady Master. With the help of local Convenient Method practitioners, we participated in two TV interviews. On July 13, our first TV interview was broadcast on a very popular local channel, Rupahavini 2. The program was mainly in the local language, but the interviewer made it bilingual with both English and Sinhalese. We had about 15 minutes' time. The second TV program was broadcast by ITN on July 28, Full Moon Day in the Buddhist calendar. Full Moon Day is a very important holiday to Sri Lankans. On that day, all shops and offices are closed, and people go to the temple to worship. It is a very sacred holiday because Shakyamuni Buddha attained full enlightenment on that day.

It has been really meaningful for us to introduce Master and the Quan Yin Method on TV to the local people. For both programs, the program editor inserted some of Master's pictures from Her short video film "Walk the Way of Love". Moreover, we provided our contact number at the end of both the programs. And after both of them, we received many calls from people who were really interested in Master's teachings.

Also, the ways in which these people wrote down our telephone number while watching the TV program were very interesting, and showed their sincerity. There was one gentleman who was watching TV and choosing different channels. He came across the program and was attracted by Master's picture. He was sure that we would give our contact number at the end, so he prepared paper and pen. That was why he called us. There was also a couple who came for information saying that they could hardly get the contact number because it was read out too quickly for them. However, they still tried and it was the Quan Yin messenger who got their call.

Caption: The local Quan Yin messenger participating in a TV interview.

(Excerpt from the Sri Lankan newspaper Divayina, April 25, 1999)

A Woman Who Searched for the Truth

Journalist: Mrs. Anula de Silva.

(Originally in Sinhalese)

Once I heard about a woman who had been searching for the Truth. I came to know about Her through a foreign guest who came to ask me to translate the woman's lecture at the U.N. It happened by accident, but I felt joy while I was reading that lecture because She was a woman. Her followers called Her Supreme Master Ching Hai. I felt joy because the question of whether a woman could be enlightened had been answered for me.

I do not know whether any religious leader likes to see a woman becoming a Master and getting enlightened. It is clear what kind of place has been given to woman in every religion. Though we are told that in Buddhism and Christianity a woman has all the rights of a man, it is clear that she gets only second place. And it is doubtful whether a woman has ever even been as high as second place among many Muslims.

We cannot imagine that even in Christianity a Sister can reach the rank of Pope. Though Mother Teresa was respected by the whole world and was a saint, she received no rank in the Catholic Church. The situation is the same in Buddhism. If the idea that woman cannot be a Buddha is dispelled by a future Buddha, it will be the noblest spiritual gift. But we remember the heated argument about establishing a women's monastic order among Sri Lankan Buddhists. ` Today if a Buddhist nun reaches not only the level of Arhat but even the fruits of Sotapatti (entry into the inner sound stream), our monastic order is well equipped to stamp her as a heretic. Woman has inherited not spiritual fruits but worthless insurance. Nevertheless the above-mentioned Asian woman who early in life practiced both Buddhism and Christianity, ignored the myths in the teachings and became enlightened. Since then, She has guided others on the path, and this is really wonderful to hear because She is a woman. Her followers are not only women, however. Millions of Asian and Western men also listen to Her lectures and meditate using Her Method.

Her name is Ching Hai... Today many followers with different cultural and religious backgrounds have surrounded Her. She speaks in English, German, Chinese, French and Aulacese. She has delivered several lectures at the U.N. and Her answers to U.N. officials' questions clearly show Her spiritual power.

Anyway, we should admire Her spiritual power, because She is a woman. She is telling us that not only God but Buddha also live within us. She is ready to bring to life the Buddha or God in our hearts....

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Master Says
Why Do We Have to Meditate?

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hong Kong

February 20, 1992 (Originally in Chinese)

We have wars, floods, starvation, and refugees all over the world. This is all because we do not use our wisdom; instead, we rely on our ego, mind, and arrogant habits. We think that this is the same as that and there is no difference. There is a difference! Even clothes are different sometimes. Different fabrics cause different physical sensations. The cool air from an air-conditioner is different than the cool air outside; we cannot say that they are the same just because they are the same degree in terms of temperature. They are not the same! They are different materials.

For instance, when we climb high up into the mountains where it is colder or even snowing, we do not feel very tired because the air up there is natural. It might be very cold there, but after we inhale the oxygen in the air, heat will be generated and the body will make suitable adjustments. On the other hand, when we are in an air-conditioned room where the ventilation is not good, we feel tired despite the cool air. It is not very good for our body. When we leave an air-conditioned room, we don't seem to be able to quickly adjust physically, and our faces are pale when we get up from sleep. If we live or work in an air-conditioned room for a long time, our faces might appear greenish. Yet we will look pinkish even though it may be much colder in the mountains.

Of course, we should develop our freedom, but we have to find out which is the better thing to do. Just because we are free does not mean that we simply do whatever we want. We should use our brains and wisdom when we act; use them since we have them. Do not act blindly and willfully. Whether we buy good or bad things, it takes the same amount of time, and most probably we pay the same amount of money, or perhaps more money for the bad things. Therefore, in whatever we do, we should try to use our brains and wisdom; that will save us a lot of time and energy, and benefit both others and ourselves. This is why we need to pursue spiritual practice; the reason is very logical.

Concentrating Our Life Energy

If we use a magnifying glass to focus sunbeams, we can ignite a fire beneath them, at the point where the rays converge. Otherwise, even if there is plenty of sunlight, we cannot make use of it. Similarly, our life force is dispersed throughout our bodies, and even outside. When we pay attention to something, we give it power; we give it our life force. Therefore, by focusing all our attention on one point, we can solve any problem. We can make a fire that will burn all obstacles. It is very logical, nothing mysterious.

Avoid superstition in spiritual cultivation. Try to understand clearly why we practice this Method, and why we have to focus on this point. (Master points to the wisdom eye.) When we think, don't we use this spot and knit our brows? We knit our brows because we want to concentrate; we do it naturally. Accordingly, we know that we should focus on this spot to prevent our energy from leaking out, or being wasted on outside distractions. Doesn't the power grow stronger when we concentrate it in here? And then, isn't it faster for us to make a breakthrough? Yes! For example, with one hand, you can only push open a door, but with both hands, you can break it if you want. This is very logical and simple, nothing mysterious. Spiritual practice is a scientific matter; so have no doubt about it. Probably you will protest and argue with me, "How can our energy be dissipated if we just look at things outside?"

It does dissipate, otherwise, how can hypnotists gain command over people? They send out their energy to control someone. How can you say that they are not using their power? They are! Some people practice on focusing their thoughts, and make things rise or fall in the air at will. There are even people who can kill others with their thoughts from a long distance away. You can still find them in Tibet or perhaps China. Our focused thought is very powerful. Do not think that when our attention is diverted to other things, our life energy is not wasted. Yes, it is! It does waste our wisdom.

For instance, to attain perfection in something, we must look at it or think of it attentively. This applies to everything, even to playing music or doing the laundry. When we do the laundry, we have to look at the stains carefully before we decide how to clean, scrub or wipe them off. In the case of an artist, he must be very focused in mind to create a good painting or sculpture. There are times when you see a man or woman whom you like very much, and then can you say that you are not wasting your energy? You are! If you keep watching him, he will sense something and may even be charmed by you after a while. You are using your power to attract him. You cannot deny that you are dissipating your energy!

Therefore, we should concentrate all that power that might have gone to waste, and save as much of it as possible, just like saving money. If we spend money lavishly even when it is not necessary, we will never have enough money. If we spend appropriately, one dollar saved means one dollar earned. As our savings increase, our lives will become better and we will not have to work so hard. After we have saved a big sum of money, we can easily buy anything that is important and necessary. Without money, we cannot even buy trivial things. Therefore, let us save first, and then we can buy whatever we want.

In the same way, as we dissipate energy into the outside world each day, we retrieve it through meditation. Whenever you can save some time, save it; it is better than none. In twenty-four hours, we should set aside two and a half hours, which is one-tenth of our time, to replenish our life force and concentrate our energy, and then we will have enough to spend during the rest of the day. Just as we have time to spend money, we should also have time to earn it. We work eight hours a day to provide for our spending in twenty-four hours.

Now we only save two and a half hours on meditation to provide for our consumption in twenty-four hours, and I don't think this is illogical. Actually, I think this is too little! Therefore, initiation doesn't mean that all has been accomplished; you still have to go home and continue to work. Receiving initiation is just like registering for work in a factory. The boss has hired you, but that does not mean that you will be paid every month. You have to go there and work every day; you have to be responsible to the boss, and then you will be paid for each day you work. Similarly, we meditate each day to earn our wisdom and power, and then we will observe more incredible events. This is neither magical power nor blessed reward; it is the energy that you have saved up. It emerges and lets you solve many problems that were once impossible. It's very logical!

Previously we were rich, but we spent foolishly, buying anything we saw even when we did not need it. We spent the money buying things that we had no room for. Gradually, they became a troublesome burden. We had too many things, and there was not even room for us to dwell in, so we felt distressed and uncomfortable. Now that we have disposed of all those things, we will not buy things foolishly anymore. Now, we have more room and more money saved. Later, when we see something very important, very beautiful, and comfortable that suits our taste, we can buy it with our savings. When we buy it, we know we really like it. We feel comfortable; the money is well spent and the thing is good, so we think it is incredible. "Why have I never been able to buy this?" We might even think that it fell from heaven into our house. Not at all! It is our money. We have saved a lot of money, so we can buy this valuable thing now. When we were spending foolishly before, we dared not even look at such valuable things, not to mention buying them!

Previously, we wasted too much vitality and energy looking at the outside, thinking that it would bring us consolation and comfort. The truth is, it only brought us frustration. It was like buying too many things foolishly, making our home so crowded that there was no room left for us. We felt suffocated and oppressed. We had many things that we couldn't handle, karmic hindrances that we could not eliminate, or cause and effect that we could not escape. The enormous power that we save up helps handle the previously unmanageable karma, reducing it a little and making us more comfortable, or letting us handle it in other ways. Therefore, our life often becomes more comfortable as we advance in spiritual practice.

However, we really have to practice with our heart, and with true sincerity. Sincerity can help us concentrate; if we are not sincere, we practice casually, sluggishly, or may not even do it. This is very logical. I have to cite a worldly example to let you understand. For instance, when you are sincerely in love with someone, you fear no hardship. No matter how far his home is, you still go to see him; no matter what his temper is like, you accept him. You can endure anything just to marry him. If you are not sincere about him, you see him as though you don't see; you don't feel anything. You do not miss him or feel like going to see him. Neither do you feel like getting married to him or winning his heart. Since you do not try your best, of course you won't get him, because that is not what you want. Most probably you want someone else or something else. Perhaps you want to take a vacation or have some fun. You do not miss him. Naturally, you will not win him. On the other hand, he doesn't care much about you, either. Because you are not sincere, you fail to attract him or touch his heart.

It is the same with our wisdom and incredible power. Only when we really want them will we try our best to get them. Our minds and souls will strive to get them. If we do not want them, we will not get them. Isn't this logical? (Yes) We concentrate on getting something only when we really want it. Otherwise, we don't care whether it comes or not. Therefore, it is most important that we are sincere in our spiritual practice. Don't put on a show for others. It doesn't mean that you conceal the fact that you are meditating; but you must avoid boasting about it.

Why You Should Not Reveal Your Inner Experiences to Others

When people ask what you are practicing, you should answer, "I am practicing the Quan Yin Method, and I feel very good about it. I meditate for so many hours each day, and I am a vegetarian." Just don't tell them about your inner experiences. Why? If you tell them, they might not believe you. They might scoff at you. Most people in the world would not believe you! When I talked about other planets yesterday, people questioned me: "How can you prove that those planets exist? Can it be your imagination?" There have been so many reports in the newspapers and on TV about UFOs and extraterrestrials, yet people do not believe it! Imagine what they will think when we talk about our inner experiences. Since we cannot show them a UFO [Master laughs], how can we make them believe us?

I have the "bad luck" of being chosen to serve as an Enlightened Master, so I have to talk about everything and make a fool of myself. Someone has to make the sacrifice! Since God has already given me this assignment, or "business", I have to do it. Otherwise, when we reveal our inner experiences and spiritual level, very often we make a laughing stock of ourselves, and bring about an opposite effect. We talk because we want others to believe us and pursue spiritual practice; instead, they might laugh at us and attack us. This can impair our faith. When people repeatedly say that this is our imagination, we might by and by come to believe that it is indeed our imagination. As a result, we may want to quit, which can be troublesome! It is not wrong for us to talk about such things, but very often we will have no more inner experiences after we talk, and then we will regress in spiritual practice. Therefore, it is better to keep our inner experiences to ourselves and refrain from talking about seeing any Buddha or light, or hearing any sound. Should people ask, you may tell them, "Well! Among those of us practicing the Quan Yin Method, some of us can see the light and some can hear certain sounds."

Give them a general remark instead of telling them that it is you who hear the sound. You may say, "I too have some of these experiences. Of course, I have some experience, but I cannot tell you about it." That would be enough. We don't have to seal our mouth completely. If we say nothing, then how can people learn about this Quan Yin Method and the benefits that can be derived from its practice? And how will people want to practice together with us? Say what you have to say, but do not discuss your inner experiences and the detailed instructions given at initiation. Without my permission, you must not reveal them because you have not learned them well. It is useless for you to talk about these things.

For instance, if you have just learned the first few words of the English alphabet, and then you go out to teach others, what use can there be in that? That is the reason. I am not forbidding you to do anything. Neither am I creating a mystery. However, there is something you must not forget: When we do something in this world, if we brag about it, most likely we will not succeed. If this is true for worldly deeds, then it is also right for us to keep our spiritual practice a secret. This world belongs to Maya (the king of illusion) and its lackeys are everywhere ready to attack and hinder spiritual practitioners. When they hear that we have within us a treasure, comfortable and good feelings and things like nirvana, they will try to obstruct us. They are jealous, and they do not practice spiritually because they don't want to. Knowing that it is very beneficial for us to practice this Method, they will surely attack us. That is the way of this world.

When you have money and position, people will hate you; or when you are successful in teaching people and have plenty of disciples, people will also attack you. There are conflicts and disputes in many religions because the adherents fail to practice well. Therefore, instead of becoming God's children, they become slaves and tools of Maya. That is why we should heed those more difficult points on our spiritual path; that's all! I am not imposing any strict prohibition or regulation upon you. No, I am not! These are simply secret tricks that we must know to protect ourselves on the spiritual path.

Traveling to Other Planetary Worlds with the Spirit

Of course, it is okay to lie down when we meditate, but it is also easier to fall asleep. We fall asleep even when we sit up; imagine what will happen when we lie down. I have the same problem, because I too fall asleep when I lie down. However, that doesn't mean that sleeping is useless; we need enough sleep.

Our bodies need replenishment, and our souls need to rest. Choose a suitable time to meditate, a time when you are not very tired. Why do we prefer to meditate in the morning and evening? It is better to meditate in the morning when we have had enough sleep. Of course, we are reluctant to get up, but we had better get up because it is the best time for meditation. Of course, that requires courage and sincerity, otherwise it is very difficult to do it!

Sometimes when you are sleeping, you will be pulled up. Usually you are not aware when this happens. Occasionally you are aware, but that only causes troubles. For instance, yesterday a fellow practitioner told me, "Master, very often my soul goes out when I am asleep, and I see myself lying there. I tell myself that it is my physical body; and I become scared and then come back." I told him that since we have been confined to the body all the time, it would be fun to go out for some time. The physical body won't run away when we are not around. It only runs around when we are in it. It is we, and not the body, who run around. Otherwise, when someone is dead, the body remains unchanged, and the eyes and ears are still there, so why doesn't the body run around? It won't scream when you hit it, and it won't respond when you scold it. This indicates that the body cannot function on its own. It can only move about when we are inside. Therefore, when you go out and see that the body is there, it is too great. It won't go away; don't worry. If you are scared, then seek my help. "Master, please protect me!" It would be great if you let me take you up! This is why I do not let you know when I sometimes take you out while you are sleeping. It is troublesome if you are aware! I can't drag you out. It is just rotten and stinky flesh, yet you cling to it with all your might. You have been inside it all your life and you go out only once in a long while, yet you cling tightly to the body. Who would believe you when you swear, "I really want to be liberated from birth and death," if you can't even let go of this rotten flesh and skin; where can you possibly go?

There are many planets in our universe. Do not have doubts about that. You know when you look up and see the stars! There are the planets, some of which are inhabited and others not. Some are highly civilized, while some are very backward. Our Earth cannot possibly be the only planet in the entire universe; it would be such a big waste! Would the Creator be so stupid as to create only this Earth? There are innumerable planets! Recently, scientists have made some explorations up there, and it seems they have proof that some planets are inhabited but they cannot go inside. The inhabitants of some of the so-called spiritual planets do not have a body like ours, so we cannot see any humans there. That doesn't mean that they do not exist.

These spiritual planets are superior to our Earth or other earths. When we say "earth", we refer to planets like our Earth, our world. We call these material planets "earths", because everything there is material, visible, tangible and palpable. The other kind I call "spiritual planets" because I don't know how to name these spiritual worlds. In the dimensions of highly developed spiritual beings, they have no physical bodies. We have to elevate our vibrations to match their level exactly before we can feel or see their existence. We cannot see them because we are too coarse.

Let us not talk about the superior worlds but take an example closer to our world. Some people can see the souls of dead persons, but other people cannot, because their vibrations are different than those of our physical body. They still have bodies, only different ones. A tent is like a house, but the material is different. We can easily tear it apart with a knife or even our bare hands. Wooden houses are made of a different material and are sturdier; and then, houses built of concrete are even stronger.

People in Hong Kong build houses out of glass, which looks more beautiful, light and comfortable. It is very comfortable looking out from inside. If everything in Hong Kong were built of concrete, so tall and coarse, I am afraid no one would be able to stand it. The narrow space would drive people crazy and make them feel confined. Therefore, the buildings in Hong Kong are very close to those in more civilized worlds. In some worlds, houses are built of crystal. The house seems to be there, but there is no feeling of confinement. People can walk through the walls because they do not really exist even though they are there; they are soft and very comfortable. There are no tall, enclosed walls to block the view. The interior is very spacious, thanks to the intangible walls. The buildings with the big glass windows we build are closer to those of the higher civilizations, although these more civilized worlds are not necessarily spiritual worlds. I am not saying that they are the highest worlds; we can say they are worlds belonging to the heavenly realm.

Only people in this realm want to build such houses and love living in them. It is closer to that kind of world, that is all. They subconsciously remember that there are such buildings in the world where they used to live. People in other places do not think of building these kinds of houses; they would not even think of them, much less build them. Only people closer to this kind of civilized world will conceive and build these kinds of houses and love to live in them. However, I am only citing this as an example of common logic. Wherever spiritual practitioners live is fine. Crystal buildings are not at the highest level. Houses are not important. When we have become accomplished in our spiritual practice, we can build our own house. Whatever house we think of will be manifested. Depending on our imagination and talent in building, we can build anything. The house is built even before we ascend to that realm. Our blessed rewards will determine what kind of house we have.

When Shakyamuni Buddha was alive, His cousin was one of his monastic disciples. He didn't practice well but indulged in worldly pleasures instead. Very often, he would steal back home to see his pretty wife. Shakyamuni Buddha was at His wit's end, as the monk wouldn't listen to His advice. One day, when this monk was asleep or in meditation, he found himself in a very beautiful world where he was greeted by many goddesses and angels. There were sweet music, beautiful scenery, and glorious palaces. He was invited to live in a palace, where the goddesses waited on him, entertaining him with dances and songs, and serving him with the best wine and food from heaven. He asked the goddesses, "Will you please tell me where I am? Whose palace is this? It's so beautiful. And you beautiful ladies, which household do you come from?"

The goddesses told him, "This palace is reserved for the cousin of Shakyamuni Buddha, whose name is such-and-such." They pretended not to know who he was. "If he practices well, he will come up and live here. We are his maids." He noticed with great delight that these maids were hundreds or thousands of times more beautiful than his wife. The wine and food were delicious; the peaches and other fruits were wonderful, many times bigger than those in our world. He asked, "Can I stay here from now on? I am that person, and this house, as well as all of you, belong to me. Well, I am here to stay!"

Their reply was, "No, you can't. You have not become accomplished in your spiritual practice. Only when you have done so can you come and stay here. We will be here waiting for you. Today, we are only showing you what your future abode is like." It was like taking a look at a house to see whether we like it or not before we decide to buy it. "Now that you have seen your dream house, you can come later and we will be waiting for you. It won't be long, just a couple of days." "What? Just a couple of days? Didn't you say that I have to practice down there for a couple of decades?" he asked. They replied, "That is right! Here a couple of days is equal to a couple of decades down there!" [Master laughs] Very much disappointed, he fell abruptly. He could not stay there because he had not practiced enough to remain stable at heart. Besides, his time had not come yet.

He was very upset, because he really missed that place. Suddenly, Shakyamuni kicked him down to hell for a visit. He had just come back from Heaven, and now he was in hell. There he saw many horrible ghosts with long fangs, big noses, dark eyes, terrible hair, and faces that were terrifying beyond imagination. You might have seen them in the movies. There they punished people by sawing them into pieces, roasting them with fire, and punishing them in many terrible ways. Those being tortured were screaming loudly in great pain.

The demons took the cousin to a huge pot filled with boiling oil. He asked, "Why is this pot empty? No one is in there!" The reply he got was that the pot was reserved for Shakyamuni Buddha's cousin whose name was such-and-such! Should his spiritual practice be lousy, hell was waiting for him! They then showed him many tools used for cutting, sawing, and slicing a person before putting him into the pot to cook. They explained the complicated procedure step by step, about what would be done to his body, which part would be deep-fried, which part sauteed, and how many times he would have to go through it. They read a whole big menu, which made his hair stand on end. He exclaimed, "Oh! No! I don't want to come here! I don't belong here! I belong in heaven." The answer he got was, "You have to practice hard to go to Heaven, but hell is ready to welcome you at any time." The cousin, now extremely terrified, screamed out aloud. Then Shakyamuni Buddha took him home.

Therefore, heaven and hell are all in our hands. The decision is ours to make. Don't blame anyone for being bad to us, or blame God for not saving us, because God is us, our own self. If we do not want to save ourselves, who will? There is no one else around! Each person in the universe is an independent soul. We are aware of our goodness and evil; we know what we need and what we should do. No one will care about us. If we perform good deeds, we will reap good fruits. If we do evil deeds, we will get bad retribution. This is crystal clear; we are our own masters, and we decide our own future.

Never mind if we have erred in the past; we can choose a different future to compensate for the past. After the initiation today, I cleansed your karma from many previous lives. This is being done invisibly, as if pressing a computer button to activate the deletion. However, should we repeat the same mistake, it will be recorded again. To prevent incurring any karma in the future, we ought to keep the precepts and observe a vegetarian diet, so as to avoid undesirable affinities with sentient beings. It is for our own good that we do good deeds. When we love and care for suffering people, it is as though we are loving and caring for ourselves, through creating good karma. However, despite all the good karma or bad karma that we have incurred, if we do not become attached to them, we can escape the retribution caused by them. Whether the karma is good or bad, we still have to come back. The best way is to have no good or bad karma, then we can go back to the Heavenly Kingdom.

Attain without attaining

You have sat here for a very long time without feeling restless. You should have experienced the power of tranquillity. Of course, the power of Buddha or God will not strike you like an electric shock. "Wow! It is coming! The blessings are coming!" (Master mimics electric shock actions) [Everyone laughs] It is very serene. Since it is our own power, it is no stranger to us. It is so comfortable and natural that we are not even aware of it. Are we aware of our own existence? Of course not! We are so used to ourselves! Only when there is a stranger present will we feel a difference in the atmosphere.

Therefore, very often you are not aware of the benefits you derive from meditation. You feel as if there are none. They are so natural and gentle that you have to be very attentive and focused to know what you have attained. As the Heart Sutra states, there is nothing to be attained. However, Confucius' books say that we will "attain". Actually, they are referring to the same thing; there is no conflict between them! There is no conflict between the Heart Sutra and the Great Learning, except that the expressions are different. They are both correct in saying that there is "something to be attained" or "nothing to be attained". This "object to be attained" is not something that we can calculate or show to others, so we cannot talk about "attaining" it.

It is not a sensory feeling like an electric shock or a terrible fright; it is sometimes, though. If we have heavy karma or a bad atmosphere, we will be shocked when God's blessings come to blast out the negative force. Then we will feel the shock, because that is a strange phenomenon. God's power and Maya are total strangers because the latter is an outside force or entity. Our own power will feel alien from it. We will feel the shock as if we have gone through a battle. Otherwise, if we are not heavy in karma or possessed by outside entities or energies, we will feel very comfortable, as if nothing has happened. It is absolutely tranquil, and can hardly be detected. Anyway, we will notice it when we see the light or hear the sound.

Sometimes, when we hear the sound, we expect something sensational to happen. For example, when you are told at initiation that you may hear the sound of thunder, you will keep expecting the thunder to come. "How come I still have not heard the thunder?" It is perfectly fine if you hear some other sounds! Even the sound of inner thunder is not as shocking as outside thunder. It is a loud rumbling sound that seems very much like thunder, but it is not the same. It is not to be compared with worldly sounds. Otherwise, you may wonder, "He mentioned the sound of thunder. Is this the one?" Your doubts will disrupt your concentration, and the thunder will also vanish! [Master and everyone laugh.] Just now a fellow initiate said that he didn't hear anything except the sound of "Om..." Is this not one of the sounds? It is! Sometimes you expect too much!

Take it slowly! This is only the first day. Many more wonderful things will occur in the days to come. As you practice more diligently and save more of your energy, many incredible things will happen. You will experience the phenomenon of "being resistant to burning by fire and to killing by the sword" as mentioned in the Universal Door chapter. You will understand what this means. You may be reciting this passage every day, but you are easily burnt by fire, and get killed immediately by a sword. You have never really experienced it. Actually, that is a symbolic phenomenon, which cannot be described in words.

Ancient people wrote it down because they had experienced it themselves. Here we keep reciting this passage from the Quan Yin Bodhisattva Universal Door chapter: "Being resistant to burning by fire and to killing by the sword", but it doesn't really happen! Since it is not our experience, how can we keep on reciting it? It is useless, anyway. That was only other people's experience. For instance, someone is eating cookies and he says, "These cookies are very sweet and crispy. They are really delicious!" Wouldn't it be ridiculous for us to repeat his words? He has eaten them, so he knows, and he writes it down to express his feelings. Since we have not eaten them, we know nothing about it. What can we express? What use is there in reciting other people's experiences? Therefore, recitation is futile.

It will be beneficial for you to recite the Universal Door chapter now, because you understand the meaning therein. First, it describes seeing the Quan Yin Bodhisattva and other wonderful visions, and mentions the merits of the Quan Yin Bodhisattva. Then it goes on to describe experiencing the sounds of Brahma, tidal waves, and supraworldly and other fantastic sounds. The first part describes meditation on the light, while the second part describes meditation on the sound; it is a clear and detailed report of inner experiences. However, people later have just recited the words without knowing what they mean!

For instance, this fellow sister just now spoke of seeing my manifestation form. She saw me in her dreams throughout last night, and she wanted to come very early this morning. Just now while meditating during the initiation, she again saw my radiant manifestation form, which looked very much like the physical Master outside but was more beautiful and wore prettier clothes. [Applause] Before I came here, she saw my photograph and thought that she had seen me before, but in different clothes. She had seen me in red, but then I wore yellow at the lecture, so she felt that there was something wrong. Now, I am wearing these clothes today, and she remembers! These were the clothes she saw. I have many different clothes in various colors, some very shocking, to suit the tastes of different people. They sometimes see me in different forms within.

The clothes are not important, but I wear them to let people recognize me. Very often, they see me from within even before they meet me. If I don't wear certain clothes, they cannot recognize or communicate with me, and they forget the affinity they have with me from their last life. When they see me in these clothes, they remember subconsciously and they practice more quickly and more steadily. There are many such stories, but one is enough; here we don't have time to hear so many. Suppose we do not see the light, but we can sit here feeling very comfortable and tranquil, as though in samadhi, then it is also a very good experience. Day by day, we develop our love, intelligence, and wisdom, and our life becomes more stable, as we feel supported, very confident and safe; this is also an experience and benefit derived from spiritual practice. We do not pursue spiritual practice just to see the light. The light only serves to assure us that we are on the spiritual path, and properly connected, so that we can have peace of mind. If we have not seen the light, yet we have peace of mind, and we know that we are safe and have a place to go, then it is a very good experience.

There is no need to compare ourselves with others. Therefore, I advise you not to reveal your inner experiences to others, not even fellow initiates, unless I say it is okay.

Why Do We Have to Meditate?

Great Universal Event
Great Universal Event

The Coming Great News

To welcome the arrival of the year 2000 and create a Golden Era for the future of humankind on Earth, Supreme Master Ching Hai will hasten Her footsteps in the last months of the twentieth century. In mid-November and early December 1999, Master has graciously consented to visit the Middle East and Africa to sow the seeds of love and wisdom in that part of the world and bring the ready souls back to the kingdom of God so they may enjoy a heavenly life while still on Earth. In order to fulfill the deep yearning of spiritual seekers in the Middle East and Africa, areas of the world where She has yet to set foot, Master has kindly approved a lecture tour that includes stops in Istanbul, Turkey; Tel Aviv, Israel; Cairo, Egypt, and three cities in South Africa: Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. At the conclusion of the lecture tour, an international 3-day retreat for initiated practitioners will be held from November 28 to 30 in Cape Town. Following the retreat, fellow initiates may remain to join the Opening Procession of the Parliament of the Worlds' Religions and attend Master's lecture if they wish.

Supreme Master Ching Hai's 1999 Middle East and Africa Lecture Tour Schedule

Istanbul, TURKEY
Date: Nov. 20
Time: 5:00pm
VENUE: Marmara Istanbul (Hotel)
       80900 Taksim Square
Hot line: 90-535-763-2279 / 90-5357680976

Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
Date: Nov. 21
Time: 6:30pm
VENUE:  Tel Aviv Cinema
       65 Pinsker St., Tel Aviv
Hotline: 972-53-874709

Cairo, EGYPT
Date: Nov. 22
Time: 5:00 PM
VENUE:Hotel Mena House Oberoi
      (Pyramid Road), Giza, (Beside Pyramids)
Hotline: 202- 305 -1003

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
Date: Nov. 25
Time: 6:30pm
VENUE: CITY HALL, City Center
Hotline:27- 82- 253-6425 / 27- 82- 494-3852


Durban, SOUTH AFRICA
Date: Nov. 26
Time: 6:30pm
VENUE:  Kendra Hall,
       5 Sydenham Rd, City Center
       (Next to M.L. SultanTechnikon)
Hotline: 27-31-368-7759 / 27-31- 578-1140

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Date: Nov. 27
Time: 6:30pm
VENUE:City Hall, City Center
Hotline: 27-21-7618217

Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
International 3 Day Retreat
Dates: Nov. 28-30

Parliament of the Worlds' Religions Opening Procession
Location: Cape Town
Dates: Dec. 1
Time: to be announced...

Lecture at Parliament of the Worlds' Religions
Location: Cape Town
TECHNICON UNIVERSITY
Date: Dec. 2
Time: to be announced...

The most current updated information will be available at the following Quan Yin web sites:

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw
(Formosa; in Chinese, English)

http://www.Godsimmediatecontact.com
(Singapore; in English)

http://www.Godsimmediatecontact.co.kr
(Korea; in Korean)

http://www.GodsImmediateContact.org/index.htm
(Japan; in Japanese)

http://www.Spiritual-Discovery.org
(U.S.A.; in English, Chinese, Korean, Aulacese)

http://mason.gmu.edu/~lduan/index1.html
(U.S.A.; in English)

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.com
(U.S.A.; in Spanish, French, English, Chinese)

http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org
(Canada with Real Audio service)

http://members.tripod.com/god_directcontact
(U.S.A.; in Aulacese)

http://users.ticnet.com/quanyin
(U.S.A.; in English)