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A Living Enlightened Master--A Doctor Of Doctors
Return Of The Pumpkin!
Master Manifested Herself During Initiation
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You May Not Know
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Special Report On Aiding The Au Lac Refugees [1]
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Special Report On Aiding The Au Lac Refugees [2]
- 7, 4. 94 Event In White Head
- The Truth About The Barbaric Suppression Of The Vietnamese Refugees ...
- Letters From The Detention Camp
Special Report On Aiding The Au Lac Refugees [3]
The Action And Reaction On Aiding The Vietnamese Refugees...
- A Letter To Fellow Practitioners
- Congratulation Letter
- The Answered Letter From The Hong Kong Governor
- Empty Her Pockets To Save The Refugees
- Master Testified At The Security Panel...
- Pray For The Au Lac Compatriots
- Signature Letter On Protesting The Violent...
- Letter From Enthusiastic People
- Reply Letter From An International Humanitarian Organization In France
Special Report On Aiding The Au Lac Refugees [4]
- Interviewed By The French Radio Program, "Here And Now"
- Interviewed By Hong Kong Radio
- Interviewed By R.F.I. Radio, France
Special Report On Aiding The Au Lac Refugees [5]
The Group Suicide By The Vietnamese Refugees In Hong Kong On Apr. 30, 1994: According To Reliable Intelligence From The Refugee Camp
Elevation Of The Soul
Our Liaison Practitioners Throughout The World

Master's Words
The Secret To Spiritual Progress Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsintien, Formosa

August 22, 1986 (Originally In Chinese)

Sometimes you might feel you haven't made any progress in your spiritual practice and that it seems like a waste of time. Do you know why? Spiritual practice includes our speech, body and mind. For example, you've developed your mind very well in your spiritual practice and cleansed it of evil ideas and impure thoughts. Every day you only think about the living Master, the noble teachings and the practicing assembly. You only think about Quan Yin spiritual practice, et cetera.

In this case, your mind has become very advanced and "civilized"; but your "body" may still lag behind in development and is not in line with your advanced "mind". At that time, youu may feel that your spiritual progress has come to a standstill. In some other cases, you may have a pure body and mind, but your speech hasn't been cleansed of its karma yet. There is another case, in which you have kept silence for some time, not speaking as much as you normally do. However, your body hasn't been cleansed of its karma, so you can't make any progress.

This is like when parents are walking with their child. The parents are walking very fast, but the child, distracted by flowers, stones and streams along the road, forgets to move along. The parents have to stop and wait for him until he catches up. It's the same with your speech, body and mind. If any of them lag behind, the other two cannot move along. All three have to be balanced and coordinated in order for you to make progress in your spiritual practice.

You may feel that you have improved a lot at the three or seven-day retreats, but that is not because the Master gave a lot of blessings to those who attended the retreats and withheld the blessings from those who didn't. It's because during these retreats, your speech, body and mind were at their purest. First, your body didn't move a lot, waste energy, or work too much, so you didn't feel very tired. Second, you didn't talk, scold, or criticize other people. Third, you didn't divert your thoughts elsewhere. You just listened to my lectures and meditated. There was no time left for you to think about other things. Consequently, your speech, body and mind were almost all purified. In this pure and harmonious state, they were open to all the blessings from God or from the Master, so you improved a lot.

In the meditation center, your mind can't stray too far, because I will pull it back the moment it gets distracted. Maybe you were just thinking about your husband and children; but once you saw me sitting here, you could not think about anything else but me because I was sitting right in front of you. Maybe you were whispering with another initiate, but as soon as you saw me, you behaved quietly and nicely, fearing I would scold you if you didn't meditate.

I'm like a kindergarten teacher who has to keep all the children in line. Here you can't look at other people's eyes, only mine, so you won't get affected by the bad vibrations radiating from their eyes. The only thing you will receive is the positive energy that the Master bless you with. In this situation, your mind is concentrated, your body is not restless, and your speech is purified, so you can make spiritual progress very quickly.

It's not that the Master don't give you blessings when you are talking. But why can't you receive the blessings when you are talking too much? It's because you would become agitated and lose the blessings. For example, I want to give you something, but you can't stop moving even for a second. Then you cannot receive whatever I want to give you. For another example, when you pass the tollgate, sometimes you may miss the receipt from the toll collector after you pay the toll, but a toll collector never misses the money from you. This is because the toll collector is in a stable position; but you, the driver, are in a moving state.

It's the same with your spiritual practice. If your speech, body and mind are balanced, you will receive all the blessings. If you keep wandering, even the greatest power is useless to you. It's like when you're bathing your child. If he runs around, you can't put the water on him. Instead, you may get yourself all wet. Similarly, if you can't take my blessings, they will come back to me entirely.

That's why you had good spiritual experiences during retreats, which were even better than those experiences you had after practicing for months or years at home. During retreats, your speech, body and mind developed together, so you were more peaceful and purified than usual. Some people who were ill at home had no problems in the retreats or got much better and even recovered. Why was that? It was because all your diverted energy was turned inward during the retreats. When you did the light and sound meditation, there were no telephones, children or neighbors bothering you. You could meditate whenever you wanted without interruption.

When you are home, there are all kinds of inconveniences and limitations, but during retreats, if you like, you can meditate all night without sleep, because you don't have to go to work the next morning. Even if you feel tired the next day, you can sleep while you are meditating. But you cannot do the same at home. When it's midnight, you force yourself to go to bed even if you're feeling good in your samadhi, because a busy tomorrow is waiting for you.

The Quan Yin Method that we are practicing can cure all diseases. However, our speech, body and mind have to developed at the same time. Any one of them that lags behind will delay our progress.

The Secret To Spiritual Progress

Children's Letters
Lovely Hsihu County By Little Initiate Yajing Zhuang

(12 years old) Formosa

Hsihu Center has re-opened after a long period of time. As the rays of the morning sun caress the beautiful rural township of Hsihu, thousands of "saints," old and young, gather again in their sweet, sweet home.

Under the gentle rays of the sun, tender and beautiful lotus blooms sleep quietly in the pond, sparkling dewdrops play happily on the lotus leaves, rice paddies swaying in the wind create ripples across the fields, and the fresh fragrances cheer and envelop us with a special sense of serenity. The pond, mirroring mountains of verdant green, paints an exquisite landscape picture on its lucid surface.

The center has captured Master's sweet laughter and charming appearance. Despite Her absence, an invisible and intangible transformation Master resides in our hearts and is by our sides every moment of the day.

In the Bamboo Groves, thousands of fellow initiates meditate in the positive atmosphere. Beautiful were the days when Master came and meditated here with us. From the Rainbow Garden comes the joyful laughter of lovely children frolicking with glee.

Group meditation draws to a close as dusk approaches. The sky is a clear azure and the wind blows gently. It is time to leave. Fellow initiates, overflowing with Master's blessings, return to the mundane world in high spirits.

Lovely Hsihu County Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me Tina's Dream

Children's Letters
Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me By Little Initiate-To-Be Feng

Mainland China (6 Years Old)

I cried today. I am sometimes not very sensible and like to play. But when I am calm, I feel that the world is ephemeral. Then I become upset and want to go back to heaven immediately. I do not want to stay a moment longer in this world. I have been waiting here for initiation for more than a week, but there has been no news. Please come here quickly and give me initiation!

Master, will You come riding colorful clouds and take us with You? When are You going to take us with You? (August 10, 1997)

Master, where are You? I know that there is a true self within me. It can communicate with You. I miss You very much. (August 15, 1997)

I feel that the world is meaningless. Master, please come here quickly and take us back to our beautiful Home in heaven. This world is filled with material things and there is nothing here that makes me want to stay. I am waiting for you to give us - the initiates-to-be in Mainland China - initiation. (August 19, 1997)

Master, please come to Mainland China quickly. I miss You very much! When are You going to give us initiation and take us back to heaven? Please send a Quan Yin messenger quickly to give us initiation! (August 21, 1997)

I hear that a Quan Yin messenger will be coming here tonight to screen us for initiation. I am so happy that I want to jump for joy! Thank You, Master! (August 22, 1997) (Recorded by my mother for me.)

Lovely Hsihu County Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me Tina's Dream

Children's Letters
Tina's Dream Narrated By Little Initiate Tina Do

(8 years old), Toronto, Canada. Transcribed By Brother Initiate William Hunt, Toronto, Canada

Hi. My name is Tina. I am eight years old. I am going to tell you about my dream. I saw heaven.

Once, at our meditation center, when we were finished meditating, a very, very old man came and said, "We must reincarnate." So the very, very old man used his power and pointed to the ground. Then a very, very big hole was made. All of the meditating people jumped in. We waited in the hole for many days to be reborn. When all was finished, I came out into a new place.

I noticed that I was in a place with the biggest bridge in the world. We all had big white wings, bigger than a coffee table. Some people had wings as big as a room. Then I saw that my brother was only three years old. I didn't like it, so I used my power to change him to eight years old. I noticed that I, myself, was five years old, so I used my power again to change myself to seven years old. I flew around, but I didn't see my mom. Then I saw her. Later I flew to her. The next day, a friend from school suddenly appeared and we went to a carnival. It was time to go home. I flew all the way up to heaven.

On the clouds were many chairs made out of gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and precious things. The chairs were arranged like a welcome party that Master Ching Hai made for us. I saw my name on one of the chairs. Besides my earthly name, I also saw my heavenly name and many people's names on the chairs. I didn't see anyone there, so I flew down to look for my family. While I was flying down, I saw "Toy Story" flying in space, but I didn't care, so I kept on flying down. I saw my mom. I flew to her. Then I heard the Contact Person of our meditation center say that we must go to our real Home, heaven, so we did.

"Toy Story" is a full-length animated movie produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

Lovely Hsihu County Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me Tina's Dream

Suma Panorama
Australia Master's Blessing Bears Fruit In Sydney

Ever since the international 4-day retreat held in Sydney in May of this year, there has been a heightening of activity undoubtedly the fruit of Master's blessing.

Sydney initiates celebrated the official opening of the new publications display and meditation venue in the heart of Sydney. All fellow practitioners including non-initiated family members and friends were formally invited. A wide variety of beautifully prepared, nutritional vegetarian culinary delights including an enormous cake skillfully decorated and loving baked by one of our sisters were enjoyed by all. Later a musical performance was arranged by some of our local talented initiates and convenient method practitioners who added to the entertainment of our guests and brought to a close a very successful event.

By the end of the evening, apart from having eaten to their hearts content, many of those present especially the non-initiates were given a greater understanding and appreciation of how practicing the Quan Yin method contributes to a healthier and less stressful lifestyle where meditation, healthy food and a child-like approach to enjoying our free time can quite easily become an integral part of our daily lives.

For the preparation and the opening of the new publications display and meditation center, many initiates were eager to give their time and skills in selfless service. Working again with our fellow practitioners we could enjoy the fruit of Masters blessing as well as re-experiencing that same feeling of togetherness and satisfaction in serving others which we all felt so much during the recent 4-day international retreat in Sydney.

Looking to the future we all sincerely hope this new meditation facility will continue to grow in providing opportunities for fellow practitioners to serve others, and more importantly serve the spiritual needs of the rapidly growing number of Sydney's spiritual aspirants and those turning to meditation as a foundation for a healthier and wiser lifestyle, though Master's teachings.

Australia Costa Rica Mexico

Suma Panorama
Costa Rica

"Fallen Angels"

During these past few years of visiting prisons in all areas of Costa Rica, we have seen how these so-called most "horrible" criminals of any kind have become as innocent and sweet as angels through their own personal experiences of Master's love and wisdom. Apart from holding Master's video conferences regularly, recently we have received permission to teach art and English courses in some of the jails. All of these programs have profoundly aroused the interest of many of the prisoners in Master teachings. Those that practice the Convenient Method not only have very good experiences during their meditation but also in their daily lives as well.

Every time we go to the prisons, there are always interesting and lovely stories from the inmates that show Master's almighty love and healing power toward everyone. There is one man that appreciates Master's books and teachings so much that he even made himself the "celestial librarian" for that jail. He told us that every day after watching Master's videotape, he picks up all the books that have been left on the floor, organizes them, and saves them for anyone who is interested later. When new inmates request, he lends them a book, but retrieves it immediately when they are finished with their reading. He says that Master's teachings are a treasure and is afraid that there are not enough books to supply all those who wish to borrow them.

Every time we go to meditate with them or hold a video conference, he dresses up as if he were going to a very important event and will not talk to anyone or move one bit just so that he can enjoy Master's blessings. He also told us that in his meditation, he sees Master picking flowers in a beautiful place near a river and that She wears beautiful clothes and fantastic necklaces.

There is another inmate who used to be a very violent young man and who felt hatred toward everyone. One night in prison, he got into a fight with his roommate, and with a knife, he uncontrollably felt impelled to kill him. Suddenly, he remembered Master and called out with all his might, "Master, help me!", and a loving, firm voice said to him from inside, "Forgive him." At that instant, in the presence of Master's healing voice, a fresh breeze touched his face while his hands lost all their strength.

Each time new people learn the Convenient Method, they are blessed with the best and the most amazing spiritual experiences. It is as if they were already practicing the complete Quan Yin Method, One prisoner saw himself floating on top of the universe, another saw Jesus Christ on a cross, while yet another man saw a very big and bright sun turning, another saw stars, and some even saw Mater's manifestation body.

From time to time, we visit the prisons to see how these so-called "hardened criminals," who have bettered their lives and learned to control their violence by becoming Convenient Method practitioners, are doing.

Australia Costa Rica Mexico

Suma Panorama
Mexico A New Center In Veracruz

Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the city of Veracruz, where the Spaniards first set foot on Mexican soil, stands as the gateway to New Spain (later renamed Mexico) extending its warm hospitality to all and sundry from around the world. As a Mexican port with the longest history, it is a major commercial center through which contacts with the European continent are maintained and also a window through which Western cultures find their way into Mexico.

A few months ago, a Truth-seeker in the city of Puebla received from a practitioner of the Convenient Method, an amalgam of light and love in the form of a sample booklet. A perusal of the booklet led her on to make further inquiries about the teachings of Suma Ching Hai, and in response to her request, a Quan Yin messenger from Mexico City held a seminar at the School of Metaphysics. This incidentally turned out to be a starting point for joint efforts by many sincere people who have since committed themselves to publicizing Master's teachings through radio, television, newspapers and conferences held at various locations including the city museum. Among the many conferences attended was one sponsored by a number of spiritual organizations focusing on the theme "Peace Lies In Our Hands".

For several months, fellow initiates searched for a suitable site for group meditation and eventually, with the help of Master's blessings, found a house that could serve as their new Center. The initiates in Veracruz hereby send greetings to all the dear members of the Quan Yin family worldwide.

Australia Costa Rica Mexico

Aphorisms
Aphorisms

The more we meditate, the more we communicate with our inner selves, the more we contemplate the light and the sound, the more lighthearted and energetic we will be to help others. We work and contribute only because there is a need at that moment. After we have done it, that's all. There are no other reasons for doing it. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese) The more we benefit sentient beings, the more we benefit ourselves; such is the law of spiritual practice. If we have not overcome our habitual fear, we will have to come back to learn our lesson. By Suma Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese) Retreats are very important! Why do our fellow initiates make such quick progress? It is because we hold retreats frequently to make up for what we can not achieve in our daily time schedule. For us, this feeling of "fear" is the most terrible thing. We should dread this fearful feeling, for it is this fearful feeling that makes us "fear". By Suma Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese) Regardless of whether you do something right or wrong, if you do it at the wrong time or in the wrong place, it is futile. "Death" is not to be feared. At the time of death, we only fear that we have not learnt our lessons. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese) When our actions, speech and thoughts are pure, our body will feel clean and comfortable, and we will be happy spiritually. We will not be affected by anything that others do. We just feel blissful. We will attain the perfection of patience. Cowardice and fear have trapped us in the cycle of transmigration for a very long time. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai (Originally In Chinese)

Supreme Master Ching Hai News
Magazine Detailed Index

Magazine Index
Master's Words	The Secret To Spiritual Progress
Children's Letters	Lovely Hsihu County Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me Tina's Dream
Suma Panorama	Australia Costa Rica Mexico
Aphorisms
Elevation Of The Soul
Special Report	Suma Ching Hai's Trip To India
Spiritual Interlude	Be Awake And Pray
Pearls Of Wisdom
Spot Light	Inner Experiences Come When You Concentrate All The Time
Front Line	The Second "Feast Of Beauty" At Pokhara Nepal
Media Reports	Various Programs At The Second Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition
Master Tells A Story	The Story Of The Horse Apples
Selected Questions & Answers	The Best Way Of Praying To God
Master Tells Jokes	Who Is Talking Sweet Names Please Come Earlier Tomorrow
You May Not Know	The Immortal Silver Cord
While On The Path	The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person You Are My Only Reliance Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Bible Stories	Beyond The Moral Standards Two Stories About The Seeds Of Spiritual Practice
Supreme Art	Realization Through The Celestial Clothes

Elevation Of The Soul
Elevation Of The Soul

Suma Ching Hai's Latest Videotapes

[In English]

4-day Retreat in London, U.K.  August 24-27, 1997 (6 tapes)
1.  Expectations Only Dampen Our Spiritual Progress (Part 1)
2.  How God Answers Your Sincere Prayers (Part 2)
3.  True Courage (Part 3)
4.  How To Reprogram Our Lives (Part 4)
5.  Cultivating Good Habits (Part 5)
6.  The Three Categories Of A True Master (Part 6)

[In Chinese with Indonesian subtitles]

1.  The Secret Method To Control The Mind
    Group Meditation, Hsihu Center, Formosa  June 5, 1994
2.  The Story About Cats
    Group Meditation, Tien Shan Center, Hong Kong  May 12, 1994
3.  True Love
    Group Meditation, Newark Airport, New Jersey, USA  April 13, 1995

[In English with Chinese subtitles]

1.  The Power Of Thought
    Group Meditation, Texas, USA  November 3, 1993
2.  Let Others Believe In God The Way They Want
    Group Meditation, CA, USA,  March 9, 1994
3.  Use The Power Of Intelligence Carefully (1, 2)
    Group Meditation, Los Angeles, USA  March 14, 1996
4.  Our Mind Should Always Be Strong
    Group Meditation, Bangkok, Thailand  April 2, 1996

[In Chinese with German subtitles]

1.  Magic Is The World Of Illusion
    Group Meditation, Hsihu Center, Formosa  July 9, 1995

[In English with Korean subtitles]

1.  My Signature Is In Your Heart
    Group Meditation, Washington D.C. USA  April 15, 1993
2.  The Elevation Of Spirits
    Hawaii International 4-day Retreat (Tape 1)  October 22, 1993

Suma Ching Hai's Latest Audiotapes (Re-edited -- in Chinese)

CL5 (5 parts)

890115 An Express Method Of Spiritual Cultivation (1-2)
890116 What Is The Maya's Trap?
890117 Seeking Fame & Gain Is The Greatest Hindrance For
      Spiritual Cultivation

CL6A (4 parts)

890222 The Way To Know Your True Self (1-2)
890223 The Meaning Of A Monastic Life ( 1-2)

CL6B (4 parts)

890224 Giving Truth As Alms Is The Highest Form Of Merit (1-2)
890225 The Secret Of Longevity (1-2)

CL7A (4 parts)

890301 Speaking About The Philosophy Of Confucious (1-2)
890302 Confucious Was Also A Spiritual Practitioner (1-2)

CL7B (4 pieces)

890303 Humility Is The Basic Foundation Of Spiritual Practice
890305 How To Achieve Eternity
890306 The Quan Yin Method Is The Method Of Compassion & Love (1-2)

New Books -- Master Tells Stories (Available in English and Chinese editions)

Do you know why the world is topsy-turvy? Or how wise the old beggar woman was? What are the dangers of using miraculous powers? How did Yogananda pursue spiritual practice with his Master?

Why did the clever parrot fake death?... and many more!

Suma Ching Hai has broken through the rigidity of teaching in a typical fashion to make it easy for readers to assimilate spiritual teachings in their daily lives. She has devoted much time and effort toward reading stories from many different countries written in various languages before selecting those with touching and meaningful spiritual tones. By elucidating the profound in simple terms, She narrates each story to Her disciples in a relaxed way and shares with them Her thoughts and the inspirations She has drawn from each tale.

"Master Tells Stories" is a collection of 37 stories vividly narrated and presented to readers with beautifully designed illustrations, most appealing to adults and children alike.

The Lost Memories I & II -- By Suma Ching Hai

These are the poems, originally in English, inspired by Suma Ching Hai in the seventies while She was in Europe spending a great deal of Her time helping to re-establish the war-torn Asian countries.

These poems portray and unveil the feelings of a lady dwelling on the dreams of love while living in the reality of the social situation. They carry immense sadness, witnessing the tormenting loneliness of people on their ailing beds, and the desperation in the love of humankind.

We have the great honor of putting these poems together in a collection called: "The Lost Memories I&II", and are glad to be given the permission to publish them with the hope of sharing these innermost feelings with poetry lovers.

Special Report
Suma Ching Hai's Trip To India

A Divine Meeting Of Two Great Saints

The World Convention On Reverence For All Life

November 22nd marked the opening of the World Convention on Reverence For All Life convened by the Sadhu Vaswani Mission in Pune, India. This Mission is headed by their spiritual leader, Dada J.P. Vaswani, who is revered as one of the seven great saints in India today. Among the invited participants, including many dignitaries, doctors and spiritual leaders from around the world, was Suma Ching Hai who was asked to address the delegates.

Wearing a brilliant golden colored traditional Indian sari, Suma Ching Hai arrived at the venue escorted by four deva-like guards. Before the people in the venue realized that She is a great Master, they were already dazzled by Her infinite radiance. One thing worth mentioning was that, Master looked so dignified and exquisite in Her sari that no native Indian ladies present could match Her. When Dada J.P. Vaswani met with Master on the VIP stage, they started an intimate conversation for over ten minutes. Though it was the first time they had ever met, they were like old friends or kin reunited.

Indulged in their heart to heart and wisdom to wisdom dialogue, they were oblivious of the hundreds of people present. Finally, they both got up holding hands and walked to the front of the stage to address the VIPs. Before leaving the stage, Master humbly bowed to Dada J.P. Vaswani, who reacted promptly and knelt down to Master. Disciples of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission quickly came forward and lifted both of them from the floor. Everyone present was stunned by this unexpected scene, and they were deeply touched by the humbleness and truthfulness of these two great saints.

After this thrilling encounter, the ambiance in the venue completely changed. Everyone became very respectful toward Master and even playfully nicknamed Her the "Sweet Master". Wherever She went, Master was always surrounded by a huge crowd, asking to talk to Her or take photos with Her. As a result, she had no chance to eat or rest at lunch time, not even at the tea breaks.

On the second day of the Convention, Master wore another beautiful and graceful sari, purple in color. When she spoke, everyone was delighted by Her humorous words, which differed to the serious way other speakers delivered their talk.

Incidentally, She and Dada J.P. Vaswani were the only two who addressed the audience whilst sitting, other speakers gave their speeches standing. That afternoon, having been invited by the convenor, Master presented awards to each of the distinguished speakers, which included many doctors

As Dada J.P. Vaswani, had repeatedly sent gifts and invitations to Master asking to see Her again, Master went to visit him at their Center that evening. Dada J.P. Vaswani sent his attendant to pick Her up at the hotel. At their Center, they had especially arranged a group of lovely children to sing and dance to welcome Master. On this second meeting, the two saints again held each other's hands and looked at each other's wisdom eye in deep silence.

In a very natural manner, Master gave him a set of Celestial Jewelry, which will be auctioned for cancerpatients' treatment in a nearby hospital, and donated US$12,000 to the hospital established by Dada J.P. Vaswani that provides free medical service to the poor and needy. In return Dada J.P. Vaswani gave Master a watch, some Indian spices and a lucky charm. This touching rendezvous lasted over an hour.

The Chairman of the Convention kept urging Master to attend a cultural show that evening, (the show was performed by a group that was not on the convenor's original list. Master didn't stay to watch.) Dada J.P. Vaswani earnestly hoped to see Master the next day, commemorating the birthday of their founder, Sadhu Vaswani. He even invited Master to be the chief guest of the event and to give a discourse. (Master left a videotape in Her absence.)

On the third day, thought Master was no longer present at the Convention, Dada J.P. Vaswani asked one of his disciples to deliver a speech paying tribute to Her, stressing that the most precious result of this Convention was the presence and blessings of Suma Ching Hai.

Suma Ching Hai's Trip To India

Spiritual Interlude
Be Awake And Pray By Sister Initiate Yougu Lan, Taipei, Formosa

Before I pursued spiritual practice with Master, I did not have any religious beliefs. However, for some unknown reason, the solemn sounds of Christian hymns and poems have always touched the chords in my heart, at times bringing tears to my eyes. Since my initiation, Master's "Buddhist Chanting" has brought me peace and tranquility every time I hear Her singing.

I had never studied religious scriptures before. But after initiation, I began to read the Buddhist scriptures on my own initiative in order to verify Master's teachings. This surprised my husband, who had repeatedly tried to persuade me to study the scriptures. My son, a devout Christian who was afraid that I might have strayed on to the wrong path, begged me to read the Bible. Without hesitation, I began to study the Bible as well.

It was amazing that while I once found the Bible unpalatable reading material, after initiation, I discovered that its every word and sentence shone with Christ's immense love and wisdom. The New Testament is a record of the holy stories and wise words of a saint. Tremors shook my heart when I read about Christ's disciples succumbing to physical weakness and falling asleep during their prayer with

Jesus in Gethsemane before Judas' betrayal, and about Peter's refusal to acknowledge Christ three times.

Today, at a time when the people of this world are being subject to trial in various ways, we are very fortunate to be able to follow Master on our way back 'Home'. We should introspect on ourselves to determine if we have unwavering faith in God and if we are worthy enough to experience the pure and high-level vibrations of the Kingdom of God.

In order to usher in the "golden age," we must remain awake and pray, always introspect on ourselves in light of Master's teachings, and remind ourselves to set a good example as practitioners of Master's supreme teachings. Only then can we provide inspiration to other sentient beings who have affinity with Master. Let us together elevate human consciousness to higher horizons and enter into a new era for the universe.

Be Awake And Pray

Pearls Of Wisdom
Pearls Of Wisdom

When we work, we should introspect as to whether we are really making an unconditional contribution or not. Otherwise, we should ask God to check and show us our intention, as well as to help us uphold the spirit of righteousness and preserve a heart of purity. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 3, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) Our mind has to be clean and pure first. It is not good enough having supernatural power or power of practice. Therefore, we have to clean our body, speech and thought before having the power. If we have the power but our body, speech and mind are not clean, precepts are not kept properly, then we could do bad things. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa December 31, 1994 (Originally In Chinese) To end suffering doesn't mean we never suffer again after enlightenment. It just means that we are strong enough to withstand suffering and to be detached from happiness. Then we can rise above all changes in this ephemeral world in order to recognize the real. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Thailand June 12, 1993 (Originally In English) Sometimes, I ask you to do work not because I want something, but to give you the opportunity for spiritual practice, to earn merits and to help others in order to create the affinity to help, and in turn, be of greater help in the future. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 12, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) Since we are here in this world only for a very short while, we should do our best together to improve ourselves, and further improve the world. By improving ourselves, we improve the world as well. If every person improves himself, the world will naturally improve too. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 3, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 3, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) We pursue inner spiritual practice to search for Truth, virtue and beauty. When we have these qualities within us, they will manifest in our outer appearance. Therefore, we should do our best to take care of our surroundings and our body; we should dress neatly, and be reasonably dignified and beautiful. Of course, we do not become attached to these things. However, not being attached to them does not give us an excuse to be filthy and dirty. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 3, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) Be meticulous in your work; do not let other thoughts or other matters disturb you. Do your work sincerely for the sake of accomplishing it perfectly and of making others happy rather than for yourself. Then you will not make mistakes, and you can do your work quickly and perfectly. This is the secret. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa April 3, 1992 (Originally In Chinese) Spiritual practice is very simple! It is like when our body is sick or uncomfortable, we seek a remedy to cure it. Now instead of curing our body, we repair our spirit - such is spiritual practice. Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Taipei, Formosa January 4, 1989 (Originally In Chinese)

Spot Light
Inner Experiences Come When You Concentrate All The Time Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa

October 28, 1995 (Originally In English)

You must know that light comes in different forms, sometimes in colors, sometimes like daylight. It doesn't necessarily come and shine through with one flash or one beam of light that wakes you up or startles you. Sometimes moving darkness is also one of the levels of practice. It's not pleasant, but you must start from somewhere. You must pay attention.

Sometimes you will notice that even when you meditate and you sit very stiff, you sit very straight, but the light doesn't come. Then sometimes you happen to relax, you put your head like this (Master collapses back in the chair with Her head thrown back), and then the light comes. Or sometimes you just move your head to one side, and it comes from nowhere. So you must always pay attention. It is not because you concentrate that the light comes. To concentrate is good for you, so that you can see the light; otherwise, it's always there.

If you want to truly see the light, you must sometimes move the position. Turn away from the traditional crossed-legs; you can even crawl on the floor. Really, put your forehead on the floor, and you will see. Like people kneel and when they are tired, they just fall on the floor on all fours; then they see the light. Or sometimes you just lean your head over the back of a bench and hang there for a while, then you will see it. You always have to concentrate here (wisdom eye). You don't always have to cross your legs and sit so straight.

Sit straight for a while, and then hang around or kneel on the floor. You know the position when you do the Quan Yin, and when you are tired... It relaxes your body too. Or you change your seat; sit on the chair, or lie down on the bed after sitting for meditation for a while, and you will see the light.

The light comes anytime, because light is always there after initiation. It is just sometimes we think, "Oh, I am meditating now; light comes or not comes? (Laughter) Coming? Supposed to come already!" And you sit there and recite all the time about the light, instead of concentrating.

Sometimes because you think you must concentrate, that's why you can't concentrate. We can't concentrate with the "thinking," and we can't concentrate with the mind. We concentrate when totally all of our body cells, our brainwaves, everything, relax! That's why sometimes in the middle of laughing, in the middle of yawning or in the middle of turning over in bed, you see the light at that moment -- because all your body cells were relaxed. That is the true concentration.

It just happens, not that you are meditating, not that you are reciting the Holy Names, nothing. So just pay attention anytime. Anytime, the Master comes; anytime, the light comes. Just because we don't expect it to come at that moment doesn't mean it comes. Just be careful. That's why we have to meditate all the time, even during walking, sleeping, eating, talking, joking, all the time. We must pay attention inside, all the time.

I've told you already. When you come up and see me hanging on a chair like this (Master hangs Her head over the side of the chair). I don't look like a saint at all, but I am meditating. I'm not kidding. You try.

A dream is also an experience. It's not only when we sit in meditation, we have the experience. Whenever it comes, in whichever way, just welcome it. It's good for you. As long as our lives changes for the better, we are more loving, wiser, more contented with life and happier, that is the outcome of meditation. No need to measure it by light and sound, because they come when you don't even expect them. They come, most of the time, during your sleep.

Whether you remember it when you wake up or not, it was there, I guarantee. If you don't believe me, you tell your wife or your husband to kick you in the middle of the night. Then you will see the leftovers of a thousand stars, a thousand suns or a flash of light. Then you will know what it was.

When I was studying with some of the Buddhist Zen monks, they told me that you have to sit and meditate like this (Master demonstrates the position of sitting straight, looking at Her nose) with your eyes open. I saw nothing! I only saw my nose and the floor! (Laughter) So one day I got tired and closed my eyes, then everything came. So I didn't listen to their nonsense anymore. (Master laughs) I did my stuff.

I studied with many masters before, because in search of enlightenment, I looked for many masters. One of the Zen masters told me, "When you meditate, cross your legs; and the more you cross, the better for you." So I squeezed my bottom, and twisted my limbs. It was terrible! Then whenever you didn't close your eyes properly, if you moved, or if you scratched, there was something like, "Bang!" (Master demonstrates being hit with a stick.) It shook you all over. Nothing (no light) happened anyway, so I decided to relax. Then all the heavenly beings came. (Master laughs)

They told me, "When you go to sleep, you can lie down and meditate, too." (Just like I told you; it is correct. You should lie on the right side when you lie down to meditate, just like the Buddha.) No problem, I do that. But when I lay there, meditated, trying with all my might, I saw nothing! When I turned over to sleep, wow! Everything was there! (Master laughs) So I wonder whether the traditional position is really good for us or not? You do what you like. Whatever you do, if you see light, it's okay for you.

I tell you the truth, they told me, "If you really want to meditate while you sleep, then you have to lie straight, like you lie in a coffin, and also you're not supposed to close your eyes even." (Master sighs) But I tried many hours like this, and saw nothing. I was so tired and my eyes got dry and hurt. So I said, "Oh, now I will go to sleep." As I turned over, the light came. I lay on my right side, supposed to go to sleep, but I couldn't sleep anymore because all the light came.

So do whatever you think is proper for yourself. If you want to see the light, even if you have to crawl on the floor to see the light, do it! I never tell you that you have to sit cross-legged. You won't fall asleep easily, that's all. But later on, you improve, and you experiment with your own body and mind, and have fun.

Then come and tell me, "Oh, Master, while I stood up on one leg, I saw light! I did the flamingo position." (Laughter) "Oh, Master, while I was cleaning my ears, I saw the heavenly beings," or whatever. (Laughter) You tell me all your experiences later. Experiment. Of course, to be safe, first you sit there two and a half hours every day, then you do anything else you want. But sometimes, if the body demands that you rest, you'll be surprised that when you rest, the light comes, mostly in your sleep.

You know why you don't see while you meditate, some of you? You think too much! You keep waiting, waiting for things to come. Don't wait. It will come. It cannot run away. It's inside you. You are made of light. The whole of your being is light, condensed. So whenever you realize that, that's the time your liberated. You are light and sound. You are not the tissues that you think you are. Everything is made from light and sound. It's different when condensed. (Applause)

Inner Experiences Come When You Concentrate All The Time

Front Line
The Second "Feast Of Beauty" At Pokhara Nepal By The Nepal Work Team

The Feast of Beauty made a sensational hit in Katmandu, leaving its artistic and media circles, as well as people interested in spiritual practice, greatly impressed by the teachings of Suma Ching Hai. When it concluded, the Second Minister of Education of Nepal strongly recommended a very spiritual city - Pokhara, where he hoped Master's works of art could be exhibited. The subsequent result was the second Feast of Beauty. Once more, fellow initiates set foot in this beautiful country. This time, Master's paintings and Celestial Clothes were displayed, Her lecture videos were shown on large TV screens, and free medical services were provided.

Heavenly Beings And Divine Guardians Join The Ranks Of Those Spreading The Truth

Surrounded by mountains and an ethereal landscape, Pokhara, the second largest city of Nepal, is home to many descendants of Brahman families whose beautiful tradition of observing a vegetarian diet and the precept of ahimsa have been preserved until today. An profound atmosphere of spiritual practice pervades the city of Pokhara, where vegetarianism and spiritual cultivation form part of its traditional heritage.

The exhibition coincided with the local New Year holiday, which is Nepal's most important annual festival. Since all offices and shops including newspapers were closed for the holiday, fellow initiates decided to intensify their work by distributing pamphlets and hanging banners, as well as through mobile broadcast vehicles and radio broadcasts. The owner of the fabric shop, where we purchased cloth for our banners, acquainted us with a newspaper reporter who, in turn, introduced to us a printer who could print our pamphlets and a technician working at a radio station. Earnest and pure at heart, this technician had been a vegetarian since childhood and already greatly impressed by Suma Ching Hai's teachings at the Katmandu event. The following day, he came with a radio reporter and a broadcaster to interview us at the hotel. The three of them were so fascinated with Master's teachings that they requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation.

The reporter promised to include news reports on this activity in his station's daily news broadcasts. Every day from the preparatory stage right through to the end of the exhibition, radio station staff eagerly helped us set up audio equipment as well translation and other facilities. They even produced and presented us with a cassette tape to be used on the vehicle broadcasting Master's teachings on Pokhara's streets and lanes. The broadcaster volunteered to help spread Master's teachings on the streets; and in order to learn more about Her teachings and to introduce them on his radio program, he came every evening to watch Master's videos.

An artist who was deaf and mute helped us paint the banners. As it was a time-consuming job, he invited his artist friends to help. Subsequently, these friends of his also requested to learn the Convenient Method, obviously having received blessings through their work. Words were not necessary as we shared in the joys and bliss together.

When we were putting up Master's posters, many passers-by approached us and asked if they could take a poster home for veneration. Many of the posters that we had posted at public sites disappeared. Early each morning, we would see people taking them down intact and walking away with them. Even the remaining posters at the exhibition venue were hotly sought after. Many pointed straight at Master's poster and proclaimed with certainty that this is God! It seemed to be their tradition or habit to love and positively support an enlightened Master so zealously. Their intense affinity with our Master was attributable perhaps to many lifetimes of spiritual practice or perhaps to their living near the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Frequent blackouts as a result of a damaged dam made it necessary for us to rent a power generator for the event. Having negotiated the price and completed the installation, we noted with surprise that the rental owner had already joined the working team at the venue. The fellow brother responsible for the utilities was amazed by his superb technique - he could cut and strip a wire just by using his teeth, and he worked faster than if he had used a pair of pliers!

During a break, he took out a pack of cigarettes, only to see a fellow initiate signal to him that smoking was "not good for him"! He responded quickly by throwing away the cigarettes. At the information counter, a fellow initiate showed him a meditation posture and said "good"! His interest immediately aroused, he stepped forward to read the conditions for initiation written in Nepalese. He later requested to learn the Convenient Method of meditation and began a vegetarian diet. Such is the pure and lovely quality of the Nepalese people!

One evening, when the carpenters were busy working on the mannequins and cabinets for the exhibition, several familiar Nepalese faces appeared. Carrying helmets in their hands, these fellow initiates from Katmandu traveled more than ten hours on motorbikes to come and help with the work. In the next few days, many people came long-distance by buses to help; even a fellow brother from the Calcutta Center traveled a thousand miles to join us. United in our commitment to doing Master's work, we were a team as happy and harmonious as siblings in a family.

One day, we went to distribute sample booklets by the lakeside, and we rowed a boat to various parts of the shore to find people with affinity. There we saw a Tibetan resting with his eyes closed. Assuming that Tibetans might not be able to read English, we decided not to disturb him, so we didn't give him a booklet. However, just as we boarded the boat and were about to row away, he rushed to the edge of the water and asked for a sample booklet. After a thorough search which confirmed that not a single copy was left, we regrettably waved our hands to him.

Soon after we got back to our hotel, he too arrived. He told us that the previous night he had dreamt of the Buddha instructing him to go to the lakeside. And so he did to take a rest. But by the time he opened his eyes, everyone around him was reading a sample booklet. He borrowed one, browsed through it, and found it was a fantastic book. Though he begged people to give him a copy, no one was willing to part with this treasure. He had no option but to approach us at the hotel. Only then did he realize why the Buddha told him in his dream to go to the lakeside. Believing that Suma Ching Hai is a living enlightened Master and a living Buddha, he insisted that such a good book should be distributed to every person in Pokhara.

Immediate Enlightenment Of Our True Nature

Finally the second Feast of Beauty was formally opened. Early on the opening day, a huge crowd of visitors rushed in to appreciate Master's works of art and to ask for sample booklets. Master's lecture videos were shown in the main hall while doctors of western and Chinese medicine offered free consultations in an office adjacent to the exhibition site.

As the Mayor of Pokhara was on a trip overseas, the Deputy Mayor was invited to cut the ribbon. By the time the opening ceremony was over, a long queue had formed at the free medical consultation office. The Mayor visited the exhibition upon his return the next day and expressed his appreciation for the much-needed medical service provided to the citizens of Pokhara. He also conveyed his hope that the free service could be extended, by these doctors from Hong Kong and Formosa who so impressed the visitors that they received a thunderous applause when many patients showed obvious signs of recovery right after the initial treatment.

All the patients in the long queue read the Napalese sample booklet avidly. After all, medications, whether herbal or western, can only heal the physical body temporarily; it takes a spiritual prescription to cure the soul forever!

Since English was not as popular in Pokhara as in Katmandu, each replica print of Master's paintings carried Nepalese titles and brief introductions. Visitors read each introduction attentively and appreciated each painting in earnest; they were mesmerized and reluctant to leave. A visitor awe-stricken by the works of art proclaimed with conviction that Master is a great philosopher. (He really knew something!)

Lord Shiva is commonly worshipped in Nepal. While watching one of Master's videos entitled "The 112 Spiritual Guidelines By Lord Shiva," fellow initiates from Katmandu exclaimed in delight: "This is our Lord Shiva!" The Nepalese people were not the only ones who were enthralled by Master's videos; many western tourists also stopped by the exhibition venue to watch Her explicit discourses. As in Katmandu, the Books Counter was always crowded. Infected by the enthusiasm of the local people, fellow initiates serving at the counter went about their work happily even though their voices had turned hoarse.

The language barrier could not hinder the spiritual longing. People waiting anxiously at the Initiation Counter read on their own initiative the requirements for initiation into the Quan Yin Method and the Convenient Method. Intense longing and anxiety were written on their faces, as if they feared that they might be late and miss this chance of a lifetime! On the first day of the exhibition alone, several hundred Pokhara citizens, including some Tibetan lamas requested initiation into the Quan Yin Method and to learn the Convenient Method of meditation. Many of them heard heavenly sounds just by practicing the Convenient Method, and the working staff rejoiced on their behalf. Undeniably, the city is a holy place of Buddhism!

The Feast of Beauty events have given birth to a new group of children for the Quan Yin family, this time in Nepal. Meditation Centers were promptly established in Katmandu and Pokhara to provide venues for group meditation for the newborn infants. Also established were libraries where people could borrow Master's books, videos and audiotapes which would give them a deeper insight into Her teachings.

Fellow initiates who were blessed with the opportunity to participate in these activities, bore witness to Master's almighty love and were deeply touched by the Nepalese people's great aspiration for liberation. Let us offer our heartfelt wishes that these new members of the Quan Yin family will receive the greatest blessing, and that the benevolent brothers and sisters in Nepal will soon return to God's embrace.

The Second "Feast Of Beauty" At Pokhara Nepal

Media Reports
Various Programs At The Second Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition Kantipur Daily, Pokhara, Nepal

October 20, 1997(Originally In Nepalese)

The Second Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition, organized by the Suma Ching Hai International Association in Pokhara, ended with various programs. According to members of the Association, the program, which was organized for the second time in Nepal, concluded successfully. On this occasion, about one thousand and five hundred people received medical services. Medical consultations, medications and treatment programs totaling almost 600,000 rupees were free of charge distributed.

The medical program was administered by four doctors and 76 nurses from Hong Kong and Formosa in cooperation with Nepalese health workers. The remaining medicines and supplies will be sent to the villages in the area. The Suma Ching Hai

International Association has members in countries around the world. This time, they held the Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition for 4 days in order to acquaint the Nepalese people with Suma Ching Hai's teachings and also to benefit the welfare of the people.

Forty persons, including the Nepalese and foreigners, were involved in the organization of the 4-day program. In the program, the prints of 50 paintings inspired by religious and spiritual feelings and more than 20 outfits of Celestial Clothes designed by Suma Ching Hai were exhibited.

Various Programs At The Second Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition

Master Tells A Story
The Story Of The Horse Apples Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Tainan, Formosa

October 20, 1988 (Originally In Chinese)

In ancient times, there was a king who ruled over a very beautiful kingdom. He was an ethical and spiritual person; he even practiced the Quan Yin Method! We know very well that taking up spiritual practice doesn't make one become a saint overnight, so his majesty still had some faults.

One day, he made a mistake. Do you know what mistake he made? That day he was taking care of his beloved horse, and was going for a ride on it. A monk happened to pass by, and he begged for some food from the king. Busily caring for his dear horse, the king became impatient and annoyed. He told the monk to go away, but the monk didn't move. The vexed king said, "All right, you may have these!" He gave him some apples used to feed horses. This type of apple is very small, and is not meant for human consumption. Of course they are edible, but they taste so bad that humans rarely eat them. He said, "All right, go quickly and bother me no more!" The monk took the apples and left.

After having taken care of the horse, the king was a bit remorseful. He thought, Rarely does a monk come by and beg from me. He was so pitiful; his clothes were ragged; he had nothing to eat; he was skinny, so old and pathetic looking. I should have taken good care of him and given him some food!" He was remorseful, so he went home and made a mark on the "Selfless Service" column of his spiritual diary, because he failed in this respect.

That day in his meditation, he saw the merit accrued by his horse-apples had grown to the size of two big hills. He gave something to a person, but he did it with ego and aversion instead of love. Therefore, his accrued merit turned into horse-apples as numerous as two big hills. Good heavens, the hills were tall! God told him, "You have to consume these two hills of horse-apples before you can become one with me!"

Good grief! He was frightened to death. "How could I possibly swallow so many horse-apples?" Shedding tears, he went to seek help from his Master. I wonder whether his Master was named Ching Hai or not. (Laughter) Perhaps it was another name, a different name in ancient times.

He cried, "Master, I am in grave trouble!" The Master asked him what it was, so he narrated the whole story, and asked the Master to save him.

His Master replied, "I can't do anything. I have told you what to do and yet you didn't follow. You have to save yourself by consuming the two big hills of horse-apples!"

He cried like a baby and begged his Master to help him. The Master said, "All right, you may try this. Tomorrow, you go out with your daughters. Bring along a clear glass wine bottle with red liquid inside and pretend that you are drinking wine. Then, start to talk nonsense like a crazy person while fooling around with your two or three daughters. Observing your behavior, people will gossip and talk ill of you. In this way, your karma will be eliminated."

He followed the instructions and acted accordingly. He pretended to drink wine, and fooled around with his daughters to make people think that they were his girl friends. The whole day, he ran around the city like an insane person. Recognizing him by his clothes, people began to gossip, "Do you see how bad our king has become? He is fooling around with women, and drinking a lot of wine....". The news spread throughout the city, and everyone began criticizing him. When he went home and meditated that day, he saw one of the hills was gone, but there was still a big hill of horse-apples left.

He again went to beg his Master, "Master, there is a hill of horse-apples. What should I do?

The Master replied, "Why, you just eat them."

The disciple said, "Master, I am not a horse. How can I finish them all?"

One of the hills disappeared so fast because all the inhabitants in the city ate them; it is impossible for him alone to consume the other hill.

The Master thought for a while and then told him, "All right, I'll see how I can help you." Later, he told the king to repeat the same actions in another place, and let the people there criticize him. Unfortunately, the population was smaller in that place. In his meditation that day, he saw the hill of horse-apples had reduced by half, but there was still half a hill left behind! Again he went to his Master crying. (Master laughs) Disciples always trouble their Master in this way. They make the mistake, and then ask their Master to solve their problem. This time his Master told him, "I really have no solution. You must eat them yourself."

The king kept pleading and crying, "Master, please have mercy on me... please!" He used all the sweet words that you know too well.

The Master said, "All right, stop it! You are giving me a headache! On the other side of this hill, there is a spiritual practitioner who is an Arhat, a saint. Go to him and provoke him, or make up a story so that he will malign you. Then he will consume the remaining half of the hill."

A saint can digest fast, so he can consume half a hill alone, which is equal to the digesting power of a whole city. You see, when I or any enlightened Master scolds you, it is to help you eliminate your karma quickly. The karma of some people is too heavy that it cannot be eliminated by other methods -- not even through scolding by ordinary people, because they are not powerful enough. Therefore, the Master has to scold you personally.

Unfortunately, you are not grateful to the Master, but speak ill of and hate the Master instead. Isn't this a topsy-turvy world? However, I won't mind. You can always take your horse-apples back (Master laughs), no problem. If you cannot tolerate my scolding, the horse-apples will be returned to you immediately.

The king went to the other side of the hill and found the saint. While pretending to give him a massage, and told the story, "Master, are you aware that our king (he was wearing ordinary clothes to disguise his identity) has been acting contemptibly lately. He goes about seizing women and frightening everyone; the ladies especially all hide from him. He also drinks profusely and talks nonsense. He despises heaven and earth, and has stopped practicing spiritually. He is no longer the ethical person he was, and seems to have become possessed. Now he is an evil man practicing devilish ways...."

Despite his lengthy speech, the saint didn't react at all. The king repeated his words, "Master! Do you know that our king has become an evil person? He is seizing women everywhere. The women are so afraid that they all are in hiding. Having become a drunkard, he talks nonsense and has become immoral. He is not managing the country and the court, and neglects all his duties. Now he looks like a ghost -- a very evil one. What do you think? Don't you think that he is very bad?"

The saint remained silent(laughter) as though he had not heard anything. Oh! The king thought he was deaf, so he repeated loudly: "Master! (Master and everyone laugh) Do you know that our king has become very evil...?" Then the saint hit him once and said, "I am not going to eat your horse-apples! Take them back with you."

In great shame, the king went back to his Master crying, "Master! It is useless. He saw through my plot and refused to eat them. What should I do now?

His Master replied, "Well, you have to eat them yourself!"

The Story Of The Horse Apples

Selected Questions & Answers
The Best Way Of Praying To God Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Costa Rica

February 6, 1991 (Originally In English)

Q : When the Quan Yin messenger was here, she taught us a very beautiful thing. She said that we should dedicate to the Master all of our bad or good actions, regardless of the results of those actions, and in that way we can say that there won't be any obstacles. I think I understand a little about what she said, but I want to understand more.

M : It is not that you have to dedicate all your good and bad actions to the Master. You should, as far as you know, do only good things. But in case you are not sure whether these things are really as good as you think, then say, "Please, Master, I've tried my best to understand. I think it is good, but in case it's bad, please forgive. Please take care. Please do something if it is bad. Stop it, or help me to understand that is bad or something." Then, it's okay! Or, you write a letter or ask in meditation until you receive the sure answer. If it's an emergency and you cannot do that, and you don't receive the inner message because you're too crowded, or you cannot wait for the answer, then pray, "If it's bad, please forgive me. I don't intentionally do bad things, but my understanding is like that. I thought it was good, so I did my best." Like this. That's probably what she meant.

So sometimes, the expression in language doesn't give full wing to the bird of our intention. And probably, the other meaning would be that whatever we do, whether the work is pleasant or disgusting to us, we have to do it with the best intentions and in the name of Master. Whether the work yields fruit or is unfruitful, we should just dedicate it to the Master and be happy. That's all! Maybe like that. Is it clear? But not to intentionally do bad things and say, "I dedicate it to Master."

Spoken By Suma Ching Hai,Group Meditation, Colorado , U.S.A. May 14, 1991 (Originally In English)

Q : I go back and forth between surrender and wanting God to know, asking God things and then feeling like if I ask, it may limit something greater that God has. What should I do?

M : It's good that you asked this intelligent question. If we have to ask, then we ask. God knows how much to give. Hes shouldn't give in your limit, but he should give in Hiers limit, if Hes is God. So why bother? Ask when you need to. When a child is so young, he can't pretend to be an adult and not want milk. If you need milk, ask for it. Later you will grow up and give it up. Don't worry. God knows what you truly want.

Q : Can we go within and allow ourselves to ask from God?

M : Well, you can ask. You can ask, and say, "Oh, God, I probably shouldn't ask You this, but let me ask You anyhow, since it will settle my mind. Then whether You give it or not, it's up to You. You see what I need. I ask, but You don't need to give what's not good for me."

The Best Way Of Praying To God

News 88
Master's Words
Children's Letters
Suma Panorama
Aphorisms
Elevation Of The Soul
Special Report
Spiritual Interlude
Pearls Of Wisdom
Spot Light
Front Line
Media Reports
Master Tells A Story
Selected Questions & Answers
Master Tells Jokes
You May Not Know
While On The Path
Bible Stories
Supreme Art

Issue No.88 Mail Order Table

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PDF	HTM	TXT	Magazine Index
Master's Words	The Secret To Spiritual Progress
Children's Letters	Lovely Hsihu County Dear Master, I Am Six Years Old, The Cage Bird In The Picture Is Me Tina's Dream
Suma Panorama	Australia Costa Rica Mexico
Aphorisms
Elevation Of The Soul
Special Report	Suma Ching Hai's Trip To India
Spiritual Interlude	Be Awake And Pray
Pearls Of Wisdom
Spot Light	Inner Experiences Come When You Concentrate All The Time
Front Line	The Second "Feast Of Beauty" At Pokhara Nepal
Media Reports	Various Programs At The Second Feast Of Beauty Art Exhibition
Master Tells A Story	The Story Of The Horse Apples
Selected Questions & Answers	The Best Way Of Praying To God
Master Tells Jokes	Who Is Talking Sweet Names Please Come Earlier Tomorrow
You May Not Know	The Immortal Silver Cord
While On The Path	The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person You Are My Only Reliance Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Bible Stories	Beyond The Moral Standards Two Stories About The Seeds Of Spiritual Practice
Supreme Art	Realization Through The Celestial Clothes

Master Tells Jokes
Who Is Talking Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Group Meditation,

Los Angeles, CA, USA March 12, 1994 (Originally In English)

An army general telephoned to his unit in another place wanting to speak to someone. He said, "Hello!"

There was a soldier, playing like a sergeant or something, at the other end of the line. He didn't recognize the voice of the high general commander in chief. He said, "Hello! Are you okay? Are you all right? What's up, doc? We should go out drinking again sometime. All right?

So the general shouts at the top of his voice, "Do you know who are you talking with? Shut up!"

Suddenly, it was quiet for a long time at the other end of the line. Then he asked, "Who is it? Who's speaking?".

The General said, "I'm the General, Commander in Chief of your unit."

There was a longer pause, greater silence; and the other end said, "Do you recognize who's speaking to you also?"

The General said, "No, who are you?" The soldier said, "Oh, very lucky for me that you didn't! Good bye!"

Who Is Talking Sweet Names Please Come Earlier Tomorrow

Master Tells Jokes
Sweet Names Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa

December 24, 1995 (Originally In English)

There were many people living together in a one-block complex. One of the wives complained to her husband, "Look here! All of our neighbors' husbands call their wives such sweet and romantic names. You never call me one like that."

So the husband said, "What do they call their wives? I never heard anything!"

The wife said, "The one who lives on our right, he calls his wife 'apple pie'. The one who lives next to him calls his wife 'sweet cherry blossom'. The one who lives to the left of us calls his wife 'rosemary'. (It's a very fragrant kind of spice you put into your food.) The one next to him, calls his wife 'my lovely pizza'. The other one says, 'Oh my diamond, my glorious diamond'. And you! You never call me anything so sweet and romantic like that!"

So the husband shook his head and said, "I am sorry, but the one who lives on the right, he is a baker. The one next to him is a gardener, he plants Japanese cherries. The one who calls his wife 'rosemary', grows herbs! And the other one calls his wife 'diamond' because he is a jeweler. I cannot! I am a shoe-repairer. I can't call you 'my broken shoe'. "

It was good that he wasn't a coffin-maker. Otherwise, he called her, 'my solid coffin' to give her the sweetest name that she desired.

Who Is Talking Sweet Names Please Come Earlier Tomorrow

Master Tells Jokes
Please Come Earlier Tomorrow Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Group Meditation, Cambodia

May 12, 1996 (Originally In English)

There was a person who had so much debt. He owed practically everyone in the village something. Every day some people came and wanted him to repay the debt, but he always said, "Cannot! Please come again." One day when he came back home, many of his creditors were sitting all over the place -- on the steps, outside the staircase, inside the house and all that. So he came to one person who sat outside in the sun, the most distance from the house and said, very, very whispering-like in his ear, "Please come back tomorrow, early, around seven in the morning."

That person was very happy -- oh! ho! -- and went back home. Afterwards, all the other creditors got nothing from him and they also left for home.

The next day that person came very early, about seven o'clock in the morning. He just sat there and waited, sat in the living room now, with the ones who had debts having given him water and things like that. He sat for a long time, and nothing happened. So he said to the one who owed money, "Didn't you tell me yesterday to come early? I thought you wanted to repay me or something, but did not want to let other people know. Is that not so? How come you haven't talked about it yet?"

So the one who owed money said, "Oh, yesterday I saw you were sitting in the sun and very far away, so I told you to come early so you would have a better seat. That's all. Well, if you have to wait all day, you might as well sit in the cool shade, ah?"

Who Is Talking Sweet Names Please Come Earlier Tomorrow

You May Not Know
The Immortal Silver Cord Spoken By Suma Ching Hai, Taipei, Formosa

May 21, 1989 (Originally In Chinese)

Why do the dead suffer a lot? It is because most of them are separated from the sound current forever. There is a silver cord in every one of us when we are alive. It follows us wherever we go, automatically expanding and contracting as we travel to and from other planes. If we know how to play the silver cord, we can make it generate beautiful sounds to make us happy, nourish our souls, and take us back to our real home. For those who do not know how to use the silver cord, it is used only once at the time of their death, when it is irreparably severed. That is very sad.

That is why many people who have died are unhappy. When they were alive, even though they did not know how to play the silver cord, they had it anyway, and their souls knew that there was still hope. For example, I have a mandolin. Although I do not have very much time to play it, knowing that I have it comforts me, and I can play it as soon as I have the time. When I did not have it previously, I used to think, "Oh, it would be nice to have one!" Now I have it. Although I do not have enough time to play it, I know it is there. It is better than having nothing.

When we are alive, the silver cord exists. Even if we do not practice the Quan Yin Method and have not used this cord, it is there and there is still hope. When we die, it is gone. We do not know when we will have enough blessed rewards to become a human being and have this silver cord again. Animals do not have it, so they do not have the inner music. Well, they do have this cord, but theirs is too tiny to be played. It is not good enough to be fully functional.

Most people go through a lot of suffering after they die, because there is no sound from this silver cord and there is no hope. Those who are initiated are different. Their silver cords exist forever, taking them to and from higher worlds, so they are always free and never lost or separated from the highest spiritual plane. With the silver cord functioning properly, they are really alive. Otherwise, the cord would be gone when they die, and there would be no hope. And if, according to the Buddhist law of causality, some of them should become animals, there would be even less hope for them. That is why people who have died are so miserable, unable to hear the external and inner sounds.

Quan Yin practitioners are very happy at the time of death, knowing in advance when they will die; the silver cord remains unsevered, continuously generating pleasant and nourishing sounds for their souls, taking them anywhere and then bringing them back. It can extend to the ultimate borders of the universe and to the depths of hell, so they are free to go anywhere. Therein lies the difference between ordinary people and the initiated ones when they die physically. The initiates never really die. Only those whose silver cord is severed die.

Living people who cannot hear or see externally are very unhappy. The blind and the deaf are not so happy because they do not have the outer sounds and sights to entertain them. It is the same with dead people. That is why they are unhappy. If we cultivate this silver cord and keep it from dying, then we can be immortal and will always have sound and light to nourish our souls, comfort our hearts, and make us joyful. Now we have them twenty-four hours a day, so we are happy all day long.

The Immortal Silver Cord

While On The Path
The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person Narrated By Brother Initiate Jindao Lai, Jiayi, Formosa

Recorded By Sister Initiate Yuqing Wu, Formosa

In the past, I had always been a person who was hardheaded, only believing what I personally saw and scoffing at things that I could not see. My elder brother, who practiced Yi Quan Tao, often told me, "If you observe a vegetarian diet, you will benefit in such-and-such ways." But I always argued with him about it, even to the extent that, at times, he did not even want to talk to me about a vegetarian diet anymore. Once, he gave me some books to read, but they lay unread at my home. Thinking that I was hopeless regarding liberation, he mostly did not bother about me anymore.

The Ripening Of My Affinity With Master

I came to know of Master through my brother's colleague, who was Master's disciple. Once that disciple brought Master's book series, "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment" for another colleague to read, but since he was not in, the books were left with my brother for several days. One day, my brother had some free time, so he began reading one of the books. Thinking that it was not bad, he asked if he might borrow the books. The disciple readily agreed and my brother went home with the books.

He had finished one of the books and started on another one when I happened to visit him. Knowing that I was hardheaded, he did not mention anything about vegetarianism to me, but only showed me one of Master's books, and said, "This book is not bad. You may want to read it." Unknowningly, I had affinity with Master! After I had read a part of the book, I felt that it was truly "not bad" and borrowed it from my brother. After I had finished reading it, I felt that these teachings suited me perfectly. Previously, I had smoked more than a package of cigarettes a day and often drank alcohol, but before I had even finished reading Master's book, I had decided to give up these habits completely.

Perceiving The Inner Stars

While reading Master's book, I was very concentrated and did not feel sleepy at all for many nights in a row. Since She mentioned in the book about the wisdom eye and inner experiences, when I went to bed at night, I concentrated my attention on my wisdom eye. I had an experience on the second night. While I was lying in bed, a TV screen seemed to appear before me and an image gradually formed. Then in front of me, my vision was filled with golden particles resembling stars. They were very clear, bright and indescribably beautiful.

Meanwhile, I was thinking that I was sleeping with my wife, but wondered why I heard her breath coming from beneath me. I remembered that for the past decade, her breath was always at my side, but now, why was the sound of her breath coming from underneath me? After I thought about it, the screen shut off in about five seconds, and my wife's breath was back by my side. This experience made me realize that human beings truly have souls. Just as Master has said, "Our fleshly bodies are false and our world is only temporary."

The next day, I had the distinct feeling that this world was valueless and that I had better pursue spiritual practice, get enlightenment, and surpass the human level. After that I gave up meat and started to observe a completely vegetarian diet. I also gave up cigarettes and alcohol. My only wish was to get initiated by Master as soon as possible.

I eagerly finished reading all of Master's books in the "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment" series, and having firm faith in Master, I was very anxious to receive initiation and to learn the Quan Yin Method. Although I had been on a vegetarian diet for only a little over a month, I was longing for initiation. So, accompanied by a friend, my wife and child, my eldest sister and my elder brother, I went to Hsihu Center in Miaoli. My brother, sister and friend had been vegetarians for a long time and were qualified for initiation; however, I was not and could only apply for the Convenient Method of meditation.

Remembering that Master had said in Her book, "If you are sincere, I will give you initiation," I begged for the full initiation from all the Quan Yin messengers I could find, and one by one, they all refused me. I kept begging until I was overcome with dizziness, but still permission was not granted. Consolingly, people tried to persuade me to learn the Convenient Method first and get initiation later when I was qualified. I was deeply disappointed.

Perceiving The Transformation Master Due To Sincerity

Thinking that, while I could not be fully initiated, I must be qualified to learn the Convenient Method, I waited there for my name to be called. Alas! To my bewilderment, my friend and all of my family members, including my child, were all called in for Convenient Method, only I was left, sitting there all alone. The Quan Yin messenger rechecked the name list; my name was not on the list. Suddenly, I felt so indescribably disappointed and sad, as if I had fallen into the bottom of a fathomless valley.

Pondering my situation I turned around to go sit under a tree and suddenly I saw Master standing by the guard's room at the main entrance. I mused, "How strange it is. Master has gone overseas. How can She be here? Maybe I am not seeing clearly."

I rubbed my eyes with my hands and carefully looked again. It was true. Master was there. I could not possibly be mistaken. Although I had never seen Her in person, I had seen Her pictures on the cover of each of "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment" books and on all of the News magazines. Master's eyes were very special. It was Her. She was wearing a hat and the figure was unmistakably that of Master.

I quickly ran to Her, calling, "Master!" The Figure looked at me and said to me, You've got it wrong. I'm not your Master." I said, "Yes, You are! I can't possibly be mistaken." Then Master turned and walked into the Center. I followed Her, certain of who She was. Although Master's figure was small, She walked very quickly, so quickly that I almost could not catch up with Her. People often say that I walk very fast, but Master walks even faster. When I reached Her side, I could smell a light fragrance that She exuded which was indescribable. It seemed to me that it both existed, yet did not exist. Somehow, it made me feel very happy and cool, and I was filled with bliss.

On the way, Master asked me, "How long have you been on a vegetarian diet? Why do you want to be initiated?" Then She said that I did not have to be so impatient since I had been on a vegetarian diet for only a month. I said that I could be patient for all other things, but I could not wait any longer for initiation. I also told Her that the Quan Yin Method was a really good Method and that I wanted to learn it very much. As we walked, I implored Her to give me initiation, but She replied, "Don't be impatient. Read more books after you go back home." She said that those who sincerely want to be initiated would be initiated, eventually.

Master continued to walk, and was walking at a very quick pace. We neared the bookstore, then passed it, and She seemed to be leaving me behind. I wanted to follow Her, but suddenly She turned around and walked back to me. Seeing Her approach me, I could not help kneeling down before Her. She said, "Please don't kneel down! Please don't kneel down!" Then She quickly stepped over to the information desk. Stopping there, She told me, "This brother will help you to get initiation." Then She said that She had to leave to do something else. I said, "Master, please don't fool me." She smiled and said, "I'm not fooling you." She told me to wait there for that brother to finish his work. Then I saw Master quickly walking in another direction and suddenly disappear from sight.

Soon afterwards, the brother working at the information desk turned to me and asked what he could do for me. I said that Master had assigned him to help me get initiation. He said, "No! Why do you ask me about initiation? You should ask the people at the main entrance. Please, quickly go there." Hearing this, I again felt dizzy, but I hurried back to the main entrance. However, when I got there, I found, much to my dismay, that my name was still not on the approved list, and therefore, I was not allowed to receive initiation that day.

What happened later was amazingly wonderful. When I was finally qualified to be initiated, I observed that the Quan Yin messenger was just that brother whom Master had said would help me get initiation. While I was thinking about it, that brother came to me, took my application form, and asked me some questions. The person who gave instructions during the initiation was also this brother that Master had pointed out to me. Don't you think that this is intriguing? That was the process of how I was initiated.

The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person You Are My Only Reliance Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

While On The Path
You Are My Only Reliance By an Old Disciple, Tokyo, Japan

Let me first express my greatest respect to Master! It has been many years since my initiation and I recall that first time when Master came to Japan. I was so ignorant that I treated Her as no more than a celebrity. Although reading the series "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment" did give me a slight understanding of what an enlightened Master was, deep down I was really ignorant. When I first met Master, I found Her so kind and lovely, and so genuine, without a trace of falsehood, and I loved Her for it.

A few months after my initiation, Master went on a worldwide tour to spread the Truth, and fortunately for me, I had the opportunity to partake in God's work in Japan. That was the greatest honor in my life. Through my work, I quickly learnt many spiritual lessons that completely changed my concepts. In spite of the many doubts in my heart, I rejected and denied nothing. Instead, I observed it all with a probing mind and, through meditation, found the answers from within. Some of the answers came from Master's discourses and the News magazine. (These magazines have become my best companion and I always look forward to their arrival.)

Having traveled on the spiritual path for some time, I look back in retrospect and find that I have truly grown up! Overjoyed, I have begun to practicing even more diligently. Master has given me lessons continually, whether tangibly or intangibly. Some come in the form of joy, some in the form of pain. Sometimes it is through serving Master, which seems very meaningful, but sometimes it is through the very ordinary trivialities of life. All these have been designed to lead me to greater spiritual enlightenment and elevation. The more I practice, the more profound and unfathomable I find our Master Yet, She appears in a very ordinary form, and is becoming increasingly more common, to the extent that is beyond what ordinary people can conceive.

Master has remolded me from within. I have a deep-rooted quality of an ordinary being, which I can detect in a very subtle form of consciousness. When situations arise, it simply emerges. The power derived from books and knowledge alone cannot possibly change it. However, Master's power (or the power of the Self), has indiscernibly arranged many lessons for me. By learning them, my ordinary-human qualities have changed for the better gradually and without my knowing it. The change has been so natural and I marvel at the fact that I have discovered my flawless original nature. Now I deeply understand the words: To be natural is the great Truth.

Bit by bit, I have observed that Master is the most ordinary, wise, selfless, self-sacrificing, compassionate, awesome, congenial, lovely, carefree and immeasurably great being. The more She is criticized, the deeper I understand Her and realize Her supreme greatness.

Now I have placed the "Buddha" to one side. In this lifetime, Master is my only and the best teacher, my only and the best friend and relative. I feel that I am truly lucky to have a teacher like Her, who has blessed me with the Quan Yin Method of liberation.

The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person You Are My Only Reliance Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

While On The Path
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining By Brother Wessel, South Africa (Originally In English)

My father always told me that one can go through life in two ways: You can be happy with what you have or be unhappy because of what you don't have. In both cases you still have the same. What he meant was that happiness does not depend on possessions but rather on one's attitude toward those possessions. The same can be said, I believe, about our sufferings, be they physical, mental or whatever. We can look at the negative side or search for the positive side. Yes, I think there lies the food for thought...one must search!

May I relate a personal experience that will highlight this? More than a month ago, I "suffered" one major heart attack and several small ones. These were followed by another major one. My "luck" was that I was in the right place at the right time surrounded by the right specialists. I remember going into shock, and a lady shouting, "He has no blood pressure and his heart has stopped beating." What I also remember is that at one stage, I felt a presence on my left, a hand gently caressing my arm, and a feeling of being elevated by "love".

During this time, I never panicked or felt scared of dying or whatever one is supposed to be afraid of. When the pain became unbearable, I tried to concentrate on the wisdom eye and recited the Holy Names (very fast, I remember...). For fifteen consecutive days, I endured extreme pain from the catheter whilst recovering. When the pain became intolerable, I asked Master to help me and was never let down.

After a heart attack, you are no longer the same. A person's perceptions and lifestyle, et cetera, change a lot. From books, I learned that reactions vary a great deal and range from anger, refusal, withdrawal, to whatever emotion one can conjure up. I, for one, decided to try and look for the positive in this experience.

The experience taught and gave me a lot. Throughout my ordeal, I was never left alone! I knew and felt that Master was constantly by my side and that She surrounded me with Her love, but left it to me to ask for help. It brought my wife and I closer to each other. It taught me how destructive anger can be. I learned that although some pain has to be endured, it does not mean that the pain will stay forever. In fact, nothing is permanent. Even extreme pain has an end. The best remedy is meditation and not clinging to the pain! (Don't let anyone tell you that it's easy, but it's worth the effort!).

Master truly does look after us in Her ways. We must just trust Her. Those that know me cannot understand why my rehabilitation has been so fast and how I look so well. Looking at me now, they find it hard to believe that it happened. It happened, believe me! Even my bank balance suffered with me!

The Initiation Experience Of A Hardheaded Person You Are My Only Reliance Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Bible Stories
Beyond The Moral Standards Spoken By Suma Ching Hai

Tien-Shan Center, Hong Kong April 1, 1994 (Originally In Chinese)

Once Jesus was speaking in public, and suddenly many so-called reputed, intellectual and learned people came with some highly esteemed people in the church, like priests, for example. They dragged behind them a woman who had committed adultery. At that time, any woman who committed adultery had to be stoned to death. There were about three ways of executing sinners at that time: one was to stone them, another was to throw them into the lion's cage, and the other was to crucify them. Jesus was crucified, but this woman was supposed to be stoned to death.

Those honorable men challenged Jesus by asking, "According to Moses' laws, this woman should be stoned to death. What do you think?" Jesus said nothing, just wrote on the sand with His finger, "A group of liars." Those people kept pushing Him, so He finally said, "Any of you who has not sinned and who considers himself the purest and holiest may cast the first stone." Upon hearing this, everyone slipped away silently and quickly. (Master and the audience laugh.) At last, Jesus was left alone with the woman who had sinned. He asked her, "Where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?"

She replied, "No man."

And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I want to condemn you. You may go home now."

(Master sighs.) This story reminds us of something. There is no one in this world who has not sinned. Besides, whether one has sinned or not depends on the situation, background and your level of enlightenment. The so-called morality and ethics of this world are different from what real saints perceive. Those who have attained the highest level of enlightenment see no such things. They do not even imagine or think about these words. I don't know how I can describe this level to you.

When you first begin spiritual practice, you see the difference between good and bad. But the distinction gradually fades away as you practice more. This is very strange and hard to explain to other people, but you just know it. And you won't think so much about what is good or bad, except when you teach your disciples because they are at those levels that you have to explain to them in those terms. Otherwise, you don't really want to talk about such things, and nothing really matters to you, because you have a different point of view.

You look from the top down and become very tolerant, like seeing a movie. You won't be scolding the bad guy angrily, because you know he is only playing his role. And you won't be praising the good guy profusely, because you know he is playing his role, too.

What we call good or bad in a person is the habit or the behavior, not the soul in that person. Our souls can realize a lot of things, but I can't name them all; and they are hard to describe, although I know them very well. Regarding the so-called very serious crimes in our society, I have a different point of view, but I can't tell you every detail. Many people would not understand, and I could not put it very clearly either.

That's why I told you to meditate every day, and then you will realize it on your own. I just gave you an overview to direct your spiritual realization. As you go further, you will gradually understand why I said we would not discriminate between good and bad when we have had more results from spiritual practice.

When we are free from this discrimination, we will forgive our enemies easily, and then we will not be very angry about those who hurt us. We will forget about the whole thing very quickly and will not feel so bad. Even if we do feel bad, it will be for those people instead of for ourselves.

Beyond The Moral Standards Two Stories About The Seeds Of Spiritual Practice

Bible Stories
Two Stories About The Seeds Of Spiritual Practice Spoken By Suma Ching Hai

Hsihu Center, Formosa July 7, 1990 (Originally In Chinese)

People liked to listen to Jesus Christ speak. Jesus often used short stories to explain the Truth to the audience. The following is one of these stories.

Once there was a farmer who went out and sowed seeds to grow corn. As he was sowing, some seeds fell by the side of the road, and then birds came and ate them up. Some seeds fell upon stony places, and when the sun rose, they were scorched. Some seeds fell among thorns, and as the thorns sprung up and choked them, they couldn't grow big. Yet other seeds fell onto good and fertile ground and they began to germinate and gradually grew into stalks of corn.

Jesus Christ explained that this story was a metaphor for the teachings of God. Upon hearing God's teachings, some wicked people might obstruct the teachings and not let other people know them.

Some people might like to listen, but after a while when they experience difficulties and trails, they might lose their faith. These people believe in the teachings when they first hear them. However, after a period of time, they might feel that the worries in their daily lives or the feelings of the husband and wife or their families are more important than God's teachings. Therefore, when they are oppressed by their worries or bound by their feelings, they forget God's teachings.

However, some people are like the corn seeds that were sown on good and fertile soil. They clearly listen to and understand the teachings, develop the teachings that they have understood, and make the teachings a part of their lives. We know this by looking at how these people live, because they've made God's teachings a part of their daily lives. That is, when we look at their lives, we can tell whether they meditate or not; whether they keep the precepts or not, or whether they're enlightened or not. It's very clear and there's no need to explain much!

Many people have come for initiation and only a small percentage of them have lost their faith. Whatever I sowed has grown, and very few of them have fallen by the wayside and been eaten by birds, or very few have fallen on stony places and are unable to grow. Most of you grow quite well, while some of you grow slowly but are trying to grow. (Master and everyone laugh) You can't be seen since you're blocked by your taller, initiated brothers and sisters. Nevertheless, you still try to compare, "All my neighbors are taller than I am. (Master and everyone laugh) But that's okay! Some people who come after me are shorter than I am." So you just grow happily and slowly.

However, those who grow very slowly give me a lot of headaches. No matter how much I water them, they can't grow taller and hence make trouble for me. Sometimes I get fed up with them and then stop watering them. I say, "You just grow by yourselves!" (Master laughs) Some of you are like seeds that fall on stony places or by the wayside and are eaten by birds or dried up by the sun, unable to grow.

Similarly, upon hearing the teachings of God, our lay or monastic disciples sometimes understand right away. Their souls realize and their minds also suddenly understand. However, after a while, due to their carelessness or ignorance, the newly germinated sprouts will fall when blown by the wind or will dry up when the sun rises. Worldly worries and any suffering and trials are like the sun, the wind or the rain. If you aren't strong enough and don't grow up, you can't pass the trials.

Sometimes I'm very surprised to see that some people change their minds very quickly. Today they are very faithful, enthusiastic and have the ideal, but tomorrow they just go "Pu, Pu, Pu," (audience laughs) like a leaking balloon that is pierced by a needle. When a balloon is pierced by a small needle, it'll go "Tzz, Tzz, Tzz" and becomes very small. The balloon looks big originally. But since it's empty inside, when it's punctured by a needle, it'll go "Tzz, Tzz, Tzz" and disappear. If a big piece of bread is poked by a needle, it won't be affected.

Many people like to boast about big things. They talk about something before they actually do it. They criticize others for not being able to do it and boast that they can do such-and-such. However, as soon as they encounter obstacles, they just go "Tzz, Tzz, Tzz," like a leaking balloon. This surprises me sometimes!

Do you know why these people are like that? Because they've accumulated too many impressions in their previous lifetimes. Among them, there are too many bad seeds and very few good ones. This is just like the story that Jesus Christ told. Some seeds fall among thorns, so they're choked and can't grow. Even if they sprout a little, they can't compete with the thorns, so they just die!

As to our lay or monastic disciples or anyone who comes to get initiated by me and follow me, I treat them equally and give each one of them the same thing, just like a farmer who sows seeds with the same effort and the same expectation. However, some seeds can grow while some can't.

Here's another story about a farmer. This farmer cultivated his land and planted wheat. However, an enemy of the farmer destroyed his work. When the farmer and his family were sleeping one night, the enemy went to his land and sowed weed seeds without letting anyone know. When the weeds started to sprout and grow, the servants of the farmer came to ask him, "Should we remove the weeds?"

The farmer said, "No. You can't tell which are weeds and which are wheat plants. I'm afraid that you may root out both." He then said, "Just let them both grow until the time comes and we can root out the weeds and gather our harvest of wheat."

After Jesus finished telling this story, people left. Then His close disciples asked Him, "What does this story mean?" (Master laughs) The closest disciples understood Jesus "the best," and that's why they could ask such a "bright" question! Everyone else understood the story and went home! (Master and audience laugh)

Jesus Christ answered, "I'm the farmer and the field that I cultivate symbolizes the world! The good seeds are those who belong to God and believe in God and me. The weeds are the negative and satanic power that belong to the enemies of God."

Nevertheless, the time of harvest will come eventually. Although the two kinds of seeds grow together, look similar, and mix when they are just growing, it's no problem. When they all grow up, we can tell which is which."

After some thought, I think that our initiates or spiritual practitioners all look similar when they first start to practice. In the beginning, they don't feel its significance hence don't have much faith. They believe in the Master for one day and don't believe for three days. They're just like a mixture of one corn seed and three weed seeds. They follow the Master for one day and then follow the world for three days.

Today they want to become monastic disciples and follow me, but tomorrow they want to go home and get married or be with their parents, sons or other lovely debtors, et cetera. They're just pulled around and struggle hard inside. They don't listen to me but argue, "I believe in Master. Master is a saint. But anyway, I have to leave. (Master laughs) I'm going to do what I want to do. It is right only when I think by myself. I know how to take care of my life and know what I should do."

They're all like that. However, after a while, they'll regret it and come back again. But then they'll leave again and come back again, wasting a lot of time. However, after struggling for a while, they'll settle down and realize that we're different than worldly people who don't do spiritual practice. When they know this clearly, they'll become very stable, and then even lightning can't shake them.

If you read the magazine that was published in Tainan, you'll see an article about a person who isn't our initiate but does spiritual practice. Many people did spiritual practice in their previous lifetimes and also practice other methods in this lifetime. So they have some experiences. Not to say whether their experiences are the ultimate or not, they just have some experiences. One can have experiences if one's sincere.

So when that person read my books, he saw bright lights. And when he came to listen to my lecture, he saw many heavenly beings coming down onto the stage with me in the venue where I was lecturing. He also told an interesting story. He said that he noticed a big difference between those who were initiated and those who were not! Those who were initiated all had light, whether bright, dim or in different colors. (Master and audience laugh)

Why are you laughing? Do you think that those who aren't initiated have no light? They do! Some of them are brown or black colored (audience laughs). But only our initiates had light of different brightness and vibrations. We all had light, but some of those who were not initiated had no light at all. That was what that non-initiate person said and this happened in Tainan.

Although we look like ordinary people and are similar to them, our invisible power and invisible light are really different! I look no different than you, but some people say that I have tremendous power. For instance, yesterday, the Au Lac person who played the zither said that he couldn't sit too close to me, because he felt a great power, like a great electrical current, which was unbearable to him (but not to others).

There was a person in Penghu who did spiritual practice quite well, not just ordinarily. So he was very arrogant. He was never initiated by anyone and never listened to any discourses. When I went there, he knew it in advance and had seen my light. He liked it and then came to listen to my discourse.

One day, he told me, "Master, Your Power can kill!" I asked him why. He said, "There's a cloudy thing around You. When I come near you, it feels like it can kill and it's oppressive." I told him, "If you have no bad intentions, you won't have any problem. It's because you aren't pure." So the invisible power is protective! He could feel it because we two had different vibrational levels. If our vibrational levels had been similar, he wouldn't have felt anything.

When we people sit together, we feel comfortable. But what do we feel when we sit together with animals? For example, can you imagine sitting alone with goats, pigs, cows and chickens around you? You'd smell different things and the atmosphere would be different, too.

So if our spiritual practitioners truly practice the Quan Yin Method for a long time, we don't have big egos. When our levels are higher, our egos can't exist. Even if they did exist, we wouldn't feel how great we are. We look like other people. Gradually we'll know that we're different. However, we don't have anything to grasp, to prove, or to tell others. That's why in the Heart Sutra, it states, "There's nothing recognizable nor can we tell that we've attained the Truth."

When we meditate to a high level, we don't even have bodies, speech or thoughts. So how can our egos exist when our bodies don't exist? And how can we possess anything if our bodies do not exist? Therefore, it's not bad to practice this method. (Applause)

The more we practice, the less ego we have; the more we practice, the less we get. However, it's not that we don't get anything, but that we don't have anything to feel proud of. The more we practice, the more relaxed we become; the more we practice, the less burden we have; and the more we practice, the less we have to talk about. Those who don't practice much talk more, while those who practice more talk less. That's why Lao Tze said, "The one who has wisdom doesn't talk, while the one who talks doesn't have wisdom." Therefore, it's very safe to practice this Quan Yin Method. Besides, this method is very simple, not complicated.

Beyond The Moral Standards Two Stories About The Seeds Of Spiritual Practice

Supreme Art
Realization Through The Celestial Clothes By Fellow Sister Xiao Chao, Hong Kong

I remember Master once said that it is extremely difficult to teach us. Only now do I truly understand what She meant.

Several years back, I went to Italy to attend Master's Celestial Clothes Fashion Show. The models on the stage were as pretty as goddesses from heaven and I envied them. I thought that the Celestial Clothes looked right only on them and that Master was the only one who could bring out the special features of these clothes. Only recently did I realize that I had taken a far too narrow view in my analysis and only now have I come to better understand Master's loneliness.

When meditating one day, I got an inspiration that I must buy a Celestial outfit that I could wear at an upcoming retreat; my vision was so clear that I could pinpoint exactly which outfit I wanted. I asked a fellow sister to accompany me to the Celestial Clothes Boutique in Macao. In my heart, I was both excited and exulted, yet torn in half. Though I was eager to have that specific Celestial outfit, my financial condition was not at its best then. Therefore, I made no promises about making any purchases; conversely, I kept persuading the accompanying fellow sister to try on the clothes, because financially she was much better off than I was.

Eventually, she tried on an outfit, and when she walked out of the fitting room, I was stunned. She had always dressed up well and often bought expensive brands, but never had I been so impressed as I was that day. That particular Celestial outfit produced such a vast change in her demeanor and bearing that she looked like a noble lady of royal blood. Emotionally moved, I exclaimed: "Really beautiful! You must buy this outfit." She herself saw the wonder that the dress did to her, and went on to adorn herself with matching Celestial Jewelry. What a stunning beauty she became! I thought to myself: "She is really blessed." At the same time, I felt terrible about not having understood Master all this while. I had been totally unaware of all the noble and elegant things that She has given us; I had failed to appreciate Her love.

Later, we had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant run by another fellow sister, and decided to visit the boutique again. This sister had noticed how happy we were and thought she would join us. When we returned to the boutique, our earlier eagerness to try on the Celestial Clothes once again had worn off. Instead, we encouraged the sister from the restaurant to try some of the clothes on. She selected a straight-cut skirt. To our amazement, this normally stern-looking woman seemed to have taken off her mask and armor and turned into a lovely little angel. How strange that the dress originally designed as casual wear should appear as gorgeous as an evening gown on her! Overwhelmed by emotion yet again, I repeatedly apologized to Master in my heart: "How stupid I was! What a fool I was! How could I not have recognized the perfect works of art that You created to beautify the world. I've been praying to You to let me understand You and be one with You, yet I failed to see the treasures right before my eyes. How patient You have been in edifying a stupid disciple like me."

In the end, I did buy the Celestial outfit that I had longed for deep down in my heart. I have been overwhelmed by bliss ever since I came home yesterday, and I wish to share this joy with my fellow initiates.

Realization Through The Celestial Clothes

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