News Magazine NO.36

     To Love And Respect A True Master Is Worth More Than 
     Studying Any Doctrine(1,2)
     Group meditation in Indonesia and Australia,  
     and Questions and Answers after the lecture in Singapore 
     March 1/12 & March 8/9, 1993

     The More We Meditate, The Purer Our Mind Will Become
     Group meditation in Hong Kong
     June 26 / July 25 / August 29, 1993
 
     Parents Are The Greatest
     Group meditation in Hong Kong
     September 11, 1993

     Two - Day Retreat & Lecture During Mid-Autumn Festival
     Tien Shan Center in Hong Kong
     September 30, 1993 & October 1-3, 1993

      The Evening of “The World Spiritual
      Leadership Award” Ceremony (1, 2)
      Hyatt Hotel in Chicago, USA
      February 22, 1994

      The Mystery of The World Beyond
      The Lecture at the United Nations, USA
      June 26, 1992

      We can Not Have Peace, Until All is at Peace
      Lecture In Portland, Oregon, USA
      December 4, 1993

      You Are The Supreme Master 
      Lecture In Brisbane, Australia
      Mar. 20, 1993

      Leading The World Into A New Era
      Group Meditation In Hsihu Center, Formosa
      Apr. 10/May 8, 1992

      Let Peace Begin With Us
      Lecture In Penang, Malaysia
      Oct. 1, 1989

International Report

Report From Oregon

A Meeting Held In Support Of The Refugees

During the last few weeks, while our fellow practitioners collected signatures for a petition for the Au Lac refugees, they met Mr. Paul Duong Kinh who is the refugee programme coordinator for the city of Portland and co-chairman for the refugee forum of Oregon and S.W. Washington. With his help, recently they held a meeting with dozens of official from Immigration Offices, Police Departments and Refugee Support Organizations. Those attending the meeting received brief information from the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations, Oregon. They were shown the peaceful sit-in video and photos from Hong Kong and were also given other information concerning the truth about the Au Lac refugees issue. They also received free sample booklets and news magazines...

Our fellow practitioners then requested their support, with action as soon as possible in order to save the lives of the refugees in the camps. Everybody attending the meeting supported us and signed forms protesting the treatment of the refugees, and they also wrote to people who could be effective in helping the Au Lac refugees.

Report From Pennsylvania, USA

A Weekend Vegetarian Picnic

The Meditation Center in Pennsylvania held a vegetarian picnic during the Memorial Holiday weekend. The chosen location was the March Creek State Park, which had a beautiful view of the lake and mountains and was conveniently situated near Philadelphia.

All local initiates and would-be initiates were invited. Those from the New Jersey Center were also welcome. Besides providing plenty of vegetarian food, the Quan Yin messengers also taught the would-be initiates the Convenient Method. Other activities included boating, hiking in the forest, singing spiritual songs, and playing ball. Master's photographs, news magazines and sample booklets were also displayed. The outing concluded when all participants had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Report From Ohio, U.S.A.

A Spiritual Festival

In a "Health Exhibition" in Youngstown, Ohio, our fellow initiates had one of the twenty-five exhibition booths. Master's photographs, sample booklets, news magazines and the recent reports about Master's receiving "The World Spiritual Leadership Award" were all on display. In addition, a TV set was on site to play Master's video tapes. Master's booth was colorfully decorated with fresh roses, irises and daisies. Master's sweet and warm voice from the TV set attracted many people, especially, when "The Mystery Of The World Beyond" lectured at The United Nations was being shown. Hundreds of sample booklets were picked up by the Americans as they passed by. Many stopped to watch Master's video tapes. By noon, all sample booklets were gone. Many of those who didn't receive a booklet left their addresses, hoping the initiates would mail to them a copy.

Time was allocated for each exhibitor to present an introduction of the exhibit to the audience in a lecture room. Our fellow initiates presented the Quan Yin Method, which was the highlight of the exhibition.

Report From Portugal

Distributing Sample Booklets
In Major Cities Of The North And South

Fellow initiates drove to the major cities of Lisbon and Porto in north and south Portugal, distributing sample booklets to share Master's teachings and the Quan Yin Method with the Portuguese people.

Almost a hundred cases of sample booklets were despatched here from Formosa. Owing to the continuous heavy rain, it was estimated that the booklets could not all be distributed within a short period. However, due to Master's blessing, many visible and invisible Truth supporters helped us accomplish the assignment.

On the first day we were distributing the sample booklets in Porto, attracted by the beautifully printed sample booklets, the local residents fought for them. Some even took several copies to share with their friends and relatives. Curiosity aroused, they crowded around our fellow initiates asking about the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings. Many shopkeepers willingly offered to display the sample booklets at their places. Even the patrolling police constable helped us to move the booklets, fearing they might get wet by the rain. Having read the sample booklet, the owner of a shop delightfully joined our team, and even invited his daughter, who was looking after the shop, to distribute the sample booklets together!

When we were distributing the sample booklets in Lisbon, the capital, a group of wandering children repeatedly helped us with our work. They would recite loudly to the pedestrians “Ching Hai!” “Ching Hai!” and then thrust a sample booklet into their hands. A young street artist selling paintings at the city square, having read the sample booklet was deeply attracted by Master's teachings. Observing our fellows busily transporting and distributing books, he wanted very much to help. However, because his paintings being exhibited for sale were not sold out, he was unable to leave his stall. Master blessed him in the background! Within twenty minutes after he consulted our fellow practitioners about Master's teachings, a couple of people, mother and daughter, came by and bought all his exhibited paintings! This young artist immediately packed up, and invited his girl friend to join the work of our fellows, until midnight. Even more marvelous was that despite it had been raining heavily for many days, the weather that day was very fine. Only after we had transported the last few cases of booklets, about four o'clock the next morning, that a light shower began to fall. Master's arrangements are indeed meticulously perfect!

On the last day of the distribution, the rain was so heavy that we could only work at the exits of the Metro (subway), and we had to walk back and forth to make sure that the sample booklets displayed at the station and outside the shops were not soaked by the rain. When one of the fellow initiates returned to the Metro exit after an inspection, there was young married couple, whom they met yesterday outside the Metro, (vegetarians, Hari Krishna believers, selling incense and spiritual books,) cheerfully helping with the distribution, and introducing Master's teachings to the passers-by in Portuguese. After reading Master's sample booklet, they were certain that Master's teachings were identical to the Truth they believed. Therefore, they felt obliged to help our fellow practitioners in propagating the Truth. From this, we can see that Master's teachings and powerful love are the fastest and most effective tools in eliminating ethnic and religious separation. Throughout this trip in Portugal, fellow initiates deeply realized that we are always filled with internal and external harvest, by doing Master's work!

Report From Spain

Valencia - The Third Seminar
On The Quan Yin Method

While in Valencia, the Quan Yin messenger visited various religious groups like a Muslim center, a Lama center, the center of Tao Art, the Center of Bahaullah, the Yoga Center, Sukyo Mahl Kari and the Vegetarian Association etc. Apart from giving Master's books and sample booklets to their libraries, the Quan Yin messenger also introduced the Quan Yin Method and Master's teachings to the various groups. These local groups are very open minded. Most of them cordially invited our fellow initiates to join them in group meditation. They meditated together and exchanged experiences in spiritual practice. On May 6, the Valencia Vegetarian Association invited the Quan Yin messenger to their place to introduce the Quan Yin Method to the people there. They also offered an introductory meal of eastern and western styled vegetarian foods.

The attendance was overwhelming that day. Upon commencement of the seminar, an introductory speech was given by Mr. Jose Serra, the Chairman of the Vegetarian Association. He said that he fully agreed with Master upon studying Her teachings which are based on scientific and spiritual points of view, suggesting a vegetarian diet, teaching people to be pure in action, speech and thought, and to cultivate our inner wisdom. Consequently, he requested the Quan Yin messenger to impart in detail the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master to the members of the Association.

The video tape on Master's lecture was played after the speech, and the audience watched attentively. After that, there were questions raised by the audience. Most of them were specially interested in the Convenient Method and also inquired the difference between the Quan Yin Method and other Yoga methods of meditation. The Quan Yin messenger answered each person's inquiries.

After the question and answer session, both groups prepared eastern and western vegetarian dishes of which they tasted and exchanged opinions and techniques. The venue was beautifully decorated with the photos of Master, Master's paintings, longevity lamps and other of Her works of art. This enabled all the participants to enjoy Master's artistic works of truth, virtues and beauty, while also listening to Her teachings. The Seminar continued until 12:30 past midnight.

After the Seminar, Mr. Jose Serra and other key members expressed their wish to organize more of these seminars, and hoped they would be fortunate enough to invite Master to Valencia for a lecture, thus allowing more people in Spain to know the Quan Yin Method and the teachings of Master.

Report From England

The Grand Signature Campaign Of Love

In early May, the London branch center conducted a large scale activity of "The whole world sign to support and save the Au Lac refugees". Even some fellow practitioners from the Paris branch center came to help.

This extensive signature campaign was held consecutively for many days at the crowded subway exits in London and in downtown Oxford. There might be language barriers between the initiates from England and France, but their noble compassion within and the ideal to follow Master are the same. Initiates from the two countries would work overtime each night preparing the material for distribution and slogan banners to be used on the next day. They conducted the signature campaign in the day time with close cooperation. With ample preparation, big slogan banners being displayed, meditating on the spot, and the broadcasting of Master's holy psalms, all combined, gathered responses. More than three thousand people signed to support the Au Lac refugees in only these few days.

Interacting with society by approaching the public was a new approach for the fellow practitioners. Through this signature campaign, we could further carry out the giving of love, and had also learned many lessons which otherwise we would not have had the chance to learn in our daily meditation. For instance, the first time when we were rudely refused by people, our ego was hurt. However, after many repeated failures, the ego seemed to have subsided. And when we met a group of righteous and compassionate people, besides having respect for them, we also encouraged ourselves to practice more diligently to further nourish our courage and compassion.

In conclusion, through the course of these activities, supporting the Au Lac refugees, Master helped fellow disciples to mature, and provided ample opportunities for us to do the Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' work.

Report From Honduras

Department Chief Of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs For Asia Visits Our Center

Department Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Asia came to our meditation center to inquire about the Au Lac refugees situation. He was also interested in knowing more about Master's teachings, and our meditation center. Fellow initiates informed him of the facts about Hong Kong Government's persecution of the Au Lac refugees and Master's proposals to care for the refugees. The Chief stated that because of the information sent to them by the initiates concerning the refugees, they held a special meeting to discuss the subject of Au Lac refugees at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He soon became very interested in the group of Quan Yin practitioners and requested Master's sample booklet and news magazines to study further.

Report from Taipei, Formosa

Healthy Vegetarian Food Center Is Opened

For the benefit and convenience of fellow practitioners and the public to purchase pure and healthy vegetarian food, the Taipei center specially organized the Meditation Association's Healthy Vegetarian Food Center. The store, located next to circulation room on the 7th floor, is set up to promote vegetarian food. One thing worth mentioning, is that the location of this room at the Taipei center is on one of the higher floors of a building in the town center where traffic is heavy and transportation is convenient. Therefore, the huge eye-catching poster of Master which is hung on the outside wall benefits many passers-by who have affinity with Her.

With the sincere invitation of the Taipei initiates, Master specially squeezed in some time in early June to bless the place, making the newly established vegetarian food center and the expansion of the meditation area on the 8th floor bright and lively. Upon arrival, Master carefully inspected and read the ingredients listed on many of vegetarian foods displayed. She is most concerned about the health of the consumers. Master also commented on the elegant and neat decorations in the newly expanded 8th floor meditation area. Lastly, according to Chinese custom, Master blessed the center for prosperity.

In the future, besides purchasing spiritual books from the Taipei center, fellow initiates can also conveniently buy selected pure and healthy vegetarian food. The English class held at the branch center and the newly expanded meditation area also provides an additional services to our fellow initiates.

Report From Thailand

Master Meeting The Princess Of Thailand

On the afternoon of June 8, 1994 Master arrived at the Thai Royal Palace, and was personally greeted by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn. On behalf of the Palace, the princess accepted a donation of one million Thai Baht by Master, which was intended for planting trees and improving the living environment of the people. In a brief meeting, Master gave the queen and the princess each a longevity lamp as gifts. That evening, all the four television channels in the country reported Master's meeting with the princess.

Fellow initiates mentioned to Master that some village inhabitants in Thailand are living in poverty. They don't even have water to use. Master also knows that Princess Sirinthorn is very clever and virtuous, cares much about Her subjects, especially the poor, and is loved and supported by the whole country. Therefore, Master promised the princess that She would donate another million Thai Baht to help the destitute people.

Two days later, Master went to Penang, Malaysia. Initiates who came to welcome Master invited Her to visit the "Infinite Light Vegetarian Restaurant" run by local initiates. Master's sudden visit surprised everyone. They all dropped their work and came out to say hello to Her. In the excitement, the food they cooked tasted different than normal. Master shook Her head and joked, "I don't dare to come here in the future because you all got so nervous that you over-spiced the food."

Master only stayed for two days. Some initiates, even as far as Singapore, travelled by night rushing over to see Master. Some who lived further away had a much longer distance to travel. When they arrived and found that Master had already left, they burst into tears. Master's visit brought encouragement, harmony and togetherness to the initiates here.

Letter Between Master And Disciple

Mother Of All Souls

By Fellow Initiate Wang in Valencia, Spain

Dearest Master,

I miss You so much! You are the "Mother of my soul"! I am very grateful to Master as Her transformation body granted me initiation. I saw, with my wisdom eye, Master's transformation body sitting in front of me, Her forehead glowing with golden light. Knowing that Master's transformation body would always be within to take care of me, I felt so elated. On that day, a brand new page unfolded in my life. I began walking along a new path on my life's journey. Oh! Master! You have eliminated my deep-rooted ignorance and shed light upon my soul. I shall follow Your teachings and footsteps by practicing the Quan Yin Method in order to return to the source of life sooner, the home of all souls.

Many years ago, I already had thoughts of not wanting to return to this world in my next life, because I felt that being human was very tiresome. It was very agonizing to live in a world full of dishonesty and distrust. Although I had a hard-working and understanding husband, smart and obedient children, and faithful friends, deep down in my heart, I still felt extremely empty and lonely. In the silence of the night, I would often ask myself, "Why did I come to this world? What is the purpose of being alive?" The agony and sorrow of being human always surrounded me.

A short while ago, a relative of mine from Madrid accompanied a Quan Yin messenger to Valencia to spread Master's teachings and plant seeds of enlightenment. This stirred us inside a very strong response. Afterwards, I told the Quan Yin messenger, "I love Master, but I still can't commit myself to a full and lifelong vegetarian diet. After a few more years, I will definitely become vegetarian and follow Master's path." The Quan Yin messenger told me in all sincerity, "The world is very ephemeral and life is even more so. How do you know if you will still be alive today or tomorrow?" These words prompted me to do some profound thinking.

That afternoon, I had a vegetarian meal at my sister's house. In truth, I wasn't interested in vegetarian food at all. My elder sister said, "You had better eat vegetarian food for the whole day today. It will be good for you. I want to tell you that the Supreme Master Ching Hai is truly a living Buddha, a living Bodhisattva... the kind you may meet only once in thousands years." That night after I went hame, I ate meat immediately. I found that each piece of meat tasted bitter. My stomach felt swollen and oppressed, and my body became itchy all over. When I went to bed to sleep, I heard Master's loud and clear voice singing above my head "Praise the Buddha". A few days later, I told myself, "You want to be liberated from life and death, yet, you also want to continue to eat fish and meat. You can't have both. Forget it! Just be a vegetarian!"

In order not to allow myself any chance to change my mind, I immediately phoned my sister and the Quan Yin messenger in Madrid to inform them about my decision to become vegetarian. That night, I started reading Master's sample booklet. I was so fascinated and even intoxicated by it. By the time I finished another book, it was the next morning. I cancelled all outings and social events and stayed at home. During the next month, I carefully finished reading more than ten of Master's books, and watched dozens of video tapes. Master's exceptional teachings were like a spring breeze, cleansing layers of dirt accumulated for many lives. They liberated me from the troubled and anxious feelings of living in this world, answered all my questions, and removed doubts and obstructions about eternal liberation. I became peaceful and filled with infinite joy.

My longing for initiation became more and more earnest. Day and night, I would pray to the Inner Master to let me receive initiation as soon as possible. I often received blessings from Master as I practiced the Convenient Method each day. My feelings of appreciation and joy could not be expressed in words.

A few months later, the Quan Yin messenger gave us the initiation forms to fill out. I was very excited. I felt that I would finally get a chance to join the circle of sages. This feeling was new to me. I almost couldn't believe it would come true. I prayed to the Inner Master again and again, all the time. Shortly, I received an inner response, "You may be initiated." I almost jumped out of bed in ecstasy in anticipation of my formal initiation! Soon after, I really received my formal initiation.

Oh! Master! You are my Enlightened Master for all eternity! Sincerely,

a disciple in Valencia

Between Master And Disciple

When Master Came Back...

By Resident Nguyen In Hsihu, Miaoli, Formosa (Originally in English)

When Master came back, Miaoli came to life, the "meditation hall" that had been deserted for a long time became a model garden with colorful umbrellas, neatly cut trees and beautiful flowers...

When Master came back, disciples came by the thousands to welcome Her and listen to Her lectures. Hsi Hu turned from an empty place without visitors into an international fair with thousands of people of all ages gathering to meditate, eat, relax, and celebrate. The atmosphere was warm and joyous like a celebration from heaven with all the angels and fairies getting together to savor the "peaches of heaven" which only come out once every two thousand years...

When Master came back, the nectar river started flowing, the water was cheering day and night, the waves were splashing against the rocks, the birds were singing to join in the big celebration...

When Master came back, Hsi Hu suddenly became a holy place of pilgrimage for people all over the world, from America and Canada where the land is vast and boundless causing the soul to open in unison with the universe, from bustling cities in Europe where the atmosphere is always cheerful and the streets are always full of people, from the far and cold Northeastern Europe, where temperature is 40 below zero, to the Southeast Asian countries where the climate is always hot and humid. Everyone flew in to find the blessings from God, to experience once again the echo of a long lost paradise, and to meet the brothers and sisters who came from the same source, a long time ago, but had lost touch with each other for thousands of years and were now residing as little human species in all corners of planet Earth...

When Master came back, even for just a short moment, Her return had brought overflowing happiness, like a sweet shower during a long drought, like a gentle breeze coming unexpectedly during a hot summer afternoon...

When Master came back...

Media Report

Inside The World Magazine, Korea (Originally in Korean) June,1994

The Supreme Master Ching Hai
Makes A Campaign To Rescue Fifty Thousand Au Lac Refugees

If You Realized The Truth, You Can Hear God's Language

The Supreme Master Ching Hai being interviewed.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai who says "whoever sincerely practices and meditates will be saved and liberated" visited Korea for the third time during Her world lecturing tours in order to preach the Truth. The Supreme Master Ching Hai visited Korea to inspire the International Publics feelings for rescuing the Au Lac boat people, as well as have a meeting with Her disciples who practice Quan Yin Method.

During those few days, the Supreme Master Ching Hai was visited by VIPs from the world of politics and academic circles. She asked them to help fifty thousand Au Lac refugees, being housed in Asian countries, such as in Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines and Japan, not to be forcefully sent back to their country.

The Headquarter of the International Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Associations is in Formosa, with centers in about 50 other countries, some of which are USA, Korea, Japan, Germany, and so on.

In Korea, there are 6 centers in Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, In-Chion, Taejon and Chyuan Chou, with over two thousand practitioners.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai, who tours to all countries, holding lectures, preaching the Truth. The messages which She wants to tell human beings is not a kind of specific religious teaching.

She wants to rightly preach goodness and the Inner Sound of God, which is inside ourselves. The Supreme Master Ching Hai's spiritual teachings are that everybody has Christ and Buddha Nature inside them. People don't realize this wonderful truth due to their ignorance; therefore, if everyone sincerely meditates and has a pure mind, this world would then be in harmony like heaven.

Even though She was so busy in Seoul, She gave us an opportunity to have an interview.

In the refugee camps of many Asian countries, about 50,000 asylum seekers who fled from Au Lac are being tortured by illnesses and hunger. Recently, they are feeling even more unrest because of their imminent forced repatriation to Au Lac.

Q: I heard You visit many countries for lecturing. By the way, according to foreign reports, this lecture has a special meaning. M: This visit to Korea is the third. Through this visit I want Koreans to help the refugees. On the way to USA, I'm visiting Korea because I want to satisfy the sincere fellow practitioners here. Now, after the Au Lac War, there are fifty thousand Au Lac refugees in Asia. They can't bear the Communist's oppression, so they escaped from their own country. However, several countries are forcefully repatriating them to Au Lac. If so, many people will suffer severely. They protest against forced repatriation and even commit suicide. The number of people committing suicide increases more and more. They think it's the same, whether they die in Au Lac or die in refugee camps.

Q: I know the countries which have the boat people have lots of difficulties. That is to say, economic difficulties, job problems, race trouble, and so on. Several complicated troubles occur in their countries. M: Yes. There are those difficulties, but 19 years have passed since they escaped. Therefore, if they go back to their own country, they have no place to settle and have no jobs. In addition, because they escaped from Au Lac, they are designated as a group of people who threaten the government and they are always observed with social discrimination. Due to this, several countries which hold Au Lac refugees shouldn't forcibly repatriate them.

If some of refugees want to go back, several countries have to help them go. If not, they have to help them live here.

Q: Au Lac is a newly developing country, and it follows the open policy of the free market, so it is developing very rapidly amidst other Asia countries. Therefore, is it better for refugees to go back to their country than to suffer in refugee's camps. M: No. It is a misunderstanding that Au Lac has freedom. Their policy has never been changed, comparing with before. They treat foreigners freely, but they treat the Au Lac people differently and sometimes very strictly. Therefore, if they go back, they will suffer. Also, I hope Korea actively participates in this movement.

Q: Dear Supreme Master Ching Hai. You are delivering the words of Truth to many people. However, some of them cannot understand what You preach. Is Your idea based on any special religions? M: I don't belong to Buddhism or Catholicism. I belong to the Truth and I preach the Truth. You may call it Buddhism, Catholicism, Taoism, or whatever you like. I welcome all! By attaining inner peace we will attain everything else. All the satisfaction, all the fulfillment of worldly and heavenly desires, come from the Kingdom of God - the inner realization of our eternal harmony, of our eternal wisdom, and of our almighty power. If we do not get these, we will never find satisfaction, no matter how much money or power, how high position we have.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai travels all over the world teaching people.

Her lectures are meant for those who have forgotten how to get in touch with God's language with one's wisdom eye and with one's inner ear.

Our teaching is that whatever you have to do in this world, do it wholeheartedly, be responsible... and also meditate everyday. You will get more knowledge, more wisdom, more peace, in order to serve yourself and serve the world. Do not forget that you have your own goodness inside you... do not forget that God lives within your body, and do not forget that Buddha lives within your heart.

Q: How can people get enlightenment and the Truth which You have achieved? M: Find out a method and be initiated by the Master who has the experience of complete enlightenment. We must keep a vegetarian diet and the precepts that the lives of any sentient beings should not be taken in order to further the development of enlightenment.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai's book: "The Key of Immediate Enlightenment", explains the five precepts like these:

1. Do not kill.
2. Do not tell lies.
3. Do not steal.
4. Do not commit adultery.
5. Do not take any intoxicants.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai enlightens thousands of people around the world, and Her lectures make mankind, who have forgotten God's language, awaken and listen to it.

Q: Dear Supreme Master Ching Hai, how do You arrange for delivering God's word and where do funds needed for Your international activities come from? M: My disciples from more than two hundred centers over the world always wish to share the good news about enlightenment with fellow practitioners in the world. Besides, for the people who really want to know the Truth, they invite me to do a world lecturing tour.(Funds mostly come from Master's own savings).

Q: Please tell me about Your life and practice until now. M: I was born in Au Lac, got married to a German doctor, and led a happy life. However, working at the Red Cross, I came to know the fact that there are so many suffering people in the world. Therefore, I wanted to do whatever for those people. Then I left to search for enlightenment. After wandering around in the Himalaya Mountains for a while with only two sets of clothes and a sleeping bag, God finally blessed me with enlightenment.

Q: What's Your enlightenment?
M: It's the inner peace and blessing which follows after enlightenment. There is an excellent language, more than any language of the world; this is God's language. But the longer we live in this world, the more we gradually forget God's language, because we have no chance to use God's language, and also have no person to share that wisdom with. That is the very reason why we forget our origin, because we forget how to communicate with God by using God's language. Therefore if we get enlightened, we can listen to God's words.

Liberty Times, Formosa

May 25, 1994 (Special interview by Reporter Loh Pi)

The Supreme Master Ching Hai Doesn't Want To Be An Adorable Idol She Regards Herself As An Ordinary Person

With Only One Aim Of Eliminating Sentient Beings' Sufferings

Unable to bear the Au Lac refugees' hardship and destitute situation, the life loving Supreme Master Ching Hai recently came to Formosa to appeal to the Government to accept them. At the same time, She and Her followers organized and carried out a large, peaceful seven-day meditation activity in Taipei, praying for international human rights and world peace.

The Au Lac refugees regard the Supreme Master Ching Hai as their "guardian angel", and Her disciples believe Her to be the reincarnation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, having all this Budhisattva's qualities and virtues.
Yesterday, when the Supreme Master Ching Hai, with dark shoulder-length hair, wearing a white suit, appeared at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, it immediately stirred great emotion among Her more than 4,000 disciples who first warmly applauded, then put their palms together and greeted loudly, "How are You, Master?" The Supreme Master Ching Hai returned the gesture and greeting with a kind and gentle smile; it was a warm and touching scene.

People had once suspected the Supreme Master Ching Hai of using the initiation into the Quan Yin Method as a way of secretly hypnotising Her disciples to captivate their hearts and minds. Even during their meditation, Her image continually appeared in their minds... She has been criticized for this.

When reporters queried the Supreme Master Ching Hai on these suspicions, the Master replied, "'Initiation' and 'hypnotism' are different. 'Initiation' is the response of our Buddha - nature. During the 'initiation', the disciples' minds are very clear and the disciples can differentiate between right and wrong; and the Master can perform the initiation without being physically present. 'Hypnotism' is different; it must be performed face-to-face; and the one who is hypnotised completely cannot control himself." Those outsiders, who don't understand the Supreme Master Ching Hai, will have such suspicions. Master Ching Hai can't help it nor does She pay any attention to this.

Those who sincerely listen to Master Ching Hai's lectures will discover that Her lectures and initiation are very special. As She was born in Au Lac, She is therefore not so fluent in Chinese, Her grammar and phrases are all very simple and plain, and totally spontaneous. She always bring a book or a notebook of memos with Her. Her audience all love the way She lectures.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai sees that Her disciples are so respectful and obedient towards Her mainly because they - Master and disciples - have an inner bond and a kind and honest love between them. Moreover, all that She teaches and does benefits them; naturally, Her disciples feel and appreciate this.

At the same time, the Supreme Master Ching Hai also emphasizes that She and Her disciples always keep to just a 'learning' relationship. They also often test Her patience. She does not want to be treated as an adorable idol; therefore, She only accepts Her disciples' closed-palm greetings, but does not want them to kneel and pray to Her personally. Besides, there are disciples who always wear and keep Her photos often attached to decorative ornaments, they are just like youngsters who idolize film stars. Master Ching Hai smilingly says, “This is perhaps because they like me.” But She does not feel that She is a movie star. She even jokingly says that a movie star can earn a lot of money! She immediately says that She is actually very ordinary, small statured and not very beautiful; She is only thinking of trying Her best to help sentient beings to eliminate their anxieties, to broaden their wisdom, to do more charitable work, to bring about prosperity and strength to any nation, to help people to feel safe and secure, and to help in the early arrival of world peace.

Regarding Her concern about the Au Lac refugee issue, what if, finally, nothing can be done about it? The Supreme Master Ching Hai calmly says, "Let God's will be done." But She also emphasizes that no country can always be wealthy and strong; if the positions are reversed, would we not also hope that other countries would help us? She also points out that good country leaders should treat the worlds' citizens as their own children, and be rulers of the whole peaceful world and not only of their own countries.

Liberty Times May 24, 1994

The Supreme Master Ching Hai - Cares For Life

The "Mother Of Refugees" Wearing A Shining Necklace, Jewellery and Make-up Causes Arguments, Also Praised For Helping Refugees worldwide Round The Clock.

[Special Report by Reporter Loh Pi] Among the existing religious leaders in this world, the Supreme Master Ching Hai - with Her unique style is unquestionably one who deeply loves peace and emphasizes human rights. In order to save the lives of refugees, She flies from one country to another to appeal to the local governments about how to settle the refugee issue and even promises to take full responsibility for the refugees' daily life affairs. This is done, because She does not want anything tragic to happen to the refugees, who will even forsake their lives for freedom. The Supreme Master Ching Hai states that only when human beings really show their true love and sincerity to others, then the entire global atmosphere of unrest can be resolved. She not only cares about human beings but also shows deep concern for animals' lives. That is the reason why She has laid down the five precepts as essential conditions for those who want to be Her disciples. The five precepts are as follows:

1. No killing;
2. No adultery;
3. No intoxicants - no alcohol or liquor;
4. No stealing - no taking of things that do not belong to you;
5. No telling of lies.

   She will initiate and accept anyone as Her disciple, regardless of their belief, as long as they can keep these five precepts. The Supreme Master Ching Hai thinks that no matter what religion we believe in, they all lead to the same inner Truth and also the same Supreme power. Churches and temples are symbols of our inner heaven and they are built to remind us that we have our inner church and temple.

   The Supreme Master Ching Hai teaches the "Quan Yin Method" which is a method of spiritual cultivation. Nevertheless, it is generally not accepted by some so-called Buddhists. Also, by wearing beautiful ornaments, jewellery and make-up, She has been criticized by those of other religions. Referring to this point, the Supreme Master Ching Hai admits frankly that, in the past, She too had thought that those who are enlightened should wear tattered clothes and She had also previously criticized those who dressed beautifully. And now, God "punishes" Her by making Her wear beautiful clothes; She claims to have no choice but to obey God's wishes.

   The Supreme Master Ching Hai says, "we have already been living in a poor and miserable condition for a very, very long time; and now, we should be able to enjoy something that is noble and glorious - like those of the royal family with a high quality lifestyle. In this way, everyone can become more refined, noble and beautiful - just like the ancient kings and queens whose nobility and virtues are comparable to the gods."

   The Supreme Master Ching Hai, originally from Au Lac, is multi-lingual, speaking Mandarin, Au Lac language, English, French and German. She was once a translator for the Red Cross in Germany. She is also multi-talented and can play the piano and harp, compose music, and even design clothes. Her paintings have been praised by world-renowned artists and were exhibited recently at the Asiaworld Plaza Hotel in Taipei.

   Apart from these, the Supreme Master Ching Hai has also helped flood, fire and earthquake victims as well as the refugees of Thailand, Au Lac, Mainland China, the Philippines, France, Belgium, Holland, Formosa and other countries.

   ---

   The Times Magazine Biweekly, Formosa

   (Article by our editor Qi Wen Fen)

   She Is Good At Convincing You To Believe In Her Method!

   The Legend Of The Supreme Master Ching Hai

        What type of person is She?
        Each time She appears, thou-          
        sands of people flock to see Her!
        When donating to charities, 
        She could easily contribute millions of U.S. dollars!
   
   

   Went to church in the morning, temples in the afternoon, and read scriptures in the evening. There is nothing unusual about Her past, but our knowledge of it is also limited. We only know that She was born to a well off family in Au Lac. Her father was a naturopath, and Her family were pious Catholics, yet She developed a habit of going to the church in the morning, attending temples in the afternoon, and reading scriptures in the evening. That was one thing uncommon to others when She was young.

   At eighteen, She went to study in England, and often travelled abroad. During this time, She nourished Her knowledge, and learned many languages, inclung French, German, English, etc. More important, She married a German.

   However, from then on, Her exceptional life had begun. Most incredibly, She was enlightened instantly, and decided to leave home, practicing in the seclusion of the Himalayas. There She met a hermit sage who "illuminated" Her even more.

   From then on, She has had no fixed abode, but there is always a large group of people following Her. Although we don't know Her mundane name, the Supreme Master Ching Hai is much sought after by many people. Yes, this most legendary person is the Supreme Master Ching Hai.

   Appearing At The Chiang Kai-shek Airport, Thousands Come To Greet Her

   The legend of the Supreme Master Ching Hai did not start from Her past, but from when She became monastically devoted. Although born in Au Lac, Her disciples come from all over the world amounting to tens of thousands, who will listen attentively when She utters a word, and believe Her teachings without the least of a doubt.

   Recently, invited by the International Federation for Human Rights and the World Cultural Communication Association, the Master came to Formosa. When She appeared at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, a spectacular crowd was attracted. There was a continuous calling of "Master, I love You!" which alerted people not to neglect this seemingly feeble "little woman".

   Look at this fact: On April 7, 1994 the Hong Kong Police and Correctional Services Department suppressed the Au Lac refugees with a combined force of three thousand armed riot police, helicopters, patrol boats and two tanks. In spite of this, they also fired 557 tear gas grenades in the raid on the Whitehead Detention Center. The international media did not call attention to this incident, but treated it lightly. After the incident, thousands of people summoned by the Supreme Master Ching Hai, swarmed outside the Whitehead Camp and held a sit-in. Thus, the Hong Kong Government and all other facets of the society were forced to admit to the serious nature of the incident.

   What "power" does the Supreme Master Ching Hai possess, that so many people follow Her so willingly?

   Basically, the Supreme Master Ching Hai teachings can not be classified as a religion. What they believe in is the spiritual practice of the Truth. Their teachings include discourses from the Bible, Muslim scriptures and even Buddhist principles. It is rather difficult to label them as a religion, but the Supreme Master Ching Hai is definitely empowered with exceptional Heavenly ability.

   Besides, She is very enthusiastic in aiding the refugees of the world, the Vietnamese refugees in particular. Summing up, the projects of Her disaster relief activities, in addition to Au Lac, northern Thailand and mainland China, also included are Belgium, Malaysia, England, Holland, France...more than twenty countries. The enormous relief fund amounted to billions of NT dollars.

   Even then, in the view of the common Buddhists, the Supreme Master Ching Hai is still a controversial person because of the dissimilarities between Her "group" and other religious groups, and Her unique personal demeanor.

   Disaster Relief Fund Amounting To Billions NT Dollars

   After She became a nun, the Supreme Master seldom mentioned Her past. Her name Ching Hai was given to Her when She devoted to practice. The title Supreme Master was respectfully proclaimed by those following Her to practice the Quan Yin Method, wishing to get enlightenment and be liberated from the transmigration of life and death. She is also often refered to, by Her foreign friends, as the "Living Buddha" or the "Compassionate Saint".

   When She first became a nun, the Supreme Master Ching Hai looked very simple and austere, with Her shaved head. Later, She felt that outer appearances are not that important, so She let Her hair grow. When attending ceremonious occasions, She would even put on the appropriate splendid costume. This is exactly why She is criticized by other people. Chinese Buddhists like the Long Chan Temple, etc., expressed their views to the Supreme Master with statements like "It is not appropriate for us to make any comment on Her." or "We belong to two entirely different systems, so we are not in a position to answer this question."

   Regarding Her diet, the Supreme Master Ching Hai insists on principle of vegetarianism for life. As to Her abode, She has no permanent residence because She is always busy travelling the world. In Hong Kong, She lives in an orchard somewhere in Satin. Her place was built around a cave, the remnants of a demolished cattle shed. It very much resembles a "fairy's cave".

   However, most people have noticed the efforts that the Supreme Master Ching Hai has given for Human rights all over the world. Legislator Lin Cheng Chieh is one of the many who truly praise Her achievements in this work.

   No Permanent Abode, Living In An Orchard Or A Cattle Shed, She Is A Sacred And Inviolable "Person" To Her Believers

   In fact, to all Her believers, the Supreme Master Ching Hai is a sacred and inviolable "person", because they are most capable of experiencing and understanding the "power" of the Supreme Master. Therefore, whenever the Supreme Master Ching Hai appears, they would shout emotionally, "Master, I love You!" They carefully esteem Her every word. Nonetheless, it is difficult for ordinary people to understand. Especially when the Supreme Master appears "magnificently", all they have in their mind is a chain of question marks.

   In the eyes of the governments of many nations, and the Hong Kong Government in particular, is a startling impression of an incredible appealing delicate "little woman", the Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Master Says

The Great Fearless Spirit

Spoken by the Supreme Master Ching Hai to the worldwide contact persons
During the International Seven-Day Retreat in Taipei, Formosa May 23, 1994 (Originally in English)

Make Big Goals For Ourselves

All I want is to teach you to be a great person, and you don't want it; you just want to be small. You have to expect big! And then, whatever left over, maybe it's enough. If you expect small, nothing there left. You have to expect yourself to be a president, and then maybe left over, you are at least a minister or something. Otherwise, if you expect yourself to be a chief of the police and then maybe you end up to be a taxi driver, or just a small sergeant in the army. You understand? ("Yes, Master.") Make a big goal, and if you can not do it, you don't lose anything.

Always kneeling around and expecting crumbs, and then? Beg for food. If you want to live your life like that I'm sorry for you, but I don't want to accept you. You have to represent me, represent the lofty idea of fearlessness. You don't have to fear me, you must love me only. Respect me but not fear. Fear is terrible. Fear paralyzes you, you can not do anything when you fear, understand? (Yes.)

But you know I won't kill you, you know I'm not terrible, so what is the reason for fear? The more you do like this, the more I have to pick on you, make you stand up, make you realize that you are terrible. You are too weak. You are harming yourself. Some centers are dragging around and having troubles and division, because you are too weak. All of you can not do anything. I appoint you to be my representative there and you don't use your power. You don't know how to act. You run around with everybody else's idea. Democracy is not like that. Democracy means we respect everybody; but the intelligent one must also make a choice, and the one who has authority must exercise it for the sake of everybody. Not that we use our authority to harm anybody, to do anything bad for the group but if it is something right, you have to make a firm stand, and make people understand.

Of course the contact person is not a boss over there, but if something you cannot solve, you can always write to me. Do not just give in to everybody, everybody just wants to be the boss; of course, everybody is like that, anywhere. But you can not have too many things, with too many persons and too many ideas - sometimes garbage ideas, and then you still respect it and want to use it. And then it's a big ruin. Ah. (Sigh) I have asked you to come up in case you,... I wanted you to help me with something. But when I see this kind of attitude, I don't know if you can really help me. I've already lost my inspiration.

Normally when somebody has been a contact person, then I would not change it, because mostly people are the same. Just to contact people... But when you're on the job for too long time, then you must learn also from experience - how to carry out the job more efficiently. Not just hang around there and have a name printed on the book and doing nothing.

If somebody is good in practice, he is not too good in social relations. And when he is very good in meditation he has no eloquence, or sometimes not a kind of public personality. So there are always problems. It's alright when we only meditate, like the old times, and don't worry about other peoples' suffering and need. But when we have to do some also social service, then we really need talented person, not just a good practitioner.

Develop Our Many Talents

All of you have good qualities; that is no doubt. Some are very sweet, some are very quick, some are very enthusiastic, some are very kind hearted, some are very devoted to a good cause. Every of you have something that perhaps I don't have. Or perhaps every of you have something more than I have. But because you don't have everything, you just have one thing, or two things. That's why it is difficult for me to make use, that's why we need so many, and only one Master. Or we try very hard to make use of whatever we have, okay? But sometimes you make more trouble for me than help. But nevertheless we just... because I respect you as practitioners not as social workers or heros or revolutionists or anything like that. Therefore we still have to put up with each other, otherwise it is very difficult that you can help me in anyway at all.

That's why many things I do, I do it alone. And many things I do, most of you don't know. Only a few next to me know. And some people who have anything to do with that, know, otherwise, most of the disciples don't know what I'm doing. You only know something. Yeah maybe, Costa Rica knows a corner, America knows another corner, or France knows another corner. But, in the whole, you can not know everything. Even then, sometimes, you make more trouble than help, but I hope you learn day by day at least to progress yourself. Even if my work fails at least you don't fail yourself, and you will develop further. Actually, a contact person must be a very good one. But up till now we just chose the first one. Like, for example, he was the first one who campaigned, and nobody else, or the one who introduced the Quan Yin Method to that group, or to that village, or to that country, and okay we also picked him.

Or sometimes I pick some good one, if there is one. Do not have an illusion that good people are all over places, and that every Master's disciples is a good person. He is good, yes good, meaning good heart, yeah, good mind, and very pure and clean, fine; but it doesn't mean he is good in everything. He is good for himself, yeah, at least. At least when he does things for himself and then he can not do it, then he prays to Master and then he can do it, fine, then at least he can help himself. But, he does not always possess the capacity to deal with the international environment, and people, and this is the problem why many of my humanitarian work has been delayed because I'm working almost alone. It's not that you don't want to help me. All of you want to help me. I believe, sincerely you all want to help me, but I also sincerely don't know how to use you. (Laughter)

When I go on lecture or when I go group meditation, at that time you can do, you can talk to people, you can tell them to come; but that's about all, not much else you can do. Or when I tell you to go rescue some of a disaster area, okay. “Here is three hundred thousand dollars. You go and buy goods.” Yeah, then you can go buy, and buy very cheap. That's very good - You know where to buy cheap things. Because maybe you do shopping everyday. That you know better than I do, yeah, sure, yes. If I go probably I buy more expensive things. I don't know where is the wholesale, but you know everywhere, especially the wholesale. Probably you know better - these kinds of things - and then you are very quick, efficient and very, very loving... lovingly do. That I appreciate.

Utilizing Our Opened Wisdom

Properly To Serve The World

But then this, there are so many things I don't know how to ask you for your help. Like the refugee problem, really. If I ask you to come to Hong Kong and meditate, to do meditation, to protest, then you do right away. There is nothing I ask that you don't do. That I know. I appreciate that, but you have to learn also, to have your own initiative, to decide what is good, for that moment. You see, it might not be good tomorrow again. So you have to be decisive and use your wisdom that is already opened. Otherwise you already opened your wisdom but you always listen to your habit.

Like, "oh, last year I didn't do that," or "my mother never did that," or, you know, "I never see anybody do that." And then you don't do it. You know what I mean? That's why we learn so slowly. You have no daring initiative. Even though your wisdom tells you to do this, you say "Oh my mother will scold me. My mother will tell you not do that" or "I've never seen anybody do this before, I can not do it!" This is your habit, thinking. And that's why we have to meditate more and analyze more; using the mind, instead of letting the mind use you. You have to tell your mind, "That is different now."

You have to reprogram your thinking and reorganize your reaction. Otherwise, you have wisdom, you have blessing from Master, you have power to act for success, but you always step back and worry. Because of your habit, you think you cannot do that. Some of our disciples are still like that. For example, last time Hong Kong... everybody wrote a humanitarian letter, to send to Hong Kong Government, but the Hong Kong didn't write. Said “Oh no! No, we can not offend Hong Kong Government.” Things like that. They are brainwashed by some of the false information that some of the political people want to spread around to get the support from the people, so that they can get together and abuse the handful of the Au Lac refugees, because just want to get rid of them. And so even the disciples, they also go with the strong. You know, and suppress the weak.

Because actually, if we take care of the Au Lac refugees issues we go against 74 nations and other dozens sympathetic nations. We go nearly against the whole world. And the rest are only like communist countries which do not count already, or under developed countries, have no idea what's happening, or isolated tribes and all that. So it does not counting anymore. So actually when we do this, we go against the whole world, nearly the whole world. Therefore, nobody wants to do it. That's for sure. But why should we worry, why should we be afraid of the whole world if we are right? We are only afraid of one person even if we are wrong. But if we are right, even the whole universe, we are not afraid. Is that not so? (Yes!) Otherwise, what is the use of talking big, and being Bodhisattvas, and this saint and that sage, what is the use?

Extraterrestrials Suffering On Earth

I have read one story about the aliens, extraterrestrials, the good ones, who have been mistakenly captured by some of the powerful nations; sometimes in America. And then they froze them. They did not kill them, just took their blood out and froze them. Because they wanted to extract some information for technical advancement, and these people don't speak. These aliens don't speak. So they froze them,... so like that, in this case you are not dead and you're not alive. You know, you hang around in the frozen atmosphere and you can't let your soul go out of the body because you are not yet dead, officially, or your time has not come. So they just hang around in this frozen feeling. And they know full well that the injection will make them suffer but they still undergo, quietly, in order to keep the secret of the universe.

Because they believe that the human kind of this earth are not yet sufficiently sophisticated, not yet sufficiently virtuous enough, to handle this technical information. Giving it to them, they might do harm to themselves and to the universe. So they have to keep quiet. So the earth people punish them, freeze them alive. So they can not move, but they cannot die. So this kind of situation, fine, okay, this is the part of the ignorant earth people,... and then a part of the aliens is even worse. They do nothing about it. They just beg the earth people release their brothers and sisters and the information is very difficult to come through, first, second, they say they can not break the vow of non interference of this world.

Master Lectures The Extraterrestrials

"I catch hold of any of you, I'll "beat" you, and scold you and make you kneel all day long until you go rescue your brothers." I am here, helpless because I don't have UFO, I don't have machine gun which can freeze people for one or two minutes, I can have nothing of this technique. Therefore I can not rescue your brothers.

And here you send a message saying that if we know, we may be able to rescue your brothers and sisters. Everything you could do it, because I say you have everything! You have UFO, you have gun, not shooting people dead but to freeze people in space for one or two minutes, then you can take your brothers out. Instead you let them suffer there and then you even send messages to say maybe if I know, or She knows, or everyone else knows about this message maybe one day we can help your brother and sister.

We have enough work to do in this world and you help nothing, and you want us even to help your brothers and sisters. I'd willingly help them, because I feel so much suffering when I read that. You know, when I read the extraterrestrial people suffer, I suffer too. But, I say why don't you do something, you know? This is not interference. If you come here, invade our earth or shoot other people or do something, then they would say interference, and then you swear you didn't interfere. That I understand, fine. But your brothers and sisters who suffer so much, for years and you do nothing about it. And you say you fear of the law of karma and non interference and all that. And your brothers and sisters suffering there, and then you talk big and you do this and that and protecting the earth and all that kind of...

I said it is bad enough that the world people, because of ignorance, they don't know it, therefore they harm your brothers and sisters. But you are the ones who know, you should do better, you shouldn't let your brother and sister suffer in the hands of the ignorant! Suppose the tiger takes hold of my brother. Okay, I don't kill the tiger because of my vow of non violence, fine, but I can make the tiger faint for two minutes and take my brother out... I can not sit there and reason to the tiger, look here the five precepts, look the vegetarian diet the Master Ching Hai tells everybody have keep etc... How can you reason with a tiger, you understand? The world people are very, very ignorant, therefore they do that kind of thing. Now, you already know they are ignorant and you reason with them, until when, and let your brothers and sisters suffer. I cannot believe it!

Compassion Is Different From Weakness

In the beginning, I thought maybe they would come and help us also, but when I see this kind of stupidity I say you should go home and learn something more before you come here and try to help us. I think you should help yourself first, know what is interference and what is the flexibility of spirit in order to work in different situations and different circumstances, right? Not interfering doesn't mean you can not help your brothers and sisters out. If they help them they don't have to touch anybody. They just do it technically or using intelligence. They can do it, they know everything, they know where their brothers and sisters are, I don't. What is the use of letting me know this? Okay, I come and to talk to President Clinton about it, or what? What happens if he doesn't listen to me, right?

And the President Clinton, for example only, can not even interfere with the armies rule. They have their own set of rules, they have their secret work. Even many presidents don't know what they are doing. Nobody is supposed to know. And not every president has the perfect security clearance, that allows them to come inside military base. Ordinary people can not come in, only the perfectly screened, that oh he's good, he had no background with C.I.A., no F.B.A., no K.G.B. or whatever is that, or nothing - no drugs, no alcohol, no blah, blah, blah, blah, blah or maybe vegetarian and meditation two and a half hour, I don't know. Completely clean, then can go inside the... not all the presidents have this clearance. They have different levels of clearance, you see.

So you see, this is weakness, this is not compassion, it is not honor that you keep your promise, but stupidity and weakness in this case. You cannot kneel there and beg the tiger to have compassion with your brothers and sisters, just do something about it! Don't have to harm the tiger, but if you can rescue your brother without harming the tiger, it's so much better. But even if you have to sacrifice one or two tigers to help your human brothers then do it, for God's sake. Even if you have karma for yourself, so what, for example like that. Suppose that's what they believe. If we think that, okay, never mind, if the tiger eats my brothers and they will go to the Buddha's land, then it's fine with me, you know? But don't go around, boast around that because we are non violent people we can not do anything to the tiger. So, can you please do it? Asking somebody else to do things that you do not want to do when you are in a much better position and have more equipped ability to do it, this is stupidity and weakness.

Protect Human Rights

Why do I talk about this? What was it before? Oh yes, the Hong Kong disciples. And so, I was so sad. I didn't say anything. I just asked a few representing ones. I didn't ask all of them yet. But I thought they worked together all the time, they should know what the trend is. And sometimes when I talk to other people also, they also have the tendency to think that the government is right. How can it be right when it uses violence against unarmed and harmless people? It is not according to human amnesty and human rights, it is against international law to even detain people in such kind of prison - like conditions.

But the people in prison, they have even their own bed. They don't have that terrible condition, not cramped and crowded; one bed small like this and two persons, and all square. Everything, eat there, sleep there, anything else is there, children and... all together in a small bed. And then upstairs there is another one or two beds and upstairs is a metal sheet of roofing and not trees and nothing around. The prisoners, they have a better condition; they have library, they have workshop, they can earn money in the prison. Yeah, they have volleyball, football courts and tennis ball courts and television sets and everything! Except those that are very badly dangerous, then they put them in a cell and cuff them. Otherwise, most of the prisoners are free. At least in the prison they are free. Not like the Au Lac refugees, they have nowhere to go and nothing to do, and nothing to play with and cannot work even. So this is even already against human law.

But we don't blame that because we expect that every country does its best. We can not expect to the highest standard, but at least do the best. Okay, so maybe that's the only thing Hong Kong can do, or other countries can do, use their best. Oh fine, we accept that, but to use violence on the people for no reason, that people never react, even police say they don't react. This is not twentieth century standard. This is not human standard. This is lower to animal standard already. That even kicking and beating children and women while they are still bleeding and fainting with the gas. It was not tear gas only, it was mace. It was sprayed right into the face of the people. Many children now are still blind. Women and children still cannot see. Now, over one month after the attack, many people still cannot see clearly. Their vision is damaged.......

Dangerous To Mankind

Do you think it's okay? It doesn't matter if the Au Lac refugees suffer, I'm not talking about the suffering. It's obvious already. Even children can see it. I'm talking about human standard. Hong Kong human standard, it's so low! That they should feel sorry for themselves. That they should feel alarmed. That they should be shocked... at their own conscience! So minimum! You understand what I mean, now? It's not the suffering that we're talking about anymore. It is the low, low level of humanitarian... of humanity, that the Hong Kong people carry with them. That they can just stand by and watch women and children suffering and still agree with it. You understand what I mean now? It's alarmingly shocking and dangerous to human kind at large. Because if they treat the refugees like that, they can treat anyone like that, anytime, in similar circumstances, or when they have a chance to do. Understand now? And we can be infested with this kind of spirit if we just stand by, agree, or watch it, or just do nothing about it, or don't awaken ourselves, or don't warn ourselves of being infested. This is terrible!

Everlasting Loving Compassion

I tell you the truth. Even if the Au Lac people die, even if they kill all the refugees, it is not the refugees who are the ones being harmed. It is the Hong Kong people,who harm their conscience. Their standard of virtues has sunk so low, that's how, what for do we live as a human being if we don't have this human standard? You understand what I mean? The suffering of the refugees, or their death, is not that important, is not as important as a human standard of conscience and compassion and loving compassion. You understand now? Because life is short. Live or die, it is not that important. The important, is the everlasting loving compassion. And if we've lost that, nothing we can do. So it's not only that I'm fighting for Au Lac refugees' life. Because to me life and death is not that much matter. Also I fight for the human compassion standard, to raise it up, to awaken everybody: “Wake up, you cannot do that, you cannot lower yourself, lower and lower. Keeping like this you'll go to hell, you'll make Hong Kong become hell, you'll make the world become hell.” You understand? So this is the greatest mistake of human kind: to think that to treat somebody else inhumanly, that it's right. They think that it's the refugees who are being harmed; it's them who are being harmed! Because life, you can have it again. But this human conscience and compassion, when you've lost it, difficult to get it back. You know? And then you can infect the neighbor with it, infest the children with it, and make every of your friends, your neighbors, learn about it...even infest our disciples. Let them stop there, freeze there, and don't move, don't do nothing for the refugees. Until I came along. Until when all of us came and then meditated, then the Hong Kong disciples turned around, they understood better.

But they, some of them understood before that, because I had told them, you know, it's not the Au Lac refugees' problem anymore. Of course, it is their problem, but that is only a catalyst, ah, is that right? Yeah, a symptom of the main problem of the human conscience. You see, we have to be afraid of losing our conscience. It's not only the Au Lacese' problem. They can die, and they may have another life again. But our loving conscience... difficult to find. Because if we lower ourselves to animal standard, we will be born as animal. Then we've lost our human life. And those we kill come back again as humans, maybe better. You understand what I mean? So it's not the ones who are killed that are the victims. The one who kills is the victim of himself. But most people don't know that. So I want to let you know. I want to make people know this. I worry about the Au Lac refugees' suffering and life, that's for sure. I do. But I even more worry about the human standard... our life, the atmosphere of our life. If it has become like this, and it becomes more like this, then it become hell here. You know? Nobody loves anybody, and "when you come to touch my house, I kill you." You know what I mean? "This is my garden, my house. Nobody is allowed to come in, nobody touch my food, nobody come near me, or I'll kill you". Everybody will do like that. Yeah? That's what they do to the refugees, because the refugees come to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is their land: "If you come, I'll kill you. I have the right to do anything to you, because you come to my property." Understand? That's the only thing it is.

So low! So worthless a reason to kill, or to inflict suffering. Worthless! This is only a kind of ... this boils down to territory rights, territory competition. So then we become like dogs and cats and mice and any kind of animals, because animals they protect their territory. Even birds. Did you see any birds in your garden? Each one has one corner of the garden. If the other one comes in, he will poke him to death. At least, poke him to bleeding. I saw that when I had a garden. So when I fed the birds I had to stand guard as a police, because a big bird would come and pick on the small birds, and the small birds dared not come to eat. I said, "It's my food, okay? My food, my garden, alright? All of you have the right to eat, but not to fight." But they didn't listen to me, of course. They pretended not to understand German. So I had to stand there, like a guard, you know, like guardian police. And then I'd shoo all the big ones out first, let all the small ones eat. And then, when the small ones were all satisfied and flew away, and then I'd come inside and let the big ones be kings of the day. That always happens. Even my garden, my food, and they lord over it, and don't let anyone else come to eat.

All Land Belongs to God

This is the same thing. Hong kong, Formosa, United States, England: all are God's land. Before we came the land was already there. Before Queen Elizabeth or King Henry, or whatever, the land was already there. Who made the land for the English people? Who made the land for Hong Kong people? Nobody, only God made it. God gave it to us, everything! And they say, "This is mine, this is mine, everything is mine. You cannot touch it, you cannot come near and I'll shoot you." You see, that's what it is. It boils down to animal instinct. And then, people are proud of it. Can you see how low we have become, hmm? We're just like animals. Like the birds in my garden, like the dogs in my yard, like the cats. The dogs have their territory, competition, you know, they mark it by their urine, yeah. (Laughter) And human beings mark it with their... other thing, probably human toilet, yeah. You know, they make a territory, they mark it. Dogs mark it with urine, but man marks it with something else. Quite similar. Actually, just marking a frontier.

Okay, you mark your frontier is alright. But when somebody else needs it, you lend him for a while. Because it's all God's, it's not yours. Everybody says, "In God we trust." Even they print it on the money. But it's not in God they trust, it's in the money that they print it on that they trust. Things like that. And everybody says, “We are Christian. We love our neighbors. We take care of our brothers and sisters because all beings are born equal in God's name.” They say things like that, but they don't do anything that is according to their understanding. So now you see, huh? If you are my disciples, so-called disciples, no, fellow practitioners, brothers and sisters, and you don't do the things I do - you are afraid offend the worldly power and you're not afraid to offend God's power - then you are in trouble. Then no one else in this world that people can rely on to carry out justice, to fulfill the righteousness, so that everyone can enjoy a peaceful and normal life. You understand what I mean? It's very dangerous when somebody infests someone else with their low level of thinking and consciousness. So beware, take care that you're not infected. Even as good as our Hong Kong disciples, some of them also wavered, you see, and are afraid, and think with the big body of the world and Hong Kong, instead of thinking in the righteous way, and siding with the weak and the poor.

An Enlightened Living Master Is Better Than Scriptures

God says: Blessed are the poor and the weak, because the Kingdom of God is theirs. We read many things, we know all the Bibles, we know all the Baghavad Gita, the Buddha and Dharma Sutras, and bla, bla, bla, but we don't do anything accordingly; then it's useless, huh? That's why sometimes we need a teacher, a living one, not a dead one. Dead ones, we have too many already. They left so many books, but the books don't help you anything. You read it, and you forget it. You can memorize it, but then you don't do anything with it. You don't understand the deep meaning of it. Until a teacher, the living teacher, comes and shakes you out of your slumber, and points to you the direction, and the things that you should ponder, and things you should do, you see? It needs a force of a power, of a living being, to point things out for us. Can you see? There's no more question about why we need a living Master and not a dead one, huh? No more. Because all of you already old enough. Some of you have grey hair already. And still you cannot think that straight, huh?

If I did not point it out to you... I don't mean I'm so great, but probably I'm clear. I'm a little bit clearer than you, sometimes. So when I say it to you, you understand right away. If I don't say it, even though you read the same thing as I read, but, you don't understand it. You might even understand it, but you don't realize it, and then you cannot make use of it, understand? Even if I keep talking to you time after time and the same things again and again, still I have to repeat again and again, until you fully understand and digest it, and make it become your own property. See, then you're strong and then you can do things like I do, and you don't need me anymore. But why, why do I have to repeat all the time? Because you still listen to your habit, and forget to use your righteous wisdom, that's all. You have it, but you don't use it, then how can... what is the use, huh? Right? The wisdom I transmitted to you is the same as mine. It's no different. But why you don't do the things like I do? Because you don't use it the same way I do. You don't use it enough you're not strong enough to use all this.

It Is Still A Great Virtue To

Acknowledge And Rectify Our Faults

Just like a young boy is not old enough to know how to use the inheritance of his father. Even though his father gives to him as much as he gives to the older brothers, but he looks at the money and then he plays games with it, or he throws around and makes games with other children. He looks at diamond, and he thinks it's kind of a toy, you understand? And his beautiful father's furniture, maybe he brings it out and you know, makes a toy out of it. Things like that, you know what I mean? So it's as much as you can use your wisdom, then you have it. If you don't, it's just like every other people outside. They have it, but they don't have it. See, they don't use it, okay? Okay, we have to go down now. Anybody have a personal contact with the White House? No? Okay, I don't suppose so. Yeah? [Somebody mentioned writing to congressmen.] Yeah, fine. That's good, okay. Writing is different. You can write, but sometimes personal relations are even stronger, yeah? We can write. I write to many different Presidents but nobody bothers to answer me. Well, some of them do, but it's not that, not much fruitful, when it comes to action. They can be polite to you, they like you, they love you, but they don't take active measures about what you want them to do. They, even our disciples, like Hong Kong, I ask them to write only letters to express our disgust about their inhuman treatment, and they don't want to write it. You know what I mean? Even our disciples; so how can I blame outside people, huh? But of course afterwards they changed. They know, and they changed their minds, but because I told them. Because they are my disciples, they understand quickly. Even if they make mistakes, immediately they understand, that's fine. That's the best thing about you. You make mistakes, but at least, when somebody says something right, you know right away. You change. But other people: they make mistakes, but when you talk to them they don't know about it, they don't care about it, and they don't change. That's the only difference between you and the non-disciples. Nothing more big deal. Okay? (Master laughs.)

You make same mistakes but at least you have a Master, a teacher, a good friend like me, tell you. And then you realize immediately. But outside people, they don't have a teacher, they don't have a friend, they don't have a good Master maybe, to tell them what to do. So they make mistakes. Or sometimes, because their wisdom is not open, tell them, they don't understand. They don't want to hear, and they don't think they make mistakes. Just like today when we were in the park,there was a man who was drunk, and made a lot of noise and fuss, see? And our disciple tried to talk to him about wisdom and five precepts and not drinking alcohol and things like that. Do you think it was useful? (Everyone answered: No use.) Yeah, he heard nothing, he continued to shout. You know what I mean? Yeah? So it's good that you don't drink alcohol, and... You know now, huh? When you saw it today, he came to teach you a lesson, that the Master Ching Hai is correct when She tells you not to drink alcohol.

Master's Wonders

Saved By Master's Transformation Body

Narrated By Fellow Initiate Chen In Mainland China

One night, a fire broke out in the kitchen of the restaurant of an initiate's relatives in Mainland China. Since the kitchen was built with wood, fire spread quickly. Usually, his relatives had their meals upstairs, but that day everyone was eating downstairs. Without Master's ingenious arrangement, the whole family could have perished that day.

In the midst of the raging fire, Master's transformation body in the form of a Santong man (Santong is a province in Mainland China and the males born there are tall and robust) told the waiter, "Hurry up and get out or it'll be too late!" He disappeared immediately afterward. All customers also fled to safety.

A day later, while cleaning up the scene of the fire, they discovered several inconceivable wonders. When he was about to throw out his son's burnt coat the beeper in the pocket started to sound off. Someone was trying to beep him! The beeper was not damaged. Moreover, the wallet, money, and ID's were all safe inside the pocket. The cash register counter was burned up, but all business receipts, records, and money were all intact. The initiate was grateful to Master for Her meticulous care that benefitted his whole family.

Master Told Stories

The Story Of The Saddle

By The Supreme Master Ching Hai At The Seven-day Retreat, Taipei, Formosa May 22, 1994 (Originally in Chinese)

This is a story of the saddle. Originally, there were no saddles for horses. It was later, perhaps derived from the benefit of some spiritual practice, that saddles were used.

There was a man named Liao Hu. Unlike us being kind, he was a very, very mean and very, very vicious government official. He died when he was sixty two years old and went to see the King of Hell. This King of Hell was from Formosa and was somewhat peculiar; he was black on the left side and white on the right. I wonder why? (All laugh.)

The King of Hell flipped through the book of sins and merits to see what good and bad deeds this man had done before his death. He found out that this man had created so much bad karma, and had never given to any charity. He had never protested for the sake of the refugees and had never been to Hong Kong. (All laugh.) He had never given any offerings to the temples and had never been in a church. He had never given money to the beggars and never donated a penny to Tse-Chi Charity or any other charitable organizations.

He was not a vegetarian, but he didn't eat meat either because he was very stingy. It wasn't because he wanted to become a Buddha that he didn't eat meat. Therefore, I have told you that being a vegetarian won't make you a Buddha; it depends on your purpose. This man didn't eat meat because he didn't want to spend money to buy meat for the rest of the family. Sometimes when he craved it, he would hide in the bathroom to eat a piece of meat all by himself, and come out after he had finished eating so his family wouldn't know. This is how bad he was.

He had never attended the Supreme Master Ching Hai's lectures, and besides, he thought all the clothes She had designed were too expensive. (Laughed) So the King of Hell looked around and couldn't find anything to save him; there was only bad karma, no merit at all.

Once, it was said that a disciple of the Supreme Master Ching Hai tried to give him a sample booklet; it was free you know. But he refused because he said the booklet would take up the space in his plastic bag for groceries. (Laughter) How could anyone possibly save him?!

So the King of Hell said, "No Good! Forget it! Forget it! I have tried my best to search every corner of the book, but it was full of bad karma. So now you have to be born as a horse to pay for your past bad deeds." After he said so, he made a hand mudra and a foot mudra and gave him a kick. Thus he fell and was born as a horse. This horse had its name on an ID card, that was how it was known that it was the reincarnation of Liao Hu.

This horse named Liao Hu grew bigger and bigger. It ate a lot of grass and was very comfortable. Because in its past life, it didn't want to buy meat, not even tofu, so eating grass was much easier for it, and it was quite content. It never complained about eating grass; besides, it was all free! Even being a horse, it was still very stingy. It would eat the cheap, rotting grass, and save the fresh grass to sell to the other horses. (Laughter)

When it grew up, its master put it to work. It had to carry firewood, cooking oil, rice and other groceries home. Sometimes, it had to pull a wagon with forty or fifty fat people on it, etc. Oh! It couldn't bear it, but if it didn't keep walking, the horseman would whip it. So it hated the whole thing and couldn't take it anymore. The horseman was mean to it also. He would kick it, whip it, and treat it cruelly. When he rode the horse, there was no saddle, so it was quite uncomfortable and even painful for the horse. This horse had just been reincarnated from a human being, it still carried the temperament of a human instead of a horse, so it was very annoyed, very sad and finally went on a hunger strike. It quit eating for three or four days and then died.

Some of the disciples of the Supreme Master Ching Hai took pity on it, and recited sutras, sang Hallelujah, and prayed for it. But even then, its karma was still too much, so it went down to see the King of Hell. The King of Hell was angry and kept yelling at it. "Are you trying to escape your bad karma? Can you? No, you cannot! I tell you, if I want you to be a horse, then you'll be a horse; if I want you to be a dog, then you'll be a dog. You cannot escape in such a way. Don't you know that before you have fully paid for your bad deeds you cannot run away?"

The King of Hell scolded him until his own face was red-hot. "You cheated me! You cheated me! Your time was not up yet, your karma had not been paid in full, and now you've starved yourself to death on purpose. This is cheating!" So now the King of Hell made him into a dog. He waved at him from head to toe and gave him a kick. Thus it fell into the womb of a mother dog and was born as a puppy.

Even though he was a dog now, Liao Hu still had some human qualities and intelligence. So he was feeling very sad, very annoyed, very miserable, very worried, very depressed, very helpless, very powerless and very bored (which in Chinese sounds similar to its name Hu, Liao). (Master and all laugh.) But he dared not commit suicide again, knowing that the King of Hell would punish him more. He sat there and thought, "I cannot starve myself now! This dog food is really unappetizing, but I have to eat it; otherwise, I don't know how the King of Hell is going to punish me!" So he thought and thought using his own dog thinking, you know. Then, oh, suddenly he was enlightened! He said, "Now if I bite my master hard, he will kill me. Ha! (Master and all laugh.) Then I would die without committing suicide!"

He got started right away. He recited some sutras, "Da, da, da, da...." in order to liberate itself while he waited for his master to return. After smoking and drinking his master came back. The dog wagged his tail then bit the master's behind and front. It was so painful and he was drunk and angry, so he picked up a big bat to hit him. And the dog went kaput!

So he went to see the King down of Hell again. The King of Hell was mad and of course, scolded him severely again. "You bad dog! How dare you cheat me again! Now, hmm, you'll get fifty beatings first." After the beatings, he was to be born as a snake. Gosh! Being a dog wasn't that bad, but to be a snake is really troublesome. The more he tried to escape, the worse it got, right? After he became a snake, the King of Hell threw him in a dungeon and locked him up, so he had nowhere to go. Nevertheless, he was able to dig a hole and slip away. Now he dared not commit suicide or bite others, knowing that'll only make him more guilty. So, mm, he thought and thought with his snake brain, and finally decided to crawl into the middle of the road and lie down to sleep. (Master and all laugh.) That person was full of ideas. Sleeping in the middle of the road at night! In ancient times, there were no street lights, so when a car went by, he was chopped into a few pieces and liberated!

Looking at the pitiful sight, the King of Hell felt sorry for him and decided he had had enough punishment. Finally, he was victorious! The King of Hell felt sorry for his sufferings and miseries and couldn't bear to punish him anymore. Ah! The King of Hell was quite compassionate after all! He must have practiced the Quan Yin Method, half way only, that's why he was half white (Master and all laugh) and the other half black! So he was forgiven and was allowed to be born as a human being. Once again, he was to be a government official. But he was reminded to be virtuous and to govern his people wisely and kindly. He must not be greedy or corrupt; he must not be vicious or mistreat people. "Otherwise," the King of Hell warned him, "I will not forgive you! Understand? You must keep the five precepts." He even told him to go find the Supreme Master Ching Hai and get initiation! (Applause.) Just kidding! These kind of people are very hard to save; it's better he doesn't come to us! (Master laughs.)

But he really looked Her up! And She taught him to keep the five precepts, be a vegetarian, meditate two and half hours everyday, attend group meditation, speak up or protest for others in suffering...etc. From that day on, he became a very good person, and later became a very virtuous government official. He would instruct his subordinates to use saddles when they rode the horses, not to kick the horses with their knees, and not to whip them too hard, because he remembered how much he had suffered when he was a horse. He was also very gentle and generous in treating his people. Therefore, later all his bad karma was erased. The end!

<Master's Comments>

The Warnings Of War To Mankind

We are lucky to be human beings, but some human beings' lives are not much different from those of the cows or horses. There are times when we run into some unfortunate situations where we have to depend on others to survive. Like the refugees from Au Lac, when they have to depend on others' compassion, to survive on their leftover food, etc., they will be treated like the animals, without any human dignity. Even a horse has some freedom. After working, it can run around outside, breath some fresh air, and eat some sweet grass. The refugees are very pathetic sometimes, not only those from Au Lac, but most of the refugees are the same. All the war victims are all similar, truly pathetic!

However, our world never learns. Up till now, we still haven't learnt to stop the wars; we still haven't learnt that we should protect one another, love one another, and help one another. Sometimes, I am reminded that it's now the brink of the twenty-first century, yet those people still refuse to make progress, still are so vicious, still creating wars, and injuring so many others. For example, one place in Africa, over two hundred thousand people have been killed up to now! If you just read the newspaper everyday, you won't want to eat anything anymore! Do you read newspapers?

Over there in Africa, even the children and the babies were being brutally sacred. They beat and kill whoever they run into, using machetes. There were some pictures. One of them showed a big gash left on the back of a girl's head after being struck by a machete. We don't have any holes here on our head, right? Her head had a big gap so deep after being chopped. I'll show you those pictures sometime later. Actually, it is not so good to look at those things, but we have to see some to remind us never to go to war; whether we are right or wrong, it is best not to kill! Therefore, our five precepts are to protect everyone in the world. If everyone takes revenge on each other, then when will it ever end?

The Importance of Having Enlightened Beings

That area became like that because they took revenge on each other. Originally there was no war. But some people killed the president, and then the tribes that supported the president took revenge for him and killed the men, women, old and young... whoever they saw from the opposing party. Some of the children were very small and their heads were already injured. They were chopped at the nape till almost chopped off. They would die even if chopped only halfway! I don't know how people could do such things!

In the newspaper, a woman cried when she was interviewed. She said that she was trained and was sent to kill people, but she couldn't bear it sometimes. Then better don't kill! But you see, even a humane person like this, a twenty-three year old girl, was trained and brain washed. She was instructed, “Whenever you see the people from the other tribe, regardless of whether they are children or infants, you have to kill them all!” When she was caught, she cried and said she couldn't bear to do it at all, and when she did it she felt terrible.

Even if we still have some sympathy for others like this girl did, but if we stay with bad friends or so called bad leaders, we will become like them. We will continue to kill, and eventually get used to doing it. Later, we have no more tears or sympathy left. So, you see how horrible it is!

It is very important to have enlightened beings with us. If we have some good, benevolent friends who talk to us about virtuous things, give us good advice, and lead us toward the right direction, then we will become better each day. Our virtuous qualities will expand and manifest, and we will know better each day which is the right direction for us. But if we stay with those without moral ethics, without any manners, those who prefer violence, then gradually, we will follow them and become just like them. Eventually, our loving compassion will be diminished and eradicated, and we become vicious people.

Who Is The Real Culprit

I saw in the newspapers there is a phenomenon in America. Because the number of American troops in action have been reduced, many of the so-called special force soldiers feel very insecure. Originally they were trained as assassins to kill the enemy. Later as the cold war with the Russians came to an end, there were no more enemies, no more targets for assassination. But their training procedure, those techniques, and the consciousness are still deep rooted in their heads. Now that they do not have an enemy to fight, they sometimes feel insecure as if they have lost their job. Thus they now see their relatives, friends, wives and children as enemies, so they begin to beat them and sometimes kill them.

Since the end of the cold war, every week, there have been people killed at the hands of these soldiers. Because many of them have very little to do or have lost their jobs etc..., the atmosphere in their families has become like a war zone. Having been in the war zone or in the habit of being trained daily as assassins, now anybody not to their liking would look like the enemy. Though they sometimes do not have the intention to kill, but on the spur of the moment, they just pick up a gun and “bang!” the other person is dead without even thinking.

If we are not trained in this manner, we would not at any time, take a gun out to shoot people. If we do not have the habit of carrying a gun, of having been trained to shoot people, then perhaps other people would not die so easily. Without that kind of training, the habit of quickly reacting to kill someone, we would not be able to kill people so easily. If we do not have a gun in our hand or do not carry any weapon, then we would not be able to kill people so easily. Therefore this kind of situation, this kind of training of assassins is really not good. You see, originally the intention was to kill others, later we kill our friends and relatives and kill even ourselves.

Being together with whomever, we learn whatever. Thus, the direction we decide to take is very important indeed. Before there wasn't any, this kind of phenomenon, of the special force killing their own children, wives, friends and relatives. Later on because the fighting with the Russians had been reduced, and there were defense cut, then friends and relatives became the enemy. Very horrible indeed!

Of course, those retired veterans or those still in the force who killed others would be penalized. But I feel that this is not fair. Although they personally killed their friends and relatives, but they are not the only murderers. At least they are not the main offenders, there are many accomplices. Who are the accomplices? The accomplices are the society that make up this training system, turing a kind, innocent, very young, easy-to-be influenced person into an assassin. Then because he has no target to kill he would come back to kill people close to him. It has become a habit. Understand what I mean? After becoming a habit, he has become numb! Truly horrible!

Our world could turn into anything we want, right? Intending to turn it into a paradise then we have to turn to truth, virtues and beauty, learn from enlightened beings, and look for noble ideals and inner wisdom. Then it turns into paradise. Intending to turn into hell is also quite easy. Train all those growing, very innocent, very soft, very easily trained young people into soldiers, then later they will kill anyone! If not kill, they will abuse, beat, and turn their own family into a war zone. If the family unit is not stable then the country will also be unstable! Right? Country unstable, then the world will have many wars.

Water Can Carry

A Boat, It Also Can Sink A Boat

Where did most of the wars in the world come from? All came from the armies, right? A lot of innocent presidents were toppled by the might of the armies. Then a lot of people, using the power of the armies, killed people indiscriminately. I remember one American president, I think Eisenhower, said, before he died, that our enemies are not the foreigners, not the Russians... etc. but are those murderers in the armies, those with special power in the armies, those more evil armies or organizations. He said that before he died.

Because he had seen the statistics, he seemed to know a lot about the armies' secrets. Those armies controlled all the secret defenses. They could do anything they wanted. Whether or not those things were harmful to the people, to the American people, they would continue to do them. Sometimes it was because of greed for power, sometimes it was because of the habit of command that they continued to do them.

In this world, it would not be very difficult if we wanted to have power, fame and fortune, as long as we strived a little, were smart a little, were slick or schemed a little, or were a little ambitious! But to control this power and put it into good use would be difficult, understand? If we do not control this fame, fortune and power well, that power will in return hurt us, hurt our friends and relatives, hurt our countries and the whole world.

Thus fame and fortune is a very terrible thing. Why terrible? People with fame and fortune are not terrible. Fame and fortune itself is not terrible. People are terrible because they do not know how to handle the fame and fortune and do not have the technique to put it to good use. Most people are very ambitious. They are not satisfied with whatever they possess. Then because of fame and fortune, because of trying to retain their own power, they would dare to do anything. Thus fame and fortune is said to be terrible, because most people do not know how to use it and have been used by it in return.

If we know how to use it, then there would not be any problem! Like in world history, many so-called masters became emperors or held high positions in the governments and had done a lot of very important things in societies, yet there were no problems. It is just that fame and fortune in the hands of lay people, in the hands of those with very delicate morality, with very high ambition, would be very dangerous indeed. Understand what I mean? (Crowd: Understand.)

Practicing Yourself Is Basic For Managing A Country

Thus the Chinese say: “If we practice ourselves then we can manage the family, can manage the country, and make the world peaceful.” At that time, we do not need to make the world peaceful, yet the world would be peaceful already! Right! We do not have to manage the country, yet the country would be stable. We do not have to worry about the family, yet the family would be fine. For example, before we practiced, sometimes everything would turn out wrong. After we has started to practice, we feel we are getting better and better. Right? Like wherever our organization goes, it would be very orderly, and make people feel comfortable. Would not be too noisy. With so many people and being so peaceful, it is not too bad at all! Even going for an outing with a few thousand people and being so peaceful would be very difficult, let alone doing a seven-day retreat.

No one could do a seven-day retreat with over fifty people. Go ahead and ask. Has there ever been a seven-day retreat with four, five thousand people? No! No where in the world. Seven hours still impossible, let alone seven days. Also all from different countries. Arrangements and everything are quite an effort. Thus people kept on praising me thinking I am so great. He said to me: "Wow! You are wonderful. Oh! You are great. You are so... etc. Oh! You really know how to organize! With so many thousands of people, it is still so quiet. Everything is so good." I said: "I have done nothing, really! They did it all by themselves." Yes! I only taught you how to do things. I should not control you, understand? I only taught you how to control yourselves; how to organize your own lives; how to organize your own qualities.

I do not have to be here saying from morning till night: "You should do this ..." I taught once, then everyone understood. Then everyone manages his own things. That is the real managing of a country. Really, no need to manage. Everyone has wisdom. Who manages whom! No one should say: "I am better than others." No one could manage others. In fact, everyone has inner wisdom, has Buddha nature, has one Buddha inside, has God inside. Who could manage whom! If we said so, it would have been too much -- saying we managed a God or a group of Gods, or a group of Buddhas. It would have been too proud, right?

Lao-tze said that the past enlightened emperors did not have to manage the people, did not need to manage the country, but the country was naturally taken care of. It was because they did not manage the country that the country took care of itself. The more you are there managing the people, the more rules you give to the people, the more chaotic it will be, because each person has a different personality, right? Without teaching him how to manage, how to handle his own life, but just there using whatever regulations, whatever laws, whatever violence to control people is not workable.

In the refugee camps, they used force to control the refugees. On April 7, they used army force; they used lots of tear gas, let them vomit blood and froth at the mouth, and let them shed tears. Yet they are still not afraid. Even though they were half alive and half dead, they have become tougher and tougher. Now they will not listen to anyone. They will not do as told they are; will not obey or trust anyone.

Use Love To Treat Refugees

Later we went to Hong Kong to demonstrate and show love towards them. Then they felt better. But the government was still very tough saying: “No! No matter what you do, it still will not work. We are still forcing you out.” Later they committed suicide. Up to now over eighty people attempted to commit suicide. Some were successful, and some were revived; some remain badly hurt and burnt over the whole body, and some their legs are incapacitated. Very bad condition. Later the government there saw that their method was not working, so they started to use our method, they became softer and softer! Then the conditions became better; fewer people committed suicide! I hope that they will continue to be softer and softer, then fewer and fewer people will commit suicide. It is best not to force them, then they will not commit suicide. It is just that simple, right? It is best to use love! (Crowd claps)

Poem

[1]

The Saint From Time

By Fellow Initiate Ing, Singapore
(Originally in English)

She Comes riding the moon and the stars, From the everlasting space of time.
Silently, nothing is disturbed, the cosmos remains normal, Swiftly, She flutters by, with nimble and gentle steps.

Originally invisible, formless and nameless, Naturally unheard, unseen, from silence. One instant,
Touched by the suffering world,
Compassionate tears are shed.
Immediately,
Combining Light with dust,
Her magnificence humbly appears.

Look at the Saint!
She is free from hindrance,
Extreme brilliance,
Sprinkling nectar from Heaven to Earth. With a thousand arms and a thousand eyes, Benefitting all sentient beings.
Supreme! Above all of Creation without self-consciousness, Free! Modest of all success, yet not leaving.

It is Her, the great One,
Stay not aloof in the secular world.
From the ancient time tunnel,
Appearing high above,
An instant in this human world.
Aeons of illusions;
Billion years passed by with the karma! Look at this moment—
Mundane dreams have been awakened,
Just because of Her random,
Deep glance!

[2]

The Saving Light In The Eastern Sea

The famous Au Lac poet, Vi Khue, specially composed this poem for

Master in appreciation of Master's love and care for Au Lac refugees.

My heart was so touched
By the news I just heard from detention camps I close my eyes, but in my mind
I still hear, historical bells ringing in my ears.

I still live
How can I not be attentive?
To the sufferings, in a jail of human beings Many lives driven back and forth, on rocky shores!

White Head camp, how pitiful! It has never ceased Demonstrations, hunger strikes and suicides And thousands of hands, thousands of helping hands Humanity-justice-democracy: they demand

Yesterday, the twenty-eighth of April, and today April 29th, it has been said
Minute by minute the camps excitedly
Live in flames fighting for the rights of the refugees!

"Don't force repatriate! They don't want it! And out here we all supported.
Thousands of hands, thousands of hands of helping friends Rising high with Master Ching Hai by our side."

News from Hong Kong: boat people collapse It's Her who could give peace perhaps
And now, in sun-light She is standing high Like the Messiah, child of the Most High,

We're grateful to You, cause in any ways You are the beautiful one of these days You woke up conscience, turned the world towards goodness By exceptional demonstration, You are the greatest.

Who is She? Who's the Supreme Master Ching Hai?

• A Vietnamese lady!
• A princess of nobility But She has devoted Her life to the Most High.

Her tasks I comprehend not very far
But I know She is a sparkling star
And in a dark, desert sea there're guiding lights Shiny as the beautiful eyes of Master Ching Hai!

[3]

Much More

By Fellow Initiate Ing, Singapore
(Originally in English)

You've shown me how to love
I never knew how I could love so deeply. You've shown me how great I am;
I never knew what a giant I could be.

You've taught me so much...
Much more than I have ever imagined.
You've taught me not to have fear
For anyone, anything far and near.

You've taught me how to cry
Tears of deep joy and profound compassion. You've taught me how to serve
And ask for nothing in return.

You've shown me how to laugh
Without the shadow of sadness.
You've shown me happiness
Unstained.

You've taught me to have confidence
In me and in destiny.
You've taught me self-dependence
And brought back my dignity.

You've given me new eyes
That I may see wrong and right.
You've given me brighter skies
That I may appreciate the light.

You've taught me the deeper meaning of peace. You've taught me to truly understand philosophies. I know now that the impossible is possible. I know now that perfection is reachable.

For all these and more...
I thank You very much.
May You show me more;
May You teach me more;
May I, too, be able to give more,
Much more...

[4]
You

Young Fellow Initiate Nguyen, aged 14, Sydney Australia (Originally in English)

You're the one who is always there,
When my heart is feeling bare.
Although You're far away overseas,
But I know You're always with me!
Cause when I feel sad and blue
I close my eyes and I think of You,
The sorrow and sadness is gone away,

Freeing the bad things of yesterday.
You teach me to love and stop my bad deeds, To care and want just only my needs.
I know You and me will never part,
Cause we are one and You're always in my heart. Love You

[5]

Refugees' Heart

By Fellow Initiate Vuong in Kingston, Canada (Originally in Au Lac language)

My country was once rich, cranes could freely fly, With favourable weather, with evergreen orchards.

World affairs changed. We sought a far land. Overcame all dangers, disregarded the closeness of death. We thirsted for freedom, we craved for peace...

But to our surprise, no happiness is found, Only constant threats of death.
Who wants this exile life
In snowy winter and freezing hearts?

To mankind, to those who carry the same red blood, Give your love, please, you compassionate ones. Please take pity on the Viet refugees,
Please give us a life.

Your good deeds will be noted, Forever!

Spot Light

When You Teach,

You Should Be A Responsible Teacher

Spoken by the Supreme Master Ching Hai during the International Seven-Day Retreat In Taipei, Formosa May 27, 1994.
(Originally in Chinese)

The Convenient Method Should Not Be

Casually Imparted To Children And Adults

The Convenient Method should not be taught randomly to young children. There are many children in school and sometimes, their teachers just casually teach them to sit and meditate. Sometimes, no one is around the children, so if they (the children) see some visions of different levels during meditation, they may be shocked, or they may not understand. The way you teach is different from the way I teach, and your power is only second-hand.

The children may not really be frightened, but then again, you don't know anything about their karma. Being new to the meditation, they may have bad experiences. Children are like us. Their souls, their karmas and their reactions are identical to ours. So, you should not teach them meditation when they are too young. Therefore, only children of six years old and above are allowed to learn a little, and when they are older than twelve, they are allowed to learn more. If their parent is not an initiate, they can only be initiated when they have reached sixteen years of age. Only those above sixteen or eighteen years old are allowed to be initiated. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) I teach whom I should teach. It's not necessary to teach young children at random.

You should not casually become a teacher just because you love to teach. You don't know how to teach and will not know about the children when they go home because you are not there to supervise them. It is different if they were taught by the Master. I will be responsible for them if I teach them; I will go with them wherever they go. (Applause.)

Children do not understand much. Their souls are identical to adults', but they do not know how to react. Sometimes, they do not know how to react to their inner experiences. For instance, when you are meditating, some of you are heavier in karma, so you have inferior experiences. Sometimes, during meditation, you may see something which makes you uneasy, and you write to ask the Master or pray to the inner Master for help; and the Master will come to help! But the children do not know what to do.

Do you think that children can have very good experiences when they just begin to learn to meditate? They are similar to you. The good children will, naturally, perceive superior and beautiful worlds; while the relatively not-so-good children, whose karmas are heavy, will see the dark worlds and, sometimes, experience something unpleasant. What if they get possessed? Will you be responsible for them? You just teach anyone randomly. I did not tell you to teach the Convenient Method to the children. I say this for the last time: "You can't just do what you like to do, as being a teacher." It is easy to teach children, and they will do anything they are taught. However, this should not be the way.

Some time ago, I had replied in a letter - perhaps, in the news magazine - that the Convenient Method should not casually be taught to children. It is all right if he is your child, because, if something happens to him or if there is something that he does not understand, then you can ask me; you can stay with him and take care of him. But if you are teaching other people's children, they may leave the following year. Or they may go to another school the following year and you don't know what will happen to him later. So you can't do this. I do understand that you all love teaching people; you love to be a teacher. However, when you are a teacher, you have to take the responsibility. You should not be a teacher just for the sake of the 'teacher' status only. Our Convenient Method is not an external method; it involves communication with the inner power. Therefore, you must not be careless in guiding people when you have no power. Do you understand?

We all know very well. For instance, if I were teaching you an ordinary method like the so-called masters are teaching - "... Sakyamuni Buddha .... bla bla bla ..." - simply reciting the scriptures, would you be still following me? Why do you follow me? (Everybody answers, "Because You are different.") Right! Not the same. We communicate from within. I am teaching you from within - not the superficial teachings. I am not, randomly, reciting some scriptures to you, anybody can do that! Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) You cannot do the same thing as I do just because you observe me doing it; you should not. I don't even teach children the Convenient Method. I, myself, very rarely do so... unless it is for some very special situation. First, because he does not know what to do when he goes home. Second, after he goes home, he will teach his parents. (Everybody laugh.) Then, his parents will teach their friends, and their friends will teach their children. Then, their friends' children will go and teach their friends' children. That friend's children will then teach their friends' friends' children. The power disappears! Everybody gets possessed and gets into a mess. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".)

Don't do things just because you want to do them. You should not do things so casually. You may have good intentions, but if you don't understand the reason, the consequence may be harmful to other people. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) Therefore, many people - who have learned randomly - get possessed. This will not happen if they learn from us. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) Because the people outside are disorganized. They just learn at random. They cross their legs like this, place their hands like that, put their head this way, and then "meditate". What kind of meditation is that? There is nothing, no power at all that supports them, no elevation whatsoever of their internal level, and they have no inner experience. They are not cleansed of any of their karma. It is useless for them to sit for a thousand years! You all know it very clearly.

Only An Enlightened Master Has The Power Of Imparting The Method And Protection

Originally, even the Convenient Method is an esoteric method. Why is it an esoteric method? Because it must be imparted by a master for one to get in touch with the inner power. Outsiders do not know why this person is meditating differently from that person, or why the teachings of this master are different from that master's. This is the esoteric method ... not that we have anything esoteric. Even if I were to write and publish a book openly teaching the outside people how to meditate, and they learn the Method through reading the book, it still would not be effective. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) The two of them - Master and disciple - must communicate with each other and consent mutually - I agree to teach and you agree to learn. This is the esoteric method, only the two of us - Master and disciple - know. It is not simply teaching people to sit like this. This would be selling it cheaply.

I have never said that you can teach the Convenient Method to children, have I? (Everybody answers, "No".) Then, why is that teacher doing it so casually? Not doing what he should do, and doing what he should not do... I am referring to the Convenient Method. Do you understand? You can teach people the other things: to perform charities, to keep the five precepts, to be vegetarian, not to smoke nor drink alcohol, etc. These are good things which can be taught to others. You can teach others the external morals, things beneficial to the stability of our world, but not matters concerning the inner power. This is a profound matter! This is not buying and selling, not simply repeating a sentence! This is concerning the Convenient Method which you should not even teach ordinary people at random. Do you understand?

We should see whether that person is kind-hearted or longing for the Truth before we teach him. Do you understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".) A vicious person will be possessed if you teach him this method because he has too much karma inside. For instance, that person is extremely vicious, and he does not repent nor become a good person; after you teach him this Convenient Method, he will have an internal struggle. This method is the best, the most beautiful, the most virtuous and the most compassionate; it belongs to the Yang (positive) force. He is deep in the Yin (negative) force. Mixing these Yang and Yin forces together, that person will struggle internally. Do you understand? He will be possessed and have conflict within himself, a change will occur in him. Therefore, you should not just teach anyone at random. If our method could be for anyone, then I would have already made it wherever I went. And I would have no need to teach you to become vegetarian, keep the five precepts, perform charities, be a good person, meditate every day, and always study Master's teachings. There are certain rules in teaching anything, and because we are teaching the incredible power of the universe, of course, there are rules, too. You must be careful because you don't know how to use it. For instance, the atomic bomb is not meant to be a plaything for children. Can we let an ordinary person use it? Even a general or a scientist - whose work is not related to it - is not allowed to use it. Do you understand?

You must be careful in handling matters concerning the internal states of consciousness. With regard to external knowledge, one can learn to be a physician, a doctor, a professor, a musician or anything one wants; but you should not use the same criterion for something that concerns the internal states of consciousness. It is fine if you have the Master power inside; but you should just let it be if you do not have it! If you do not have it yet, then do not act rashly. Understand? (Everybody answers, "Yes".)

When you go out to represent me to perform the initiation, remember that it is always the Master who is performing the initiation, not you. However, we still have to select the right person to be sent out. It is not really selecting, but training him for a while, and teaching him how to do it. He cannot just teach anyone at random. This applies, also, to the outer aspect which also requires some training. He must be able to talk fluently and know how to answer people's questions.

Handle Worldly Matters
With Your Own Wisdom

However, there are certain things that you can handle by yourself. For instance, recently, you all know that Master is concerned about helping the refugees. In this case, you can do anything that you feel is best to try to achieve this objective. It is not necessary for everyone of you to wait for my instructions, to ask Master this and that. Do you understand this? There are thousands, tens of thousands and millions of you. If everyone of you has to ask me what to do, then when can you all finish asking me? You all have the inner Master in you, ask it. Meditate well, and then ask it. Try your best to help with those administrative works. Do you understand? For instance, if you know the President, then, talk to him directly. Why do you still have to ask me? (Laughter and applause.)