Feature Reports

The Thai disciples organized a special meditation session one day in late June to focus our minds as one and pray to God, the Most High, to bless our Master, Supreme Master Ching Hai, to have a smooth operation that day and to let Her be safe and healthy. We've been looking forward to hearing the good news since then.

When fellow practitioners were informed about a "Thanks God Dinner," everyone thanked God with sincerity and participated in the preparation of the dinner with enthusiasm. Subsequently, we spent only one and a half day to prepare this significant party.

One by one, each fellow practitioners who volunteered to work arrived at the Sukhothai Hotel on the morning of the party. It was a miracle of God that everything was done on time. The hotel's ballroom was decorated with colorful balloons everywhere; we had especially invented a balloon tree that bore fruit, with red apples and the foot of the tree was filled with all kinds of sweets and fruits: apples, mangosteens, oranges, guavas, coconuts, bananas, etc. The most beautiful masterpiece of all decorated the center of the back wall of the stage -- a golden heart filled with red, pink and white fresh roses and in the center of the heart was written "Thanks God," expressing our sincerity.

When everything was ready, we all excitedly lined up along the hallway, all the way to the entrance to welcome Master and Her guests. One of Master's guests was the surgeon who took care of Her, therefore, She wanted to host a dinner party to say 'thank you' to Her doctor. However, the doctor wanted to bring his family along to introduce to Master, so Master was happy to bring along Her big "family", too. When we heard that Master introduced us as Her family, everyone's heart almost burst.

Although Master was just recovering from Her operation, She looked amazingly fresh and glamorous in Her modern yellow Thai silk dress and light green scarf. Thai classical music was playing softly in the background while Master and Her party walked to their table. She entertained Her guests in a friendly manner and all of us enjoy both the dinner and the Thai dance program. Master also commented that the food was delicious and wished to come back to dine there again.

After dinner, we had a little exercise with Master. The Thai dance program was very good, and afterward the dancers invited Master and Her honorable guests to show a few steps on the dance floor; we all joined them. Though the dance was short, it was good fun. At the most joyful moment, we invited Master to cut the cake. However, She jokingly said that She could not handle the knife well, and invited the doctor to practice his professional knife-cutting skills, but this time cutting the cake, not flesh. The specially prepared cake was neatly cut by the doctor and later Master, Herself, served a piece to the doctor with all sincerity. The rest of the cake was divided and served to everyone.

The party ended in a warm and happy atmosphere. Everyone's stomach was stuffed with delicious food and cake. Each of us also brought back home some blessed fruits and sweets to share with our families. When we left the ballroom, intoxicated by Master's boundless love, all of our faces were decorated with bright smiles.

We learned a valuable lesson from this "Thanks God Dinner." During the dinner, Master took the opportunity to say 'thank you' to Her doctor for his long hours of hard work. She also mentioned that She just realized that the working hours of doctors give both parties, the patients and the doctors, a hard time. Most of the patients always complain that the wound still hurt; Master is the only one who realizes that the doctor also works hard and is tired after the long hours. Master had learnt later that the doctor had a golf appointment and could not play well after the eight hours of surgery. Not only were the guests touched by Master's genuine love but also us, the disciples, were given a precious lesson. Through the "Thanks God Dinner" Master had taught us by Her actions that if we are always thankful in our heart, our world would be filled with love.