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[Korea] Fellow practitioners in Seoul rejoiced in knowing that Master was coming for the opening ceremony of the Seoul Vegetarian House. Mr. Yong-jae Lee, spokesman of the Mayor of the City of Seoul, Mr. Cho Soon, and Director General of Public Information of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, went to the airport to receive Master. Quite a number of fellow practitioners and guests from various places came to the Vegetarian House to see Master. Fellow practitioners wearing traditional Korean costumes sincerely welcomed Master by sprinkling flowers on the path on which She walked before formally opening the Vegetarian House. Following this, there was a dance performance by the very young fellow practitioners as well as a flute performance. An instrumental of Master's Buddhist chanting music and Her song, "I will forever love you" was also presented, which moved many people to tears. Even Master had tears in Her eyes. She glanced around compassionately and there was no need for any words to be exchanged between Her and the disciples. After the performance, Master had a meal with fellow practitioners and sampled all the dishes. She also gave gifts to the guests and blessed candies to everyone. All fellow practitioners were very grateful to Her and wished that She could stay longer in Korea. In the evening, at the Seoul Center, Master answered all the questions raised by guests and fellow initiates. Everyone appeared blissfully satisfied. The next day, Master visited the Taejon Center and meditated with fellow practitioners, transforming the whole Center's magnetic field. Later, She went to Chon Ju for the opening ceremony of the recently relocated Center. After the ceremony, Master meditated with fellow practitioners, then later gave an enlightening talk during which She reminded us to have a natural and free attitude in life. On the third day, Master met the Mayor of Seoul, Mr. Cho Soon, for more than an hour amidst a harmonious atmosphere. Master said: "The Mayor of Seoul has a good-looking dignified face, just like a saint of this age." The accompanying Quan Yin messenger said: "Mayor Cho is very much loved by the Korean people. He is upright, honest and has a good name for a Korean -- Bau Chin Tien*. Besides, citizens call him the God of the mountain because he likes climbing mountains." | When Master saw a photo of Taebaek-San Maek in the Mayor's reception room She said: "Very mysterious mountains, just like the Himalayas." About Koreans, Master said: "Korea has many people like the Mayor of Seoul. Therefore, there are no big moral issues and the country enjoys prosperity due to the economy... I like Koreans and I feel very relaxed." The Mayor replied: "I hope, for the spiritual enlightenment of the Korean people, that Supreme Master Ching Hai can come more often to Korea to lecture..." The following day was the opening ceremony for the Pusan Vegetarian House. Fellow practitioners, their friends and relatives, and guests waited inside for Master's arrival. There were also some curious members of the public who waited along with the others to see Master. In the evening, Master appeared amidst cheerful applause from fellow initiates. Everyone's spirit was elevated by Her noble and elegant smile. After the opening ceremony, Master blessed the restaurant for prosperity and hoped that there would be more and more vegetarian houses in Korea. During dinner, Master had the opportunity to talk to the guests. Among them were special guests from India, Catholic nuns, Buddhist monks and nuns, journalists and many others. They raised various kinds of spiritual questions. Master reminded us of the importance of family members, saying we had to look after them with the spirit of sacrifice and love. Also, She said that by being a very good example our family members would gradually understand us. Master's detailed answers reflected Her love and greatness, and this was very touching for fellow practitioners. She said that because we were connected inside with each other and that our souls were one with Hers, therefore we were always together. Fellow practitioners also understood from working experiences that if we are helping each other with the same ideal, God will be with us. During Master's visit to Korea, fellow practitioners and their relatives all received Her boundless love and blessings. We are most grateful to Master for this most precious gift for our souls despite Her very busy and tiring schedule. Bau Chin Tien was a very well known legal minister in China, who is remembered for his courage, wisdom and highly ethical character. |
[Appendix] (Originally In English)
April 4, 1997
Dear Master Supreme Master Ching Hai,
I understand that You are planning to visit Korea. I have heard about
You from Yong-jae Lee, my spokesman and the Director General for Public
Information of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
I would like to meet You during Your stay in Korea. I would appreciate
it if You could fix the place and time of our meeting at Your
convenience.
Sincerely yours,
CHO Soon,
Mayor
============================== ¡i¡j====
[Singapore] It was Good Friday
and being a public holiday, the
Singapore Center took the
opportunity to organize a family
day picnic. All relatives and
friends of initiates and
Convenient Method practitioners
were invited to participate.
Everyone was encouraged to bring
their own dietary specialty and
to share their culinary skills.
Fellow initiates started
arriving at the designated spot
early in the morning and began
meditating.
The day's activities started
with a talk about nutrition,
given by a fellow initiate
specializing in health and body
fitness. The speaker mentioned
all the important minerals and
vitamins in the vegetarian diet,
and cleared up some myths about
it. Everyone especially the
non-initiates benefitted from
the talk and some even stayed
behind to further understand
nutritional concerns about the
vegetarian diet. The children
meanwhile enjoyed themselves in
the playground.
Then unexpectedly, the highlight
of the day came, Master Ching
Hai in a light and carefree
dress, riding in a trishaw!
Everyone was elated upon seeing
Her, and all gave Master a very
warm welcoming smile.
As noon was approaching,
everyone gathered around Master.
She chatted, joked, and laughed
with everyone. The relaxing
atmosphere enabled us to clear
up lots of doubts about our
practice and way of life
relating to family members of
initiates.
A wife of an initiate told him
that she was puzzled how Master
could read her thoughts in the
session by answering her
questions immediately as she had
them. The brother initiate just
smiled and reminded her of the
all-pervading power of the
living Master.
The whole session lasted about
an hour then Master left. Not
only was a wonderful time, but
Master also had by all gave
something to everyone. The
children all received a
traditional gift of money in Red
Envelopes, and the grown-ups
Master's showered with infinite
love and compassion.¡¹ ¡i¡j====
[Sydney] Since March this year,
fellow initiates in Sydney have
vigorously undertaken a series
of activities to spread Master's
teachings, wishing that more
souls longing for liberation
would recognize the supreme
method.
March 10th was International
Women's Day. It was also Clean
Up Australia Day. Fellow
initiates were divided into two
groups. One group rented a booth
to participate in the
celebrations for Women's Day
that were held in Domain Park,
and took this great opportunity
to spread Master's teachings.
The other group participated in
the Clean Up Australia Day event
and voluntarily cleaned Domain
Park and Hyde Park, which are
both located in the middle of
Sydney.
On March 22nd and 23rd, fellow
initiates held two seminars
introducing the Quan Yin Method.
One seminar was targeted at
Westerners and the other at the
Chinese community. To start
with, participants watched one
of Master's videotaped lectures.
Then we answered their
questions. Finally, they tasted
delicious vegetarian food
prepared by Au Lac disciples.
Fellow initiates and the
participants freely talked about
spiritual practice, cooking
vegetarian food, and other
aspects of Master's message.
A large number of people
attended both seminars and the
atmosphere was friendly and
harmonious. Both Western and
Chinese participants asked many
good questions about spiritual
practice and liberation. The
Chinese seminar was advertised
by a Sydney Chinese Radio
Station, which resulted in many
people attending.
After the two seminars, many
people signed up to learn the
Convenient Method. Some were
very eager to get initiation.
There was a Westerner who had
been on a strict vegetarian diet
for only two months that said
she had a very strong desire to
receive initiation, so she asked
whether she could get initiated
sooner. Her eagerness for
liberation was really touching.
It has been four years since
Master first came to Australia
to give a series of lectures.
During these four years, fellow
initiates in Australia have
learned many lessons through
spiritual practice and spreading
Master's teachings. Therefore,
they feel much spiritual
progress has been made. During
these years, the number of
fellow initiates has increased
and the mutual understanding
between initiates of all
nationalities has improved. We
cooperate with each other with
tacit understanding and more
harmony like a big, happy
family.
We hope that more people can
come to know Master's teachings
and taste the heavenly nectar.
Spreading Master's Teachings At
The Au Lac New Year's Festival
[Perth] At this year's Au Lac
New Year's festival, the Perth
initiates exhibited Master's
paintings and pictures, as well
as displayed sample booklets,
pamphlets and magazines. The
area also had large colorful
posters of several of Master's
aphorisms. A visitor was drawn
to one of the aphorisms:
"Repairing and changing
ourselves is repairing and
changing the world." The visitor
repeated the words then added,
"It's so true," as the words
seemed to make an indelibe
impression on her soul.
The other side of the New Year's
festival booth was set-up to
sell food and drinks. Fellow
practitioners worked hard to
prepare a variety of vegetarian
Western-style food. Many people
lingered at the front of the
booth while they ate, and many
bought second rounds. A typical
comment was, "It's wonderful!
The vegetarian chicken burgers
taste delicious. What are they
made of?" As usual, when people
were told the food was made from
soy beans they thought it
unbelievable that soy beans
could be made to taste so much
like meat.
Every year the Perth Center
participates in the Au Lac New
Year's festival in order to
spread Master's teachings. All
fellow practitioners worked
closely to plan and organize the
event. No matter how challenging
the situation may be, we always
try to remain positive and happy
in spirit, working together to
make the event a success with
the help of Master's blessings.
Mother Nature Regains A Fresh
And Clean Look
[Perth] This year's "Clean Up
Australia Day", the Perth Center
had more than 40 volunteers,
including initiates, their
families and friends. They
cleaned up a stretch of a major
road within the same suburb as
the meditation center.
Since Master has called Herself
a "garbage collector" because
She accepts the past-life karma
of all initiates, picking up
other people's rubbish is
excellent training for spiritual
practitioners. Furthermore,
undertaking such a public task
is yet another way of helping
transform our planet into a Pure
Land.
¡i¡j====
[Taipei] Spring time is ideal
for relatives to get together.
Therefore, fellow practitioners
from Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan
and the northern regions of
Formosa held a major family day
of activities on Youth Day at
the Dan Shui Seaside Recreation
Area.
Everyone felt relaxed and
cheerful as they strolled
barefoot on the sandy beach,
looking at the bluish ocean
extending into infinity. Far
from the concrete jungles,
businesses and household chores,
it was the ideal time and place
to relax and have fun with
friends and relatives.
Reverberating across the seaside
was Master's beautiful taped
voice singing Her ethereal
poems, which purified the whole
place and transformed it into a
paradise on Earth. Everyone was
intoxicated, and forgot about
all their worldly worries.
Tourists visiting the beach also
had the good fortune to hear
Master sing.
The organizing group planned
many entertaining programs that
enhanced the peaceful beach
event. There was a barbecue at
the garden area which attracted
many tourists who were very
curious about the great variety
of delicious vegetarian food
products. Many of them made
inquiries about the food and
even purchased items at the
information counter.
On the beach, young fellow
practitioners had great fun
building sand castles and
floating in the water, while
others perspired profusely
playing beach games. Both the
competitors and cheering
spectators enjoyed themselves to
the utmost. Actually, the main
aim of the games was not winning
or losing, but to encourage
individual effort for the good
of the group. Therefore, the
games helped everyone to realise
"the tremendous power of a group
when united". If members of a
group can maintain the same
goal, same spirit and same
rhythm, they are unified and
invincible.
The day's brilliant program
concluded with an exchange of
gifts. Coincidentally, all the
gifts brought by guests were
received by fellow
practitioners, while those
brought by fellow practitioners
were received by guests. The
beautifully packaged gifts that
were prepared by fellow
practitioners included Master's
audio and video tapes, books and
other precious items. Incredibly
arranged by God, these presents
fulfilled their purpose of
introducing a great Master to
sentient beings, and everyone
seemed to get the most suitable
gift.
In the evening, after meditating
on the beach, beautiful
fireworks radiantly decorated
the night sky, reflecting our
glorious inner nature of
spiritual practitioners. Then
fellow practitioners from
Keelung prepared to launch
traditional "sky lamps". Written
on these red, yellow and white
paper lamps were everyone's
sincere wishes. All helped to
launch the sky lamps,
accompanied by the brilliant
fireworks. They soared straight
to heaven. Everyone wished that
the people of the world would
have blessings to pursue
spiritual practice soon, and
attain a state of mind as
peaceful as the sky lamps
themselves.
A family day of activities held
at the beach organized by fellow
practitioners of northern
Formosa.
Vegetarian Cooking Classes
Launched!
[Taipei] To help fellow
initiates learn how to use
vegetarian food products and to
prepare nutritious, delicious
dishes, the Taipei Center
specially invited the Chef of
the Tang Tang Vegetarian House,
Mr. Sotome Osamu (a Japanese
national) and his wife Su Tang
Tang (a fellow sister) to start
a vegetarian cooking class.
The venue of the class was the
kitchen of the Joy Vegetarian
Plaza. There was an earnest
response from fellow sisters who
loved cooking, and they wasted
no time to enroll.
The theme in March was "Family
Dishes From Various Countries".
At the first lesson, and within
a very short time, the
instructors succeeded in
teaching us how to cook several
practical and easy-to-learn
dishes. These included a
refreshing apple and spinach
salad, tofu steak, and tomato
and lettuce soup.
We enjoyed learning and eagerly
looked forward to the time when
we could taste the wonderfully
prepared food. Unanimously the
two instructors were praised for
their ability in knowing how to
cook dishes from various
countries. They could cook
dishes without using MSG, which
were prepared easily, without
sacrificing the nutrition, and
retained the original tastes of
the ingredients. Therefore, the
finished products were
delicious, refreshing and
nutritionally well-balanced.
Many of us later made the dishes
at home, which received high
praise even from the
non-vegetarian members of our
families. We hope this kind of
activity promoting vegetarianism
can help more people to be
vegetarians, thus reducing the
"killing" karma. Master has said
that if all people become
vegetarians, this world could be
sustained longer and there
wouldn't be any hunger in the
world. So let's start by
learning how to prepare
vegetarian meals.
spiritual Feast In Spring
[Jiayi] This March, the Jiayi
Center participated in two
activities held by local social
groups, hoping to let more Truth
aspirants have the chance to
join the path of spiritual
practice. Coincidentally, there
was a downpour of blissful rain
before each event began. After
the thunder and rain, all the
cells in everyone's body seemed
be refreshed by the soothing
atmosphere.
The first activity was convened
by the Chinese Youth Corps who
invited the Jiayi Center, a
Branch of Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association, to be
their associate convener. The
theme of the event was "Extend a
helping hand from your heart, to
care for and accept disabled
compatriots". The purpose of the
activity was to raise funds for
the disabled, and the Jiayi
Center responded by giving a
monetary contribution.
The program included a "Garden
Party of Love," tickets for
which were given free to
disabled persons. There were
free health check ups, a blood
donation clinic, disaster and
fire alarm exercises,
information and demonstrations
about garbage recycling and
material recycle operations, et
cetera. A lot of people were
attracted by these activities.
Fellow practitioners prepared
delicious vegetarian dishes to
serve guests, and they also
decorated the venue beautifully
with Master's photos, paintings
and lamps. Taking the
opportunity of having a large
crowd, the publications group
played Master's lecture videos,
and introduced Her teachings to
those who were interested and
who stopped to watch. Master's
sample booklets and News
magazines were also distributed
free of charge to the guests.
The second activity, held on
Youth Day, was convened by the
Jiayi Shi Xin Cable TV Network.
The event was broadcasted live
and the network conducted an
exclusive interview with the
Jiayi Center. In detail, fellow
initiates explained the
objectives of Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association,
Master's teachings and the
charitable activities launched
by Her. We hope these activities
will motivate society and
therefore attract more people to
join community work, as well as
pursue spiritual practice to
benefit the whole world.
¡i¡j====
[Oxford] Late March was an
enchanting spring in Oxford,
with flowers everywhere. During
the Easter holidays, fellow
practitioners in Britain
organized a two-day retreat at
the Oxford Center. Fellow
practitioners from various
places in Britain participated
enthusiastically. Some came from
very far away. One sister even
came by train and bus all the
way from Edinburgh, Scotland.
As quite a number of fellow
practitioners had sore waists
and aching backs before and
after meditation, the fellow
practitioners in charge got an
idea from a previous News
magazine issue and arranged for
everyone to do some exercises
every morning and at midday
after meditation to limber up
their bodies and remove the
aches and pains.
On the first night of the
retreat, there was a "spiritual
questions and answers contest".
Chaired by the Quan Yin
messenger, everyone was very
enthusiastic to answer all sorts
of questions. All correct
answers got a point and everyone
was rewarded accordingly after
the contest. Many new initiates
played happily but the contest
also enabled everyone to grasp,
more accurately, spiritual
concepts. Therefore, this
allowed us to achieve two
purposes through the one fun
activity.
In the afternoon of the second
day, after meditating on the
Light for half an hour, fellow
practitioners meditated together
on the Sound continuously for
three hours. Most initiates said
that the effect was very good
and wished to try this again in
later retreats so as to make
greater progress.
The kitchen staff also made good
use of their talents and
prepared lots of delicious food,
receiving acclaim from everyone.
The happy two days passed
quickly. Everyone packed up
after dinner and was very
grateful to Master for having
blessed us with such a happy and
worthwhile Easter holiday.¡¹
Report From Singapore
Report From Australia
Report From Formosa
Report From United Kingdom