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【Elevation of the Soul】
600 <Spoken in English, with subtitles in thirteen languages>
The Real Meaning of Ahimsa
Group meditation in Pune, India, November 22-23, 1997
Summary: In traditional Indian philosophy, ahimsa, non-violence, includes
three levels - the body, the mind and spirituality. In this DVD, Master offers
an in-depth, detailed explanation of each level, asserting that the worst form
of violence is spiritual violence. Why is this so? If the perfect God nature
encompasses every aspect of existence, including good and evil, why must
spiritual practitioners only develop their positive power? What is
"character adoration" and what impact does it have on spiritual
progress? What is the level of "spiritual mood" and why do most
spiritual practitioners get stuck there?
685 <Spoken in Chinese, with English subtitles>
Concentration on Work: A Way of Spiritual Practice
International Six-day Retreat in Bangkok, Thailand, January 1, 2000
Summary: In this lecture, Master addresses the following questions. If we
have extremely intense inner experiences during meditation that cause bodily
stress, how should we handle this condition? How should spiritual practitioners
regard "engagement in worldly affairs according to affinity," or
should they face life with a more positive attitude? Can one change one's
predestined karma? Master's discourse also deals with people's superstitions
about fate. In times of failure or difficulty, how do we know if we should view
our problems as God's will, or if we should resist them to the end? How can we
improve ourselves if we feel that we lack compassion, are selfish and weigh the
gains and losses in every life experience? Finally, Master reveals Her exclusive
New Year's gift to disciples in the year 2000.
626 <Spoken in English, with subtitles in 23 languages>
The Choices of Each Soul
Group meditation in Los Angeles, U.S.A., June 7, 1998
Summary: Master explains the true meaning of the Islamic teachings in the
Koran, and elucidates the historical factors resulting in the rise of the custom
of polygamy among ancient Muslims. She also addresses the following questions.
If our relatives are of different religious faiths, how can we share with them
our enlightenment on the message of Truth while ensuring family harmony? What's
the difference between "intuitions" and "feelings"? What are
Master's views on wearing silk and leather clothing and accessories? In the game
of the universe, how is the path leading each soul Home decided? Is there any
shortcut on this path? Finally, Master expounds on the positive and negative
aspects of the physical world, and the role played by each soul in the drama of
existence.
Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest
CDs
CD-CE06<Spoken in Chinese with interpretation in the Formosan dialect>
Originally there is No Karma
One of Master's discourses in the early years, Taipei, Formosa, July 13-15,
1986
Summary: This CD - a cherished first-time release - is a compilation
of Master's brilliant discourses from the early years before She began
preaching publicly in Formosa. In it She answers the following questions.
What is the origin of human greed, wrath and infatuation? Why are our
meditation sessions sometimes good and sometimes bad? Why does Master
say that whether good or bad, meditation practice is always beneficial?
What are the prerequisites for becoming the best spiritual Master? What
is the difference between a dream and astral projection while meditating?
Why do some people feel warm all over during meditation?
Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest MP3s
MP3-CR14 <Spoken in Chinese>
One- and two-day retreats in Hsihu, Formosa, September 27-28 and October 10,
1992
Three-day retreat in Hong Kong, April 1-4, 1994
Summary:
1. The Benefits of Living an Independent Life
2. The Best Way to Save Sentient Beings
3. The Marvels of God's Creation
4. The Venomous Snake and the Gold
5. Seven Pots of Gold
6. The "Screw" Method of Meditation
7. All Beings are Born Equal
8. Following the Middle Way
9. The Story of a Fishmonger
10. The Year of the Dog - Stories for Children
【Master's Words】
Solving Life's Problems and Finding True Happiness
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Four-day Retreat,
Washington DC, U. S. A., December 25, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No.
610
Sometimes we have too many choices, and so we don't want to try hard. When we
have too many choices or when we think we have alternatives, we compare. We
compare with the past, we compare with an illusionary mock-up of the future and
we make the present miserable. And we can never enjoy life if we continue to do
that. So always remember, if you don't have the thing you like, you'd better
like the thing you have. That's how we find happiness in life.
Apart from being spiritual practitioners, we should be contented and
satisfied with all kinds of situations. We should also train our minds and tell
ourselves to control ourselves because we're the only ones who can be masters of
ourselves. Everything I teach you, I've learned from my own mistakes. That's how
I became a Master: Mistakes make a Master.
Make as many mistakes as you can. It's all right; it's forgivable. But learn
from them; don't repeat them. That's wisdom, and that's how you learn. In
reality, there's no one who can teach us except ourselves. We have to learn by
ourselves, by personal experience and by being wisely vigilant at all times.
Every situation, every circumstance is there for us to learn from. God doesn't
make you suffer for nothing, except if you want to learn the hard way.
Yesterday, someone asked me whether suffering cleanses karma. Yes, it does.
But if we meditate well, and if we learn from our experience, we don't have to
suffer. We only suffer when God has to teach us a lesson once, twice or three
times, and we still repeat the same mistake over and over again. Then of course,
we suffer.
So just forget the future; forget the past. Learn from the past, but don't
cling to it. That's how you'll be happy. Every miserable situation is caused by
us or by people around us because most people cling to the past and forget the
present. They forget to live. We have to live every moment! Every moment is a
miracle, you know. Every moment is something new, something awaiting us, and we
have to savor it. We can enjoy every moment, so why do we have to make our lives
miserable? It doesn't matter what: Now that we already have wisdom, we should
know that nothing can really trouble us too much.
Every situation can be worked out, and everyone can change, as long as you
have enough patience and love. Every attack is a kind of cry for attention.
Sometimes your family just doesn't know how to tell you that they love you. So
they attack you, they scream at you or do something bad to attract your
attention. But make sure you understand. Talk to them and make sure you
understand and know how to solve the problem.
There's nothing that can't be solved. You have to try your best. Think during
meditation, use your wisdom, write down the solution and try it. You'll feel in
your heart what to do. If you meditate enough, everything will be all right in
your life.
Meditation is important, but the theoretical teachings are also important.
Make sure you at least read or listen to the Master's teachings every day. If
you don't feel my teachings are very good, then listen to some other Master. Get
the Bible or the Buddhist scriptures out, and they can tell you even more. I
give you only the Five Precepts, but the Bible has Ten Commandments so you have
a choice. And there's a lot to learn from the past and present Masters. You
should keep some theoretical teachings in your mind, to control the mind. That's
for the mind only; the soul doesn't need it.
So each time you encounter a problem, or if you have a bad habit, you should
read the teachings of the Master. This will tame your mind to a great extent.
You must read or listen to good teachings and noble dharma every day, and not
simply sit in meditation. Otherwise, you won't know why you meditate. If you
don't know the purpose, you won't get good results. Your heart won't long for
it, and your mind won't be peaceful enough to enter samadhi and gain really good
wisdom afterwards.
Suppose you do all this and you meditate every day, but you still think you
have a bad habit or that you're too attached to this and that. It's all right;
don't worry. You've tried your best. At least your conscience is tranquil.
You'll grow out of the bad tendency in time. Because some of us have very
deep-rooted karma from past lives, we did many so-called undesirable things time
after time, life after life so we can't control ourselves anymore.
Just like a horse that keeps going on one path every day: Later on, without
the owner, or even blindfolded, he can still go on it. He keeps going on the
same road all the time, just like a train that keeps going on the same track; we
can't control it. But one day we'll get fed up with our own habitual patterns,
and then we'll give them up.
So don't worry so much. Don't blame yourself too much. Continue to do the
best you can do for your own improvement. You can't do anything else except do
your best. So if you do your best, you'll feel good already.
【Poems】
Heart-to-Heart Initiation with You
-- To the greatest Supreme Master Ching Hai
by Yuan-li, a brother awaiting initiation in Hong Kong (originally in
Chinese)
Hearing the term "initiation" for the first time,
I was overwhelmed with frustration.
Merely a few letters,
Yet I never gave them serious thought.
To whose heart will mine be linked?
What seal will be impressed?
Now that my thoughts have started,
Day and night, they never stop.
A visiting breeze soothes my face,
Informing me that vexation doesn't exist in life.
Clouds hover above my head,
Showering my countenance with universal love.
Intense radiance shines before my eyes,
Summoning me quickly to my original Home.
Endless times I've danced with You in my dreams;
We've gazed, recognizing each other in silence,
But why haven't we ever talked?
Who are You?
You, who possess the wind, the clouds and everything else,
I search for You,
Inside and out.
To attain Your love,
I learn from saints to purify myself.
I've taken only one small step,
And you've already planted joy in my heart.
I realize now
That breeze I felt was one that visited You,
That cloud was one that drifted past You,
That radiance was part of You,
And that dream was our affinity.
What more is there to expect?
You've embraced me in Your arms already.
What more is there to be said?
You and I have been connected heart-to-heart.
【Frontline】
A Fusion of Culture and Spirituality: Master's Publications Grace a Paris
Book Fair
Reported by the Paris News Group
The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Publishing Co., Ltd.
was among key publishers that participated in the 24th Annual Salon du Livre de
Paris held at Porte de Versailles in the French capital from March 19-24, 2004.
This exhibition of World Chinese Literature was the first-ever in the Salon's
history and an important event in a series of activities marking "The Year
of China in France." Initiates from the Paris Center and Supreme Master
Publishing displayed a number of Master's publications with a focus on the new
titles I Have Come to Take You Home and God Takes Care of Everything. Exhibition
highlights included speeches by Mr. Ruaan Zhi-sheng, a former history professor
at National Taiwan University, and Dr. Lin Meng-shih, former director of the
Formosa Acupuncture Therapy Association.
China was the chief guest at the event, which this year attracted 1,030
publishers from twenty-six countries. Exquisitely decorated by fellow initiates,
Supreme Master Publishing's exhibition booth was separated from the Chinese
exhibition area by a passageway and radiated a graceful, cozy spiritual
ambience. The extensive selection of Master's colorful publications on display
provided a sharp contrast to the booth's immaculate white gauze decorations,
which were dotted with a dozen live pink and white orchids. Master's Longevity
Lamps illuminated the booth with a soft, divine glow, while Her lecture DVDs
played continuously on a television at the center. Across the passageway, the
Chinese Exhibition Hall exuded a rich cultural atmosphere, while the Supreme
Master Publishing booth warmly welcomed visitors with its pure, peaceful energy.
Thus the book fair beautifully blended the realms of culture and spirituality.
Interactions with Chinese Authors
On the evening of March 18, the Salon's opening ceremony was graced by the
presence of President Jacques Chirac of France, who greeted exhibitors along the
passageway and cordially shook hands with a sister-initiate while passing by the
Supreme Master Publishing booth.
At the ceremony, the initiates provided free vegetarian snacks and beverages,
winning generous compliments from visitors and nearby exhibitors for their warm
hospitality and their booth's relaxing environment. "I was attracted by the
spiritual atmosphere of your booth," a Chinese poet now living in the
Netherlands said to the fellow initiates. "From a distance, I could sense
something extraordinary about your exhibition area. The vegetarian food that you
serve is very special; it's so full of love." In the ensuing conversation,
the poet stated that he was one of over forty authors from China, Hong Kong,
Formosa and other countries with large Chinese populations who had been invited
to participate in a series of activities on Chinese culture at the Salon. He
added that his companions, who sampled vegetarian food along with him, were also
prominent authors from the Chinese delegation.
The initiates, honored to enjoy a happy time with their distinguished guests
at the opening ceremony, invited all to sign their guest book and offered
them goodwill gifts of the Chinese version of I Have Come to Take You
Home and Master's lecture DVDs. "The Chinese edition was released
only recently and quickly sold out to readers in Formosa. So we've brought
only twenty copies to this exhibition. You are very lucky to be the first
group of Chinese readers," said the initiates to their guests. The
authors happily accepted the books and promised to read them carefully.
A short while later, another Chinese writer rushed over to ask, "Each
of them has a copy of I Have Come to Take You Home. Why don't I have one?"
The childlike anxiety displayed by this famous author was a clear indication
of his earnest desire to go Home. He left the booth feeling elated after
receiving a copy of the book from the initiates.
A Spiritually Elevated World
During the Salon, an endless stream of visitors crowded the Supreme Master
Publishing booth, acquiring books, requesting sample booklets, watching Master's
lecture videos and inquiring about spiritual practice. The guests' joy was
shared by passersby receiving sample booklets, more than six thousand of which
were distributed during the six-day exhibition.
Among the wide selection of Master's publications on display, those that drew
the greatest attention were the illustrated book of wisdom God Takes Care of
Everything and the international vegetarian cookbook Supreme Kitchen. Other
favorites included Master's poetry, songs and album of artistic creations. The
diversity of these works highlighted the fact that Master, with Her infinite
love and matchless eye for detail, accommodates connoisseurs of all ages and
varied interests. "I have worked in the publishing sector for many years,
and rarely have I come across a company capable of publishing works in so many
different formats," one exhibitor observed. These heartfelt words precisely
described the greatness of an enlightened Master. Through many means and
creative forms, and through Her ever-changing personal image, Master inspires
others to reach their inner Self, shares Her infinite wisdom, and elevates their
minds and spirits.
Since the recent elevation of humanity's consciousness, the general public
has become increasingly open to advanced spiritual teachings. So many visitors
to the exhibition, regardless of age or nationality, expressed great admiration
for Master's wisdom. For example, a group of primary school students around nine
years of age eagerly sought sample booklets and fliers on the Quan Yin Method.
One of the boys exclaimed in delight, "This is about meditation. We must
maintain it well!" Another boy requested a large photo of Master that he
wanted to hang in his school library. Also, their teacher helped distribute
sample booklets and fliers to the students. Many adolescents were interested in
spiritual cultivation as well, including a French boy in his mid-teens, who held
Master's sample booklet in his hands and declared confidently, "I want to
learn meditation. This is very important!"
In addition, for several days a Chinese woman appeared at Master's booth,
having read I Have Come to Take You Home on the opening day when she had
received a copy from the initiates. "Sometimes, when I'm sleeping, I feel
very comfortable, but the feeling disappears as soon as I wake up. This has
troubled me for a long time," she said. "Only now do I understand that
the physical world is illusory and I must find the true world." She later
learned the Convenient Method.
After browsing through Master's publications, Mr. Li from Beijing, who worked
for a private cultural organization, said with great emotion, "Such good
books ought to be published in China." Mr. Li added that he would
incorporate Master's publications into his work projects in China.
And after visiting the Supreme Master Publishing booth, a Frenchman in his
twenties exclaimed loudly, "This is the best exhibition booth in the whole
Salon; it has changed me totally!" as if he wanted everyone to hear his
sincere words, which might also have spoken for the other visitors to the booth.
After experiencing many such reactions, the unanimous realization of the
fellow initiates who participated in the event was that people's level of
consciousness and the spiritual state of the world have discernibly improved.
Successful Truth-sharing Seminars
On the afternoon of March 23, Supreme Master Publishing held two brilliant
seminars at the Salle Serenite (Hall of Serenity) in the exhibition venue.
At the first seminar, chief speaker Dr. Lin Meng-shih shared his views
on physical vitality, the inner energy current and the astral form from
the perspective of ancient Chinese medicine. The second seminar, chaired
by Professor Ruaan Zhi-sheng, dealt with inward contemplation and divine
hearing - the ancient Chinese Taoist way of contemplating through seeing
and hearing. Both seminars drew capacity audiences, and both speakers
shared enlightening insights on these subjects, stressing the importance
of soul elevation and personal experience. Afterwards, more than fifty
participants learned the Convenient Method. A French woman, after meditating
with the Convenient form of practice, was ecstatic at her visions of Jesus
Christ and Shakyamuni Buddha. And a woman from China said that she only
had to close her eyes and think of Master, and Her Light form would appear
in her inner vision.
Caption: After listening to Dr. Ruaan's talk, an elderly audience member
approaches Dr. Ruaan to discuss his personal experience of inner hearing.
Benefits and Bliss
The six-day Salon du Livre de Paris ended quickly, but for a long time after
the initiates who took part in the event were blessed with indescribable bliss.
For they had personally witnessed the elevation of many souls, and enjoyed great
success in their efforts to spread Master's message in the Golden Age.
The initiates of the Paris Center are very grateful to the staff of Supreme
Master Publishing and the Love Mission formed by Professor Ruaan and Dr. Lin,
who supported and assisted with the event. The Paris sisters and brothers are
even more grateful to Master for the success of their work at the exhibition,
which will forever remain in their hearts, inspiring them on in their spiritual
path.
For online viewing of a commentary about the above-mentioned book fair
on the program A Journey through Aesthetic Realms No. 88 on Sun TV, please
visit:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/hichannel/index.htm
(English, with Chinese subtitles)
【Panorama of Events】
Report from Benin
Real Sunshine and Sparkle Come to Benin
by Akpo Denis, Cotonou
[Cotonou] On March 13, 2004, Cotonou, a beautiful, sunny resort city blessed
with sparkling beaches, became even brighter when the Benin Center hosted a
video conference featuring the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai in a
vegetarian restaurant owned by a fellow practitioner. With only two days to
prepare, the initiates broadcast news of the event on a local radio station and
quickly distributed fliers to Cotonou residents.
Then on the day of the seminar, the audience members arrived at the venue
showing great eagerness to learn about Master's teachings. They were soon
treated to videos of Master conveying a loving, insightful message about an
enriched and enlightened life on earth through practice of the Quan Yin Method.
Her words expressed hope that humankind will find peace, love and safety in the
bosom of God, our Father. After the video session, the host shared with the
audience the profound transformations that have occurred in his life since his
initiation by Supreme Master Ching Hai. The brother then introduced a Quan Yin
messenger and invited him to deliver a talk.
The messenger gave a further explanation of the contents of the videotapes
shown earlier - specifically, the Five Precepts, and the vegetarian diet. He
then answered a number of comprehensive and intelligent questions from the
audience, inviting those who were interested in the Convenient Method to raise
their hands. To everyone's surprise, all the audience members were eager to
learn the Method, prompting a rain of applause from the fellow initiates in the
hall, who warmly welcomed their new sisters and brothers into the Quan Yin
family. During the question-and-answer session, the guests demonstrated great
enthusiasm and deep interest in Master's teachings, and the experience raised
the spiritual level of everyone present. Afterwards, more than a hundred guests
learned the Convenient form of practice.
During the meditation session after the Convenient Method transmission, an
audience member who was for the first time attending a public activity sponsored
by the Benin Center, and had never before heard of Supreme Master Ching Hai, saw
Her in "full" Light while meditating.
Satisfied, happy, deeply touched and visibly desirous to know more about what
they had just learned, the guests were reticent to leave the seminar venue.
Seeing joy and happiness in the new practitioners' faces, the initiates
thus witnessed the love and blessings that Master had bestowed on all
the participants, many of whom became pure vegetarians and applied for
initiation after the event. What a great occasion it was for the fellow
practitioners and spiritual seekers of Benin!
Report from Cameroon
Cameroon's First-Ever Video Seminar Impresses All
by Kokou Dodji Offissa, Douala
[Douala] After learning that Benin Center initiates had recently conducted a
successful video conference with only two days' preparation, fellow initiates
from Cameroon were encouraged to hold their first-ever video seminar at the
Douala Center on March 17, 2004, with the assistance of a Quan Yin messenger.
The seminar was promoted through a radio broadcast introducing Master and the
Quan Yin Method to the local community. In addition, many sincere brothers and
sisters distributed fliers in nearby areas, and received abundant encouragement
during the activity. For example, the manager of the copy shop where the fliers
were printed was so touched by the initiates' sincerity that he eagerly attended
the seminar. And while distributing fliers, one brother met passersby who
commented that the seminar was a holy activity and also encouraged him to keep
up his good work.
On the day of the conference, a large projection screen was set up
beautifully at the Douala Center and a hundred seats were arranged in the front
yard. For the Douala initiates, it's very difficult to rent a DVD projector with
a large screen. Nonetheless, through Master's blessing, a miracle occurred, and
the needed equipment was finally found at a local shop, whose owner happily
offered his technical assistance to the initiates. When Master's lecture DVD was
brilliantly and clearly presented, on the rented player, the work team members
and guests were excited to see such a visually crisp video on a big screen for
the first time. All the guests were so attracted by Master's wise words that
they asked to continue watching Master's lecture after the scheduled playing
time was over, and so the showing was continued for another hour.
After the video presentation, the messenger introduced the Quan Yin Method
and the Convenient form of practice, and the audience members, who were from
diverse religious backgrounds, asked many enthusiastic questions to gain further
understanding of Master's teachings. Later, several guests learned the
Convenient Method.
After CM meditation, the messenger asked the new practitioners if they
had seen the inner Light and many confirmed that they had by raising their
hands. Among them was a fellow initiate's wife. Before attending the conference,
she had resisted Master's teachings and made trouble for her husband as
he began his spiritual cultivation, but after examining his behavior and
personal affairs over time, she could not understand why his attitude
and behavior had improved so drastically after practicing the Quan Yin
Method. So she decided to come to the Center to learn the reason. Then
after watching Master's lecture she decided to learn the Convenient Method,
and during the subsequent meditation session experienced the inner Light
and felt incredibly relaxed and happy. Thus the sister repented and asked
God's forgiveness for her past ignorance.
At the end of the seminar, everyone was radiant and felt deeply contented.
The Douala Center brothers and sisters thank Master for giving them the
precious experience of conducting their first video conference, and anticipate
holding many more such events in the future for the benefit of humankind.
Report from Ontario, Canada
Welcoming the Golden Age in Ottawa
by Tuan Duong, Ottawa
[Ottawa] On April 25th, 2004, Ottawa disciples conducted a video seminar at
their center to joyfully commemorate the spiritual elevation of the earth's
population in the Golden Age through the grace of our beloved Master.
The seminar began with a brief introduction to the Quan Yin Method as one
initiate spoke sincerely about the benefits of her spiritual practice, and how
she was extremely grateful and touched by Master's kind initiation of her
elderly mother in Paris.
After showing a brief biographical video about Master, the initiates
presented the DVD lecture Be a Torch Bearer for God. The guests nodded
their heads and applauded while listening to Master's wise words, especially
during the video's question-and-answer period. The air was charged with
humor, joy and appreciative applause during this segment. Due to the audience
members' keen interest, the seminar was conducted longer than planned
so that the guests could ask personal questions. And later, many people
learned the Convenient Method.
During and before the activity, the work team members perceived that Master's
power had arranged every detail of the planning and organization. For
example, while interacting with representatives of the local media and
distributing flyers and posters, the initiates found that there were more
Truth seekers ready to receive Master's teachings than ever before. Thank
You, Master, for giving Ottowa initiates a chance to learn the valuable
lesson of selfless service, and for uniting them in their work as they
progress along the spiritual path.
Report from Ontario, Canada
An Inspiring Weekend Dedicated to Supreme Master Ching Hai
by Sunpea, London
[Chatham] On April 3, 2004, the Quan Yin practitioners of Ontario once again
participated in the annual Women's Expo, which showcases the excellence of women
in society. Then, on April 4, a free public video seminar was held at the
Travelodge Motel in Chatham. These two events filled the weekend with Master's
divine love.
On the day of the Expo, the sun shone brightly on the small town of Chatham
as many visitors calmly walked by the initiates' booth and gazed at Supreme
Master Ching Hai's photos. Interested guests gratefully picked up free
flyers about the Quan Yin Method while others surprisingly said, "I've
seen Her before."
On the following day, the practitioners decided to keep the spirit of the
weekend flowing with a free informational seminar featuring the video lecture
The Mercy of God. All the participants were glued to the screen during Master's
flawless presentation, and afterwards most decided to learn the Convenient
Method.
Supreme Master Ching Hai is truly a woman of excellence, and it was an
honor to share Her message of love and wisdom with Ontario residents during
the inspirational Women's Expo and seminar activities. Ontario initiates
can only humbly hope that some souls benefited from their efforts, and
they would like to thank the Good Lord for Hiers perfect arrangements
before and during the project.
Report from Korea
Greeting Spring 2004 by Beautifying the Youngdong Center
by the Seoul News Group
[Seoul] On April 4 and 5, 2004, while enjoying beautiful spring
weather, Korean initiates held a blissful two-day retreat and an Arbor
Day event at the Youngdong Center. After the retreat, the practitioners
planted approximately 160 pine trees and countless flowers, including
royal azaleas, around the Center's newly built meditation hall. Youngdong's
large temporary meditation hall, used in the past for international retreats,
is not suitable for use during the winter months. Thus, to satisfy a long-cherished
desire of Korean initiates, last December a new meditation hall was built
that can hold around 450 initiates for meditation and has a 4 x 5.5m (13'x18')
wide screen for viewing Master's videos.
However, the only thing that remained to be done was to beautify the
hall's natural environment. So, during Korean Arbor Day, the initiates
lovingly planted trees and flowers in the area. Brothers moved and placed
in the ground large trees while sisters cleaned up the surrounding valley
area and gathered spring herbs from the mountainous land of the holy Center.
When the resident-brother responsible for the Center's landscape architecture
went shopping for trees at a local store, the owner, seeing the brother
wearing a Buddhist robe and thinking that the plants were for a temple,
was very helpful and even provided some free of charge. Then later, after
talking further with initiates and learning about the supreme teachings,
the shop owner even learned the Convenient Method of meditation.
The gardening work is scheduled to continue for one month, and in May,
the area around Youngdong's new meditation hall will be reborn into a
beautiful Heavenly landscape with numerous trees providing plenty of shade,
and a pleasantly cool pond constructed by initiates.
Report from Korea
The City of Light Shines More Brightly after Hearing Master's Words
by the Seoul News Group
[Gwangju] On April 25, 2004, Gwangju City, whose name literally means
"City of Light," played host to a public video seminar at the Namdo
Art Center. Two months earlier, about fifty Gwangju initiates had pulled
together and begun preparations for the event to make it the area's most
successful seminar ever.
While promoting the activity, the sisters and brothers noticed that the
citizens of the Golden Age were very positive and elevated as many passersby
paid great interest in the posters being put up on the streets. For example,
one elderly couple asked if they could have a poster to display in their
home. And another person saw a poster that had accidentally fallen on
the ground, felt indescribable delight and deep emotion, took it home,
and later came to the seminar and learned the Convenient Method.
On seminar day, approximately one hundred people attended and listened
intently to Supreme Master Ching Hai's message. After the video-lecture
presentation, the guests asked many insightful questions about Master and the
Quan Yin Method, and also attentively read Her publications.
Many of the attendees already knew about Master; for instance, a man
who had read several of Her books revealed, "I've long thought that
She's a great Master. Today's lecture also delivered the Truth in the
simplest way possible." And another guest commented, "From the
scriptures I've learned that the Light and Sound meditation is the most
efficient way to reach the Truth, and I partially affirmed this knowledge
after learning the Convenient Method here today." A number of other
guests also received Convenient Method transmission after the seminar.
Also, after reading Master's sample booklet at home, an elderly gentleman
who attended the seminar but did not learn the Convenient Method realized
that his remaining life should be in accordance with Master's teachings
so he later traveled a great distance by bicycle to the Gwangju Center
to learn the practice. In addition, since the seminar many other Truth
aspirants have visited the Center such as one person who had heard of
Master ten years ago, saw Her poster and website, and then came to the
Center to be taught the CM. Also, a taxi driver who could not make it
to the seminar because of his job later came to the Center and learned
the Convenient form of practice.
Thanks to Master's great blessing, after the Namdo Art Center video seminar,
the City of Light was filled with even more light, and thus shined more
brilliantly than ever!
Report from Formosa
Celebrating Mother's Day Brilliantly in the Golden Age
by the Taipei New Group
[Hsihu] Each May, as carnations bloom and fill the air with their light
fragrance, people around the world once again commemorate their mothers'
profound and tender love. Thus, on May 9, 2004, Formosan initiates gathered with
friends and family at the Hsihu Center for an extraordinary celebration of the
first Mother's Day in the Golden Age.
The event opened with a drawing contest entitled "Colorful Portrayal of
Hsihu." For this activity, several initiates - their hearts uplifted by
thoughts of thanksgiving - captured with lively brushstrokes the beautiful
homestead that our Master Mommy created for Her children of the Quan Yin family.
Then, after lunch the main celebration was conducted at the Center's Forest
Meditation Hall, with a video show recounting Master's tireless efforts to bring
up the Quan Yin family, a fashion show of the S.M. Celestial Clothes spring and
summer collections, songs sung in gratitude for our Mothers' love, and dramas
adapted from Master's stories. Finally, the Taipei Chorus presented a musical
Mother's Day card on behalf of all Formosan initiates, wishing Master Mommy and
all the mothers of the world good health and happiness!
Over sixty youngsters with mental or physical disabilities and about
a dozen teachers from the Miaoli County Children's Home of Peace were
invited to join in the celebration. Upon their arrival, these most honored
guests of the day got a warm reception from members of the Supreme Master
Ching Hai Soul Interaction Team. Although it was their first meeting,
the initiate volunteers and young people engaged in many warm interactions,
much like members of a biological family. The teachers, all of whom had
six to eleven years' experience in special education, pointed out that
the children's greatest distress came from emotional problems due to their
inability to cope with the environment and a longing for love and concern.
The only solution, they said, was to show them more care and compassion.
The Home's director, Ms. Lin Qin-mei was moved to tears as the fellow
practitioners lovingly and patiently fed and took care of the children. When she
went on stage to present a letter of appreciation, Ms. Lin said with great
emotion, "Loving our own children is natural and obligatory, but it is not
that easy to love others'. In the countless Mother's Days that have passed, we
have had a group of children who will never grow up. Today I am truly touched by
the compassion of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Thank you very much for preparing
such wonderful programs to entertain a group of disadvantaged youngsters. In
society, we have too many disabled children who desperately need such selfless
love."
Then the young people from the Home of Peace presented a vibrant dance that
they had rehearsed diligently for many days, and received a thunderous round of
applause from the audience. The event reached a climax when a Home of Peace
representative expressed sincere gratitude and good wishes to the audience
members on behalf of the young guests.
Also, in the warm May sunshine, more than two hundred photos depicting
beautiful scenes at the Hsihu Center captivated initiates and guests alike.
Everyone then enjoyed vegetarian cakes before reluctantly leaving for home.
Caption 1: More than two hundred pictures are displayed at the entrance to
the Hsihu Center
Caption 2: Following their vibrant dance performance, children from the
Miaoli County Children's Home of Peace thank the audience.
Caption 3: Fellow initiates accompany children and teachers from the Home of
Peace on a joyful tour of the Hsihu Center's Rainbow Garden.
Works from the Mother's Day "Colorful Portrayal of Hsihu" art
contest are available for online viewing at the following Quan Yin websites:
http://www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/special_report/2004MotherDay/index.htm
(Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/special_report/2004MotherDay/index.htm
(USA)
http://godsdirectcontact.us/com/motherday/2004/index.htm
(USA)
Report from Formosa
Paradise on Earth Blossoms for Young Initiates
by the Taipei News Group
[Taipei] In Formosa, Children's Day was long celebrated on April 4. However,
a few years ago, the government, thinking that children should enjoy this
holiday with their parents, decided it would be observed together with Women's
Day and so renamed it "Women's and Children's Day."
This year, the Taipei Center held a special Women's and Children's Day
celebration program before group meditation for its young initiates and their
parents, who were normally busy at work, but now had a chance to accompany their
children to enjoy the special day together. The youngsters' parents planned fun
and exciting games for the occasion entitled "Getting Higher,"
"Missing the Other Shore," "King Solomon's Treasure,"
"Heavenly Bliss," "Our Home in Heaven" and "Pocketing
Muni Pearls." Unlike those designed purely for recreation, these activities
were imbued with spiritual meaning, the idea being to let the children feel the
immense love and blessing of their Mommy Master through their participation.
The games evoked waves of cheers and laughter from the children, who, while
feeling absolutely joyful, also gained abundant spiritual rewards. Thus, for the
young saints it was just like being in Paradise!
【Greeting Cards to the Supreme Master】
Dearest Master Mommy,
We miss our True Home, but miss You even more!!
Being able to meet up with Master Mummy at this key point in time,
We believe it is the most generous grace from God ever in the history
of humankind. It is such a great, great honor to be Your children and
to witness
The Miracle of our earth’s transformation!!
No words can express our love for all the work You have
done for the entire human race.
Please take great care of Yourself!
We’ll strive to become Your best assistants, the most outstanding
children in the world, and to create a magnificent
Golden Age together with You!
We wish You a Happy Birthday
A Happy Mother’s Day!
Eternal happiness!
Eternal Love!
Your most dutiful children from Formosa
Happy Mother's Day!
It's Mother's Day,
And we want to say
Once again how much we love
And cherish You.
This Mother's Day,
It would be great
To surprise You
With something new
To let You know
Mow much You mean to us.
It would be nice to find a new way
To express to You our gratitude
For all You are and all You do.
But the best message
Is undoubtedly the simplest -
That is to say once more,
"Thank You for caring so much for us,
For being part of our lives,
And may You always know
how much we love You."
Your Disciples from the Munich Center, Germany
【Letters between Master and Disciples】
Thanking Master in the Greatest Glory of God
(Originally in Chinese)
Our most beloved and revered Master Ching Hai,
Greetings to You! Your tens of thousands of disciples in China sincerely wish
You a happy birthday and continued good health! May joy and gladness be with You
everywhere every second of the day! Eternal delight and wellbeing are our
greatest hopes for You!
We thank You from the bottom of our hearts for leading us into the Golden
Age. We also thank You for helping the world's weak, longing souls to become
eternally liberated saints, for giving us the opportunity and ability to serve
millions of suffering beings, for guiding us in finding our Buddha nature within
and our eternal spiritual elevation, and for everything else You have done for
our inner and outer progress!
You have set us the finest example of compassion and courage, unconditional
sacrifice and giving! You have bestowed on us countless blissful moments after
enlightenment and the courage to face adversity. Thus, it is our greatest honor
to be able to follow You in this lifetime in the deep understanding that Your
divine love and grace will be with us forever!
We will keep on learning from Your example and follow the inner guide,
constantly reminding ourselves to practice diligently! We will show our
gratitude to You in the inner glory of God and through our most brilliant
conduct in the world.
Thank You again, our Savior! May hearty laughter, youth and beauty be with
You always!
Very respectfully and lovingly,
Your disciples in Mainland China
【Aphorisms】
Go into the Bright Side of Life
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Paris, France, January 26, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No. 629
When God gives us disadvantages, Hes also gives us advantages. So if you
think you have disadvantages, try to find out what advantages God has given you
to balance your life; because God does give. Don't dwell on your disadvantages
and dampen your spirit. Instead go into your advantages, go into your talents,
go into the positive side of life that God granted you and thus uplift yourself.
【Master Tells Jokes】
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., December 28, 2001
(originally in English) Videotape No. 735
It was a couple's wedding night, and the bride got all dressed up in her beautiful
nightgown and began waiting in bed. But a half an hour, one hour, an hour
and a half and then two hours passed by, and her groom was still standing
next to the bedroom window, looking at the moon and stars. So she couldn't
bear it any longer and said, "Honey, what's the problem? Come to
bed with me." But the groom said, "No way." And the bride
said, "Why is that? It's our wedding night." And he replied,
"Precisely. My mother told me that this would be the most beautiful
night of my whole life, so I don't want to miss a minute of it."
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., December 28, 2001
(originally in English) Videotape No. 735
Once there was a woman who had just been hired by an advertising company,
where the employees always had to look their best; even their clothes were an
advertisement for the company. And she was in charge of the dress code so she
was very enthusiastic and zealous about enforcing it.
One day she stepped into the elevator to go up to the third floor to work,
and a man walked in with her. He was dressed casually in jeans and a sports
shirt. So the woman, trying to prove that she was in charge about the dress
code, began scolding him right away. She said, frowning, "You're dressed a
little too casually, aren't you?" The man then laughed, smiled at her and
said, "Yes, you're right, but that's the benefit of owning the
company!"
Please visit the following websites to enjoy the original video versions of
these jokes, and you may share the joy of Master's humor with those around you:
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/151/jk1.htm
(Formosa)
http://www.Godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/151/jk1.htm
(USA)
【Master's Wonders】
by brother-initiate Qin, San Jose, California, USA
Ever since I was initiated by Supreme Master Ching Hai into the spiritual
path, my life has been filled with delighted surprises, as shown by the
following story.
From my high school days, I have enjoyed playing basketball, but my love for
the sport was interrupted when my legs weakened after twenty years of running
and jumping on concrete courts. Also, over the past two years, my appetite has
grown smaller as I have progressed in my spiritual cultivation, but physically I
have gotten healthier and stronger and can now even function effectively playing
basketball on a full-sized court with the taller, sturdier white and black
players whom I recently met.
The sixth anniversary of my initiation fell on the week when I met these new
basketball buddies. And so on that day, remembering that the enlightenment
experiences of many past masters were related to the number six, I anticipated a
surprise gift from Master.
I went to play basketball with my friends that noon, and during the game,
after making a skillful interception of the ball, I found our two-meter tall
center forward (a player who often stays near the hoop to catch balls and make
shots) already waiting under the backboard, and tried mightily to pass him the
ball from the other end of the court. Given the weak physique I have possessed
since childhood, I had never before thrown a basketball from one end of the
court to the other. I can still recall the sensational scene of my robust high
school physical education teacher scoring from the back of the court. And while
many of my schoolmates of stronger build often competed in throwing the ball
into the basket, I was never able to outplay them. This time, however, I
thought, "If I can pass the ball across the court to the center forward,
that will stretch my strength to its maximum capacity." But then I
immediately became skeptical and thought, "I've been skipping lunch lately
and eaten very little at my other meals. How can I have enough strength to do
this?" I nonetheless stretched my body as much as I could to throw the ball
and stood to watch where it would land.
Incredibly, a miracle occurred! The ball flew over both the hoop and
backboard, and across the nearby lawn until it hit the protective net bordering
the athletic grounds. Everyone on the court was dumbstruck and looked at me in
amazement. Holding up my hands, I too was speechless with wonder! For the rest
of the game, even my sturdy white friends praised my muscles. But in fact, I am
only a little larger than "skinny."
This marvel continues to fill me with elation. It is said that both Quan Yin
Bodhisattva and the Monkey King lived without eating any earthly food,
but the Monkey King's golden club weighed 17,000 catties (10,200 kg),
while the pure-water bottle held easily by Quan Yin Bodhisattva contained
an ocean! I believe that anyone who practices the Quan Yin Method will
be able to do similar things one day. Through Master's grace, it appears
that I have had my first taste of being a giant!
by a fellow initiate from Mainland China (originally in Chinese)
After my husband and I received Convenient Method transmission in May 2003,
we began to eagerly await initiation. During this period, I often dreamt of
Master and how She always blessed me and strengthened my faith in various ways.
However, as the days went by, we became increasingly anxious and sometimes could
not help but ask Master in our hearts, "You said You would give us
initiation. Why is there no news yet?" In my heart, I understood that we
should introspect and be more patient, and that Master would definitely make the
best arrangement and give us initiation at the most appropriate time. However,
when I was alone, I would weep in front of Master's photo like a lost child who
could not find her mother.
Then one night in March of this year, I dreamt that a brother-initiate had
come to inform us, "You may receive initiation now." Upon waking, I
wanted to relate this wonderful dream to my husband, who was as anxious as I was
to be initiated. However, he had already gone to work. Later that morning, he
called me excitedly on the telephone, saying, "I was informed that there
will be an initiation on the morning of March 16 in a nearby country. Go quickly
to have your photo taken and get all the procedures completed at the travel
agency. We have only one week to spare!" I could hardly believe my ears,
went immediately to have my photo taken and then rushed to see my husband.
Overwhelmed with bliss, he told me, "God's power is indeed inconceivable.
My company has arranged for me to attend a meeting from March 12 to 15 in the
country where the initiation will be held, and they insisted that I go. Since
the situation was urgent I had to ask the travel agency to get a tourist visa to
the appropriate city for me. Even the air ticket is for that city. After
attending the meeting there, I'll have enough time to get the initiation on
March 16. Everything has been seamlessly arranged! It took my dumb brain quite a
while to figure the situation out. My visa is almost ready even though I only
just received the notification about the initiation." Very soon, I also got
my airline ticket and visa through the travel agency.
On our initiation day, my husband and I were watching one of Master's lecture
videos while awaiting screening by a Quan Yin messenger. When we heard choral
singing by fellow initiates on the video, we both wept silently as our hearts
were stirred with mixed emotions - the joy of finding an enlightened Master,
longing to see Her, the pain that we felt for Master in bearing karma for
sentient beings, and uneasiness about passing the initiation screening.
Despite our anxiety, the screening and subsequent initiation went smoothly,
and my husband and I are now deeply grateful to Master for Her love and
blessing in allowing us to be spiritually reborn on March 16, 2004. On
that auspicious day, Master severed the shackles of transmigration for
us, and guided us on our way back Home.
by sister-initiate Li Ying-qing, Nantou, Formosa (originally in Chinese)
Among the initiates attending the international four-day retreat in Thailand
from October 22 to 25, 1997 was a Korean sister who was pregnant at the time.
Coincidentally, she gave birth to her baby on October 25, Ching Hai Day. I was
also pregnant then, and very much envied the baby's good fortune. Many curious
fellow initiates asked me about my expected delivery date, which should have
been March 6 according to my doctor's calculations. However, out of envy and
wishful thinking, I impulsively told them that it would be February 22, 1998,
Ching Hai Day, and the result? Of course, my baby was not born on Ching Hai Day.
This year, my child turned six years old, thus becoming eligible for
half-initiation into the Quan Yin Method, and in February my local center
informed me that I could bring her to Hsihu to be initiated the following
Sunday. I was overwhelmed with emotion and remained speechless for a long time,
being totally awestruck by Master's incredible arrangement because that Sunday
fell on February 22 - Ching Hai Day!
Master has said that our real birthday is our initiation day, which is
pre-recorded according to God's perfect plan. It is just that we habitually use
our minds to plan and arrange everything. Master takes constant care of us in
our daily lives, as shown by Her flawless arrangement of my daughter's
initiation. And if we fail to perceive Her infinite compassion and experience
Her care, it is only because we are too busily engaged in worldly thinking.
However, we can always choose to work harder and reach inside to focus on
spiritual progress, thus gaining a deeper perception of Master's infinite love.
【Selected Questions and Answers】
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day International Retreat, Sydney, Australia, May 9 - 12, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No. 582
Q: After initiation, does the law of cause and effect change more quickly
than before?
M: It depends on what you do. It depends on whether you want it to change
quickly or not. If you want it quick, it will be quick. If you want it slow, it
will be slow.
Q.If it's quick, does it mean one's responsibilities in this world are
finished quickly?
M: Don't rush. Just do it the way you're doing now; that's fine. And then if
you really want it quick, things will happen. What I mean is, sometimes we're in
a hurry and we want to do things quickly so that we can go Home. But it's OK;
Home is always there. Don't worry; just take it easy. That's better. If it's too
quick you'll be too tired. You won't have the time and energy to survive and
meditate. So just let it be the way it is.
But some people want it to be very quick; they want to progress quickly and
they want to pay off their karma fast. So, things will be arranged for them if
they sincerely want it so. But I advise you not to want too much. Just meditate,
and let things take their own natural course. That's better. Otherwise, all hell
will break loose, if you want it fast.
Sometimes you work for the community or you work for the Master, and then it
also goes quickly, automatically. But you have to do it with a sense of
devotion and selfless sacrifice, not with a desire for something in return.
Even wanting to cleanse your karma quickly or wanting to progress quickly
is also a kind of business. But you can desire that, if you want to. It's
just the mind talking. The soul still does what it has to do, and the
Master still has to arrange what He or She has to arrange for our good.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, International Four-day Retreat,
Washington D.C., U S A, December 25, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No.
610
Q: What kind of practice can I do to reduce my ego?
M: Just continue meditating. Also, the more you meditate, the more you can
tell yourself, "This isn't right: Control it!" Don't give in to what
your ego demands all the time. Because it's easy to blame someone else for our
failures, easy to get mad at everything, easy to give in to our own desires and
lusts. It's easy. So just try to modify it and moderate it.
Q: But sometimes you're in that situation, and you've already done it before
you finally discover that you did it wrong.
M: I understand. Then the next time, in a similar situation, you'll know. That's
how you learn; learn by your mistakes. Forgive yourself, and learn from
these lessons. Because if you keep continuing to do the same thing again
and again, and you know it's wrong but you continue to do it, later you
won't be able to change anymore! It becomes a pattern, and you automatically
react. If you allow yourself to be spoiled or bad, it will be big trouble
later.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day International Retreat, Sydney, Australia, May 9 - 12, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No. 582
Q: When we're in contact with negative forces, can we simply respect them and
ignore them? For instance, I'm a doctor, and sometimes I use acupuncture. I used
to ignore the possible karma that I might contract, but then someone told me
that I might "catch" the karma.
M: Well, you can catch it anywhere, anyhow, not only through needles. You can
catch it through the air, through eye contact, through nearness to a person,
through anything. Don't worry; if you're an acupuncture doctor, do your job. Do
it the best way you can, with love. You have to save the patient; that's your
job. Don't worry about the karma; you have to do your duty. Even if you die for
it, you have to. Don't talk about karma; just recite the Holy Names, and
"puncture" him! (Laughter and applause)
Don't worry so much about karma. Actually, what we should do in any job is
try to feel that we're only the instrument. Then the God power will help
that person. The only problem with many people is that after they heal
someone physically with their hands, they think it's they who did it.
And of course the karma will be greater. The karma is your own ego making
trouble. Otherwise, there's no karma in the beginning; there's also none
at the end.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day International Retreat, Sydney, Australia, May 9 - 12, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No. 582
Q: Dear Master, in Your last lecture in the U.S.A., You talked about the
balance between the negative and positive forces. And You said that the negative
comes up to the positive force center, in order to create balance. So, when I
make progress in spiritual study, does more karma come, or does more of the
positive come with that?
M: I'm just telling you to stay in between, because we don't want anything to
do with negative or positive anymore; we're going up above it. Just make friends
with both so that they don't kick you. We're going above the fighting, above the
struggle between the bad and the good, between the negative and the positive.
But because we're still here in the battle between both, we should just be like
Switzerland and become a neutral country. Switzerland doesn't care who's
fighting with whom, as long as they don't fight with them. And they arm
themselves so that they're powerful enough to scare their enemies away before
they're even attacked. And should they be attacked, they're powerful enough to
defend themselves.
So what we do now is the same. We arm ourselves with God power. And we do
good just because we're in this world. We have to be positive. The negative we
try to avoid, that's all, and not confront it or interfere with it. For example,
in Switzerland they're not communist and they're not whatever else. They're just
neutral. If the communists want to come and make friends with them, they're OK.
If the so-called republicans come and make friends with them, they're OK as
well. As long as they don't fight with Switzerland, they can do what they want.
In this world, it's also the same. We try to be good and do good, but we don't
interfere with other people, and we don't look down on people who don't
do good like we do, or who don't give charity. Or, we're vegetarian but
we don't look down on people who eat meat or drink wine. We're just friends
with whoever comes our way, and we try to show the good way to them if
they care to follow it. That's the way it is. Meanwhile, we arm ourselves
with the Master power so that we can survive in this world. And then we
go up and up, all the time. (Applause)
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Four-day Retreat, London, U. K., August
27, 1997 (originally in English) Videotape No. 595
Q: I've just heard that one of the issues at the retreat was the Golden Age.
I'm interested because I write music and songs about normal life and also very
much feel the need to write songs about how spirituality influences life. And
I'd like to know because I can feel it starting in a lot of places.
M: It could be true. If people start to go back more to God, come more to a
spiritual awareness and lessen the karma of killing, like following a vegetarian
diet and keeping the precepts from the Bible, the Buddhist scriptures or other
scriptures, the Golden Age will come soon. In such a society, people don't fear
each other but love and help each other. That's the Golden Age.
But on the other hand, a Golden Age starts within ourselves anytime we find
God, when we find a brotherhood within humankind. For example, our group feels
that we're in the Golden Age. And when the Buddha was alive, His disciples felt
they were in the Golden Age. So when the Buddha spoke of the five hundred years
after his Nirvana, He was referring to it as the decline of the Golden Age or
the decline of the Dharma. But that doesn't mean it ended right there. It ends
according to that time, but then another Dharma Age starts all the time. Every
time we have a living Master and a true teaching and we can get in touch with
our Golden Age inside, we're in a Golden Age. You feel it because you have the
Golden Age within you.
【Quan Yin Messengers' Travel Log】
With the Almighty Power, Nothing is Impossible
by a Quan Yin messenger (originally in Chinese)
Recently I had a chance to visit China and exchange spiritual insights with
local fellow practitioners. Feeling grateful to Master for giving me this
precious educational opportunity, I embarked on my journey of love fully charged
with God's grace. During the trip, a piece of good news reached me - the
consciousness of the world's population had been further elevated - filling my
heart with even greater bliss!
During the excursion to China Master took complete care of me inwardly and
outwardly, as I came to realize that the Almighty power arranges everything in
advance. While serving merely as Master's tool, I could perceive the intense
ties of affinity shared between Master and sentient beings through many
lifetimes. As Master says, "When helping others, the first one who benefits
is actually ourselves," and so I could feel myself growing through my work.
If we truly adhere to and practice our omnipotent Master's teachings, and
constantly rely on Her great power, we will attain spiritual growth at a rapid
pace.
While traveling through China, I observed that its environment was not
conducive to spiritual cultivation. Fellow initiates in the country suffered
numerous financial difficulties and lacked adequate means of communication.
So if they missed an initiation session, it might be a very long time
before another opportunity arose. Such periods of anxious longing can
be tormenting, and it is truly touching that their faith in Master remained
firm. Because of their sincere longing and strong belief, God bestows
on them infinite love and blessings, and so almost every fellow practitioner
in China has had excellent spiritual experiences. For example, some have
been notified by Master's manifestation form to prepare for initiation;
some have been informed of the Quan Yin messenger's arrival in advance
of their initiation, and others have beheld the inner Light form of Master
blessing everyone at the venue on initiation day. In addition, there are
far too many other testimonials of inner bliss to cite here.
The Master Power always prepares me for upcoming trips through the teachings
contained in Master's earlier discourses, which provide supplements for me both
within and without so that I can serve as a tool of God. While functioning in
the outside world, I deeply cherish all the lessons that Master gave us during
our years together in Hsihu, for I often find them useful in practical
situations. From this, I have come to better understand Master's painstaking
efforts at the time.
I know I am not yet perfect, and shall continue to learn in humility, while
constantly reminding myself of Master's message to initiates on the First
Saints' Day: "Remember God, endeavor to meditate with greater
concentration, have faith in the Master Power and be grateful to God. Be humble,
humble and humbler. Study the teachings diligently and serve the public
selflessly." These words may be few, but they provide a powerful stimulus
for spiritual growth - Master's precious gift to all fellow practitioners.
【Master Says】
Erase Your Habitual Ways of Acting through the Sound Stream
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Seven-day Retreat, Yilan, Formosa, August 12 - 18, 1988 (originally in Chinese) MP3-1
The Mind - A Collection of Habits from Many Lifetimes
You're always controlled by your mind. You listen to it constantly. Whatever
the mind tells you to do, you do it immediately. That's why, life after life,
you haven't been able to stand on your feet, or become a saint or your own
master. Each of us has the Master within. The Master is our wisdom, but we fail
to recognize it, for we don't use it well and are constantly deceived by our
minds. In fact, the mind is just a tool that can't distinguish between good and
bad but simply reacts out of habit.
Suppose you've enjoyed eating rice since childhood. The mind knows this and
says, "Ah! I've been eating rice every day of my life. So I should always
eat rice." It thinks in this way so if later you go to America, where rice
is not readily available and you can only have bread every day, you feel uneasy.
This is not a reaction of the Self. It's the mind telling you, "It's awful
to eat bread every day. I must have some rice today!" Most Chinese
travelers make it a point to have rice at all three daily meals, for they can't
endure a regular diet of bread and potatoes. Like us, the American people have
eyes, ears, noses and tongues, yet they have no problem eating bread and
potatoes every day. However, if you ask them to eat rice each day, they can't
bear it either. So we know it's a problem caused by our minds and customs.
What is the mind? The mind is nothing but a piece of equipment that's similar
to a recorder. Whatever you record, it plays back to you when you push a button.
Thus, we should absolutely not listen to this instrument. For people controlled
by their habits, life is boring because they do routine work all day. These
habitual patterns comprise our minds, yet we mistake them and our minds for our
Self, making it impossible for us to recognize our true Self.
Whether we're American, Chinese, French or of any other nationality, our true
Self is the same. The primal Self that existed before we developed the practice
of eating rice or potatoes, or of drinking beer, is the true Self. Later we
change into another person after following certain behavioral routines and
customs. We believe that we're the ones who like eating rice or potatoes, or
drinking beer, but actually that's not our Self. This person is created under
the influence of customs and patterns, by our desires in life, by bodily needs;
it's not the true Self.
Spiritual practitioners are best advised to listen to the inner Master rather
than to their habits or minds. The more we listen to the mind, the more we fall
under its spell and can't break free of it. If we aren't cautious, our whole
life will become very boring; much like that of a stone. We'll live each day in
the same way, with the same thinking, same customs and same actions, but without
the least bit of wisdom.
If we wish to attain wisdom, we must make use of it practically. For example,
if we don't use the money in our possession, can it benefit us in any way? We
may have lots of money, but if we save it all in a bank or store it in a corner,
but work hard each day, using only what we earn and leaving all our other money
stored in the bank or a corner, it becomes useless, and one day it will just
rot!
By this same theory, if we fail to quickly recognize our independent Self and
its freedom from reliance on anything, we'll fall under the control of our
wonts. Our attention and energy will become focused on long-established behavior
patterns. Such attention, given its great power, will form a mold once it
integrates itself with many of these patterns. For example, this mold might have
a preference for rice, women, alcohol and tobacco. All of these tendencies will
then combine to form a certain blueprint, and the next time we transmigrate,
we'll act in more or less the same way and add in more new behaviors.
Suppose a person had certain ways of acting in his previous life and also in
this lifetime; though he's born in a different place, he still retains his
previous-life patterns and also develops several new ones to make the situation
even more complicated. So there are times when we don't know what kind of person
we are. We're happy today but unhappy tomorrow; we're OK today, but awful
tomorrow; today we speak like Asians, and tomorrow we speak like Westerners. We
can't be independent or be our own master. We can't decide for ourselves, all
because we're controlled by our habitual behaviors. The mind is nothing but a
collection of these patterns. So in order to change ourselves, we must first
change our traditional ways of acting.
The truth is, the individual does not exist in the first place. We come from
the same power, which makes use of certain tools to gain experience and learn
lessons. However, we assume that these lessons are our Selves and confine our
great energy within a mold, thus limiting ourselves and placing our true Self
under the control of habitual patterns, which may dictate to our almighty power
when it's time to eat rice or smoke tobacco. This power doesn't need to do such
things, but does them only because it's under the mind's control.
Get Rid of Your Longstanding Habits through the Sound Force
In practicing the Quan Yin Method, we use the inner nectar to cleanse
patterns accumulated through many lifetimes and thereby liberate ourselves from
the cycle of birth and death. Otherwise, the mind becomes filled with habits,
and with each transmigration more are added. As these ways of acting multiply
and become more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to escape.
Only the nectar of the inner Sound stream can cleanse these complex patterns and
render them void. Only when all the behaviors that are capable of controlling
our almighty power are erased can we fully recognize our true potential. As we
cultivate our spirituality, we come to better understand that we absolutely
don't need these things.
Many people stop smoking immediately after they're initiated because the
inner Sound force erases their smoking addiction and their true Self suddenly
realizes that they don't need it anymore. I never compel them to quit;
compulsion doesn't work. You know it's very difficult to stop smoking. So how is
it that these people can quit immediately after initiation? Some have been
smoking or drinking for decades. It's really fantastic that they can eliminate
their addictions all of a sudden! This power is truly incredible! Some people
don't even need to wait until initiation to change; right after seeing me, they
go home and rid themselves of all desire for tobacco, alcohol, meat and secular
things!
Some people are open-minded, so the influence takes effect more quickly. But
some are stubborn so the effect comes about more slowly. We say such people have
a stronger ego and heavier karma. People with heavy karma have accumulated too
many habits life after life over a very long time. Some people have been
addicted to tobacco for many lifetimes so it's not easy for them to discard it
immediately upon meeting me. Some, on the other hand, have only been smoking for
a couple of lifetimes, or only in this life so as soon as they see me they no
longer want to smoke. It's faster to erase the problem in such cases. It's just
like clothes being easier to clean when they're not very dirty. Just soaking
them in water makes them clean. Some clothes have been worn for a long time, for
many days without being washed so they can't be cleaned even if you scrub them
hard. So some clothes take a longer time to wash, while others require a shorter
period. However, you have to use soap and water to wash dirty clothes; there's
no other way. Similarly, there's only one way to cleanse karma - that is, with
nectar. If anyone tells you that there's another way, they're deceiving you!
Regardless of the method you practice, if you haven't heard the inner Sound or
received the inner nectar, it's useless!
The Quan Yin Method is the Matchless and Ultimate Spiritual Method
Any method by which we can hear the inner Sound force is the Quan Yin Method,
the right method, the true method. This is just like the fact that anyone who
gives you water to thoroughly clean your clothes is correct, regardless of the
language he speaks or the method he uses. Whatever container he uses, it's the
right one as long as it contains water. He could be using a golden bowl, but if
it contained oil, your clothes would be ruined! Or if the liquid he gives you
looks like water, but is actually beer, perfume or milk, then it's also no good!
So whatever method or container he uses is right as long as he brings water in
it for that's what you need.
So any form of practice by which we can hear the inner Sound is the Quan Yin
Method, the true method! Some Zen masters were purer or had practiced in
previous lifetimes so they could also occasionally hear the Sound in their
meditation. At such moments, we can say that they were practicing the Quan Yin
Method for they then experienced the Sound. The so-called Zen masters might not
have had to practice for a very long time before hearing the Sound. Some might
have practiced for a very long time, but their spiritual level remained
unstable. They experienced the Sound stream on and off, and didn't know which
Sounds were good and which weren't. They just listened to the Sound without
guidance, wasting much time and exposing themselves to danger.
Similarly, if when we're sick, we might not see a doctor but instead buy
medicine at a pharmacy. There we find many supplements, vitamins and medicines
for abdominal pain or headache, and randomly buy some and take them. Little do
we know that the same headache symptom could have different causes, and it's the
same with abdominal pain. So even when taking supplements we have to pay
attention to many things, such as dosage, duration of administration, whether it
should be taken before or after meals, and so on. We have to find out about all
these details.
This is similar to practicing the Quan Yin Method. If we don't receive clear
guidance from anyone, we may do it in the wrong way. We think that the more
supplements we take, the better it will be, but that may not be true. That's why
I don't ask you to meditate on the Sound all day long. I also don't teach you to
spend two-thirds of your meditation time on Sound contemplation. Instead, I
instruct you to meditate on the inner Sound for one-third of the time. I also
tell you which side you should listen to, and which side you shouldn't. It's
just like taking supplements. Should they be taken before or after meals? How
large should each dosage be? How many times a day should they be taken? All
these details need to be determined clearly so that our body gains the greatest
benefit. Otherwise, there may be side effects.
There are others who also teach listening to the Sound. You can find them in
Au Lac, in Formosa and elsewhere. However, it seems that they've only stolen a
part of it, and don't know the complete method. Even then, however, there are
still benefits, but also obstacles, of which I've seen cases. Only our Quan Yin
Method is clear and precise, just like a prescription issued by an experienced
doctor. He knows what dosage is good for each patient. He gives accurate
prescriptions so that there will be no side effects. However, there are people
who have not graduated from a medical college but who run clinics and cause harm
to many people. This is similar to the so-called masters who come out to teach
publicly. Their objective is money and fame so their teachings may be incorrect,
confusing and harmful. So it's not easy to pursue spirituality.
Each day, our souls are severely influenced by our habits so we ought to
practice diligently, just like filthy clothes that have to be washed many times.
A fellow initiate once asked me, "Master, why do You say that it's good to
have a one-day fast every one or two weeks?" It's because we want to break
the cycle of transmigration so that the chain is severed and we become freer.
Our own master says, "I don't want to eat today," so I just don't eat.
It shows that we're in charge, we're our own master. I don't mean that
starvation can make you a saint. No! You should know what you'll become if you
starve yourself to death! (Everyone laughs and answers, "A hungry
ghost!") Right! A hungry ghost! So give up the idea that fasting can lead
to sainthood. You should understand the logic behind it instead.
Now we use the inner nectar to cleanse our worldly habits so that we
can be free. As a result, we can survive under any circumstances. We just
use or eat whatever we have on hand, and the environment doesn't affect
us. We just eat any vegetarian food that's available, and we're happy
in any situation. This is a truly desirable condition. Having a lot to
eat and a comfortable life isn't really desirable. No! No! That's a life
of slavery. Instead we ought to set ourselves free. If we aren't free
now, we can't be free after we die and go to Paradise. Though we're in
Paradise, our minds keep thinking about coffee, milk and buns. But what
if those things aren't available there? Naturally, we'll fall back into
the human world. Yes! If you desire worldly things, you have to come back
and find them here!
【Glimpses of Eternity】
Spirituality Shines through Adversity - the Inspiring Works of Hans Christian
Andersen
by sister-initiate Swan, United Kingdom (originally in English)
Introduction
The literary output of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)
includes 175 stories and fairy tales, 800 poems, six novels, several
autobiographies, innumerable travel books and works for the theatre. Andersen is
especially renowned for his lovely fantasy stories and fairy tales, which can be
appreciated by both children and adults alike. His stories have been translated
into 123 languages (for further details please visit: http://www.odmus.dk/andersen/eventyr/start.asp?sprog=engelsk
). This is an
amazing feat because no writings except the Bible have been translated into more
languages. The numerous printed editions and cinematic versions of Andersen's
fairy tales serve to keep his memory alive.
Life
Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark to the family of a poor cobbler, who
believed he was of aristocratic origin and loved literature. Andersen's mother,
a washerwoman, was uneducated but nonetheless exposed her son to the world of
folklore. During his childhood, Andersen received little education and possessed
a highly emotional nature, suffering from countless bouts of fear and
humiliation due to his uncommon height and "effeminate" interests (i.
e., singing and dancing). Encouraged by his parents, he composed his own fairy
tales and arranged puppet shows, and often attended productions at the local
playhouse with his father. Later, after leaving his hometown, Andersen passed
his examinations and graduated from Copenhagen University, where he completed
his education.
Before achieving success as a playwright and novelist, Andersen was trained
as a singer, dancer and actor. However when he was casually referred to as a
poet by a friend it changed his focus. As he says, "It went through me,
body and soul, and tears filled my eyes. I knew that from that very moment, my
mind was awake to writing and poetry."
Beginning in 1831 Anderson traveled widely in Europe, and remained a
passionate traveler all his life, recording his impressions of adventures in
Asia Minor and Africa in several travel books. However, Andersen's international
renown rests largely on his fairy tales and stories, written between 1835 and
1872, including "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New
Clothes" and "The Ugly Duckling," Andersen's most self-revealing
work.
Spiritual Awareness
In one of Her lectures, Supreme Master Ching Hai interprets "The Ugly
Duckling," saying that the nature of the title character is actually that
of a swan, one of the world's most precious and beautiful creatures, but she
mixes in with a duck herd, making herself look very odd. Similarly, we spiritual
practitioners are sometimes rejected by society because our concepts are
different than those of people in the mundane world. We should not feel hurt by
these circumstances, however - perhaps we are just "swans in a duck
herd." In addition, such rejection can aid us in our spiritual cultivation.
Because just like the ugly duckling was abandoned by a duck herd, learned she
was a swan and returned to the flock of swans where she belonged, we too can
find our true Home through rejection by society.
One can discover other spiritual themes and imagery in Andersen's works as
well. For example, the following passage from the story "The Bell"
(1845) suggests that the author experienced some degree of enlightenment:
"The whole of nature was a large holy church, in which the trees and
hovering clouds formed the pillars, the flowers and grass, the woven velvet
carpet, and Heaven itself was the great cupola; up there the flame color
vanished as soon as the sun disappeared, but millions of stars were lighted;
diamond lamps were shining, and above them sounded the invisible holy bell;
happy spirits surrounded them, singing hallelujahs and rejoicing."
Another sign of Andersen's spiritual awareness can be found in the story
"The Pen and the Inkstand" (1860), in which he honors Almighty God,
stating, "How foolish it would be for the violin and the bow to boast of
their performance, and yet we men often commit that folly. The poet, the artist,
the man of science in his laboratory, the general - we all do it; and yet we are
only the instruments which the Almighty uses; to Hirm alone the honor is due. We
have nothing of ourselves of which we should be proud." And to reaffirm his
devotion, the author ends the story with the line "To Hirm be all the Honor
Epilogue
Hans Christian Andersen, master of fairy tales, died on August 4, 1875.
Throughout his life Andersen was poor and lonely, but as we know, it is possible
to seize the opportunity of such adversity to truly shine. We can be the best at
what we do by accepting the negative aspects of our lives as lessons through
which to learn and grow. Thus, Hans Christian Andersen's spirituality shone
through a difficult life as he managed to produce inspirational literature that
is still read by young and old alike around the world - a legacy of unique and
heartening stories that offer lessons for us all.
For online story viewing, please visit:
http://hca.gilead.org.il/ (in English)
http://www.sm21.net/jing/anderson
(in Chinese)
【Vegetarian Era】
by the Ohio News Group, USA (originally in English)
Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 as a special agency
of the United Nations. With nearly two hundred member countries, the agency
implements worldwide programs to prevent and eliminate disease. But the WHO's
mission goes beyond the mere treatment of physical illness, its stated objective
being "the attainment of the highest possible level of health for all
people in the world" with health defined as "a state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being."
Achievements
Over the years, the WHO has continually found ways to achieve this goal, with
its first major accomplishment the eradication of smallpox, long considered the
most deadly and persistent human infectious disease. Smallpox had caused
millions of deaths and much suffering for centuries, but once the agency set out
to eradicate it, WHO personnel traveled the world to conduct a massive
vaccination program. And as a result, smallpox was eliminated in 1977. Since
then, the WHO has turned its attention to other diseases such as polio and
leprosy, which are now on the verge of eradication as well.
In addition to fighting illness, the World Health Organization has been a key
player in promoting worldwide disease prevention and health programs. Working
with partners in health research, the WHO gathers data on global health
conditions and needs, particularly in developing countries. One of its most
recent initiatives is the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.
This project, mandated by the World Health Assembly in May 2002, arose through
the discovery that more and more people in the developing world were suffering
from chronic disease.
Increasing urbanization was found to play a large part in changing health
conditions among residents of developing countries. In addition, it was long
known that city dwellers are more likely to consume energy-dense diets high in
saturated fats and refined carbohydrates. For the newly urban poor, this sudden
change in diet, along with the transition to a sedentary lifestyle, resulted in
an increasing incidence of chronic health problems such as heart disease,
diabetes, stroke, cancer and respiratory ailments. However, most risk factors
for these conditions - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased body
weight and decreased physical exercise - are largely preventable.
Research conducted after the World Health Assembly found that diet and
exercise are key elements in combating many of these risk factors. For example,
diets rich in fruit and vegetables, which contain immune-system boosting
micronutrients, enhance the body's natural defenses against infectious disease.
Specifically, the following recommendations for preventive health were made by
the WHO:
* Eat more fruit and vegetables, nuts and whole grains
* Engage in daily physical activity
* Replace saturated animal fats with unsaturated vegetable oil-based fats
* Cut the overall amount of fatty, salty and sugary foods in the diet
* Maintain a normal body weight
* Stop smoking
While these guidelines do not specify a completely vegetarian diet, they
clearly emphasize fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and vegetable fats. In
addition, the recommendations are based on data gathered from all over the
world, and so reflect both a concern about nutrition and a respect for cultural
diversity, including groups that value vegetarianism from the standpoint of
compassion for animals. For example, the WHO received input from the
International Vegetarian Union, an organization with a worldwide membership
founded in 1908.
In May 2004, the World Health Organization will present these suggestions as
a global prevention-based proposal to the World Health Assembly to provide the
Assembly's member states with solid evidence for implementing national health
strategies. The WHO will also seek interaction with the international food
industry to stress the business sector's responsibility in helping to achieve
these goals.
Other recent WHO projects include campaigns to reduce tobacco use worldwide,
and research on the health effects of the electromagnetic field surrounding cell
phones.
Conclusion
During its fifty-six year history, the World Health Organization has
performed earthly miracles. In the above-mentioned case of smallpox eradication
alone, the agency accomplished in twenty years what the medical profession had
not been able to achieve in the previous two hundred. For, although the smallpox
vaccine was discovered in 1796, it was only after the WHO began carrying the
torch to eliminate it that the disease was finally wiped out in 1977.
The World Health Organization embodies many of the Godly qualities that we
find so inspiring in our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai - tirelessness,
constant work for the benefit of humanity, and a desire for anonymity.
Thus, the organization has been blessed by God and will no doubt continue
to grace the world with its humble but great endeavors.
by Dr. Yellow Dragon, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A. (originally in English)
"Meat is the cause of all wars and suffering in this world. Just give up
the meat-based diet; that will be enough to save the world as well as your own
and the nation's health. To refrain from eating meat is to contribute to peace
on this planet."
~ Supreme Master Ching Hai
In recent years, rising awareness of compassion for animals, concerns about
meat-related illnesses such as "mad cow" and heart disease, and the
expanding array of vegetarian products now on the market have inspired people
around the world to reduce or completely stop their consumption of meat. Thus,
in many countries such as the United States, the vegetarian food industry is
booming. As the market for vegetarian products explodes, items such as soy milk
and veggie burgers are showing up more and more frequently in mainstream
groceries and fast food restaurants. A recent study by the British market
research firm Mintel International Group Ltd. found that from 1998 to 2003, U.S.
retail sales of vegetarian foods and dairy alternatives grew 113% to $1.6
billion. This statistic is especially telling because as Supreme Master Ching
Hai says, the U. S. has traditionally been the world leader in per capita meat
consumption: "America has the highest rate of cancer in the world because
the Americans eat a lot of beef. They eat more meat than any of the other
countries. Ask yourself why the Chinese or communist countries don't have that
high a rate of cancer. They don't have as much meat. That's what the research
says."
Compassion a Factor in Avoiding Meat
Regarding individual motivations for the rise in vegetarian food sales, Debra
Wasserman of the U.S.-based Vegetarian Resource Group, says, "Supermarkets
think people buy vegetarian for health reasons, but the biggest [number of
potential customers] - the pushers of vegetarianism - are in support of animal
rights." Thus, even more than personal health, compassion for sentient
beings appears to be a driving force in the growth of vegetarian food
consumption. Wasserman also states that the animal rights movement came of age
in the early 1980s so vegetarian and vegan (completely meat- and dairy-free)
diets that promote compassion for animals have a special appeal to younger
members of the population. And surprisingly, it is the mainstream food producers
that understand this trend best: "A lot of good veggie and vegan items are
coming out of chicken [and other such] companies. They understand the movement
and know that young people are the future."
As mentioned above, besides animal welfare, health concerns are also a major
factor influencing the rise in vegetarian food use. But even when a consumer's
motivation is good health, their meat-free food choices still benefit animals.
As Bruce Friedrich, spokesman for the U. S.-based group People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals affirms, there is no harm in the focus on health instead of
animal rights issues because meat avoidance benefits animals no matter what the
basis: "From our perspective, if people influenced by health consequently
cut back on fish and meat consumption, that helps animals. If two people cut
their meat in half it helps as much as one person going completely
vegetarian."
Health Concerns as Motivators
Until the mid-1990s, the change toward vegetarian food use was slow, but as
mounting scientific evidence revealed high-fat diets as key contributors to
coronary artery disease, many people began re-examining their eating habits.
Besides heart-related issues, worries about contracting the human form of
"mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) from tainted beef
have also arisen in recent years, adding to the reduction in red meat
consumption. While some consumers simply replace red meat with chicken, pork or
fish, others substitute at least some of the red meat with textured vegetable
(soy) protein, wheat gluten and similar products. This switch to
semi-vegetarianism (called 'flexitarianism' by the media) has been a major
driver of the vegetarian foods market. Like many pure vegetarians, a large
number of flexitarians are motivated by the growing body of medical data showing
the health benefits of eating vegetarian products. Thus, as Suzanne Hobbs, a
nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina says, the growth of
vegetarian food consumption can be credited to the nation's growing
understanding of the diet-disease connection: "Whether you make a
commitment to eating strictly vegetarian or not, cutting back your dependence on
meat is something most people know they should do."
Future Growth is Inevitable
Many of today's popular vegetarian food products originated in the health and
natural foods sector. However, the entry of large traditional food producers
such as Kraft, ConAgra, General Mills, Dean Foods and Kellogg's into the market
has clearly been responsible for the sizeable gains in mainstream supermarket
retail sales, thanks to these companies' greater capacity for product
development, distribution and marketing.
So as more and more large corporations join the trend, the future looks
bright for continued growth of the vegetarian food industry. In fact, the
above-mentioned market research firm Mintel's Global New Products Database
reports that total retail sales of vegetarian products have increased between 20
percent and 40 percent annually for the last five years. In 1996, U.S. retail
sales of vegetarian foods were $3.1 million; by 2001, sales had jumped to $1.25
billion, and Mintel predicts that sales will hit $2.8 billion by 2006.
Moreover, the Vegetarian Resource Group reports that 4.8 million Americans -
2.5 percent of the adult population - view themselves as vegetarian, and almost
one percent or 1.7 million are vegan. Other polls reveal that five to nine
percent of American adults - 9.7 million to 17.4 million - are "almost
vegetarians" who eat some meat, poultry or fish, and another 38.6 million
to 48.2 million Americans - 20 percent to 25 percent of the population - are
"vegetarian inclined," eating four or more meatless meals a week.
These data show that the U. S. population is indeed beginning to follow
Supreme Master Ching Hai's admonitions about reducing meat consumption and thus
pacifying the world: "For all health reasons, we should be vegetarians. For
all scientific reasons, we should be vegetarians. For all economic reasons, we
should be vegetarians. For all compassionate reasons, we should be vegetarians.
And as well, to save the world, we should be vegetarians. It is stated in some
research that if people in the West, in America, eat vegetarian only once a
week, we would be able to save sixteen million starving people every year. So be
a hero, be vegetarian. Even if you don't follow me, or don't practice the same
method, please be a vegetarian for your own sake, for the sake of the
world."
Conclusion
Moreover, in other parts of the globe, where vegetarian food use is more
common for religious, cultural and economic reasons, this trend is already
underway. So as the new millennium unfolds, the era of compassionate vegetarian
living is clearly beginning, thus hastening the arrival of the Golden Age by
heeding Master's advice: "Just give up the meat-based diet; that will be
enough to save the world as well as your own and the nation's health. To refrain
from eating meat is to contribute to peace on this planet."
【Pearls of Wisdom】
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Kaohsiung, Formosa, January 10, 1990, (originally in Chinese) Videotape No. 109
Whatever our faith or belief, we all know that animals have souls for they
can move on their own initiative. Any sentient being that can move by itself,
has the intent to move and has a mind that commands its movements forms ties of
affinity with many other beings, gains many experiences and develops its
intelligence, all of which result in attachment. When such sentient beings
become attached to their intelligence and accumulated experiences, they become
emotionally involved with life and fear death. Because of their fondness for a
longer life, more experiences, increased activity and the opportunity to
establish affinities with and learn from other beings, their hearts become
filled with affection for life, fear of death, and feelings of hatred, kindness
and gratitude.
If we eat animals, we unconsciously step into their magnetic fields,
which are characterized by a strong desire for life and apprehension about
death. We get stuck, just as we do when we step on glue and our foot is
glued to the spot and loses mobility. Stepping on sand is all right, given
its non-adhesiveness. Everything has a different quality. But if we step
on the animals' qualities of life attachment and fear of death, their
hate-filled magnetic fields cling to our souls, trapping us, pressurizing
us and depriving us of our freedom.
Plants do not move without being blown by the wind so they have less
experience and intelligence. With this lower level of awareness, they also have
less attachment. For plants, it isn't a grave matter to die and be reborn
because they have few experiences and attachments. Animals, by contrast, have
more experiences since they can move of their own accord. For example, a dog may
go looking for his girlfriend, and then look around further the next day,
thinking, "Wow! This one is more beautiful than the last one!" (Master
and audience laugh.) Attachment grows from such occurrences , which is why they
cling to life. Under the influence of these phenomena, all animals become fond
of life and fearful of death. But this is not the case with plants because they
have too little experience to cling to. So when we consume plants, their
magnetic fields do not become attached to us.
Thus, we can't say that animals and plants are alike. If that were so, then
it would be as good as saying that chewing gum, sand and stones are alike, and
that's not true. Sand and stones do not stick to us when we step on them; only
chewing gum does. Everything has a different quality so we can't say that
animals are the same as plants. They're absolutely different. (Applause) We can
understand this through observation. It isn't because Master Ching Hai said so,
or the Bodhisattvas said so that we understand it. It's extremely simple and
logical; we know these things just from observation.
Everything in the universe has a different quality. So when we choose our
diet, of course, we should select foods that create less of a burden for us and
allow us to practice more easily and progress more quickly. Only then will we
not be bound or pulled down by very heavy magnetic fields.
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Colorado, U.S.A., May 14, 1991
(originally in English) Videotape No. 170a
If you earn your money by blood, it will weigh down your conscience. It's not
that I forbid you to do so; I'm just telling you the secret behind these things.
Any profession involved in killing, directly or indirectly, will hurt you. It
will hurt your soul because it's your own principle that you're trespassing on
or harming, not someone else's commandment.
You yourself wouldn't like to be chopped into pieces and fed to people or
animals. If we take away any life, we take away a portion of our own life. And
we have to pay for it in some way or another to make up for the hole we've dug
or the portion of life we've caused to be lost. We have to fill the role that we
took away by force. Because if that role was to be played by that animal until a
certain year's time and you just take it away, directly or indirectly, you're
taking part in a crime. So we have to partially play that role somehow, to fill
the hole or replace the missing part.
For example, in the theater there are different parts or roles. And if you
knock down one of the actresses or if the director fires one, he has to look for
another person to fill that role. If not, he'll have trouble. He will have
caused the loss of a job, wages and money, and the whole performance will be
spoiled. And he's the one who'll have the trouble. So if you help the director
to do that or if you knock down that actress yourself, then you'll also have
more trouble. Somehow you'll have to pay for it in some form, either money-wise
or by going to court or going to jail or even by playing that role yourself.
As for why we should not eat eggs, it's because the egg represents the cycle
of reincarnation; it gives the impression of being able to be reborn. Also, eggs
attract negativity. Those who practice voodoo know this. They use eggs to
attract entities from people when they want to cast out negative spirits from
some possessed person. They break eggs to attract that soul to leave. Because
when the deceased or disembodied spirit sees the eggs, it's attracted; it thinks
it can be reborn again in a body. So it goes into the egg. Then they take the
broken egg and throw it out. And also the smell is unpleasant, whether
fertilized or unfertilized.
This understanding is a secret precept for attaining everlasting life, not a
commandment that I'm handing to you by force or by some kind of authority. It's
just a secret formula for entering the Kingdom of God.
【Master Tells Stories】
The Stone Mason - Enlightenment Returns Us to Our Natural Self
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, July 10, 1995 (originally
in English) Videotape No. 487
here once was a stone mason who was very diligent. Every day, he broke stones
into pieces and made things with them or perhaps sold them. Even if it was
extremely hot in Miaoli, he never stopped. He worked and worked continuously,
using a very large, powerful hammer and broke all the stones into pieces. These
stones were then used by people to pave the roads, the area where they sat in
the meditation hall, and any place where small pieces of stone (gravel) were
needed. This was the result of his work.
The mason inherited this job from his great-grandfather, and then from his
grandfather and then from his father. So, there were many generations of stone
masons in his family. He was a very diligent and strong man. Sometimes he also
worked during his lunch break because he wanted to earn extra money for his
family; he would work until very late in the evening then go home and sleep.
That's all.
Many of his friends and neighbors were envious of his health and his
extremely free lifestyle. He seemed very much at ease and independent.
However, on the contrary, this man (his name meant "power")
didn't feel contented about his lot, but always wished to have a nobler
kind of life - richer, with more luxuries and higher living. So he wasn't
always happy.
One day, he was breaking stones, perhaps next to the Nectar River. It was
morning, and the sun was rising. Suddenly, he saw a lot of dust coming toward
him, like a big cloud. And then in the middle of the dust cloud appeared a big,
beautiful four-horse carriage, on top of which sat a very big, fat and dignified
officer of the king. He had so many bodyguards around him and so many other
horses surrounding him and behind him that he looked very terrific, majestic and
distinguished.
A Miraculous Transformation
Upon seeing this sight, the stone mason stood aghast, with mouth open and
eyes wide, and felt very miserable. Deep, deep in his heart, he suddenly had a
wish and said, "I wish I could be a great Mandarin, a great officer of the
king." Then suddenly there came a huge, thunder-like noise from the
mountain top: "Boom!" Because the king of the mountain had heard the
stone mason's wish and made it come true. Next the stone mason instantly became
a very big officer. He changed into a prime minister, and everything he ever
wished for came to him. He had money, a big palace, bodyguards and a great,
great, great estate. And all the people respected him: Everywhere he went,
people just crawled in the dirt and dared not look up. And he would spill dust
over them and they remained cheerful; they dared not say anything.
The stone mason was very proud of himself. Every day he had to go around,
take care of the country for the king and report to him when he came back. And
every time he entered the court, he had to kneel down and prostrate himself
before the king. He also had to wear official clothing, which was very thick and
studded with all kinds of precious stones like diamonds and pearls. So it was a
pretty heavy outfit. And in addition he had to wear a hat, which was also
studded with precious stones and gold and silver, befitting his rank. Every time
he had to bow down, his back ached, and he tried to keep his waist stuck
together; otherwise it would break in half. So he felt very bad, but he never
dared to take off his official clothes.
One day, while he was still bearing this situation for the sake of glory
and wealth and the adoration that people all around him bestowed on him,
the king sent him to a very faraway place to take care of some state business.
And in order to get to the area, he had to go through a very great desert,
which was exceedingly hot. But he couldn't take off his clothes because
of his rank. Everywhere he went, he had to be a big minister and nothing
else. It was so hot, he nearly died there. And then his hat became three
times heavier than usual. He was also sweating inside, and his clothes
were thus soaked and heavier than normal. So then he thought, "Oh
my God, being a prime minister is really, really terrible. I don't want
to be a prime minister anymore. I think I'll just die here! I think I'd
rather be a king. If I could be a king, it would be better. I wouldn't
have to go through the desert like this, and I wouldn't have to take orders
from anyone. I could do what I wanted, and would have many wives. So,
wow! That would be fantastic, to be king. I want to be king. I only want
to be king, nothing else; I want to be a king, all right?"
A Wish for the Glory of Kingship Fulfilled
And then unexpectedly, he heard another "Boom!" a very loud sound,
and then the king of the mountain, his friend, the god of the mountain, made his
wish come true. So the stone mason was transformed into a king who ruled a very
great nation, and had great wealth and many beautiful wives. And everyone knelt
before him and did everything he wished.
So he was contented for a while. But then the honeymoon was over and he had
to work very late into the night because many reports from different ministers
and provincial chiefs and the state governor came to him every day. And each day
he had to discuss the country's problems late into the night with many of his
ministers. So then he couldn't sleep very well at night. He worried about his
job, matters of state and the urgent business related to things happening in his
country that he couldn't resolve quickly and peacefully
With continuous problems both around and within his country, he couldn't
sleep very well, he couldn't eat and he couldn't enjoy all his beautiful wives.
He was too miserable to even look at them. When you're miserable, you don't
enjoy anything. So he couldn't eat; he couldn't even enjoy the food that he
wished to have, and he couldn't enjoy the women that he had always desired to
possess. He became very miserable and only ensconced himself in his duties,
worries and anxieties, and the demands of his subjects, enemies, friends and
anyone who desired things from him. Because he was the king, the top, the only
one, everyone came to him with problems, both within and without, and thus he
began to feel that now his kingship was not really a blessing but a punishment.
He felt very tired and worn out.
Even the Sun Has Its Dark Moments
Then one day, a neighboring country invaded his nation, and because he
was defeated he had to run away and hide. He had no food to eat during
his flight, and he was also very tired and felt hot. With his enemies
at his heels and his life at stake, he began thinking that it was terrible
to be a king, absolutely terrible! It was a mistake that he had wished
to become a king. And then he looked up and saw that the sun was very
free and very high; no one could touch it, and it was shining and beautiful!
So he said, "Oh, my God! To be the Sun; it's better to be a Sun.
I'd like to be a Sun. I don't like being a king. I'd like to be a Sun."
And so, "Bang!" he was up, and found himself on top of the
universe, shining his love and warmth on all things from atop the earth. He was
very glad bestowing his blessings on all the beings in the world. And he felt
very magnificent, happy and noble indeed because he thought he was the highest
in the universe. He looked down on all beings feeling very noble and delighted.
So he closed his eyes and meditated for a while and then suddenly said,
"How come it's so dark? It was so dark that his wisdom eye opened and he
said, "Oh!" There was a big cloud in front of him, daring to cover him
completely! And then he began struggling inside it and didn't know how to get
out. It was all dark, covering his wisdom eye as well. (Laughter) So he saw
nothing and was very mad, saying, "I have to be a cloud. I must be a cloud!
A cloud is greater than the Sun. The Sun is no good."
Discontented with Being a Cloud and a Mountain
So then, "Boom!" You know what happened again! (Laughter) The
never-satisfied man got satisfied once more. He turned into a cloud. Then for a
while, he was very pleased. He rained down on the people, destroying many
things, and then blessed the land by making all the flowers grow with the water
from his cloud. He made everyone happy, and he was happy, too. For a while he
was very satisfied. And then suddenly, the wind came! And it reduced him to
nothingness. He grew thinner and thinner, smaller and smaller, until he was like
a thread, just hanging around trying to keep himself alive. And then he again
got very angry. Still, he thought that he was OK, that maybe he could get
together and return to being big again.
But then the wind blew him across a mountain top, and the mountain caught
him, like someone catching your clothes. And he was caught there, hanging on top
of the mountain, and he became irritated, saying, "Everything comes and
goes, but the mountain always stands there; it never disappears, never gets
destroyed, nothing! It's always strong. Oh! I wish I were a mountain! I must be
a mountain. A mountain is the best." So, "Boom!" That sound came
back again! And you know what he turned into? (A: "A mountain.") A
mountain! So then he was again very joyful. He had become a mountain. Not even
the rain, wind, snow or sun - nothing could disturb the mountain. He sat like
this (Master extends Her elbows outward in a mock show of sturdiness) just like
me. (Laughter) He was feeling that the mountain was very great, and stuck his
nose up to the sky. He felt he was very great. Every day he looked up and felt
that he was very grand. (Laughter)
And then one day, he felt like someone was poking his feet with a knife or
nails or something like that, and as he looked down he said, "Oh!"
There was a stone mason breaking the stone of his feet down there. Of course, he
got crazily mad and yelled, "How dare you poke my feet! That hurts!"
But the mason didn't care. He used his big hammer and very pointed chisel and
just broke away the stones, one by one, and he was enjoying himself, singing and
whistling at the same time. So, wow! He then got even angrier and said,
"W-a-a-h ha-ha, I must be the stone mason!" (Laughter)
After Enlightenment We Truly Possess the Ordinary Mind
This is similar to us. Sometimes people say, "The ordinary mind is the
Buddha's mind," but we don't believe it. We don't know what that is. And we
actually don't know until after enlightenment, and then we come back to being
normal again. Then we know that everything is OK and realize that we know what
the ordinary mind is. Before that, even though we have it, we don't know.
The so-called normal way that people lead their lives is not the ordinary
mind. The real ordinary mind is one that's peaceful and calm, that takes
everything as it comes and reacts to everything as needed. There's no desire, no
wanting, no rejecting and no agitation of any kind. That's the ordinary mind.
But the way people lead their daily lives is not what's meant by the ordinary
mind.
So take care that you don't mistake the unenlightened with the enlightened,
the enlightened with the super-enlightened, and the super-enlightened with the
non-enlightened state of mind. After we become very enlightened, somehow we
begin to stop talking. At first when we aren't very enlightened, we talk a lot;
we know everything. We know what "the Buddha" means, as well as
Nirvana, samsara, karma, transmigration - everything. We know all the big words
from all the religious sects. We know it all.
Then, after we become somewhat enlightened, we talk even more but our words
have more essence. Our speech has a better meaning than before because we have a
greater understanding of the meaning of words that we often said before but
didn't know the true meaning of. So there are two stages of talking. The latter
stage of talk is of course more meaningful and honest because it comes from our
own realization. And then after that, after the talking stage, we begin to be
quiet. We don't want to talk anymore. So of course you wonder why I talk (Master
laughs.) - because you want me to talk.
Not talking doesn't mean keeping quiet all day long. Because if a person
doesn't talk, it doesn't mean he's quiet. And if a person ceases all activity,
it doesn't mean she's peaceful. So talking or not talking is not an external
thing; it's from the inside. At that time, you talk but you know it's not
necessary to talk. You talk at the request of other people or just to be a
normal person or to make others happy. Or you just talk because talking or not
talking is the same to you. It's not such enthusiastic talk; it's not such
impressive talk anymore, like we want to make others convert to our beliefs or
anything like that. It's very casual and very normal. So, that's it. That's the
story of the stone mason. It's amazing isn't it? It's exactly like we are.
【Love in Action】
Report from Thailand
Master's Love Fills Fire Victims' Hearts
by the Bangkok News Group
On April 28, 2004, Bangkok's worst fire in many years occurred in the Suan
Plu Pattana Community, which lies only 10km away from the Bangkok Center. The
fire destroyed about 700 homes with at least 3,000 occupants, mostly workers
from northeastern Thailand. Luckily, no deaths occurred as a result of the
disaster.
After receiving news about the fire and assessing the situation, Bangkok
initiates immediately organized a kitchen team to prepare vegetarian food for
the fire victims, and arranged for a relief team to distribute the food. Also,
another team was created to provide helpful information to other aid workers via
a radio broadcast.
Once the relief team reached the temporary shelter at Bangkok's Rajamangala
Institute of Technology, the members quickly offered fresh vegetarian cuisine to
a large number of victims, who felt very satisfied upon consuming the food,
including those of Muslim background who are normally strict about their food
choices. Through the sincere efforts of the fellow practitioners, everyone was
impressed and felt comforted by Supreme Master Ching Hai's care. And as Master's
blessings poured into them, their exhaustion soon abated.
One woman who was a local relief worker had listened to the initiates' radio
broadcast with much interest and thus volunteered to help on the relief team.
Besides, while distributing the blessed food, the practitioners played Master's
Buddha's chanting tape in the background, attracting a man who was also
providing food to the victims nearby. Upon approaching the initiates, the man
said, "I've never heard a voice so powerful; it pulled me to come
here." So a brother-initiate gave him a cassette tape.
Thank You, Master, for giving Thai initiates an opportunity for spiritual
improvement through the Suan Plu Pattana relief activity. The sisters and
brothers learned invaluable lessons by working together and sharing Master's
love with many of the fire victims.
Expenditure of Food Contribution for Fire Disaster in the
Suan Plu Pattana Community, Bangkok, Thailand by The Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association
|
Item
|
Amount (in Thai Bahts)
|
Receipt Nos.
|
|
Utensils
|
6,233.00
|
# 5, 6, 7
|
|
Hot drinks
|
5,164.00
|
#8, #9
|
|
Rice
|
1,600.00
|
Nil
|
|
Other ingredients
|
10,101.25
|
#1,#2,#3,#4,#10
|
|
Soya milk
|
2,100.00
|
Nil
|
|
Stationery
|
2,000.00
|
Nil
|
|
Total
|
THB 27,198.25
|
|
Caring for the Homeless - A Lesson in Selflessness
by the Hong Kong News Group
On Ching Hai Day and Tomb-Sweeping Day 2004, fellow initiates in Hong Kong
enjoyed the bliss of selfless service by bringing happy surprises to homeless
people in two old districts of the city.
On Ching Hai Day, which fell on February 22 this year, a number of initiates
traveled to the Kowloon District to visit the Yaumatei Center for the Homeless -
one of three shelters of its kind run by the Hong Kong Relief Society. The
sisters and brothers found great happiness in distributing clothing, daily
necessities and sandwiches to the Center's residents in this activity of love,
during which the facility's superintendent was only too delighted to help
distribute Master's sample booklets.
The second trip of the day began at Banyan Tree Park with a search that found
more than twenty homeless in the Park and on adjacent roads. The initiates
quickly went up to their less fortunate friends to offer gifts and express their
concern.
On April 4, Tomb-Sweeping Day, the fellow initiates visited the Wanchai
Center for the Homeless, also operated by the Hong Kong Relief Society, on the
island of Hong Kong. It was comforting to note that government accommodation
measures had caused the number of vagrants in this district to fall sharply. The
initiates arrived at the facility with dozens of beautiful gift packs full of
clothing, daily necessities and vegetarian food, and were warmly welcomed at the
main entrance by the superintendent and a group of residents. When the Center's
occupants heard that the initiates were from a spiritual group - The Supreme
Master Ching Hai International Association - the superintendent exclaimed,
"Your Master is very famous!" adding that one of his relatives often
attended Master's lectures. In addition to a gift package, each resident also
received a copy of Master's sample booklet, setting off a warm discussion in
which many people asked questions about religious beliefs. One of the residents,
who was of Mongolian descent, requested an English sample booklet.
Less than ten days after this visit, the Hong Kong Welfare Services Department
announced government plans to organize three more general service teams
than usual that month to secure employment and lodging for the region's
homeless. The ultimate goal was to ensure accommodations for the remaining
five hundred homeless citizens of Hong Kong. For local fellow initiates,
this was good news indeed and a sign of Master's blessing energy at work!
Total amount in
Tables 1 and 2 is NT$322,625
(approx. US$9,703)
Table 1: Details of expenditures for charitable activities in Formosa from
January to April 2004
|
Location
|
Date
|
Details of activities
|
Amount
(in NT$)
|
Appendix
|
|
Pingtung
|
2004.01.04
|
Conveying concern in winter and presenting Lunar New Year’s
gifts to needy elderly residents of Sinjhi Village, Wanluan Township,
Pingtung County
|
10,450
|
A
|
|
Miaoli
|
2004.01.11
|
Clearing garbage on Miaoli No. 28 Highway, in support of
environmental protection efforts by the Hsihu Township Office (voluntary
support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.01.28
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar, recreational
activities, and meditation teaching session for inmates at the Tainan Mingte
Labor Prison (voluntary support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.01.29
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar and meditation teaching
session for inmates at the Tainan Prison (voluntary support by fellow
initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.02.25
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar and meditation teaching
session for inmates at the Tainan Mingte Labor Prison (voluntary support by
fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.02.26
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar and meditation teaching
session for inmates at the Tainan Prison (voluntary support by fellow
initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Keelung
|
2004.02.28
|
Removing garbage from the beach at the Aodi Fishing Port
in Waimushan, in support of environmental protection efforts by the Keelung
City Environmental Protection Bureau (voluntary support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Taitung
|
2004.02.29
|
Offering free Chinese and Western medical consultations
and hair-cutting services to indigenous people in the remote mountain village
of Tuban, Daren Township, Taitung County.
|
11,175
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.03.24
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar and meditation teaching
session for inmates at the Tainan Mingte Labor Prison (voluntary support by
fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.03.25
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar and meditation teaching
session for inmates at the Tainan Prison (voluntary support by fellow
initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Keelung
|
2004.04.17
|
Removing garbage from the beach at the Aodi Fishing Port
in Waimushan, in support of environmental protection efforts by the Keelung
City Environmental Protection Bureau (voluntary support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.04.21
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar for inmates at the
Tainan Mingte Labor Prison (voluntary support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Tainan
|
2004.04.29
|
Conducting soul-elevating seminar for inmates at the
Tainan Prison (voluntary support by fellow initiates)
|
0
|
|
|
Total:
|
NT$21,625
|
|
Caption:
Tainan, Formosa:
Members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International
Association conduct monthly soul-elevating seminars for prison inmates.
(love1-1.jpg)
Pingtung, Formosa: Caring for old folks as kin ?Conveying
warm concern in Pingtung in the depths of winter (love1-2,3.jpg)
Table 2: Relief funds provided
to needy households in Formosa, from January to April 2004 (in NT$)
|
