A Little Message:
In speaking of God or the Supreme Spirit, Master instructs us to use original non-sexist terms to avoid the argument about whether God is a She or a He.
She + He = Hes (as in Bless)
Her + Him = Hirm (as in Firm)
Hers + His = Hiers (as in Dears)
Example: When God wishes, Hes makes things happen according to Hiers will to suit Hirmself.

News No. 152
Published: July 25, 2004
Founded: August, 1986
Published By: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association 
Publisher: Hsieh Hsin-Lin

The Supreme Master Ching Hai News magazine is published on the Internet in the following languages: 
Aulacese, Chinese (in both traditional and simplified versions), English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Thai. Please refer to the "Quan Yin WWW Sites" of the News magazine for related websites.

【Master's Words】

Practicing Inner and Outer Peace

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsihu, Formosa, April 10, 1992 (Originally in English) Videotape # 240

It's very difficult to live in this world and maintain a peaceful spirit because all around us there's so much pressure, so much violence, so many bad influences and so much injustice. Sometimes it's difficult for us to keep balanced, to keep our peaceful manner and spirit. The only hope for us is that we have to practice inner peace by meditating every day, by trying to remember God, by trying to awaken our own almighty loving power within ourselves. That's the purpose of practicing the Quan Yin Method.

At least one hour of listening to the Sound every day will put our mind into balance, into a restful mood so that we'll be able to control our temper, to master our inner spirit. Otherwise there's no cure for us. In no other way can we keep peace in the world.

It's difficult, especially if we're in a position where we have to deal with many people of different temperaments, of different backgrounds, and if we're in a position of responsibility, then it's even more difficult. So we must try our best to meditate to save ourselves, to be in balance. That's how we can save the world because if each of us in this world remains peaceful and loving, the world will be peaceful and loving. At least if the great majority of people in the world have such a peaceful, loving attitude, the world won't be in danger. The majority, or at least the group of people that loves balance, will influence their neighbors, will make the rest of the people peaceful and loving. That's how we make peace in this world; that's how we stop war.

Otherwise, I've seen many congregations talk about peace, but they talk about peace in this country, and the next moment war breaks out in another. And when this one has finished then the next one starts. The wars never stop! Our world has never enjoyed one peaceful moment. There's always war somewhere because the whole of humankind hasn't been all together in unity, to realize that the only way for us to survive in this world is to love each other, to have peace within ourselves.

Spiritual Energy Can Change the Planet's History

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, the Madrid Center, Spain, May 5, 1999 (Originally in English) Videotape # 644

Only enlightenment can destroy ignorance. Only God's love can nullify hatred. Only real brotherhood can dissolve the different conflicts and opinions among our brothers and sisters. Please help me bring God's love into this planet. You can help me by praying together in silence to know God, to bring Hiers love and Heavenly kingdom to this planet. I don't wish for any rewards from you or from Heaven. I just wish what you wish; that is, for a peaceful planet for you and also for me. And for that, I spend my time, my money and my energy to help bring about peace instead of spending energy, time and money on weapons for killing.

To be masters of ourselves, to have victory over our own weaknesses, egos and evil tendencies is the best victory of any war. And powerful spiritual energy will change the course of history. You should do something, take action, fight with your Godly love, fight with your spiritual power, fight quietly in the corner of your home, fight with us. Yes, that is getting initiation, meditating, contacting God and changing the history of our planet.

【Panorama of Events】

Report from Switzerland

Conveying the Truth at the Geneva International Book Fair

by Ursula Klein, Geneva

[Geneva] From April 28 to May 2, 2004, initiates from the Geneva Center participated in their city's annual International Book Fair, which typically draws about 120,000 visitors. The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association's booth was well situated at the venue, sharing space with a booth where the Bible was being printed on an ancient press, and others where books on spirituality and vegetarianism were being sold. Through a wonderful arrangement, the area was bright and spacious, creating an aura of peace around Master's booth and attracting many visitors.

Thanks to Master's grace, before the Fair a number of brothers and sisters from France and Bulgaria came to help with the preparation and running of the booth, resulting in a smooth operation.

The event's official opening ceremony was attended by the Swiss Foreign Minister, Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey, whose opening speech was incredibly moving. Mrs. Calmy-Rey said that material gain was far less important than finding ways to bring peace to the world, and that Geneva had an important role to play in this effort as host to international peace talks.

After the ceremony, groups of school children visited the Association's booth, showed great enthusiasm for Master's sample booklets and took them home to share with their families. One little Muslim boy examined Master's book of wisdom tales God Takes Care of Everything for a long time and asked his sister to translate it for him.

Also, a woman who told the initiates that she had been looking for a spiritual Master for seven years came back to the booth several times and was reluctant to leave. Other visitors returned and brought friends with them while those who stopped to watch Master's videos left with smiles on their faces. In addition, some guests recognized Master from Her visit to Geneva during the 1993 world lecture tour.

The Fair's organizers gave all booth operators the opportunity to conduct group conferences free of charge in a fully equipped conference room. So the initiates asked for two conference time slots, and in the beginning there were few attendees, but eventually the number increased as passersby observed the growing group of guests watching Master speak on a large DVD-projector screen in the room. The guests were all eager to learn more about the Quan Yin Method and some applied to learn the Convenient form of practice.

The 2004 International Book Fair in Geneva was a fulfilling and wonderful experience for all the initiates involved, and they are grateful for Master's blessings and loving presence throughout the event.

Report from Costa Rica

Interacting with the Power of the Inner Supreme Master

by the Costa Rica News Group

[San Jose] On May 9, 2004, Costa Rican initiates held a video conference at the Costa Rica Center, attracting more than a hundred Truth-seekers, from all parts of the country, full of happiness and longing for spiritual knowledge.

On the day of the conference, it rained heavily as major storms brewed in the morning, and local weather forecasters expected more heavy rainfall for later in the day. But a miracle occurred, and an hour before the start of the event, the skies cleared and the rain stopped. During the video presentation, the audience members listened attentively to Master's lecture and were nourished by Her words of wisdom, which satisfied their yearning for the Truth. Thus several participants expressed a desire to learn more about the Quan Yin Method.

The May 9 seminar was the first large-scale event that the small group of Costa Rican sisters and brothers had conducted at their center. However, through Master's grace, they worked together harmoniously as though they were organizing an international activity, with some initiates serving as guards and others preparing the sound and computer equipment, setting up a display of Master's publications and working in the kitchen.

Looking back on the day, the initiates are conscious of the fact that the seminar was a training session in love, cooperation and solidarity. Throughout the project they felt a strong sense of identification with each other, like ants working toward a single goal. Thank You, Supreme God, for giving the brothers and sisters of Costa Rica the chance to manifest Your blessing and divine force!

Report from Peru

Extending Peru's Spiritual Borders

by Edgar Nadal Pareja, Piura

[Piura] On May 14, 2004, to welcome the arrival of a Quan Yin messenger in their country, Peruvian practitioners held a video conference in Piura, a city in the northern region close to the Ecuador border. Afterwards, they conducted a tour of several centers in Peru to celebrate our beloved Master's birthday.

In order to spread the news about the conference, the initiates held a series of interviews on local radio and TV stations, and also spoke to representatives of the newspapers El Tiempo and La Hora. A Truth-seeking journalist from the latter paper, took care of the initiates, showed a great affinity with Master, remained blissfully contented while discussing spiritual matters and asked to be notified should She travel to Peru. Feeling very moved, the man commented, "The only thing I'm missing is a true Master." The initiates then presented him with a volume in The Key of Immediate Enlightenment series along with some leaflets, for which he was very grateful.

On the day of the conference, the journalist sent a reporter to the auditorium to obtain an interview, and the initiates gave him material for a news article, as they had done for a few TV station employees who had interviewed them and was very interested in learning more about the Quan Yin Method. One of them expressed that he had always searched for spiritual enlightenment and in doing so traveled to Europe; however, the meeting with initiates was by far the best opportunity he had ever had to learn about a world-wide renowned Master. He came to the seminar venue very early, acquired some of Master's books, and also learned the Convenient Method of meditation.

On May 14, the guests arrived customarily early and filled the auditorium so the seminar began on time. After the video presentation, the initiates were glad to see looks of joy on the audience members' faces. Some declared that they had participated in a great teaching experience because today the issue of spiritual cultivation is not commonly addressed. After the seminar more than a third of the attendees learned the Convenient Method. Among this group was a couple with two young children, and the husband told the initiates, "I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I've been a vegetarian for over ten years and have also practiced various kinds of meditation. I feel very moved to have found a living Master who teaches what I wish to learn."

The touring initiates also felt rewarded while visiting centers in Chiclayo, Trujillo and Chimbote, where the local sisters and brothers were full of love and a desire to continue sharing Master's teachings due to the joy and blessings they receive from meditation. During these visits, the initiates took the opportunity to coordinate communication links between the various centers so that they can support each other in organizing retreats and other activities.

In the city of Chimbote, an eminent fishing port, among those who received the Convenient Method was a brother from Chile and an evangelical minister who had learned about Master from an initiated brother and was convinced that the wisdom and transparency of Her teachings were very important as they very much agree with the Holy Scriptures. Finally the minister told the initiates that he planned to inform his congregation so that they also can have a chance to learn about Master and Her teachings.

At each of the stops along their tour of Peru's northern centers, the initiates concluded their stays with meditation sessions. And each time the local initiates received them with enormous love so they thank God for choosing them to share the blessings of our beloved Master Ching Hai with their compatriots.

Report from Massachusetts, U.S.A.

A Celebration of Cultural Diversity While Feeling One with God

by the Boston News Group

[Boston] On May 1 and 2, Golden Year 1, initiates from the Boston Center were blessed to participate in the 2004 Worcester Multicultural Festival, an annual event that brings members of the diverse local community together to share fun, food and festivities and learn about each others' traditions. People of many spiritual backgrounds and cultures such as Spanish, Indian, African, Laotian, Aulacese and Polish participated in the activity, experiencing a taste of each others' customs through traditional costumes, art displays, food, music and a performance program.

The Festival opened with a procession of flags representing a wide variety of countries. Leading the parade was a group of Scottish men wearing kilts and playing bagpipes. Initiates of all ages were asked to join in on the march, and the children had fun getting their faces and arms painted. Everyone also enjoyed the day's varied musical and dance performances.

Showing keen interest, visitors to the Center's booth experienced a brief overview of Master's life and work and the Quan Yin Method. Guests were also informed about local broadcasts of Master's spiritual teachings on cable television, and then given free sample booklets. The practitioners were quite surprised to discover that one of the members of a Laotian dance group and her family had already heard about Master and Her teachings. They later revealed that they had learned of Master through the girl's godfather, who is an initiate.

At the end of the Festival, on behalf of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, the Boston brothers and sisters were invited to participate in a float parade celebrating American Independence Day. All in all, the 2004 Worcester Multicultural Festival was a fun and joyful way to spread Master's spiritual teachings to the local community.

Report from Australia

The Blessing of Sharing the Supreme Method Delights All

by Ray Dixon, Byron Bay/Northern Rivers

[New South Wales] On May 29, 2004, initiates from the Brisbane and Byron Bay/Northern Rivers Centers conducted a video seminar on the Quan Yin Method of meditation at South Tweed Heads on Australia's beautiful Gold Coast.

Complemented by delightful autumn weather, a feeling of well-being permeated the atmosphere as the initiates introduced Master's teachings in this new locale. Following the video presentation and question-and-answer-session, most of the guests stayed on to learn the Convenient Method. The essence of the event was best described by one of our brothers: "I was amazed to notice the significant change in the audience members from initial feelings of uncertainty, followed by excitement at learning about Master's teachings, and then great enthusiasm to start their own group in the area. This transformation seemed infectious because there was a vigorous exchange of ideas about the Quan Yin Method and everyone kept asking questions to discover more about Master's teachings."

The initiates also felt thrilled for the participants, knowing from personal experience the great changes, miracles and peace of mind that await them. Thus, the South Tweed Heads seminar was a deeply satisfying experience for all!

Report from Nepal

Celebrating Buddha's Birthday by Sharing Master's Wisdom

by Ajay Shrestha, Kathmandu

[Kathmandu] On the holy day of May 4, 2004, the 2548th anniversary of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha's birth, fellow practitioners from the Kathmandu Center distributed copies of The Key of Immediate Enlightenment sample booklet to local residents. The initiates felt that by sharing Master's teachings, Her positive loving power would help raise the consciousness of the people and lead their country into a peaceful state.

Beginning in the morning, the Quan Yin practitioners gathered at the Swayambhu Nath*, a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists, to distribute Master's booklets. Passersby were very eager to learn about meditation and a true Master, and many were surprised to receive such an exceptional publication bearing a beautiful photo of Master free of charge. Some could not believe that it was free and even tried paying for their copies.

The brothers and sisters were very happy to discuss Master and meditation as the environment was peaceful and the weather pleasant, making it easy to share the supreme teachings. Everyone felt that Master's blessing was with them that day because it had rained on the previous few days and everything went better than planned. The Nepalese initiates are confident that through Master's blessings peace and prosperity will prevail in their homeland.

* The Swayambhu Nath is the most famous temple in Kathmandu. Because many wild monkeys reside around the temple, it is also is known as The Monkey Temple.

Report from Hong Kong

A Diet for a Beautiful Life

by the Hong Kong News Group

[Hong Kong] In May 2004, as part of a project to promote vegetarianism among local residents, fellow initiates from the Hong Kong Center organized an activity entitled "Begin a Beautiful Life with a Vegetarian Diet" in the Tin-shui-wai District, New Territories. The event's concerts, book fair and vegetarian food fair were warmly received, as the participants enjoyed its positive atmosphere and embraced the healthful concepts of vegetarianism.

Over 200 visitors attended, consuming a large variety of delicious vegetarian snacks prepared by the initiates and asking many insightful questions about vegetarian food preparation and related information.

A display of exquisite vegetarian cookbooks and other publications also attracted many of the guests' attention, including Master's sample booklet with its article "Why People Must Be Vegetarian," which provides a comprehensive discourse on the scientific, health-related and environmental reasons for adopting a vegetarian lifestyle. One young man was so infatuated by the booklet that even the excellent performances going on around him failed to divert his attention. Brothers and sisters are very grateful to Master for offering many such opportunities for people to get enlightened during the event! The venue also featured an elaborate billboard made by fellow initiates to provide detailed answers to common questions about vegetarianism. In addition, the initiates shared their personal experiences regarding vegetarian cooking and other information.

The two creative concerts put on by the initiates during the event added to its joyous atmosphere as the Center's youngsters presented dance and violin performances and the adults sang songs to the accompaniment of musical instruments. While the songs' modern melodies and lyrics conveyed the message of vegetarianism, a poetry recitation emphasized the theme of spiritual elevation.

Some visitors who were already vegetarians came to the event because they were attracted by its theme; while others expressed a wish to turn vegetarian after enjoying the performances. All in all, the activity "Begin a Beautiful Life with a Vegetarian Diet" enlivened and brought light to the Tin-shui-wai District, and its success has encouraged Hong Kong initiates to conduct more events to make vegetarianism an integral part of everyday life for the local community.

Report from Thailand

Master's Teachings Illuminate an International Food Exhibition

by the Bangkok News Group

[Bangkok] On May 29 and 30, 2004, Bangkok initiates introduced Master's teachings to the public by conducting a booth and presenting Her lecture DVDs at the Thaifex and Halfex 2004 Thailand International Food Exhibition, an event jointly organized by the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Department of Export Promotion (Ministry of Commerce) and German exhibition organizer Koelnmesse.

During the Exhibition, the fellow initiates also announced a video seminar to be held on Sunday July 11 at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in Nonthaburi, a Bangkok suburb.

A highlight of the Exhibition was when a two-year-old girl lovingly kissed Master's picture at the initiates' booth, smiling all the while. Also, a teenage girl watched one of Master's lecture DVDs for a long time, picked up a flyer and brochure about Master, and then walked back repeatedly to read a volume in The Key of Immediate Enlightenment series and continue watching Master's lectures.

Another interesting visitor was a middle-aged man who stood watching Master's lecture Listen Inwardly to Our Self Nature with keen interest, and then told the initiates, "I like the contents of this DVD very much and want to visit your center to learn more about Master Ching Hai's teachings."

Also, a woman who read a flyer about the Quan Yin Method and Master's sample booklet said, "I've seen Master somewhere before but did not recognize Her." Others seemed drawn to Master's vibration and were thrilled to see her on the screen while watching Her lectures at the booth.

The blessings that Thai initiates received from participating in the Thaifex and Halfex 2004 Thailand International Food Exhibition warmed their hearts and opened their love to the universe through Master's beautiful arrangement. Thank You, Master!

Report from Formosa

A Conservation Effort Uplifts Participants and Enhances Community Relations

by the Taipei News Group

[Taipei] As a series of thundershowers in May 2004 brought relief to the semi-arid mountains and thirsty rivers of Formosa, fellow practitioners from the Taipei Center acted quickly to give the Yang-ming-shan Center and its environs a facelift before the typhoon season arrived, thus conserving the local mountain ecology and enhancing community relations.

The practitioners worked in two groups - one irrigating and fertilizing the Center's bamboo groves, and the other cleaning and trimming plants in the neighboring Pamirs Park. Despite their heavy labor under a scorching sun, the brothers and sisters found joy in their work, which they almost completed in one morning of concerted effort.

Among the participants were two special individuals who had flown halfway round the world to recharge themselves spiritually by attending group meditation in Formosa. One of these guests was brother Hu of Vancouver, Canada, who at age fourteen had emigrated from Formosa to Canada with his family. In the year 2000, upon listening to a radio show featuring one of Master's Chinese lectures, he began practicing the Convenient Method, and after observing a vegetarian diet for three months, traveled to the Youngdong Center in Korea to be initiated into the Quan Yin Method. Then in mid-May of this year, brother Hu made a special trip back to Formosa to fulfill his dream of having a wonderful experience meditating with several thousand fellow initiates. For him, working at Pamirs Park was a new experience, as he felt a profound sense of kinship with other fellow initiates pursuing the same great ideal with oneness of heart and effort.

The other special participant was sister Liu from Seattle, Washington, USA, where for her attending group meditation required a drive of several hours. In sister Liu's eyes, Formosan initiates were truly blessed in having convenient access to group meditation on a regular basis. She was also impressed by the ethereal beauty of Pamirs Park, and found great contentment in helping to keep the Park clean. Sister Liu thanked Master for arranging her encounters in Formosa, and for letting her witness how local fellow initiates both practice and support Master and Her centers diligently.

In the afternoon, the practitioners experienced the refreshing coolness of a brief thunderstorm that had a soothing effect on body, mind and spirit. The sisters' and brothers' contented and meaningful day then ended amidst a rush of mountain breezes and cheerful singing.

Report from Formosa

Master's Love Brings Vitality to a Local Charity Bazaar

by the Kinmen News Group

[Kinmen] On May 8, 2004, local fellow practitioners participated in a charity sale at the Long-term Care Expo held by the Kinmen County government. Huge crowds of visitors attended, their attention quickly drawn by the wonderful array of Master's sample booklets, News magazines and art works on display at the initiates' booth. In addition, radish cakes, milk cakes and fruit jelly prepared by the initiates quickly became hot items in the bazaar.

Thanks to Master's incredible arrangement, the initiates' booth was easily accessible to arriving visitors, many of whom were attracted by the lively display of Master's materials. In addition, Her musical compositions were played continuously, blessing the fellow practitioners with Master's presence and filling both them and their guests with infinite vitality. Especially noteworthy was how the rain that had fallen earlier stopped as soon as the event began and the refreshing coolness that it created for the rest of the day was ideal for the visitors before rainfall resumed when the event drew to a close. Master's arrangement was indeed flawless!

All the proceeds from the charity sale, together with Master's sample booklets and News magazines, were presented to Kinmen's Mental Rehabilitation Association. Chairman Wu A-jin accepted the contribution and thanked Master on behalf of all the Association's members.

Despite their small numbers, the fellow practitioners of Kinmen worked with greater efficiency than usual through a concerted effort under Master's blessing. While taking the opportunity to learn and grow, they also shared with Kinmen residents the experience of Master's omnipresent love and vitality through their earnest participation in the Long-term Care Expo charity sale.

Caption: The Kinmen Daily News report on The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association's participation in the Long-term Care Expo charity sale.

Report from Formosa

Promoting Health and Happiness in the Golden Age

by the Pingtung News Group

[Chaojhou] In Chinese culture, May is a season for thanksgiving so on May 16, 2004, in gratitude to the Supreme Holy Mother for guiding countless souls to liberation, fellow initiates from Pingtung held an exhibition of Her art work and provided free medical consultations near the Laiyi Center. A seminar presenting Master's videos was also held to introduce local residents ways to remain healthy and happy in body, mind and spirit so that humankind can more effectively create an earthly paradise of Truth, virtue and beauty.

On the sunny day of the 16th, the initiates worked with one heart to decorate the venue, displaying a rich array of Master's art works, including Her elegant Celestial Clothes, uniquely radiant Longevity Lamps, profoundly meaningful paintings and transcendent music. This enchanting spiritual feast was accompanied by cold drinks and snacks served to visitors to ease the effects of the afternoon heat. A team of initiate medical professionals provided free consultations and diagnoses to local residents.

The activity began with a sensational dragon dance, followed by a series of brilliant performances by fellow initiates. The rich diversity and quality of the entertainment program won loud rounds of applause from the audience. Later, a video presentation of the soul-inspiring concert One World … of peace through music and one of Master's lectures held the guests enraptured in Her infinite love.

A resident-initiate then briefly introduced the Quan Yin Method, inspiring many guests to learn the Convenient form of practice. These new practitioners were blessed with very good inner visions, including one man who was unable to express his innermost feelings and could only exclaim, "Not bad! Not bad!" An elderly meditator who was very interested in Master's message acquired several Chinese and English editions of Her books and enjoyed a heart-to-heart conversation on spiritual practice with a brother initiate. This first contact with Master's teachings brought a glow of bliss to the man's face. And although he was unable to receive initiation into the Quan Yin Method due to his age, he nonetheless gained much from learning the Convenient Method. As the free medical consultations outside the Center attended to the physical and mental health of the local community, the Truth-sharing seminar inside prescribed an effective "medicine" for soul liberation, giving aspirants a taste of freedom and bliss.

Through Master's blessing, the event drew to a successful close, and the Pingtung brothers and sisters were delighted to have had another opportunity to help local residents grow in body, mind and spirit, hoping that in the current Golden Age of higher spiritual consciousness, the Earth's population will come to lead happier lives of love and enlightenment.

【Elevation of the Soul】

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest DVDs

620 <Spoken in English, with Chinese subtitles>

The True Master Power

International Five-day Retreat, the Youngdong Center, Korea, May 9, 1998

In simple terms, Master offers thoughtful comments on the nature of a Master's almighty power and its subtle connection with His or Her physical body. She also examines these questions in this DVD: Why can the effects of two-and-a-half hours of daily meditation last millennia? Why does attachment, including expectations about spiritual achievement, hinder spiritual progress? What is a true saint? How can youngsters make the right choice between spiritual cultivation and academic studies? What kind of work systems are in operation in highly developed societies around the universe? What is the difference between their systems and those of materially oriented societies? How can Quan Yin practitioners avoid falling into transmigration?

622 <Spoken in English, with Chinese subtitles>

Bringing Perfection into the World

International Five-day Retreat, the Youngdong Center, Korea, May 6 ~ 10, 1998

Summary: Supreme Master Ching Hai earnestly reminds fellow initiates to take good care of themselves because only when Her disciples are free and happy is She free and happy. Other brilliantly analyzed topics include the results of clinging to the world in one's dying moments, the purpose behind Master's request that initiates wear classical or traditional costumes on certain occasions and ways in which the "ego" hinders spiritual practice and prevents us from becoming one with Master. Master also teaches about "liberation while alive," and how to persist in our quest for perfection and thus transform the world into the Pure Land.

662 <Spoken in English, with subtitles in 25 languages>

Face Life with Courage

Lecture in London, England, June 9, 1999

Summary: In 1999, when Kosovo was a war-torn inferno, Supreme Master Ching Hai braved formidable hardships and dangers to disseminate the gospel of divine love and Truth upon initiates' invitation to visit the capitals of eighteen European countries. And on the final stop of Her mission, while She was delivering a lecture in London, a peace treaty was signed in Kosovo, providing a perfect ending to Her lecture tour. In this brilliant discourse, Master addresses the nature of the divine realm, the means by which human beings can see God, the speed of intergalactic travel in ancient civilizations and why these superior cultures have disappeared, the relationship between science and spirituality and the question of free will. She also answers these questions: Why is the manifestation form of an enlightened Master equal to the manifestation of the highest God? And what is the difference between karmic hindrance and destiny?

603 <Spoken in English, with Chinese subtitles>

Entering into Blissful Union with God

Group meditation in Singapore, April 26, 1997

Summary: In this DVD, viewers benefit from Master's humorous and explicit elucidation of the following issues: Why does Master say that helping others is helping ourselves? What blessings does a wise government that promotes vegetarianism bring upon its people? What is the meaning of the competition between the Buddha and Maya, and the conflicts between positive and negative powers? What is the secret trick to eliminating one's ego, desires and ambitions? The Buddha said, "Light your own lamp, and walk your own path." What did He mean by this? What is the positive purpose of earning money? What is the cause of Alzheimer's disease?

Supreme Master Ching Hai's Latest CDs

CD-E728 <Spoken in English>

The Blessing of a Loving Thought

Group meditation at the Florida Center, U.S.A., December 26, 2001

Summary: During this group meditation talk, Supreme Master Ching Hai addresses the following questions: How can we transform love into action without allowing it to become a manifestation of the ego? Do you realize that you also have blessing power? (An experiment on water molecules by Japanese scientists reveals the mystery of this power.) How can we mentally and spiritually protect ourselves from being hindered by others? How did fellow initiates conduct relief operations in response to the September 11, 2001 incident that shocked the world? Why are Master's charitable deeds not widely known? Master also discusses how Korean women can liberate themselves from their formal traditions and inclination toward guilt.

【Beautiful People and Beautiful Events】

The Quan Yin Method Trains Elite Citizens

An exclusive interview with brother-initiate Li Zhong-liang, one of ten recipients of the National Award for Model Technicians, by the Taipei News Group, Formosa (Originally in Chinese)

Captions:

1. Instructor Li Zhong-liang delivers a lecture in a laboratory at the Taishan Vocational Training Center.

2. Mr. Hong Qing-lin, former president of the Council of Labor Affairs, listens to an introduction by brother Li Zhong-liang, (right) who is also dean of academic affairs, during an inspection tour of the Taishan Vocational Training Center.

Foreword
For many years, brother-initiate Li Zhong-liang, dean of academic affairs at the Taishan Vocational Training Center, has devoted his private time to educational research and innovation and has achieved excellent results while also managing to perform successfully at work. Especially worth mentioning is brother Li's six-year journey through South Africa, Malawi and other countries to help establish local vocational training centers. His professional expertise has long been appreciated and recognized, and in 2002 he received Formosa's National Award for Model Technicians. As Supreme Master Ching Hai teaches, "We work in order to train ourselves, to contribute with love and to repay what we owe this world," and "There is no better way to communicate with people than through love and humility." Over the years, brother Li has born these words in mind and practiced them in his daily life and work. In the interview that follows, he shares the experiences and insights he has gained from his career and spiritual cultivation.

Unexpected Meeting at Work Leads to Initiation

After searching his memory, brother Li described what led him to begin practicing the Quan Yin Method in 1990. That year, the Taishan Vocational Training Center hired a new department chief, Mr. Huang, who was young, impetuous and arrogant, and often got into disputes with other employees. But unexpectedly, not long after he began his employment, Mr. Huang changed completely, becoming humble, polite, gentle and tactful. Eager to discover what had happened to transform Huang's personality so suddenly, brother Li could not suppress his curiosity and asked him. The new initiate stated that the Quan Yin Method was the driving force behind his changed behavior. Through this conversation, brother Li was introduced to Master's teachings and gained new insights into spiritual practice.

Shortly afterwards, the good news came that Master was going to speak at the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, and brother Li took leave from work to attend the lecture with his wife. As soon as Master began to talk, tears rolled down brother Li's cheeks due to the longing of his soul, and his joy at being blessed enough to meet a living Master. After the lecture, brother Li and his wife decided to seek initiation into the Quan Yin Method. At that time, their oldest son had just turned twelve, and they had a younger daughter and son. But they nonetheless pledged to observe a vegetarian diet, keep the five precepts and follow Master in spiritual practice. So on March 4, 1990, the entire family was initiated into Quan Yin Method.

Brother Li said that after his initiation his heart felt tranquil, and his whole family began to enjoy great harmony as they meditated together and encouraged each other in their practice. Daily activities also proceeded smoothly at work, and even in occasional disputes with colleagues, he could easily end and forget the confrontations.

Helping the Underprivileged through Master's Grace

In addition, after being initiated, brother Li began to participate earnestly in adolescent counseling, periodically visiting and advising the young residents of a local reformatory and also counseling misbehaving students in his job at the Vocational Training Center. For many years he did volunteer work at orphanages and homes for the elderly as well.

As dean of academic affairs at the Training Center, brother Li was able to participate in the Overseas Vocational Training Cooperative Project initiated by Formosa's Employment and Vocational Training Administration. He worked as an electrical engineering expert assigned to assist South Africa, Malawi and other countries in developing vocational programs, establishing centers, designing venues, preparing teaching materials, purchasing and installing equipment, and training faculty. All the while, brother Li worked with a spirit of empathy, doing all he could to help the underprivileged develop self-reliance, dignity and confidence.

During this period, brother Li visited over ten nations in Central and South America, Africa and Europe, where he saw many destitute people who needed to learn skills to be able to earn a living and become free from want. Motivated by his inner love power, brother Li traveled from one country to another, committed to helping the local people. In this challenging mission that often involved visits to remote and desolate places, he was extremely grateful for Master's blessing, which helped him overcome all the obstacles in his path and accomplish difficult tasks.

Developing Wisdom and Talents through Spiritual Cultivation

For over a decade, brother Li has striven to practice Master's teachings at work, share Her love and express concern for his colleagues and students. In 1998, his efforts won him the Model Technicians' Award from the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES), and on December 12, 2002, he was among ten recipients of the eighth annual National Award for Model Technicians presented by Formosa's Council of Labor Affairs.

These awards for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their fields are based on the criteria of commitment to work, compatibility with colleagues, enthusiastic service, creative development of production technology, constant enhancement of work efficiency, excellent professional skills and a thorough commitment to guiding and teaching newcomers. Having been recommended by his superiors, brother Li was selected for the national award from among a thousand nominees. This public acknowledgement of brother Li's efforts and contributions to society shows that practicing the Quan Yin Method can help us develop our love and latent abilities to benefit all of humankind.

Brother Li has also received two national patents for his inventions, but he attributes all his achievements to the Quan Yin Method and Master's blessings. Whenever he encounters difficulties in conducting research, he meditates in order to clear his mind and find inspiration. This helps him achieve breakthroughs and transform his ideas into reality, facilitating the invention of many valuable industrial devices. Brother Li's achievements give testimony to Master's words: "It's best that we make good use of our original wisdom, and then everything will come naturally. Our latent abilities, love and pure nature will all manifest, and our innate talents will also emerge all of a sudden. That's why it's said in the Bible: Seek you first the Kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you."

Conclusion

The ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius once said, "Ignorant, we can only take care of ourselves. Enlightened, we can benefit the whole world." Nurtured by Master's love and teachings, brother Li continues to embrace and practice the ideal of "benefiting the whole world." In addition to serving the public in the material domain, he is committed to sharing the good news about the Quan Yin Method so that people with affinity can join the ultimate path of spiritual practice. Brother Li humbly says that he is only following Master's example and doing what he should do, and hopes that fellow practitioners will also do their best in their careers and disseminate their spiritual power to make the world more beautiful!

【Poems】

True Love

by fellow initiate Heavenly Rain, Mainland China (Originally in Chinese)

Since the day I came to know You,

I've learned the Truth about life.

In this world,

Each blade of grass, each tree,

All the mountains, all the seas,

Are imprinted with Your footsteps of love.

The silhouette of Your love is present

In every dimension of my life.

Taking refuge in Your ark of love,

Immersed in Your joyous singing and speech,

Traversing the limitations of time and space,

I transcend the delusion of birth and death.

How I wish to transform myself

Into the strings of Your lute of thoughts,

Singing melodies of love.

How I wish to sail with You,

Propelled by musical notes of love,

Back to our eternal Home.

 

【Letters between Master and Disciples】

Misery Transformed into Joy

(Originally in Aulacese)

My beloved Master,

Today let me take the opportunity to write about how sadness was transformed into happiness in my life after my initiation on November 21, 2001.

Before initiation, I was in constant sorrow and depression because I had contracted a disease that had deformed me physically from the age of nineteen. Over the years, I suffered from a sense of inferiority that kept me from wanting to see other people. I confined myself to my room, and was so sad that I sometimes blamed God for being unfair to me. However, when some fellow initiate friends of my parents came to our home for a visit and noticed my condition, they commented that I must be paying off a karmic debt from past lives. So, realizing that I was making up for past misdeeds, my sadness was decreased. But despite my parents' good advice to get initiated in order to reach liberation, I was afraid of not being able to meditate for the required two-and-a-half hours a day and of being a problem to others.

So days and months drifted by until I finally decided to get initiated and become your full disciple - thus experiencing the happiest day of my life! Since then, I no longer feel inferior, and have come to see life as ephemeral, and birth, decay, sickness and death as simply common worldly illusions. I no longer fear that others will laugh at me, but rather have the courage to face reality and socialize with the fellow initiates who visit our home each weekend.

Since my initiation, I have noticed that my life has changed in other ways as well. I now experience increased self-confidence, and no longer feel fearful of any situation, be it good or bad. I realize that anything that is destined to happen will happen, and feel as though an exceptional power infuses me whenever I think of You. Sometimes, if I start to feel sad or troubled, I pray to You for help, and then everything is miraculously resolved.

Also, since initiation I have lived a very happy life knowing that Your blessings and protection are always with me. Thank You, Master, for everything. Because of You I have a happy life and know spiritual practice. I promise to practice diligently and meditate more to be worthy of being Your disciple.

Very Respectfully Yours,
Tuyet Xuan, Au Lac

A Timely Gift through Master's Love

(Originally in English)

Dear Master,

Thank You very much for Your wonderful protection. In spite of being unemployed for about a year, I have somehow managed to make ends meet due to Your boundless care and blessings, which have always been very timely, especially this past year.

Today, on Master's birthday I received a phone call from a friend informing me that his company was making me an offer to work for them for six months on a contractual basis. This job may later lead to other openings that I will be eligible to fill. I wish to thank You for blessing me with this opportunity, which came on the auspicious occasion of Your birthday.

Thank You again, Master, and I hope that this job will further open doors for me in terms of work and in fulfillment of the Supreme Master's greatest mission. On this day, Your birthday, may I ask You to please continue to guide me lovingly on Your path and allow me to take a more active role in Your great mission.

Thank You also, Master, for permitting me to increasingly feel Your true love despite the physical distance between us. Help me be strong, courageous and steadfast in my determination to draw closer to You and Your great work. Soon I hope to meet You in person as I have not yet had the chance to do so since my initiation in December 1999.

Once again, happy birthday, Master and thank You from the bottom of my heart for all Your blessings and care!

My deepest love to You,
James Lee,
United Kingdom, May 12, 2004

【Master's Wonders】

Master Arranges Everything on My Spiritual Path

Narrated by a fellow initiate from Mainland China, Recorded by the China News Group (Originally in Chinese)

Before I was initiated into the Quan Yin Method, I farmed fifteen hectares (37 acres) of land single-handedly despite being over the age of sixty. However, poor harvests for three successive years made my life extremely difficult, and I wondered when the bad times would end. The future looked bleak, and I often wept in despair and loneliness. Then one night I dreamt that two fairies dressed in white took me in a horse-drawn carriage to the mining area where my sister lived. I fell on my knees and begged the fairies to help me find a job there so that I could earn a living, and they agreed to help me.

I was so amazed when I woke up from the dream that I set off at once to visit my sister, a Convenient Method practitioner, who advised me to practice spiritually as soon as she saw me. She added that only through spiritual cultivation could I attain the greatest happiness in life and be liberated from the abyss of worldly misery. I immediately thought of my dream, decided to settle down at my sister's house, and through Master's blessings soon found a temporary job that took care of my financial difficulties. I worked hard, all the while looking forward to initiation into the Quan Yin Method.

Then in April 2002, I was finally initiated, and another miracle occurred. During one of my meditation sessions, Master appeared and told me, "Buy a house." Although I considered myself too advanced in years to need a home of my own as I could easily live with my sister, I followed Master's instructions and happily saved my earnings to buy a house. It just so happened that a man living on a nearby barren hillside was selling his small cottage for the amazingly low price of RMB300 (approx. US$36.00). I soon pooled my savings with my friends' money and bought the place. However, less than ten days after the estate was legally ceded to me, I was surprised to learn that the neighborhood where the home was located had been rezoned for development as a tourist area, and all the households had to be relocated. The government paid me a subsidy of RMB11,000 (approx. US$1,325.00), and with this sum as my living allowance, I quit my job and began devoting myself diligently to spiritual practice, knowing that it was Master who had made this wonderful arrangement.

Ever since my initiation, I have meditated for eight hours a day, and now a dozen fellow initiates join me regularly for group meditation. I have experienced wonderful  inner visions and outer miracles, and remain in good health, and although I did not attend school and cannot write, even if I were able to compose a message to Master, the most beautiful written words could never express my love for Her. So all I can say is "Thank You, Master!"

A Little Boy's Sincere Adoration of Master 

by brother-initiate Ferdinand Sessou, Benin (Originally in English)

In October 2001 I received initiation and have since been touched by Master's immense love for sentient beings. For example, one day my little nephew, who is almost two years old, found one of Master's pictures in my children's bedroom. The youngster was drawn to the image and contemplated it for a long time. Some moments later, the children returned to their room and saw the boy kissing Master's picture. They were surprised and could not believe their eyes.

Possessing mischievous natures, they then decided to play a trick on my nephew by hiding Master's picture among many other family photos and leaving them all on the bed. Soon the boy began sifting through the photos one by one, found Master's picture and began kissing it again. The other children were again amazed and stood speechless. They later reported the scene to me on my return from work, and I was equally astonished and could not understand how my little nephew had been so strongly attracted to Master's image without ever having met Her.

I sincerely thank Master for touching the hearts of my family members by blessing them with this experience while I was far away on a work mission.

I also thank Master for strengthening my heart through Her blessings and teachings via the Quan Yin Method. After overcoming the fear I often felt earlier in my life, I now see that Master knows Her disciples intimately, constantly refines me in my career as an electrical engineer and makes me a true Quan Yin practitioner.

Master Magically Performs Surgery on Me

by brother-initiate Houngbedji Eric, Benin (Originally in English)

Five years ago, I was operated on for appendicitis, and according to my doctors, the operation was successful. So within two months of the treatment I resumed participating in my favorite sports. At the time, I did not know of Supreme Master Ching Hai, but She nonetheless knew me and was taking care of me. Later I learned about Master, and in December 2002 received initiation. Since then I have always tried my best to meditate and often experience wonders and miracles through Master's grace in both the inner realms and the outside world.

After my operation, I suffered no serious inflammations that would have required further surgery until January 2004, when I underwent a bout of extreme pain and irritation. Day by day, my painful predicament became more serious, presenting the need for another operation. Thus, I went to the hospital and my doctor confirmed that I needed surgery, adding that the operation would not be easy for me. An ultrasound was performed on the inflamed part of my body; however, I was not operated on at that time.

On January 28, 2004, the Sunday following my hospital visit, I joined the morning group meditation session at the Benin Center. And after about three hours of meditating, my pain became so intense that I could not do the Sound meditation. I then felt the need to visit the washroom to relieve myself and suddenly experienced a strong itching sensation in my abdomen. So I lifted my shirt and noticed a small wound in my body and some movement inside. I pressed around the wound and what looked like a white and highly mobile maggot came out and fell on the floor. This scene lasted for about six minutes, during which time I began to sweat. The sweating only stopped when I resumed meditating, and suddenly the desire to relieve myself disappeared, the pain and irritation stopped and I heard myself shouting, "Wow! Master has operated on me. I'm healed." After this experience I feel I will no longer have to undergo an operation with its procession of surgeons, scalpels and anesthetists.

At the end of the meditation session at the Benin Center, I spoke of my experience to some brothers and they rejoiced with me. One of them told me that the "maggot" was old waste materials from within my body that had been expelled.

Now my joy is indescribable. I feel that I have found a real living Master who responds to all my inner and outer needs. Thank You, Master, for Your support in this world, for Your compassion and for all that You represent for humanity.

Master's Blessings Extend to All Who Meet Her

by brother-initiate Dinh Ba Ngoc, Los Angeles, CA., U.S.A. (Originally in English)

In July of 1997, my mother, Mrs. Trach Nguyen, who was ninety-five years old at the time, met Master at the Los Angeles Center and expressed interest in becoming a vegetarian, but added that she felt she was unable to do so. And Master jokingly replied, "Ask your son to do that for you."

Then, after returning to the home she shared with a friend, mother suddenly could no longer stand the smell of fish and meat, and felt nauseous upon eating it. Later, she told me that she wanted to become a vegetarian for the rest of her life and move to another place for she could not bear the cooking of fish and meat where she was living. I immediately took her to live with me and my family so that she could share a vegetarian diet with us. Subsequently, she not only became a vegetarian but also learned the Convenient Method of meditation.

Master has said that as soon as we are determined to become vegetarian, God will bless us and help us to do so. And although Master jokingly said to let me help my mother become vegetarian, She had, in fact, quietly blessed her with loving power to turn her into a vegetarian from that moment on.

Thus, we lived together in a household of Quan Yin family members, where Master's sweet, melodious chanting was played continuously inside the house.

Over the next few years, my mother had many inner experiences of Light and Sound just like other Quan Yin practitioners. For example, she once asked me, "Did you come to my bedroom last night?" And I replied, "No." Then she said, "I wondered if someone had come to my room to turn on the light, but I saw no one at all upon opening my eyes." Sometimes she could also hear Master's voice reverberating in her head!

Also, every day my mother respectfully remembered to recite Master's name, and on some occasions, family members thought she was singing or talking to Master as if She were in front of her. At other times, she was naturally aware of things we needed to do and would even remind family members about them. For instance, she would say, "Before eating something, you should recite Master's name then eat it."

More than two months before my elderly mother passed away, she had a fall and a number of fellow initiates visited her. They comforted her, saying, "You're all right. You'll live a very long life!" But she knowingly responded, "No, at the most it will probably be two months." During the week before her departure, she only drank a little milk and stayed in bed sleeping all day long, accompanied by a recording of Master's chanting placed by her bed. Then, on May 16, 2004, she departed from this world in Orange County, CA, U.S.A., at the age of 102.

Afterwards, even though her hands, feet and lower body were already cold, her upper body, especially from the neck up, remained warm. According to the Buddhist scriptures this is a sign of attaining one of the higher stages of birth in the Pure Land. Also, after passing she retained a healthy complexion and looked much like a person calmly sleeping. However, when her grandchildren and nieces came to dress her in beautiful clothes for her funeral, they were unable to do so for her hands were completely stiff. Finally, one of the nieces said, "Grandma! Please relax your hands so that I can put the clothes on for you." Her hands then suddenly softened and relaxed as if she were alive!

Thus, I once again witnessed Master's grace descend upon my elderly mother, and I continue to feel deeply grateful to Master for taking care of her during the last peaceful years of her life on earth.

【Media Reports】

Every Click Helps to Feed the Hungry

by the U.S. News Group (Originally in English)

Although world hunger has declined greatly in recent decades, the problem continues to affect many people. Faced by families too poor to buy or produce their own food, the debilitating effects of hunger can be seen in developed and underdeveloped countries alike.

In an effort to alleviate this situation, one non-profit organization, The Hunger Site, uses the Internet to pair up large-scale food manufacturers, advertisers and individuals who wish to make donations. The most unusual feature of the Site is that visitors are not asked to donate money, but only a few minutes of their time.

For each click on The Hunger Site's "Give Free Food" button, 1.1 cups of staple food are donated to the hungry. Selected sponsors pay for the food, which is then distributed to people in need by the sister organizations Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest.

The Hunger Site asks that visitors click on the Give Free Food button only once a day, but there is no limit to the number of people who can make the daily visit. In addition, The Hunger Site offers an e-mail reminder service.

Master teaches that not only through meditation do we progress spiritually, but also through selfless service: "Meditate more and help humankind whenever you can. Help your brothers and sisters. Everything that's good for other people is good for you and good for your practice, too." And visiting The Hunger Site is an easy and effective way to follow Master's advice.

For more information or to access The Hunger Site, please go to: 
http://www.thehungersite.com 

【Aphorisms】

Sharing

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai at the Buddha Mountain, Thailand, January 2, 1994 (Originally in English) Videotape # 401

When you have a lot, give some to those who have little. In this way, everyone will be happy and contented. Those who give will also be happy. Try it and see! It makes us feel good to give. When we make others happy, we ourselves also feel good. We feel like we've fulfilled our responsibilities.

Conceive a Plan for Attaining Sainthood

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai at National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Formosa, April 2, 1988 (Originally in Chinese) Videotape # 6

Many people first have a dream before working to realize it. Starting from today, we should also conceive a plan to reach Sainthood so that we'll be completely prepared. First, we need to draw up a timetable and scheme, and then slowly turn the plan into reality. Although we have yet to build a house, we already have a blueprint. We've decided the size of the house, and it should have two bathrooms, a living room, three bedrooms, a kitchen, and so on. Then, we engage workers to build the house. Isn't that how it works? The same goes for achieving Sainthood. We must have a plan. We must have aspirations and self-confidence to implement the plan accordingly. Without self-confidence, we can't accomplish it perfectly.

【Master Says】

Dreams and Spiritual Cultivation

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Hsindian, Taipei, August 30, 1987 (Originally in Chinese)

Most of us have dreams. Is there anyone here who has never dreamt in his sleep? (Someone raises his hand.) You never have? It's because you've never slept! (Master laughs.) Or else, you must be an Arhat (liberated saint); I hear that Arhats don't dream.

Illnesses Cured in Dreams

Sometimes, when we reach a certain level in spiritual practice, we're more likely to run into obstacles. Just ignore them and persist in your spiritual development. The more obstacles we have, the more humble we should be and the more we should persist in spirituality. Sometimes, when you're physically ill, you may wonder, "Shouldn't I become healthier as I practice more?" Not necessarily! You might be healthy in the beginning. For instance, your illness is healed immediately upon seeing me, and then you think you should practice faster (Master laughs) because you're greedy! Since your illness is healed within five minutes after seeing me, you think you'll get even healthier by practicing more. Most people are more concerned about their bodies, wealth and safety. They think that by practicing more, they'll become healthier and extremely strong, just like Xue Renguei (a formidable general in ancient China) or Hercules. With an effortless wave of his arm, ten men would fall down. (Laughter) This is what some people imagine they'll become by following me in practicing the Quan Yin Method. They will, but they'll also attain many higher levels and become very different!

Sometimes, when we reach a certain level in spiritual evolution, we may feel not very well physically. Why is that so? As I've mentioned before, it's because the "power" is very strong, while the body is too weak to withstand it. When the vibrations of our bodies change too quickly, we may feel as if we're sick. However, we're not really sick; don't worry. If our faith isn't firm enough, we can easily drop out when we reach this level because we think, "It's weird! Why do I have more illnesses after following Master?" It's not true! It's only because your vibrations have changed. Inside this human body there are already many toxins and toxic gases. When we're angry with or hate someone, the toxic gases remain in the body.

I was talking about dreams just now. Why have I started talking about illnesses? It's because there're cases when illnesses are healed in dreams. One of our fellow initiates stopped coming after he was initiated. But when he was ill, Master's spiritual manifestation form went to treat him. Later, when he was healed, he was so moved that he came to see me again. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to see him. He just vanished after the initiation because he didn't have faith!

The Purposes and Importance of Dreams

For most people, dreams are very important. If they don't dream when they sleep, they may fall sick. What are dreams? Sometimes, when we have no way to express our opinions in the daytime, we can release or give vent to some of them in our dreams. Otherwise, we feel very tired and stressed. Or perhaps we hate someone or are angry with someone in the daytime, but we have no way to express it, or it's inconvenient to speak out - sometimes because we don't want to disrupt the harmony in the family or because we dare not speak out. For example, when we're angry because our boss is in a higher position than we are, or our Master is at a higher level than we are, (Master laughs) we dare not voice it. Instead, we vent our anger in dreams.

People who practice martial arts usually have the means to burn off their poison so they don't need to dream too much. However, for most people, dreaming is very important. Without dreams, we may fall ill because we haven't dispelled the toxic gases in our bodies. Therefore, ill people can't sleep well. And when they can't sleep well, their illness gets even worse because excessive toxic gas and undesirable thoughts accumulate in their bodies. Even good thoughts, when accumulated in the body excessively, are too much.

When we dream, it means that our daytime struggles come to a halt and the toxic gases can be released, or our unsatisfied desires are realized. In dreams, we can imagine and enjoy a little, just to comfort our minds somewhat. For example, someone who loves money dearly would most probably see himself as a wealthy person in his dreams. At least, in his dreams, he can relax and enjoy the pleasure of being rich for an hour or half an hour. This is better for him because he won't be as agonized in real life.

The World is a Big Dream

Sometimes, the state of one's dreams can affect one for an entire day. For example, after a nightmare, don't we wake up still feeling horrified? (Audience answers: Yes.) If we have too many nightmares, we feel frightened even after a day or two. Thus, dreams can affect us more or less the way real life does. Sometimes, if we have very bad dreams, we wake up very hot-tempered, and treat other people awfully. It's also bad for the body and spirit of the one who dreams.

That's why I teach you to meditate, focus your mind on the wisdom eye, think of good things and recite the Holy Names before going to sleep. In this way, at least we can minimize the influence of the negative atmosphere in our surroundings. In this world, even if our thinking isn't bad, the atmosphere of the society and family can still affect us, and make us bad, stupid, nervous and less benevolent.

Mo-Tzu (the founder of Mohism, who emphasized universal love and peace in ancient China) called society a terrible dyeing vat. Even Saints will be contaminated if they come here! Shakyamuni Buddha was originally the Hu-ming Bodhisattva descending from the Tusita Heaven (a Buddhist Heaven of full knowledge and satisfaction, where no greed or worldly desires exist). He was very intelligent and could walk at the time of birth. He learned anything immediately, better than all His teachers. However, He was still ignorant; only when He was almost thirty years old, when He went outside and observed the suffering of sentient beings, did He awaken and turn to spiritual pursuits. He was originally a Bodhisattva and had practiced spirituality life after life, having gained more merits than He could ever use. That was why He was able to deliver so many sentient beings. Nevertheless, He was still contaminated upon arrival in this world. Lao Tzu, Confucius and Zhuang Tzu (great philosophers of ancient China) were all contaminated. They only woke up after a certain period of time, and then began to practice spiritually. Therefore, they weren't saints from birth.

After we attain the great enlightenment, we clearly discern that the world is just like a dream. At that moment, it's like we've awakened from the dream. The dreams we have every day are merely small dreams while this world is a big dream, which is more difficult to wake up from. When someone is having a nightmare and screaming out loud, he needs another person to reassure him: "Hey! Wake up! It's all right!" Similarly, in this big dream, we also need an enlightened Master to remind us, but whoever doesn't want to be reminded and wants to carry on sleeping we just leave alone. These people are seriously ill and they're also dreaming. Since we can't wake them up, we just let them go on sleeping. It's as though they're anaesthetized and can't wake up. However, they'll get well by themselves after some time. Thus, those who want to pursue spirituality may come. If they don't want to, we cannot force them.

I've often told you that we Quan Yin practitioners can go to superior dimensions to learn in our dreams. Because in the daytime you're so busy and the resistance of your mind is so strong that I sometimes find it hard to teach you. Therefore, I teach you in your dreams. There're people who can go to the Fifth Realm in their dreams, but this is very rare. Most people only go to dimensions within the Three Realms when they dream. Those who can go to the Fifth Realm in dreams are extraordinary people. In fact, such "dreams" aren't really dreams because we can remember and be aware of everything after we wake up.

In India, there was a person who, before practicing the Quan Yin Method, dreamt of the Lord of the Fifth Realm, Who told him everything. When he woke up from his dream, he set out to search for a Master and practice the Quan Yin Method. So, it's also very important to have dreams. If you don't get enough sleep, there can be trouble because your life will be unbalanced. However, some people practice in a very tough way and don't want to sleep. You don't have to force yourself too much. Should you feel tense mentally, then you have to take it slowly. If you feel that you're still fine, then it's all right to miss your sleep.

But we shouldn't always wait for the Master to teach us when we go to sleep every day. In the daytime, we should also educate ourselves and realize that this world is only a dream, and then use our minds properly to expand our imagination and develop our creativity. We should use our imagination for the better and richer aspects, imagine that we should have reached the Fifth Realm, and then we'll really make it one day!

Hell, too, is nothing but a dream created by our own thinking. Sometimes, our ambiance and actions are just like bricks and concrete that turn into a wall when they're mixed. What we build with our undesirable thoughts and actions is hell. Though intangible and formless, it's reality to sentient beings in hell. Hell is a place of great suffering. I guarantee that it exists. The prison of this world is also a kind of hell. So if hell exists even in this world, how could it not exist in the intangible dimension?

When we're frustrated, we feel that this world isn't beautiful at all, the food isn't delicious, and our husband or wife suddenly looks very ugly. It's because when we're frustrated or in sorrow, the world is no good for us. Even if we were living in a palace, it would be like living in prison. So, our mood can affect the external environment. We practice spiritually in order to train the mind and let it think increasingly of the good aspects. In this way, the aura of our surroundings becomes increasingly purified. By purifying ourselves, we purify the planet. If everyone were happy, wouldn't the whole world become happy too? Therefore, spiritual practice is beneficial!

Transcend the Dream of the Illusory World

Through spiritual edification, one day we'll wake up and realize that this illusory world is nothing but a big dream. Otherwise, we'll never wake up, but just go from one dream to another and remain in dreams forever. It's like dreaming at night; sometimes we might go from one dream to another or from one place to another. For example, we might first dream of being threatened, of someone trying to kill or beat us, and later our money is snatched by people. After that, we dream of marrying a beautiful woman, and later we're arrested and sent to jail. In this way, we move on from dream to dream.

Similarly, if we don't wake up in this world, we'll continue our dream in other worlds, like the Asura world. There, our dream goes on for a hundred years, two hundred, three hundred, five hundred or a thousand years. After that, we might go to hell and dream for a couple of centuries or five millennia. Next, we'll come back to continue our dream as earthworms, cows or birds, and can never get away. When we dream at night, we don't know that we're dreaming. Sometimes, even if we're aware, we can't wake up. Likewise, when we're birds, we don't know that we're in a bird's dream because our vibrations have changed. Although our souls are forever the same, forever perfect and pure, we're engulfed and can't move.

For example, we have hands and feet that we can move, but when we're tied up, we can't walk though we have feet, and we can't work though we have hands. Or suppose someone puts us in a box and then throws it in the river. Although we know how to swim, we can't swim in there. Although we're aware of the dangerous situation, we can't save ourselves. Sometimes, we might not even know. Perhaps we're knocked unconscious, and then we aren't able to save ourselves. In such a case it would be useless even if we finally came to realize it because we'd only find ourselves at the bottom of the sea or river. Most probably we'd have just two more minutes to live.

In the same way, if we don't take care of our souls now and set them free, in the future, our souls will continue to be confined and just move from one box to another or from one bag to another. No matter where we're thrown, we're unable to resist, and this is transmigration. Thus, we practice spirituality to train ourselves so that we know in advance how to react at the moment of death, and how to save ourselves when we're tied up; instead of not knowing what to do when the time comes.

It's not only at night, but also in the daytime that we have dreams, which is called "daydreaming," like someone dreams that he's very important, very strong in his faith, practices very well, and is a very moral person. In the end, however, he turns out to be nobody, and fails in spiritual progress. Thus he's merely cheating himself and cheating the Master. Hence, don't dream too much. It's good enough to practice diligently and truthfully, be repentant and humble, believe in the Master and respect the Master. For these people, regardless of the situation, I will definitely take them up. Even if I have to go to hell for them, it's worthwhile because these people are simply too good! They deserve it! Even if I have to sacrifice myself and give all my merits to them, it's also fine. Since ancient times, such people have been worthy of receiving the Master's blessing.

When you move an enlightened Master, He or She can give you the Three Realms or the whole world, or let you become a king, a great spiritual practitioner, or an enlightened Master or Saint. As long as the Master is willing to give out of love, you’ll have all the blessings. Even if you’re a criminal destined to go to hell, or a murderer, you’ll still be delivered to the level of the Arhats. Do you remember the story of how Shakyamuni Buddha delivered a murderer? The man had killed ninety-nine people, and wanted to kill the Buddha as well, but the Buddha still delivered him to the level of a liberated saint. It’s because a great Master possesses inexhaustible merits. As long as He or She is willing and you’re also willing to be delivered, you can be  elevated to any level. Therefore, it’s very useful for you to do something that touches the Master’s heart!

Have Noble Dreams

Refrain from harbouring trivial and selfish desires because we become what we imagine. This is very important! Our imagination is rich and powerful. The higher our level of spiritual attainment, the more our imaginings will be realized. Therefore, we ought to be cautious. We should have good expectations so that we can benefit ourselves as well as other sentient beings instead of hurting ourselves and others. Therefore, you're aware that as your spirituality progresses, you seem to experience more satisfactory situations. Is that not so? (Audience answers: Yes.) Whenever you need something, it immediately appears as though it has come from Heaven. That's because when we have a rich imagination, and the power gets stronger, we're able to draw down something from Heaven for us to use.

The higher we rise in spiritual practice, the more easily we become contented. However, we still need to teach ourselves and train our thinking to aim for good things whenever we want something. We should want to be liberated, reach the Fifth Realm and seek to become wise and powerful. Only these aspirations are valuable. Don't desire anything else because they'll come naturally. The Master will take care of the material aspects, but you must be contented. You shouldn't think that it's not enough when I've given you two bowls of rice, and complain in your heart, "Why not give me three bowls?" This is not the way. Enough is enough. The same goes for eating; I've advised you not to eat too much. Eighty percent full is enough. If you eat too much, you'll become very full and tired, which is not good for your spiritual development. You'll even have problems with thinking. On the other hand, if you eat too little, you'll be tired and your body will feel unwell. You might have difficulty walking or climbing hills. Thus, in whatever you do, just be normal and ordinary - not too much, and not too little.

If we haven't yet reached a certain level in spiritual cultivation, we'd better be cautious. Before doing anything, first consider and ask yourself, "Do I have a good intention in doing this? Is this an important matter? Should I do it or not? Is it useful to do this? Does it correspond to the Truth?" Every day before doing anything, always question yourself in this way, and you won't make mistakes. This is the same as what I've said: "In doing anything, always think that you're doing it for Master." What's the meaning of "doing for Master"? It means you should consider, "If it were Master doing this, would She do it in this way? Would She react in this way? Would Master be happy with the way that I'm doing this?" This is the meaning of "doing for Master," which also means offering all your actions, speech and thoughts to the Master.

This is not to say that you should let me eat your flesh, control your thinking and speak for you. That's not the way! You should still think independently, move your body by yourself and answer with your own mouth. However, you should do good things with your body, think of benevolence with your mind, and speak beneficence with your mouth. Even when you scold, you should scold for a beneficial reason instead of scolding people out of anger or to make them feel bad. The important points that you should remember are: Refrain from daydreaming; if you have to dream, dream good dreams, dream about the Fifth Realm, think in the way beings in the Fifth Realm would think, act in the way beings in the Fifth Realm would act. Only then can you say that you're having "good dreams."

【Spiritual Interludes】

The Most Precious Experience of All

by sister-initiate Wu Xun-wen, Taoyuan, Formosa

Before I was initiated, I often envied the many fellow initiates who experienced near-miracles in their daily lives and practice. In my heart, I could not help but hope that the same wonders would happen to me. However, after I was initiated, my experiences did not meet my expectations. I thus became anxious and often questioned myself, asking, "Why do I see nothing?" This terrible mood remained with me for days. And although I had some cheerful moments while watching Master's videotapes, as soon as I began to meditate, my anxious yearning would again push me into inner turbulence and torment.

As time passed, these mental struggles gradually subsided and only then did I recall that when I initially vowed to quit the meat diet and practice spiritually, I did not do it for the sake of having fantastic or miraculous experiences, but because I was totally convinced of Master's message about vegetarianism and the nature of human existence. I was especially awed by the noble and selfless demeanor of the great person that Master is, as well as by Her boundless love, which is as vast as the ocean. Each time I thought of this, my eyes became wet.

Until several months ago, however, I was apathetic and not very generous in my dealings with others, as many Taipei urbanites are. Inwardly I knew that as a member of the great human family it was very sad to let my heart become so numb and merciless. Nonetheless, my habitual lethargy and reluctance to accept responsibility for my attitude got the better of me. It was not until I was overwhelmed by Master's noble spirit that I urged myself to stand up and stop making the excuse that it is easier to go along with the crowd and act selfishly as most people do.

Ever since I joined the Quan Yin family, Master's divine love has motivated me and nurtured my fragile faith in the Truth through the words and actions of fellow initiates. And although I have had no fantastic or sensational experiences, I have found a balance in my heart. Each time I encounter a problem that I cannot solve, I just casually refer to one of Master's publications, and become enlightened about the answer. Even by simply observing the changing relationships of the people, objects and events around me, I gain new insights that awaken me from dependence on my die-hard ego.

Compared to my old self, I am no longer plagued by fear and suspicion, and can always express my love and the brighter side of my being. And for me, this is the most precious experience of all!

How I Quit Smoking through Master's Subtle Hints

Narrated by brother-initiate Liao Wen-xian, Taoyuan, Recorded by the Taoyuan News Group, Formosa

Early this year, my second oldest sister gave me a copy of Supreme Master Ching Hai's sample booklet, which I enjoyed as soon as I began reading it. Before that, I had read sample books from other masters given to me by other family members, but none touched my heart as this one did. After reading the Supreme Master's booklet, I switched naturally and easily to a vegetarian diet and began practicing the Convenient Method.

However, it was less easy for me to overcome my addiction to smoking several packs of cigarettes a day than it was to adopt a vegetarian diet. Previously, I had tried repeatedly to quit smoking, but without success; instead, I became even more heavily addicted. After practicing the Convenient form of meditation for a time, I again tried my best to quit smoking. However, a strong inner resistance forced me to constantly go back to the habit.

Then one day this thought suddenly occurred to me: "I've affixed Master's photo to the wall of my room with double-sided adhesive tape. Why does it keep falling off?" Next, I thought, "Could it be because I'm smoking in my room?" So I reminded myself, "Give it a try! Next time I feel the urge, I won't smoke in my room." Ever since then, Master's photo has remained firmly attached to the wall, though I have not replaced the adhesive tape.

Evidently, Master had been taking care of me since the moment I began practicing the Convenient Method. But I was so coarse and careless that I neglected Her subtle reminders, unceasing love, positive expectations and concern. Deeply touched, I have now quit my long addiction to nicotine without much difficulty. This incident remains fresh in my memory as Master's divine love continues to reverberate in my heart, nourishing me daily as I walk on the spiritual path.

【Master Tells Stories】

The Load of Sins

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Japan, October 1, 1991 (Originally in Chinese)

There once was a very proud woman who thought that she had never even committed one sin and was sure that she would be taken to Heaven upon her death in this world. One morning, she was sweeping the floor of her house and purely by accident her broom landed on a cockroach. It died instantly, and the woman became greatly upset and nearly went mad. "Who will assume this sin and take it away from me? How can I wash away this sin? So far I haven't even committed one sin. What am I to do now?" She then ran here and there with the dead cockroach in her hand.

When she saw a woman selling fish, she said, "Oh, wretched woman, what will become of you when you die? Every day you kill so many creatures. I haven't even committed one sin until this morning. Only today, I accidentally killed this cockroach. And even then, I'm vexed by this small sin, which I'm struggling to wash off. Imagine what will happen to you!"

"Is that so?" said the fishmonger. "Don't be so anxious. I've killed a lot of fish, but you haven't committed any sins. This cockroach sin need not worry you. Give it to me. I'll put it in this basket full of fish. The addition of a little cockroach to this basket of dead fish isn't going to make any difference. I'll bear the sin for you! You'll be free from the sin instantly. In my basket, there are so many fish that the addition of one cockroach won't worry me. You needn't worry, either!"

Of course, the so-called good woman was highly pleased and gave the dead cockroach to the fishmonger, who placed it in the basket of fish. The so-called good woman was thus relieved of her guilty feelings and that was great! On the other hand, the fishmonger wasn't concerned at all about her kind action. She just left.

But would Heaven judge them that way? Later, it so happened that both women died on the same day. The angels came to take the fishmonger to Heaven while the Angel of Death came to take the so-called good woman to hell. The woman was puzzled, and flew into a rage. She asked the Angel of Death, "What? You must have made a mistake. I'm not the sinful fishmonger whom you should take to hell. I'm a good woman who has never committed any sins. Why would you want to take me to hell?"

"Good lady," replied the Angel of Death, "we make no mistakes. You're wanted in hell, where your name has already been registered. Come with me quickly. The fishmonger is going to Heaven."

"But why?" the good woman asked. The Angel of Death then explained to her, "It was the duty of the fishmonger to sell and kill fish. She didn't kill them out of malevolence, but as a duty. At the same time, she venerated and worshipped God every day, and did all her actions, whether good or bad, as offerings to the Lord, as Heirs instrument. So she merits Heaven.

You on the other hand thought, 'I've killed a cockroach.' You had the 'I' in your mind. Each time you did charity and good actions it was only to fatten your egoism and pride. You weren't really a loving person! In your pride, you thought disparagingly of true and humble spiritual practitioners. You never thought of God at all. In everything you did, you thought you were the doer, be it good or bad things. You never gave a thought to God above; you didn't respect Hirm."

"You were haughty and extremely selfish. Do you think you deserve Heaven? You even went to the extent of trying to transfer your sin of killing a cockroach to someone else. The fishmonger, on the contrary, was selfless enough to accept your sin. Just to let you get out of your guilt and feel carefree, she assumed the sin you committed. She was such a nice person that she naturally deserves to go to Heaven. Now, hurry up and go to hell with us. Don't delay anymore!"

This is a great story. It's so true! I don't mean to encourage you to go and sell fish or meat. However, if someone can be as good as that woman fishmonger, so completely devoted to God and willing to bear karma for other people, that someone is indeed like a saint. This is a fact. I've said many times that everything we do is God's arrangement. It's fine enough if we can really understand life to this extent. However, many people don't understand, and think that they're the doers. That's why they screw up and have to bear the karma.

When we regard ourselves as merely a tool arranged by God, then it's fine. However, very few people can do this. So we'd better not commit any sins. If we do, it's only right that we be humble and penitent. Very few people can do things in such a selfless way so it's difficult. Many people feel great when they've done a little meritorious act, and boast around using this merit as something to be proud of. Such deeds are performed not out of love, but out of the "ego" to earn praise from others and show people how nice they are. They really aren't loving at heart so they don't understand themselves.

If we can do good deeds without thinking that they're good deeds, and without thinking much about doing them for ourselves, then we're truly doing justice to ourselves. It's good if you don't look down on others for not doing good deeds. Very few people can really do that. So I've sometimes said, "Doing charity is not the only good thing; when our spiritual practice is good, everything we do is good." You do charity without thinking that you're doing charity. You don't think that you're great. You can't wait to hide yourself, and dread being praised. You don't think that it's your merit alone; you don't think that you have any merit at all! We were born without a single thread on our body so how can we claim any merit? Even the money is merely rotating among us all, as it too belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us! So how can we be proud of anything at all?

【Front Line】

The Ocean of Love Returns to Chicago for the 2004 Book Expo America

by the Midwest News Group (Originally in English)

Foreword

Through Master's bountiful blessings, initiates from the Midwestern U. S. recently realized their dream of spreading Master's teachings by participating in the 2004 Book Expo America, the largest book exhibition in the US, which this year drew thousands of exhibitors, publishers and authors and over 30,000 visitors from around the world. The event took place from June 4-6 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center.

On the eve of the Fair, initiates from Chicago and other Midwestern centers arrived at McCormick Place to prepare for the auspicious event. While they waited at the venue's underground gate to receive entrance badges, and before unloading the book packages they had brought, a police officer stopped at the initiates' cars demanding that they move immediately. The officer appeared adamant until he saw Master's picture and then suddenly changed his mood and became very pleasant, pointing to the picture and asking, "Is She a spiritual leader?" Thus the initiates gave the policeman a flyer and sample booklet, and invited him to visit Master's exhibit at the Expo to receive further information.

The initiates' booth was located in one of the busiest aisles at the Expo, attracting thousands of passersby daily. A beautiful display of Master's publications and a high-quality DVD presentation at the booth drew many guests, including one woman who was reluctant to leave; rubbing her arm, she said, "The energy from your stand is wonderful!"

On the second day of the Expo, the initiates observed a Chinese Buddhist nun walking by their booth. When she saw Master's picture, she seemed shocked and immediately stopped at the display table. Using both hands in a respectful manner, she took a copy of God's Direct Contact - The Way to Reach Peace, joyfully read it and after a while said, "I love this book very much." Being deeply touched by the nun's sincerity, the brothers and sisters immediately offered her the book, and she responded happily, "I'm living in a temple in St. Louis and want very much to learn more about Master Ching Hai's teachings."

Also, a woman from a radio station in Washington DC was strongly attracted to Master's booth display. After a fellow practitioner introduced her to the Quan Yin Method and told her many interesting and wonderful stories related to Quan Yin practice, the woman asked if she could conduct a live radio interview about Master and the Quan Yin Method. In return, the initiates gave her a copy of Master's book God's Direct Contact - The Way to Reach Peace. She was very happy to receive the gift and said, "I'll benefit from this book." She also left her business card and said to call her to set up the interview as soon as possible.

Another woman from a publishing company in Beijing showed a deep interest in Master's books God's Direct Contact - The Way to Reach Peace and God Takes Care of Everything, saying that she wanted to introduce them to her company and possibly promote them in China. The initiates provided her with the necessary information, and gave her a sample booklet in Chinese so she could learn more about Master's teachings.

While visiting other booths at the Expo, the initiates encountered representatives of a stream channel TV company called Latino Entertainment and Arts, which caters to the Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. Later, the company's staff conducted a brief interview with the initiates in Spanish, displaying Master's books and indicating Quan Yin Internet sites that could be accessed for more information.

On June 6, the final day of the Expo, the initiates held two video seminars, followed by Convenient Method transmission sessions. Among those who learned the Convenient form of practice was a California man who had received a sample booklet from Master's representatives at the Paris Book Fair in March 2004, and was surprised to see the initiates' booth in Chicago. Missing the opportunity earlier, he grasped Master's message and rushed to learn the Convenient Method at the Expo.

As soon as a poster offering free Convenient Method transmission was placed in front of the seminar room, a couple passed by and inquired about Master. A work team member then briefly introduced them to Master's teachings, and the couple looked satisfied and agreed with Her ideas. Then the sister invited them to the upcoming seminar and they happily accepted, returning the next day to attend and learn the Convenient Method. Afterwards, the couple said, "We're from New Jersey and we feel that our trip to Chicago was especially meaningful since we've now discovered our greatness and will always be protected by our Master."

Also, an Indian businessman who owned a bookshop in the United Arab Emirates discovered that the second seminar was being presented at the same time that he had a business appointment. So he asked the initiates to wait for him so that he could learn the Convenient Method, imploring, "I want it very much so please don't deny me this opportunity." Touched by his sincerity, the brothers and sisters agreed to hold an additional CM transmission session especially for him. Then the man left happily and two hours later returned to learn the Method. Afterwards, he said, "I've been working very hard for many years, but recently I suddenly felt it was time for me to practice meditation and find my true Self. But I didn't expect that God would answer me so quickly and splendidly." He finally asked to be notified of the next initiation session, adding that he was even willing to fly to a neighboring country to be initiated.

Although the work of organizing and preparing for the 2004 Book Exhibition America was new to the Midwestern initiates who participated in the event, Master's blessings helped everything proceed smoothly and successfully. Thus the sisters and brothers feel the deepest gratitude to Her for giving them this unique opportunity to practice Her teaching about the importance of serving and sharing the Truth with others.

Singapore's World Book Fair 2004 - Reaching Out to Truth-Aspirants in Golden Year One 
- Reaching Out to Truth-Aspirants in Golden Year One

by the Singapore News Group (Originally in English)

During the World Book Fair 2004, held from May 29 to June 6, 2004 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center, more than a hundred and fifty publishers from around the world showcased their new books, educational materials and periodicals, and about 700,000 visitors attended.

This year, the event's organizers created a Religion and Philosophy Pavilion at the venue, and the Singapore Center was allocated a booth in the farthest right corner of the hall. At first, the location appeared to be undesirable; however, the spacious hallway outside the area turned out to be ideal for huge crowds to stand around and view Master's video lectures and art displays.

Although the Fair is an annual event in Singapore, this year it held a special meaning for local initiates as it was their first Truth-sharing activity after Master announced 2004 as Golden Year One. Master's exhibition booth was so gracious and radiant that it stood out prominently from the rest of the displays. The booth's designer (an initiate) used an open concept motif, meaning there were no partitions or enclosures, and in the middle was the focal point - a life-sized photo of Master in meditation sitting on a golden lotus. In front of the image a small stone water fountain flowed continuously, surrounded by several Longevity Lamps. On the right was a display of Master's paintings and next to it was a plasma TV that constantly displayed a great variety of Master's images. Attracted by Her ever-changing form, many visitors came in to enquire about Her teachings. On the left was the video viewing area where Master's video lectures were shown continuously. Among the presentation, the one featuring Master's 1995 lecture in Singapore attracted the greatest number of viewers.

The earth's recent spiritual elevation was clearly reflected in the visitors' enlightened responses and ready acceptance of Master's teachings. For example, one middle-aged gentleman sat in the viewing area and watched two videos in a row, all the while laughing and truly enjoying Master's words. In describing his view of the lectures, he said, "Master is unbiased. She doesn't twist and turn but speaks sincerely and directly from Her heart. What She says is very sensible. She lays in front of you the different choices in life, and lets you choose for yourself."

Even more remarkable was a seventy-five-year-old Indian man who had been seeking the Truth for many years. He said he had first obtained Master's sample booklet ten years earlier, and since then often prayed to Master and wished to know more about Her teachings. He even asked his son, who visited Formosa, to acquire Master's books for him. Recently, he came to Singapore to visit his son, happened to see the Center's announcement about its participation in the Book Fair, and came to the Quan Yin exhibition booth. Now he is even firmer in his belief that as long as a person is sincere, a true Master will appear to him. The man also said, "After I return to India, I'll visit The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association's local center to learn the Convenient Method."

There were also two sisters who came to the Fair especially to look for Master. It so happened that one of the ladies had read Master's sample booklet four or five years ago and tried calling the Singapore Center but could not reach anyone. She then went to the Center's old location only to find that it had been moved to a different place. Finally, on May 29, she came across a book fair announcement, and quickly persuaded her sister to accompany her to the Fair, hoping to see Master. She found Master's teachings extremely practical and easy to follow. After acquiring many of Master's publications, she said, "I have no problem switching to a vegetarian diet! I will visit the Singapore Center soon."

In addition, two other ladies casually passed by the Center's booth and chatted with a sister-initiate for a while, soon realizing that Master's teachings coincided exactly with their own thinking. So they acquired copies of I Have Come to Take You Home and Master's Aphorisms to read at home. One of the ladies, who was deeply enchanted by Master's painting Stone Cave, said it gave her "a fantastic feeling."

This woman was not the only one fascinated by Stone Cave. A gentleman stopped in front of the painting appearing totally absorbed. Later, he revealed, "I feel a wave of vibration coming upon me, very powerful, which is unknown to me. I feel intoxicated. It is very mystical. I can feel the vibration clearly in the booth area, to the extent that I feel slightly dizzy!"

This perfect ending to the World Book Fair 2004 left the Singapore sisters and brothers even more convinced that the world has indeed entered the Golden Age. Through their participation in the event, they came to experience how divine love functions in the world, thus reinforcing and strengthening their faith in God and Master. Everyone felt extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work at the Fair, and a brother in the work team summed up the initiates' feelings by saying, "This is not work, but a privilege, an honor, and a joy!"

【You May Not Know】

The Gospel of Thomas: A Link between the Teachings of Ancient and Modern Masters

by sister-initiate Linden, Ohio, USA (Originally in English)

Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark.

~ The Gospel of Thomas

In the article "You May Not Know: The Lost Books of the Bible" from the News # 81, author James Bean begins with a quote from Supreme Master Ching Hai on the relative incompleteness of our modern day Bible: "The true Bible is locked up somewhere and we are never allowed to see it. But some of the newly-dug [texts] from ancient sites - the Bible, some parts of it have come out and some of it mentions reincarnation."

One of these missing parts emerged from an earthen jar full of codices found by a farmer at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1946. Written in Coptic (a language derived from ancient Egyptian), these manuscripts date back to the 4th Century. Historians believe that monks from a nearby monastery buried the texts in the jar to save them from destruction.

After the discovery, which included the so-called Gospel of St. Thomas, reports began to circulate in the U. S. that new words of Jesus had been found, and the book was informally referred to as "The Fifth Gospel." Although it was never added to any of the official versions of the published Bible, the importance of The Gospel of Thomas cannot be denied. It contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus that could be as old as the material in the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Further verifying the authenticity of this scripture was the realization that portions in the original Greek language had already been discovered at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, in the late 1800s.

The Gospel of St. Thomas differs from the canonical gospels in making no mention of Jesus' life, but only presents His teachings. Mr. Bean describes The Gospel of Thomas as "a collection of the spiritual sayings of Jesus on gaining enlightenment and discovering the Kingdom of God." Some of these aphorisms parallel those found in the Bible, for example, consider the following excerpt.

"Jesus said, 'Love your friends like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye.' And Jesus said, 'You see the sliver in your friend's eye, but you don't see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend's eye.'" (Translation by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer)

These lines closely resemble Matthew 7: 1-5 from the canonical New Testament:

"Judge not, that you may not be judged; for your own judgment will be dealt - and your own measure meted - to yourselves. And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye? Or how say to your brother, 'Allow me to take the splinter out of your eye,' while the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

And other sayings from The Gospel of Thomas are much like those of Supreme Master Ching Hai:

"His disciples said, 'Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it.' He said to them, 'Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark.'" (Translated by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer)

Here the message of Jesus brings to mind part of Master's lecture delivered in Formosa in 1992 and recently published in the News #148:

"[For] we who practice the Quan Yin Method, the Light within us is infinite, and our inner peace and love are inconceivable. When we cultivate ourselves spiritually in Formosa, it not only benefits the Formosan people, but our Light permeates the whole world."

Thus, the text provides a link between the words and ideas of ancient and modern Masters and shows the universality and timelessness of God's message of Truth.

Moreover, this recently discovered portion of the Bible provides an added perspective to the one we get from reading "authorized" versions of the Bible. For example, in The Gospel of Thomas Jesus is revealed as a Master who taught His disciples, "We have come from the Light, from the place where the Light came into being by itself,' and 'If one is whole, one will be filled with Light.' And also, 'He who will drink from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to that person.' Here the image of drinking from the mouth of Christ undoubtedly refers to the process of Quan Yin Initiation - contemplating the Sound, the Word or the cosmic Voice of God.

So the unearthing of scriptures such as The Gospel of Thomas helps to create a more complete sense of the depth of Jesus' life and teachings. Such texts also convey to twenty-first century readers a clearer understanding of Jesus as a living Master, one whose message was intended to help others contact God directly through contemplation of the inner Light and Sound, just as the words of Supreme Master Ching Hai do today.

For related information, please refer to:

1. News magazine article, Issue 81,  http://www.godsdirectcontact.us/sm21/enews/htm/081/n.html 

2. Page with translations of The Gospel of Thomas, http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas.html 

3. Many of the other manuscripts found at the Nag Hammadi site in Egypt have also been translated.

The Gospel of Thomas is just part of this library, which is available in various English translations at: http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhlalpha.html .

【Spirituality and Science】

Examining the Probability of God: Support for the Ultimate Truth

by the Ohio News Group (Originally in English)

A recent article in the British newspaper The Guardian discusses research conducted by theoretical physicist Dr. Stephen Unwin* on the question of God's existence through the use of probability theory.

Dr. Unwin began his study with a premise similar to that used in determining the outcome of a coin toss, giving the Almighty a 50/50 chance of existing. Next, he used a formula to further determine a possible outcome by weighing the following positive and negative factors considered to be "for" or "against" his premise:

1. The recognition of goodness

2. The existence of moral evil

3. The existence of natural evil

4. Miracles "within" nature

5. Miracles "outside of" nature

6. Religious experiences

Each of these factors was assigned a numerical value and applied to the original fifty percent. Calculations weighing the evidence from both sides produced the probability of whether or not God exists.

While such evidence is reassuring because it provides the mind with a sense of certainty, Dr. Unwin also wanted to take uncertainty into account. The effect of uncertainty in our lives is known to become greater when we feel we cannot obtain sufficient evidence, or when we cannot assign meaning to a situation through the use of reason alone. Times of uncertainty motivate us to find a different way to believe. Thus Dr. Unwin says that uncertainty can "open the gap for what we call faith."

This "gap" into which faith fits is part of a more complete equation for calculating the probability of God's existence:

Belief in God = The Probability of God's existence + Faith in God

However, the study suggests that belief in God is not merely the sum of reason plus faith. If this were true, then the more we knew, the less faith we would have. This would put reason at odds with faith, and vice versa. The formula used by Dr. Unwin extends beyond mere algebraic calculations in saying that belief in God results from a combination of logic and a more abstract form of trust. So, while the evidence from his research allowed him to arrive at a 67% probability of God's existence, the researcher says that his own belief is "far closer to a hundred percent." He explains that the difference between the numbers is based on his personal faith in God.

This study has some very enlightened aspects. First, by using a scientific formula and framing the research question as "whether God" rather than "whose God" exists, a discussion about God's being can take place without concern about differing religious beliefs. This broad position echoes some of Master's remarks that one does not have to give up one's religion to practice the Quan Yin Method.

Another unifying element of Dr. Unwin's investigation is its use of secular language to discuss spiritual topics. This was actually one of the study's objectives - to help bridge what was viewed as a division between science and religion, reflected in the concept of "separation of church and state," which allows no overlap between spiritual activities such as prayer and public activities such as education. Research like Dr. Unwin's, which discusses God in "state" rather than "church" terminology, could open doors for new areas of dialog in academia, organized religion and the public sector.

Last and perhaps most importantly, the open-ended quality of this examination, which is practical but at the same time does not force a conclusion, could be a liberating way for people to contemplate their personal relationship with God. For those who do not know a living Master and may feel skeptical or even fearful when facing the question of God's existence, this research encourages a wider outlook and expresses a fitting message for the beginning of the Golden Age.

For a copy of the above-mentioned article from The Guardian, please refer to:http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,1164892,00.html 

*Dr. Stephen Unwin, who received his doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Manchester in Great Britain, made significant contributions to the field of quantum gravity research before being appointed technical attache to the United States Department of Energy. Now a risk analyst consultant, he evaluates and helps advise organizations on how to avoid disasters such as chemical spills and nuclear power plant failures.

【Master Tells Jokes】

Be Patient and the Proof Will Come

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., October 6, 1999 (Originally in English)

Once a patient was lying on a hospital bed feeling nervous because it didn't look like his doctor knew what he was doing. The doctor was discussing the patient's problem with other doctors and none of the other doctors agreed with his doctor. So the patient became worried and said, "Doctor, there must be a lot of doubts about my case, right?" And the doctor replied, "Why do you say that? No. Where did you get that idea?" So the patient said, "It looks like all the other doctors disagree with you." Then the doctor answered, "Yeah, maybe a little bit. They don't agree with some points, but in a similar case last week I proved I was right after we checked the patient's dead body."

Like Attracts Like

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., October 6, 1999 (Originally in English)

There were two psychiatrists who met in the street, and one of them kept brushing his jacket with his hand. So the other one asked, "What's the problem?" Then the first one said, "Nothing really. It's just that recently these invisible insects have been crawling on me." And the second psychiatrist replied, "Don't brush them on me, OK?"

An Inadvertent Admission

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, U.S.A., October 6, 1999 (Originally in English)

A psychiatrist said to his patient, "Mr. Patient, I understand that you have a problem. Your problem is that you always contradict whatever other people say or do, right?" And Mr. Patient said, "No, that's not right." So the psychiatrist said, "OK! Then I must be mistaken, eh?" And the patient replied, "No! No! You're not!" And the psychiatrist said, "Oh, oh, oh, I got it. I got it. You're contradicting everything I say." And the patient said, "No, you're being ridiculous! You're crazy!" So the psychiatrist said, "I see, I see. Then you're perfectly sane, right? You're not crazy, right?" And the patient said, "No. No. I'm crazy as a loon." Then the psychiatrist said, "Oh, yeah, now we're making some progress here!"

Please visit the following websites to enjoy the original audio 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/152/jk1.htm  (Formosa)
http://www.godsdirectcontact.net/eng/news/152/jk1.htm  (USA)

【Selected Questions and Answers】

Turning Within Promotes Universal Understanding

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with initiates from Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., July 21, 2002 (Originally in English) Videotape # 745

Q: Master has said that in the future human beings will be able to communicate without verbal language. My question is: Is there any way You would direct Your disciples to use the power we derive from spiritual practice to lift the world up to that level, to reduce misunderstanding and even wars among humans?

M: Oh sure. You should meditate more. (Applause) Turn yourself more inward. It's not possible that everyone attains the same level at the same time so we'll always have misunderstanding. No matter what good intentions a person may have, or with how much sincerity he wants to serve everyone else, his level might not be up to your level, or your level might not be up to her level and so we have a little bit of misunderstanding.

Besides, the human faculties are always flawed. If you say something and someone else goes out and repeats it, it will become a different story. And then if another person repeats it after that person, it will be even further from the original version. That's why we should refrain from worship or judgment, in case we misunderstand the event.

Meanwhile, before we reach this level of complete telepathic communication from the inner level, we have to endure it, bear with each other and remember that we love each other - that's the main thing. We might become upset or angry with each other at one time or another, but love always prevails, and then we always come back together as a family.

Live in the Present and Pacify the World with Love

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with initiates from Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., July 21, 2002 (Originally in English) Videotape # 745

Q: Dear Master, recently there have been more wars, fighting and natural disasters in the world and I'm very sad and worried. What should we do other than meditate more?

M: Love is the only solution. But most people conceal their love within their hearts for fear of getting hurt or of reliving past experiences they had with other people or other beings. So they withdraw their love. Otherwise, we were all born with love.

Love is the essence of our being, but then when we have collisions with other beings on this physical planet or in the universe, and are hurt or injured emotionally, physically or mentally, we keep remembering all these bad experiences; we harbor all this negative experience. And so we find it hard to open up our love again to the world because we worry about getting hurt or let down and so on.

The reason we have wars and trouble with each other is because we always live in the past. We should live like the animals; they live in the present. They're always in the present. For example, a dog: You just scold him and maybe you smack his bottom or something, and kids also. But then, when you call him back and love him, he comes wagging his tail, or the kids come running to you right away. They don't remember what you did to them even a minute ago. This is how we should live our lives with each other.

But sadly, we live mostly in the past, with our memories. The past is always the past but we always bring it into the present, and then the present in turn influences our future. Because the present becomes the past again and then we always remember all these unpleasant events, and find it hard to be happy in the present moment.

It's similar with our practice. Just like most people live in the past all the time, with "Jesus" that, "Buddha" this, or this Saint and that Saint, and they forget to become Saints themselves or to become children of Jesus, to be on His level again. So the world has to forget the past at all times, forget all the past hurts and forget all the bad events. Learn from them and grow from them, like flowers that grow from bad, foul, smelly, filthy fertilizer and bloom into beautiful presentations for everyone to enjoy. And this is how we can stop war, fighting, struggle and trouble.

But you know, we're still in this world. We can speak like that and maybe we can act like that among ourselves. Because we're practitioners of peace, we can enjoy peace, and we know how to get in touch with peace in any moment of trouble or sadness. But most of the people of the world can't do that so even though we practice well, we still have to share the sorrow, misunderstanding, war and trouble of the world at large. We just have to practice harder so that we have more influence and a nobler atmosphere to generate in the world. And then maybe more and more people will follow us, and we'll have less and less war. That's the only solution.

Tuning in to the Master Power Dissolves Fear

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with initiates from Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., July 21, 2002 (Originally in English) Videotape # 745

Q: Before I plan a new project in life, can I ask God or Master to give me wisdom and courage to overcome my fear? Master, please help me to overcome my ignorance so that I can gain wisdom.

M: Oh, sure. God is always standing by. The Master power is always there to help you. Just open yourself up; be receptive. Believe that the Master power is helping you. Tune in to that power. Be one with it.

Eliminate Negative Influences by Practicing Spirituality

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, July 28, 2002 Videoconference with initiates from Houston, USA (Originally in English) Videotape # 745

Q: Master, I'm just happy. I look better and feel better because I changed my way of thinking after initiation. I used to have a lot of negative energy, which I've been able to get rid of.

M: Yes. We don't need all that garbage. We should always try to correct our thinking because it trips us up all day long. You're just happy, and then something happens and you might start thinking negatively. At that time, use all your power from meditation to push it out. Say, "No, I don't need you. You're an unwelcome guest. Bye-bye." Otherwise, the negative power tries to steal our positive moments all the time.

Each time you try to be happy or you're happy, someone just comes and does something bad, or gives you some command or is clumsy. Or something else happens, and your mood starts to change immediately: "You can't do that! Blah, blah, blah…" And then you begin to lose the happiness that you've just begun to enjoy; this is the devil's trick. So we always have to be diligent and push away any negative feeling or thinking at any moment because we're actually all one.

Many days, I feel it's ridiculous to even go out and talk because I feel we're all transparent. I feel that I can't speak badly about someone without that person knowing it or seeing me and listening to me.

So that's why you need to keep your mouth quiet and your thoughts positive; because you can't hide. After we begin to meditate, we can't hide from anyone. We're transparent. We're everywhere, and we're one with everyone. And that's the very good thing about meditation on God consciousness because we're really connected, and that's how we better ourselves. Even if we don't want to, we just get better and better.

Q: Right. Now, even the smallest thing that I do wrong bothers me.

M: Yes! You correct yourself right away.

Q: Or something happens to correct me.

M: Yes, it's true, maybe a headache, or maybe a loss or maybe something else. Good, I'm so glad because I know you're progressing. I know you're really progressing, every one of you, even the so-called lousiest fellow practitioners. Even if I rebuke or scold you, I know in my heart that you're fine. You're OK; you're progressing, and maybe I'm just pushing you a little harder than I should. But I have to be mother and father and all kinds of things. It's hard on me, too. Have pity, OK? (Master laughs.) Forgive me if I'm harsh with you sometimes, but it's necessary, it's good.

Loneliness is Dispelled through Regular Focused Meditation

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Videoconference with initiates from Singapore, August 11, 2002 (Originally in English) Videotape # 745

Q: Master, how do we communicate with our inner Master? Some of us still have feelings of loneliness and emptiness. Is it because we haven't achieved deep communion with our own inner Master, Who is always our best friend?

M: No, no. We have, we have. But sometimes the world overwhelms us with its activities, attractions and negativity so that it makes us feel as if we aren't connected with our inner Self. And that's why we have to meditate every day, to strengthen this knowledge of connectedness.

And it doesn't happen overnight. For some people it takes long years of practice, and the irony is this: The more people we know, the lonelier we feel. If we were to live alone somewhere, after a while we wouldn't feel as lonely. But we live in the city or in an environment with a lot of people, big populations, and we know many people. And sometimes people make us feel disappointed and sad or brokenhearted. And these events do really make us feel lonely. Otherwise, within ourselves, if we concentrate more on ourselves, on what we're doing at every moment of our lives, we won't feel as lonely.

It's just because we expect things from other people and people let us down; sometimes people break our hearts and we end up feeling lonely. And this is just the emotional level. Don't confuse the emotional state of feeling with the spiritual level of practice. But nevertheless, the higher you go, the less lonely you feel, but only if you can let go of other people's expectations; otherwise you'll always feel lonely. If you look up to other people and look around at other people instead of trying to be independent, to be within yourself, you'll feel lonely. So try to be yourself, try to be within yourself. Try to concentrate within. Try to be independent of other people's help or judgments or expectations, and your own expectations of other people. Then you won't feel lonely at all.

【Cinema Scene】

Being Relaxed and Flexible Smoothes out Your Life

Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, the Youngdong Center, Korea, May 6, 1998, (Originally in English) Videotape # 618

What I'm telling you is just a kind of yardstick. Try to stick to it as much as you can, but don't be a fanatic. You create too much misery for yourself if you stick with one thing "to the letter." That will be trouble!

If you've seen Les Miserables, you know that there's a policeman in the film. He's good, really good. He's straightforward and honest. But he's too rigid, too fanatical. If anyone breaks a little law, even if they repent, reform themselves and do a lot of good things to make up for it, he still wants to put them in jail. It doesn't matter at what price; there're no exceptions for him. None!

He even punishes himself for doing wrong. Number one, when he suspects the mayor of doing wrong but later thinks he himself is wrong, he comes to ask for punishment from the mayor. Number two, he's touched by the mayor, who was supposedly a criminal before but has been reformed into a fantastic humanitarian and a loving, caring person. Still, he wants to chase after the mayor and put him in jail again. But, because the mayor is so good and has touched the policeman's heart, the policeman wants to set him free. Even then, he still considers the mayor a criminal and fully punishable. So, because he sets the mayor free, he punishes himself and feels he has to kill himself. Because he thinks that by setting the ex-mayor free, the now good ex-criminal free, he has committed a criminal act and broken the law. So he kills himself.

That's how fanatical some people can be! So you choose your own way of life; you can be fanatical if you want. But if you ask me, I'll tell you to just relax and be natural. Be more flexible. Then your life will be smoother and more comfortable. But if you can't be relaxed or flexible, that's OK; let it be. But forgive yourself.

【Love in Action】

Report from Costa Rica

Master's Love Mends a Marginal Community's Road and Bridge Problems

by the Costa Rica News Group (Originally in Spanish)

In February 2004, brothers and sisters from Costa Rica visited an area known as Tibas-Zurqui's Dump in downtown San Jose to share candy, cookies and Master's teachings with residents. (Please refer to the News #150 for details) While visiting the area, the initiates found that the community's living environment was rundown, and the paths and foot bridges that people walked on each day were unsafe and in danger of collapsing, due to the dirty water that flowed beneath them. Upon learning of this situation, our compassionate Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately contributed funds to repair the bridges, and thus solved a major problem for the locals.

At the end of April, under Master's loving instructions, the initiates inspected the site and decided to conduct three projects to improve the dangerous condition of the bridges and paths. The community quickly embraced the projects and expressed their happiness with smiles and a desire to work together to help.

Two of the projects dealt with the dirty, disease-carrying water flowing next to the community's walkways by constructing pipes from barrels to transport the unclean water. The third project entailed the building of a sturdy cement bridge to replace a decaying wooden one.

One week after the site inspection, the area's women, children, teenagers and elderly participated in the renovation (the men had jobs and could not work during the day, but only at night). Pulling together, the residents were organized into groups of thirty for each of the projects.

The people's gratitude to Master increased day by day during the construction process, as it brought the residents convenience and also a more hygienic environment. On behalf of the community of Tibas-Zurqui's Dump, the initiates of Costa Rica thank Master for Her grace in improving their fellow citizens' lives.

Problem before renovation: A crosswalk/path with no bridge. The community's inhabitants had to walk over holes and cracks full of dirty water. During winter, the paths flooded.

Solutions: Constructing a forty-meter pipeline to carry the water, erecting barrels to filter dirty water, and using sand and stones to pave the surface and build a safe sidewalk.

Before renovation: A foot bridge is used by residents to cross from one neighborhood to another. The path is in dangerously poor condition. Underneath it are holes filled with unsanitary water.

Solutions: Building a sturdy bridge made of metal, stones and cement.

Expenditures for Road and Bridge Renovation in Tibas-Zurqui's Dump, 
Costa Rica Aid Given by The Supreme Master Ching Hai

Report from Argentina

Warm Resonances from Santa Fe Flood Victims

by Paula G Graciela, Santa Fe (Originally in Spanish)

Foreword:

In late April 2003, when the city of Santa Fe was devastated by a rare flood, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately sent funds so that local initiates could provide blankets and other necessities to needy victims. And later, knowing that many youngsters in the area lacked adequate footwear or simply had to walk barefoot in the wet, cold mud left in the flood's aftermath, the Supreme Master sent a second donation to supply the children with shoes, which were delivered by the initiates in November 2003.

The next year, the city's situation improved as it was largely reconstructed and the grateful principal of Santa Fe's Municipal Kindergarten and Nursery School, Daniela Ferreyra, sent Master a thank-you letter in appreciation for the love She had shown to the flood victims. Also, acknowledging the Quan Yin practitioners' unselfish contributions, Mrs. Ferreyra paid the Santa Fe Center a visit and was further blessed with donations of clothes that had been gathered by the practitioners and their relatives.

During her visit, Mrs. Ferreyra, told the initiates that one of Master's photos had been put up at the house of a family that had received donations. And when the owner wanted to remove the picture, her children objected, saying, "No, mother, She's the one Who saved us, and God is in Her picture." In addition, a person from an area far from the city called the initiates requesting word from Master and asking to form a meditation group.

All of these experiences made the fellow practitioners' hearts fill with joy in the knowledge that they had delivered material aid to their brothers and sisters in need, and also brought light and hope to those who had lost everything. Thank You, Master, for being a light on our way!

Note: Please refer to the News #144 and 148 for related reports

Caption:

Children and teachers from Santa Fe's Municipal Kindergarten and Nursery School show gratitude and happiness while waving for the camera in the facility's playground.

Report from Panama

Celebrating Master's Birthday with Love, Joy and Miracles

by Maritza de Leone, Panama

Several weeks before our beloved Master's 2004 birthday celebration at the Panama Center, local initiates happily prepared for the event and also for a charitable project wherein much-needed items were distributed at a local hospital to underprivileged women and their newborn babies. During these activities, the initiates experienced many of Master's miracles.

For the charitable activity, a sister had prepared twenty-four gift bags, each containing one baby shirt, one diaper and one blanket. But the exact number of newborns at the hospital was not known. So, to prevent a shortage of bags, they also prepared a main gift bag filled with many extra baby items. However, it turned out that Master had arranged everything beautifully. For when the practitioners arrived at the hospital, the number of bags was precisely enough for the twenty-five women and their babies staying there. While distributing these gifts of love from Master on Her birthday, the initiates happily explained Who had sent them along with Her Mercy from Heaven. All the recipients were extremely grateful for the presents, especially a woman whose husband had forgotten to bring diapers for her baby girl, who was sick with a blood infection. Under the circumstances, the initiates shared positive words of faith and concern with the mother.

After the charitable activity was completed, the brothers and sisters returned to the Panama Center to set up for Master's birthday celebration, feeling full of love and hope. The preparations were completed quickly, and then a group of guests arrived and the celebration began with a presentation of the biographical video Walk the Way of Love. Later, the egg-less cake they had prepared was cut into large pieces, and there was still enough leftover for them to take home and share with relatives.

One man who came to the celebration had been invited by his girlfriend who was hesitating about learning the Convenient Method of meditation. The man liked The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association so much that he told his girlfriend that it was an unusually positive and loving group, and that he wished to learn more about Master's teachings.

In addition, two young initiates and a girl practicing the Convenient Method who had to study for examinations the next day had been sad because they thought they would be unable to attend the celebration. However the initiates were surprised when they appeared at the Center and said that their teachers had decided to change their test date to the following week!

Throughout their participation in the charitable project and Master's birthday celebration, the Panama initiates felt extremely happy and were filled with inner peace and love at seeing how worldly events can be smoothly and perfectly arranged when everything is placed in God's hands. Thank You very, very much dearest Master! The initiates are also deeply grateful for the countless gifts You bestow on them, especially when realizing that You always give and ask for nothing in return. Each day of their lives, they appreciate the recent elevation of the earth's souls and have no words to thank You fully for Your blessings. The sisters and brothers of Panama will continue practicing diligently in order to return the gifts of Love and care You constantly bestow!

【Letters of Appreciation】

(Originally in Spanish)

Santa Fe, Argentina, April 29, 2004

To: The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association,

Having experienced a year of terrible flooding that affected the entire population of Santa Fe, we are most grateful for the compassionate aid You rendered us, which made it possible for our nursery school to remain in operation.

And, thanks to the organized assistance of many others, we are now working and receiving forty-five children ranging from one-and-a half months to four years of age. Most of these youngsters are in great need of care as their mothers have to leave them with us while they work.

The teachers and personnel here also wish to mention the positive lessons in selfless service that have emerged from loving our neighbors, giving without expecting any reward, selfless commitment, and remembering those who gave hours of their lives for others while offering a smile, listening and giving what they had. For all this we say: Thank you very much!

It is vitally important for us to be in this place today working with the children. For this reason, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the help you provided us.

Municipal Kindergarten and Nursery School
"Solidarity II"
Teachers' signatures

【Supreme Art】

Images for the Heart - A Powerhouse Emanating Immense Energy

For Supreme Master Ching Hai, the art of painting is a way to candidly express sensations and perceptions without intentional polishing with elaborate brush strokes. Her technique thus reveals a flow of innate purity that transcends the customary quest among artists for superficial aesthetic sophistication. If Master Ching Hai harbored any doubts about Herself, it would be impossible for Her to paint in such a pure, innocent style.

~David Wu

The Supreme Master displays a special aptitude for depicting the spiritual realms, as Her paintings often inspire and awaken humankind by transmitting messages that touch the heart. This is especially noteworthy for Her unique form of expression distinguishes Her work from the more rational style of illustration seen in most pictures. Her great candor and fidelity to Her own feelings give Her paintings a pure, romantic style, yet the message they convey never fails to stir heartfelt sentiments among art lovers.

In Her still lifes and depictions of nature, the Supreme Master goes far beyond photographic reproduction, and instead infuses Her works with an innovative quality that transforms Her subjects and allows Her to revel in the process of creation. But nothing comes to Her as easily as representing the spiritual realms. Thus, the Supreme Master's paintings may be visual delights, but they are better appreciated with the heart.

Impressionistic in style, Her art places little emphasis on refined variations of light and shade. The Supreme Master did not receive formal academic training in the arts. So when She paints, She skips preliminary sketching and instead directly applies expressive patches of color to the canvas, creating gradations of tone through three-dimensional perspective. Her paintings are best appreciated from the standpoint of their overall structure and composition; close-up inspection is unnecessary. Take a few steps back and one can better feel the tension in the pictures, as well as their harmony and color coordination.

The Supreme Master's works often emanate intense energy. For instance, the painting Stone Cave presents a dynamic image marked by what appears to be an incessant undulation of photons. Through its rich colors, the picture reflects the various gradations of light experienced in a particular spiritual dimension. In another painting entitled Filled with Grace, the energy becomes a fluid force, changing constantly like a magic show. The work's flowers sparkle joyously, reminiscent of brilliant stars in the night sky and colorfully coordinated like Christmas lights.

By contrast, the work Longing brings the viewer a moment of respite and relief from the pressures of the physical world. Its composition and tones of color reflect stress and discord, but this impression is ingeniously modulated by the lively, vibrant image of a river. Such paintings that are strong in contrast and conflict often give one a sense of relief or lead to introspection.

This category of the Supreme Master's paintings usually features a dissecting line drawn at an angle. Examples also include The Stone Convention, which is marked by a sharp color contrast, Discussion, which conveys an intense message of caution, and Fear, in which flowers from a toppled vase struggle to save themselves, all providing a sense of relief from stress. In paintings such as Heavenly Flowers, horizontal lines are used to represent a balanced state. Also, the work's vibrant combination of cold and warm hues depicts a highly harmonized realm. The Supreme Master's pastel color paintings are equally unique, being pure, elegant and gentle in style, with deep feelings expressed through their colors.

Most people develop a command of the art of painting only after long, intensive training, but Supreme Master Ching Hai relies mainly on Her wisdom and spiritual experiences to paint. This explains why She has been able to achieve such great success in a short span of time. Ultimately, however, perhaps all the techniques in the field of fine art are not adequate for the Supreme Master to express Her rich inner world!

Note: David Wu is an innovative painter who created the Wu Jin painting style. He works from his studio on Old Street in the suburban Taipei township of Tamsui.

An Exhibition of Supreme Master Ching Hai's Paintings

Stone Cave

Longing

The Stone Convention; Discussion; Fear

Heavenly Flowers

【 Our Liaison Practitioners around the World 】

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